Free Web NovelChapter 50: Chapter 50: Means
Gu Jinhua’s head drooped. ’What was the point of saving money?’ she grumbled to herself. ’Her in-laws only left her just enough to cover food expenses each month. She used to scrimp and save a little, but in the end, wasn’t every penny she put away taken by her own mother under some excuse or another? So eventually, she decided to just spend whatever she had. At least that way, she could enjoy it.’
With a family of bloodsuckers like hers, she was actually worse off than Zhang Minzhen.
The thought of Zhang Minzhen having parents and a brother who were excessively good to her made Gu Jinhua burn with jealousy and resentment.
But thoughts were just thoughts. Gu Jinhua didn’t have the guts to actually talk back to Chen Suxiang. In the end, she could only agree reluctantly, all the while planning to make up an excuse tomorrow to get out of it. ’I’m not stupid enough to actually ask my mother-in-law or my colleagues for money,’ she thought. ’And even if I did, I couldn’t possibly borrow two hundred yuan. That’s way too much!’
Seeing the issue of the hospitalization fee settled, Gu Lihuang finally breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn’t care less whether his older sister was happy about it, as long as the money wasn’t coming from him.
Gu Lihuang watched the scene unfold and snorted inwardly. ’As long as it’s not our mother spending money and diminishing my share, I’m fine with it.’ But then he suddenly thought that he shouldn’t have a complete falling out with Gu Jinhua. It wouldn’t do him any good. ’After all, I can’t let my older brother reap all the benefits in the future...’
’Whatever. I’ll just be the bigger person and not argue with her to her face,’ he told himself.
Everything that needed to be discussed had been settled, and lunch had been set aside for her eldest son. Before going to the hospital cashier to pay, Chen Suxiang didn’t want her second son and eldest daughter to see how much money she had in her pocket. She used the excuse of going to the bathroom to pull out her money-filled handkerchief. She counted out five yuan and forty cents in change. Before wrapping the handkerchief back up, she thought for a moment, took out another two yuan, then carefully re-wrapped the handkerchief and put the money away.
When she came out, she waited until her second daughter-in-law wasn’t looking and stuffed the two yuan into Gu Jinhua’s hand. "Here, for you," she whispered. "It’s not much, but it’s all I have left on me. I’m giving it all to you. Now don’t you go saying I don’t care about you. Do you think I’d want to ask you for money if we weren’t in real trouble? Your older brother said he has no money, and it’s probably true. He has two to support at home, and another three outside... it’s a heavy burden. And we can’t count on your second brother at all. Don’t be fooled because his wife is usually quiet; she’s as shrewd as they come when it’s about money. Your dad and I don’t have pensions. And while he can go out and scrounge up a little cash, your dad is picky about food and is always ready to start hitting people... If I can’t count on you, who can I count on? We can’t just let your older brother’s medicine be cut off, can we? Don’t worry, Mom will remember how good you’ve been, and so will your older brother. You never know when you might need him to stand up for you in the future. This is how it is for all daughters. What woman doesn’t favor her own family?"
Clutching the small amount of change in her hand, Gu Jinhua was so moved she was on the verge of tears. It was a rare occasion. This was the first time since she was a teenager that she had gotten money from her mother. ’Even though this is just a fraction of what I’m about to give,’ she thought, ’it still means so much—’
Besides, what her mom said wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
She nodded silently, the last of her reluctance vanishing completely. ’Sigh, whatever,’ she thought. ’Why am I being so petty with my own mother?’ She decided that if she really couldn’t borrow money from her mother-in-law that night, she would ask a few of her good friends at the supply co-op. She wouldn’t need to ask for much from each person. A little from everyone should be enough, and they would probably lend it to her.
Chen Suxiang saw the change in Gu Jinhua’s expression and breathed a sigh of relief. The money for the medicine was finally secured. She couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride. ’She came from my own womb. How could she possibly hide her little schemes from me?’
She felt no guilt at all for scheming against her own daughter. On the contrary, she was quite pleased with her ability to control her. ’Why else did I give birth to her and raise her, if not for her to contribute to me and my two sons now? A woman who doesn’t support her own family deserves to be condemned by heaven and earth.’
’Still, better to keep all this from my daughters-in-law,’ she thought. ’If they follow her example and start subsidizing their own families, I’ll be the one at a huge loss.’
The walk from the hospital to the Gu Family home was not a short one, but with each of them lost in their own schemes, it didn’t feel long.
Along the way, Gu Jinhua finally regained her confidence as Chen Suxiang’s sweet, devoted daughter. She reverted to her old ways and started chattering about the Zhang siblings, repeatedly emphasizing to her mother, "He’s just a paper tiger. All those words are just to scare you. He definitely won’t dare to do anything for real."
Cooled by the breeze and subjected to Gu Jinhua’s constant reassurances, Chen Suxiang’s fear of Zhang Wei Qiang gradually faded. She started to believe her daughter’s words again. The mother and daughter’s fighting spirit was rekindled, and they spent the rest of the walk plotting their strategy, thoroughly preparing for the "battle" ahead.
Gu Lihuang pursed his lips as he saw Chen Suxiang being swayed, but he didn’t step in to contradict them. His fear of Zhang Wei Qiang ran too deep, and he wouldn’t be getting over it anytime soon. He decided that as soon as he got back, he would just hide. No matter what happened, he’d pretend he couldn’t see or hear a thing.
Ye Rong followed silently behind the three of them with her head down. She had the exact same idea as Gu Lihuang and had no intention of getting involved. Fortunately, Gu Jinhua was busy convincing Chen Suxiang. The mother and daughter were so engrossed in their plotting that for the moment, no one thought to drag her into their schemes.
Once they got home, Gu Lihuang and Ye Rong immediately hid in their room and refused to come out. Chen Suxiang went to find her husband, Gu Wu. Although Gu Wu didn’t usually manage family affairs, when it came to major issues, he always had the final say. Chen Suxiang wasn’t bold enough to ignore him completely. This was especially true regarding her eldest son and daughter-in-law’s situation. With the in-laws practically at their doorstep ready for a fight, Gu Wu would have to step in. He was, after all, the head of the family. Therefore, no matter how audacious Chen Suxiang was, she didn’t dare hide this from him.
However, while she didn’t hide it from him, she didn’t mention a single one of their own family’s faults when she spoke. She only focused on exaggerating all of Zhang Minzhen’s and Zhang Wei Qiang’s supposed wrongdoings. "You should have seen how vicious her older brother was. Tsk, does he look like someone who’s been in the army? Even bandits aren’t that malicious..."
"Enough," Gu Wu said, taking a puff from his old pipe. "Since our eldest’s wife is determined to get a divorce, then let her. If the Zhang Family’s conditions aren’t too outrageous, just agree to them. It’s better than letting this blow up and become even more humiliating. Our eldest’s children outside are older than Nuannuan. When people didn’t know, it was easy to talk. Now that the secret’s out, what right do you have to demand she keep being completely obedient, to keep being your punching bag?"
With the pipe in his hand, a sneer crossed Gu Wu’s face. They’d lived together for so many years; they knew each other inside and out. His wife wasn’t a truly wicked person, not some grand villain. But her selfishness, her pettiness, her habit of bullying the weak while fearing the strong—it was all disgusting enough. And the eldest son she doted on most was the one who resembled her most.
In his opinion, his eldest daughter-in-law was far better than his eldest son. She was hardworking and resilient, the kind of person you build a life with. What’s more, she rarely complained. It was just a shame her personality was a bit too soft.
His eldest son didn’t know how to cherish such a good woman. Sooner or later, he would live to regret it.
