Chapter 386: Laying Down the Law

Shanzimama stood outside the door. When she suddenly heard a miserable shriek from inside, she pressed her lips together. She stood there for a long while, listening to the creaking of the bed boards, before she slowly went back to her own room to sleep.

The house had mud walls; they weren’t soundproof at all.

As Shanzimama lay in bed, waves of sound from the other room washed over her.

Du Juan cried out for half the night until her voice was hoarse. Shanzimama heard the fifth watch being struck outside before the crying and the creaking finally faded away.

...

Meanwhile, Yougen had taken his father-in-law’s family into the city. He found a dilapidated inn and paid for a few spots on the communal sleeping platform.

But Granny Guo refused to part with a single bit of silver. Yougen still had some broken silver on him that his father had given him for shopping. He paid the fee, then grabbed Zhaodi and left.

The two of them made it out of the city just before the gates closed for the night.

Yougen was silent the entire way. Just as they were about to reach home, he said sullenly, "Tomorrow, go rent a house for your parents to live in."

"From now on, we’ll give your parents two taels of silver a year for their support. What do you think?"

Zhaodi was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. "Yes! Yougen, I knew you’d understand."

She lowered her head and wiped the corner of her eye. "I know my parents can be a bit much, but I can’t help it. They’re my parents and my brother. I can’t just ignore them."

Yougen said flatly, "As long as you agree. No matter who you ask, it’s perfectly reasonable for a married daughter to give her parents two taels of silver a year for support."

"Second Uncle’s family is so rich, and even he only gives two taels a year for support money—and you know that. He’s a son, too."

Zhaodi, walking behind him, nodded vigorously. "I know. I’m grateful. We’ll do it just like you said from now on."

Yougen continued, "This year’s silver has already been given by you. I’ll go rent the house tomorrow."

"But let me be clear about one thing: aside from the rent money and these two taels of support per year, you are not to give your family so much as a single big coin more!"

Zhaodi, sitting behind him, was stunned.

Then she heard Yougen say, "If I find out you’ve been secretly giving your parents money from the barbecue stall, Zhaodi, you might as well go live with them for good."

Zhaodi became frantic. "Yougen, how can you say that? I’ve given you two sons! Tie Niu is already so grown up! You—"

Yougen said flatly, "So you do know you have two sons? Tie Niu will need a marriage arranged soon, and I want to send Gangzi to school. All of that costs silver!"

"We’re only making some silver now because Ping’an City is prosperous and we’re getting help from my second uncle’s family. Otherwise, we’d still be buried in debt! Where would we even find two taels of silver then?"

"Back in the day, when you used to sneak things to your family, I knew. My mother knew, too. We didn’t say anything because we figured it was just a few small things."

Zhaodi lowered her head in embarrassment. She had thought no one knew about the little things she used to do.

"I’m not an unreasonable man. I don’t object to you being a filial daughter to your parents. But there’s a limit to everything."

"Your parents are only in their forties, and they’re already planning to stop working? Your brother is fifteen—the same age as Tie Niu this year. He’s old enough to be earning silver for the family, so why can’t your brother work?"

"Is your brother more precious than my son?"

Zhaodi was tongue-tied, unable to say a word.

Seeing they were almost at the village, Yougen said one last thing. "I’ve made myself clear, and you should understand. We have sons to raise. What we’re doing for your parents is enough."

"Remember my words. If you dare to secretly give your parents even a single big coin, don’t ever think of setting foot in my, the Zhou Family’s, door again!"