Chapter 116: The Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law’s Confrontation (Part 3)

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: The Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law’s Confrontation (Part 3)

"Alright."

Zhang Dazhuang was satisfied with his sons’ replies. "Then all that’s left is the matter of dividing the family’s house, land, and money. Here’s what I’m thinking about the house. The one we’re in now is old and not big enough. Once the next generation gets bigger, it’ll be even more crowded and we won’t all fit. So, I think it’s best if this house is just left for your mother and me. The two of you can go to the village for new plots of land and each build your own new houses. Of course, while you’re building, we’ll all still live together. But since the family is being split, we’ll eat separately. Your mother and I will use the current kitchen. It shouldn’t be too hard for each of your families to set up a simple, temporary one..."

"Dad, if we all go off and build our own houses, what happens to this house later? Who are you leaving it to?"

Fang Juxian never imagined her father-in-law would suggest such a solution for dividing the house. This was completely different from what she and her own mother had planned. Remembering that her father-in-law had previously said he would rely on his eldest son in his old age, her heart seized. She grew instantly wary and, ignoring the fact that he was still talking, hurriedly cut in with her question.

"We’re going to live with the eldest in our old age, and he’s the firstborn son. It’s not just this house—our land will also be left to the eldest. Does that even need to be said?" Before Zhang Dazhuang could even react to being cut off, Wen Xiu shot to her feet and directed a merciless sneer at Fang Juxian. "Your father-in-law is still speaking, and you just interrupt him without waiting for him to finish? Is that how your mother taught you to treat your elders growing up?"

"Mom, I was just anxious and asked a question! You can’t just jump in and start criticizing my mother indiscriminately, can you? Splitting the family is supposed to be a discussion where we all have a say. Everyone needs to be satisfied, right? Am I not even allowed to ask one question? Are you trying to run a dictatorship here? If my sister-in-law were out in the world, and people were constantly pointing at her, cursing her for being ’born but not raised,’ would you like that?" Fang Juxian shot to her feet as well, shouting back without yielding an inch.

Wen Xiu was taken aback, realizing she had probably gone too far by bringing up the other woman’s mother. So, even though her daughter-in-law’s words were harsh, her own momentum faltered. She could only muster a weak retort: "Our Minzhen would never be like you."

"I wouldn’t be so sure. If she were really that great, would she have gotten a divorce and come running back, planning to live shamelessly off of us—her brothers and sisters-in-law?" Seeing her mother-in-law back down, Fang Juxian was emboldened by her successive victories. She grew careless and blurted out what she was really thinking.

"What fucking bullshit! When did my Minzhen ever say she was going to rely on you to get by?" Wen Xiu exploded like a lit firecracker, leaping to her feet and unleashing a torrent of abuse at Fang Juxian. "You’re a glutton and a lazy slob! All you do is find ways to shirk your chores. You’re useless when there’s work to be done, but the moment something’s being handed out, you’re faster than a rabbit! Even your father-in-law and I know we can’t ever rely on you two for anything in the future. My Minzhen has hands and feet! She’s a hundred times more hardworking than you. Why in the world would she be looking to you for support? Are you delusional or something, getting such grand ideas about yourself? If you’re sick in the head, you should’ve said so sooner! After all these years married into the Zhang family... you tell me, if you hadn’t said something so utterly ridiculous today, I wouldn’t have had the decency to not rip this mask off your face in front of everyone..."

Wen Xiu was cursing up a storm, but Fang Juxian wasn’t the least bit intimidated. She plopped right down on the floor and started wailing, her voice several octaves higher than her mother-in-law’s. "What did I ever do to deserve such a tongue-lashing from my mother-in-law? So only a daughter of the Zhang family is some kind of noble, above us all, so that even I, her sister-in-law, can’t say a single thing about her! The moment I open my mouth, my mother-in-law looks like she wants to tear me to shreds! Even after bearing sons and rendering great service to the Zhang family, a daughter-in-law is still just an outsider, someone you can just grab and abuse whenever you feel like it, is that it? Zhang Weihong, you bastard! My biggest mistake was letting you fool me all those years ago! I didn’t care that your family was dirt-poor, that you barely had enough to eat! I didn’t care that your parents played favorites! I just wholeheartedly believed you when you said you’d treat me well for the rest of our lives, and I jumped right into this fire pit you call the Zhang family..." As she howled, she rubbed her eyes furiously, trying to squeeze out a few tears. It was a shame her Power wasn’t up to the task. After several dry rubs, not a single tear appeared, though she did manage to rub her eyes bright red.

"Enough! Both of you, shut your mouths!"

Just as the row between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law reached a fever pitch, the family’s eldest uncle, Zhang Damei—a man notorious for his explosive temper and for offending countless people with his blunt talk—suddenly stood up and bellowed. Startled to see it was him, both women instinctively fell silent. Her daughter then pulled the now-quiet Wen Xiu back down into her seat.

Seeing the room fall silent, Zhang Damei was quite pleased with himself for the effect he had with a single sentence. He turned and roared at Zhang Weihong in displeasure, "Wei Hong, are you just going to let your wife carry on like this? What kind of behavior is that? Is that any way for a junior to behave toward an elder? I think your mother was right. You should go ask your mother-in-law just how exactly she raised your wife. Does her family have some kind of grudge against the Zhang family, or what? I’ve never seen a daughter-in-law who talks back ten times for every one thing her mother-in-law says, and who’s ready to tear the roof down if her mother-in-law so much as raises her voice. It’s been a real eye-opener."

"Uncle, Juxian just had some thoughts about the division plan Dad proposed, so she spoke up. Isn’t that all? As for her and Mom getting sidetracked, that was just one thing leading to another. You can’t take things people say when they’re angry seriously, can you?" Zhang Weihong’s face was flushed. He stood up, and though his legs were trembling with fear, he managed to get the words out.

"You’re really something, making excuses for your wife. Quite a talent you have for spouting bullshit with a straight face, heh heh... Your parents wasted their time raising an ungrateful bastard like you."

Zhang Damei finished and, ignoring how Zhang Weihong’s face was alternating between pale and flushed, snorted coldly. "The elder hadn’t even finished speaking about how to split the family. Even if you have an opinion, can’t you wait a few moments? Besides, splitting the family is men’s business. None of the men have voiced any dissatisfaction yet, so what’s the meaning of a woman impatiently jumping in? Is there no sense of order anymore?"

Not daring to argue further, Zhang Weihong gave Fang Juxian a helpless look that said, "I did my best."

Fang Juxian secretly ground her teeth so hard they could have shattered. With no choice but to endure, she resentfully climbed to her feet and sat back down in her chair. Just the thought of this uncle terrified her.

In truth, she wasn’t the only one. Everyone in the surrounding villages was afraid of Zhang Damei. Who hadn’t heard of his fiery temper? If you got on his wrong side, a mere verbal lashing to your face was considered him going easy on you. What could you do if you truly provoked him and he flew into a rage and slapped you into permanent silence?