NOVPUB
Chapter 334: Chapter 324, is that right? Really?
Shen Yunfang glanced at Wang Guifen, suddenly sighed, and said, "Ah, there was really nothing else we could do. You don’t know the situation with my in-laws. When Li Hongjun and I got married, my mother-in-law insisted on splitting the family. I didn’t want to, just like what you said, sister-in-law. Being a military spouse, we have to keep up appearances, think things through, and not let others have the chance to criticize us, right?" Shen Yunfang asked Wang Guifen, implying something, but before she could respond, she continued: "Tell me, once the family was split, even if Hongjun and I wanted to take more care of the elderly, we couldn’t. My mother-in-law favored my younger uncle and decisively told me that from now on, she was going to live with my younger uncle, and he would be the one responsible for all matters related to aging, sickness, and death. Isn’t my mother-in-law’s temper just so stubborn?"
"What, you’ve split up the family?" Wang Guifen was caught off guard by this and momentarily stunned.
"Yes, we split the family. My mother-in-law looked down on me, resenting that I’m from the countryside and not a city bride, so she wanted to split up. Out of sight, out of mind. I thought it over, and it seemed for the better. If I were often in front of her, she wouldn’t live comfortably, and it would appear as though I was unfilial. So, we might as well split," replied Shen Yunfang, spreading her hands in resignation.
"This..." Wang Guifen didn’t know what to say, a faint sense of foreboding stirring within her. Why was Shen Yunfang telling her all this? Did it mean she didn’t want to help her in-laws with their debts? That wouldn’t do. She didn’t know their younger uncle; if she didn’t ask the couple for the money, who would she ask? Making up her mind, Wang Guifen’s expression returned, but it was no longer the warm smile from before but a stern face, "In the countryside, splitting the family is just that, but we’re still one family. Bones may break, but the sinews still hold them together. Blood ties aren’t so easily severed. Besides, no matter what, Li Hongjun is still your in-laws’ son, and he is responsible for whatever his parents have done."
"Oh, is that so? Sister-in-law, is that the custom in your family’s area? Oh dear, that’s different from our ways here. Once we split the family here, we’re completely two households. We live our own lives and only come together for the New Year’s gathering," replied Shen Yunfang without a hint of urgency, finally grasping the true essence of the saying that he who lends money becomes the master.
"So Li Hongjun won’t take care of the elderly, how can that be?" Wang Guifen refused to believe it.
"Of course, he has to take care of them. Everything was clearly divided; my eldest brother-in-law provides the yearly grain for my mother-in-law, we provide some pocket money for the elders each year, and my younger uncle is responsible for all future matters of the elders’ life, aging, illness, and death. At that time, we wrote it all down in black and white, and the captain even witnessed it. These documents have legal validity if taken out," stated Shen Yunfang, unashamed. The sooner this news spread, the better, so that certain dark-hearted individuals would cease coveting her family’s resources.
Upon hearing that Shen Yunfang did give the elders money annually, Wang Guifen’s once heightened anxiety eased. Good, as long as they were still providing money, she wasn’t worried. However, the situation seemed somewhat unclear now; it was best to get her own money back sooner rather than later. 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓅𝓊𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
"Yunfang, here’s the situation. Your in-laws came to your place a few days ago looking for you and Li Hongjun. They wanted to do something—I can’t quite remember—but essentially, they were asking for money. You two weren’t there, and they wandered around our residential area all day, looking so pitiable; it was hard for us to bear! You know me, I’m earnest and can’t stand to see elders in distress, especially considering your connection, I couldn’t just ignore their predicament. So, when your mother-in-law asked to borrow money from me, I lent it to her," said Wang Guifen, awaiting Shen Yunfang’s reaction.
Normally, at this point, hearing that someone had lent money to your parents, you’d thank them, ask how much was borrowed, and so on. Thus, Wang Guifen paused, waiting for Shen Yunfang to ask.
But was Shen Yunfang just an ordinary person? She opened her watery eyes wide, a face beaming with admiration and reassurance as she gazed at Wang Guifen, "Really?"
"Yes, your mother-in-law was pulling on me and crying. You know me, I have no other flaws, just a soft heart. Besides, your mother-in-law assured me that as soon as you returned, she would definitely be able to repay the money, so that’s why I lent it to her," said Wang Guifen, still trying to self-aggrandize, even though Shen Yunfang had not witnessed the situation.
"That can’t be!" said Shen Yunfang, still smiling.
"How could it not be? Your mother-in-law didn’t just borrow money from me; she practically borrowed from the entire neighborhood. If you don’t believe me, go ask around, and you’ll find out."
"Really?" Shen Yunfang maintained her composure.
"Absolutely! Yunfang, my sister, I didn’t come here today for any other reason. You know, my family isn’t wealthy either. We lent the money to your in-laws out of pity and because our hearts were soft. But ever since we lent the money, we can barely put food on the table, and the kids at home are constantly crying from hunger. I truly had no choice; I came to see if you had returned. I didn’t expect you’d actually be back. So, about the money..." Wang Guifen was just short of saying outright that she had come to collect the money.
"Sister-in-law, don’t worry. If there really is such a matter, I won’t let your money go to waste. However, I’ve only just returned and still don’t understand what’s going on. Why don’t you go back first, and let me find out what exactly happened before we talk about it?" Shen Yunfang didn’t make any excuses and readily agreed.
Although Wang Guifen wasn’t very satisfied with not getting the money immediately, she felt reassured after hearing Shen Yunfang’s words. She had indeed lent one hundred yuan to the old man and woman, and her boasting over the past few days had made the whole residential complex aware of it, so she wasn’t afraid Yunfang would check. Therefore, Wang Guifen also cheerfully said, "Alright, Yunfang, you go ahead and find out, but please make it quick, my family still needs to get rice on the stove."
Shen Yunfang nodded in agreement, "Certainly, sister-in-law, you can count on it."
With that, Shen Yunfang sent her off from the yard with a smile all over her face, waving goodbye. As soon as she turned around, the smile disappeared from her face, and it wasn’t until she walked into the house and saw her son had awakened, crawling all over the kang bed, that her mood brightened. She smiled and said, "Pangpang, are you awake? Hungry? How about Mommy makes you some cake?"
Her son, who had recently become more active, was eating more solid food every day. Besides his regular milk, Shen Yunfang would make some special solid food for him during her own mealtimes.
"Ah ah..." The little guy understood and happily agreed.
As for Wang Guifen, after leaving Shen Yunfang’s house, she twirled her bucket-shaped hips towards her own home. Along the way, she ran into a few neighbors she knew well. Of course, everyone already knew what she had gone to do today, so when they saw her return, they each asked her how it went.
Wang Guifen replied with a radiant smile, "What else could it be? Just as usual. It’s only natural to repay debts, and no one can say anything about it."
Some looked at her ostentatious departure with regret, thinking that if they had also lent some money to Li Hongjun’s parents, perhaps their own family could’ve managed to catch a few quails to eat too. They had heard that Wang Guifen had also taken quite a lot of vegetables from Shen Yunfang’s place. Oh my, she really got herself a good deal.
