In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Chapter 195, Section 194: Home Troubles and More Trouble. Xianglan Asks for Advice.
Time flies, and before we knew it, it was December.

The festive atmosphere in the alleyways is growing stronger, and every household is starting to prepare for the Spring Festival. Occasionally, the aroma of fried meatballs and smoked fish wafts through the air.

Yang Guangyao's injured leg is recovering better than expected. The cast has been removed and replaced with a lightweight brace.

After a follow-up examination, the doctor said that the bone was healing well and that in a little over a month, after the Spring Festival, he would be able to walk normally again.

Although he is still unable to bear too much weight or walk for long periods of time, he can move around much more freely with the help of crutches, and simple housework is no problem for him.

With everyone else in the family busy at work, he took the initiative to prepare dinner. Every afternoon, he would start preparing early, washing rice and vegetables, stewing soup and stir-frying dishes. His skills were honed to a decent level, which greatly reduced the burden on his mother and sister-in-law.

Looking at her second son's busy and steady figure, Zhang Xiuying felt both gratified and bittersweet.

On Sunday morning, Yang Ming slept in, which was a rare occurrence.

The factory was busy with many things at the end of the year, and he was so busy he barely had time to breathe. It was almost ten o'clock when he finally returned to the Shikumen with a basket of glossy, salty duck eggs.

Pushing open the door, I sensed that the atmosphere was different from usual.

Mother Zhang Xiuying, sister-in-law Li Guihua, and second brother Yang Guangyao sat around a square table in the small hall, their brows furrowed and faces grave, the air itself seeming to freeze. The tea in the rough porcelain teacups on the table had gone cold, clearly indicating they had been sitting there silently for quite some time.

Yang Ming put down the basket, the crisp clinking sound breaking the silence in the room. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, he was surprised and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? What happened?" His gaze swept across the three people's faces.

Zhang Xiuying raised her head, sighed deeply, and a thick cloud of sorrow and worry hung over her brows. Her voice was a little hoarse as she briefly explained the situation.

It turns out that something happened to the eldest sister, Yang Xianglan.

My eldest sister's mother-in-law, Ms. Wang, suffered a sudden stroke at home yesterday noon without any warning. She fell into a coma and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.

The initial diagnosis is a sudden cerebral hemorrhage, and the situation is said to be extremely critical.

After breakfast this morning, my father, Yang Yongkang, and my elder brother, Yang Guanghui, hurriedly grabbed two jars of fruit and a small bag of brown sugar and rushed to the hospital to visit my father. They have not yet returned.

Zhang Xiuying had never liked her mother-in-law, Wang, and recalling Wang's past harsh treatment of Xianglan, she felt no sympathy for her. However, her concern was not for Wang herself, but for her eldest daughter, Xianglan.

"I'm afraid..."

Zhang Xiuying's voice was filled with helplessness, "I'm afraid that if her mother-in-law is saved, she will be left with a stroke. What will happen then?"
Xianglan's life has been hard enough already. Jianjun has only been gone a short time. If she has to take care of a bedridden mother-in-law for a long time, cleaning up after her, how will she live? Isn't this going to drag my daughter down to her death?

She spoke with emotion, her eyes welling up slightly. As a mother, what she couldn't bear to see her daughter suffer was...

Li Guihua sighed and lamented beside her, unconsciously wringing the rag in her hand: "Who says it isn't true! Xianglan's life is truly like being raised in bitter melon water—it's been incredibly bitter."

She became a widow at a young age, raising two children on her own. She worked herself to the bone at the factory during the day and had a mountain of housework to do when she got home at night. She had just caught her breath when this happened!

If I really have to take care of my paralyzed mother-in-law from now on, there will never be an end to it.

Her tone was filled with lament for Xianglan's fate and anxiety about the future.

As Yang Guangming listened quietly, his mood grew heavy, as if a huge boulder was pressing down on his heart.

The eldest sister is gentle yet strong-willed, but the burdens of life relentlessly weigh her down time and time again, which is truly heartbreaking.

He went to his mother's side and gently comforted her, "Mom, don't scare yourself. The specific situation is still unclear, and the doctor's opinion is uncertain."

Even if... even if it really comes to that, worrying is useless, life has to go on.

My older sister isn't weak-willed, and our whole family is here for her; we'll get through this together.

His words made sense, but I couldn't help but furrow my brow.

Life seems to always play tricks on the unfortunate, with one problem after another, never changing according to people's good will.

Silence fell again inside the house, broken only by the sound of the wind outside the window and the occasional noise of neighbors.

Zhuangzhuang was playing with building blocks in the inner room, but he seemed to sense the heavy atmosphere outside. He quietly shuffled to the door with a block in his arms, his big, dark eyes looking at this and then at that, his little face showing a bewildered timidity. He didn't dare to make a fuss as usual.

Around noon, familiar footsteps finally came from outside the door, heavy and slow.

Yang Yongkang and his son Yang Guanghui entered one after the other, bringing with them the smell of disinfectant and a chilling aura they had brought back from the hospital. Both their faces were unusually grave, as if frozen by the cold wind.

Zhang Xiuying immediately stood up and went to greet him, anxiously asking, "How is he? How is he? Did you manage to save him?"

Yang Yongkang silently took off the dark cotton coat he had worn for many years, his movements slow and he seemed extremely tired.

He sighed heavily, and the wrinkles on his face seemed even deeper than when he left home that morning.

"The person... has been temporarily saved. He was carried into the hospital unconscious, and he is still unconscious."

His voice was low and hoarse. "The doctor said that I can probably survive, but the situation is very bad. A lot of blood has flowed from my brain, which is pressing on vital areas... Even if I wake up, there is a very high chance that I will be paralyzed in bed, and nine times out of ten... I will not recover."

He spoke with difficulty, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiuying's last shred of hope vanished, and a look of sorrow instantly filled her face. She slapped her thigh and said:
"Oh my God! What should we do? What should we do?!"

Xianglan is already struggling to raise two children alone; if she has to care for a bedridden mother-in-law year after year—bathing her, turning her over, changing her diapers… how many layers of skin will she wear down? When will this hardship end?

Her voice was choked with sobs, filled with a desperate premonition about her daughter's future.

Yang Guanghui also took off his old cotton shoes and put on the cloth shoes he wore at home. His face was full of fatigue and helplessness as he replied:

"The hospital is full of Wang family members. Sisters Wang Jinhuan and Wang Yinhuan are there, their eyes swollen like peaches. They look really terrified and have been crying a lot. Master Wang..."

He paused, then shook his head. "Master Wang looks much older all of a sudden. His hair is completely white, and his back is hunched. He sits on the bench in the corridor without saying a word, just staring at the ward door. He looks... he looks really pitiful."

"Sigh, there's nothing we can do about it." Yang Yongkang sat down at the table, took a cup of hot tea that Yang Guangyao silently handed him, and held it with both hands, as if trying to draw some warmth from it.

“When you get old and have high blood pressure, you don’t take care of yourself. When this disease suddenly occurs, it’s like the sky is falling. No one can predict it, and no one can stop it.” There was a sense of desolation and resignation in his tone.

Yang Guangming poured his older brother a cup of hot water, then asked with concern, "Where's your older sister? How is she? Is she still in the hospital?"

"Xianglan is alright, she's holding on, but she looks very tired, her face is sallow, and there are dark circles under her eyes," Yang Guanghui replied, his tone full of concern.

"She stayed at the hospital the whole night after receiving the news. She barely slept, running around doing everything from handling paperwork to listening to the doctor's instructions and comforting Mr. Wang."

We went there this morning and managed to persuade her to rest for a while and catch her breath. The two children are temporarily being looked after by the neighbors next door.

After hearing Yang Guanghui's words, the family fell silent again, overwhelmed by the sudden and significant change.

The dark clouds that were already hanging over Xianglan became even heavier, and there was almost no light at all.

A sense of powerlessness and oppression permeated the small room, and even the faint sunlight streaming in from the window seemed cold.

……

Half a month passed quietly amidst worry and busyness.

Ms. Wang was finally out of danger and was taken home from the hospital.

The treatment was timely and her life was saved, but the aftereffects were extremely serious. Just as the doctor had predicted, she almost completely lost her mobility and would have to stay in bed for a long time. Moreover, her language function was severely damaged, and she could only utter some unclear syllables and could no longer speak a complete and clear sentence.

This once shrewd and calculating, even somewhat harsh, old lady can now only lie helplessly on her sickbed, needing to be cared for by others.

Although the Yang family was deeply concerned about Xianglan's future predicament, it was ultimately a family matter for the Wang family.

As in-laws, the Yang family can offer material support and moral assistance, but they cannot interfere too much with the specific arrangements.

Zhang Xiuying could only occasionally have Yang Guanghui send her some eggs or other food as a small token of her concern, but the core problem of care ultimately needed to be solved by the Wang family themselves.

The following Sunday was cold and gloomy.

The family had just finished lunch and were cleaning up the dishes when Xianglan arrived.

She came alone, carrying a small cloth bag. Her face was still haggard, but her eyes revealed a habitual calm, even a numbness born of resignation.

She was busy at home and had to rush back after only a short while, so she didn't bring her two children with her.

Zhang Xiuying quickly pulled her daughter down to sit and first carefully inquired about her mother-in-law's current illness and daily condition.

Xianglan's face showed obvious fatigue, but her tone was unusually calm, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her:

"My condition has stabilized. The doctor said that the next step is long-term bed rest. There are no specific drugs. It mainly depends on careful care to prevent bedsores and other problems."

She paused, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her cotton-padded coat—a small, subconscious action she took when she was upset. "She's awake, but she can't speak clearly anymore. She just makes mumbled 'uh-huh' sounds, and sometimes she gets so anxious that she bursts into tears. We can't really understand what she means."

He had to be fed spoonful by spoonful, and he was completely unable to move his body. Turning him over, washing him, and helping him relieve himself all required assistance.

As she spoke, her gaze was somewhat vacant as she stared at the table, as if the arduous daily care work had exhausted all her emotions.

Yang Yongkang silently smoked, his brows furrowed amidst the swirling smoke.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice steady yet carrying a barely perceptible hint of caution:

"Xianglan, your mother-in-law's condition isn't something that developed overnight; she might be bedridden for the rest of her life. Do you have any plans for the future?"

He looked at his eldest daughter, his eyes filled with deep concern, but also with profound contemplation:

"Dad knows you're feeling confused right now, but he's not thinking about anything else."

But Dad still wants to say one more thing: if... if you feel that the days ahead are too hard to bear, and that it's too bitter and tiring to carry on alone, it's perfectly normal to take a step forward and consider... consider starting another family.

You're still young, you have a long life ahead of you, you can't just stay like this and endure it for the rest of your life.

He observed his daughter's reaction and continued gently but firmly:

"If... if one day in the future you think it through and are willing to take this step, you don't need to worry about gossip or the Wang family's obstruction."

At home, your parents and brothers will support your decision.

The Wang family agreed to what we said in front of the neighbors last time, and with neighbors from both sides as witnesses, no one will say anything.

The whole family's eyes were focused on Xianglan, their gazes filled with support, expectation, and deep heartache.

Everyone sincerely hopes that she can break free from this seemingly hopeless predicament and have the opportunity to pursue a new life and support.

However, Xianglan's reaction remained unchanged.

She shook her head firmly without any hesitation, her tone even carrying a hint of resistance: "Dad, Mom, I understand your feelings. But I have never thought about remarrying. Not before, and now... it's even more impossible."

She glanced at her family, her eyes holding a stubborn calm:

"Especially now that my mother-in-law is in this state, bedridden and unable to be cared for, I can't just leave her now."

Otherwise, not only would the Wang family object, but the gossip from my neighbors would drown me, and my spine would be broken.

I can't let Honghong and Amao be unable to hold their heads high in the future!

As she said this, her tone became strangely lighter, as if she had made a difficult but necessary decision:
"I've really come to terms with it and seen through it all. It's just that life will be a little harder and more tiring, and there will be one more patient to take care of."

I am the daughter-in-law of the Wang family. My mother-in-law is sick, so it is my duty and obligation to take care of her at her bedside and bring her soup and water. I cannot shirk this responsibility.

"It's okay to be a little tired, it's not a big deal."

Her words sounded like she was comforting her family, but more like she was trying to convince herself.

Seeing his older sister trying so hard to be strong, Yang Guangming felt a pang of sadness.

He worried that if his older sister insisted on carrying the burden, she would eventually be worn down by the heavy housework, and he was even more worried that she would not be able to handle the complicated interpersonal relationships involved.

He asked, "Sister, who mainly takes care of your mother-in-law during the day? You also have to go to work, so you must be very busy. How do you manage your time?"

Xianglan sighed softly and explained, "My mother-in-law was only discharged from the hospital a little over a week ago, it's still a short time."

For now, the main caregiver is the two older sisters-in-law, Jin Huan and Yin Huan, who take turns coming to take care of the family. During the day, they coordinate their schedules to ensure there's always someone at home. At night... sometimes Grandpa Amao stays with the family, and sometimes one of them stays too.

There's really no need for me to keep an eye on things all day for now.

After I get home from get off work, I quickly cook dinner for the family, help feed my mother-in-law, clean her up, and do some housework.

Yang Guangming nodded, but he astutely pointed out the key issue: "Take turns caring for each other like this for a short period of time is definitely not a problem. Everyone can keep it up because of their friendship and their eagerness."

But what about in the long run? A month, two months, or even a year or several years? That's the most realistic question.

Even though neither of Amao's two aunts currently have formal jobs, it's impossible for them to stay at their parents' home for an extended period of time to take care of the sick.

They also have their own families, husbands, and children. Over time, their in-laws will definitely have objections and become unhappy.

His analysis was reasonable and pointed directly to the core of the contradiction.

Since being discharged from the hospital, Wang Jinhuan and Wang Yinhuan, out of motherly love and for the sake of the emergency, have been taking care of her for more than a week. However, they must now consider a stable and sustainable long-term plan.

The eldest sister has to work during the day, so she definitely can't stay home all day to take care of her mother-in-law. At most, she can only do her best after get off work.

During the long days, a reliable person must take over to care for the old lady.

Upon hearing this, Xianglan sighed deeply again, her brows furrowed with helplessness and worry.
"Grandpa A Mao... he's also worried about this matter."

His idea was to have his two daughters take turns returning to their parents' home to take care of him long-term, since she was his own mother and his daughters would definitely take better care of her.

He also said he wouldn't let his two daughters work for nothing; he would take some money from his salary each month as a reward for their hard work, and also as a way of giving their in-laws an explanation.

She glanced at her family and continued, "Grandpa Amao's current idea is that he hopes his two daughters can take turns working, so that someone is home during the day and he or I can come back to take over at night."

He was willing to give each of them five yuan a month. That would be ten yuan for both of them. He thought that was a reasonable amount.

Hearing this from the side, Li Guihua couldn't help but interject, "Five yuan per person per month, that's ten yuan for two people."

Honestly, there are plenty of people who are idle at home and unemployed these days.

If you find a kind and reliable neighbor who can take care of the sick person and cook lunch for them, ten yuan a month would be enough, and I'm sure someone would be willing to do it.

Her tone clearly indicated that she thought Mr. Wang's price was fair.

However, Xianglan shook her head helplessly, a bitter smile on her lips: "The idea is good, but... Grandpa Amao has already hinted at this to Jinhuan and Yinhuan in private. But the two of them... seem dissatisfied, both complaining that the money is too little."

She slightly mimicked the tone and expression of her two sisters-in-law, and continued, "They talk a good game, saying that it's only natural for them to go back to their parents' home to take care of their mother, that even if they don't get a penny, they'd be willing and have no complaints about taking care of her for the rest of their lives. But..."

Xianglan changed the subject and pointed out the key point: "They also said that if this goes on for too long, their own in-laws will definitely not be happy and will definitely have complaints. This is a practical problem that can't be helped."

To silence her in-laws and allow them to stay at their parents' home to take care of her mother, she had to give them a proper explanation.

What they implied was that they felt each person needed at least ten yuan per month.

In other words, the two of them together need twenty yuan per month.

Zhang Xiuying, who was listening nearby, was furious and couldn't help but snort coldly, her tone full of sarcasm:
"It's all talk and no action! You say you'd be happy to do it for free, but if you really didn't want a penny, you would have agreed right away. Why would you be here picking and choosing and haggling?"
They're clearly using this opportunity to squeeze more money out of their parents! They're really something else…

She swallowed back even harsher words, but the contempt on her face was obvious.

Yang Guangyao had been listening quietly, but he couldn't help but speak up: "Twenty yuan a month? That's a bit too much."

How much does Master Wang earn in a month? I remember it's only about fifty yuan, right?
If half of the money is used to hire someone to take care of the patient, how can the remaining twenty-odd yuan support a large family of several people, including a patient who needs nutrition?
These two daughters only care about making money for themselves; don't they ever think about their father's or the well-being of their family?

His tone was full of disapproval of the selfish behavior of the Wang Jinhuan sisters.

Xianglan nodded heavily: "Yes, after listening to his two daughters' ideas, Grandpa Amao also felt that spending twenty yuan a month specifically to take care of his wife was too much of an expense. He was very unhappy about it and really couldn't afford it."

She paused, then continued, her tone even more helpless: "Just like my sister-in-law said, there are plenty of unemployed women staying at home in our alley."

If you really want to find someone, choose someone who is quick, efficient, and trustworthy. They can take care of the old lady and cook her lunch. Ten yuan a month is more than enough, and they will definitely take good care of her.

Actually... several familiar neighbors have privately mentioned this idea to me or Grandpa Mao, and they have all expressed their willingness to help, and the price is negotiable.

Choosing a suitable person from among them is not difficult.

"but."

Xianglan's voice lowered again as she pointed out the biggest obstacle: "If we don't let our own daughters take care of us, we'll spend money to hire outsiders... Besides, our two daughters don't have jobs and are just idle at home every day."

If this gets out, Grandpa Amao thinks that outsiders will definitely gossip and think that his daughter is unfilial and refuses to take care of her mother, which is why her father has to spend money to hire someone.

He feared that this would damage Jin Huan and Yin Huan's reputations, and that people would speak ill of them behind their backs.

It's normal for Mr. Wang, as a father, to have such concerns. Traditional values ​​and the issue of saving face have become the biggest obstacles.

Xianglan's trip back to her parents' home this time was not only to see her parents and brothers and report on the situation, but also because she was filled with confusion and helplessness. She wanted to hear her family's opinions and ask them, with their broader knowledge, for advice.

As a daughter-in-law, she should rightfully shoulder the responsibility of caring for her mother-in-law, but she has to work to earn a meager salary to support her child and simply cannot stay home all day. She can only fulfill her filial duties after get off work. This makes her feel very conflicted and guilty.

Xianglan is a diligent and conscientious person. After get off work, she takes good care of her mother-in-law, feeding her, wiping her body, massaging her, and cleaning her up. She does it meticulously and without complaint.

But she knew in her heart that doing this was probably far from enough in the eyes of others, especially her two sisters-in-law who might use this as an excuse to make trouble.

She still has to go to work and doesn't have time to take care of her mother-in-law all day, but the moral responsibility is really weighing on her shoulders, and she feels like she can't avoid it.

After much thought, the only solution she could come up with was to put in more financial effort and give more money to show her filial piety, shut others up, and put her mind at ease.

But she only earned seventeen yuan and eighty cents a month as an apprentice, and every penny was precious. She didn't know how much money to give that would express her feelings without plunging herself and her child into dire straits.

At this point, Xianglan raised her head, her gaze sweeping over her parents and brothers, her eyes filled with confusion and pleading:

"Dad, Mom, Guangming, Guanghui, Guangyao, what should I do?"
I definitely need to contribute some money. How much do you think I should contribute to make up for it?
Or... do you have any other, better ideas?

Her voice trembled with a barely perceptible sob as she passed this heavy, real-world problem on to her most trusted family.

This is indeed a thorny and real problem, directly related to Xianglan's quality of life and family relationships for a long time to come, and it must be properly resolved.

The room fell silent for a moment as everyone fell into deep thought, each weighing their options in their minds.

Li Guihua was the first to break the silence. She was outspoken and immediately denounced Wang Jinhuan and Wang Yinhuan for their filial impiety and greed.

Even if we have to consider their in-laws and give them some money as an explanation, ten yuan a month for both of them is more than enough!
How much can unemployed people like them earn in a month by doing odd jobs? Can they even earn ten yuan?
They are clearly using the opportunity of taking care of their own mother to make exorbitant demands and try to bleed their mother's family dry!

These two have never been good people; they're selfish and self-serving. We absolutely cannot go along with them! Otherwise, they'll only push their luck further!

Her tone was indignant and full of contempt for the two sisters.

Zhang Xiuying shared similar thoughts with Li Guihua. She felt that after this ordeal, the Wang family had gained another bedridden patient who needed long-term medical expenses, making their future even more difficult. Every penny had to be carefully calculated and spent wisely, with no waste allowed and no one allowed to exploit them.

The monthly cost of caring for patients will be a significant fixed expense in the future, so this money should be saved wherever possible and used wisely.

Since you know that you can get someone from your neighbor to solve the problem for a maximum of ten yuan, why be a sucker and waste twenty yuan? It makes no sense.

Yang Guanghui and Yang Guangyao listened from the side and nodded frequently, expressing their agreement with their mother and sister-in-law's views. They believed that they could not let their two sisters-in-law take this opportunity to extort money and that they had to insist on a reasonable price.

Yang Guangming did not immediately express his opinion. He pondered for a moment and felt that he first needed to clarify his elder sister's own financial situation before he could give the most practical advice.

He knew that his older sister was currently earning an apprentice's salary of seventeen yuan and eighty cents a month, but he wasn't quite sure how much money she actually had left for flexible use each month.

So he turned to Xianglan and asked seriously, "Sister, you only have this much salary each month, so how exactly do you manage it? How much do you give to your mother-in-law for living expenses each month? How much are your own and your two children's basic expenses? In the end, how much money can you save at most each month? Tell me in detail, and we need to think of a solution based on the actual situation."

Seeing that her younger brother asked such detailed questions, Xianglan also began to think carefully and replied:
“I’m not the kind of person who likes to take advantage or only cares about myself. Even though my mother-in-law was like that before, now that she’s sick, I will still pay for what I should pay.”

My two children and I eat at home, and all the food and vegetables come from our own farm; I can't just eat for free. I've always given Grandpa Amao ten yuan every month as living expenses for myself and my two children.

As Honghong grows older, I occasionally need to buy her snacks and hair ties; although Amao is breastfed, her complementary foods still cost money; and as for my own work, the round-trip train tickets sometimes require me to buy the cheapest necessities...

After all the calculations, I can only save four or five yuan a month at most, and that's only if I'm extremely frugal.

Her tone revealed the hardships and helplessness of life.

After learning the exact facts, Yang Guangming felt more confident.

He pondered for a moment and then made a suggestion that surprised everyone: "Since you don't have much money left each month, even if you wanted to help more, you couldn't. So why don't we be more generous and thorough?"

He looked at Xianglan, his gaze calm and clear: "My suggestion is that, starting this month, you should hand over every single penny of your monthly salary to Grandpa Amao!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was somewhat surprised, even Xianglan was stunned.

Yang Guangming continued to explain, his tone calm and persuasive: "The reason you did this is that you feel guilty and uneasy because you can't serve your mother-in-law at her bedside all day like your two older sisters."

Therefore, you are willing to use all of your salary to express your filial piety and make up for the regret of not being able to serve him personally.

This money is specifically used to subsidize various expenses related to caring for Grandma. Whether it's hiring help or buying medicine and nutritional supplements for her, Grandpa Mao manages and arranges everything.

He emphasized: "In this way, when people talk about it outside, everyone will give you a thumbs up and praise you for being filial, reasonable, and mindful of the big picture! No one will be able to say a single 'no' to you."

You have done the best a daughter-in-law can do—working to support the family while giving up almost all of your income.

Internally, you have lived up to your conscience; externally, you have earned the best reputation, completely silencing everyone's criticism.

In this way, you've perfectly extricated yourself from this complicated matter, occupying the moral high ground, and no one can criticize you anymore.

Then, he changed the subject and returned to the most crucial operational issue: "As for the selection of someone to take care of your mother-in-law during the day and the expenses, of course we can no longer let your two older sisters-in-law, who are demanding exorbitant amounts, bleed us dry."

The Wang family's life will only get harder from now on. They must be careful with their money and use it where it is truly needed, rather than to satisfy the greed of certain people.

"You, as a daughter-in-law, have managed to hand over your entire salary. With you as a role model, those two, who are like family, will definitely be criticized and gossiped about if they don't do as well!"

Yang Guangming finally advised, "Sister, it's best if you don't confront Master Wang or your two sisters-in-law directly about this matter. Otherwise, you might end up arguing in front of them, damaging the harmony on the surface, and making it even harder to get along in the future."

Today happens to be Sunday, and our whole family is free this afternoon. I think we should go to the Wang family's house together under the guise of visiting a sick person.

He looked at his parents and brother and said, “It is very appropriate and natural for our family to propose this suggestion from our in-laws, in the spirit of caring for our in-laws and offering advice, to find a reliable neighbor to help take care of the old lady during the day at a reasonable price.”

A glint of wisdom flashed in his eyes: "As for high-sounding reasons, they are easy to find. For example, you can say that you feel sorry for the two sisters, Jin Huan and Yin Huan, who are working too hard and their health may not be able to keep up in the long run; you are worried that their husbands and children will have objections and affect their family harmony; or you think that hiring a specialist would be more professional and would be able to better prevent bedsores and provide more scientific care for the patients, etc."

In short, everything is for the patient's good and for the harmony of the Wang family as a whole. It doesn't involve any concern for the amount of money; it's perfectly acceptable on the surface.

Yang Guangming added at the end: "With our family members coming forward and proposing this solution from an objective and caring perspective, Master Wang is much more likely to agree after weighing the options."

After all, this would save him a real ten yuan a month, which is no small amount for the Wang family now.

As for Jin Huan and Yin Huan, even if they were unhappy, with us and the neighborhood opinions present, they wouldn't dare to openly oppose us.

Guangming concluded by saying, "As for your and your two children's monthly expenses, since you've handed over your salary, it's naturally up to Grandpa Amao to take care of it. You can't skimp on any of the money you're owed for living expenses, and Grandpa Amao isn't one to withhold money."

If he finds housekeeping troublesome and is willing to hand over his monthly living expenses to you to manage, then that's his business.

Anyway, you never had much money left over each month. Even if you handed over all your salary, Grandpa Mao would still leave you some pocket money.

Even if he weren't particularly stingy, there wouldn't be much of a difference. Doing this, even if you suffer a slight loss, is still within an acceptable range.

In short, let's put on a good show first, so that whether you do a good job or not later, no one will have anything to criticize you for.

Hearing her younger brother's thorough analysis and arrangements, Xianglan's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed a little, and her heavy heart seemed to see a glimmer of light.

She had always trusted her family's strength and wisdom. With her family as her backing and support, planning and worrying for her, she felt the burden on her shoulders was lighter, and she was no longer as anxious and helpless as before.

After sitting for a while and discussing some details, Xianglan, thinking about her mother-in-law and children at home, got up to say goodbye and left.

The Yang family saw her off to the door, watching her slightly thin but upright figure disappear around the corner of the alley, their hearts heavy.

(End of this chapter)