Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 775 Turning Against Each Other

Before the old lady could speak, Xia Maosheng said, "Now they don't even say 'borrow,' they just ask. Fourth brother, what did you just say? Are you going to buy it for me or not? Where do you get the nerve to ask my brother-in-law to buy it for you? Are you disabled and have no hands or feet?"

The fourth brother, his neck thick and face red, shouted, "Who are you calling a 'Xia Maosheng'?"

Xia Maosheng said, "You still have the nerve to argue with me? If you have this much energy, why don't you go out and earn money to support yourself? You shamelessly come here every day asking for money. Aren't you ashamed? Even if you dress fashionably and ride a nice bike, aren't you ashamed? You used to say you were young, but are you still young now? Are you going to be young forever? I've never asked my sister for money more than a few times. I don't have the face to do that."

The fourth brother said, "You want it? What makes you think you can have it? Your sister married into our family, understand? This all belongs to our family, what does it have to do with yours?"

Xia Maosheng asked, "Did your family invest a single penny in building this house and opening this shop, or did you help out with anything? And just like that, it becomes yours?"

The fourth brother said, "If your family is willing to give it, why would my family beg you? What business is it of yours what our brothers' affairs are? Why are you getting involved?"

Brother-in-law Xia said, "Fourth brother, what are you saying? Can't you be quiet for a moment?"

The fourth brother said, "Why are you yelling at me? You can't even control your own wife. Look at the pathetic state you are when you spend a little money on her. Are you even a man?"

Sister Xia's husband also got angry: "Do I owe you anything? You ask me for money for everything—building a house, buying things, going out—do I owe you money? I can barely support myself, and I have to give you my money?"

The third son, who had been sitting silently to the side, stood up and said, "Mom, you and the fourth son stay here. I'm going back now."

The fourth brother said, "Where are you going? Leave the money with me."

The third brother turned to look at the fourth brother and said, "I borrowed money from the second brother to build my house. I have to save up to pay him back. You, don't ask me for money anymore. I don't have any. Second sister-in-law, I'll pay you back a hundred a month from now on until I've paid off all the previous debts." He then opened the door and left.

The old woman started crying: "What kind of mess is this? What kind of mess is this? It's just a little money from you. I even gave you my life."

And your second daughter-in-law, you married the second son, so you belong to him no matter what. What's wrong with me, as his mother, spending some of your money? If you did something wrong, lay it out and explain it clearly one by one. Is it wrong for me to spend your money?

"If you want me to spend money, it's because you can earn it, not because you need to steal or rob! If we had money at home, would we need to ask you for it? Why don't you like Xiao Si'er? Huh? What's wrong with you, as her brother and sister-in-law, spending a little money?"

Xia Maosheng asked the old lady, "Auntie, we're all brothers, why doesn't your fourth son give my brother-in-law any money?"

The old woman said, "That's because he doesn't have it. If he did, would he not spend it? Does he think everyone is like you?"

Xia Maosheng said, "You think you can just stay home all day eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring and have money? You think you can just come to my sister's house and ask for money? My sister doesn't even have a tape recorder worth over a thousand yuan. Why don't you, the fourth son, suggest bringing yours? My sister doesn't even have a decent place to live. Why don't you suggest building her a house?"

The fourth brother said, "Can't you be reasonable? They can make money, but I can't? What do you people care about besides money? You're all heartless and ungrateful bastards."

Xia Maosheng said, "So you're loyal and righteous? Does giving you all the money you earn mean you're loyal and righteous? Where's your loyalty and righteousness? You don't care about money, you only care about loyalty and righteousness, right? Then what are you doing here? Also, when are you going to pay back all the money you spent? Get a straight answer today. My sister's money isn't going to just be given to you for nothing."

Xia's father said, "This matter needs to be discussed properly, otherwise how will you two live in the future? I just can't bring myself to say it, so let Xiaoxiao handle it."

The old lady stood up and shouted at her brother-in-law, "Second son, now that things have come to this, I'll ask you one question: do you still want this family? Do you still acknowledge me as your mother and your brother?"

Xia's brother-in-law said, "Mom, it's only right that we take care of you. What have Xia Yu and I done wrong or let you down? What have we accumulated over the years since I got married? You've taken everything from us."

The eldest son got a house when he got married, the third son got a dowry and you built a tiled house, and the fourth son's marriage is still going on, but his house is already built and all the appliances are in place. Mom, what about my share? Am I just supposed to give out money? Are they my brothers or my sons?

Yes, with Xia Yu's family helping us, we seem to be doing alright. Is it a sin for me to be doing well? I should help with house repairs, and I should help with my brother's wedding. As for whether we should pay them back, Xia Yu and I have never thought about it.

"What's going on now? You ask me for money to buy clothes, you ask me for money to smoke, and now you're asking me for money to buy a bicycle without any hesitation. Even the TV I watch is black and white. What about the color TV and tape recorder in your house? Didn't you pay for them?" Brother-in-law Xia turned to ask the fourth brother.

The old lady said, "Isn't this also because the fourth son is getting married? He specifically asked for a bicycle, and you won't buy it? Does that mean the wedding is off?"

The second son said, "He's twenty-four or twenty-five, Mom, twenty-four or twenty-five, not four or five. I need to make a living too, why should I be entitled to ask you for things? What did I get when I got married? What did you give me? You want it, right? Take everything in this house, okay? I'm not staying here anymore."

Xia Yu, I'm so sorry. Let's get a divorce tomorrow. You can have the child, I'll leave with nothing. I've been dragging you down all these years, and it seems like this is how my life will always be. Let's stop. Really, the longer we stay together, the more I'll let you down, and the more problems we'll have. It'll be endless.

The fourth son said, "Why should you leave with nothing? This money should be half of ours, right? You don't want it, but I do. How interesting."

The old lady said, "Yes, if you want a divorce, then get a divorce. The family property should be divided clearly. Why shouldn't you want it?"

Brother-in-law Xia said, "This is my family property. What does it have to do with you? Aren't all my assets in your hands? The food, the things you use, the house you live in, and the money you spend are all earned by you. I'm so sad to have been born into your family."

The fourth brother curled his lip: "You make it sound like it's a lot of money. It's just a few tens of thousands of yuan. I'll pay you back when I have the money. What's the big deal?"

Xia Maosheng said, "Tens of thousands of yuan is really nothing. Where are you going to pay it back? Now or when? We don't want interest, just the principal. You can write an IOU. You're such a capable person, someone who doesn't even care about tens of thousands of yuan."

The fourth brother said, "Why should I give you a written agreement? Who do you think you are? Did I take your money? What business is it of yours what we brothers have to do with each other?"

(End of this chapter)