Chapter 47: Eldest branch’s uproar Part 1
The entire Yang jia was shrouded in gloom. Even the evening meal was skipped. All along, the lamp in the main room remained unlit.
家 (jiā): family/house
Fortunately, the second branch’s room had been equipped with a stove and the other necessities, leaving them no dread of starvation.
Lin Qingwan stewed a soup, stir-fried a few vegetables, and cooked a small pot of millet rice. The couple had a very satisfying and pleasant meal.
Don’t blame them for having a heart of a wolf and the lungs of a dog for eating and drinking as they please when others are sad and dejected. Everyone ought to assume responsibility for the consequences of their choices and deeds.
狼心狗肺 (lángxīngǒufèi ):cruel and unscrupulous; brutal and cold-blooded; completely without conscience
Back then, when Yang Tiezhu was lying in the medical center, she didn’t see them being saddened and anxious even by the slightest.
After dinner, Lin Qingwan peeked out to see any movements; the lights were still unlit in the main room.
Turning around into the room, she grabbed some food and carried them over to the third branch.
Adults can go on without food, but children should not be starved along with them.
She had brought food sufficient enough for all the four members in the third branch. The four people sat on the kang and began to dig in. Lin Qingwan sat at the edge of the kang, while teasing the two adorable girls and also chatting with Yao-shi. She wanted to wait till all four of them ate before taking back the dishes.
Seeing Yang Tiegen’s uneasy appearance, Lin Qingwan said with a smile, “It’s alright, third younger brother. You don’t have to be anxious about father and mother. At the moment, they are deeply heartbroken; where would they have the mind to eat.”
Ever since Yang Tiezhu had got injured, Lin Qingwan got a lot conversant and familiar with Yang Tiegen. As such, they no longer were as reserved as they were formerly.
Saying so, she once again added, “Don’t blame me for being unfilial daughter-in-law. My disposition is as such. If a person is good to me, I will return my gratitude to them by multiple folds. And to those who harbor ill thoughts towards me, I can’t force myself to bother with them. In the afternoon, your second elder brother asked me: Back then, if father and mother both knew that the situation would turn out like this, would their choice be different? My reply to him was this – there are no ifs and what-ifs, a lot of things around us happen just like that.”
Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi remained silent. Others might not be aware of the entire matter, but they were very clear about it. Father and mother were really too much.
“Saozi, that wasn’t what I meant…I just…. was feeling a bit uneasy…..” Yang Tiegen awkwardly explained.
嫂子 (sǎozi): older brother’s wife / sister-in-law
Lin Qingwan smiled, “I understand what you mean. I am aware that you must feel uneasy about having meals here while your parents are starving over there. However, I also want you to know that your saozi is a person with a clear distinction between gratitude and grudges. I can’t force myself to do something against my will. Besides, father and mother being like this is not something new. And apparently have also must be already used to it. You also don’t worry much about it.”
Even though there was nothing wrong with Lin Qingwan’s tone, Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi could both clearly hear a little mockery amidst her words.
It wasn’t the first time He-shi skipped meals in this manner. Every time something goes awry at home, He-shi’s mood turns bad, the main room remains unlit, and the daughters-in-law are also not called to prepare meals.
As to whether the other people starve or not, whether children are hungry or not – He-shi never cares. The only thing she cares about is that her mood is bad, and is in no mood to eat. Of course, sometimes, this strategy is also be employed to put her disobedient sons and daughters-in-law in order. Or it can also be used to put on a show of force.
In the past, the number of times Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi were put in order using this strategy wasn’t any less; naturally, Yang Tiezhu, the most unfavoured one, was no exception to this. Even the eldest branch’s husband and wife couple had also experienced this. However, not as much as the second and third branches.
Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi became even more silent.
At this moment, a sharp sound, like a thunderclap, came from the main room – it was Wang-shi’s.
“Mother, hadn’t you had enough? Ah? You don’t want to eat because you are in a bad mood. But do you have to drag the entire family to accompany, ah? Do you think I don’t feel distressed for those 50 silver taels? Those silver weren’t laosi’s alone; they were a couple of years’ worth of savings of our entire family….
Wang-shi’s voice was awfully loud. Lin Qingwan could even clearly hear all the way to the third branch’s room.
Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi quickly gobbled down the rice as they urged the two little girls to eat faster too.
At this moment, it seemed to be riotous over there in the main hall with uproarious noises: Wang-shi’s shrill voice followed by He-shi’s sharp voice and sound of teacup crashing onto the floor…..
Swiftly picking all the dishes into the basket and putting it aside, the three up them waded towards the main room. On the way, when passing by the second branch’s room, Lin Qingwan slightly pushed open the door and let Yang Tiezhu know that she would be going there to take a look at what was happening.
The main room was unlit and was obscure. But the lamp in the east room was lit, enabling them to vaguely make out the situation within the room.
Entering in, Wang-shi’s disheveled hair and hysterical clamor came into their sight. Seated on the kang, He-shi was trembling with rage. While Yang laoyezi, also seated on the kang, was taking a drag on his tobacco from a pipe, without any utterances.
Yang Tiegen took out a flame stick and lit a lamp. Under the illuminated lamp, vivid expressions of Wang-shi and He-shi’s grim faces came into Lin Qingwan’s view through wisps of smoke that filled the entire room.
火折子 (huǒ zhé zi): Flame stick, it’s kinda ancient version of a portable lighter. Flammable materials are rolled in paper and placed in the tube. With a blow, they could be illuminated. For more info, you can refer here.
“Eh? Do you have to be biased to this extent? Every time you feel uncomfortable in your heart, do you have to drag the entire family along with you… can’t you hear the kid’s wails of hunger all the way from the kang of that room, ah?”
Don’t know what caused Wang-shi to be stimulated to this extent that she left no face for He-shi.
He-shi’s fingers trembled, “Wang-shi, this shrew! Shut your mouth this instant for me!”
“I should shut up? Why should I shut my mouth? What wrong did I say? My kids are crying because of hunger. All the silver we had was given to laosi. And to buy what? Exam questions…Well, now that’s great! All the money is lost…..Are you happy now? Satisfied? Pleased? “
Being bombarded with questions by Wang-shi, He-shi was infuriated beyond words as her hands trembled and her eyes began to lose focus.
Yang Ermei, who had been all along trying to reduce her sense of existence, swiftly rushed forward and stroked her old mother’s back to soothe her.
LAZY BIRD TRANSLATIONS 
Even Wang-shi has courage because her children are hungy 😤
Thanks for the chapter
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Honestly it’s about time someone confronted He-shi on her bs. I’m actually surprised at Wang-shi for doing it. Then again, she’s only doing it because this time it’s HER kids that are suffering. They should have never given the brother the money in the first place.
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Yep. There were no guarantees from the beginning. I thought it was the perfect scam the first time I heard about it. That they still choose to gamble the savings of who-knows how many households, that’s on them.
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