Old Mrs. Chen stopped talking and stared at her eldest sonâs family: "When Manjuanâs husband was alive, he helped the family a lot. Now sheâs been kicked out by her in-laws with two kids, and not only do you refuse to help, but you even want to drive her away. Are you still human?"
Chen Familyâs eldest daughter-in-law protested: "Mom, no matter what, she is a daughter who married out. Others may not know our familyâs situation, but donât you?
Iâm just setting some rules first, to prevent them from getting used to it. Whatâs wrong with that?"
Old Mrs. Chen, just helped up by her second son, pointed at her: "She just came back, such a big thing has happened, sheâs already feeling bad, and Iâm still here, so what rules are you setting?"
Donât think she didnât hear it; the eldest daughter-in-law had said before that Manjuan should hand her money over to her to manage: "Get rid of those thoughts you shouldnât have."
The eldest daughter-in-law of the Chen Family protested again: "Mom, with her return, thatâs suddenly three more mouths to feed. Who knows how long theyâll stay. Whatâs wrong with me asking for some board money?"
Old Mrs. Chen wasnât holding back anymore: "Youâre really something, bringing these tricks into the family. Do you think I didnât hear what you said to Manjuan earlier? Even if I were dead, wouldnât her brothers let Manjuan and her kids stay for a few days?"
Chen Manjuan, having just calmed her younger daughter, said: "Sister-in-law, donât worry. Iâll look for a place in the next few days. I wonât stay long."
As she spoke, she pulled ten yuan out of her pocket and handed it to her mother: "Mom, sister-in-law is right. Since I married out, itâs not right to come back and eat for free. You take this money, and Iâll move out once I find a place."
Upon hearing Chen Manjuanâs words, Xinyan also felt this woman was resilient. If it were someone else, theyâd probably be crying.
The reason she didnât argue with her in-laws earlier was likely for her husbandâs sake. Without a husbandâs protection, for the sake of her two daughters, she decisively split from that family, and she did it so cleanly, with no future troubles; sheâs a smart person.
She quite liked that kind of character.
While she was engrossed in listening, she heard Granny Zhangâs voice: "Yanyan, come back and tidy up. Get ready to eat."
Xinyan greeted the Tong Family people and then ran back to her own yard.
Granny Zhang poked her forehead: "Youâre so focused on the gossip, and youâre not even afraid of getting cold and catching a cold."
Xinyan laughed and followed her into the kitchen: "The Chen Familyâs eldest daughter-in-law is too much. They just got back, and sheâs already asking for money. Thatâs really too impatient."
Granny Zhang sighed: "Itâs all because of poverty."
Xinyan looked over: "I heard from the neighbors before that the Chen Familyâs old man died in an accident a few years ago. At that time, because of him, people close to him were also implicated. The Chen Family paid a lot of money, almost selling the house.
It was Old Mrs. Chenâs distant cousin who helped out, and thatâs how they got through that crisis. But the Chen Family still hasnât paid back all that money."
Xinyan casually asked: "Does Chen Manjuan have a job?"
Granny Zhang, serving the food, shook her head and said: "Probably not. If she had, her in-laws wouldnât let her leave."
A thought occurred to Xinyan, but she decided to observe more before acting on it.
After eating, Xinyan put on the woolen shoes He Jinxuan had brought back from Inner Mongolia. Theyâre just like snow boots from later times. These are purely handmade shoes with real wool inside, very warm when worn.
After greeting Granny Zhang, she left the house.