Font Size:
“They’re not from our courtyard.”
Bi Chunliu saw Bai Xingzi, wife of their courtyard elder Nie Xuesong, speak up.
“They’re not from ours either.” Someone from another courtyard added.
“Even if our courtyard elder were here, he wouldn’t dare step in. With these two women fighting, even if he’s a man, he couldn’t hold them back.”
“A man’s still stronger than a woman, isn’t he? And if he stepped in, would we all just stand around? We’d pitch in too…”
The people who had been crowded next to the speaker all shuffled a little farther away from him.
“Hah, easy for you to say.”
“Seriously.”
“Hey, Brother Zhong, why don’t you go? If you go first, we’ll help. Aren’t you a man? And you work hauling cargo—you’re stronger than most! You go!” Someone egged him on.
Brother Zhong gave a dry laugh.
“Heh, I’m not in charge of anything here. What good would it do if I stepped in? Better wait for the courtyard elder.”
As he spoke, he even stepped back two paces, afraid they might actually push him forward to break it up.
“Chunliu-jie…” Cai Xiaorong whispered.
Chunliu looked down at her.
“Hm? What is it?”
Cai Xiaorong:
“I just saw our courtyard elder and his wife slip away by the alley…”
Chunliu: …
“WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?! STOP THIS AT ONCE!!”
The two fighting women didn’t stop, but the onlookers parted instantly, making way for the person shouting.
It was the head of the neighborhood office, Director Yao. He glared at the narrow alley and then at the two women still clawing at each other, his face dark as ink.
Cai Xiaorong tugged Bi Qiuguo’s sleeve; Qiuguo tugged Bi Chunliu and Bi Xiahua’s sleeves.
Cai Xiaorong:
“That man behind Director Yao—that’s our courtyard elder.”
Director Yao pressed his lips together, nearly laughing out of anger. They’re still not stopping?! He took a deep breath. Luckily, he hadn’t come alone.
“Two of you—pull them apart! What do they think this looks like?!”
“Director Yao, thank goodness you’re here! You have to stand up for me! My mother-in-law wrongs me and even beat my mother. She’s saying the baby I’m carrying isn’t my husband’s! How can a grandmother slander her own grandson’s mother like this? How can she spout such filth? How am I supposed to live after this…”
Zhang Yu, who had been hanging back while her mother and mother-in-law fought, suddenly threw herself at Director Yao, clutching his leg and wailing.
Chunliu clearly saw Director Yao’s face grow even darker. After Zhang Yu latched onto him, he tugged discreetly at his trousers. Chunliu couldn’t help feeling sympathetic—Director Yao really had it tough. Family disputes like this were always the hardest to handle.
With the help of his men and some onlookers, the two fighters were finally separated. The crowd hushed, the only sound Zhang Yu’s sobbing:
“Director Yao…”
Director Yao: … What a headache. Why does this have to happen in my jurisdiction?
Zhang Yu’s mother-in-law, her face bruised purple and blue, grew even angrier seeing her daughter-in-law collapsed on the ground crying pitifully.
“You’re crying? How dare you cry? When have we ever treated you badly? Tell me with your hand on your heart—have we wronged you? From the moment you married in, you schemed to split our family. Did we ever say anything? Most days we don’t see you, but when it’s holiday gifts, there you are—empty-handed, but carrying away bags from our house. Whenever we get something good, even my own daughter doesn’t taste it, but you take it. And now you dare to act so wronged? Our eyes must have been blind, to let my son marry such a selfish, disrespectful woman! And you even turn it around on us!”
As she spoke, her own grievances welled up. She collapsed too, clutching Director Yao’s leg, bawling as she slapped the ground.
“Oh heavens, look at me! Bullied by my own daughter-in-law! Director Yao, you’re a fair and just man, you must help me… I can’t go on anymore. That’s my own son—how could I lie about putting a green hat on him? Oh, my son… how could our Xie family end up with such a daughter-in-law…”
Director Yao subtly tugged at his trousers again. Damn it, is this my cursed fate? To get stuck with the two of you?
The sky darkened, more people were coming home from work and school, and the crowd swelled. Director Yao’s face grew blacker and blacker…
Finally, he ground his teeth and snapped,
“Both of you, up! What is this mess? If you have grievances, bring them to the neighborhood office for mediation. Don’t make a spectacle here. You don’t want to eat dinner—fine—but do you want to stop everyone else from eating too?”
“Director Yao, we don’t mind skipping dinner…” someone in the crowd muttered.
Well damn, that was exactly what everyone else was thinking. Dinner could wait—scandals like this were rare, and this one touched on the Xie family’s bloodline!
Director Yao tugged at his trousers once more. When I get home tonight, I’m having my wife sew me another belt. Two belts—let’s see who can yank my pants loose then. He waved his hand.
“Enough! This is a family matter. Everyone stop gawking. It’s dark—go home. Cook dinner if you need to, do homework if you need to, help your wives if you need to. Work and school tomorrow—everyone, disperse!”
After all, Director Yao was the head of their neighborhood. Since he had spoken, and as their official in charge, people couldn’t just ignore him. They left, though reluctantly. Their steps were slow—after all, every extra moment meant hearing one more word.
Chunliu led her three younger siblings away too, but the crowd was so thick it was impossible to hurry. She figured this would be the talk of both the textile factory and the factory housing compound by tomorrow.
Zhang Yu, a pretty young wife, sobbed pitifully through her tears,
“Director Yao…”
Her mother-in-law hated nothing more than this pitiful act. She raised her voice to drown Zhang Yu out:
“Director Yao!”
Director Yao: What a sin…