Chapter 4

“This pork crackling and cabbage must be made by my mom; it’s terrible!” Dazhu took a bite and nearly spit it out—it was overly salty.

“Watch how you talk about your mother.” Jiang Honghai knocked his son on the head. “If it’s not good, you can just cool off somewhere else.”

“Aunt, why didn’t you cook today?” San Zhu tilted his head to look at Lin Wan. Although his second uncle’s cooking was delicious, he was used to the flavors of his aunt’s cooking, and the sudden change was hard to adapt to.

No one at the table was willing to pick up their chopsticks for that bowl of pork crackling and cabbage.

It was inedible due to its excessive saltiness.

Grandma Xu felt a pang of heartache and scolded the second daughter-in-law, “You’re such a fool! You can’t even fry a dish properly and still want your husband to cook? What use are you?”

Ultimately, she couldn’t bear to waste the pork cracklings. She picked up her chopsticks and tried a bite, almost reacting the same way as her grandson—bitter and salty.

She was instantly furious. “Wasteful woman! You put half a bowl of pork cracklings in here! Is this how you live?”

Zhong Huihui had given birth to three sons and a daughter for the Old Jiang family, standing tall and refusing to put up with her mother-in-law’s bullying.

“Don’t like it? Let your son, a chef, cook delicious meals for you daily! Why drag me through the mud? I’m not living off idle earnings; my salary is no less than your son’s.”

Grandpa Jiang slammed his chopsticks down. “Can’t you all keep your mouths shut while eating?”

The entire table of children and grandchildren sensed that the old man was in a particularly bad mood today, so they all buried their heads in their bowls and remained silent.

With no one speaking, they finished their meals quickly. When the last person put down their chopsticks, Grandma Xu spoke again, “Eldest wife, you go wash the dishes.”

“My mom isn’t washing the dishes today.” Jiang Ci said to Grandpa Jiang, “Grandpa, we agreed to let my mom take a day off from housework.”

Grandpa Jiang silently withheld his comments. Did he have to assign who would wash the dishes? That was absurd.

The atmosphere became quite awkward. The third sister-in-law said, “I’ll go wash them.”

Shen Meimei was the head of the elementary school and also served as a homeroom teacher. Jiang Laoshan, feeling sorry for his wife, said, “You bring back so much homework every day to grade, and you’re still up until midnight doing it. Take a break; I’ll wash the dishes.”

As he spoke, he started to clear the dining table. “You little rascals, why aren’t you helping your third uncle with the bowels and cleaning the table?”

Dazhu, Er Zhu, and San Zhu were clever little monkeys. Today, Grandpa was acting strange, Grandma was off, their aunt was silent, and their older sister was fierce. Even their parents were behaving as quietly as rabbits.

A few of them didn’t dare to misbehave and hurriedly carried the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen before slipping off to do their homework in the other room.

“Second wife, you go wash the dishes.”

To assert her authority as a mother-in-law, Grandma Xu commanded Zhong Huihui, “Your eldest sister-in-law is being willful and refuses to do housework. You’re the second sister-in-law, so you go wash the dishes.”

Zhong Huihui felt a surge of anger. Her mother-in-law must have had some run-in with the eldest sister-in-law and Jiang Ci, and now she was taking it out on her.

She kicked her husband. “Jiang Honghai, didn’t you hear what your mother said? You’re the second son; you go wash the dishes.”

“Huh? Didn’t our mom tell you to wash the dishes?”

Jiang Honghai was taken aback. Having worked as a chef for ten years, he had several apprentices under him. He rarely had to wash dishes, let alone handle cutting or preparing ingredients.

He was momentarily stunned.

Zhong Huihui was furious. “Jiang Laoer, I wasted my time with you! Your brother knows how to cherish his wife and rushes to wash the dishes. I work much harder in the textile factory than a primary school teacher; don’t you care about my feelings at all?”

“I manage six machines by myself at the factory and constantly watch the threads. I’m so busy that I hardly have time for restroom use. I can’t even afford to drink water! By the end of the day, my feet are so swollen. Everyone knows that female workers in our textile factory earn high wages, but that’s because we work twice as hard for it!”

Jiang Laoer immediately backed down, saying, “I was just speaking off the cuff. Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. I’ll go wash the dishes right now.”

His wife indeed worked hard, having given birth to four children. Each time, she went back to work in the factory as soon as they turned a month old. If he didn’t care for his own wife, who would?

In any case, he knew his mother would definitely not care about her daughter-in-law.

Grandma Xu watched her two sons act like cowards, grinding her teeth in anger.

“Just because you’re tired, does that give you a reason? What woman hasn’t gone through this? How did my family, the Jiang family, end up with such a lazy daughter-in-law? What a sin!”

She dragged one son with each hand, saying, “Laoer, Laosan, I won’t allow you to wash the dishes.”

Grandpa Jiang got angry. “While you’re arguing, the dishes will be washed. If you don’t let your sons into the kitchen, then you go wash them yourself.”

“Why should I wash the dishes when I have three daughters-in-law?”

Grandma Xu refused to get up from the ground, saying, “Jiang Dayou, you heartless man! I’ve served your parents in this house for decades, and now that I’ve become a mother-in-law, why can’t I enjoy the blessings of having daughters-in-law?”

Seeing that neighbors were peeking through the yard gate to listen to the commotion, Jiang Laoer quickly pulled his mother up, saying, “Mom, stop making a scene. It’s just about washing some dishes, isn’t it?”

Jiang Ci remained unmoved, holding Lin Wan down, not allowing her to move. Let them make a fuss; after all, it wasn’t just her face that was at stake.

Zhong Huihui rolled her eyes internally and complained to her mother-in-law, “I earn five more dollars than your son. Why should I work myself to death only to come home and wash the dishes? I refuse to do it.”

Originally, she could have washed the dishes, but now that Grandma Jiang had said something, she stubbornly refused.

Jiang Ci certainly wouldn’t go, either. His mother had been making buns for half her life, and now that she had been reborn, nobody was going to bully her mother.

“If we’re going by this logic, my mom has the highest salary, so it shouldn’t be her turn to wash dishes.”

“Your mother is just a temporary worker. It’s nice to say she’s a private caregiver, but really, she’s just taking care of a disabled person.”

Grandma Xu felt both envy and resentment. “If it weren’t for that family being wealthy, how could your mother be earning the highest salary in the family?”

“If you’re so capable, why don’t you go do it?” Jiang Ci shot back. “I see you’re quite happy collecting the household money from my mom every month.”

Since everyone was arguing so happily, the third daughter-in-law also didn’t want to be the one to stick her neck out. If she got used to it, wouldn’t all the household chores fall on her in the future?

“Since no one is willing to cook dinner or wash the dishes, how about we three sisters-in-law each contribute three dollars a month to hire Aunt Wang from next door to cook dinner and wash the dishes? Does the eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law agree?”

The Jiang family’s conditions were considered quite good in the entire Qin Province. Both couples worked, and they were employed in good companies, earning decent salaries.

Each family contributed three dollars, which added up to nine dollars in total.

With nine dollars, they could buy fifty-eight catties of high-quality new rice. No family would willingly spend such a large sum of money to hire a temporary worker specifically to cook dinner.

As Grandma Xu had said, “There are still women in the family; why should we give our money to someone else?”

Zhong Huihui was usually stingy and felt a little reluctant about contributing her three dollars.

She also sensed that something was off in the household today. Coupled with the rumors she had heard, she guessed that the eldest sister-in-law wouldn’t be staying at home for long.

If the eldest sister-in-law was gone, then no one would cook or wash the dishes. She worked all day and was exhausted; she had no desire to serve this whole family’s needs.

She was not the family’s servant.

Zhong Huihui gritted her teeth and agreed to Shen Meimei’s suggestion. “I’ll contribute my three dollars, but Aunt Wang’s cooking isn’t great. We should ask Sister-in-law Ji to help; she cooks well, doesn’t talk much, and is diligent. What do you think, eldest sister-in-law?”

Jiang Ci expressed Lin Wan’s agreement, saying, “We’re also willing to contribute our three dollars each month.”

“Well then, it’s settled.” Grandpa Jiang didn’t see any issue with spending nine yuan to hire someone to cook.

He never required his sons’ wives to hand over all their salaries. Each of the three daughters-in-law contributed twenty dollars a month to Grandma Xu for household expenses, plus the thirty dollars he gave her. That meant Grandma had ninety dollars for groceries every month, which was a decent amount.

In an average family, a whole family’s income was only about forty to fifty dollars a month.

“I don’t agree,” Grandma Xu said, struggling to get up from the ground. “What a sin! My three daughters-in-law have actually fallen to the point of needing to hire someone to cook. If this gets out, won’t people laugh at me, saying I can’t manage my daughters-in-law? I absolutely refuse!”

“If you don’t agree, then you can go cook and wash the dishes yourself!” Grandpa Jiang said, his head pounding from anger.

It was a drama with three women, and now there were five women in the house, plus a useless daughter who occasionally came home to take advantage.

When he was busy as a leader at work, he hadn’t felt it so acutely, but now that he was about to retire, he realized he really couldn’t tolerate it anymore.

Grandpa Jiang stood up and said, “Eldest and second sons, come into the house with me; I have something to discuss with you. Don’t worry about the old lady. Once she gets tired of doing housework, she’ll naturally agree to let you hire someone.”

“Each of you keeps complaining about being tired and busy; why don’t you go rest in the house?” This was directed at the daughters-in-law.

Since the old man had spoken, Jiang Ci took the lead and pulled Lin Wan upstairs.

With Jiang Ci taking the lead, Zhong Huihui ignored Grandma Xu’s insults and turned to enter the west wing room.

Shen Meimei was a cultured person. She told the old man, “Dad, I’m returning to the room to grade homework. Starting this month, I’ll give Mom twenty-three yuan. If she’s willing to cook, she can keep the money; if she doesn’t want to cook, she can hire someone. Either way, I’m the one paying.”

In any case, she would be different from the eldest sister-in-law, who was willing to cook for the whole family.

As if!

Shen Meimei entered the east wing and locked the door, focusing on grading assignments.

Grandma Xu: “……”

Was the world upside down? Were daughters-in-law this audacious these days?

“Eldest and second sons, tomorrow I’ll send your wives back to their parents’ homes. Our Jiang family can’t afford such defiant daughters-in-law!”

Jiang Laoer replied, “Mom, this isn’t the era you experienced as a daughter-in-law. Why do you want to control your daughters-in-law? Just look at the whole street; who has a mother-in-law as easygoing as you? Every month, you get ninety dollars for groceries. You only buy meat for the kids once in a while. Have we complained about it?”

“Exactly,” Jiang Laoshan chimed in. “If it weren’t for me and the second brother bringing back fish and meat occasionally, how would these little rascals manage?”

“You two good-for-nothings! Don’t forget you crawled out from your mother’s womb. Now you’re blaming your own mother for your wives? Why don’t you go to heaven?”

Jiang Dazhu couldn’t help but run out, shouting, “Grandma, my mom works really hard too! Why are you bullying her? From now on, I won’t recognize you as my grandma anymore!”

The grandson, whom she loved the most, stabbed her heart with his words, and Grandma Xu burst into tears.

“Even little debt collectors know how to pity their mothers! How come you two don’t care for your own mother? I might as well have strangled you back then…”

“Laoer, Laosan, what are you two waiting for? Come into the house; I have serious business to discuss.” Grandpa Jiang slammed the door of the main room, completely ignoring Grandma’s unreasonable wailing.

Grandpa Jiang’s expression was grave as he spoke to his two sons. “Laoer, Laosan, your elder brother is coming back.”

“What?” Jiang Laoer exclaimed, shocked, his mouth agape. “Didn’t my elder brother die?”

Jiang Laoshan was a beat slow to respond, saying, “That’s good news, Dad! My sister-in-law has waited on my elder brother for seventeen years; it’s finally time for her to enjoy the fruits of her labor.”

“Good news, my foot!” Grandpa Jiang was nearly driven to madness; he almost fainted when Grandma Xu told him this.

“Your elder brother brought a woman back with him; they’ve had four children!”

—o—o—o—

After a while, Lin Wan could no longer hear Grandma Xu’s howls from the bedroom on the second floor.

“Xiao Ci, it’s strange to say, but I just realized how much discontent the second and third sisters-in-law have towards Grandma. Why did it suddenly erupt today?”

Lin Wan smiled, “I actually feel quite relieved.”

“Because before, Mom took on all the household chores, and the second and third aunts pretended to be deaf and mute. As long as Mom didn’t step up and take charge, the conflicts naturally fell on them. It’s no wonder they exploded!”

“Hey, actually, your grandfather is quite fair. Your two uncles and aunts aren’t too bad, either. Otherwise, Mom really wouldn’t be able to stay in this family.”

“Mom, you’re too easily satisfied. I don’t want you to stay home and be their servant. We’ll move out once I take over Grandpa’s job tomorrow.”

Lin Wan pulled her daughter, who was rummaging under the bed, “Xiao Ci, what are you bending down to look for?”

“Mom, did you see my diary?”

“The one that Brother Chuan gave you for your seventh birthday?”

“Yeah, that one! I’ve been writing in it for several years and don’t want to lose it.”

Lin Wan thought for a moment, “Brother Chuan hasn’t given you a gift in ten years. You treasure that diary like it’s something special. Isn’t it pressed under the camphor wood chest? I’ll go get it for you.”

She rummaged through the bottom of the chest and pulled out Jiang Ci’s diary. “What do you need this for? The last time you came back from Brother Chuan’s house crying, didn’t you angrily stuff the diary into the chest and say you’d never talk to him again?”

Jiang Ci curved her lips, smiling subtly; she hadn’t seen this diary in fifteen years.

After being reborn, she was determined not to lose this diary again.

It was just an ordinary diary to others, but Jiang Ci could see things that others couldn’t.

For Jiang Ci, it was a “special” diary.

She opened the diary, and Lin Wan read a small passage, laughing as she said, “No wonder you cried so hard that day; it turns out Brother Chuan spoke harshly to you and told you not to go to his house anymore.”

She looked affectionately at her daughter. “Mom knows you’ve liked him since you were little. Brother Chuan is a good kid; he’s just afraid that his family’s landlord background might burden you, which is why he doesn’t want you to go.”

“I know, Mom. I’m not mad at Brother Chuan,” Jiang Ci said, her fingers curling tightly.

What Lin Wan saw were the diary entries written on the pages.

What Jiang Ci saw was completely different.

The diary contained a passage in which she was the central figure: “The female protagonist’s father, Jiang Guozhu, returned at this critical moment. Not only did he come back, but he also brought along a woman and their four children.”

“The female protagonist couldn’t bear her father’s betrayal and her mother’s serious illness, so she ran away from home. She picked some wild produce from the mountains to sell secretly to make a living. She was reported by the woman her father brought back and was sentenced to five years for speculation and profiteering…”

That female protagonist must be her, Jiang Ci, right?

Jiang Ci closed the diary, filled with anger toward Jiang Guozhu. How could she have such a father?

In her previous life, she had also read similar words in this diary, foretelling that someone would push her off a slope one day.

At that time, she hadn’t experienced a rebirth and was so frightened by this sudden supernatural event that she mindlessly followed everyone up the mountain to pick chestnuts, only to be pushed down, just as the diary had predicted.

The diary hadn’t been wrong at all.

Later, when she woke up in the hospital, she didn’t know where this diary had gone.

Now she understood that the person who had pushed her must have gotten her diary early on, which allowed them to escape those calamities with Brother Chuan.