NOVPUBChapter 83: Chapter 83 The Story of My Sister and Her Husband
Chapter 83 -83 The Story of My Sister and Her Husband
Bai Xiao fell silent, and Yang Mei understood that at such a time, people believed that family disgrace should not be aired in public. Often, they would rather swallow their own broken teeth than let others laugh at them.
“Ah, if you don’t want to talk, don’t talk. Every family has its own hard-to-read scripture. Like your aunt here, I’m just as cursed as your sister, having given birth to three girls. My mother-in-law detested me one hundred ways, accusing me of cutting off the Fang Family’s lineage. And look at your uncle, bewitched into raising someone else’s son as his own, almost wishing to support him as his child. But I tell you, that nephew of yours is no good, just waiting to make you suffer!” Yang Mei glared viciously at Fang Jianping.
Fang Jianping’s face darkened, wondering how his wife just couldn’t keep her mouth shut, worrying about the young woman hearing and laughing at their marital spats.
“Just spout nonsense, talk less would you?”
Yang Mei said bitterly, “Talk less I might, but do you wish to hand over all our belongings to your precious nephew? Do you think I can’t see how your mother ponders that because we have no sons, she favors your Fang Xiaoshan, wishing to give everything we have to him? Our old house was built by us both, with our money, yet look at Xiaoshan’s demeanor, loafing about, shirking proper work. Such a person doesn’t even respect his own parents; dreaming that he’ll care for us in old age, you’re delusional!” Outraged by her in-laws’ blatant favoritism and stuck with a deluded Fang Jianping, she faced parents who were swayed to let a nephew be their caretaker.
Fang Jianping couldn’t stand it anymore, the words spoken in front of a stranger stoked his anger.
“Don’t push your luck. Is it my fault we can’t have a son? If I had a son of my own! Would I suffer the old lady’s pressure for money? You think I enjoy begging? With no son, who will care for us in old age? Should we just wait to die? After death, who will perform filial duties? I’m the one facing an end with no heirs.”
His words pierced Yang Mei’s heart, and tears sprang forth. Sitting next to Bai Xiao, she wept inconsolably. The absence of a son was Yang Mei’s deep wound, easily exploited by others.
Bai Xiao gripped Yang Mei’s hand, feeling the rough calluses in her palm and understanding that the couple hadn’t lived an easy life, suffering because of the inability to see clearly, all due to the preference for sons over daughters—such biases leading to their current plight.
Patting Yang Mei’s hand soothingly, Bai Xiao said, “Aunt, don’t cry. Uncle, I don’t like what you said. Since you’ve said it, I must have a word with you. I’m not sure about the details of your family, but you both seem like good people, and your family business is prosperous. Let me tell you about my sister’s family. My sister has two daughters, both sweet and smart, and both my nieces excel in their studies. Yet just because they are not sons, my sister’s mother-in-law insisted they adopt a nephew to raise as their own son.
And what a mess that became. That boy demanded meat with every meal, wanted new clothes, and turned the house upside-down. My sister and her husband are just ordinary workers, not as capable as you, uncle and aunt. They couldn’t afford such luxury, and the nephew chastised them, saying that all their pampering of their daughters was useless, as they were just ‘a loss-making investment.’ He claimed it was him, their son, who would care for them in old age and inherit the family wealth. He threatened that if they didn’t provide meat and clothes now, he would let them starve in their old age, leaving them as desolate lone graves.
Just listen how heartbreaking these words are, coming from such a young child, surely taught by adults. In a fit of anger, my sister sent him back, telling the old lady they were raising a son, not an elder, and that they couldn’t afford nor handle such a lordly young master. This caused the old lady to make a huge scene, hitting my sister and causing a lump on her head, calling her a ‘hen that wouldn’t lay eggs,’ taking up their family’s space, and she should just go die. She pressured my sister and her husband to divorce. Tell me, are these the actions of decent human beings?”
The sister-in-law spoke in a sarcastic tone, saying that they kindly gave a son to their elder brother and his wife because they lacked one. Since he was their son, of course, he should have a share of the family property. There’s no such thing as giving away a child for nothing. My sister and brother-in-law, under immense pressure, really divorced in the end. That’s why I’m here to visit my sister.
After the divorce, my brother-in-law fell ill suddenly. Pitifully, he was all alone with no one to care for him. Sick in bed, there wasn’t even anyone to bring him water. Taking advantage of his illness, the sister-in-law moved straight into their house and even took over the property.
My sister, with two daughters, had no choice but to find a temporary place to stay. Fortunately, the two daughters were filial and helped with all the chores at home. After school, they even collected coal slag and recyclables to lighten the family’s burden.
Now, my brother-in-law has realized that their son was after his property. When it comes to filial piety, it’s his own daughters who are caring for him, bringing him water and medicine. In a fit of anger, my brother-in-law cut ties with the family, choosing to live a good life with his daughters and my sister. He is determined to raise his daughters well, believing that they will not be inferior to sons. After all, if you end up with an unfilial son, daughters are still better. The family is living well now, despite the hardships! After all this commotion, they were left with nothing, but at least the family is together,” Bai Xiao’s interjected story immediately made Fang Jianping feel a sense of empathy.
Even though Fang Xiaoshan was taken care of by Fang Jianping like a son, Xiaoshan’s attitude towards them was just like that of a bratty child, showing displeasure whenever money wasn’t given! Cursing and swearing, he had said those things about not supporting the elderly.
This was practically a carbon copy of what had happened in their family. However, the subsequent development in their family’s story wasn’t the same. Even though Jianping hadn’t experienced such things, upon reflection, he feared that Xiaoshan wouldn’t take care of him if he were bedridden. If that were the case, why did he obsessively wish for a son?
To suffer and struggle just to raise someone else’s son?
Isn’t that the height of folly?
Upon hearing this, Yang Mei laughed heartily, “Your sister is formidable. It serves your brother-in-law right to suffer a bit and realize who in the world treats him the best. He neglects his own daughters and pins his hopes on an outsider? That’s nuts. They’re just after the property. To adopt a child so young is already difficult, let alone dealing with someone in their twenties. Now, you still have some money, so of course they wouldn’t dare to mistreat you! But beauty doesn’t last forever, nor does a person stay good for a thousand days. One day when you’re down, let’s see; your beloved nephew might do something even more extreme.”
This story spurred Yang Mei’s enthusiasm, seeing Bai Xiao’s sister as a strong and brave woman in her eyes.
She made up her mind that if things go south, she would divorce too! Looking at Xiaoshan, he certainly didn’t seem like a decent person. Rather than squandering her entire fortune, it would be better to get a divorce, divide the property, and leave something for her daughter.
