RGL – Chapter 62

Grandma Sun also sent Su Min a red envelope.

Sun Qiufang said, “We didn’t go back to our hometown for the New Year this year, so come have dinner at my place today. It’s livelier when both families eat together.”

Sun Hai replied, “Let’s eat at my place. Mom is staying with us, so it makes sense to eat here.”

“As long as you two don’t mind the noise, Changrong and I won’t be shy about it.” As Sun Qiufang spoke, she rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen to start preparing the meal.

Su Changrong sat on the sofa watching TV.

Now that things were better financially at Sun Hai’s home, and with both elderly and children in the household, they had bought all the necessary appliances. Besides the TV, they even had a refrigerator. But since it was so cold during the winter, Grandma Sun didn’t want to waste electricity and hadn’t turned it on. Su Min was chatting with Sun Yan.

This year, Sun Yan hadn’t gone home for the New Year—it was her first time spending it away from home, and she was feeling quite awkward. She especially felt that her little aunt was distant and indifferent, as if she didn’t really care about her, which made her feel like an outsider.

Su Min took the opportunity to talk to Sun Yan about going to the factory on the fifth day of the lunar new year.

Sun Yan had been thinking about it too. Even though her grandma and uncle were nice to her, she always felt uncomfortable when she was around her aunt and didn’t want to stay here too long. If she could live at the factory, that would be great—and she could earn money too.

“Minzi, thank you so much.”

“What are you thanking me for? Just study hard. If you really learn the skills well, make me a piece of clothing someday.” Su Min was genuinely happy that Sun Yan was thinking positively.

Sun Yan smiled and said, “No problem.”

They were busy cooking in the morning when suddenly there was a knock at the door.

Thinking it was a neighbor coming to give New Year greetings, Su Changrong quickly went to open it. When he saw Sun Bing outside, he froze for a moment. After realizing who it was, he quickly invited Sun Bing and his family inside.

“We’re here to see Mom.” As soon as she stepped in, Zhang Guihua said coldly, afraid people would think she was there to pay New Year’s visits.

When she saw Sun Yan sitting comfortably on the sofa, Zhang Guihua’s expression changed. “You little brat, you really didn’t come home for the New Year? Where do you think your home is? Do you think our house is too small or too uncomfortable for you?”

Zhang Guihua started scolding as soon as she entered, stunning Sun Yan into silence.

Sun Yan hadn’t expected her mother to come and instinctively felt a bit scared. She shrank back toward the sofa. Grandma Sun, watching from the side, quickly said, “Alright, alright, stop scolding the child during the New Year.”

She then looked at Sun Qiang, who was standing behind Zhang Guihua. “Qiangzi, come sit down.”

Sun Qiang rubbed his hands in his pockets and walked over to sit on the sofa without greeting anyone. Su Min remembered that Sun Qiang used to be quite talkative—she hadn’t expected him to become so withdrawn. Even his clothes and style were a bit alternative for this era.

Zhang Guihua was tugged a couple of times by Sun Bing. She pursed her lips, shot him a glare, and deliberately raised her voice in the direction of the kitchen. “Why are you pulling me? Am I wrong? I raised this daughter for so many years, and just a few words from outsiders made her stop coming home. What’s next, is she going to treat someone else as her mother? Ungrateful little wretch—if I’d known she’d turn out like this, I would’ve tossed her into the toilet as soon as she was born!”

“Zhang Guihua, are you here to cause a scene this early in the morning? Who are you accusing of sowing discord?”

Sun Qiufang had been in the kitchen listening and hadn’t planned to get involved—she was just helping Sun Hai prepare the meal. But when she heard that, she couldn’t stand it anymore and stormed out.

Sowing discord? Who was she accusing?

Seeing her come out, Zhang Guihua sneered, “I didn’t name any names. Why are you yelling?”

Sun Qiufang was furious. “I am yelling. Who came here to stir up trouble first thing in the morning? Your daughter is spending New Year’s here, and instead of being happy to see her, you come in here yelling. How could you act like this?”

“Qiufang, leave it,” said Su Changrong nearby. Zhang Guihua was even worse than before—at least she used to pretend when she wasn’t happy. Ever since they refused to help her last time, she had completely torn off the facade. Now every time they met, she acted like they were enemies, attacking as soon as she opened her mouth. Arguing with her during the New Year was just a waste of time.

Zhang Guihua snorted coldly and turned to Sun Yan. “Are you coming back with us today or not? If you’re not, then your dad and I won’t acknowledge you anymore.”

“Mom, what did I even do? What does going to the garment factory have to do with you?”

Sun Yan’s eyes were red as she looked at Zhang Guihua. She was just a teenage girl. Even if she resented her mother deep down, she still hoped for support from her family. But instead of visiting her during the New Year to show some concern, all her mom did was yell at her. Was that really how you treat your daughter?

Zhang Guihua, full of anger, said, “You dare talk back? Then tell me—who told you to go work at the garment factory? Wasn’t the restaurant a good job? You meet rich people there every day, and that helps you marry well in the future. What are you going to meet at the factory?”

If it were still about marrying a city worker like before, she wouldn’t have minded. But now that their family had moved into the city, her daughter couldn’t just marry an ordinary worker anymore.

“Rich or not, I’m only sixteen. Why would I be thinking about marriage now?” Sun Yan’s face flushed with embarrassment.

Grandma Sun sighed. “Guihua, the child is still so young—don’t you think it’s a bit early to talk about marriage? Besides, working at the garment factory and learning a skill to become a master tailor—that’s a much better prospect than staying at a restaurant.”

“That’s just what you people think. You’re just trying to make her feel indebted to you, so she’ll listen to you in the future, right?”

“You’re just talking nonsense now,” Sun Qiufang said, stepping next to Sun Yan. “Yanyan, you’ve heard what your mom said—now tell us how you feel. Let’s make everything clear today so no one can keep blaming us later.”

She turned to look at Sun Bing. “Brother, what do you think? Do you want Yanyan to stay at the restaurant too?”

Sun Bing looked a little awkward. On one side was his wife, and on the other was his family—it was hard to take sides. But to be honest, the restaurant was better than the factory. At least food wasn’t a worry. He hesitated before finally saying, “She’s doing fine at the restaurant. It’s a stable job. Why go to the factory?”

Su Min couldn’t take it anymore and said to Sun Bing, “Uncle, the restaurant isn’t a guaranteed job. Who knows how long it’ll last? Yanyan’s just a waitress there—how long can she keep doing that? Even if it lasts, can she carry trays her whole life? At least if she goes to the garment factory, she’ll learn a skill. In a few years, she could be a master tailor training apprentices, with a pretty good income. And even if she doesn’t stay in the factory, she could open her own tailoring shop. That’s way better than working in a restaurant.”

Sun Bing was easily influenced. After listening to Su Min’s analysis, he thought it made sense and turned to Zhang Guihua. “Guihua, maybe we should just let it go.”

Hearing her husband actually side with the others, Zhang Guihua’s face twisted with anger. “Let it go? The both of you are pushovers—whatever others say, you just go along with it!”

Seeing that Zhang Guihua was being unreasonable, Su Min didn’t try to persuade her any further. After all, Sun Yan was their daughter. She had already done all she could. If her uncle and aunt cared more about saving face than about their own child, there was nothing more she could do.

Sun Qiufang was also pulled aside and persuaded by Su Changrong. “It’s New Year’s. Why argue? Just pretend you didn’t hear her. What’s the point of fighting with her?”

Sun Hai was also held back by Li Meng to stop him from speaking. This was really a family matter for the eldest brother’s household. As relatives, they could lend a hand, but siding with a child to oppose her own parents wasn’t really appropriate either.

Sun Hai sighed and just stood silently to the side.

For a moment, the living room fell into complete silence.

After a while, Sun Yan spoke up. “Mom, Dad, I’m not going back with you. Even if you say you won’t recognize me anymore, I’m not going. I don’t want to work at the restaurant—I want to go to the factory and learn a skill.”

Her tone was firm, with no room for negotiation.

Zhang Guihua was so furious her chest hurt.

“You ungrateful brat!” she shouted, storming over to slap Sun Yan several times while pinning her down on the sofa. Sun Qiang quickly rushed over and pulled Zhang Guihua away forcefully. “Why are you hitting my sister? If you’ve got the guts, hit me! Beat me to death and you won’t have a son to send you off when you die!”

He stood in front of Sun Yan, glaring fiercely at Zhang Guihua.

Sun Bing stepped in and scolded him. “Qiangzi, how can you talk to your mother like that?”

“I’m just treating her the way she treats me,” Sun Qiang said bitterly. Ever since he could remember, his mother had been different from others—controlling his dad, controlling him and his sister. If anyone defied her, she would beat or scold them. And now, just to save face, she was preventing them from going to school. What kind of mother was that?

“This is such a sin,” Zhang Guihua wailed, bursting into tears.

She never expected that despite all she did for the family and her two children’s futures, they would treat her like an enemy. They’d rather listen to outsiders than to their own mother.

“How could you kids treat your mother like this? So ungrateful,” Sun Bing scolded, then turned to Zhang Guihua, trying to comfort her.

Grandma Sun sighed and patted Sun Qiang, urging him to say something kind. No matter how wrong a mother was, a child still shouldn’t speak to her like that.

But Sun Qiang stood firm, unwilling to apologize.

“Enough already. Can’t you stop for the New Year, big sister-in-law?” Li Meng said impatiently, finding Zhang Guihua’s crying annoying. She thought about how they were supposed to be enjoying the holiday, and now here Zhang Guihua was, causing a scene. Did she really think they were pushovers? If she weren’t newly married and didn’t want to interfere too much, she wouldn’t have tolerated Zhang Guihua bullying her husband and mother-in-law like this.

Zhang Guihua was feeling angry and hurt, and no one was comforting her. Now hearing Li Meng’s words lit her fuse again. She took a few steps forward toward her. “What did I do, huh? What’s there to respect? This isn’t even my house—who am I supposed to be cautious for? I’ll cry if I want to. May your family be cursed!”

Sun Hai quickly stepped between them, afraid Zhang Guihua would get physical. But he saw that Li Meng’s face was pale, and her brows were furrowed.

“Mengmeng, what’s wrong?” he asked worriedly.

Li Meng, clutching her stomach in pain, gasped. Waves of pain were coming from her belly.

Grandma Sun watched and cried out anxiously, “Is she going into labor?”

“But isn’t there still another month?”

“Oh, what month—she’s been agitated into premature labor! Hurry and get her to the hospital!” Sun Qiufang shouted, rushing out to have Su Changrong bring the car around to drive Li Meng to the hospital.

As soon as Su Changrong left, Sun Qiufang hurried inside to grab some bedding and gave it to Su Min. “Minzi, go grab your little aunt’s bedding—it’s cold in the car.” She and Sun Hai helped Li Meng downstairs. Before leaving, she turned to Grandma Sun, whose face had gone pale, and said, “Mom, just stay home and watch the house. When we get news, I’ll have Changrong come get you.”

Su Min and Sun Yan followed behind to help.

Grandma Sun knew she’d only get in the way if she went, so she didn’t follow. She just anxiously paced the room and turned to the stunned Sun Bing and Zhang Guihua. “This is all your fault! If anything happens, do you think Sun Hai will let you off?”

Zhang Guihua muttered guiltily, “I didn’t lay a hand on her, I just said a few words…”

Sun Bing sat there, covering his face with his hands.

When Sun Yan came back upstairs and saw her parents, she bit her lip, wanting to cry but unable to.

Grandma Sun quickly asked, “How is it?”

“They went to the hospital. There wasn’t room in the car, so I came back.” Sun Yan went straight to her room, stuffed her clothes into her bag, and started packing. Now that her parents had caused such a scene with her little aunt, she didn’t have the face to stay here anymore. She’d rather sleep under a bridge than stay here.

When she came out with her things, Grandma Sun asked anxiously, “Where are you going now?”

“Minzi said the factory will reopen in a few days. I’ll go back and get ready. With little aunt like that, I don’t have the face to stay here anymore.” She turned to Zhang Guihua and Sun Bing and added, “I’m leaving. Why are you two still here?”

Sun Bing finally pulled on Zhang Guihua. “Guihua, let’s just go home.” Stirring up this much trouble during the New Year—his sister-in-law went into labor from the stress. If this got out, he wouldn’t be able to show his face back in the village. He hadn’t even meant to argue when they came over—how had it gotten so out of hand?

Sun Qiang helped Sun Yan carry her bags downstairs, completely ignoring Zhang Guihua and Sun Bing.

Once the family had left, Grandma Sun sat down on the sofa and slapped her thigh hard. “This is all a damn shame!”

Su Changrong drove the three-wheeled vehicle straight to the county hospital.

As soon as they arrived, emergency staff came with a stretcher and took Li Meng into the hospital.

She was already nine months pregnant and due in another month, but now she’d gone into labor early. Everyone was worried, especially Sun Hai, whose eyes were red with panic and whose face was covered in sweat.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. We’re at the hospital now. The doctors will know what to do,” Sun Qiufang comforted him. “When I had Minzi, I gave birth at home and everything still turned out fine.”

Although Sun Qiufang tried to calm Sun Hai down, she herself was deeply anxious. Only women truly understood the dangers of childbirth. And this wasn’t a normal labor—it had been brought on by emotional distress. Just thinking about it made her want to drag Zhang Guihua out and beat her.

That woman was getting more and more outrageous. It was one thing for her to act like a tyrant in her own house, but now she’d come over to Sun Hai’s and caused chaos. She was just a troublemaker.

“From now on, don’t get involved in the eldest brother’s household. That couple can suffer the consequences themselves.”

Sun Qiufang was irritated. She’d just wanted to help her niece, and it had turned into such a mess.

Li Meng had been in the delivery room for a while. Sun Hai paced nervously outside, sweating profusely.

Sun Qiufang couldn’t comfort him anymore. She asked Su Min and Su Changrong to go home and have Grandma Sun pack some clothes and supplies for Li Meng and the baby. If she gave birth, she’d need to stay in the hospital, so they had to be prepared.

Su Changrong immediately drove Su Min back.

“Dad, what were Aunt and Uncle even thinking? We weren’t hurting them, but they came here and caused all this.”

Su Changrong was still fuming. They had avoided going back to the village precisely to avoid this kind of trouble. And yet Sun Bing and Zhang Guihua still came looking for drama.

But since it was Qiufang’s family, he couldn’t say too much. Still, he was deeply upset.

“Your aunt’s no good. Even before your mom got married, she didn’t get along with her. Your uncle’s even worse—more soft-spoken than I am, no backbone at all.”