Eldest Sister-in-law Jiang and Second Sister-in-law Jiang exchanged another glance.
They thought to themselves, "Expect me to stay here and take care of this little thief who stole from the family? Dream on."
So they didn't even bother pretending.
"We have children at home. We should head back now."
"Father Jiang said to come home early once Mother Jiang wakes up. The hospital is nowhere as comfortable as home."
"Besides, look at how much money she stole. The whole family is practically starving to death. How can she lie here in the hospital enjoying herself?"
Second Sister-in-law Jiang added, "Exactly. If it were me, I would've found a rope and hanged myself long ago. How could I have the face to show myself in public?"
"Her son is already so grown up, yet her hands and feet are still unclean."
Jiang Zihao was furious. "What kind of talk is that? She's Father's wife. Why can't she use the money?"
"Are you saying that even I, as his son, can't use Father's money, and only you two daughters-in-law can?"
"Are you implying that you two are closer to Father than I, his own son?"
The two sisters-in-law turned pale upon hearing this. How dare this reckless fool say such things!
"Don't you dare spread rumors!"
Jiang Zihao could tell they were also afraid of gossip.
He had discovered their weakness.
Fearing he might say something even more unpleasant, the two Jiang Family sisters-in-law turned and left without looking back.
Second Sister-in-law Jiang glanced at the two lying on the beds before walking out as well.
Seeing them leave, Jiang Zihao was about to speak when Yang Yiyang raised a finger to her lips. "Shh!"
She then pointed toward the door.
Jiang Zihao immediately understood—she was afraid they might be eavesdropping outside.
He muttered to himself, "I wonder if Mom and my wife will wake up today. What if they don't? The doctor is asking for payment again."
"But where am I supposed to get the money? I'm starving. I haven't eaten a thing since yesterday."
"What if we can't pay and they stop the medication? I'll go outside and take a look."
He slowly walked out and indeed heard the hurried, chaotic sound of footsteps retreating down the corridor.
Now, all three of them understood perfectly.
Jiang Zihao opened the door and peeked outside. "They're really gone this time."
When he returned, he saw his mother again with tears streaming down her face, not daring to make a sound as she cried. It pained him to see her like this.
Yang Yiyang saw it too, but she said nothing. She thought to herself, "It's good that she can cry. Better than holding it in and making herself sick."
"Hurry up and buy me something to eat. I want meat buns or noodles with meat. If you don't go soon, who are you trying to starve to death?"
Jiang Zihao was just thinking about how to comfort his mother when he heard his wife's complaint. Fine! He had no choice but to obediently go buy food. If he went too late and it sold out, all three of them would have to wait until noon to eat.
Jiang Zihao had been gone for quite a while when Mother Jiang finally stopped crying after a while. She whispered very softly, "I'm sorry."
Yang Yiyang heard it clearly.
"You haven't wronged anyone. Also, don't cry so much from now on. I don't like it."
"You are our mother. You're not even afraid of death, so why can't you summon the courage you faced death with to protect us?"
Crying is the weakest form of expression—something she learned very early in her previous life.
She herself had fallen into this destitute place with nothing, yet she hadn't cried. What did Mother Jiang have to cry about?
Upon hearing this, Mother Jiang didn't even dare to cry anymore. She kept repeating her daughter-in-law's words in her mind.
"She wasn't afraid of death—she was thinking of using her own death to buy a chance for her son and daughter-in-law to survive."
"Right, but if she dies, will the Jiang Family really let her son go?"
She herself wasn't sure either.
After thinking for a long time, she still couldn't come to a conclusion.
"What should I do?"
Yang Yiyang was utterly baffled—truly beyond belief. A mother, shouldn't she be strong for her child's sake?
Why was she asking her, a daughter-in-law who had just entered the family and died within a day?
Alright, she could only continue with the brainwashing.
"Just remember, you did nothing wrong. You didn't steal the money—you only took what was rightfully yours. That money had your share in it."
"You may not have worked a job for the Jiang Family, but raising their children and doing household chores counts as work too."
"If they insist on calculating everything so precisely, then have them calculate your wages."
"Let's not ask for much—just 10 yuan a month. That's 120 yuan a year."
"In 20 years, that would be 2,400 yuan. You only took 1,000, so they still owe you 1,400 yuan."
"Besides serving their whole family, you even had to sleep with the old man. And they didn't pay you for that? You only took 1,000 yuan—you actually lost out big time. Understand?"
Mother Jiang blushed at the mention of sleeping with the old man. How could anyone say such shameful things?
"And as for your food and drink over the years—didn't your hard work as their servant earn you at least a meal? Even laborers working for landlords get fed!"
"Even Capitalists don't exploit people this badly."
"As for your son, you don't need to worry about him. He's the Jiang Family's own flesh and blood, carrying their surname and continuing the Old Jiang Family line."
"It's only right and lawful for him to eat the Jiang Family's food. How can they just turn their backs after taking advantage?"
"If they can't afford to raise a child, they shouldn't sleep around or spread their seed! If they can't control what's between their legs, how can they push all the responsibility onto the woman and child?"
Mother Jiang wished she could bury her head completely under the covers.
Jiang Zihao, listening at the door, felt too embarrassed to come in. His ears turned red, but he thought everything his wife said made perfect sense.
Why hadn't he thought of it that way before? He had even believed his mother was in the wrong for taking the money.
Now, after hearing his wife's words, he realized it was the old man who was at fault.
"First, tell yourself a hundred times: I did nothing wrong. I didn't steal the money—I took what was mine."
Yang Yiyang wanted to explain that this was psychological conditioning—to let her implant the suggestion in her own mind first.
That way, no matter what anyone said, she could stand her ground confidently. It was better than living in constant fear.
Honestly, those who knew her would say she was a mother-in-law, a mother. Those who didn't might think she was her own daughter-in-law.
Did she have it easy, ending up in this godforsaken place?
She had sighed hundreds of times—only to die before spending all her money.
Now, she was still alive but had already run out of money.
And she was even saddled with two big burdens to raise. She really wanted to die all over again.
Jiang Zihao, no longer hearing her speak, composed himself and pushed the door open.
He had bought two meat buns, three mixed-grain steamed buns, and a bowl of plain congee.
The bowl was borrowed from someone else.
The hospital cafeteria had said, "This is the last time we're lending it. Next time, you'll have to buy your own lunchbox."
"Mom, breakfast is ready."
Yang Yiyang, starving by now, sat up as soon as she smelled the food.
She grabbed a bun and stuffed it into her mouth.
Taking a big bite, "Wow, it's so fragrant, so blissful."
Her mouth was still full of grease.
Seeing her eat so heartily, Jiang Zihao couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
He dared not glance at his wife again, afraid he might lose control and snatch it from her.
Only after eating did Yang Yiyang belatedly realize that her cheap husband was eating coarse grain buns.
"Are there no meat buns left for sale?"
Jiang Zihao lowered his head and took another bite of the bun. "There are, but we don't have the coupons."
Yang Yiyang then remembered that in this era, everything required coupons. Having money alone wasn't enough—you needed coupons too.
Alright then! Play dead.