Despite saying all that, they ended up keeping the cured at. The three of them tidied up a bit and started eating in the kitchen.
But before they could finish their al, Qiufeng walked in. Without a word, her eyes swept across the room and landed on the cured at hanging on the kitchen wall. She walked over, untied it, and turned to leave with it in hand.
Juhua, holding her rice bowl, stared with her mouth agape at the decisive young wife, completely stunned by her actions. ’Is there anyone in this world more... sothing... than my second aunt? My second aunt is annoying, sure, but when Grandma gets truly angry and puts on a stern face, she doesn’t dare cause a scene. Though, she always goes right back to her old ways the mont your back is turned. So habits never change.’
i’s Mom, furious, slamd her bowl down on the table. Pointing with her chopsticks, she demanded, "Qiufeng, what are you doing?" Although she had just been complaining at length, seeing her daughter-in-law’s heartless behavior was the last straw.
Qiufeng paused for a mont but didn’t turn around. "I’m taking my own things back ho. Is that a problem?"
i’s Mom scread, "Is this how a daughter-in-law should act? I raised my son all these years, and you’re going to stop him from eating one piece of at? How did your mother raise you?" Her voice was sowhat hysterical, startling the people eating in the main hall. Besides, they were nearly finished with their al anyway.
Hearing the commotion, Liu Dashun rushed into the kitchen. When he saw his wife holding the slab of at, he roared, "Put it down!"
But Qiufeng was incredibly stubborn. She ignored him completely and walked out of the kitchen toward the outer room. This room was adjacent to the main hall and opened into the front courtyard.
Liu Dashun chased her into the courtyard and moved to snatch the cured at away.
But Qiufeng refused to let go. Liu Dashun grabbed her arm, repeatedly telling her to release it, his tone bordering on a plea. His wife, however, wouldn’t listen at all.
At this point, everyone who had been eating ca out.
Fatty Liu took one look at the scene and understood what was happening. Although everyone knew about his family’s troubles, he lost face seeing his son being so thoroughly controlled by his wife in front of so many people. He cursed, "Both of you, get out! I’ll just pretend I never had you as a son. You useless thing, can’t even handle your own wife."
Liu Dashun’s face flushed red, the veins on his forehead bulging. He put force into his grip, snatched the cured at away in one motion, and turned back into the kitchen.
Qiufeng took the opportunity to sit down on the ground. Wailing at Fatty Liu, she cried, "Go on, curse ! You act like we have so much at at ho. This is the only little bit we have left! I’m pregnant and I haven’t even been willing to eat it myself, because I was saving it for the wheat harvest. It’s not like I’m taking things back to my parents’ house. I scrimp and save on everything. I can’t even bear to use a little extra oil when I cook. I’m just trying to save up so money because I’m afraid we won’t be able to afford to raise the baby when it’s born. WAH..."
Fatty Liu hadn’t expected his daughter-in-law to be pregnant. No wonder his son hadn’t dared to get rough with her just now. He couldn’t help but feel awkward, unsure of what to say.
After hearing what her daughter-in-law said, i’s Mom didn’t know what to say either. Thinking about her earlier actions made her angry again—’Who even wants to eat your stupid cured at? Couldn’t you have just said sothing nicely instead of acting like we’re your enemies?!’ Seeing her sitting on the ground crying, she grew worried about her condition. Feeling a pang of concern, she was about to go help her up, but then she saw Dashun co out and stopped.
Liu Sanshun, however, was furious. Seeing Liu Dashun co out of the kitchen, he silently charged back in, grabbed the cured at, ran out, and forcefully threw it out of the courtyard. He shouted, "Argue, argue, all day long you argue over a little thing! What other family is like ours, where brothers aren’t even like brothers? Take the at and get out of here! We’re busy as hell and still have to deal with this drama. Who can stand it?"
Juhua watched, stunned, as the slab of cured at made two round trips, in and out of the kitchen, before finally being tossed out for good. Hearing Liu Sanshun’s words from outside the courtyard, she couldn’t help but sigh. ’This Qiufeng is just too difficult. Couldn’t she have just talked it out nicely?’
Liu Xiaoi, however, started wiping away tears. Her big brother doted on her the most, but now the family was nothing like a family. Even Juhua had given her so tofu and a small piece of fatty pork, but when her own brother brought over a piece of cured at, it caused a scene like this!
Seeing her cry, Juhua quickly tried to console her. "Your sister-in-law is just that kind of person. What’s there to be angry about? Didn’t you say she never cos to your house to ask for anything? You don’t depend on her to get by. The families are already split, so you should just live your own lives."
Even as she said it, she knew her words were useless. ’It’s easy to talk when it’s not your problem. If my own brother got married and beca so distant from our family, I’d probably be holding in a lot of resentnt, too.’
Although Liu Dashun was also angry at his wife, when he ca out and saw her sitting on the ground, he felt a pang of pity and hurried forward to pull her up.
But Qiufeng wouldn’t get up. She cried pitifully, thinking, ’What exactly did I do wrong? I work myself to the bone for this family, and I don’t even get a single word of thanks.’
The two of them were at a stalemate when Liu Sanshun brought the at out and threw it away. Liu Dashun completely lost face. He stopped trying to pull his wife up and just stood there, his face taut with misery.
The workers watching the scene weren’t trying to gloat, but they didn’t know how to intervene. They could only offer a few dry, aningless words, telling Liu Dashun to pull his wife up and go ho quickly.
As it happened, the village chief, Li Gengtian, was also there eating today. He hadn’t been helping the Liu family work; he was just busy with other things, happened to pass by, and was insisted upon by Fatty Liu to stay for a al. When the argunt started, he hadn’t co out. After all, it was their family’s private matter, and it wouldn’t be right for him to interfere.
Now, seeing the deadlock, he walked out of the house, stood before them, and said a few words to Qiufeng. "Qiufeng, I’m an old man, so allow to say a thing or two. Don’t be offended. If you think what I say makes sense, then take it to heart. If you don’t like what you hear, then just pretend I’m farting. You’re a hardworking wife. In the two years you’ve been married into the Liu family, everyone has seen that. There’s nothing wrong with saving money for your family, but the way you handle things is wrong. These are your husband’s father and mother. You can’t expect him to disown his own parents, can you?" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to co to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
User Comments
0 comments from readers