CHAPTER 389: CHAPTER 389: TAKE ACTION

"I’m not getting a divorce!"

Elder sister-in-law was scared.

She really hadn’t expected Tang Jianguo to erupt.

She hugged Tang Jianguo’s legs, "I didn’t mean that, I just wanted Dangdang to find a good family to marry into. I promised this to our parents!"

Tang Jianguo didn’t shake her off, just looked down at her.

"If it weren’t for the fact that your parents have always been so good to me, I would have slapped you to death by now. Could you not find a husband after having the baby, or is she so desperate to get married she has to do it now?"

Tang Jianguo was also flustered with anger.

"That’s not it, I just thought, since we were all coming to Quan City anyway, it’s something we could do along the way! It’s not like our house is short a room!"

After Elder sister-in-law finished, Tang Jianguo laughed in anger.

"Not short a room?"

He pinched Elder sister-in-law’s cheek, "Our house only has so many rooms. Little sister is a girl, she has her own room, that was decided from when she was little. Originally, we four brothers each had our own room, our parents had one room, and because only Little Four is at home, the rooms are vacant, but they are there for guests when they come to stay temporarily."

Tang Jianguo didn’t know what had gotten into him, to actually start arguing with his wife over this issue. Perhaps it was years of pent-up resentment that made him start airing all his grievances.

"For your delivery room, little sister had occupied second brother’s room for your sister to stay in, making the second come back and share a room with Little Four. As for Ah Duo and licorice, they’re staying in the newly added room in the back, and we even set up a delivery room for you, in case something went wrong during childbirth. What happened then? After so much effort, you still can’t see it, and you complain every night about how my family doesn’t care enough about you!"

Tang Jianguo had not intended to bring this up, but his wife was an ingrate, and he couldn’t keep it in any longer.

"That’s not it, I didn’t mean—I just..."

Elder sister-in-law couldn’t articulate her thoughts clearly.

But she knew very well that if she couldn’t clarify things today, she and Tang Jianguo could truly be over.

Thinking this, Elder sister-in-law’s eyes were filled with pleading.

"I won’t ever do it again, I’ll treat the children well, and I’ll be filial to our parents!"

But at that moment, Tang Jianguo, seething with anger, wouldn’t listen to a word.

"It’s too late! I’ve had enough! I came back injured, and how many days has it been? Did you even ask once? Instead, you sulk all day. My mom takes care of you, and you don’t appreciate it. So many people pamper you, and it’s still not enough. If the flood hadn’t come, if we didn’t have to leave, what would you still be up to?"

After Tang Jianguo yelled, he shoved Elder sister-in-law aside and opened the door to leave.

He thought he would get some fresh air once he was out, but as soon as he opened the door, he was slapped across the face by his grandmother.

"Getting cocky, are we?"

His grandfather stood with hands clasped behind his back, his silver hair meticulously coiffed, looking up at his tall great-grandson.

Tang Jianguo had always been afraid of his grandmother. In his eyes, she was a legendary figure, but she had only ever spanked his bottom before—this was the first time she had ever hit his face.

Tang Jianguo saw Tang Chuxia and Tang Jianbing standing to the side. Little sister was giving him meaningful glances nonstop.

Tang Jianguo understood; she was signaling for him to admit his mistake.

"Grandmother, I..."

Before Tang Jianguo could finish, his grandmother slapped his face again.

"What the hell. A man with a child of his own, showing off your temper here, yelling at your wife, aren’t you?"

Grandmother was furious, and none of them dared to speak.

"Your wife hasn’t even finished her confinement, yet even if she had many faults, she still gave birth to your son. Her temper tantrums, aren’t they all because you, as her husband, are inadequate? You don’t know how to appease her, yet you shout at her! Who taught you that?"

Tang Jianguo felt very wronged.

But Grandma didn’t care at all.

The elder sister-in-law did have many faults, faults Grandma looked down on, but a woman still in her postpartum care simply couldn’t be upset; she was already emotionally unstable, and to reprimand her at this time could lead to lifelong consequences.

Tang Chuxia happened to speak up at this moment to remind Tang Jianguo, "Big brother, elder sister-in-law had a difficult delivery, and she almost died from losing so much blood; even during the entire postpartum period, she could still have a severe hemorrhage, so she must be taken care of with caution!"

It wasn’t that Tang Chuxia was siding with the elder sister-in-law—this was common medical knowledge.

She had to remind Tang Jianguo, lest he later regret it.

Tang Jianguo then fell silent.

He was angry, to be sure, but he had never wished death upon his wife.

"Did you hear that? Even your sister knows this, but you—heedless! Your leg is injured, can’t you be more careful? Aren’t there enough people in the house who care about you? What do you have to quarrel with your wife about? Is the house missing her few possessions?"

After all her parents had raised her; what’s wrong with showing a little extra gratitude?

Grandma thought there was nothing wrong with it.

But it’s this granddaughter-in-law who is a bit ungrateful, not realizing one must be fair to both her parental home and her in-law’s home. If she herself cannot achieve it, then she shouldn’t expect the man to do the same, or else conflicts would surely arise.

Seeing Tang Jianguo not speaking, Grandma grabbed his ear and dragged him into the room.

The elder sister-in-law was already standing, looking at Grandma with red eyes.

"Stupid kid, apologize to your wife. She’s still in her postpartum care, and if you think about divorce, I’ll break your legs!" Grandma barked at Tang Jianguo, who could only bow his back, fearing Grandma would grab his ear too fiercely, "Grandma, let go, I know I was wrong!"

For someone his age to still have his ear pulled by Grandma was embarrassing.

Grandma snorted coldly, "Apologize quickly!"

Tang Jianguo had no choice but to swallow his anger and said to his wife, "Mengmeng, I was wrong!"

The elder sister-in-law waved her hands repeatedly, "I don’t blame you, I have my issues too!"

Grandma let go, "Isn’t that settled now? It’s never a big deal for a young couple to squabble; the worst thing is to nitpick. Living together is like teeth clashing with the lips, it’s inevitable—what’s required is mutual understanding!"

Tang Jianguo and the elder sister-in-law both agreed.

Grandma, with her hands behind her back, signaled for everyone else to go out.

Let the young couple cool down and talk it over.

Once out, Grandma called over Tang Chuxia, "You cunning thing, always making Grandma look like the bad guy!"

Tang Chuxia chuckled, "Grandma, this isn’t being a bad guy, this is earning merit. Besides, in our family, only you can put my big brother in his place without protest; Mom just doesn’t cut it!"

She wasn’t wrong there, and Grandma was pleased.

Proudly, with hands clasped behind her back, she said, "Right, if this family were without me to oversee, it would indeed be troublesome!"

Tang Chuxia nodded vigorously, "Exactly, it’s said that having an elder is like having a treasure—Grandma, you are our family’s pillar."

Tang Chuxia had a particularly sweet way with words, very skilled at flattering.

Grandma was so delighted by the praise, she cheerfully went back to the room to brag to Grandpa.

Meanwhile, Tang Jianbing slapped Tang Chuxia’s forehead, "Little sis, oh little sis, tell me—is your talent for bluffing entirely spent on our own family?"

Tang Chuxia brushed off his hand, "Big brother, if you were even half as sweet-talking as I am, you wouldn’t be in such a sad state!"

Tang Jianbing: ...