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Wang Zhenjiang massaged Zhu Qiyu’s legs until late into the night, and the night passed without major incidents. The next day, when Wang Zhenhe left, Zhu Qiyu expressed a craving for goose meat dumplings. Zhang Lan, feeling reluctant to slaughter the geese in their yard still laying eggs, wandered around before approaching Liu Hui.
“Niece-in-law, do you have a gander at home? Mother wants goose meat dumplings, but we only have female geese left. I truly can’t bear to slaughter them. If you have one, could you sell it to me?” Zhang Lan inquired.
Liu Hui did have a gander, but she couldn’t overlook Zhu Qiyu’s request. “Third Aunt, you can’t just let her have her way. You slaughtered a chicken yesterday, and now she wants a goose today. If she stays for a month, what will be left in your house? How will you manage by the year’s end? The children need education and food, which costs money. Indulging her like this isn’t about filial piety; it’s about being reasonable. Our village families can’t afford to eat luxuriously every day. Good things shouldn’t be consumed daily; she might end up with stomach issues,” Liu Hui pointed out.
Some sympathized with Zhang Lan’s predicament, stating, “If I don’t comply, she might accuse me of mistreating her. Knowing her character, unless I confront her like my Second Sister-in-law, I can’t handle this situation.”
Liu Hui understood Zhang Lan’s nature well. She advised, “Third Aunt, go along with her today. If she pushes it further tomorrow, ignore her. Just having a warm meal to eat is enough. She treats you all unfairly; your kindness is already more than enough. Let each household manage their own affairs. People will talk regardless of what you do. Don’t worry about the opinions of others.”
Liu Hui went to the yard and caught a gander for Zhu Qiyu, and Zhang Lan paid her a bit more than the market price as a gesture of appreciation.
Back at home, they continued making the goose meat dumplings. When Wang Deshan saw Zhang Lan preparing the dumplings, he furrowed his brow and remarked, “Zhang Lan, are these dumplings for your mother? This stubborn old lady just can’t avoid causing trouble.”
He then walked straight into the room and found Zhu Qiyu sitting on the kang, indulging in apples and cake.
“Old Lady, please restrain yourself. How far do you want to push things before you’re satisfied? Having someone care for you is already a privilege. Why haven’t your two daughters come to see you? Don’t tell me they’re too busy. What were they up to on Sunday? Whenever they have the intention, they can make time. Keep on acting this way, and someday your antics will backfire,” Wang Deshan admonished.
Wang Deshan strongly disapproved of his wife’s biased behavior. While he cared for his family, he couldn’t stand her constant troublemaking. He felt conflicted, unable to control his wife’s actions, watching helplessly as things veered off course.
Angrily, Zhu Qiyu retorted, “Mind your own business. If you’re so capable, get me some delicious food to nourish me. What’s wrong with me wanting to eat well? It’s all because I want to recover quickly and go back home to cook for you, you old fool. I try to help, and you treat me like a donkey’s liver and lungs. Your heart has turned black. Eat your food and stay out of my affairs, or else come and serve me.”
When it came to serving someone, Wang Deshan fell silent. He couldn’t cook, and with the old lady’s picky nature, he hesitated to approach her. He knew he couldn’t please her with her demanding ways.
Trying not to mention the old lady, Wang Deshan quietly smoked his pipe. After preparing lunch, Zhang Lan brought it to Zhu Qiyu first, and both of them sat down to eat. However, after just one bite, Zhu Qiyu began complaining, “Third Son’s wife, these dumplings are too salty. Do you not want me to eat them? Get me some water.”
Angered, Wang Deshan slammed the table, “Damn old lady, the food tastes fine. Are you just finding fault with it? If you’re thirsty, drink some porridge. Are you going to let your daughter-in-law eat?”
Zhang Lan intervened, “Dad, it’s fine. I’ll get some water right away.”
After serving Zhu Qiyu water, Zhang Lan hurried to eat her meal. In the afternoon, when Wang Zhenhe returned home early and felt drowsy, he lay down on the kang, expressing his need for a nap.
As Wang Zhenhe closed his eyes to rest, Wang Juan approached Zhang Lan, “Sister-in-law, there’s a movie screening at the commune tonight. It’s said to be showing ‘A Shi Ma’ and ‘A River Flows Eastward.’ It’s supposed to be quite good. Will you be going?”
Zhang Lan sighed and replied, “Sister-in-law, can I really enjoy it? Wang Zhenhe was up late massaging her legs last night. He just came back and went straight to sleep.”
Listening attentively in the inner room, Zhu Qiyu caught every word Wang Juan said. “Third Son’s family, hurry up and make dinner. I’m going to the movie tonight. Make sure to save seats for us,” she demanded.
Wang Juan stuck out her tongue, “Uh-oh, I’ve caused trouble for you. With her leg in that state, watching a movie isn’t a good idea.”
Entering the inner room and observing Zhu Qiyu’s flushed face, Wang Juan couldn’t help but smile. “Mom, you’ve taken good care of yourself. Look at how tired Third Son is. Not everyone has the patience of my sister-in-law and her husband. Mom, how were you treated by Second Son and his wife? You should have a sense of comparison. It’s about mutual respect. Don’t push everything to the extreme. If you keep this up, I’ll have to reconsider if I have the energy to care for you. Should I call your two daughters back to attend to their mother? There’s no rule that says filial piety means not letting them return home. What do you think?”
Wang Juan’s words nearly set Zhu Qiyu off, but she couldn’t confront the eldest daughter-in-law. She understood the dynamics well. She displayed a pitiful expression, “Eldest daughter-in-law, why are you saying this? I just wanted to watch a movie. Being cooped up at home every day is driving me crazy. I just want to go out and have some fun. If Zhenhe is busy, could you and your husband accompany me?”
Ignoring her plea, Wang Juan left the room, advising, “Sister-in-law, decide for yourself. If you want to go, have Zhenhe take you. If not, go to bed early. If this movie doesn’t work out, there will be others.”
Understanding her sister-in-law’s intentions, Zhang Lan nodded and escorted Wang Juan out. She then hurried to prepare dinner. After Wang Zhenhe woke up from his nap, Zhang Lan called him to eat. They believed in the importance of a good meal before rest – “People are like iron, food is like steel. If you don’t eat one meal, you’ll be hungry.”
During dinner, Zhu Qiyu kept harping on about watching the movie, which annoyed Wang Zhenhe. He offered to take her once but made it clear it would be a one-time event due to his exhausting daily routine. He felt drained, starting work at 5 am to deliver goods to the city and dealing with the hustle of electronic product wholesale.
After dinner, Wang Zhenhe carried Zhu Qiyu on his back, with Zhang Lan holding a stool and a warm coat to ensure Zhu Qiyu stayed warm during the movie. The couple stood by her side, enduring two movie screenings late into the night.
Feeling reluctant to leave her husband alone, Zhang Lan suggested Wang Zhenhe stay at her mother’s house for the night. She felt responsible for managing Zhu Qiyu’s demands and didn’t want her husband to deal with it alone, knowing their family relied on him. Wang Zhenhe agreed to stay away for a couple of days.
The night passed relatively peacefully, leaving Wang Zhenhe with a sense of disbelief. However, the next day brought renewed demands and disturbances from Zhu Qiyu, causing Zhang Lan sleepless nights. Her attempts to rest were interrupted by Zhu Qiyu’s constant needs, making Zhang Lan feel overwhelmed. Despite her exhaustion, she had to cater to Zhu Qiyu’s every whim, leading to a day filled with relentless demands and tasks.
Zhu Qiyu the elderly person continued to repeat what happened the previous night. Perhaps from indulging in good food or eating too much fruit, she had an upset stomach all night, and Zhang Lan stayed up all night attending to her.
Meanwhile, at school, Wang Qian felt her eye twitching and a sense of anxiety early in the morning. Sensing something was amiss, she sought out Mingyuan, expressing her concerns about her mother and the potential need to return home to check on her.
Mingyuan, understanding his sister’s worries about their mother’s health, suggested accompanying her back home. However, Wang Qian, prioritizing their academic responsibilities, encouraged Mingyuan to stay at school and help with notes while she would visit home with their father.
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