Li was lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) preparing for tomorrow's red envelopes. The adults didn't receive any, only her second son and his children did.
He pondered for a long time, holding the fifteen coins in his hand, and finally put nine back. Two copper coins were enough for each of them. What do little children need so much money for?
Looking at the money in her hand, Li felt melancholy, wondering when she would be able to distribute the dividends to her eldest and youngest sons.
Every year, the second child's family, who are the wealthiest, receive money, while the eldest and third children are really at a disadvantage.
But unfortunately, neither of them had children.
Zhao Dayong walked awkwardly around the kitchen and found that his second son's wife hadn't used white flour. He was relieved, but at the same time, he felt that his wife was becoming more and more petty, having to meddle in such a small matter.
It's embarrassing during the Chinese New Year.
During the meal, no one in the family spoke; everyone was quiet. After finishing, they left the table and went back to their rooms, each saying they would stay up all night in their own room.
Anyway, there weren't many dishes, and even the dumplings were served by the headcount, with each person getting only what they were given in their bowl. People were hungry because they weren't full.
Zhao Dayong couldn't eat anymore. Holding the bowl, he felt extremely bitter. He didn't know why his family had become like this. When he was a child, his family was well-behaved and harmonious.
The food at Zhao Dawen's family was quite good. Wang Shi managed the money, and she wasn't stingy with it, since they only celebrated the New Year once a year. Also, since she didn't have to support the children anymore, and the old man earned money for her to spend, she was quite well-off.
"Mom, what's good to eat today?"
She glanced at her eldest daughter-in-law and said, "What else could we have? We can't have any meat today. Let's have dumplings, egg and chive dumplings. The chives are ones I stored in the cellar before, and they haven't turned yellow yet."
Only dumplings?
The woman expressed her dissatisfaction.
Why is my mother-in-law so stingy when she's so rich?
"Mom, even if there's no meat, you can still fry some vegetables. Didn't you fry the meatballs? What about the steamed buns? Oh right, I didn't see any candy or pastries in the main room earlier. Where did you put them? I'll go get them for you. I'm really craving them."
Wang rolled her eyes so hard they were practically pointing to the sky. Her eldest daughter-in-law was becoming increasingly petty and narrow-minded, more and more like her good sister-in-law, Li. Every time she came to visit, her eyes would dart around, as if she wanted to take everything she saw home.
That's not all; he also complains to her about being poor from time to time.
She's always complaining that she doesn't have enough money and that her life is so hard and miserable. She's not her man, so what's the point of talking to her?
She's already been more than generous by not making them support her in her old age; for them to still try to steal her money is simply a pipe dream!
She will never forget how her eldest son helped Zhao Dawen deceive her.
There is no greater sorrow than a broken heart; she held no expectations of him whatsoever.
The second son is much clearer-headed and knows his own limitations. Over the years, he has stayed at home copying books and not only does not covet her money, but also gives her some personal gifts or buys her some good food during holidays.
The contrast between her two sons is obvious, and it goes without saying which one she favors.
Why is the eldest son's family poor? It's because he's not clear-headed. He insists on thinking he's capable and refuses to continue taking exams.
Was the imperial examination really that easy to pass?
Over the years, I've spent countless amounts of money buying books, hiring tutors, and taking exams in the prefectural city, but in the end, I haven't gotten anything back.
She's long since stopped caring about being an official or not; there are only a few men in her family, and none of them have the bearing of an official.
She had tried to persuade them, but the eldest couple were just as stubborn as ever. They always thought they were geniuses, believing they could do what others couldn't, and refused to turn back even after hitting a wall.
He's the only one in the family who earns money by copying books. How much can he earn in a year?
I devoted all my time and energy to studying.
Therefore, the eldest son lived in extreme poverty, and his wife became increasingly unruly, always trying to take advantage of others wherever she went.
But nobody owes them anything.
They choose their own path, and she won't force them to go down it to the bitter end, as long as they don't bother her.
They're closer to the old man anyway, so why don't they go find him? He always scolds the second son for being useless, but he really supports the eldest son continuing to take the exam.
After seeing the three children in her second son's family, Wang Shi finally understood that she absolutely could not be lenient with some rebellious sons, otherwise she would suffer the consequences.
Isn't that what happened to Li? She was willing to gouge out her heart and liver for her two unfilial sons, but what did they do?
Has anyone ever said a good word about her?
Have I been even a little bit filial to her?
She ignores the one who is truly filial, which is foolish, just like her father-in-law before.
"No, no, during the New Year, I haven't seen you bring a single piece of candy to show your respect to your mother. Instead, you keep asking me for things. Eldest daughter-in-law, do you have any shame?"
The woman neither spoke nor showed any anger or embarrassment; she simply lowered her head sheepishly and continued tending the fire. Her mother-in-law would scold her every time she saw her.
It's all because she's petty and can't control her man's infidelity, so she found him a girlfriend. How is her man supposed to tell her? With one father and one mother, won't he be caught in the middle and suffer terribly?
Because of this, they even said that the head of the household had no talent for studying and told him not to study anymore.
Listen to this, is this what a mother should say?
They used to be so caring and attentive, helping each other during exams, but ever since they returned from the prefectural city, they've completely ignored the family. Not only that, they won't even spend a single penny; they're incredibly stingy.
She has gotten along well with the second son's family, but as for them? Not that she's saying anything, but even though the second son's family is doing well now, she's not envious at all.
Her parents told her not to worry about the current hardships, and not to be attracted by the little money for copying books. They said that one should be like her third uncle, who endured hardship before enjoying the rewards.
Once her husband passes the imperial examinations and becomes a scholar, then a provincial graduate... her status and position will be different from that of her second son's wife.
What's money?
With power and influence, how much money can't you have?
You must learn to be patient.
She felt that her parents were right. Her man might be very capable, and as long as she could wait, even if she suffered for a few years, the next few decades would be good days.
So it's worth it!
The hard times were indeed tough, not only for her, but even more so for her child. She felt sorry for her child, so every time she came to her mother-in-law's, she would try to take something back with her.
How much can an old man and woman eat and spend? I really can't understand why my mother-in-law is so stubborn. No matter how I coax her, she refuses to give money to support her own son's education.
She's still her own mother!
The Zhao family is cold-hearted by nature. Once they recover, she shouldn't expect them to be very filial to her. She should just let it go for the sake of saving face.
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