CH 103

What Mo Yan’s cousin-in-law took out happened to be two pieces of beef jerky. The old woman had few teeth left in her mouth, how could she eat it? She turned her head to the side, “I can’t eat this, give it to the child!”

The cousin slammed the beef jerky on the ground, “This must be because these children don’t share your surname. If he was your own grandson, would you curse him like that?”

Hypocritically, the gift basket Mo Zenian gave to the old woman was taken away by them and given to her child to eat!

Mu Zenian wasn’t close to his elder sister, and he couldn’t stand this family. He slapped the table, “That’s enough! Do you have any manners?”

The woman had no place to vent her anger, so she wailed at her mother-in-law, “This is the maternal family you keep talking about? They did this to your grandson and I. This is a slap in the face!”

Mo Yan’s Aunt didn’t know what to do and looked at her son, who son raised his eyebrows and said to Mo Zenian, “Third uncle, we all want to be happy during the New Year.”

“You know it’s the New Year, and you still made your grandma unhappy. If you can’t even control a woman, what kind of man are you? And you, sister, you didn’t teach your daughter-in-law well at all. Even your grandson lacks manners.”

Except for Mo Yan’s uncle, Mo Zenian scolded everyone in that family, which made him unhappy, “Zenian, you can’t manage your own children well and you’re criticising other family members. Your eldest daughter jumped into a well for a man, do you know this?”

This man can’t even control his family, but he’s good with gossip.

Mo Zenian flicked his sleeves, “Brother-in-law, this is the Mo family, and you are a guest when you come. We should treat you with good wine and food, but don’t make irresponsible remarks like a woman.” [1]

Mo Yan’s uncle stood up and said angrily, “They’re kicking us out, what are you doing sitting around? Let’s leave, now.”

He took the lead to leave the house, and the others had to follow. Xiao Hu was still holding the gift box and refused to put it down, and his mother got angry, snatched it, and threw it on the ground, “Don’t you have anything to eat at home?”

The contents were scattered all over the floor, and Xiao Hu cried out, “We don’t have this at home, I’ve eaten all of it. This is delicious. I want to eat more.”

Seeing her daughter’s family crying, the old woman slammed the crutch in her hand hard on the ground and pointed at Mo Yan, “She’s the one provoking us, third son, beat her!”

Hearing what she said, the three in the kitchen, including Mu Feng, all came out, and Mo Ling said, “Grandma, why do you want to beat her? She has kept your lessons in mind! Should your advice and teachings fall on deaf ears from now on?”

“You have the gall to speak. Jumping into a well for a man, I regret that you didn’t drown!”

Mo Ling snorted coldly, “After you drown me, let’s see who fetches water for you every day. Will it be your daughter, or your grandson?”

Hearing him being mentioned, Mo Yan’s cousin slurred out, “You’re the main branch and have all the ancestral property, why should I serve grandma?”

Mo Ling turned her head and asked Mrs. Liang, “Mother, have you received family property?”

She took a step forward and pointed to the house, “I built this house brick by brick. I haven’t seen a single roof tile of ancestral property.”

Mo Yan’s aunt came over angrily and pointed at Mrs. Liang, “You’re heartless. My mother raised Mo Zenian, such a promising child, and you took advantage of him, and even complained about serving the elderly. Look at what you’re wearing and what we’re wearing, we have never received any of the glory of your branch.”

Even Mo Feng couldn’t listen to what she said, “When you were eating braised meat in the back courtyard and we were eating dry rations, why didn’t you say anything? Grandma’s money is all given by my father, you don’t deserve any glory.”

Mo Zenian hadn’t spoken in a long time. He stood at the door of the house and watched the group of people in the yard in a daze, his thoughts unknowable.

Seeing she couldn’t take advantage of him, Mo Yan’s aunt sat on the ground and cried, “Mother! My deceased father! Your daughter is being kicked out after returning to her mother’s house! Who will pity me!”

It was the New Year, but she was crying like it was a funeral. Mo Yan started to regret having offended them, and would rather lose something material to regain peace.

She wanted to give them two gift baskets to coax them away. However, Mrs. Liang couldn’t bear it any longer, and started cursing Mo Yan’s aunt.

“You raven, star of misfortune, why are you crying at my house during the New Year? If you want to cry, go back home and cry, who owes you anything? Get out, cry in the back courtyard and not here. You’re making my courtyard unlucky.”

“Why should I cry in the back courtyard after you yelled at me? You’re cursing me to die! Who doesn’t know how effective a New Year’s curse is!”

After speaking, the shrew stood up, and the two started fighting. Mo Zenian came over to pull the two of them apart and shouted, “Stop fighting!”

The shrew still refused to give up, crying that even Mo Zenian was bullying her.

Mu Yan handed the two gift baskets to her aunt, “Auntie, I’m sorry for angering you with my words today. I can’t compensate you here, and these two baskets aren’t nearly sufficient. Take them back and give them to the children.”

Seeing it, the woman immediately stopped crying, took it and handed it to her daughter-in-law. She wiped away her tears and said, “Only two baskets?”

Mo Yan smiled and said, “There are only two boxes left at home, and we planned to give them to my brother when he goes out to pay New Year’s greetings. I’ll get more for you when the shop opens after the New Year.”

“What’s the use of getting them after the New Year?” Her cousin-in-law mumbled and went to help her mother.

Mo Yan asked Mo Ling in a low voice, “What can I do to stop them from coming to our house?”

Mo Ling glanced at the old woman’s back, “Hope our mother’s curse works.”

As soon as they left the courtyard, Mo Zenian started yelling, “What are you muttering about! Girls shouldn’t do business outside. You don’t think it’s embarrassing, but you’re attracting all sorts of rumours. Ling’er, you’re seventeen, you can’t wait any longer. You’re married as soon as the New Year is over!”

Mo Ling gritted her teeth and said, “Are you determined to make me marry that fool?”

“If you continue like this, your reputation will be ruined, and not even a fool will want you!”

“Give up! I’d rather become a nun than marry that fool.”

“You have no choice in the matter. I’ve made an agreement with my boss. They’ll come to discuss marriage on the sixth day of the New Year.”

Mrs. Liang came over and asked, “Why are you in such a hurry? Let us discuss it first!”

“If she doesn’t get married, she’ll really have to grow old here.”

“But all of the work in the family relies on her!”

“After the New Year, I will take Feng’er away first, and Ling’er will marry soon after, leaving Yan’er to be with you. You’ll be able to live off what you manage to grow.”

He never mentioned that he wanted to take Mrs. Liang away. Thinking that she and Mo Yan would be the only ones left at home, she felt an indescribable sadness.

Post-translation notes: This chapter was particularly hard and incredibly painful to translate, and I really can’t bear to read it again. It was just so…dissatisfying. As always, thank you for reading…although you might not be thanking yourself after such a bleak one.