Chapter 7: The Extremely Difficult Sister-in-Law

He Yuling rolled her eyes, but those were just minor matters.

The main point was what she said next: “Second Brother and his wife both live at school, and they’re usually so busy they barely touch the ground. It’d be more convenient for you to stay here. You really have to help out with taking care of things. After all, Dad and Mom are getting old. We can’t expect them to bear the burden of everything!”

Zhou Changping couldn’t help but glance at his wife. “Don’t entertain those thoughts you shouldn’t have.”

They had been husband and wife for many years—who didn’t know each other inside out?

He Yuling looked toward the door, then lowered her voice. “Why is it wrong for me to think about this? Dad and Mom are old. They can still take care of Changdong for now, but what about later? Who’s going to take care of him then? We’ll also grow too old to work eventually. Won’t it fall on our Yongshun by then? Or do you expect Yongshun to work for free?”

She and Zhou Changping only had one son. Back when she was pregnant, the old Zhou Family treasured her dearly. She couldn’t control her appetite, and in that era of food scarcity, she managed to eat the baby into a huge size!

The baby was over eight jin (roughly 4 kg), and giving birth nearly cost her half her life.

Although she eventually gave birth smoothly, her health suffered, and she never had another child afterward.

That son was, of course, He Yuling’s lifeblood, and currently the only grandson in the old Zhou Family!

Because Zhou Changan and Lin Fang had been married for so many years and still hadn’t shown any signs of having children!

He Yuling had long suspected that they couldn’t conceive!

So in the future, who would take over this mess with the younger brother-in-law? Of course, it would fall to her son!

She didn’t even mind having her son take charge, because that meant three thousand yuan!

That was one-third of a ten-thousand-yuan household!

And there would be thirty yuan every month too!

One had to understand—her husband had been working for so many years, and even now his monthly salary was just a few tens!

“Enough, we’ll talk about this later.” said Zhou Changping.

He Yuling knew his personality—he was just too proud to say things plainly!

But she wasn’t in a hurry either. Once Su Luyun was gone, she would definitely have a conversation with her mother-in-law about that three thousand yuan!

On the other side, when Wang Guifen returned to the old Su Family home, the eldest daughter-in-law, Hou Cuicui, immediately came up to her. “Mom, how’s Little Sis doing? Did her husband really turn into a vegetable?”

After Zhou Changdong was carried back, it was Zhao Yuzhu, that cousin, who came to inform them.

Her voice was louder than a loudspeaker, and now the entire neighborhood knew that the young and promising son-in-law of the Su Family—who had become a Company Commander at such a young age—had been carried back as a vegetable!

Wang Guifen let out a sigh. “Looks like there’s no hope for recovery!”

Hou Cuicui’s eyes widened. “Then what are we going to do?” Was that troublemaking sister-in-law going to move back in with her family? That couldn’t happen!

“Wait until your dad and the others get back. We’ll talk then.” said Wang Guifen.

Seeing her mother-in-law like this, Hou Cuicui’s heart sank.

If this brother-in-law really had become a vegetable, then there was no way her sister-in-law’s temper would let her stay. There was a ten out of ten chance she would get a divorce and move back home.

And if the sister-in-law were a decent person, that might be tolerable—but what kind of person was she? A top-tier piece of work!

Calling her a “shit-stirrer” wasn’t even an exaggeration!

Hou Cuicui was dying for her to never come back ever again!

But with the way things looked now, that wasn’t going to be possible. Her in-laws would definitely take her back!

As she was thinking, her son Su Yang, daughter Su Yuan, and eldest niece Su Man returned from school. As soon as Su Man came in, she put down her schoolbag and grabbed a broom to sweep the yard.

Su Yang and Su Yuan, the brother-sister pair, shouted that they were hungry as soon as they got home. “Mom, is there anything to eat? We’re starving!”

Hou Cuicui was irritated. “You shout about being hungry the moment you step through the door—were you both starved to death in your past life?”

“What are you saying? The kids are hungry. Can’t you just give them something to eat first? Why scold them?” Wang Guifen frowned as she took three pieces of milk candy out of her pocket and handed one to each of the three children.

Su Yang and Su Yuan happily accepted theirs, while Su Man shook her head. “Grandma, I don’t need one.”

“She doesn’t want to give it to me!” Su Yuan said.

“One piece each!” Wang Guifen didn’t waste words and directly shoved the candy into the hands of the eldest granddaughter brought in by her second daughter-in-law.

Hou Cuicui saw that her mother-in-law had handed out milk candy that cost one yuan and fifty cents per jin, and couldn’t help but say: “Mom, easy for you to say. Our whole family has to rely on Lushan’s meager monthly salary of just over ten yuan from Green Mountain to survive. If they keep eating like this, how much money will ever be enough?”

They had already split the family. After the younger brother-in-law got married, her parents-in-law had divided the household into two.

But while they had split the household, they hadn’t split the house. After all, in those times, housing was precious. Even if work units distributed homes, it was extremely rare to get one.

The whole big family still lived together.

However, they had started eating separately—each family fed themselves.

Her whole family had to live off Su Lushan’s monthly salary of twelve yuan. Though it was manageable, it was still tight!

Because living didn’t just mean three meals a day. There were also social obligations—everything cost money!

Usually, her mother-in-law, Wang Guifen, would give them a little extra because her father-in-law, Su Zhenguo, had a high salary. He was a veteran skilled worker at his unit.

Every month, he would give both families a subsidy of ten yuan each.

With that, both families were able to live quite comfortably.

But Hou Cuicui was very clear—if her sister-in-law came back after a divorce, that subsidy would surely be gone!

She had overheard it once before—her sister-in-law was trying to persuade their mother-in-law to cut off the subsidies to both families and give the entire amount to herself!

Of course, Wang Guifen had refused.

But Hou Cuicui had held a grudge against her sister-in-law ever since!

Wang Guifen didn’t know what dissatisfaction her daughter-in-law held in her heart. Hearing her complaining, she immediately became unhappy. She glared at her and said: “You think twelve yuan a month isn’t enough for the eldest? Go ask around—how many people in this neighborhood with the same experience make more than him? If you stopped bringing so much to your maiden family, would these siblings really starve?”

Don’t think she didn’t know—this eldest daughter-in-law loved to show off when she went back to her parents’ home!

But she didn’t care about the showing off. What she wouldn’t tolerate was her grandchildren going hungry. She had given them subsidies!

If she hadn’t given money, she wouldn’t say a single word!

Hou Cuicui didn’t want to argue with her mother-in-law and could only go into the kitchen to cook.

Su Yang was carefree and didn’t take his mother’s temper seriously at all. While enjoying his milk candy, he happily took out his homework and began writing.

Su Yuan had originally wanted to ask her mother for some pocket money to buy a decorative string, but seeing her mother in such a foul mood, what could she do?

After a moment’s hesitation, she tactfully entered the kitchen to help her mother.

She clenched her teeth, peeled off her own milk candy wrapper, and handed it over. “Mom, I know you’re having a hard time. Here, have a candy.”

Hou Cuicui didn’t hesitate at all—she popped it right into her mouth, making Su Yuan’s heart ache terribly!

But she didn’t forget to quietly ask why her mom was in a bad mood.

Hou Cuicui said irritably: “Your uncle-in-law turned into a vegetable. Your aunt is ten out of ten going to divorce him and come back here!”

Su Yuan was delighted. “Really? Aunt is coming back?” Her aunt was always the most generous to her!

Seeing her daughter’s face—which bore more than a passing resemblance to her sister-in-law—Hou Cuicui grew even more annoyed!

She couldn’t understand what karma she must’ve committed. Her own daughter didn’t look like her at all. Whether it was appearance or temper, she resembled that sister-in-law of hers!

Of all people to resemble—why her sister-in-law? It was enough to make someone explode from anger!

As it was already late, before long, Su Zhenguo returned.

Wang Guifen saw him and hurriedly said: “Changdong is back!”

Before Su Zhenguo could happily say anything about having his long-lost son-in-law and daughter over for a meal, Wang Guifen immediately explained that their son-in-law had been carried back and was now a vegetative state.

Su Zhenguo’s words stuck in his throat.

“What did you say? Changdong’s become a vegetable?”

“I went and saw it myself. How could I be mistaken? Just from looking at him, you can tell there’s no hope.” Wang Guifen said.

Su Zhenguo immediately turned around, ready to push his bicycle back out—he had to go to the old Zhou Family to see.

But Wang Guifen pulled him back. “Don’t be in such a hurry!”

She made him park the bicycle and pulled him into the house to talk. She told him about the idea of having their daughter divorce.

Su Zhenguo said: “Though doing this feels a bit unkind to the Zhou Family, there’s no other choice.”

No one wanted to see the son-in-law end up like this, but their daughter was still young—they couldn’t let her waste her life like that.