The mother of the era is reborn to support her cannon fodder children!

Chapter 250 "Getting Old"

Hengbao clapped his hands happily, "Grandpa and Grandma have new blankets just like us. Mom, you even bought extra cotton!"

Lin Zhao: ...Do you need to buy it?!
She pinched Hengbao's soft cheeks and said with a smile, "Didn't you two tell me indirectly that your grandparents' quilts aren't warm enough? So you want me to be filial to my elders?"

Yu Bao snuggled up to her, saying, "We know Mom is the best."

That's why I dared to.

Hengbao nodded vigorously, her voice as sweet as a gentle breeze, "Mommy is the best~~"

Upon hearing this, Gu's mother was deeply moved.

She asked in surprise, "They said that?"

"Yes," Lin Zhao didn't hide anything. "Knowing that there was a lot of cotton at home, after I started making new quilts, I took the opportunity to ask if I had any extra cotton. If not, I could make thinner ones for them and leave some cotton for Grandpa and Grandma..."

It really was the two kids who did it; she wasn't exaggerating at all.

The son's filial piety should be known to his grandparents.

Mother Gu's heart was filled with emotion. She hugged her grandson and said, "I never expected that Yu Bao and Heng Bao would care so much about your grandfather and me. Where can you find such a filial grandson!"

Children this young, who eat well and use the best things, would think of adults?

It's only her grandson!

Yu Bao's face flushed as his grandma hugged him, and his voice softened considerably, "Grandma is so good to us."

Hengbao nodded his little head, "Even though we are children, we know how to respect the elderly and care for the young. We always think of our grandparents when something good happens."

Gu's mother felt very warm inside.

Carrying cotton outside, I didn't feel cold even though the cold wind was blowing in my face.

The sky cleared, but the road remained muddy.

can.

There's no shortage of people strolling around the village.

Upon noticing what Gu's mother was carrying, he couldn't help but ask a few questions.

Before she could speak, Gu's mother laughed, "What else could it be? Cotton. It was given to us by my third son's wife. She was worried that my husband and I would be cold, so she told us to stuff it into our quilts."

The woman who was speaking saw that the bag was bulging, took a few steps forward, reached out and squeezed it a few times. It was soft and fluffy, full of cotton.

"So many?" she exclaimed in surprise.

Cotton is a commodity that needs to be bought and sold, and for many people, even with money, it's impossible to obtain. The woman tugged at Gu's mother's sleeve, "Could you give me a little more?"

She kept her voice very low, afraid that someone would hear her.

As if electrocuted, Gu's mother shook off the other person's hand, her face full of vigilance.

"Don't even think about it."

"My daughter-in-law gave it to me. If you want it... go find your daughter-in-law!"

Woman: "..."

Her face contorted in shock.

Excessive.

unacceptable!

"If you don't want to let me, then don't. Why say such heart-wrenching things?"

Her daughter-in-law?

It's good enough that we don't ask her for it back, let alone give it back to her? Haha, you're dreaming.

When Gu's mother met her red eyes, she felt slightly embarrassed.

"...Well, how presumptuous of you to speak like that. This cotton was given to me and the old man by Yu Bao's mother. There's only so much of it, and after stuffing it into the quilts, there's hardly anything left. How can I share it with you?"

"Besides, if I were to give it to you, how could I face my third brother's wife? If Yu Bao and Heng Bao asked me if the quilt was warm enough, what would I say?"

"The child's good intentions should not be wasted like this."

The woman listened to her rambling on and on, and her scalp tingled with unease.

How come I never noticed before that Yuanshan's mother talks so much?
Having found a point of leverage, she asked, "The child's feelings? Does Yu Bao's mother know that you treat her like a child?"

She's a mother of four, what's with all the talk about children?

"What do you know?" Mother Gu immediately became arrogant. "It's true that the third son's wife prepared it, but Yu Bao and Heng Bao also have their reasons. They told their mother that my and his grandfather's quilts weren't warm enough, and my two grandsons begged their mother to get us some cotton, and now..."

She waved the bag in her hand.

"Is my grandson filial?"

The villagers were envious and jealous.

“…filial piety.” The woman gritted her teeth.

Mother Gu smiled with satisfaction and contentment, "My children are all filial. It's truly worth living to this extent."

She left carrying the bag, her smile brighter than the sun.

The woman's expression was complicated.

Despite not knowing how her mother raised them, none of them turned out badly; it's truly enviable.

She sighed as she thought about her family's troubles.

Gu's mother rushed home.

She didn't see the old man inside the house, so she went to the mushroom shed and sure enough, she saw him there.

"Look at this?" she asked mysteriously.

Gu's father was wearing an oilcloth overcoat, and his body was covered in filth.

His response was, "What? You seem so happy."

"Cotton," Gu's mother said with a smile, opening the bag to show him.

Father Gu exclaimed, "Where did this cotton come from?"

Looking at the smile on his wife's face, he guessed, "Did the third son's wife give it to me?"

"Yes..." Mother Gu told Father Gu what had happened in the third house.

Father Gu was slightly taken aback, but his heart was filled with comfort.

"Third brother's wife is so thoughtful. Yu Bao and Heng Bao are both good children, and they are good younger generations who care about the family."

He didn't deny Gu's mother's contribution, praising her, "You deserve half the credit. You know how to teach children. Everyone says that you should marry a virtuous wife. I married a good wife."

These were words that Gu's father had never said when he was young.

As people get older, they can say anything.

Gu's mother's eyes stung with tears, and feeling somewhat embarrassed, she angrily punched the old man, saying, "Why are you saying all this? Get back to your work!"

After saying that, she quickly left, her face burning with embarrassment.

Gu Yucheng arrived with the things his father had brought. Seeing his mother running away in a panic, he asked in surprise, "Dad, why is Mom running away? Did you offend her?!"

Of course, Gu's father wouldn't tell him; he didn't know either.

He felt wronged; he hadn't said anything offensive, so why was he punched for no reason?

My wife is becoming more and more unreasonable, sigh!
"When did I ever offend your mother? Where are the things?"

Gu Yucheng quickly replied, "Here."

……

The Zhao family has six daughters, and Old Man Zhao, lying in bed calling out, is only waiting for the eldest daughter—Zhao Daya.

He reeked of foul odor, squinted at the newcomer, and his already gloomy appearance made him look even less like a good person.

"Why is it just you?" Old Zhao's voice was hoarse, revealing his dissatisfaction.

Zhao Daya is not very brave, but she is efficient.

He whispered back, "None of them came," and quickly got to work.

Old Zhao has a back injury, which doesn't prevent him from getting up slightly, but it does affect his walking, especially long distances.

Just right.

Apart from Zhao Daya, the remaining five beauties all married far away.

This almost completely cut off his chance to carry out a sweep.

Old Zhao realized this and felt very angry, along with a hint of panic that he deliberately ignored.

Of his six daughters, only one came. This fact made him realize that he was old and no longer the man who could control everyone in the Zhao family with his fists!

Having just lost control, Old Zhao was in a bad mood and angrily swept everything in front of him away.

After a series of crackling sounds.

He shouted, "Tell them to come back!"

"A bunch of unfilial children! I'm about to die, how come they don't come back?!"

Zhao Daya paused slightly and looked at the person on the bed who was angry.

Her aged face was etched with bitterness.

“Dad, you went to your sisters’ husbands’ houses and caused trouble, which made them disliked by their husbands. Er Ya was beaten by her brother-in-law and can’t get up.”

“Sanya has it tough too; her brother-in-law is making a scene and wants to divorce her.”

“Siya can’t give birth to a boy, and her mother-in-law already dislikes her. Then you came to make trouble. Siya’s mother-in-law forced her brother-in-law to kick her out, and she doesn’t even have a place to stay.”

"Wu Ya has a strong sense of pride. She said she would return what you took. She carried stones with a group of grown men, and all ten of her fingers were rotten!"

“Sixth Sister, no, Sixth Sister…” Zhao Daya’s tightly furrowed brows relaxed.

Sixth Sister was in the best position.

She was truly happy for her younger sister.

"Lai Mei was injured on the head by you, and the Gu family took their anger out on Liu Niang, kicking her out to live in the mushroom shed. All the dirty and hard work in the house has become her responsibility..."

This was all made up by Zhao Daya.

She had to exaggerate and make it sound more tragic.

Old Zhao knew he wouldn't gain anything, which is why he gave up on going to the Harvest Brigade to find the young woman.

The sisters had all suffered terribly, as if they had been soaked in bitter herbs. On a rare day of peace, she didn't want her father to bother her.

Old Zhao showed no pity for his daughters, instead saying, "They're all useless, unable to even control their husbands' families. I don't know what they're good for!"

Zhao Daya kept working and didn't say anything.

This is her own father; she can't speak to him, and she can't hit him. What can she do?!
"Have you lost your temper?!" Old Zhao glared at his eldest daughter, his eyes filled with anger.

Zhao Daya looked over, "...I'm tidying up the house."

Old Zhao was lazy and didn't have any firewood at home, so she couldn't boil water. She could only rinse the rags with cold water, and her hands became red and swollen from the cold.

"Stop talking nonsense, go and call your sister over!" Old Zhao ordered.

Zhao Daya: "Why are you calling them?"

Feeling sorry for her younger sisters, she said, "I live nearby and can take care of you."

"Stop talking nonsense, just go when I tell you to. I don't want to beat you up today," Old Zhao said fiercely.

Zhao Daya shrank back, recalling her unpleasant experiences.

"...I was just asking."

Despite her fear, she didn't move, her feet seemingly nailed to the spot, a stubborn glint flashing in her otherwise lifeless eyes.

Old Zhao knew how stubborn this girl was.

This is a debt collector who won't bow down even if you break a stick.

"What else can I do but call them back to discuss how to support me in my old age?"

Old Zhao acted as if it were his right, saying, "My back is so badly injured that I won't be able to do heavy work in the future, and it will be difficult for me to support myself. I raised six daughters, so how dare you not take care of me in my old age?"

He threatened, "If you dare not provide for my old age, I'll crawl all the way to the county seat and beg the officials to do me justice!"

Zhao Daya's eyes were filled with despair.

Isn't everything he's stolen over the years enough for his retirement?

He's still trying to ask for an exorbitant amount!

"...Er Ya and the others have no money."

Old Zhao grabbed the spittoon from beside the bed and threw it at Zhao Daya.

It missed.

The filth was spilled, and the smell was pungent.

He retorted angrily, "Even if you have no money, you can still have grain! Give me grain, one hundred catties per family per year!"

Upon hearing the word "one hundred jin," Zhao Daya blurted out, "One hundred jin? How much grain do we get in a year? Father, are you trying to drive your daughter to her death? You know perfectly well that we can't afford that much grain!"

It's true that I can't afford it.

Even someone weighing 50 pounds has to tighten their waistband, let alone someone weighing 100 pounds.

Zhao Daya felt that her father was too greedy.

He has six daughters. If each of them is given 100 jin (50 kg), that's 600 jin (300 kg) a year. No elderly person in any family can eat 600 jin (300 kg) of grain a year. Even a landlord couldn't eat that much!

"Stop talking nonsense!" Old Zhao said, "I raised you all, so you must take care of me in my old age."

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t take care of you in your old age, but 100 pounds is too much. We still have a family to support.” Zhao Daya tried to persuade him.

This is because Old Man Zhao has difficulty moving around, which is why she dared to do so.

In the past, even if she had a hundred times the courage, she wouldn't have dared to do it.

Old Zhao was about to get up and beat Zhao Daya, but halfway there, he felt a sharp pain in his waist.

Ouch, I fell down.

Zhao Daya wanted to go forward to help, but the image of Old Man Zhao's raised fist flashed through her mind, and she stopped in her tracks.

I stood a few steps away and didn't go forward.

Old Zhao was furious. "Why aren't you helping me up? You have no sense of propriety!"

“…One hundred jin is too much, we can’t carry that out. At most, thirty jin per person, is that okay?” Zhao Daya’s expression was stubborn, her face full of the expression that said, “If you don’t agree, I won’t care about you.”

She calculated that she and her five younger sisters each weighed 30 jin (15 kg), totaling 180 jin (90 kg) a year. If they ate sparingly, it would be enough.

Hungry to death.

That's how he treated them too.

They're willing to support him in his old age, that's enough!

Let's consider this repayment for the kindness of his birth and upbringing.

Old Zhao was furious.

But he needs someone to take care of him.

His old flame saw that he was no longer useful, and even when she sent people to call him, he wouldn't come.

—What a despicable person.

All these years, he's fed us, used our resources, but when we need him, he never even shows his face.

Old Zhao's big yellow teeth were almost crushed.

He gritted his teeth and said, "...Fine, thirty pounds it is. Come and help me up."

Old Zhao's back injury was also caused by staying in the rain for too long and catching a chill. He can't stand the cold anymore and can only rest.

Zhao Daya stepped forward.

Old Zhao reverted to his old ways, clenching his fist as if to hit someone, but Zhao Daya dodged it.

She retreated to a safe place, her body trembling slightly, but she tried her best to control herself.

This was her first time openly rebelling.

She was afraid, yet an undisguised excitement welled up inside her.

"Dad, I'm not the child you used to beat and scold anymore..." Zhao Daya's voice trembled slightly as she finished speaking, word by word.

"Father, it seems you don't want me to help you. I'll go find someone."

After saying that, she turned and left the room.

They walked very fast.

Zhao Daya had suffered hardships since childhood, and the wrinkles on her face were more numerous and deeper than those on Gu's mother. At this moment, she raised her head and looked at the sun shining brightly on the earth, and for the first time, she felt that the sun was so warm.

As she watched, she smiled, tears welling in her eyes.

A glimmer of light appeared in those numb, lifeless eyes.

She beat her mother to death, and the six sisters who dared not resist, were all old.

It seems he can't hurt them anymore!
Zhao Daya covered her face and sobbed.

Wait until your emotions stabilize.

She went to the brigade where her sisters were to tell them the good news.

Er Ya and the others were all moved to tears.

We weep for their suffering, we weep for the day they will be freed.

Zhao Liuniang was also happy.

Especially after hearing from her older sister that Old Zhao's back injury was difficult to heal and he wouldn't be able to walk very far in the future, and that he wouldn't be able to come to the harvest brigade anymore, the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up, and the curve became wider and wider.

"That's wonderful!" Zhao Liuniang hugged her eldest sister.

Overjoyed, her eyes welled up with tears. "Sister, I'm so pathetic. My husband is fiercely protective of his own, and my son is filial, but I'm still afraid of that person. I despise myself..."

Zhao Daya patted her younger sister on the back and shook her head.

“You’re not useless, we’re all afraid.”

“We don’t need to be afraid anymore. He can’t hurt us anymore. I will keep an eye on him and won’t let him come after you again.”

She roughly knows how to manipulate that person. She will protect her younger sisters.

Zhao Liuniang wiped away her tears and smiled, "Elder sister, don't keep it to yourself. Have someone send me a message."

"I know."

Zhao Daya then told her about the 30 jin of grain that had to be given to Old Man Zhao every year.

“…Okay, please take it back for me later,” Zhao Liuniang said.

She'd give up anything to get rid of that jerk, not just 30 pounds, but 50 pounds, even if it's a bit tough.

Zhao Daya nodded, "Okay."

She tasted the sugar water her younger sister poured for her, paused for a moment, and then laughed.

It's so sweet.

(End of this chapter)