CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 50: ACT TOUGH ONCE

"Xiao Xiao, don’t say anything. It’s all nonsense from your sister, none of it is true! How could my mom possibly expect us to support my brother’s whole family? It’s not true!" Qin Dazhuang couldn’t withstand his mom’s gaze.

He spoke with embarrassment.

Immediately, he denied everything.

Jiang Xin stood at the doorway holding the baby, initially wanting to help defend her husband.

But upon hearing Qin Dazhuang’s words, Jiang Xin felt a chill in her heart.

It’s always like this.

Every time it’s like this.

Qin Dazhuang always protects the face of Mother Qin and Uncle Qin.

But he never considers her and the child.

Mother Qin got excited.

Her son had spoken.

"What do you know, little girl? Your sister is just spouting nonsense. Look, even my son couldn’t hold back. None of it is true! Your sister is really a family troublemaker, spewing nonsense about everything? Doesn’t she know these words can harm?"

Swaggering, her son is forever on her side.

She was full of confidence.

No matter what, her son is filial above all.

"Brother-in-law, where did you hear that my sister told me? Does it need my sister to say it? It’s widely known at your workplace that my sister-in-law boasts about having a good younger brother-in-law, who gives them an extra 20 yuan every month.

She even said back then your brother treated you so well, giving his job to you, otherwise, how could you earn so much now? Saying you are grateful. I didn’t know you’re just a worker in an electronics factory, while your brother drives for people at the cotton mill.

Your brother keeps the good job for himself, passes the bad one to you, and yet you feel grateful. Brother-in-law, you’re really eye-opening! Even my mom gave her job to my sister, let my second sister replace her, otherwise, you should also be grateful and send 20 yuan to my family every month."

Qin Dazhuang was dumbfounded by these words.

"Xiao Xiao, my sister and I only earn about 50 yuan a month, if we gave 20 yuan to my parents, we’d be drinking northwest wind."

His troubled expression made others both angry and resentful.

"Oh, sending 20 yuan to your brother means you don’t have to drink northwest wind, but sending 20 yuan to your own father-in-law means you do. What’s the logic?"

Jiang Xiaoxiao’s sarcastic tone made Mother Qin red-eyed.

"In-law, can’t you control what your daughter is saying? Heard of supporting one’s parents, but never heard of supporting one’s in-laws."

Her money shouldn’t be spent on the Jiang family.

"Heard of supporting one’s parents, but never heard of supporting one’s own brother. Since my brother-in-law is so kind-hearted, even wanting to support his own brother’s whole family, what’s wrong with supporting the in-laws? The mother-in-law even gave the job to her daughter, so supporting the father-in-law is quite natural."

Jiang Xiaoxiao refused to budge.

And yet this twisted logic was flaunted by Mother Qin.

Why should her sister suffer along?

Qin Dazhuang couldn’t speak; every time he tried, his sister-in-law blocked him, leaving him speechless.

The main issue was that every sentence pierced him, because she spoke the truth, leaving no room for rebuttal.

"Dear in-law mother, you’re just watching your daughter with sharp words here, a sister-in-law scolding the brother-in-law into silence. If word gets out, would your daughter’s reputation be good?"

Mother Qin couldn’t take it.

She could lash out at her own son; he was her flesh and blood.

She could torment him however she wanted, but if others mistreated her son like this, she felt discomfort—it was an affront to her dignity.

Fan Xiuying sneered, "Oh dear, in-law mother, you got it right. My daughter is indeed sharp-tongued, and as a mother, I can’t really control her. What’s more, my daughter is telling the truth, isn’t she allowed to? Even if outsiders come, I’d still reason it out with them.

Which of the words my daughter said was wrong, pick them apart and see what in her statements was incorrect."

This talk carried a threat; if Jiang Xiaoxiao’s words were circulated outside.

Anyone who hears it would be shocked.

Experienced bias, but never seen such obvious partiality.

Let the younger son support the elder son’s family, where’s the rationale in that?

Mother Qin dared not bear such disgrace!

If Jiang Xiaoxiao truly spread this, her elder son would have no face, and as the mother-in-law, she wouldn’t have any dignity either.

"In-law mother, you’ve said this."

Qin Dazhuang felt confused, usually, his mother-in-law and sister-in-law were easy to talk to, treating him well, but today’s adamant stance and aggressive tone were unexpected.

He couldn’t understand what was going on.

"So what exactly do you plan to do? Is Jiang Xin going to stay at her family’s home and not return forever?"

Mother Qin looked at her son’s pathetic appearance.

She had to speak. She didn’t believe Jiang Xin, having just given birth, would break off relations with her husband and mother-in-law, thinking it’s beneficial for her?

Would she spend her whole life at her family’s home with her child? Knowing her family couldn’t support two people.

"As long as my daughter wishes, even if she stays at her family’s home forever, how could she not afford it? My daughter earns enough to support herself and her child, as long as she doesn’t have to support that uncle, couldn’t she support herself?"

Fan Xiuying exhibited the best quality of a good mother at this time, providing her daughter with strong support, leaving the door to her home open for her daughter.

Mother Qin was glaring in anger.

Seeing his mother-in-law’s determined attitude, Qin Dazhuang felt timid, and what could be done now? He could only look at his wife with pleading eyes, hoping she would step out and smooth things over, to prevent matters from getting too tense.

Jiang Xin showed no reaction to his pleading gaze, merely holding her child and walking to Fan Xiuying.

"Dazhuang, you go back, go back with your mom. Anyway, you’ve always thought of taking care of your brother and mom, there’s no place in your heart for me or the child. The kid is starving like this, you know, in just a week since birth, not only hasn’t he gained weight, but he’s losing it rapidly.

Which family’s baby loses weight right after birth like this? You’re fully aware I haven’t eaten well, no food for the baby, yet lack the courage to ask your brother or mom for money.

Mom, every time you say that it’s money borrowed for my brother, but borrowing implies repayment, we can’t let my child starve further while borrowing money for my brother. I’m telling you today I’ll stay at my family’s home until my brother repays the borrowed money, then I’ll return.

Of course, if you think it’s better for a daughter-in-law like me not to return, then it’s perfect. Qin Dazhuang, find time to get the paperwork done, we each go our own way. I’ll take the child and live my own life, sparing you from trouble."

Jiang Xin’s words made Jiang Xiaoxiao quietly cheer, her older sister always yielded, but finally she stood firm.

Perhaps her earlier words pushed her sister to this point, or maybe it was just talk of anger.

Regardless of the reason, impulsive or genuinely decided, as long as her sister toughens up, her life will differ from before, and it won’t be as miserable.