Chapter 27: Every Family Has Its Own Troubles (5)

With several patients having checked out overnight, Su Qiao and her daughter felt much more comfortable in the ward.

The next morning, the older sister-in-law came by herself to handle the discharge procedures for the elderly Mrs. Qian.

"What about the old lady?" Su Qiao, always curious, started gossiping as soon as she saw her arrive alone.

The older sister-in-law’s face was beaming. "Qian Dayou sent his parents and two nephews back to the countryside last night."

"That’s wonderful!" the aunt in the neighboring bed chimed in, looking just as eager for gossip and happy for her.

"Indeed. With just our own family left, we’ll be able to send a bit more support to my second son." Thinking of how her second son had been sent to the countryside precisely because of those four loud-mouthed relatives, the joy on her face dimmed instantly. Once Qian Dayou returned, she would have to have a serious talk with him about finding a way to bring their second son back home.

By late morning, Su Qiao told Fang Xiaoying she was heading to the hospital canteen. She kept her meal modest: a tin of millet porridge, a boiled egg, two steamed buns made of mixed grains, and a small portion of pickled vegetables.

When Su Qiao returned, the others in the ward were also eating. Fang Xiaoying brightened up when she saw the food her mother placed on the nightstand. "Mom, where did you get these shredded radishes? They look so glistening and oily."

"Yes, sister, how come your radishes look different from ours?" the aunt by the door asked with envy.

Seeing their keen interest, Su Qiao picked up her chopsticks, gave a bit to the two patients in the other beds, and said, "They’re just regular radishes; I just added a drop of sesame oil and a little rice vinegar."

"Oh, no wonder! They smell so fragrant. Thank you, Su."

"Thank you, Su. You really know how to cook."

"True, none of us would have thought to mix them with sesame oil."

"Even if you thought of it, you wouldn't have any to use."

"That’s right, we don't have anything as luxurious as sesame oil at home."

Watching them eat with such pleasure, Su Qiao thought to herself how simple and pure people were in this era, satisfied by nothing more than radishes mixed with a bit of sesame oil. In her opinion, if there were a plate of fried sea fish and a bowl of rice, everything else would be superfluous. Of course, a side of fresh greens would be even better.

After lunch, Su Qiao was helping Fang Xiaoying walk around the open space in front of the ward when the old doctor’s son hurried toward them. "Comrade Su, I’ve just finished the retirement paperwork for my father."

"Congratulations."

"On behalf of my father, I would like to thank you both." After saying this, he pressed a paper parcel into Su Qiao’s hand and hurried away.

"Mom, that man is quite interesting."

"Indeed." Su Qiao felt the fabric through the paper. "The texture is nice; it looks like a dress."

"Mom, the color is beautiful. I love it!"

"Yes, this light blue is like a washed-out sky. It suits a young girl perfectly. Once you recover, you’ll look stunning in it."

"Mom, I don't want to stay in the hospital anymore. I want to go home."

"Let's stay two more days for observation."

"Mom, all I do here is lie in bed. Wouldn't it be more comfortable to lie in my own bed at home?"

Su Qiao thought her daughter had a point. "I’ll go ask the doctor."

"Mom, I'll go with you."

"All right, it’ll be good for the doctor to check you over one more time."

Just as they turned, a girl ran past with red, teary eyes. Behind her, a group of three people—old and young, men and women—were in hot pursuit.

"Xiaoyu, slow down!" a young man called out anxiously from behind.

"Leave me alone! You’re just a wife-coddler who knows nothing but to bully me along with your wife!"

"Xiaoyu, Third Brother didn't do that."

"Yes, you did! Ever since your wife got pregnant, you've been helping her snatch my things!"

"Xiaoyu, your third sister-in-law has been a bit temperamental since she got pregnant. Just give in to her for a few days; she’ll be fine after the baby is born."

"Pah! Who are you trying to fool? Do you think I don't know what kind of person your wife is?"

Zhang Xiaofei was left speechless by his sister’s retort; it was clear that she was speaking the truth, and it hit him right where it hurt.

The middle-aged couple, who had been chasing on bicycles, caught up. Seeing the girl had stopped, the mother jumped off the back of the bike. "Xiaoyu, you scared your mother to death!"

Zhang Xiaoyu didn't want to look at her parents. When her third sister-in-law, belly protruding, had snatched her favorite clothes and arrogantly pushed her limits, her parents had told her to keep the peace for the sake of the unborn grandson. She felt as if the whole world had betrayed her.

Mother Zhang knew her daughter had been wronged, but her daughter-in-law was pregnant. "Xiaoyu, the doctor said your sister-in-law’s pregnancy is fragile. What can I do? We have to accommodate her. We can't risk losing the baby that's due in a few months."

Zhang Xiaoyu stared at her mother’s face, tears falling before she could speak. "Why am I always the one who has to give in? Haven't you noticed? She only snatches my things. Anything I have, she takes."

"Does she?" Zhang Xiaofei hadn't noticed.

"When my eldest sister-in-law and I both went to get pancakes, she only demanded mine. When my second sister-in-law and I each picked a mulberry branch, she only snatched mine."

"Is that true?"

"Is it true? It’s because you keep making me yield that it has fueled her arrogance! Why doesn't she dare snatch things from the eldest or second sister-in-law? Because she knows they wouldn't tolerate it!"

Hearing her daughter’s cries, the parents were stunned, and Zhang Xiaofei was left completely speechless.

"And my new loungewear—I bought that with my own savings from years of pocket money! But she twisted the truth, claiming I used family money, just so she could justify taking it by saying that if it was family money, she had a right to it since she’s part of this family too!"

The more Zhang Xiaoyu thought about it, the angrier and more wronged she felt. "She’s targeting me on purpose."

"No, little sister, she really isn't," Zhang Xiaofei insisted, even though he knew his wife’s true intentions.

The parents knew their daughter-in-law was causing trouble, but for the sake of the family and the grandson, they could only try to smooth things over. "Xiaoyu, let’s not talk about who is right or wrong. Just think about the fact that she’s carrying the Zhang family’s bloodline. Don't fight with her."

"Mom, don't speak against your conscience! When have I ever fought with her? It’s always her picking the fight! And you make me give in—are you even my real mother?" Zhang Xiaoyu wiped the tears from her cheeks, her heart heavy with bitterness.