’I was just trying to be diplomatic!’ Juhua thought in exasperation. She couldn’t very well ignore the comnt, so she said irritably, "What’s the use of just being smart? If he doesn’t listen and won’t study properly, all the brains in the world won’t help."
Mrs. Lin’s eyes lit up. She grinned at Juhua and said, "Even I can’t manage this little rascal Laicai. Juhua, look how well he listens to you! Why don’t you let Laicai co study here with his aunt? You and Qingmu can teach him regularly. When Laicai becos a Scholar, he won’t forget his aunt and his big sister Juhua. Right, Laicai?"
’What rotten luck,’ Juhua thought. ’I was perfectly fine staying in my room. Why did I have to co to the kitchen? This is just asking for trouble.’
She recalled what she and her brother had discussed before the new year—that they must not give an inch on this matter. She spoke resolutely, "That won’t do. Is taking care of a child a simple task? I’m just a girl; how could I teach him? If I don’t do a good job, I won’t be able to answer to my second uncle and aunt. Laicai has to rely on himself. Don’t they say that a good sapling doesn’t need constant shaping, and too much ddling just makes it knotted? It’s the sa no matter where he studies. Besides, once spring cos, my family will be swamped with work, clearing new fields and planting. When would we have the ti to watch him?"
Mrs. Yang then chid in, her face somber. "That’s exactly right. We have to manage dozens of acres of land this year. I’ve had to give up my business; where would I find the ti for Laicai? I’m afraid we’ll have days where we’re too busy to even cook. That boy is far too precious. If we let our guard down for a mont and sothing happened to him, I could never face my family again."
Seeing that both mother and daughter were refusing her, Mrs. Lin pursed her lips and said provocatively, "If you don’t want to look after your own nephew, Aunt, you should just say so. What’s the point of all these excuses? You claim you have no one to watch him, but isn’t Qingmu already at the school? It’d be no trouble for him to just keep an eye on Laicai."
Juhua decided to go for broke. ’I can’t let Mom be the one to answer this,’ she thought. ’She’ll end up offending Grandma and my aunts, and a family feud is the last thing we need. I’m just a kid. If I misspeak, they’ll at most scold for being unreasonable or bratty. They can’t really stay mad at , can they?’
So she jumped in before Mrs. Yang could speak, turning to Mrs. Lin. "Second Aunt, do you think it’s easy for my brother to study? He has to squeeze in chores every morning and evening and reads by lamplight at night. The school is the only place he has any peace and quiet to actually listen to the teacher. If Laicai were there, could he still focus on his books? You know what Laicai is like, Second Aunt—he can’t be still for a second. He needs soone watching him every mont. If you send Laicai to our ho, then what will *you* do? Isn’t a mother supposed to take care of her own child? Why have children if you won’t? My mother is much older than you are; you shouldn’t be adding to her burdens!"
Mrs. Lin was stunned to hear such a tirade from Juhua. She was convinced her young niece had gone bad, no longer the obedient child she once was. Anger rose in her, but for a mont she was too shocked to think of a coback. Just as she was gathering her thoughts, Mrs. Wang spoke.
"Laicai will attend school in Xiatang Market! It’s not far, and he can co ho every day so his father can discipline him. When parents don’t discipline their own child, who else would dare take on that responsibility?"
Mrs. Lin wasn’t the type to throw a shrewish tantrum, but she was an expert at muttering passive-aggressive complaints, and her words could drive a person mad. Seeing she had failed to offload Laicai, she stared down at her own fingers, stroking them as she sighed. "I barely said a word, and look at this panic. I only ntioned it because Aunt’s village has a school. I wouldn’t have dread of bothering her otherwise. You haven’t even made your fortune yet, and you’re already scared we’ll try to leech off you. If you ever get truly rich, I suppose poor relatives like us won’t dare show our faces at your door anymore."
Juhua saw her mother’s eyes flare with rage, ready to explode. She quickly grabbed her arm and gave her a warning look.
Sure enough, Mrs. Wang turned and snapped at Mrs. Lin, "What are you talking about? If you’ve got nothing better to do than stir up trouble, you can go ho."
Ms. Zhang also spoke up, clearly displeased. "Sister-in-law, your words are very uncomfortable to listen to. Are you suggesting that his aunt is sohow obligated to look after Laicai for you? That if she doesn’t, she’s abandoning her family? And are you really a ’poor relative’? His aunt only earned a little money at the end of last year selling pig offal. Your life isn’t any harder than hers. Aren’t you ashad to say such things?"
Mrs. Yang’s face was expressionless as she said to Mrs. Lin, "I don’t care if you get angry. If you have a problem with , feel free to leave. I won’t stop you. Just look at you, with your soft skin and delicate hands, making sarcastic comnts to us, who are worked to death. Does the world owe you sothing? So what if I simply don’t want to look after Laicai? What about it? Anyone can enjoy an easy life. If I had that kind of free ti, why wouldn’t I follow your example—sleep in, snack on lon seeds, dress up nicely, and wander around gossiping all day? What a lovely life that is. Do you think I’m just itching for more work, that I need to raise soone else’s son?"
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