Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law Sent to the Hospital Together
Su Shuochi was in an amazing mood. Seeing Sheng Shiwu looking so down in the dumps, he asked, confused.
"Xiao Wu, if you want my mom’s cooking, you can just come over to our place and eat anytime."
"You and Jiaojiao are leaving tomorrow morning. With you guys gone, how could I have the nerve to go to your house just to mooch a meal!" Sheng Shiwu said miserably.
"Even if we’re not home, you can go over and help out with chores when you have time. Then you can eat there."
"Oh, that’s right! How could I forget? From now on, I can look after Uncle Su and his wife for you." ’And get some free meals while I’m at it.’
Gu Jiaojiao didn’t answer him. She couldn’t stand seeing Sheng Shiwu get all sentimental. ’It’s just a temporary separation. We’ll be back for the New Year and see each other then.’
’Besides, no one stays together forever in this world. All good things must come to an end.’
’Even parents, siblings, and spouses eventually part ways, whether because of life circumstances or something else.’
’That Sheng Shiwu is too naive. He hasn’t run up against the harsh realities of the world yet...’
Su’s mother didn’t go out to sell her chilled noodles all afternoon; Mr. Su went to run the stall by himself.
Instead, she stayed home and chopped several pounds of chili peppers, made some spicy snack strips, and cooked up a few pounds of meat sauce.
She planned to make a ten-course dinner and had already finished five of the dishes when Mr. Su returned.
As she was starting the ninth dish, Su’s mother heard a car pull up. "Dear, go see if Chi and the others are back."
"It must be them. Chi is the only one in this courtyard with a car. I’ll hurry and set the table and chairs and bring out the food."
Mr. Su dropped the fire tongs he was holding, washed his hands, and went out to set up the table and chairs.
"Okay, okay, I’ve only got one last dish to make." With that, Su’s mother happily rinsed her wok and started stir-frying some greens.
"Wow, Uncle Su, Auntie, you’ve made a whole feast tonight!" Sheng Shiwu exclaimed. At the sight of the table laden with food, all his worries vanished into thin air.
"Jiaojiao, you’re all back. Xiao Wu, you’re in for a real treat. Your auntie made ten dishes tonight," Mr. Su said with a good-natured grin.
"Dad, Mom, come and eat too." Gu Jiaojiao and the others quickly washed their hands, and they all gathered around the table, enjoying the cheerful meal together.
「At the Sheng residence.」
Sheng Shiwen sat on the sofa in the living room, not even bothering to turn on the lights.
He didn’t use his wheelchair when he was home alone, since it wouldn’t move unless someone pushed it.
Just then, the phone in the living room rang shrilly. By the moonlight streaming through the window, Sheng Shiwen supported himself with crutches and slowly moved over to the phone. "Who’s calling? This is Sheng Shiwen."
"Xiao Wen, have you eaten yet?" It was Ren Cuiping’s voice on the other end.
"Not yet. Xiao Wu isn’t back from hauling bricks. He hasn’t had a ride these past couple of days, so he has to bike home and gets back late."
He’d had a huge fight with Sheng Shiwu the day before yesterday, and it was only then that he learned Old Three went to a construction site every day to haul bricks for pocket money.
On top of that, Xiao Wu had to wake up early and come home late to make his three meals. He would cook breakfast and lunch first thing in the morning, leaving them to keep warm in a pot, and then he would cook dinner after he got back.
On the living room coffee table were all sorts of fruits and snacks that Xiao Wu had bought. There was even a large pot of freshly made herbal tea.
Because of this, Sheng Shiwen had stopped wallowing in self-pity for the past two days. He would even read a book when it was quiet, and he was no longer so sarcastic and moody when he answered the phone.
"Xiao Wu is hauling bricks? Why would he be doing that?"
Ren Cuiping had been in a stupor ever since her divorce and truly had no idea her youngest son was hauling bricks.
"Why is he hauling bricks? Don’t you have any idea why?" Sheng Shiwen couldn’t stop himself from saying sarcastically.
"Xiao Wen, it’s all my fault. I’ve been neglecting you and your brothers."
Sheng Shiwen: ... ’He didn’t want to talk anymore.’
"Xiao Wen, I’ve pulled myself together now. I’ve officially started working here in Yun City. As soon as I get paid, I’ll come back to Qing City to see you all."
Sheng Shiwen: ... ’He was hungry right now. Who knew when she’d get paid? That could be ages from now.’
"Xiao Wen, why aren’t you saying anything?" Ren Cuiping asked, her voice laced with anxiety.
"Didn’t you used to complain that I talked too much?"
"That was my fault. I was in a bad mood back then, and you were always saying such pessimistic and cynical things."
"What did I say that was so pessimistic? Weren’t those just the facts? Your daughter was in our yard yesterday, shouting and screaming.
I couldn’t move to open the door, so she just stood at the gate, screaming curses.
She didn’t stop until Xiao Wu came home and asked her to come inside and cook a meal for us. And guess what? Did she do it?"
"Are you saying Yueyue didn’t go inside and cook for you?" Ren Cuiping asked uncertainly.
"You don’t have to phrase that as a question. You can say it as a statement of fact."
This time, it was Ren Cuiping’s turn to be speechless.
"If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up."
Sheng Shiwen hung up the phone and stared at the moonlight outside the window. ’If Jiaojiao were still part of their family, would he have blamed all this misfortune on her?’
’But the person who had caused all this was, in fact, the very sister they all cherished!’
The Gu Jiaojiao on Sheng Shiwen’s mind was currently enjoying a cheerful meal, with Mr. Su, Su’s mother, Su Shuochi, and Sheng Shiwu taking turns placing food on her plate.
Meanwhile, the dear sister also on his mind, Sheng Yueyue, was currently in a physical fight with her vicious mother-in-law.
Aunt Song, now over fifty, was getting a bit plump. Having neglected to exercise, she had grown increasingly stout in recent years.
Thankfully, being from the north, she had a tall frame, so while she was heavyset, she didn’t look particularly obese.
When she got angry, her breathing sounded like a heaving bellows. "Hmph! You disrespectful little bitch, how dare you hit me! Just you wait until my Zijin gets home! He’ll beat you half to death!"
"Song Zijin is a useless bastard! He’s a good-for-nothing himself, and he still has the nerve to hit me? I’ll bash your pig head in first!"
Sheng Yueyue’s mouth never stopped, nor did her hands. She even managed to land a few kicks when she saw an opening. Though she wasn’t as heavyset as Aunt Song, she was young and agile.
"Oh, good heavens! Are you asleep up there? How can a daughter-in-law be allowed to beat her mother-in-law! Why don’t you open your eyes and do something about it..."
"It’s already dark, you old hag! The heavens can’t see a thing! Aren’t you supposed to be so tough, running your mouth all day? Take this!"
Just as the two women were locked in a bitter struggle, a man’s voice roared, "What are you two fighting about now? Do you get some sick pleasure out of disturbing the peace of this house every single day?"
Sheng Yueyue was cut off mid-sentence by her father-in-law’s shout.
"Dear! Zijin! SOB... You’re finally home! If you were any later, you might not have seen me alive! Quick, look! Yueyue beat me black and blue... SOB SOB..."
Aunt Song was a woman of a certain age. Even if she had taken good care of herself, she was still middle-aged, and her figure was long past its prime.
This childish display, far from inspiring any sympathy in Uncle Song, actually repulsed him.
Uncle Song impassively pushed her away. His voice was level as he said, "Do you two have any idea how hard I work out there, only to come home to this racket? Are you trying to tear this family apart?"
"Damn you, Song Zijin! How could you hit me so hard! You heartless bastard! AAGH—"
Seeing his mother crying her eyes out, Song Zijin didn’t hesitate. He slapped Sheng Yueyue twice across the face, sending her stumbling to the ground.
The floor was concrete, and Sheng Yueyue cracked her head open when she fell. In the end, the father and son had no choice but to take both women to the hospital.
