Chapter 29: Endless Disputes

Madam Zhang felt blocked every time she thought about this matter. Looking at the Wang family, the elders were old and the young ones were little; only her husband was capable. If it were just her household to support, it would be fine, but the first household had several mouths to feed, and no matter how she calculated, they were at a loss.

Seeing Wang Yuan’er making a name for herself with the tea eggs, selling eggs every day and roughly calculating a few taels of silver, she was dissatisfied that Wang Yuan’er kept the money herself instead of turning it in. Why should her household’s earnings go into the communal pot while the first household’s didn’t?

Moreover, Wang Yuan’er generously gave an entire money bag to that little rascal. How much money could that be? Their own lives weren’t even good, and she was giving charity to a little brat?

It infuriated her!

Thinking about the scene she had witnessed, Madam Zhang felt her chest ache as if the money given away was her own flesh and blood.

“Mother, Wang Er gets up early and works late at the shop every day. You see it, too. He’s genuinely trying to save money to help with the household expenses. Eldest Brother is gone, and the burden of supporting the family falls on his shoulders. We can’t rely on the eldest sister-in-law, and there’s no one to help, but Yuan’er can’t just throw money away like this. Our family isn’t wealthy enough to be giving handouts,” Madam Zhang said, feigning a broken heart. “Even Min’er knows to be frugal. Yuan’er is a grown girl now. How can she still be so naive? I’m not trying to be calculating, but I’m afraid her soft nature will get her cheated. Mother, you’re the head of the household. You should take control. It’s better than having this girl give away money for no reason.”

Wang Yuan’er trembled with anger. It all boiled down to her having to turn in her money!

“Second Aunt, my father tended the fields for all these years. He reported his methods to increase crop yield to the county magistrate, who rewarded him with five taels of silver. He turned in all the money, right? What does Second Uncle do? He only oversees the shop’s craftsmen, drinks tea, and handles business. Don’t say he turned in all the money. The shop belongs to the Wang family. We all know how much Second Uncle pockets. To say nothing else, Min’er’s earrings are new and must have cost a tael of silver!” Wang Yuan’er pointed at Wang Min’er’s ears. “Don’t say she found and bought them herself. We all know where they came from.”

Wang Min’er, never expecting the fire to turn on her suddenly, touched her earrings and met Madam Zhang’s glare. She pouted. She had begged Madam Zhang for the money to buy the earrings, and being new jewelry, she naturally wore them.

“Those were bought with my private money. Can’t I use my dowry to buy my daughter some jewelry?” Madam Zhang said defiantly, with some arrogance. “Besides, my sister-in-law works at the prestigious Tang family. She has no daughter and has always favored Min’er, often giving her jewelry.”

Madam Zhang’s sister-in-law worked for the wealthy Tang family in town. She had been a wet nurse to the third young master and became his housekeeper after he grew up, a highly esteemed position.

“Yes, my aunt gave them to me,” Wang Min’er added proudly.

Wang Yuan’er sneered, about to speak, but her sleeve was tugged. She knew Madam Liang was trying to calm her, but she couldn’t swallow her anger. As she turned to look, she saw Madam Liang collapsing beside her and screamed, “Mother!”

Chapter 30: Madam Liang’s Troubles

Madam Liang suddenly collapsed, which frightened Wang Yuan’er and the others—especially the little ones, who started crying loudly. Even Grandma Wang was worried because Madam Liang was pregnant with Wang Da’s posthumous child, and if it were a boy, he would be the sole successor.

Thinking this, Grandma Wang did not dare to delay and immediately instructed Wang Qing’er to fetch a doctor.

“I wonder if she’s faking it,” Madam Zhang muttered with pursed lips upon hearing about fetching the doctor.

Grandma Wang heard this and cast a sharp glance over, making Madam Zhang immediately shut her mouth and not dare to speak further.

Wang Yuan’er looked at Madam Liang’s pale face, her heart tightening painfully as if an invisible hand was gripping her tightly, making it hard to breathe. After experiencing Zhao Niu’s inevitable death, she was really scared, afraid that Madam Liang would also not escape this fate, so she didn’t hear what Madam Zhang was saying. She grabbed Madam Liang’s hand, finding it cold, and became even more anxious, her tears falling down. “Mom.”

Luckily, Madam Liang only fainted for a short while and seemed to have heard Wang Yuan’er’s call. She slowly opened her eyes and, seeing Wang Yuan’er’s worried face, she hoarsely said: “Yuan’er, don’t fight.”

Seeing her awake, Wang Yuan’er relaxed, saying, “Mom, don’t talk, wait for the doctor to check your pulse.”

“Hey, she’s already awake; what’s the need for a doctor?”Madam Zhang said coolly from the side.

“If you have nothing to do, go away. It’s getting dark, and the kitchen is still cold. Go prepare dinner,” Grandma Wang said, glancing at Madam Zhang and then at Madam Liang’s pale face, adding: “Butcher the chicken in the backyard that doesn’t lay eggs and make a rich soup for your sister-in-law.”

“What?” Madam Zhang widened her eyes, but under Grandma Wang’s glare, she begrudgingly shut her mouth.

“Mom, it’s not necessary,” Madam Liang said, feeling flattered by Grandma Wang’s instructions.

“Lie down,” Grandma Wang said coldly, “I’m doing it for my grandson. You better be careful; your face is paler than a ghost’s.”

Though her words were harsh, Madam Liang felt a bit warmed; even Wang Yuan’er was a little surprised, while Madam Zhang left grudgingly.

The doctor quickly arrived with Wang Qing’er, and after checking the pulse, said there was no serious problem. Still, Madam Liang had been deeply depressed due to Wang Da’s death and was physically weak, resulting in an unstable pregnancy. This sudden fainting was caused by worry and stress, and she needed to rest and recuperate.

Wang Yuan’er asked the doctor to prescribe some medicine for a stable pregnancy and personally escorted him out. When they were alone, she quietly asked, “Doctor Ma, honestly, with my mother’s condition, will she have a safe delivery?”

Doctor Ma was taken aback, stroked his beard, and after a moment’s thought, said, “Yuan’er, I won’t hide it from you. I’ve checked your mother’s pulse, and it’s very weak. Your mother has deep-seated depression; if she can’t let go of it by the time of delivery, I’m afraid…”

Wang Yuan’er’s face turned pale.

“The deceased are gone. You should persuade your mother not to dwell too much,” Doctor Ma said sympathetically, shaking his head as he left.

Wang Yuan’er sat on the ground, dazed for a long time before returning to the east room. Before she even entered, she heard Grandma Wang scolding Madam Liang loudly, accusing her of being selfish and not caring about the little ones.

Grandma Wang pulled the curtain aside and saw Wang Yuan’er standing by the door, pausing for a moment before angrily walking away.

Wang Yuan’er entered the room, finding Madam Liang in tears. Her heart ached, and she said: “Mom, Grandma is right; you can’t go on like this anymore.”