FTS Chapter 23. 1

Chapter 23. 1

On this day, while the Song family was eating lunch, Qian Xiaoe’s mother suddenly arrived at the door with her two daughters-in-law and two grandsons.

"Mom, why are you here?" Qianjia Village was very far from Xiangfu Village, nearly a day’s walk. 

Since marrying into the Song family, Qian Xiaoe had returned to her natal home twice, but she hadn't been back since getting pregnant.

Now that her family had arrived, Qian Xiaoe was both surprised and overjoyed.

Aside from her wedding day, this was the first time her family had visited her in-laws. 

Because she had been lectured by both Wang Guifang and Song Zhidong in succession lately, she felt quite aggrieved, with her family’s arrival, she suddenly felt she had someone to lean on.

"You silly girl, you’re my own daughter. What’s wrong with me coming to see you? Just because you’re married off doesn't mean you’re no longer a piece of flesh from my own body?" 

Qian Xiaoe’s mother looked like her, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, though due to her age, her skin sagged, giving her features a somewhat harsh appearance.

In her hand, she carried a bundle of wild vegetables.

At home, Qian Xiaoe had rarely received such gentle words from her mother. Hearing this, her eyes immediately reddened, she thought that, in the end, her natal family were her true relatives. 

Even if her mother hadn't treated her as well as her brothers back home, they were still real family, how could her mother not love her?

Her two sisters-in-law and the children looked at the food laid out on the table with eyes that practically glowed green. 

In all of Yun County, while other villages at least had half of last year's harvest, their Qianjia Village was a place of poor mountains and bad water; after being ravaged by the insects, more than half the crops had died outright. 

Their harvest wasn't even thirty percent of a typical year. Lately, they had been eating only one meal a day, watery porridge every day, drinking until their stomachs were stuck to their backs and their hearts felt panicked.

"Mom, I want to eat white rice! I want egg custard!" The two children saw the white rice and egg custard in front of Song Baozhu and immediately began to clamor.

The two sisters-in-law put on a show of swatting the children: "Eat, eat, eat! Are such precious things meant for the likes of you to eat?"

Since they were guests, the in-laws had to be entertained no matter what. Upon learning that they had been walking since the middle of the night and hadn't eaten yet today, Wang Guifang headed back to the kitchen to get busy.

She also told Qian Xiaoe to stay and chat with her mother and sisters-in-law.

Happily, Qian Xiaoe led them to her own room. Mother Qian and the eldest sister-in-law had visited when she got married, but it was the second sister-in-law's first time. 

She scanned the room, seeing how spacious and well-lit it was, with the quilts and cabinets all neat and tidy. She curled her lip, her voice laced with bitterness, "Little sister-in-law, you’ve truly fallen into a nest of blessings! You’re enjoying yourself here with the Songs, but it’s a pity for your nephews, they’re stuck eating chaff and wild herbs with us every day!"

Life with the Songs, aside from occasionally minding the special treatment Song Baozhu received, was indeed very comfortable. 

Qian Xiaoe didn't argue with her second sister-in-law’s words, she only asked if something had happened back home.

Mother Qian heard this and wiped away her tears as she spoke of this year’s harvest. 

"Xiao'e, you have no idea how hard things are at home. Every day it's just wild herbs mixed with watery porridge. Look at your two nephews, they've grown so thin from hunger. How are we going to survive the days ahead!"

Qian Xiao'e was utterly shocked. Because her pregnancy was showing, she usually just stayed home doing chores and rarely went out. 

Having only lived in Xiangfu Village for a short time, she hadn't made close friends yet, which meant she lacked a source of gossip. 

She had no idea about the situation in other villages, let alone that her own family was struggling to this extent.

"How could that be?"

"How could it not? Look at me, look at your sisters-in-law, and look at your nephews." Mother Qian brushed back her sleeve, revealing an arm as thin as a dry stick.

It pained Qian Xiao'e to see it. "Then what should be done?"

Mother Qian then said, "Hasn't your Xiangfu Village had a bumper harvest? Your sisters-in-law and I came this time hoping to borrow some grain to take back. We raised you, after all; you can't possibly watch your own family starve to death, can you?"

Qian Xiao'e was a bit hesitant. "But, our family's grain is only just enough to eat." 

The Song brothers were all tall and sturdy with massive appetites, the amount of grain consumed in a day was quite substantial.

Hearing this, the eldest sister-in-law smiled and said, "Little sister-in-law, are you going to draw such a sharp line between us now that you’re married? We aren't borrowing much. If you just save a little from between your teeth, you could save our lives. Never mind us sisters-in-law, do you have the heart to watch your brothers and nephews get so hungry they don't even have the strength to move?"

Mother Qian’s face darkened even further. "We raised you for so many years, and now that your own life is comfortable, you don't even care if your parents live or die?"

Mother Qian’s cold tone reminded her of the days of being scolded at home. She shook her head in instinctive fear. 

"Mother-in-law is the one in charge of all this, I can't make the decisions."

Mother Qian softened her expression slightly. "Of course I know you just married in and don't run the household. But aren't you pregnant now? Even if it's just for the sake of the child you're carrying for the Song family, wouldn't they give you this much face? If they won't even give you that, then they don't truly see you as a member of the Song family!"

Do they see me as family? 

Qian Xiao'e was dazed for a moment. 

They should, right? 

Her husband treated her well, her brothers-in-law respected her, and her in-laws were quite kind. 

Aside from some disagreements regarding Song Baozhu, she hadn't even had an argument with the Songs since she married in.

Thinking of this, Qian Xiao'e nodded. "Then... I'll try."

Only then did Mother Qian and the two sisters-in-law smile.

Suddenly, a commotion came from outside. Qian Xiao'e hurried out of the room, and Mother Qian and the sisters-in-law, thinking there was some excitement to see, followed close behind.

As it turned out, Wang Guifang’s natal family had arrived, specifically, her sixty-something-year-old mother and her eldest brother. 

Despite Mother Wang’s age, she was a very spirited old lady, Wang Guifang had inherited her loud voice from her.

As soon as she arrived, she started clamoring for grain.

Wang Guifang’s voice was even louder than hers, the two of them could roar at each other. It took Song Dezhu stepping in to play mediator for the two of them to calm down.

By then, the meal was ready, so the relatives from both families sat down together. 

Mother Wang’s eyes were sharp. 

She looked at Mother Qian and exposed their motive directly, "Are you here to sponge off them as well?"

The faces of Mother Qian and the sisters-in-law turned very ugly. That was indeed their purpose, but why was this old woman being so blunt?

Mother Qian said stiffly, "We are here to borrow grain."

Mother Wang sneered. "Borrow my foot! Do you actually plan on paying it back?" 

She was different, she was here to ask for grain. If there were grain to pay back, why would she be here asking for it in the first place?

"...When there is a surplus at home, of course we will pay it back," the eldest sister-in-law chattered.

Mother Wang’s sneer grew even wider. "Tell those lies to a ghost!"

Having their intentions repeatedly exposed, Qian Xiao'e’s family became visibly restless. No wonder people said Wang Guifang was feisty, with such a formidable mother, the daughter was bound to be tough.

This dead old woman has a wicked tongue.

Mother Qian and the sisters-in-law stopped responding and simply buried their heads in their bowls, eating greedily. Since the autumn harvest, they hadn't had a single full meal in order to save grain. 

After walking for so long, they each wished they could dive into their bowls.

Mother Wang looked down on them more and more. She rolled her eyes at them and urged her eldest son to eat quickly. "Eat your fill so you can carry the grain home."

Wang Guifang’s eldest brother felt somewhat embarrassed. "Mother, we've troubled Little Sister enough in the past. Maybe we should just forget it."

"Forget it my foot! If there's no grain, which one of our family are you planning to let starve to death?!" Mother Wang glared at him fiercely.

Even though Wang Guifang’s eldest brother already had grandsons of his own, he was still terrified of his mother. He shrunk his neck and focused on shoveling rice into his mouth.

This was the first time Song Baozhu had met this maternal grandmother. Wang Guifang never took her along when she went back for the New Year.

Mother Wang had visited once a few years ago, but Baozhu had been too young then to remember people.

Having finished her meal, Song Baozhu slipped into the empty room next to the main house. 

Usually used for storing grain and farm tools, it was currently being used to host the guests.

"Are you my grandma~?" Mother Wang was eating when she suddenly heard a soft, sweet voice by her ear. 

She looked up instinctively and saw a beautiful little girl who didn't look quite real standing beside her, staring at her with large, curious eyes.

Song Baozhu saw a few hints of Wang Guifang's features in Mother Wang's face and immediately felt a sense of closeness. She reached out her small hand and touched the old woman's cheek.

"Are you Guifang's youngest girl?" Mother Wang's entire body stiffened, and her tone was quite unnatural. She was used to being stiff and abrasive, but for some reason, her lips twitched as she tried to force a smile.

Wang Guifang’s eldest brother, standing nearby, looked as if he had seen a ghost. 

Is she smiling? 

Was my old mother actually just smiling?

Song Baozhu grinned, revealing a row of tiny teeth, her large eyes curving into crescents. "Yes, I'm Baozhu."

She tilted her head and asked Mother Wang with great curiosity, "Grandma, why don't you ever come to our house?"

Mother Wang let out a 'Heh.'

"Your mom looks at me like I owe her money, how would I dare come?"

"Mom, what nonsense are you talking now? If you want to fight with me, fine, but don't say those things to Baozhu!" 

Wang Guifang came over carrying a soup basin. Hearing those words, she slammed the dish onto the table. 

The soup splashed out, making the Qian family members, who were busy shoveling food into their mouths, shudder from the heat.

Mother Wang’s voice turned peculiar. "You certainly do treasure this little girl."

"Of course I treasure her. Do you think everyone is like you, only knowing how to exploit their daughters?"

"What about me? What about me! Didn't I still raise you to be this big!" The old lady's voice suddenly rose.

How do these two both have such explosive tempers? 

The Qian family members shrunk their heads in fear, terrified that they would start a fight and flip the table, so they scrambled to grab more food while they could.

Whenever these two met, it was like a needle meeting a whetstone. Song Dezhu ran over upon hearing the noise and, together with his brother-in-law, finally managed to pull them apart.

"Guifang, Mother is old after all, don't take it to heart with her," Song Dezhu comforted Wang Guifang.

Wang Guifang stiffened her neck. "If she didn't insist on looking for trouble, do you think I'd care to pay her any mind!"

"What are you looking at? Eat!" Song Dezhu scooped up Song Baozhu and pulled Wang Guifang away. 

Before leaving, Song Baozhu smiled and waved at Mother Wang, calling out "Grandma" in a sweet, tender voice.

Mother Wang’s face froze. Turning back to see the eldest brother looking at her sheepishly, she suddenly let out a sharp roar.

After the meal, the relatives from both families gathered in the main room.

Qian Xiao'e had already informed Song Zhidong and Wang Guifang of her family's purpose for coming. 

Wang Guifang had expected this long ago and simply said indifferently, "I know."

Qian Xiao'e felt uneasy, not knowing what her mother-in-law meant, was she agreeing to lend the grain or refusing it?

To her surprise, Wang Guifang agreed directly and bluntly. 

"I know why you're here. Each family can borrow two hundred catties of grain, to be repaid after next year's autumn harvest. Here is the IOU; please sign it."

Mother Wang jumped up, pointing at Wang Guifang’s nose and cursing, "I’m your mother! You want me to sign an IOU just for a bit of grain? Do you want me to slap you across the mouth!"

Wang Guifang was so angry her face turned red. "Hit me then! Hit me if you have the guts! Do you really think I'm still that punching bag at home who just lets you hit and curse her!"

This sent Eldest Brother Wang into a frantic circle, blocking the two of them and pleading for peace.

"Mother, Little Sister, stop fighting! Can't you two just speak properly?"

"Shut up!" Mother Wang and Wang Guifang shouted in unison.

The roar made Eldest Brother Wang stumble. It reminded him of when Wang Guifang was still at home, back then, if these two didn't get along, they’d go at it, leaving him stuck in the middle like a piece of wood in a vice. 

While trying to mediate, he couldn't help but think: When was my sister ever a 'punching bag'? She was clearly a little tyrant at home; except for Mom, nobody dared mess with her.

"If you want the grain, sign the IOU. If not, get out!" Wang Guifang said directly to her mother in a fit of rage.

Mother Wang stunned for a moment, then suddenly lowered her hand and said stiffly to Eldest Brother Wang, "Go sign it." 

She turned her head away, no longer looking at Wang Guifang.

Wang Guifang realized she had been too impulsive with her words and felt a momentary pang of regret, but she still kept her neck stiff.

Song Baozhu quietly tugged on Wang Guifang’s hand and whispered, "Mama, Grandma is sad."

Sad? 

Wang Guifang instinctively didn't believe it. How could a person like her mother be hurt by her? Getting angry was more like it.

"Really, I saw Grandma's eyes turn red." Song Baozhu pointed to her own eyes and spoke with great earnestness.

No way, Wang Guifang thought, looking at the back of Mother Wang’s head in disbelief. Her mother cried?

Just then, Mother Wang turned around. Wang Guifang stared intently at her eyes; they weren't red at all, they were still bursting with rage.

Wang Guifang let out a "tch." 

She knew it, how could a person like her mother cry?

While this mother-daughter duo was at it, the Qian family on the other side was worried to death. 

Two hundred catties of grain was too little; their goal was five hundred. 

There were over a dozen people in their household, two hundred catties would only last a month if they ate sparingly.

"Um, in-law, we'll sign the IOU, but could you possibly lend us a bit more? Two hundred catties really isn't enough!" Mother Qian said with a fawning smile.

Having just fought with Mother Wang, Wang Guifang's tone was very stiff, "Our family has many people, and the grain is barely enough to go around as it is. If we lend you more, we'll have to go hungry ourselves. If you want to borrow, it’s two hundred catties or nothing."

Qian Xiao'e wanted to say something on behalf of her family, but seeing Wang Guifang’s grim face, she didn't dare cross her.

Mother Qian curled her lip, calling her stingy in her heart. She looked at Qian Xiao'e’s belly, she would be giving birth in a few months, so she could just come back and borrow more then.

Thinking this, Mother Qian said with a smile, "That makes sense. I was thinking wrong just now."

Thus, the Qian and Wang families each borrowed two hundred catties of grain and signed the IOUs.

As soon as Mother Wang got the grain, she told Eldest Wang Brother to leave. Song Dezhu urged them to stay the night, but he was bluntly shut down by Mother Wang, "Better not. I’m afraid someone finds me an eyesore and wishes I’d die sooner."

These words were clearly aimed at Wang Guifang, making her hop with rage.

"Go! You leave right now!" Wang Guifang pointed at the front gate, driving them out.

Mother Wang turned around, straightened her spine, and walked away quickly. Eldest Wang Brother lagged behind carrying the grain, hesitating before speaking, "Little Sister, Mom really misses you. During the New Year, if you’re even a little late coming back, she can’t help but stand at the village entrance watching for you. Why do you have to fight the moment you meet?"

Wang Guifang was stunned: "How could that be?"

"What are you babbling about? Who would miss her? That ungrateful white-eyed wolf! Get over here right now!" Mother Wang stood at the gate with a livid face, shouting at Eldest Wang Brother.

He gave a shout in response and quickly caught up.

Wang Guifang smiled self-mockingly: Sure enough, I actually let Big Brother fool me.

The Wang family left, but the Qian family stayed: "In-law, we'll have to trouble you to stay the night. Otherwise, we'd have to travel in the middle of the night again." 

They had deliberately calculated the time, wanting to stay a night so they could get a few more meals.

Song Dezhu nodded repeatedly: "As you should. Eldest Son, Xiao'e, take good care of your in-laws."

Hearing that her mother and sisters-in-law were staying, Qian Xiao'e’s eyes lit up: "Yes, Dad, I understand."

Qian Xiao'e led Mother Qian and the sisters-in-law for a walk around the Song house while Wang Guifang went back to her room. Song Baozhu felt that her mother was a bit sad, so she quietly followed.

Inside the room, Song Dezhu was comforting Wang Guifang, "Guifang, you were clearly worried about Mother, so why did you have to speak so harshly?"

Wang Guifang kept her back stiff: "Who says I was worried about her? She never cared about me. That year, for the sake of her son and grandson, she pressured me so much, I'll remember that until the day I die."

Song Dezhu sighed. "Don't say those things to me. You’re just someone with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. You’re like that with everyone, let alone your own mother. You’re clearly very upset that things turned out like this, so why can't you talk properly?"

"Is it me not talking properly? It's clearly her! The moment she opens her mouth, she makes people angry!" Wang Guifang stubbornly wiped away a tear.

Song Dezhu gave a bitter laugh: "You two are always like this whenever you meet."

Song Baozhu looked thoughtful, then turned and ran out of the room.

Mother Wang and Eldest Wang Brother were fast walkers and had left the village in no time. Song Baozhu had to have Song Zhinan carry her on his back and run to catch up.

"Grandma, Grandma~"

"Did you hear something?" Mother Wang suspected she was mishearing things. 

Why did she think she heard her granddaughter’s voice? 

This little girl's voice was so soft and sweet, that cry of "Grandma" made her feel extremely awkward.