Farm Tough Girl

Chapter 142 - 142 143 See Your Daughter-in-laws True

?Chapter 142: Chapter 143: See Your Daughter-in-law’s True Colors_1 Chapter 142: Chapter 143: See Your Daughter-in-law’s True Colors_1 Qiao Yuanming said helplessly, “Mother, Cuiliu just feels that our house is too small, after all, the children have all grown up—”
“Shut your mouth!” Madam Zhao yelled, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re all thinking. Now that you’re making money, you want to abandon the elderly and live a good life, right? What did you say at the beginning? That when the son earns money, he will definitely take good care of you both. Sweet words are easy to say, but now that you actually have the money, you want to pat your buttocks and leave?”

Madam Liu had been holding back, but when she heard this, her anger flared up: “Since mother still remembers such things from the past, what about when Muniang’s embroidery room was ruined? What did you say to me then? We have separated from the Qiao family; you better move out quickly, don’t let the lord bring trouble to our house.”

Just thinking about it makes my heart cold; back when we were in dire straits, there was not a single kind word, but now that they know I have made some money, they stretch out their hands for their share.

But Madam Zhao didn’t care at all: “What? That’s ten thousand silver taels; even if we sold our whole family, we couldn’t afford to pay it back. The trouble you caused on your own outside, why should it involve the family? But now, you’ve made your own money and think of abandoning the elderly to enjoy yourself, do you have no conscience? After earning silver coin, shouldn’t you think of the elderly first? Truly unfilial!”

Madam Zhao spoke with such self-righteousness that it made Madam Liu tremble with anger.

Qiao Yuanming was also in a difficult position: “Mother, we didn’t earn much, and Cuiliu toils every day to manage the Embroidery House; her hair is almost turning white from the hardship, and this money isn’t so easily earned. How about, when we earn a bit more money, we then take care of you?”

“Nonsense! You didn’t earn much? Do you know how much the melons you casually brought home last time are worth in the market? Over a dozen silver taels each! You can even afford to eat such good stuff, and yet you dare to tell me you have no money!”

Qiao Yuanming was about to say more, but Madam Liu stopped him. There was no use in arguing with Madam Zhao; in her eyes, there was no talk of filial piety or not, she just wanted money. Madam Liu didn’t want to go around in circles anymore; she would not let her in-laws control her any longer.

“Mother, I know how much money you have on hand; our family lives such a difficult life, and you haven’t helped us out. The children haven’t had a good life for so many years, and now that we’ve finally made some money, you want to take it. If it were the past before we divided the family, I wouldn’t have said anything, but now we are clearly two separate families, each living our own lives. Why should the money we earn ourselves still have to be handed to the public fund?” Madam Liu was ready to burn bridges; she didn’t want to keep entangling with Madam Zhao anymore.

Madam Zhao was stunned; she evidently did not expect Madam Liu to say such a thing. But once she recovered, she sat down on the ground and began to wail, “This is unjust, oh! The son and daughter-in-law are being mean to the in-laws. Now that they have money, they despise us. They actually refuse to give a single penny; do they want to starve the two of us to death? I don’t want to live anymore!”

Qiao Yuanming said anxiously, “Mother, what are you talking about? It’s not what Cuiliu meant; we aren’t giving nothing at all. We will take care of you as we should, just not hand over all the money.”

Madam Zhao snorted coldly to herself. If Madam Liu is earning big money, she naturally wants to take the larger share of Madam Liu’s earnings. A little filial piety money is hardly worth considering for her, so she continues to wail, clinging to Qiao Yuanming’s hands.

“Third child, you see clearly the true colors of your wife. To say such unfilial things in front of me, at my old age, I am now being trampled on by the daughter-in-law. I tell you, this kind of daughter-in-law should—”
Madam Zhao originally wanted to suggest divorcing her, but then she suddenly remembered that it was Madam Liu who was making money. Without her, who would provide the silver?

Madam Zhao immediately said, “This kind of daughter-in-law should be taught a harsh lesson; spare the rod, spoil the child!”

Qiao Yuanming grimaced, “Mother, what are you talking about? Cuiliu didn’t mean it like that.”

“What? You don’t want to take care of your own parents now, is that it? Or are you trying to side with your wife to gang up against me?” Madam Zhao’s voice was sharp with accusation.

Qiao Yuanming looked to Madam Liu helplessly, clearly out of ideas.

Madam Liu coldly turned her back on the mother and son and walked into the house. Madam Zhao was puzzled by this behavior, but before long, Madam Liu emerged with a large bundle on her back, loading things onto the cart.

Madam Zhao’s eyes widened in shock. Was she moving out right now?

Where did Madam Liu get the nerve!

Furious, Madam Zhao ran up to block the cart: “If you dare to leave today, I’ll throw myself down right here and die, believe it or not?”

The commotion at the Qiao family’s home attracted many villagers. Madam Liu felt her face burning with embarrassment, “We’ve separated our households long ago. Moving out means disloyalty? I’ve never heard such nonsense! Mother, if you think we’re being unreasonable, we can always invite the Village Head to come and decide. I’d like to see if the Village Head also thinks we must hand over every piece of silver we earn to the public pot after separating!”

Madam Zhao clenched her teeth. If the Village Head actually came, he would surely scold her for making a ruckus: “Don’t spout nonsense. Do you think you have the right to speak? The head of your household is the third son, and if he says to give money, can you even stop him?”

With that, she turned to Qiao Yuanming and began to cry, “Oh, my son, I’ve raised you all these years and now you’re abandoning me? My health has been poor these years; I’ve grown old and useless. You said you made money, how can you not give it to your mother?”

The onlookers who were enjoying the show laughed, “I say, Old Lady Qiao, just because someone moves out, it makes them unfilial? Building a house makes them unfilial? After all said and done, aren’t you just eyeing your son’s money?”

“Exactly, Old Lady Qiao, the third son’s family is having a hard time too. Look how skinny these four kids are; it’s not good for them to be living in such a rundown house forever. If they’ve made a bit of money and want to build a better house, what’s wrong with that? Are you that unhappy to see your own son do well? Are you so eager to funnel that money into your own pocket?”

Everyone chimed in one after another, making Madam Zhao’s face flush with embarrassment, and she started to yell, “Get lost, all of you! What are you shouting about?! Can you mind your own business and not somebody else’s? Don’t hang around the entrance of my yard!”

A loudvoiced woman hollered back, “Then you ought to quit your own yammering! Those of us who are neighbors are always hearing bits and pieces of your family fights. Your voice is so shrill, it’s scaring my kids.”

The crowd burst into laughter. Madam Zhao tried to chase them away while Madam Liu started to cry softly, “It’s all my fault for not being capable enough to provide a good life for the kids, making them grow up thin and scrawny. It breaks my heart to see it. Now that we’ve finally made a little money, we thought of building a house. The kids keep saying how great their Aunt Muniang’s house is, how Big Brother and Lianhua have their own separate rooms. Every time I hear this, I feel so guilty. The kids—they’re so big now, and still all four of them cram into one room!”

There was a sighing murmur among the crowd. Madam Liu appeared to be scolding herself for not being capable enough to give her children a better life, yet everyone heard it as a clear statement of Old Lady Qiao’s favoritism towards her two sons.