After repeatedly considering it, Mother Qi also felt that Auntie truly had no better choice, so she listened to the others and planned to give her a call.
But before she could call, Auntie called first, crying and cursing as she spoke.
"...And you still want me to fulfill his wish with that bitch? Why should I? Only if I die would I fulfill them. This damned, heartless, sooner die outside!" Auntie said on the phone.
Mother Qi listened to her until Auntieās mood seemed much calmer, and then she advised, "But itās good that the child has returned, at least youāll have someone to rely on for the rest of your life."
"Erzhen, what are you saying!" Auntie was taken aback.
"Big sister, Iām not trying to speak for Weixia, and donāt be annoyed with my harsh words. Iām just saying it as it is. Look, before Weixia returned, when Weiqiu was with you, how difficult was it to find her a match? From last year until now, none seemed suitable. Isnāt it because they heard she had to take you along to marry?" Mother Qi said.
Auntie immediately became angry, "Erzhen, how can you say that? Youāre stabbing me in the heart with your words!"
"Big sister, Iām just straightforward like this. You know that. If I donāt say it, think about it yourselfāisnāt it true?"
Auntie remained silent on the other end, but her breathing was heavy.
"With this dragging on, nothing gets done, and youāll end up with Weiqiu becoming an old maid. Can you bear that?" Mother Qi continued, "Just look at this point with Weiqiu, thereās no solution. As parents, they say, having children is a lifetime of debts, thatās the logic!"
Auntie finally couldnāt hold back and cried again, saying brokenly how unfortunate and heartbroken she was.
"Big sister, donāt rush to cry. Regarding Weixia, this brat did such a thing with his widowed sister-in-law. Everyone in the whole county knows. Who would still be willing to marry their daughter to Weixia in the future?"
Hearing this, Auntie squeezed the phone tightly.
"Things have reached this point; thereās no other way. Now Weixia and that Wenjing have already had a son, what else can be done? Weixia has a descendant now, saving the cost of marrying a wife!" Mother Qi, thinking quickly, even thought about this point.
Auntie spat at her, "Brothers sharing a wife, where can I show my face?"
Mother Qi sighed and said, "He certainly canāt stay in the village; heāll have to move to another city. I heard from Fengping that my daughter-in-law has arranged a job for Weixia in a restaurant. Qing City is quite big, you listen to me, wait until Weiqiu gets married, and you can live with Weixia and them!"
Auntie didnāt speak for a long time, only cried quietly.
"Big sister, as mothers, we canāt overpower our sons, especially since you only have Weixia. Now both grandsons are in your daughter-in-lawās hands, what else can be done? Really go and die?"
"Such a disgraceful thing, such a scandal, it would be better to die than to exist in this world." Auntie cried.
Mother Qi, knowing she valued her dignity all her life, said, "Can you really bear it? Listen to me, in the end, it will be these two taking care of you, preparing for your funeral and needs in the future." She paused and added, "If you push them too hard, you truly wonāt get them back. Then, big sister, you wonāt only lose a son, but also your grandsonsāhow will you face the end? And what about Weiqiu?"
It must be said, Mother Qiās final words were like a sharp sword fiercely piercing Auntieās heart.