Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Seeing that Zhang Changyao was serious, Yang Wuni stopped cursing and found a reason to justify herself.

She used the things her sister-in-law often said about her father to appease Zhang Changyao.

"Yang Wuni, you have to put up with my father no matter what he looks like."

If you use my dad as a cushion, I'll beat you to a pulp, you believe me?

Only your sister-in-law, without a man to discipline her, would dare to talk to an elderly person like that.

They're being blatant, yet they're still flattering us, buying us things, and inviting us to meals.

If they don't say anything, can we just watch them have no livestock to use and refuse to let them use them?

It's because Aunt Xiulan is here that she's so sensible. If it were my dad, he wouldn't even say hello and would just pick you up and leave.

Last year, my sister-in-law's donkey was used to lead it away directly from the mountain.

The elder sister-in-law and elder brother thought the donkey was lost and searched for it for quite a while.

Finally, when their father returned it to them, they realized he had used a donkey to pull the tree.

Zhang Changyao broke open the steamed bun and told Yang Wuni to be content with what she had inside.

"Hmm! I'm content. The livestock haven't even been bought yet, and they've already been lent out."

Calling the dog over before even taking a dump—that's typical of your family.

"Don't wear these clothes yet. If we can't buy the livestock, Aunt Xiulan will take them back."

Yang Wuni put the clothes and pants in Zhang Changyao's hands under the quilt and was about to put them away.

"Yang Wuni, what are you saying? How come I can't buy livestock?"

I have to wear these clothes and pants; whether I can buy them or not, I'll wear them.

Zhang Changyao kicked off his shoes and got onto the kang (a heated brick bed). Unable to straighten up, he sat down to try on clothes.

After putting on his clothes and pants, he shuffled onto the ground and stepped on the shoes he had just taken off.

He stood up and tilted his head to show Yang Wuni the length of the sleeve.

"How is it? Your man looks quite handsome, doesn't he? He's dressed well."

Zhang Changyao turned around, his face crinkling with a smile.

"I don't know. In my eyes, even if you're dressed like a beggar, I still think you look good."

Yang Wuni's words were barbed, and she turned her head away from Zhang Changyao.

She wasn't targeting Zhang Changyao; she was just jealous of the clothes Zhao Xiulan had bought for him.

"You have such an unpleasant way of speaking, do you think I'm going to become a beggar?"

You think men are women? Men have strength, why would they go out begging?

If you don't want to watch it, then forget it. I only care if I think it's good.

"I'll take off all my clothes right now and show you what a beggar looks like!"

Zhang Changyao kept talking and his hands didn't stop; he was really going to unbutton his clothes to show Yang Wuni.

Yang Wuni turned her head with a playful smile, grabbed Zhang Changyao's hand, and wouldn't let him take it off.

"You old hag, you're even jealous that an old lady bought me clothes."

If you keep getting angry over nothing, I'll discipline you every night.

Zhang Changyao didn't really want to take off his clothes; he just wanted to tease Yang Wuni.

He felt a slight, throbbing pain in his shoulder, which he didn't want Yang Wuni to see.

When they got off work in the evening, a few of them pulled the conveyor belt.

He was at the front, and those guys were bullying him, but he didn't dare to say anything.

The people behind him didn't pull, but he himself carried the rope and pulled with all his might.

I suspect I rubbed the skin on my shoulder raw, because it was burning and aching the whole way back.

"Go to sleep! You're so tired after just one day of work that you're practically rubbing your eyes."

Yang Wuni knew that carrying heavy loads was a real test of strength.

Even if Zhang Kaiju doesn't say anything, she won't let Zhang Changyao cause trouble at night and waste his energy for no reason.

"Changyao, Wuni, hurry...come quickly, your father...your father is dying..."

Before the two of them could even get into bed, they heard Zhao Xiulan jumping up and down in the yard, shouting wildly.

"What? Zhang Changyao, your father was perfectly fine just now, how could he be dying?"

Yang Wuni craned her neck to listen, unable to believe her ears.

"Wu Ni, don't talk nonsense. I think Dad's just having a fit."

Take off your clothes and stay inside. I'll go check on things and be right back.

Zhang Changyao got out of bed, slipped on his shoes, pushed open the door, and ran out.

Before she could even stand up straight, Zhao Xiulan tumbled and fell at his feet.

"Aunt Xiulan, don't be afraid, my father might be having a seizure."

I'll go check on them. You go inside and wait with Wu Ni.

Zhang Changyao pushed Zhao Xiulan, trying to get her into his small room.

"Changyao, help me up. I'm worried about your father. I hope he doesn't die."

Zhao Xiulan clung to Zhang Changyao's feet, preventing him from leaving.

Zhang Changyao was already in a panic, not caring where he was, and grabbed Zhao Xiulan by the hair and pulled her up.

Once inside, he climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), picked up Zhang Kaiju's shirt sleeve, and stuffed it into his mouth.

Afraid that he would catch a cold, I covered him with a blanket, then sat down next to Zhang Kaiju and pressed his philtrum with one finger.

"Aunt Xiulan, my father... he'll be fine on his own soon, I... I'll go back now."

Zhang Changyao ran fast, his breathing unsteady, staring at the culprit, Zhao Xiulan.

The disgust that rose from the bottom of his heart made his hand involuntarily rise up to slap her.

"Changyao, you can't blame me for your father's condition. We were just chatting, and that's how he ended up."

If I had known he had epilepsy, I would never have married him.

"Why would I choose to suffer like this at your house when I could have a peaceful and carefree life?"

Zhao Xiulan snorted and blew out her snot.

"Smack!" He slapped his hand on the ground and then wiped it clean under the edge of the kang (heated brick bed).

"Aunt Xiulan, my dad is having a seizure, not passing out. He can hear everything we say."

If you want him to recover quickly, shut your mouth.

People say that young couples become companions in old age, so why can't you two just settle down?

Still think you're young? You're really pushing your body too hard.

At my age, if I were to risk my life, wouldn't it be better to remain single?

He's immature, and so are you; you're both over a hundred years old combined.

And you've made your son worry about this too.

Zhang Changyao stood up and was about to leave, ignoring Zhao Xiulan who was still wiping away her tears.

"Zhang Changyao, your father and I are both this old, and you're lecturing us like you're disciplining your children."

I see no use in him being alive, so I'll just smother him to death. That way, you won't have to take care of him in his old age.

Zhao Xiulan was scolded by Zhang Changyao and, feeling resentful, took a broom and banged it on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"I'm not going to get involved in your old couple's affairs anymore, okay?" Zhang Changyao's face turned pale with anger, and he turned and left the house.

"Waaah...waaah..."

As soon as Zhang Changyao stepped onto the ground floor of the outer room, he heard Zhang Kaiju making "woo...woo..." sounds from inside the room.

"That vicious woman is capable of anything."

"If it weren't for my dad's affection for you, I'd slap you across the face."

"Damn it, this is absolutely outrageous!"

Zhang Changyao didn't leave; he stood hesitating on the ground floor of the outer room.

I cursed him a thousand times in my heart, but I couldn't move my feet to go outside.

His father's life or death was in his own hands; how could he dare to be careless?

Zhao Xiulan, that despicable woman, exploited Zhang Changyao's weakness of being a filial son.

Not hearing the sound of the outer door being pushed open, the subordinate covered the open mouth even more forcefully.

"Waaah...waaah..."

Zhang Changyao heard Zhang Kaiju make another choking sound in his throat.

I had no choice but to bite the bullet, turn around, push open the door, and go inside.