Chapter 6: You Have a Thousand Schemes, But I Have an Old Trick

The group pursed their lips, their eyes falling on the fifth and sixth sons who were buried in their food. Let them take care of these two ancestors?

They had their own families to support; where would they find the spare money?

Li Xiangqin’s gaze swept over the eldest, second, and third sons. Seeing their furrowed brows, she let out a cold snort.

"What’s the matter? You older ones enjoyed your parents' support and got a head start. Now that your parents are old, you won't support your brothers?"

Caught off guard by their mother’s bluntness, the group looked sheepish. "Mom, how could that be?"

"The way you’re shrinking back is irritating. If I’d known, I should have put my energy into my work; it would have been better than wasting it on you lot.

Don't worry, as long as I’m still able to work, I’ll try my best not to be a burden to you. I’ve thought about it—I’m going back to work in a few days. Leizi and Xiaxia are both older now; whether you send them to nursery or look after them yourselves, you two can discuss it and figure it out."

As soon as these words were spoken, the group looked up in surprise, especially the eldest son and his wife, who retorted without a second thought.

"Mom, how can that be? You’ve always been the one watching the kids; our work can’t be delayed!"

At the thought of having no one to watch the children, Zhang Yanli grew anxious. Her factory was about to start skill assessments; if she were delayed because of the kids, it would affect her promotion.

"You can’t afford to be delayed, so you delay me?"

Li Xiangqin looked at her with cold eyes. There was no need to be polite to selfish people.

"The children were born to you two. You don't raise them yourselves and dump them on me—do I owe you something? I raised six children of my own; why can’t you handle two?"

"Mom, that’s different..."

Before she could finish, Li Xiangqin interrupted her.

"It is indeed different. The conditions now are much better than they were in my day. I’m informing you today, not asking for your opinion."

Zhang Yanli choked and turned to look at Zhang Jianguo.

"Our factory has already issued a notice. All quality inspectors are to be arranged for unified training, and there will be a skill assessment in three months. I really don't have time to watch the kids."

Zhang Jianguo frowned at his mother, feeling irritable.

"Mom, this sudden announcement has caught us off guard."

"That’s because you’re used to being hands-off managers."

Li Xiangqin looked at the eldest couple, her expression indifferent.

"Don't try to bargain with me. Once the fourth child’s work is arranged, I’m returning to the factory. This is not up for discussion."

"Mom, aren't you making things difficult for your son?"

Zhang Jianguo put down his chopsticks in frustration.

"I have to write manuscripts every day, and Yanli has to attend training. This concerns our future promotions. You’re our mother, the children’s grandmother—isn't it only right that you help us out?"

"There are a lot of 'right' things. Your father and I raised you to adulthood, helped you marry and have children—shouldn't you be filial?

If I take leave and sacrifice my own work and promotion opportunities to watch the kids, shouldn't you show some appreciation? And all of you, sitting at home every day with your faces up waiting to be fed—shouldn't you be paying for your meals?"

After Li Xiangqin finished her retort, her eyes suddenly lit up.

That’s right. If they want to eat here, they must pay for their meals.

Everyone: "..."

It seemed they needed to stay away from Mom for a while; her firepower was too strong, and they couldn't handle it at all.

"Starting this month, anyone who wants to eat at home will pay for their meals per head. No pay, no food."

While the group was still stunned, Li Xiangqin looked directly at the eldest son.

"Of course, this is voluntary. I’m not forcing you. If you don't want to pay, eat at your own place."

With that, she ignored the bewildered group and picked up her chopsticks to continue eating.

Speaking her mind without holding back or suppressing her feelings—it was truly comfortable. She felt she could eat another half a steamed bun.

Hearing that they had to pay for meals, the group looked at the food on the table, and it suddenly didn't taste as good.

Today was truly bizarre. Not only were they tired from the day, but they had been scolded all day too. What on earth was going on?

Li Xiangqin finished her meal, stood up, and returned to her room.

Zhang Yanli urged her son and daughter to finish their meal, then shoved a few bites into her own mouth. Seeing her mother-in-law return to her room, her face darkened.

Usually, the mother-in-law took care of feeding the son and daughter, but now she was dumping the responsibility on her without a care—she was definitely doing it on purpose.

"Zhang Jianguo, can’t you do something about this?"

Zhang Jianguo was also helpless. His mother was too fierce today, impervious to both soft and hard tactics, leaving him completely baffled.

"Forget it, you look after them for now. We’ll talk once Mom cools down in a few days."

"That’s easy for you to say, I’m very busy too..."

Before she could finish, the fifth daughter giggled. "Big brother, sister-in-law, Mom just said she’s going to work and earn money. It’s easy for you to get Mom to watch the kids—as long as you pay up, isn't that enough?"

"Asking for money to watch her own grandchildren? I’ve never seen such an unreasonable grandmother in all the world."

Zhang Yanli was seething with anger. Hearing her sister-in-law’s gloating tone, she retorted immediately.

"That’s not how you put it. Mom helped you raise your kids for five or six years; why aren't you grateful?"

The fifth daughter covered her mouth in surprise, looking like she was enjoying the show.

"My son is the eldest grandson of the Zhang family. It’s only natural for a grandmother to watch her grandson."

Zhang Yanli looked at her sister-in-law with cold eyes, her tone filled with pride. She had given birth to a son, continuing the Zhang family line; she was the greatest contributor to the Zhang family.

"You said it yourself, I am the grandmother, not the mother. I’ve been watching them for six years, working from dawn till dusk. If you aren't grateful, that’s one thing, but you’re actually resentful? Do I owe you?"

Li Xiangqin stood at the doorway of the inner room, hands on her hips, staring coldly at her eldest daughter-in-law until the latter turned her face away in discomfort.

"You and the eldest both carry the surname Zhang. If you feel Leizi is being shortchanged in this house, you are more than welcome to take the child to his maternal grandmother’s house to be a grandson. See if your parents' family will acknowledge him?"

Zhang Yanli’s expression tightened. Her parents had several sons; the last thing they lacked was grandsons.

"Mom, that’s not what I meant. You being a grandmother watching your grandson, surrounded by children and grandchildren—that’s the joy of family."

"Fine. But will you two pay for the fifth and sixth children’s tuition?"

Zhang Yanli: "..."

Isn't this bullying?

"What’s wrong? Only want to take advantage and not put in any effort?"

Li Xiangqin stepped past her and looked at the eldest son.

"Are you two planning to sponge off me?"

Zhang Jianguo was stunned and quickly waved his hands. "Mom, you’re overthinking it. Yanli was just panicked for a moment. We’ll find a way to handle the kids ourselves."

After saying this, he glared at Zhang Yanli. "Hurry up and clean up, we’re heading back."

Although Zhang Yanli wasn't very satisfied, she didn't argue. She took her son and daughter to wash their hands, and then the family of four hurried away.

The eldest son had been allocated a small two-bedroom apartment by the newspaper office, which was enough for a family of four.

Seeing this, the second son and his wife also turned and left.

After the two married, they had a daughter named Lili, who was three years old this year.

Although the in-laws had arranged for a cannery dormitory for their daughter, the family of three had always lived at the father-in-law’s house, and the granddaughter was also looked after by the in-laws. This was the biggest reason she had always tolerated the second son and his wife.