Chapter 51: Parents-in-law
At the Liang family's old house, Zhu returned home and was in a bad mood. Seeing that Liu's family was living better and better, she was very jealous. She couldn't help but think of the recipe of sugar-roasted chestnuts again.
Since the eldest brother Liang Lao Da can't convince the second brother Liang, it seems that he can only use his last trump card and let his parents-in-law take action.
Early the next morning, Zhu complained to Old Man and Old Lady Liang.
"Dad, Mom, the cost of Wenzhi's studies is too high. Our family relies on a few acres of land to make a living and is totally unable to make ends meet. Otherwise, let Wenzhi stop studying and let him go home to farm." Zhu said deliberately.
"Even if we have to sell everything we have, we will support Wenzhi to continue studying. The Liang family is counting on Wenzhi to bring honor to the family. How can you, as a mother, say such things? You are trying to ruin your son's future!" When old man Liang heard that Wenzhi was not allowed to study anymore, he immediately became agitated and started to scold Zhu.
"Dad, I really want Wenzhi to bring honor to our family, but our family is too poor now. His father and I went to my second brother's house, hoping to learn how to make sugar-fried chestnuts from him. We thought we could set up a stall in the city after we learned it, and earn money to support Wenzhi's studies. But my second brother cruelly drove us out. I feel so wronged."
"You guys are still going to the second brother's house to ask for the recipe? We have already separated, how can you ask for the second brother's recipe?"
"Dad, even if the family is divided, doesn't the second son still have the surname Liang? We are his brother and sister-in-law, but he let that stinky girl Qianhuan drive us out. He has no respect for seniority at all. What's more, Wenzhi is also his nephew. As the second uncle, he has a way to make money. Can't he help his own nephew?" Zhu retorted with a dissatisfied look on her face.
"It was indeed wrong for the second brother to let Qianhuan kick you out, but now that we have separated, it is wrong for you to ask for the prescription, and it is not appropriate for me to ask for the prescription either." Old man Liang was reasonable. After the separation, they should live their own lives.
"Dad, it's most appropriate for you to be the one to ask. After all, you are the second son's biological father. Isn't it normal for a father to ask his son for something?" Zhu continued to persuade.
"The second son's family has finally got a business that makes money. If we take it away, won't that cut off their source of income? How will they live?" Old Man Liang disagreed, taking his second son's family into consideration.
"Dad, the county town is so big, we can set up more than one stall. We can just set up our stall farther away, so it won't affect my second brother's business. Dad, even if you don't think about us, you have to think about Wenzhi." Zhu continued to instigate her father-in-law.
"If we take the prescription over, will it really not affect the second brother's family?" Thinking of his grandson Wenzhi's future, Old Man Liang was finally moved.
"No, Dad, don't worry. We will definitely set up the stall far away and ensure that we don't steal business from your second brother's family." Zhu quickly patted her chest and made the promise.
"What if I ask for it and the second brother and the others are unwilling to give it to me?"
"Dad, the second son usually listens to you the most. If you ask him, he will definitely agree. If he doesn't give it to you, it would be a great disrespect to his parents."
Zhu then began to sow discord, saying, "Dad, my second brother's family found a way to make money, but they didn't use it earlier or later, but chose to wait until the family was divided to use it. I think they did it on purpose, waiting for the family to be divided so that they could leave us all alone and eat alone."
"That's right, that's right. Why didn't they take it out earlier?" Old Mrs. Liang also felt that what her eldest daughter-in-law said made sense.
"Old man, don't hesitate any longer. Let's go to the second brother's house and get the recipe for the sugar-roasted chestnuts. This way, the eldest brother's family can also set up a stall to earn money, and Wenzhi won't have to worry about the tuition for his studies."
Old Mrs. Liang agreed very much with her eldest daughter-in-law's opinion. Chestnuts cost 10 cents per pound. If their family also learned how to do it, they could earn a lot of money.
Finally, Old Man Liang was persuaded, and several people set off in a hurry to Old Man Liang's house.
At this time, Liang Laoer's family of three were sitting in front of a brand new octagonal table eating breakfast. Liu had cooked rice porridge and fried pancakes in the morning. They had already agreed to go to the county town to see Liang Laoer's leg after breakfast.
Unexpectedly, there was another knock on the door. Liu stood up and was about to open the door, but Qianhuan stopped her.
"Who is it?" Ever since Old Lady Liang and Mrs. Zhu came to their house and made trouble, Qianhuan became very alert.
"Qianhua, it's grandpa."
Qianhuan recognized the voice as that of Old Man Liang, so she walked over and opened the gate.
With a creaky sound, the gate opened. Who would have thought that there was not only Old Man Liang standing outside the gate, but also Old Lady Liang, Mrs. Zhu and Old Man Liang following behind him.
Qianhuan's face turned ugly in an instant. The whole family came to her house, which must be something bad.
"What kind of wind is blowing today? It actually blew my grandparents and my uncle and aunt to my house."
After Qianhuan asked the question, she sneered and had an extremely cold attitude, making it clear that she did not welcome their arrival.
The eight-immortal table where Liang Laoer sat was facing the courtyard gate. He looked at the family members standing outside the gate from afar and asked in confusion, "Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law, how come you are all free to come here today?"
All I heard was Old Man Liang saying, "Second brother, your eldest brother wanted to learn how to make sugar-roasted chestnuts from you, but I heard he was kicked out by Qianhua. We both have the surname Liang, so how can you not help your eldest brother?"
As Qianhuan expected, they came to ask for the recipe of sugar-roasted chestnuts.
"Dad, this sugar-roasted chestnut was Qianhuan's idea. I don't have the right to make the decision. You have to see what Qianhuan thinks about this matter."
Liang Laoer didn't expect that his father came to him specifically for this matter. When Qianhuan told him about this before, he still didn't believe it. Now, he had to face the reality. He felt mixed emotions in his heart and couldn't hide his disappointment.
"Girl Qianhuan, grandpa came here today specifically to ask for the recipe for sugar-roasted chestnuts. We are all family, and we must learn to help each other. If your cousin Wenzhi passes the imperial examination in the future, your family will also benefit from it." Old Man Liang looked at Qianhuan and began to preach.
"Grandpa, I have always liked to rely on myself. I'm afraid I won't be lucky enough to benefit from my cousin Wenzhi. This small business of sugar-roasted chestnuts is now the main source of income for our family of three. If it is given to my uncle's family, how will our family of three live?" Qianhuan questioned Old Man Liang with some dissatisfaction.
"Your aunt said that they won't compete with you for business. They will set up their stalls far away from you."
"The county town of Qingxi County is only so big, and there are only so many people who buy chestnuts. Even if we put the store far away, it will affect our business. If I don't agree, what are you going to do?"
"You have to agree even if you don't want to. We are your grandparents. If you are not filial to your elders, we can go to the county government and sue your parents for being unfilial."
Old Mrs. Liang was not such a good-tempered person. Seeing Qianhuan's stubborn attitude, she couldn't help but feel angry and spoke rudely.
"Grandpa, if we don't agree, are you going to go to the county government to sue us for being unfilial?" Qianhuan asked Old Man Liang. She still had a glimmer of hope in her heart, hoping that Old Man Liang would not be so heartless to his family.
"Qianhua, as long as you give the prescription to your uncle's family, grandpa doesn't want to go that far. Everything grandpa does is for the good of the Liang family. The prosperity of our Liang family depends on your cousin Wenzhi."
"You are the ones who counted on Wenzhi to prosper. We, a family of three, have never counted on him. We all rely on ourselves. I won't give you a prescription. You can sue me if you want."
Qianhuan looked like a dead pig that was not afraid of boiling water. She was the type who would only respond to soft words and not hard ones. The more she was threatened, the less she would give.
Old Man Liang didn't really want to sue his second son's family. Seeing Qianhuan's firm attitude, he turned around and tried to persuade Old Man Liang earnestly.
"Second brother, Wenzhi is your nephew. If he gets better, our Liang family will be better. Please persuade your daughter to take out the prescription."
Old Lady Liang also deliberately wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve. She tried hard to squeeze out a few tears, but not a single one came out.
She pretended to be pitiful and said, "Second brother, your father and I really have no choice but to come to you for help. Wenzhi's tuition is too expensive, and the family is already unable to make ends meet. Your father has an old illness, and he has been so anxious recently that his old illness has started to relapse. Can you bear to see your father and mother, these old bones, struggling to make money outside?"
Qianhuan felt something was wrong when she saw this. Her father was usually very filial to Old Mrs. Liang and Old Man Liang. Now her grandparents started to play the family card and even acted pitifully. She was afraid that her father would not be able to hold back and give in.
Sure enough, when Liang Lao Er saw his mother looking so pitiful and heard that Old Man Liang's old illness had recurred, he immediately asked with concern: "Dad, are you having a headache again? Do you want me to find a doctor to see you?"
Old man Liang lowered his head in guilt and did not answer. In order to get the prescription, the old woman even lied to him that he had an old illness. If he went to see a doctor, wouldn't he be exposed? Where would he put his old face?
"No, no, I've already called a doctor for your father." Old Mrs. Liang immediately waved her hand to refuse.
"What did the doctor say? Is it serious?"
"The doctor said that as long as your father stays in a good mood and doesn't worry so much, he'll be fine. But your father is always worried about money, how can he be in a good mood?"
Old Mrs. Liang looked so worried and sad. Qianhuan couldn't help but think: It's such a pity that this old woman doesn't go into acting. With her acting skills, she can beat many popular young actors nowadays.
As a filial son, Liang Lao Er still felt sorry for his own parents. He turned around and said to his daughter, "Qianhua, how about... we just give them the recipe. After all, we are all family."