Chapter 77: Grandma Zhao scolds her daughter

“Why are you crying? Did that old shrew in the Jiang family bully you again, or did Dahai do something to wrong you?” Zhao Hong’s stern expression softened immediately when she saw her daughter crying, and she asked anxiously. Gu Dongmei neither denied nor admitted anything at first, just continued to cry, making Zhao Hong feel like an ant on a hot pan. Only after she had cried her heart out did she start talking about the things that had upset her recently. Zhao Hong sat quietly, listening to her daughter recount her grievances. Her expression shifted gradually from heartache to a vague surprise, and finally settled into calm. “Is that all?” Zhao Hong was puzzled. She admitted that after losing her husband, she had spoiled and doted on her daughter excessively. In earlier years, when her daughter had no sons to rely on, she had comforted herself by excusing her daughter’s timidity. But now that she had a son, there was no reason for her life to still feel this way no matter how biased the grandmother was, it couldn’t compensate. “So you’re angry because Xiaobao said that once Dani starts working, half of her salary will be handed over?” Zhao Hong asked, her expression calm. “What do you mean ‘because’? Dani has had it hard she grew up taking care of her younger siblings. Now she finally finds a suitable match and it falls through. Xiaobao isn’t even close to me, that’s one thing, but now he’s eyeing her money too. Who knows how much trouble Dani and the others will face in the future?” Thinking this way, Gu Dongmei felt even more miserable. People say a son is security in old age, yet her son had never been close to her. Could she really count on him? “I think I understand now,” Zhao Hong said, shaking her head. She tapped Gu Dongmei’s forehead firmly with her finger, almost making her stumble backward. “Mom, what are you doing?” Gu Dongmei asked, clutching her forehead in irritation. Why was her mother not sharing her sense of righteous indignation, but pushing her instead? “Now that you realize you’re Dani’s mother, tell me back before Xiaobao was born, how did those girls live? Did you ever speak up for them as their mother?” Zhao Hong raised her hand to stop Gu Dongmei from protesting. “Don’t talk. Since you’re here, we’ll lay everything out clearly, so you don’t keep sulking and distance yourself from the kids.” Gu Dongmei felt confused and wronged. Didn’t her mother care about her daughter? But back then, without a son, she had no leverage. She had to watch her daughter be bullied by her mother-in-law what could she do? Seeing Gu Dongmei’s expression, Zhao Hong sighed, massaging her temples. It was her fault for letting her youngest daughter grow up spoiled. Her eldest daughter, Qiujun, had married far away to Province Z without a single relative nearby, yet her life had gone smoothly. It was too late for regrets. Her daughter was married; she couldn’t stand by twenty-four hours a day as before. Now, if her youngest daughter was wronged, she couldn’t always defend her. “I’m asking you, how is Xiaobao with Dani and his sisters?” Zhao Hong knew reason alone wouldn’t reach her daughter. She had to break everything down for her to understand. “Just… so-so,” Gu Dongmei muttered, recalling Xiaobao’s usual kindness to the sisters, trying to brush it off. Zhao Hong frowned. Even she, who rarely interacted with the kids, could see how much Xiaobao cared for his sisters. She didn’t believe Gu Dongmei, who lived with them every day, couldn’t see it. “Dongmei, be honest. You don’t like Xiaobao, do you?” Zhao Hong asked. This was shocking a mother disliking her son? Yet Gu Dongmei had longed for him so desperately. His presence had improved her life; without him, given her status with Grandma Miao, she couldn’t have even hoped for such good New Year gifts. Exposed, Gu Dongmei was irritated. “That child doesn’t even like me! I feel like he’s here to collect debts, only close to Dani and the others. Mom, you don’t know sometimes when I look at him, my heart sinks. It’s like I’m not his mother, just a stranger. How am I supposed to get close to him?” At first, Gu Dongmei had pinned high hopes on this son. She had invested more care in him than in her daughters, quietly adopting a preference for sons over the years. Her son was supposed to be her support, her obsession. She expected him to reciprocate her love, to be closest to her. But as he grew, she realized he did not meet her expectations. He was clever, thoughtful, kind, and obedient. He was close to Dani and his sisters, to his uncle Shitou, to his aunt Jiang Dazhen, but not to her or Dahai. With his parents and grandparents, his affection was mingled with distance. Sometimes his coquettish gestures seemed masked, making his feelings unreadable. These feelings had been simmering in Gu Dongmei for years. When Xiaobao had snuck out at night, she had scolded him, partly to vent her anger. She quickly realized hitting her son would displease her in-laws; Xiaobao was now the treasure of the Jiang family. She couldn’t even touch him. From then on, she suppressed her resentment, which only grew. Now, whatever Xiaobao did, she couldn’t help but interpret it in the worst way. “Finished?” Zhao Hong asked after listening to her daughter’s complaints and disappointment. Her face remained calm, but inwardly, she was puzzled. She only saw her grandchildren for a few days each year. This precious little grandson was doted on, and he was very close to his grandmother. According to his father, Xiaobao was also close to him. It didn’t make sense that he was distant toward his mother, who lived with him every day. “You say Xiaobao isn’t close to you or Dahai, even distant with your in-laws. Didn’t your in-laws or husband notice? What have they done?” Zhao Hong asked. “What can they do? They have a smart grandson they’re thrilled. He’s the center of the house now; everyone else comes after him,” Gu Dongmei muttered. Zhao Hong frowned. If what Dongmei said was true, even the shrewd Grandpa Jiang Cheng would notice. “Dongmei, being mother and son with Xiaobao is fate from a past life. Whatever you owe him, or he owes you, it’s because neither of you can let go. That’s why this life’s fate exists.” “You say Xiaobao isn’t close to you, but have you tried to let him accept you?” Zhao Hong waved her hand. “Dahai must see his nature too. How did he respond? Certainly not like you.” Zhao Hong held her daughter’s hand. “Dongmei, this isn’t favoritism. Look at yourself you’ve always wanted others to accommodate you. When Dani and the others were bullied, you didn’t speak up because you felt your own suffering. Now, you have a son; just because he isn’t close, you label him a bad child. Did you truly try, or did you just give up? Ask yourself did Xiaobao really ask his sisters for money, or was that just an excuse for Grandma to let them study?” “Dongmei, you’re not stupid. Mom doesn’t believe you haven’t noticed.” Zhao Hong sighed. “You haven’t suffered. Many people have it worse. You’re just selfish, thinking children should revolve around you. But besides giving birth, what have you really done for them? Your little aunt has contributed more to the children than you have.” “I spoiled you, and I say this for your own good. Dani and the others are good kids. They will never fail to respect you when they grow up. But you, as their mother, cannot break their hearts.” Gu Dongmei lowered her head, listening, confused, silently shedding tears. “Wipe your tears. The children will be back soon. Think over what I said today.” Seeing her beloved daughter so sad, Zhao Hong’s heart ached. But letting Dongmei continue sulking would only escalate the issue. Better a short pain than a long one. She had spoken clearly; her daughter should understand. Daqian Village and Xiaoqiu Village were separated by a river. The two villages often quarreled over its ownership. Even where the river was only eight or nine meters wide, neither village built a simple bridge. To reach the opposite village, one had to walk half an hour more, a tedious task. Daqian Village’s consignment store sat at the village entrance. A few steps further was the disputed Hunchun River, where many young women washed clothes in the cold water while chatting on the stony banks. Sanni and the others cheered when they saw the store and ran ahead. The store was small, only one counter, a single-room space that felt cramped with three or four children inside. Jiang Yiliu guided Ruanruan inside to pick her favorite items with Sanni and Sini, while he stayed outside with Dani and the others, waiting. While idly looking around, Jiang Yiliu spotted a tall man across the river, waving repeatedly. Upon closer look, it was Xiang Qianjin, carrying a bucket of laundry, standing out among the women. Seeing him, Jiang Yiliu immediately thought of his scheming mother and tugged Dani into the crowded store without hesitation. Xiang Qianjin, watching the girl he fancied disappear inside, sighed in disappointment. It was New Year’s Day; he remembered Dani’s maternal home was in Daqian Village. Seeing her and her siblings here was not strange. He recalled seeing Dani in a dark blue padded coat, two neat braids over her chest. His heart warmed, but noticing Jiang Yiliu’s wary look, he felt deflated. He realized Dani’s brother had seen him, but hadn’t expected such hostility. Xiang Qianjin crouched down, showing a hint of sulking, and diligently washed the clothes in the bucket. No matter, after the New Year, Dani would return to the textile factory, giving him another chance to build a connection. He didn’t yet know she would go to school, and planned to wait by her usual route to the factory, as before. “Third son, why only wash your own clothes? Wash your brother’s coat too,” Yin Hong said, seeing her son return with a bucket of clean laundry, her tone slightly reproachful. “I’ve had enough washing just my own, Mom. You’ve not even done your work, and you keep complaining,” Xiang Shihou replied, a bit annoyed. “Third son, don’t mind your mother. Go rest inside. These days you’ve been cleaning the house and fixing the roof nonstop,” Xiang Shihou said sympathetically. Xiang Qianjin agreed and returned to his room after hanging the laundry. Yin Hong had always respected her husband. Even if she wanted to explain that she hadn’t washed the third son’s brother’s coat to save it for the others, she dared not. She knew she would not be understood and might even be scolded. Slightly dissatisfied, Yin Hong picked up the remaining bucket of laundry from the room it contained the younger son’s coat from yesterday and walked to the yard. Just as she was leaving, she noticed someone standing nearby, wearing a knitted hat, face covered, showing only a pair of eyes. Startled, she retreated. “Weren’t you supposed to wash at the river? Why are you back?” Xiang Shihou asked, puzzled. “I’m tired. I’ll help Guangming tomorrow,” Yin Hong said, placing the laundry down. Flustered, she went back inside. “I’ll lie down. Use last night’s leftovers for lunch don’t wake me.” Xiang Shihou shook his head, assuming she was just exhausted from washing for three sons and didn’t think much of it.

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Chapter 77: Grandma Zhao scolds her daughter

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