Chapter 7: Who Disgraces Whom

“Shut up!”

The sudden rebuke startled both Madam Zhang and Wang Yuan’er, who hadn’t yet reacted. It was Grandma Wang, who slapped down the shoe sole she was working on and glared sharply at Madam Zhang.

“Mother, I…” Madam Zhang felt uneasy, her hands and feet at a loss.

“Grandma, I respectfully call her second aunt, but look at how she, as an elder, can say such things? If word gets out, how will your granddaughter face the world? Where will your face be? This will make people say that Granda, as the head of the household, doesn’t manage the family well, causing your granddaughter to lose face!” Wang Yuan’er quickly recovered, harboring deep resentment towards Madam Zhang. Without thinking, she knelt and complained, openly giving Madam Zhang a taste of her own medicine, making her feel disgusted.

Sure enough, Madam Zhang’s expression changed, and she said, “Hey, you girl, why are you disgracing me like this?”

“It’s the Second Aunt who disgraced her niece.” Wang Yuan’er wiped away imaginary tears and said, “My father is gone, and my mother is unwell. She’s been grieving so much that she can’t eat. I’ve been going up the mountain to gather firewood before dawn to sell for some money, only to buy something to cheer her up, help her relax, and ensure she can safely give birth to my little brother, leaving a legacy for my father. It’s definitely not what Second Aunt insinuated, about finding a man and saving for a dowry!”

“I, I…” Madam Zhang was furious; how did this girl’s words become so sharp?

“As a filial daughter, I would never do anything unfilial, nor would I compare myself to Min’er, dressed like a young lady. Just a few days ago, the aunts in town were still discussing arranging a marriage for Min’er.” Wang Yuan’er continued before Madam Zhang could respond, “Grandma, I swear to heaven, I have no such shameless intentions. I just wanted to use the money to buy something good for my mother to nourish her. Now, I dare not keep even these few copper coins, to avoid Second Aunt’s insinuations. I only hope Grandma will decide for me!”

Before finishing, Wang Yuan’er raised the money bag high above her head with both hands, kneeling and inching forward, her back straight as bamboo.

Madam Zhang was so enraged that she jumped up, “Who’s disgracing whom? I didn’t mean it like that, I…”

“Shut up,” Grandma Wang ordered sternly, “I haven’t spoken yet. Is it your place to speak?”

“Mother…” Madam Zhang closed her mouth under Grandma Wang’s sharp gaze.

“Eldest girl, enough. Keep the money you earned for yourself. I don’t want to be accused of taking your private savings. Take it back and spend it as you wish,” Grandma Wang said coldly to Wang Yuan’er.

“Granddaughter doesn’t dare,” Wang Yuan’er replied without lifting her head.

“Enough, stop putting on that act. Get up, or people will say I’ve mistreated you.” Grandma Wang rubbed her forehead, sounding impatient.

Wang Yuan’er stood up and tentatively asked, “Then what about the money we earn in the future?”

“If it’s your own earnings, keep it.”

“Mother, how can this be…” Madam Zhang protested in shock but fell silent under Grandma Wang’s sharp gaze.

Leaving the main house, Wang Yuan’er heard Grandma Wang scolding Madam Zhang and felt overjoyed. She didn’t want to hand over the money, but if she had to, she wanted to spite Madam Zhang first. Unexpectedly, she gained more than she had hoped. From now on, she could save the money she earned. Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but smile.

Chapter 8: A Display of Authority

Grandma Wang glared at Madam Zhang with a face full of displeasure, her eyes scanning her up and down, making Madam Zhang feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles.

“Mother…”

“What’s wrong with your head? Do you even think before you speak? You, an elder, spouting such nonsense,” Grandma Wang snapped.

“Mother, I was just speaking casually, not seriously. It’s Yuan’er who’s misunderstanding,” Madam Zhang defended herself sheepishly, cursing Wang Yuan’er inwardly.

That dead girl, who used to be as timid as a quail, today her words were sharp and piercing, every single one stinging.

“Don’t think I’m blind or stupid. I know exactly what your petty schemes are,” Grandma Wang scoffed. “You think by disgracing Yuan’er, you gain something? Min’er is also a daughter of the Wang family. Disgracing her is the same as disgracing your own daughter. Do you think it’s good to let such words spread?”

Madam Zhang awkwardly patted her own mouth, humbly saying, “Mother, my mouth ran off. I was just speaking at home. Outside, I would only speak well of her. I know the weight of my words.”

Grandma Wang snorted and picked up the half-finished shoe sole to resume her work.

Seeing this, Madam Zhang moved closer, ingratiatingly helping to pull the thread, and said, “Mother, putting this matter aside, why did you let Yuan’er keep the money herself? She’s just a girl; how could she know how to handle it? I think it’s better if you manage it.”

Grandma Wang gave her a half-smile. “Is it me managing it, or you? Don’t think I don’t know your intentions. You want to get benefits from me. Yuan’er and her sisters earn money from gathering firewood. Their father is gone now. Let them keep the little money for themselves.”

Speaking of her late eldest son, Grandma Wang’s eyes reddened, and she sniffled, pulling the thread forcefully.

Before Madam Zhang could speak, Grandma Wang continued, “As an aunt, don’t be so petty, fixating on the little money of your nieces. If word gets out, you’ll be the one disgraced.”

Madam Zhang opened her mouth, knowing there was no way to change this, and forced a smile. “Mother, I’m just worried they don’t know how to spend it properly.”

“People grow through experience. Your eldest brother is gone, and Madam Liang is incapable, always crying. The eldest girl, being the eldest, is more capable. The first household will probably rely on her,” Grandma Wang sighed and said no more.

Madam Zhang, hoping to gain some benefit, ended up with a scolding instead. She had no desire to stay in the main house any longer, so she made an excuse to leave after a few more words.

Watching her disappear, Grandma Wang shook her head. Of her two daughters-in-law, the elder one came from a scholarly family, literate and knowledgeable but too soft for a farmer’s eldest wife. Her simple-minded son insisted on marrying her, so she let it be. The second daughter-in-law, though not a terrible person, was always calculating and needed constant reminding.

The first household, without a man, was falling apart. The second household only had their own small family. With her and her husband still around, things were manageable, but if they were gone, what would happen to the Wang family?

Grandma Wang’s usually stern mouth formed a straight line as she rested her head, lost in thought.