Chapter 312 I will never let Erniu follow in my footsteps!

She gritted her teeth and continued, "Secondly... my dear in-law, if you ask me, you shouldn't open that health spa. Save the money. On the one hand, it'll be good to help your children when they need money in the future. I don't mean you should only help Erniu and the others, please don't misunderstand. I also have two sons. If I help my eldest son, I will naturally help my youngest son as well. On the other hand, if you don't open the health spa, you'll have plenty of time to take care of your grandchildren at home. Even if you have a nanny, she's still an outsider and can't take as good care of them as you, their grandmother."

She smiled and, with an air of 'openness and honesty,' sighed, 'Isn't there an old saying about enjoying the company of grandchildren? Isn't that what we elders hope for? I know it might sound harsh, but I have to say this upfront: I have to think about Erniu's future.'

She looked up at Fang Erniu, whose eyes were red and who stomped her foot.

He said, "Mom, this isn't for my sake, you're trying to ruin my marriage with Su Laosan! Auntie, don't listen to my mom, I didn't mean it that way. I've never coveted your money, nor do I want you to close the health center. My sister-in-law said you've always wanted to open a health center, and now it's finally about to open. Auntie, you should continue with your business. Su Laosan and I don't need you to give up anything for us..."

"Fang Erniu!"

Erniu's mother scolded, "You haven't even married into the family yet, and you're already siding with outsiders?! I'm doing this for your own good. You wouldn't understand if I didn't tell you. Your grandparents just try to smooth things over, and your older brother..."

She paused, glanced at her eldest son, pursed her lips, and then looked at Fang Erniu.

"...What will you do when you run out of money after you get married? Once you're married, your family definitely won't give you any more money. Are you going to starve with your child?"

Fang Erniu shook her head stubbornly, "Su Laosan and I won't starve. We're both able-bodied, why would we want to take advantage of Auntie's money?"

She turned her head and looked at Su Laosan and Li Banxia, ​​crying, desperately trying to explain that she didn't mean it that way and that her mother's words were not what she meant.

Li Banxia patted her and said, "Erniu, you are a good girl. Your mother's concerns are not unreasonable, but I really can't do the things your mother mentioned."

Grandma Fang's heart skipped a beat.

She hurriedly said, "Mother-in-law, don't listen to Erniu's mother's nonsense. She's just worried about the child and didn't mean anything by it. Don't take it to heart..."

Li Banxia glanced at Grandma Fang but said nothing.

Erniu's mother's face darkened, and she hardened her heart, saying, "If the in-laws don't agree to my conditions, I don't think this marriage is worthwhile."

She thought that as long as she acted as if the marriage wasn't absolutely necessary, she could force Li Banxia to back down. After all, her son and her daughter had been dating for so long, and both sets of relatives and friends knew about this person. With the wedding approaching, she thought that for the sake of appearances in front of these people, Li Banxia would agree.

Even a superficial agreement.

But she misunderstood.

Li Banxia has died once. She does like the current Erniu, but no matter how much she likes her, it's not enough for her to give up herself, sacrifice herself, and repeat the same mistakes.

Seeing Li Banxia remain silent, Erniu's mother, thinking herself clever, added fuel to the fire, saying, "Mother-in-law, you really need to think this through. Your children are busy earning money now, so lend them a hand. That way, they'll take care of you when you're old. If you don't help now, who knows what the future holds..."

These words were like oil poured on a fire; with a 'sizzle,' they burst into a raging inferno.

Li Banxia's eyes instantly turned cold. She looked up at Su Laosan, who was anxiously wringing his hands, and Fang Erniu, whose eyes were red and who was biting her lip.

Her mind was filled with images of her husband and daughter-in-law complaining about her old age and how they were reluctant to take care of her when she was dying, and how they were also complaining that she was too old to earn money and couldn't pay off their son's mortgage.

Those ferocious, savage, and terrifying faces overlapped with the clear, somewhat foolish, ingratiating, pleading, pitiful, panicked, and fearful face before Li Banxia. Her heart felt as if it had been struck by a monstrous wave, suffocating her as if she were being overwhelmed.

"Mom, don't listen to what Erniu's mom said. You're my mom, my own mother. You raised me with your love and care, how could I not take care of you in your old age, Mom..."

Fang Erniu was also flustered, nodding frantically like a pestle striking garlic, "Yes, yes, Auntie, don't listen to my mom. Su Laosan and I will definitely take good care of you. We never thought of asking you to help us take care of the children, nor did we ever think of asking you to give up your own career. I never knew that doing what I love could be so joyful. I'm not a useless lazy girl. Those old men and women love me so much. I've been running around in the countryside with Su Laosan for the past six months, and I've been so happy and carefree spending the money I earned myself. I would never want to be stuck in such a big yard, Auntie, I understand you, really! You don't need to listen to my mom, and I won't listen to her either, and I won't give up doing business with Su Laosan..."

"Yes, yes, Mom! Look, Erniu said the same thing."

How could such a sure thing as a marriage go wrong like this?

Su Laosan was almost in tears, looking at Li Banxia with pleading eyes, like a pair of star-crossed lovers with Fang Erniu.

Li Banxia stared at them, looking at them back and forth countless times, before closing her eyes and slowly exhaling.

Grandma Fang noticed that things were getting increasingly wrong. She looked up at her eldest grandson, whose brows were furrowed and who was tense, and exchanged a glance with Grandpa Fang.

Then, she slammed her hand on the table, making a loud 'bang' that drew everyone's attention to her.

"Second son's wife, haven't you made enough of a scene? The marriage between Erniu and the third son of the Su family is almost settled, why are you making things difficult for her future mother-in-law?! Do you really want to ruin your daughter's good marriage and make her marry a countryman like you, spending her whole life knocking clods of dirt in the countryside?"

"Mom! What are you saying?!"

Erniu's mother was angry and aggrieved. "I made this request because I didn't want Erniu to end up like me. Do you know how tiring it is to cook, do housework, work in the fields, and take care of three children?"

Her eyes reddened, and thinking of the hardships and suffering she had endured over the years, her heart trembled uncontrollably, and tears welled up in her eyes. "I don't want Erniu to end up like me, not only having to struggle to make a living but also having to serve her husband and take care of several children!"

She hardened her heart, gritted her teeth, and stared at Su Laosan and Li Banxia.

He shouted, "If Su Laosan can't support a wife and children, he shouldn't marry Erniu! His family can't afford to marry a wife they can't support, expect her to carry on the family line, earn money to support herself and their children, and also take care of her mother-in-law, husband, and children! I won't agree! I will never let Erniu follow in my footsteps!"

Erniu's mother's words brought tears to Fang Erniu's eyes instantly. "Mom!"