Chapter 6: The Obedient Old Bag

Li Xingguo signed the agreement with a stiffened resolve. The document was in triplicate: one for Wu Zhiqiu, one for Li Mancang, and one for the community.

The neighbors were pleased for Wu Zhiqiu and her husband. Some genuinely felt that it was not easy to support a university student, while others were just there to watch the spectacle.

This farce ended up wrapping up clumsily, leaving the eldest couple’s reputation thoroughly tarnished in the courtyard. Fortunately, they didn’t live there, or they would be the subject of gossip every day!

As the community director left, the third son discreetly slipped him two packs of cigarettes; he couldn’t let the man make the trip for nothing.

Wu Zhiqiu noticed this. Her youngest son was clever and knew how to handle affairs.

Looking at the eldest son, who had graduated from university but still didn’t grasp basic social skills, she felt that it would be difficult for him to get by in his line of work.

After the eldest couple signed the agreement, they left, and the neighbors, seeing there was no more excitement, began to disperse.

Only Wu Zhiqiu’s family remained in the house.

“Mom, what should we eat for dinner? I’ll go cook!” The second daughter-in-law had changed her clothes. After today’s incident where her brother-in-law had been at a disadvantage, she was in a very good mood.

Wu Zhiqiu was still feeling dazed from the day’s events. She wanted to lie down and had no appetite. “Just make whatever. Cook what you like!”

After saying this, she went into the back room.

The second daughter-in-law stuck out her tongue at the second son. Was the old lady still upset? However, her attitude towards her had improved significantly today, even allowing her to cook what she liked. This was the first time since they’d come to this place for nearly half a year!

“What are we making?” the second daughter-in-law asked her husband.

“Don’t you love noodles? Let’s make some tonight!” The second son smiled, finally seeing his wife being treated well by his mother.

“Second sister-in-law, I want egg sauce!” The third son came over, licking his lips.

“Okay! I’ll go make it right now!”

“I’ll go pick up the kids!”

The third son hurried off to help his sister-in-law; he also loved eating homemade noodles!

Li Fengchun went back to her room to continue reading.

Li Mancang followed Wu Zhiqiu into the house.

Li Mancang was a particularly honest man, often lacking a sense of presence. Today, no one had asked for his opinion during the commotion; it was as if he didn’t exist.

He hadn’t spoken much throughout, except for when the eldest daughter-in-law cursed his wife, where he appeared especially angry. Otherwise, it was as if he were invisible.

Li Mancang was a typical henpecked husband, obediently following his wife’s lead. Whether it was family matters or the children’s affairs, Wu Zhiqiu made all the decisions.

In her previous life, Wu Zhiqiu had often exploited Li Mancang, making him work tirelessly for their children!

At this moment, Wu Zhiqiu held a small mirror, looking at her still-acceptable reflection. Today, she was forty-nine years old, almost fifty. Wrinkles had begun to appear on her face, and there were quite a few gray hairs.

However, her arms and legs were still agile, and she didn’t have cancer. She felt light and healthy!

It was fortunate that she had regained her strength at this point; if it had happened a few years later, she might have wished for her own demise!

Her job was still secure, her house remained intact, and her husband was still by her side. Today, she had also secured half of the eldest son’s salary, which was a good start.

As for distancing herself from these children now that she had regained her strength?

Why should she? She had raised them. Now that they needed to repay her, she should draw a line with them? Absolutely not.

She wasn’t the kind of person who gave without expecting something in return. In her past life, she had believed she was an unselfish mother, but upon reflection, she realized that wasn’t true. She did need something in return!

The ultimate feeling of betrayal from her children stemmed from this expectation of reciprocity, and she regretted her past sacrifices immensely!

Heaven had given her a second chance; she still had her health and a job, so she would live for herself this time!

“Is the eldest son really not going to care?” Wu Zhiqiu was lost in her thoughts when Li Mancang suddenly asked.

“Care about what? How would he manage? Do you have money?”

Li Mancang…

“Should we really be asking for the eldest son’s salary?”

“Why shouldn’t we? He has taken so much money from our family. Look at the other children; not a single one of them has a decent job! Shouldn’t we ask for it?”

Li Mancang…

“Then he won’t hold a grudge against us, right? We’ll have to rely on him for our old age,” Li Mancang wasn’t overly concerned about his son; he was more worried about the looks he might get from him in the future.

“Rely on him? You’d be better off relying on a dog!”

Li Mancang…

What madness was this? Why was she speaking so harshly?

“Didn’t you say we needed to rely on the eldest son for our old age?”

This was something Wu Zhiqiu had drilled into Li Mancang’s head. They were helping the eldest son so they could support themselves in their old age. Therefore, no matter the situation, they prioritized the eldest son. If he needed anything, they would do everything possible to help him.

Wu Zhiqiu felt a bit choked up; this old man was really arguing with her now.

“Look at the eldest son’s wife. Is she someone who can support us in our old age? Before anything happens, she dares to insult me, and the eldest son doesn’t say a word. With people like that, you expect them to support us?”

Li Mancang sighed. After this commotion, he could see that they couldn’t rely on the eldest son.

“Then who will support us?” Li Mancang asked, confused.

“As long as we have money in our hands, they’ll all rush to take care of us. As long as we’re not bedridden, we won’t have to rely on them! Even if we were bedridden, as long as we have money, there would be plenty of filial children and virtuous grandchildren around.”

“But we don’t have money!” Li Mancang looked at his wife, bewildered. Had something possessed her? Their family didn’t even have a hundred yuan in savings!

Wu Zhiqiu…

“We both have jobs. I’ll retire next year and get a pension. Plus, we can start a business now. We’ll definitely have money!”

Li Mancang nodded blankly. If his wife said there would be money, then there would be. He would just do as he was told, whatever she wanted him to do.

Wu Zhiqiu thought about how Li Mancang hadn’t enjoyed a single day of comfort in his life and had died early.

In his last days, he just wanted to drink a bit of wine and eat some pig’s head meat.

She had scolded him for being too greedy, thinking only of himself and not considering the children at all.

Looking back, she almost wanted to slap herself.

Thinking about how he had died early due to overwork made her feel heavy-hearted!

“Starting today, you’re not working at the freight station anymore!”

“Not working? Why not?”

Wu Zhiqiu found explaining to him exhausting. “If I say you’re not working, then don’t work! You won’t be working from now on!” Wu Zhiqiu said firmly, her tone leaving no room for discussion.

“Then how will we earn money?”

“Stop talking nonsense! Can’t you understand simple instructions?”

“Alright, alright, I won’t work!”

Li Mancang’s only redeeming quality was that he listened to his wife!

He thought to himself, if they didn’t earn money, that was fine; they would figure it out later. For now, he needed to avoid upsetting his wife!

Wu Zhiqiu ignored him, lost in thoughts about past events, contemplating how to make money. In her previous life, despite doing nothing, she had made over a hundred thousand from the relocation of a few houses. If she had that money in her hands now, she was certain they could live a good life.

In another ten or so years, the houses would be worth something. The only thing she could think of now was buying property!

But looking at the money box, she realized that this month’s salary hadn’t come in yet, and there were only eighteen yuan left inside!

Ah! The road to buying a house was long and arduous!

Li Mancang watched his wife sigh at the money box, and he sighed inwardly as well. They were so poor! Even though both of them earned salaries and he worked part-time, how was it that they had nothing left?

As the couple lamented their situation…

“Mom! Dad! Dinner’s ready!” The second son’s voice called from the doorway.

“Coming!”