Northeast: My Absurd Woman

When Guan Shu heard that he was going to the health center, he immediately chickened out and put his hands in his sleeves without moving.

"All he does is eat and drink poorly all day long, and he doesn't even save a penny to cross the river."

I, Zhang Shuhua, must have killed Da Niu in my past life to give birth to such a good-for-nothing like you.

Hurry up and hitch up the donkey cart; you don't need to worry about the money.

Fifth Brother, didn't you say yesterday that the money Changyao earned was with you?

"Use this to save Guimei's life first, and I'll borrow the money to pay you back later."

Zhang Shuhua put the child down and went to the outer room to talk to Zhang Kaiju.

"Shuhua, does your family really not have a single penny?"

"If I give you all this money, how will my family survive?"

As Zhang Kaiju spoke, he had already placed his personal wallet into Zhang Shuhua's hand.

Yang Wuni watched from the side, knowing that her father-in-law was saying this to her.

With the money secured, Zhang Shuhua's family's situation was considered resolved.

Guan Shu took the money, drove the donkey cart with his wife, and went to the health center.

Zhang Shuhua was happily holding her grandson at home, and had no time to pay attention to Yang Wuni.

Yang Wuni, worried about Zhang Changyao, went home first, her mind preoccupied with money, pouting awkwardly.

Back home, Yang Wuni sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), sulking.

What angered her was that her father-in-law lent out the money her husband earned without even asking her.

She couldn't get angry right then and there, and she was also afraid of offending Zhang Shuhua.

Over this period of time, she had figured out that Zhang Shuhua was the one who had the final say in front of Zhang Kaiju's family.

"Changyao, tell me about your father. How come he lent all his money to your aunt without keeping a single penny for himself?"

I know saving lives is the most important thing, but does that mean our family can't make a living?

Then there's your older cousin, all he does is wail and cry. He's got a snotty nose and is blind all over.

"You're such a spineless coward, always putting your wife's life in danger and asking for money first."

Yang Wuni saw Zhang Changyao turn over and told him what was on her mind.

"Hmm...hmm..." Zhang Changyao gave Yang Wuni a weak reply, and then fell silent again.

"Zhang Changyao, I knew it. You, your father, and your aunt are all in cahoots."

We don't have a single penny right now. What will you do to save me if I fall down and can't get up one day?

I thought you were better than my dad and my sister-in-law, but it turns out you're all the same.

Looks like I'm destined to die young; I can't count on anyone.

Yang Wuni touched her belly and angrily pushed Zhang Changyao.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Changyao was forced to lie flat on the kang (a heated brick bed) by her grip.

Her face was as red as a dried red chili pepper, and the wet cotton pants next to her were steaming hot.

"Zhang Changyao, what's wrong with you?"

Yang Wuni touched Zhang Changyao's forehead, and the burning heat terrified her.

After glancing at the cotton-padded trousers on the kang (a heated brick bed), Yang Wuni lifted the quilt covering Zhang Changyao's legs.

Zhang Changyao's legs were swollen to the thickness of a child's waist.

"Zhang Changyao, wake up! Look at your leg, what happened to it?"

"It's okay, it's okay, the swelling will go down in a bit!"

Zhang Changyao opened his eyes, struggled to sit up, and teased Yang Wuni by tugging at her braid.

Wipe away the tears that have slid down her face.

"I really don't understand, what's going on in your family?"

You two care more about your aunt's family matters than your own.

One gave all their money to the person, while the other risked their life to help find them.

Yang Wuni looked at Zhang Changyao's thick legs with heartache, but dared not touch them, afraid of hurting him if she did.

"Wu Ni, you don't know, my aunt married my dead uncle back then in order to get a wife for my father."

My uncle-in-law was incredibly ugly, even less attractive than Brother Guan Shu, and he was also a sickly man with tuberculosis.

"My father owes my aunt a debt he'll probably never be able to repay in this lifetime," Zhang Changyao said, licking his dry lips.

"Zhang Changyao, you only care about sympathizing with your aunt, but isn't your mother also a pitiful woman?"

"Since we got married, why haven't I heard you mention your mother at all?"

My mother is different from my aunt; my mother has now found someone she likes.

She's doing very well now, we don't need to worry about her.

Do you know why I didn't tell you? It's because I was afraid my dad would go after my mom.

Before my mother left, she gave me a picture of where she was living now.

I haven't shown it to my dad yet; I don't want him to go to my mom.

"Mom has been a burden to us for the first half of her life; it's time for her to live for herself for the second half."

Zhang Changyao shifted his legs, afraid of burning them on the kang (heated brick bed).

Her face, which had been flushed just moments before, had noticeably recovered and become much whiter.

"Zhang Changyao, I have a question for you. If I get sick, will you treat me?"

Yang Wuni glanced at her stomach and said softly.

"Wu Ni, are you talking nonsense? You are my wife. If I don't treat your illness, who will?"

"If you get sick and I go back to your family, won't they break my legs?"

Zhang Changyao lay down again, feeling a bit tired. He pointed to his dry lips and asked Yang Wuni to boil some water for him.

Regardless of whether she had money or not, Zhang Changyao's words reassured Yang Wuni.

Because the treatment was timely, Zhang Changyao was able to get out of bed the next day and barely managed to walk to the latrine to defecate.

"My dear son, I told you you're a simple-minded and practical kid, but you still argued with me."

Men are most afraid of the cold. You've managed to avoid damaging it by drawing water from the river. If you let the river water damage it, you'll have a lot of hardship to endure later.

Zhang Kaiju followed behind Zhang Changyao, afraid that he might accidentally fall.

"Dad, the silly boy sleeps on the cold kang, all because he's strong. Isn't that what you said?"

"I'm a silly boy, I'm not afraid of anything. Even if the river water is cold, is it colder than sleeping on the ground?"

Zhang Changyao recalled the time when he was angry with his father and lay on the floor to sleep, only to be scolded by his father.

"Silly boy, I hope you're alright too. Can the river water in winter compare to the land in autumn?"

Zhang Kaiju was indeed worried, but dared not say too much about Zhang Changyao.

You won't know if something between a man and a woman will work unless you try it.

"Dad, my aunt said there are too many corn kernels in these bean buns, and they don't taste good at all."

Yang Wuni brought a plate of freshly steamed bean buns to Zhang Shuhua.

Zhang Shuhua ate one and then started complaining to Yang Wuni about how stingy Zhang Kaiju was. Yang Wuni didn't like listening to it, so she came back and told Zhang Kaiju.

"That's just how your aunt is. She'll eat anything, no matter what. She'll spend any money she has."

She even called me stingy. If I weren't stingy, where would her daughter-in-law get the money to save her life?

I also had two sons who got married, and so did she.

I didn't have a single penny of famine, but she had a whole fart of famine.

Zhang Kaiju was embarrassed after being criticized by Zhang Shuhua.

In front of Yang Wuni, he had to argue for his own right.

Just as Zhang Kaiju was speaking eloquently about Zhang Shuhua...

Zhang Changguang's wife followed Yumi and carried the child into the yard.

"Dad, what kind of old man are you? Do you even know you have a grandson at home?"