Chapter 15: Every Family Has Its Own Troubles

“Do you need help?”

Lady Wu set Ying-jie'er down and prepared to get up to help.

Second Sister Wu also instructed her two sons to watch over Ying-jie'er. “Stay in the room and watch your little sister obediently. Your aunt and I are going to help Grandmother cook. Do you hear me?”

Both sons nodded obediently. “We know.”

The Huang family were not good people, but fortunately, the two sons Second Sister Wu had given birth to were well-raised, obedient, and sensible.

Lady Wu had nothing to worry about regarding her natal home. She smiled as she placed Ying-jie'er at the innermost part of the bed, then went to the kitchen to help her sister.

With her two daughters around, Mother Wu was in a very good mood.

“In the past, before you were married, the house was this lively. Now that two daughters have left at once, your father and I haven't quite adjusted yet.”

Lady Wu and Second Sister Wu exchanged a glance, and Lady Wu sighed. “What can we do? Daughters have to marry eventually, otherwise, we would want to stay home too.”

Staying at home was so wonderful; you could eat whatever you wanted and play however you wanted. Their parents wouldn't scold them or give them attitude.

While stoking the fire, Mother Wu said, “Since ancient times, daughters have always had to marry. If you didn't marry, people would call you old maids. You have to marry when it's time.”

Lady Wu and Second Sister Wu looked at each other and shrugged helplessly.

Second Sister Wu asked, “How has the family been lately? Is Sister-in-law and the nephews doing well?”

The eldest brother, Wu Laoda, had married the earliest, and his two sons were already at the age to attend private school.

Mother Wu said, “Everything at home is fine, but your sister-in-law's natal family is never peaceful. They keep instigating her to come back and borrow money.”

Lady Wu was surprised. “Didn't they just borrow some the year before last? Why are they borrowing again?”

When Wu Laoda married years ago, the Wu family's pig farm wasn't this large yet. The woman he married was from the Wang family, who sold cotton in the same village.

The two families were originally a good match, but the Wang family's youngest son was a spoiled brat. Not only did he drink, gamble, and womanize, but he was also uneducated and had squandered all the family's money.

The year before last, he went gambling and lost even his underwear. In the end, the gambling den owner threatened to chop off one of his fingers if he didn't produce the silver.

The Wang boy was scared to death and came crying back to ask for money.

But the Wang family had long since run out of money, so they could only turn to their son-in-law to borrow it.

Among all the Wang family's sons-in-law, Wu Laoda was the one who was a bit wealthier, so the old couple set their sights on him.

Wu Laoda was no fool.

Borrowing money was fine, but a written note had to be signed.

Even if his father-in-law turned hostile, he wouldn't lend a cent without a note.

In the end, the note was signed and the money was lent, but that Wang boy still didn't reform and continued to gamble.

Wu Laoda had no desire to deal with such a troublemaking brother-in-law, so this time, he refused to lend anything no matter what.

If it weren't for the sake of his wife, he wouldn't even have wanted to go back on the second day of the New Year.

After hearing this, Lady Wu was also speechless.

“They say every family has its own troubles. One after another, not a single one is easy to deal with.”

Second Sister Wu asked Mother Wu, “Big Brother is sensible, right? He shouldn't keep lending money time after time. Those kinds of rogues don't just refuse to pay back; they'll eventually just cling to Big Brother.”

Mother Wu nodded. “Don't worry, your brother took charge of his household long ago. He isn't the type to be easily swayed.”

Helping once or twice was one thing, but if it happened every time, how would they survive?

It wasn't like the brother-in-law was sick and needed money—a situation where lending was a necessity.

But he was going to the gambling den to bet silver; why lend him money for that? To assist in his wickedness?

Besides, their own family of four had to eat and live. Their two sons were about to start private school; where would they get enough money to let a brother-in-law squander?

As they were speaking, Wu Laoda returned in a huff, bringing his two sons with him.

Hearing the commotion, Lady Wu walked out to look.

“Big Brother? Why are you back?”

He couldn't have gone to his mother-in-law's house to be bullied, could he?

Seeing his younger sister, Wu Laoda let out a sigh. “Little Sister is here?”

Lady Wu nodded, looked at her two nephews, and asked in a low voice, “What happened? Did something go wrong?”

Wu Laoda glanced at his two sons and told them to go back to the room to play with their younger siblings before speaking to Lady Wu.

“It's all because that woman can't see sense!”

Originally, he didn't want to go to his father-in-law's house this year; the whole family was senseless.

They didn't teach their son well and only indulged him blindly. Now, the family's assets had been lost by that brat, yet he still showed no remorse and was solely focused on digging into his brother-in-law's pockets. Who could stand that?

Originally, the other sons-in-law didn't want to go back either, but since it was the New Year, they all went for the sake of their wives.

They didn't expect that upon returning, there would be no hot food and no hot tea, and the moment they opened their mouths, they would hear them bringing up money. Anyone would be unhappy.

Wu Laoda initially didn't respond to them at all, merely sitting there with a cold face.

Later, his father-in-law and mother-in-law began to make indirect insults, saying things like how some people look down on their poor relatives once they become wealthy.

Wu Laoda was annoyed at that point. He immediately stood up, took his two sons, and left directly.

He even left a parting shot: “If you want to borrow money from me, pay back the money you borrowed the year before last first!”

These words were very direct and caused the Wang family to lose face, so the old Wang couple immediately started arguing with their eldest daughter.

Being scolded by her parents, Wang Shi was also angry that Wu Laoda hadn't given her face.

But Wu Laoda clearly had no intention of compromising. He stood up and asked her, “Are we leaving or not? If not, I'm going.”

Fuming in her heart, feeling that he hadn't considered her feelings, Wang Shi angrily refused to leave.

Seeing that she was also senseless, Wu Laoda, in a fit of anger, took his sons and came back.

After hearing this, Lady Wu was also speechless.

“How has their family become more and more disgraceful?”

Since childhood, she knew they favored boys over girls, but fortunately, their daughters were all quite good—gentle and family-oriented. Otherwise, Wu Laoda wouldn't have married Wang Shi.

When Wang Shi married into the Wang family, she also fulfilled her duties well. She prepared the daily meals, and the couple's relationship was quite harmonious.

Who knew that as soon as her natal brother was mentioned, she would act as if she were brainwashed, insisting on helping him no matter what.

Wu Laoda had tried to persuade her several times, saying that this wasn't helping him, but harming him.

Furthermore, “Are you going to neglect your two sons? Your brother is a bottomless pit. Are you going to take your two sons' school money to fill your brother's debts?”

“I...”

Wang Shi knew he was right, but since they were at her natal home and her sister and brother-in-law were all there, couldn't he give her a little face?

Thus, she also became angry, turned her face away, and refused to look at him.

Seeing her like that, Wu Laoda also got angry, which was why he came back by himself.

Seeing that he was quite upset, Lady Wu comforted him, “In the future, hide your money well. Don't let Sister-in-law take it to fill that bottomless pit, otherwise, once the New Year is over, the children will need to start school.”

Wu Laoda was still sensible. He nodded and said, “I know. I'll let the money lent previously go, but I won't lend anything in the future.”

His own children had many years of schooling ahead of them; who would want to take care of that bastard of an uncle?

As they were speaking, Ying-jie'er began to make babbling sounds.

Lady Wu found it strange and stood up to look.

“What is it? Are you hungry?”

Lady Wu hurried inside to look, only to find that the little nephews were grabbing Ying-jie'er's chubby little hands and poking her armpits.

Even her chubby little feet were being squeezed and kneaded by her brothers, as if they were kneading dough.

(End of Chapter)