Mr. Zhang returned from the village and went straight to find his wife as soon as he entered the yard.
Mother Zhang was holding her little grandson, ntally calculating an account. When she heard a noise and looked up, she saw her husband but didn’t pay much attention and continued thinking.
"What’s wrong, frowning like that? The child is old enough to be sent to daycare. The second son has ntioned it so many tis, and you still haven’t sent him. Too much crying the other night, I couldn’t sleep well."
Mother Zhang, interrupted by him, forgot what accounts she couldn’t rember and laughed, "This child isn’t as easy to take care of as our Ping’an. Couldn’t tell in the first few months, but now that he’s older, you can see his temper. He’s an impatient one."
Mr. Zhang glanced at the grandson and shook his head with a smile. This little guy had the blessing of his uncle, lacking neither food nor clothing, and really picked the right ti to be born.
"i Hao’s mother-in-law ca over at noon, especially bringing us two fish. She said Xiao Wu sent more things to his second sister again. Husband, I estimated it in my heart, Xiao Wu’s monthly salary isn’t enough to cover all his expenses like this. Write a letter asking him to save a bit and not keep sending things back."
Mr. Zhang felt he forgot to tell his wife sothing, and after a while, he slapped his forehead, "I rember now. Before the end of the year, wasn’t i Hao’s father-in-law buying a lot of seafood? He entrusted soone to bring two big baskets of yellow croaker and prawns for Xiao Wu, and Xiao Wu asked not to say anything to avoid troubling Uncle Chen."
Mother Zhang shook her head, "No, that’s not what I ant. Forget it, I’ll think it over myself. Why are you back so early today? Is everything okay in the village?"
Mr. Zhang took the grandson and put him on the kang, laughing, "Big brother said that since the beginning of spring, the weather has been favorable, and it shouldn’t be a hard year. I think everything’s fine now, each household has their own land again, finally made it through."
"That’s good. Xiao Wu’s Aunt Ye bought vegetables and told that many children were getting sick, all because of food shortages."
Mr. Zhang quickly said, "These words are fine to speak privately, don’t shout them out."
"I’m with you every day, how could I not know."
Mr. Zhang listened and didn’t say more, turning to bring up the news he heard today.
"Today in the village, I heard sothing big. Old Zhou’s eldest daughter-in-law died and was secretly buried in the ancestral tomb by the family. When the Zhou Family Village people found out, it caused a big stir, saying the Old Zhou Family acted out of line, not discussing it with clan mbers first. Luckily, it’s a new era, or they would be expelled from the clan for sure."
Mother Zhang listened, eyes wide open.
"Nothing surprising. That woman did a lot of bad things, but unexpectedly her son was still quite filial to her, she wasn’t unappreciated for her efforts for her children."
Mother Zhang listened and nodded. After thinking for a while, she said, "Write Xiao Wu a letter about this Old Zhou Family matter as well. Just because the two families don’t have much relation anymore doesn’t an we shouldn’t care. I heard from the second son that they seem to want to move back again, all in a ss."
"Alright, I’ll write it tonight."
Mother Zhang looked at the sky, stood up, and said, "You watch the grandson first. I’m going to ili’s house. Ziwen ca over while you weren’t ho today, saying their grandma wasn’t feeling well last night, just don’t let her go like Mrs. Zhou."
"Go on, walk slowly, and don’t fall."
Mother Zhang gave her husband a sidelong glance, "Am I a child?"
Mr. Zhang watched his wife hurriedly leave the house, shaking his head with a smile. She’s really got a strong character.
Mother Zhang, bustling, left the yard, started walking steadily, and along the way, she pondered where she left off calculating. As she neared Zhang ili’s door, she composed herself, pushed open the gate, and entered the courtyard.
Accountant Zhang was in the yard tending to so seeds, saw her coming in, and smiled, "What brings you here? Where’s the little grandson?"
"Husband’s at ho, I ca to see my sister-in-law. Ziwen said she’s unwell, is she any better?"
Accountant Zhang put down what he was doing, "The children’s mother is fine, you two chat. I’ll go have a word with the second son, don’t know how things are with the team."
Mother Zhang laughed happily, "Go on, just right for you two old brothers to keep each other company."
Seeing her in-law leave, Mother Zhang happily called and went inside the house.
"You’ve co... Sit down..." Accountant Zhang’s wife, Mrs. Liu, waved at her.
"Your speech is getting clearer; I think before long, you’ll be better. Heaven blesses, you won’t have to suffer."
Mrs. Liu smiled and nodded, "Thanks... to Xiao... Wu."
Mother Zhang helped her down from the kang, "Our families are closely connected, no need for formalities. Don’t go back to the old place this ti, you’ve recuperated so well this winter. We’re getting older and should take care of ourselves. You’ll have to see Ziwen’s children and grandchildren grow up. Isn’t that right?"
Mother Zhang said this for a reason.
Every winter, Zhang Chunming and Zhang ili move Mrs. Liu back to the county town. In the village, even firewood had to be saved, and she often squeezed into the warmth with her young grandchildren from the elder son’s family, making it hard for Mrs. Liu to rest.
Because of this, regardless of his father’s refusals, Zhang Chunming insisted on taking his elderly parents back to the county to spend the winter. He felt grateful for his wife’s brothers’ filiality. He couldn’t afford to let the elders want for nothing like his brother-in-law, but by cutting back on his own, working extra shifts, and planting sweet potatoes in the yard, he could take good care of his parents.
Mother Zhang fully supported her son-in-law’s actions and helped in practice. She didn’t preach but believed her son-in-law was not wrong. Being filial to parents is as natural as it gets.
She knew her eldest daughter and son-in-law were too proud to accept help from the Yue Family but always rembered how much the eldest daughter and son-in-law had helped the family in past years.
When they refused subsidies, Mother Zhang found another way, letting her three grandsons go back with Xi Zi and the others to do howork, and stay for dinner before going ho.
Because of this, financial tis didn’t get tough for Zhang Chunming when his parents ca over, and instead, with the couple’s series of promotions, the family thrived more and more.
Mrs. Liu laughed and agreed happily.
Last night, her youngest daughter-in-law also advised her, assuring them to stay at ho in peace. Once she recovered, she could help watch the children. She understood the children’s good intentions, knowing the grandchildren were grown, and their grandma’s house was just next door, not needing her incapable of working.
As it was near quitting ti, Zhang Chunming hurried ho on his bike. Upon entering the house, he heard his mother-in-law’s voice and ran happily to his parents’ room.
"Mom, ili’s been transferred to the union. She doesn’t need to work in the workshop anymore."
Mother Zhang was thrilled, clapping her hands, "Isn’t that under Aunt Zuo? That’s wonderful, she won’t have to work so hard. What about you, still working overti every day?"
"I just got promoted, so I need to work hard to keep the order below; after a while, it’ll be easier." Zhang Chunming quickly reassured both his mothers.
Zhang Chunming didn’t ntion that the main reason for his overti was to earn more. With his years of service and good performance, his salary had increased from thirty-six to fifty-two, but he still felt it wasn’t enough. With three sons and a daughter, plus his parents, he felt a great deal of pressure.
Over the years, they survived each tide of difficulty thanks to his brother-in-law. But no matter how good a relative is, one can’t only take without giving. Xiao Wu is generous, but they can’t always rely on his support.
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