"Granny, Tie Tou is strong and can do it himself. You don’t need to help," Tie Tou, though simple-minded, was no fool. He knew full well the kind of person his granny from Mo Hong’s family was and refused to let her touch anything he was holding.
After Mrs. Hong tried and failed to snatch it several tis, she lost her temper and, with a long face, said, "What’s this, are you deliberately withholding it, huh? Don’t forget, I’m your granny. You’d dare to be disobedient, it’s unfilial! Hand over what’s in your hand to , quick!"
"Granny, it’s not like that..." Tie Tou wouldn’t let go, and with his clumsy tongue, he didn’t know how to explain his filial piety. He was so anxious that he broke out in sweat on his forehead.
"Hmph, do you still acknowledge as your granny? Then hand it over to granny!" Mrs. Hong sneered triumphantly. She did not believe she couldn’t handle such a blockhead!
"Alright, alright..."
Seeing that the neighbors were already looking over and whispering amongst themselves, Tie Tou had no choice but to bring out the cured at and pastries he had hidden behind his back and prepare to hand them over to Mrs. Hong, who had her hand stretched out.
At that mont, a gentle voice ca through: "Tie Tou, what are you doing? You child, why didn’t you go inside after coming back?"
Mo Wu hurried over as if she hadn’t seen her mother-in-law’s outstretched hand. She took the cured at and pastries from her son’s hand, patted Tie Tou’s shoulder gently while feigning reproach, and said, "Hurry back ho. Dinner is ready and waiting for you!"
After speaking, and as if she had only just noticed Mrs. Hong, she ignored her ugly expression. Mo Wu stepped forward and took her by the arm, saying, "Mother, did you co to et Tie Tou? Look at you, at your age. What if you fell?"
Mrs. Hong, catching on to what was happening, pushed Mo Wu away forcefully and pointing at her nose, scolded, "You unfilial thing, don’t you put on an act in front of . I don’t fall for that."
Fearing that his mother might fall, Tie Tou hurriedly rushed to support her. He looked at Mrs. Hong angrily, opened his mouth to say sothing, but, worried about being accused of disrespect, he closed his mouth again.
Instead of getting angry at Mrs. Hong’s vitriol, Mo Wu coaxed her in a gentle and pleasant tone, "Mother, it’s my fault, please don’t be angry. It’s cold and freezing out here, let’s head back, or the al will get cold."
After speaking, she softly said to her son: "Go, help your granny. There are many pebbles on the ground; don’t let your granny stumble."
Obedient as he was, Tie Tou listened to his mother’s instructions, strode forward, and grasped Mrs. Hong’s arm. Seeing her attempt to break free, he tightened his grip and said, "Granny, your grandson will help you ho."
Mrs. Hong was so infuriated by this mother and son duo that, wanting to pull away but unable to, she continued to curse all the way ho without stopping.
Hearing all this, the neighbors shook their heads and sighed. Only a daughter-in-law with Mo Wu’s gentle nature and devotion could endure such a terrible mother-in-law like Mrs. Hong.
Mrs. Niu, eyes gleaming, stared at the cured at and pastries in Mo Wu’s hands. Just as she was about to shalessly beg, Mo Wu opened one package of pastries and distributed a portion to every family mber. She also cut the cured at in two, hung the larger piece from the beam, and took the smaller piece along with the remaining pastries to her room.
Mrs. Hong, already in a foul mood, saw this and scowled even more darkly, as if she would drip water. She was just about to scold when Old Man Mo interjected, "That’s what they gave to Tie Tou. It’s proper for the oldest to have their share; you haven’t missed a bite, so shut your mouth!"
Having long since dared not contradict Old Man Mo, Mrs. Hong felt incredibly resentful with his scolding. She glared at the door with such intensity that she seed to wish she could rush in and snatch the items back.
Yet Mrs. Niu was not ready to give up. The mont Mo Wu ca out, she said sourly, "Oh dear sister-in-law, we haven’t yet divided the family assets. Aren’t you disregarding us all by acting this way? I’ll let the matter of holding onto your elder nephew’s earnings slide, but the cured at and pastries shouldn’t be yours."
Mo Wu glanced at her indifferently and said, taking the bowl of coarse rice porridge from the table, "Sister-in-law jests. Apart from living together, there is little difference from being divided. As for the earnings, that’s what my son made with his hard work. It’s right for to manage it for him; the cured at and pastries are the sa and have nothing to do with sister-in-law."
Taken aback, Mrs. Niu was about to retort, but Mo Yonglu pulled at her, ultimately making her shut up.
Sitting down with a few pickles, Mo Wu drank her porridge and watched her discontented mother-in-law and sister-in-law, a cold smile playing on her lips. If not for her precaution, waiting at the door for her child’s return at the right mont, not a bite of the cured at and pastries would have been left for her side of the family that day.
But this couldn’t continue forever. Although she managed the silver for her branch of the family, Tie Tou and Dani were so big and still squeezed into the sa room with her and her husband. It made her feel cramped and uncomfortable. In another year or two, the children would need to marry, and everything would require silver. It was enough to drive her to despair!
After the New Year, she planned to visit Uncle Tang’s House to ask the Yan girl for advice. That girl was quick-witted and full of ideas, and might guide her to a clear path. Later that night, when Tie Tou handed over seven hundred Wen Gongqian and one or two pieces of silver in a red envelope, the thought grew even stronger...
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