Chapter 33: Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law Quarrel

Jiang’s mother came to Jiang Banyue’s shop and told her that Jiang Qingfeng had been discharged from the hospital. Jiang Banyue wanted to visit her nephew but was afraid of causing a conflict with her sister-in-law, which would put her older brother in a difficult position.

Jiang Banyue took out sixty-six yuan from the drawer of the counter, wrapped it in paper, and handed it to her mother.

“Mom, give this money to my brother and sister-in-law, and let them buy some supplements for Qingfeng. He needs to get better.”

Jiang’s mother reached out to decline. “What are you doing? Qingfeng’s injury isn’t your fault. Don’t take responsibility for this.”

“Regardless, Qingfeng got injured at my shop. It’s only right for me to give a little money.”

Jiang’s mother took the money and put it in her bag, looking at her daughter with concern.

“Does your head still hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt anymore. I’m fine, Mom. Don’t worry,” Jiang Banyue reassured her mother.

Thinking back to what happened at the hospital, Jiang’s mother became furious, her heart pounding.

“That Li Mei, that scoundrel! She usually seems fine, but how could she be so unreasonable, blaming this on you? She’s like a mad dog that bites everything in its path. I’m heartbroken over my grandson’s injury too, but that doesn’t give her the right to hit you!”

“Mom, don’t let this get in the way of your relationship with your daughter-in-law.”

“We’re already not getting along. She dared to hit my daughter. I’ll let it go for the sake of my grandson, but if she does this again, I won’t forgive her!”

Jiang’s mother’s face flushed with anger. Her fists were clenched tightly, gritting her teeth as she angrily cursed.

Jiang Banyue looked at her mother with a troubled expression, sighed, and patted her back, comforting her.

“Mom, don’t get angry. You’re older now, don’t let this upset you too much.”

After sitting for a while and seeing that her daughter was fine, Jiang’s mother finally left in peace. Jiang Banyue packed two portions of cake for her nephew and niece and asked her mother to bring them. Standing at the door, she waved goodbye to Jiang’s mother. Once her mother had left, Jiang Banyue was about to head back inside when she saw a chubby girl walking ahead with a bag of flour slung over her shoulder.

“An Xiuxiu!”

An Xiuxiu looked up, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and ran excitedly to Jiang Banyue.

“Benefactor, I found a job! I’m working at the restaurant across the street!”

Jiang Banyue smiled and replied, “Benefactor? Don’t flatter me like that. I’m older than you, so just call me Jiang Jie.”

“Okay, Jiang Jie.” An Xiuxiu put down the bag of flour on her shoulder, and Jiang Banyue furrowed her brows.

“Is the job just carrying flour?”

“No, it’s not just carrying flour. I do all the work at the restaurant. Hehe!”

An Xiuxiu laughed foolishly, and Jiang Banyue responded, “So the salary must be really good, right?”

“The boss provides food, accommodation, and gives me two yuan a month. It’s pretty good!”

Jiang Banyue was stunned. This girl—she’s been tricked, right? She does all the work at the restaurant and only gets two yuan? And as for the food and accommodation, that’s something many places provide. It’s rare that they also give a wage of only two yuan.

Jiang Banyue didn’t know what to say. An Xiuxiu lifted the flour and said goodbye.

“Jiang Jie, I’ll leave now. I’ll come find you to hang out when the shop isn’t busy!”

“Okay.” Jiang Banyue waved her hand, watching her leave.

After Jiang’s mother left, she first went to her eldest son’s house. She wanted to give her daughter’s money to her daughter-in-law, hoping that it would help ease her anger. After all, they were family, and unless it was necessary, she didn’t want to see the children in conflict.

Jiang’s mother arrived at her eldest son’s house and knocked on the door. Jiang Chenggong opened the door to welcome his mother in.

“Mom, you’re here.”

“How is my grandson? Is he better?”

“He’s fine, mom. The child is recovering quickly. He’s sitting on the bed, playing.”

Jiang’s mother raised the cake in her hand. “I went to your sister’s place today. She gave the kids two pieces of cake, and she also gave you some money.”

“Mom, take the money back and give it to Banban. How can I, as the eldest son, take money from my sister? Besides, Qingfeng injury has nothing to do with her. Tell her not to blame herself too much.”

“Banban gave it to me. You two should just accept it!”

The mother and son were arguing in the living room, and it reached the ears of the people in the house. Li Mei came out from the room with a cold expression, standing at the bedroom door.

“What are you two arguing about? My son is sleeping. Don’t disturb his rest!”

Jiang’s mother felt embarrassed by her daughter-in-law’s attitude. Not wanting to make her son uncomfortable, she suppressed her anger and said in a calm tone:

“Banban asked me to bring some money to you two, to buy the kids some good food and supplements, and she also brought two pieces of cake for the kids!”

“Jiang Banyue gave me money? Why doesn’t she come here herself? Is it because she made my son get hurt and now feels guilty?”

Li Mei’s sarcastic words provoked Jiang’s mother. Jiang’s mother trembled with anger and raised her arm, pointing at her.

“Li Mei, don’t go too far! Why doesn’t my daughter come? It’s because of you! She doesn’t want to create conflict with you, doesn’t want to make her older brother feel stuck in the middle. The child’s injury, no one wanted to see that happen, we’ve all been trying to make it right. What else do you want?”

“Make it right? How do you plan to do that?” Li Mei’s anger flared.

“My son’s face is scarred. He’ll carry that scar on his head for the rest of his life. As his mother, my heart feels like it’s breaking!”

“Li Mei, my daughter was also pushed and got injured. How do you plan to settle that?”

“She deserved it! I think I didn’t push her hard enough, it wasn’t as serious as my son’s injury!” Li Mei shouted.

“Slap!” Jiang Chenggong slapped her across the face, angrily shouting:

“Li Mei, Qingfeng injury has nothing to do with my sister. If you ever bully my sister again, I won’t let you off!”

“Jiang Chenggong, you dare to hit me? I’ll fight you to the end!”

Li Mei crazily slapped at Jiang Chenggong. He endured and kept backing away, taking the blows. Jiang’s mother, feeling distressed, rushed forward to protect her son.

“Li Mei, you dare to hit my son?!”

Jiang’s mother shoved Li Mei, causing her to stumble backwards.

“Alright! You two are ganging up on me now? Fine! Jiang Chenggong, you’ll regret this! I swear I won’t let it go!”

In a fit of rage, Li Mei ran back to her mother’s house. Jiang’s mother was anxiously pacing back and forth.

“Son, what are we going to do now?”

“Mom, don’t worry about it. We didn’t do anything wrong. Li Mei is too extreme. When she calms down, I’ll talk to her. Don’t worry, everything will be fine!”

Jiang Chenggong comforted his mother, but Jiang’s mother was still worried, her hair turning grayer from the stress.