Chapter 32: Spending Money to Avoid Trouble

Du Wanqiu’s mother in law insisted on taking her and her child back to her hometown.

However, since Du Wanqiu had already married Jiang Chuan, there was no way she would comply willingly. Seizing the chance when Jiang’s father invited them to sit down and have a meal together, she found Jiang Chuan in private and tearfully asked him, “You knew I didn’t want to see her. Why did you bring her here?”

“No matter what kind of person she is, it’s only right to inform them of our marriage,” Jiang Chuan replied.

“Then why didn’t you tell me beforehand?” she asked.

Seeing Du Wanqiu crying, Jiang Chuan realized he had acted insensitively. “I know you don’t want to contact them, but marriage isn’t just about the two of us. I never expected things to turn out like this. I just wanted a happy ending for everyone, so you wouldn’t have to feel humiliated in front of the people back home.”

Du Wanqiu was beginning to understand what Xiao Qingru had once felt Jiang Chuan acted purely on what he thought was right, ignoring the thoughts and feelings of his partner. The embarrassment she’d endured at the wedding came to mind, and she truly began to sob. “What will happen now? They want to take me back. Are you abandoning me and our child?”

Jiang Chuan remained silent, clearly uneasy. Noticing this, Du Wanqiu continued, “You saw for yourself what kind of people they are. Are you really going to let me live with them?”

Finally, he spoke. “I won’t let you or our child return with them, but stop crying. Crying won’t solve anything.”

Du Wanqiu sensed his impatience, though she felt somewhat relieved when Jiang Chuan assured her, “I brought them here, so I’ll handle it.” She pressed on, “But what if Mom and Dad insist on me going back?”

“Now that we’re married, you’re part of the Jiang family. It’s unreasonable to ask you to leave.”

Hearing this, Du Wanqiu stopped crying. She thought, Thank goodness they arrived after the wedding. If they’d come earlier, it might have been called off.

In the meantime, the elder Jiangs treated the Zhang family members to a feast. Watching the Jiang family’s big house and enjoying the fancy meal, the Zhangs were seething with jealousy toward Du Wanqiu. She had run off and married into a wealthy family wasn’t she just a village girl?

“I want to see my grandson,” Du Wanqiu’s mother in law demanded. “He’s my son’s flesh and blood.”

Seeing as it was Zhang’s son, the Jiang family couldn’t refuse, so Jiang’s mother fetched the child and handed him over.

Seeing the child, Zhang’s mother in law’s gaze softened somewhat. “He really does look like his father at this age! I want to take this child back with me.”

“No way,” came a firm voice. Jiang Chuan and Du Wanqiu entered the room, now tidied up and more composed.

The Zhang mother in law retorted, “Who are you to refuse? He’s our grandson, not yours!”

“If he stays here, he’ll have a better life,” Jiang Chuan replied.

“Oh, I see!” Zhang’s mother in law sneered, “You can’t have your own son, so you’re taking ours?”

Jiang’s mother was barely able to hold her anger back but managed to say, “We’re offering to raise the child at our expense, saving you trouble, and you talk to us like this?”

The Zhang family matriarch sniffed, “We’re perfectly willing to raise him ourselves. We don’t need your favors.”

Remaining calm, Jiang Chuan responded, “The child’s mother is here, so custody remains with her.”

“Oh, I’m sure she’d just love to keep this baggage around!” Zhang’s mother in law scoffed.

Given the chance, Du Wanqiu might indeed have sent the child back with the Zhangs, hoping it would ease her standing in the Jiang family. But she knew that Jiang Chuan would see her off, too, if she let the child go.

“I won’t be separated from my child,” she said, sounding strong and resolved.

Zhang’s mother in law clicked her tongue, unconvinced. “All right then,” she said slyly, “but if you want this child, pay up! This is the Zhang family’s flesh and blood, not yours.”

Jiang’s father finally spoke up, looking directly at the Zhang family members. “Fine, the child will stay here, and Du Wanqiu’s portion of the compensation money will go to you.”

Hearing this, Zhang’s mother in law was stunned. “What money?”

“The bereavement payment,” Jiang’s father replied.

It dawned on Zhang’s mother in law that her son’s widow had received compensation that they never saw. “So that’s why she cut us off!” she shouted. “That money is ours. She has no right to it!”

Inside, Du Wanqiu felt bitter the bereavement money was substantial, enough to last many people a lifetime. Watching her hesitate, Jiang’s father added, “You can either keep the money and let them take the child or give it to them and keep the child here.”

Zhang’s mother in law was not pleased. “The money and child are ours, so why should I settle for just one?”

Jiang’s father replied, “As his widow, Du Wanqiu is entitled to half of the money. And without a father, the child stays with the mother. That’s final.”

“Then we’ll take her to court!” Zhang’s mother in law snapped. “You’ll lose everything!”

Reluctantly, Jiang’s mother intervened. “Fine. Du Wanqiu will give you all of the bereavement payment, and we’ll add 200 yuan as a wedding gift. Take it or leave it.”

Zhang’s mother in law finally accepted. She thought, It’ll take years to get this much money. It’s a good deal.

The Zhang family reluctantly agreed, pocketing the payment. With that, they left, not caring about Du Wanqiu or her son. Jiang’s mother, however, was filled with resentment. Since entering their lives, Du Wanqiu had brought nothing but trouble.

Only after the Zhangs had left did Jiang’s father sigh, watching Du Wanqiu closely. “If you’re not satisfied, you’re free to handle matters on your own,” he remarked. He left her no other choice, and so she agreed.

Inside, she thought, Once I’m truly a part of this family, the future rewards will far outweigh this loss.