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

Chapter 196, Section 195: Visit from the In-Laws. Filial Piety to the Best of One's Ability. Moral High Ground.
After seeing off their daughter Xianglan, the Yang family's small hall fell silent for a moment, with only the howling north wind outside the window making the windowpanes creak slightly.

Zhang Xiuying sighed heavily, her breath filled with endless affection, worry, and a sense of helplessness. The knot between her brows did not completely disappear even after a solution was discussed.

She turned around, her gaze falling on her second son, Yang Guangyao's, legs, and ordered in an uncompromising tone, "Guangyao, your legs aren't quite up to par yet. It'll be cold and the roads slippery this afternoon, so don't come back and forth with me. Stay home and look after Zhuangzhuang; that will put our minds at ease."

Upon hearing this, Yang Guangyao nodded obediently.

Knowing that his leg injury had not yet healed and that walking a long distance would indeed be difficult, and that in this situation where negotiation skills and family prestige were required, the presence of his father, eldest brother, and youngest brother was sufficient, he agreed.

"Okay, Mom, you can go without worry. I'll stay home and look after Zhuangzhuang, and wait for your news."

Zhang Xiuying said no more and turned around to start tidying up efficiently.

She felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on her heart, worrying about the complicated and tangled mess of her daughter's in-laws' affairs, and even more distressed about the long and arduous days that lay ahead for her daughter.

She walked to the table, lifted the white coarse cloth covering the basket, revealing the bluish-gray salted duck eggs that Yangming had just brought back.

"Perfect timing, the basket of salted duck eggs that Guangming brought back today will come in handy."

She muttered to herself, as if to encourage herself, "This stuff keeps well, goes well with rice, and is suitable for patients too."

She carefully counted out twenty slightly smaller salted duck eggs and transferred them to another smaller basket.

Then, she opened the top shelf of the cupboard and took out the tin biscuit tin. These were biscuits that Yang Guangming had brought home one after another, and Zhang Xiuying had saved them up because she couldn't bear to eat them.

She weighed it in her hand, took out about two pounds, divided it into two oil paper packages, and wrapped them neatly with sharp edges.

"Mom, we don't need this much, do we?" Li Guihua asked, her voice tinged with concern.

In those days, salted duck eggs of this quality and sweet biscuits were rare treats. Guangming had gone to great lengths to obtain them for his family, mainly to give Zhuangzhuang a treat and supplement his nutrition. Giving away so many at once really stung her wallet.

Zhang Xiuying's hands didn't stop, and she didn't even look up, but her tone was unusually firm: "The gift cannot be taken lightly. Given the Wang family's current situation, with the old lady bedridden, the expenses for medicine and nutritional supplements will be endless."

If we're polite and generous, Xianglan will feel more proud and can stand up straighter. It'll also shut those two nitpicking sisters-in-law up!

Her words were reasonable and considerate, taking into account both reality and her daughter's feelings and situation.

Upon hearing this, Li Guihua said no more. She took the initiative to find a sturdy thin hemp rope and carefully tied the two biscuit packets together. She held them in her hand to test their weight and nodded, saying, "Yes, it's a generous gift. The Wang family can't find fault with it."

Yang Yongkang remained seated on the worn-out old wooden chair by the table, silently smoking his pipe.

The pungent smell of inferior tobacco slowly permeated the stuffy air, and amidst the swirling smoke, his eyes were as deep and unfathomable as an ancient well.

He was clearly thinking it over and over again about how to start the conversation and what to say when he went to the Wang family's house that afternoon, so as to achieve his goal without embarrassing his in-laws too much.

After all, the eldest daughter still has to live under that roof, so it's best not to make things too awkward.

Yang Guangming quietly helped his mother tidy up her things, occasionally exchanging a knowing glance with his father.

He had full confidence in his father's composure and strategic thinking, and knew that his previous analysis and suggestions had been approved by his father and would be expressed by his father in a more appropriate way.

His gaze swept over the heavy gift, which was not only material support but also a declaration of attitude: the Yang family came to reason and solve problems, not to quarrel.

Soon, everything was ready. Twenty salted duck eggs and two packs of sturdy biscuits were considered a very respectable gift in those days of scarcity.

"Alright, everyone change into your outdoor clothes and get ready. We'll head over now." Yang Yongkang stubbed out his pipe, tapped the ash on the sole of his shoe, stood up, and gave the order in a calm voice.

The family then went back to their respective rooms and changed into presentable clothes.

Once everything was ready, the family carried the heavy gift that represented their heartfelt wishes, left the Shikumen (stone gate) gate, and walked along the narrow alleyway towards the distant public bus stop.

The chilly weather seemed to seep into your bones, and the north wind felt like tiny knives scraping your face, causing a sharp pain.

The alley was much quieter than usual, with only occasional pedestrians hunching their shoulders and tucking their hands into their sleeves as they hurried past.

Along the way, no one spoke much; the only sounds were the wind and footsteps. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts, and the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Zhang Xiuying frowned slightly, not only worried about the difficult years ahead for her daughter, but also repeatedly thinking about how to say the first thing when she met her future father-in-law, how to express her concern without losing the position of her own family.

Yang Yongkang walked steadily, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his face expressionless, exuding an air of confidence and composure.

Yang Guanghui and Li Guihua walked a little behind, talking in hushed tones. The conversation revolved around the outrageous behavior and scheming of Wang's two older sisters, their tone filled with disdain and resentment.

After changing to two clanging, crowded buses and walking a distance, we finally arrived at the entrance of the alley where the Wang family lived.

Today is Sunday, and the alleyway feels more lively than usual.

The arrival of the Yang family immediately attracted the attention of the neighbors. After all, the family was well-dressed and carrying gifts that looked quite heavy, clearly indicating that they were visiting relatives.

Some people quickly recognized that these were the relatives of Master Wang's widowed daughter-in-law, and they began to whisper among themselves, their eyes filled with undisguised inquiry, curiosity, and a hint of understanding.

Clearly, the news of Grandma Wang's sudden stroke and paralysis, as well as the previous family disputes over pensions and wages, were no secret in this alleyway where information was spread by word of mouth.

Yang Yongkang remained calm, seemingly unaware of the stares. He merely nodded slightly to a few vaguely familiar old neighbors before heading straight towards the Shikumen (stone gate) where the Wang family lived.

The gate of the Shikumen was tightly closed, and there was no sound from inside. Yang Guangming stepped forward, bent his fingers, and knocked three times on the door panel, neither too hard nor too soft.

"Who is it?" A slightly hoarse voice, filled with deep fatigue, immediately came from inside. Judging from the voice, it was Master Wang who answered.

“In-laws, it’s us, Yang Yongkang,” Yang Yongkang replied in a deep voice, which was not loud but carried clearly.

The door creaked open and was pulled halfway open from the inside, and Master Wang leaned out.

His face showed obvious signs of haggardness and fatigue, with heavy puffy eye bags, and his hair seemed to have turned even whiter than when we last met, sticking messily to his scalp.

Seeing the Yang family standing neatly at the door, carrying gifts, he paused for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in his cloudy eyes. He quickly stepped aside, his tone a mixture of awkwardness and forced warmth:
"Oh my, it's our in-laws! Please come in, please come in! It's freezing outside, why are you here at this hour? You didn't even give us a heads-up, and the house is a mess..."

His words were somewhat disjointed, revealing the host's haste and apology in dealing with an uninvited guest.

“I had nothing to do on Sunday, so I came to visit my mother-in-law,” Yang Yongkang said in a calm tone, leading the way across the not-so-high threshold.

Zhang Xiuying, Yang Guangming, and others followed suit and filed in.

The courtyard of the Shikumen was even narrower than that of the Yang family's house. In the corner, there were some honeycomb briquettes, old wooden boards, and bottles and jars that they couldn't bear to throw away, making it look somewhat crowded and messy.

Hearing the commotion outside, Wang Jinhuan and Wang Yinhuan came out one after the other. Both of them were wearing aprons stained with oil, and their hands were wet and covered with vegetable leaves, obviously they had been busy in the kitchen or inside the house.

Upon seeing the Yang family, especially the two bags of gifts Zhang Xiuying was carrying, the two women quickly put on smiles and greeted them warmly.

"Uncle, Aunt, you're here! Come in, come in and sit down, it's cold outside." Wang Jinhuan reacted faster, lifting the heavy curtain first and stepping aside to make way.

Wang Yinhuan seemed a little flustered, subconsciously wiping her hands on her apron, her face beaming with a smile: "Guangming, Guanghui, Guihua, you're all here... Come in, come in and warm up."

The Yang family followed Master Wang into the house.

A strong smell of Chinese medicine, mixed with the unpleasant odor unique to bedridden patients, hit them in the face, causing the group of people who had just come in from the cold outside environment to frown slightly. However, they quickly adjusted their expressions and returned to normal.

The house was small and the furniture was old, but it was kept fairly tidy. However, the lingering smell in the air was hard to shake off.

When Xianglan heard the noise and saw that it was her family, a hint of surprise and light flashed in her eyes.

She stood up, still holding Amao, who was wrapped up tightly in her arms. The little guy was wrapped in thick swaddling clothes, with only his rosy little face showing. He stared at the many people who had suddenly appeared with wide, dark eyes.

"Father, Mother, what brings you here?" Xianglan's voice was tinged with weariness.

Honghong ran out from the inner room upon hearing the noise. When she saw her maternal grandparents, she timidly called out "Grandpa and Grandma," and Zhang Xiuying immediately hugged her tightly, unwilling to let go.

"I've come to see your mother-in-law, and also to see you all."

As Zhang Xiuying spoke, she naturally handed the two heavy gift bags in her hands to Wang Jinhuan, who came to greet her, while Li Guihua also handed the basket in her hands to Wang Yinhuan.

Zhang Xiuying said, "I just bought two pounds of biscuits from the grocery store, and I also packed a basket of salted duck eggs. It's not much, just to nourish my mother-in-law and give the children some snacks."

Wang Jinhuan took the rather heavy salted duck egg and biscuits. Feeling their weight, she quickly assessed their value in her mind, and her face immediately broke into an even warmer smile as she repeatedly thanked them.
"Oh, Auntie, you're too kind! This... this is too much trouble. You've come all this way, and you've brought so many nice things. It's such an expense!"

Master Wang, rubbing his hands together, wore a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment on his face: "That's right, Yongkang, Xiuying, you're being too polite, too wasteful. Please sit down, please sit down. Jinhuan, quickly go pour some hot water. Yinhuan, bring the kettle over from the stove and make tea for your uncle and aunt!"

After a flurry of greetings, polite exchanges, and moving chairs, everyone was finally seated in the slightly cramped hall. Not enough chairs, so Wang Yinhuan quickly brought out two small stools from the inner room for Yang Guanghui and Li Guihua.

"How is your mother-in-law? Has she been feeling better these past few days?" Yang Yongkang asked with concern as he sat down, taking the enamel cup that Wang Jinhuan handed him.

The aroma of jasmine tea wafted from the cup. Although the tea leaves were mostly coarse stems, a cup of hot tea was enough to warm both hands and heart in this cold weather.

Upon hearing this, Master Wang's smile was instantly replaced by worry. He sighed heavily, shook his head, and said in a low, hoarse voice:
"He's conscious now, and his life has been saved, but that's about it. He's paralyzed in bed, unable to move, needs to be taken care of for everything from eating and drinking to using the toilet, and can't even speak a complete sentence, just 'uh-huh' and 'ah-ah'... Sigh! It's really suffering!"

His sigh was filled with unspeakable helplessness, heaviness, and uncertainty about the future.

"Can we go and see him? We could at least say a few words to comfort him," Zhang Xiuying asked sincerely, putting down her teacup. "Yes, yes, he's lying in the inner room," Master Wang quickly got up to lead the way, his face apologetic. "It's just that the room doesn't smell very good, the medicine smell is strong, please don't mind, my dear in-laws."

“What’s there to mind? We’re all patients, we all go through this. We all get sick or have misfortunes sometimes.” Zhang Xiuying waved her hand, indicating that she didn’t mind at all, and followed Master Wang into the inner room. Yang Yongkang, Yang Guangming, and the others also got up and followed.

The inner room was dimmer than the outer room, with only a small window slightly ajar for ventilation.

Wang lay on the bed, covered with a thick quilt, revealing only a grayish-yellow, swollen, and lifeless face. Her eyes were half-open and half-closed, with a cloudy, empty gaze and no focus. The corner of her mouth seemed to be crooked due to nerve damage, and it twitched unconsciously from time to time.

Upon seeing someone enter, she uttered a few indistinct "ah...ah..." sounds. Her cloudy eyes seemed to turn extremely slowly, attempting to focus, but quickly lost focus again, leaving only emptiness and helplessness.

The smell inside the room was indeed stronger, a mixture of stronger medicinal smells, body odor, and a somber atmosphere typical of someone who has been ill for a long time.

Zhang Xiuying walked to the bedside, bent down, and leaned closer, speaking softly and clearly as she could, "Mother-in-law, we've come to see you. I'm Xiuying, Xianglan's mother. Take good care of yourself, relax, don't worry about anything, just rest and recover." Her voice carried a simple comfort and sympathy.

Wang made another series of more rapid "ah ah" sounds from her throat, her lips trembling as if she was trying her best to say something. Her lips moved a few times, but in the end she could only pull them down weakly, and a trace of uncontrollable saliva flowed from the corner of her mouth.

Wang Jinhuan quickly stepped forward and gently wiped her face with a soft towel draped over the bed, her movements quite meticulous.

“Mom, Uncle Yang and Aunt Yang have come to see you, and they brought salted duck eggs and biscuits!” Wang Jinhuan raised her voice as if this would make her mother, whose consciousness was not always clear, understand more clearly. “You need to get better soon so you can eat them.”

Wang's gaze seemed to focus again very slowly, her cloudy eyes dripping down, and she continued to gurgle in her throat. No one could understand whether she was trying to express gratitude, pain, or some other emotion.

"My mom was saying, 'Thank you, Uncle and Aunt, for taking such good care of me and remembering me.'"

Wang Jinhuan translated to herself with great certainty, then turned to Wang Shi and said loudly, "Mom, don't worry, take your time to recover, we're all here for you."

Her words were less meant for her mother and more a performance for the Yang family.

Yang Yongkang also stepped forward, stood at the foot of the bed, looked around, and said a few comforting words such as "Relax" and "Cooperate well with the treatment." His tone was calm and carried a reassuring power.

Looking at Wang Shi, who had completely lost her ability to control herself and could only lie helplessly on the bed, Zhang Xiuying was filled with mixed feelings and sighed deeply.

This once shrewd and calculating, even somewhat mean and cunning old lady, has now fallen to the point where she has to rely on others and be manipulated at will. Thinking back on her past criticisms and coercion of Xianglan, it really leaves one with an indescribable feeling.

The resentment that had been building up because of her daughter's mistreatment seemed to dissipate considerably in the face of this heavy, suffocating reality of life. It was replaced by a greater sense of the capriciousness of fate and the unpredictability of life, as well as a profound sadness for the plight of those who share her fate.

After the necessary visits and expressions of sympathy concluded, everyone returned to the small hall and sat down again. Having experienced the temperature difference between the inner and outer rooms, the air in the living room felt noticeably fresher.

Wang Jinhuan had already brewed a new pot of hot tea and refilled everyone's cups.

Wang Yinhuan then brought out a small dish of homemade, somewhat shriveled pumpkin seeds and placed it in the center of the small table, quietly inviting them: "Uncle, Aunt, please have some pumpkin seeds. They're homemade; we don't have much to offer you."

"The house is a mess, and I didn't prepare much. Please don't take offense, in-laws." Master Wang rubbed his hands, his face showing sincere apology and a lingering sense of embarrassment.

The family misfortunes and his current predicament have made this usually strong-willed old worker appear somewhat hunched over and lacking in confidence.

"We're all family, no need for such formalities." Yang Yongkang picked up his teacup, blew on the tea leaves floating on top, took a sip, and said in a gentle tone, "My dear in-law, you've really had a hard time these past few days, taking care of everything inside and outside. And thank you to Jin Huan and Yin Huan for running back and forth every day to take care of them, it's not easy for them."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Wang Jinhuan and Wang Yinhuan, his tone carrying just the right amount of affirmation and understanding: "You two nieces are truly filial. They have their own families to manage, yet they still take such good care of their mother. It's rare to see such dedication."

Hearing her father-in-law's praise, Wang Jinhuan quickly waved her hand and forced a humble smile: "Uncle, please don't say that. Taking care of my own mother is just a matter of course, it's what I should do, there's no hardship in it."

Wang Yinhuan echoed softly, her voice weak: "Yes, this is what we should do."

Although they spoke modestly, the subtle expressions of satisfaction and approval on their faces were still faintly visible, as if the hardships and fatigue of the past few days had been somewhat comforted by this.

Master Wang sighed, his tone tinged with relief, but even more so with helplessness and heaviness:

"Yes, it's all thanks to these two kids. If it weren't for their help from inside and outside, I would be completely overwhelmed by the situation on my own. Xianglan also has to go to work, but the factory has strict rules and it's hard to get leave. She can only come home after get off work and lend a hand, and she's exhausted too."

"Xianglan has had a tough time too."

Yang Yongkang then steered the conversation toward his daughter, his tone becoming more somber, filled with a father's heartache: "She told us that seeing her mother-in-law suddenly become so ill made her feel very sad and suffocated."

I work in the factory during the day, so busy I barely have time to breathe, but my heart is always on edge. I'm constantly worried about home, wondering how things are going, and I'm always anxious.

But the factory has strict rules, and I can't just take leave to come back. I'm anxious but there's nothing I can do.

He paused, took another sip of tea as if to gather his thoughts, and continued, "This child is kind-hearted and values ​​relationships. He always feels guilty that he couldn't stay by his mother's bedside day and night to take care of her medicine like his two older sisters did. He feels that he has not fulfilled his filial duty."

She kept telling us that she didn't know how to help her family more, how to do more to show her filial piety, and she was so anxious she was almost getting stressed.

His words were full of understanding and protection for his daughter, subtly expressing Xianglan's predicament and wishes.

Xianglan stood to the side with her head down, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her cotton-padded jacket. She didn't say anything, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.

That's really how she felt. She felt sorry for her mother-in-law's suffering, blamed herself for her own powerlessness, and was also filled with fear of the future.

But being told this by her father in front of her father-in-law and two older sisters-in-law still made her feel a little embarrassed, as if her little thoughts had been laid bare in the sunlight.

Master Wang glanced at Xianglan and felt a warmth in his heart when he saw her uneasy appearance.

He nodded, his tone carrying a genuine certainty:
"Xianglan is a good child, a sensible child."

These days, as soon as she gets home from work, she rushes to take care of her mother-in-law after finishing her cooking duties. She feeds her, washes her, massages her, and cleans her up, doing everything with more care and patience than anyone else. She has never complained of being tired or uttered a single word of complaint.

Me and her mother-in-law...sigh..."

He paused for a moment when he mentioned his wife, his tone becoming somewhat sour. "Her mother-in-law used to be a bit senile and biased. She wasn't very kind to Xianglan and was quite harsh. But Xianglan doesn't hold it against her at all now. She's still the same as always. It's really rare."

He told the truth.

During this time, he had seen Xianglan's hard work and dedication after get off work.

Compared to his two biological daughters' occasional complaints, calculations, and impatience, this daughter-in-law seemed exceptionally sensible, tolerant, and kind. This comforted him, yet left him with a lingering sense of unease.

Yang Yongkang waved his hand, his tone calm but unquestionable: "It is one's duty to be filial to one's parents-in-law. She has not done enough. It is all as she should."

"Perfect timing. Since we're all here today, I'll make a decision for her, putting her mind at ease and allowing her to go to work without worry."

He put down his teacup, his expression becoming serious, and looked directly at Master Wang: "My dear in-law, everyone knows the current situation at home."

In the future, the expenses for my mother-in-law's medical treatment, medicine, nutrition, and daily expenses will be like a bottomless pit, with more and more to come.

Xianglan's meager salary, though small and far from enough, represents her heartfelt sentiment and is currently the only tangible thing she can offer.

He paused for a moment, observing Wang's reaction, and then said clearly, "Starting next month, have her hand over all her wages to you. Every month when she gets paid, she should give them directly to you."

These words were like a thunderclap out of nowhere, leaving the three members of the Wang family, father and son, stunned.

Master Wang's mouth dropped open in surprise, momentarily stunned, thinking he had misheard. Even Wang Jinhuan and Wang Yinhuan, who were pretending to be busy but actually listening intently, stopped what they were doing and exchanged a look of astonishment and disbelief.

Xianglan also suddenly raised her head to look at her father, her lips moved, but in the end she didn't say anything.

Although her younger brother Guangming had carefully analyzed the pros and cons and the deeper meaning of doing so for her, and she had already accepted it, hearing her father say it in front of everyone still made her heart clench involuntarily. She really couldn't bear to part with it.

Her hand instinctively covered the pocket—it was empty, but she could still feel the meager but real sense of security and autonomy that the monthly seventeen yuan and eighty cents brought.

Yang Yongkang seemed oblivious to his daughter's sudden pallor and the astonished expressions of the crowd, and continued calmly:
"How this money is used—whether it's to buy urgently needed medicine for your mother-in-law or to supplement the household's daily expenses—is entirely up to you, my dear in-law."

Xianglan just focused on doing her job well at the factory and taking good care of her mother-in-law after get off work.

She handed over all her salary; this was all she could offer, she had given everything she had.

That way, she could rest easy, knowing she had truly done her duty and fulfilled her filial obligations. She could feel more at ease and at peace.

"This...this won't do! Absolutely not!"

Master Wang finally snapped out of his shock. As if he had been burned, he waved his hands repeatedly, his tone urgent and resolute, even tinged with fear:

“Yongkang, I appreciate your kindness. I know you mean well and think of this family.”

But that's absolutely unacceptable! Xianglan's salary is barely a few dollars; she still has to support Honghong and Amao!
Children are growing at a crucial time, and money is needed for everything, including their food!

"My old bones can still move, and although the factory wage isn't much, I can manage if I tighten my belt and save money! No matter what, I can't take her money! That won't do, absolutely not!"

His refusal was somewhat sincere, even a little emotional.

He knew better than anyone how much financial pressure he would face if his family suddenly had a bedridden patient who required long-term financial and emotional support; it felt like a mountain weighing on his heart.

But he was a master craftsman, and his salary was much higher than that of Xianglan, the apprentice. A man's pride and the sense of responsibility of the head of the family made it impossible for him to immediately and calmly accept the seemingly "generous" but actually embarrassing "gift" proposed by his in-laws, especially since it was his daughter-in-law's entire salary. What would people say if word got out?

Wang Jinhuan and Wang Yinhuan exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with complex emotions as they quickly considered their options, but neither of them spoke immediately, choosing to observe their father's attitude first.

(End of this chapter)