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Chapter 147: Chapter 147 Quarrel between Sisters-in-law
"That’s up to you, I just said too much." Seeing the fire was almost out, Tong Yao prepared to leave, "My face is killing me from the wasp stings. I’m going to rest. As for poking the hive or not, that’s for you to decide!"
Turning around, Tong Yao immediately revealed a sly smile on her face. She was sure that even if they gave money to Chen’s sister-in-law now, she would not touch the wasp nest.
Any sane person would not willingly do such a thankless and exhausting task. The wasp’s nest wasn’t even near their own doorstep. Who would risk getting stung or suffering from bad luck just to do this?
"Let’s go, we’re not doing it anymore. Why should we? What if something goes wrong? There’ll be nowhere to cry." Chen’s sister-in-law turned around and walked past Chen Yanmei. She intentionally tripped Yanmei and then pulled her husband to go home. Life had just started getting a bit better these last couple of years. Why create unnecessary problems?
"Hey! Look at you, you agreed to poke the wasp nest, and now you’re retreating just because someone said a few words. You really lack determination. We live in a scientific society now, we can’t be superstitious." Brother Chen tried to signal his wife while casting a glance towards his sister. After listening to Tong Yao’s words, he was also starting to back down.
But just a while ago, after having a couple glasses of wine at his sister’s house, he had pledged to get the job done. If he left now without even seeing the wasp nest, wouldn’t that be a slap in his own face?
Even if he wanted to leave, he hoped that his sister would be the one to suggest it, so he could save his pride!
Chen’s sister-in-law glared back, hands on hips. "No amount of ’science’ justifies using our own Feng Shui as a gamble. If you dare poke that wasp nest, we’re getting a divorce when we get back."
"Would you look at yourself? You’re talking about divorce without even finishing the sentence. You’re the mother of several children, do you think people won’t laugh at you if they hear this? When a man says he’s going to do something, he sticks to it. I promised Yanmei that I’d help her poke the wasp nest. Can I go back on my word now?" Brother Chen said, continuously casting glances at Chen Yanmei. He was hoping she’d step in and mediate.
Deep down, Brother Chen didn’t want to poke the wasp nest at all. But he cared about keeping face and wanted Chen Yanmei to give him a way out, so everyone could save face.
Chen Yanmei was just recovering from the shock of Tong Yao’s words and saw that her brother and sister-in-law were about to start arguing. She intervened, "Sister-in-law, you can’t just listen to Tong Yao’s nonsense. She and I don’t get along, she would never kindly tell me this. I’ve never heard of these superstitions, they’re surely lies."
Although she said this, Chen Yanmei was actually unsure. She planned to take her son, Baodan, and go home when they start poking the wasp nest. She thought that way the bees wouldn’t be able to sting them, and the bad luck wouldn’t find them, right?
At that moment, Yanmei’s mindset was to not believe Tong Yao’s words, but she didn’t dare to gamble with her own luck. Other people might sabotage their parents, but she didn’t hesitate to sabotage her own brother and sister-in-law.
"..." Listening to his sister still wanting to poke the wasp nest, Brother Chen fell silent.
"Yanmei, how come I never realized you could be so ruthless?" Chen’s sister-in-law was so angry that she trembled all over, and started to scold Yanmei, "Whenever something good happens at home, you never think of your brother. But now when there’s trouble, you remembered him. Let me ask you, if this issue isn’t credible, why don’t you ask your husband to do it? Why do you make us come all the way here, what’s your real intention?"
When Chen Yanmei called them over for dinner, they were initially overjoyed, thinking that her living conditions have improved and she was becoming more generous.
Who would have thought that after arriving, they would be told it was about poking the wasp nest? At that time, she was a bit unhappy, but since they were already there and some good food and wine had been provided, she didn’t want to embarrass her sister. It at least seemed to her that poking the wasp nest was not a big deal.
But after Tong Yao’s words, Chen’s sister-in-law became unhappy. They were called over to do such an unfortunate task, if this is not harming them, then what is it?
If Chen Yanmei insists these superstitions aren’t credible, why would she not ask her own husband to do it?
Moreover, Tong Yao was stung by the bees oneself. Isn’t this obvious? What benefit would she get by lying? If it wasn’t for her persistent questioning, Tong Yao might not even have revealed it. It’s good that she was cautious, otherwise she wouldn’t know why her family suffered bad luck in the future.
"My husband is busy, if he had the time, I would have asked him to do it long ago."
Chen Yanmei’s eyes flickered with unease. However, she didn’t anticipate that her naive son, Baodan, would blurt out exactly what she had said at home.
"Dad didn’t allow mom to poke the hive. Dad said if the hive was poked, the wasps would chase and sting. Mom deliberately kept this from dad, and you were asked to poke it. Asking others to do it costs money, but it wouldn’t cost anything if you were to do it. After a meal, there would still be favors left. There are many children in your house, eating is like feeding pigs. With just a couple of dishes and some wine, you would happily do the task..."
Despite Baodan’s young age, he imitated well, even mimicking the bitter sarcasm in Chen Yanmei’s voice.
"Don’t talk nonsense." Chen Yanmei hurriedly covered Baodan’s mouth, she hadn’t expected her son would repeat the words she’d said at home at this critical moment.
Although she looked down upon her sister-in-law, her disparaging remarks made behind their backs, when revealed to their faces, still made her feel guilty. "Brother, Sister-in-law, children talk nonsense, don’t believe him," she said.
"Listen to that! This is your good sister! According to her, our meals are pig food, we’re not living humanity! Today, if you dare to help her poke the wasp nest, you might as well stay here and live the good life with your sister!" Chen’s sister-in-law almost fainted with anger. She scolded her husband and turned to leave.
Chen’s sister-in-law had always known that Yanmei looked down on her family. Because their living conditions were poor, she had tried to curry favor with Yanmei in the past, but never got any benefits. Instead, she had been endured years of bullying. 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
These past few years, with conditions at home slightly improved and the children grown, Yanmei finally treated her a bit better.
Although Chen’s sister-in-law was not educated, but she lived her life with integrity. Now, picking a fight at this stage was pointless, so she simply went back home, shut the door, and lived her own life. As long as she was alive, Yanmei could forget about stepping into her home again.
"..."
Although Chen Yanmei felt guilty, she did not take Chen’s sister-in-law seriously. She was so used to bullying her sister-in-law that she didn’t even fear her anger.
"Brother..."
"I’m not worthy of being your brother."
Brother Chen’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. It was true that their living conditions were not as good as their sister’s. However, every time she came home, he had always brought out the best things from their home to show hospitality. He would even borrow money to buy wine and meat. He never thought that his own sister would badmouth his family behind his back. If it hadn’t been for Baodan, he still wouldn’t know about it.
The family was poor. He didn’t care if outsiders looked down upon them, but he didn’t expect that his own sister would look down on them too.
In the past, his wife had told him that his sister looked down on him, and he deceived himself into thinking that his wife was overthinking. Now the proof was right in front of him. He felt not only heartbroken but also ashamed in front of his wife.
