In the end, Yang Yiyang exchanged almost all of that ten yuan for supplies.
"Cloth, Double Happiness brand thermos, thermos liners, soap, towels, enamel cups, towels, Liberation shoes—she practically bought up all the defective goods at this Supply and Marketing Cooperative."
Everything was stuffed into the same worn-out burlap sack from yesterday.
After she left, the three salesclerks all regretted their momentary impulse.
"That little girl was so persuasive, her mouth just kept going on and on. How did we all end up listening to her?"
When she carried the huge burlap sack out, it gave Jiang Zihao quite a shock.
"All this, just for those few strips of cloth?"
Yang Yiyang kicked him. "Do you want to die? Those are silk scarves, not strips of cloth."
As the two approached the hospital, Yang Yiyang said, "Put the stuff down. I’ll find a place to hide it. You hurry back and see if anyone from your family has come to the hospital to cause trouble for your mom."
"Where are you going to hide it?"
Yang Yiyang shot him a glare. "I’m going to hide it where I got the goods. Can’t let you know."
Fine, Jiang Zihao said he understood.
"Don’t go back yet. If the Jiang Family sends more people, your mom will be bullied to death."
Jiang Zihao was genuinely afraid that other members of the Jiang Family would come to cause trouble for his mother again.
But he was also worried about his wife. This stuff wasn’t light, and she was still injured.
"Are you sure you don’t need my help carrying this? It’s pretty heavy."
Yang Yiyang wanted to kick him again. Just as she raised her foot, Jiang Zihao said, "Alright then, be careful. I’ll go back to the ward first to check."
After he walked away and there was no one around, Yang Yiyang stored everything in her space.
A worn-out burlap sack looked completely out of place in her otherwise sophisticated room, but circumstances forced her hand. What else could she do?
Aside from the things they’d use, she’d have Jiang Zihao exchange the rest for money later. That way, at least there’d be some income, not just living off their savings.
Once done, she slowly walked back to the hospital, but she was starving and had to eat first.
She went to the cafeteria and had a bowl of shredded pork noodles for herself, then bought two steamed buns and three mantou before heading back to the ward.
Before she even arrived, she could hear arguing.
Jiang Zihao’s voice: "Second Sister-in-law, my mom isn’t better yet. How can you force her to leave the hospital?"
Second Sister-in-law Jiang: "What do you mean she isn’t better? Go ask around. Who doesn’t go home to recover once there’s no major issue? What, you don’t earn money, so you don’t know how to care about it, is that it?"
"Mom, why are you so unreasonable? Look at you—you stole a thousand yuan from the family, and that’s not enough? Lying in this hospital every day, how much money are you burning through?"
Mother Jiang just cried.
And kept trying to convince herself: I didn’t steal the money. I had a share in that money too. I just took it—it’s not stealing.
Yang Yiyang stood at the entrance of the ward, watching Jiang Zihao and his second sister-in-law fighting over a worn-out bag containing the clothes Second Sister-in-law Jiang had packed for Mother Jiang.
It seemed that Second Sister-in-law Jiang, seeing they weren’t around, had tried to force Mother Jiang to check out of the hospital.
A case of acting first and reporting later.
She was watching with great interest when, unexpectedly, Second Sister-in-law Jiang noticed she had returned too.
Seeing that although Yang Yiyang’s head was wrapped in gauze, she clearly looked fine, and she was even holding mantou in her hand, Second Sister-in-law Jiang’s anger flared up again.
She thought to herself: What’s wrong with them? Could it be they’re planning to stay in the hospital now until they’ve used up all that 200 yuan before going home?
They're living it up here with good food and drink, all paid for with their hard-earned money. How shameless they are. "Sister-in-law, aren't you going to persuade them? It's not good to cause such a big conflict with the family right after you've just married in!"
The implication was that someone sensible should urge them to go home quickly and stop wasting money.
But was Yang Yiyang a sensible person?
"Second Sister-in-law, you saw it yourself. Mom and I also wanted to be discharged, but the doctor said we need to stay a few more days. Otherwise, if we leave just as we're starting to recover and something happens later, they won't take responsibility."
She put on a pitiful expression. "How about I listen to you, Second Sister-in-law? If I go back and feel unwell, you'll pay for my treatment, okay?"
Second Sister-in-law Jiang was no fool. This one clearly looked like a sickly person; she wouldn't get involved.
"You wish! Are you trying to latch onto our second branch?"
Yang Yiyang timidly whispered, "Didn't you tell me to leave the hospital? Then if I get sick later, I'll definitely have to come to you."
Second Sister-in-law Jiang immediately jumped up.
"Did I cause your injury? Why would you come to me? How can you pin this on me?"
"If Father hadn't asked me to come pick you up, do you think I'd be willing to come? You don't appreciate kindness."
Then she threatened, "If you don't go back now when someone's here to fetch you, don't blame me for not warning you when you want to return later but can't get through the door and get kicked out!"
In the past, the original trio would have been terrified at the thought of being driven out, scrambling to pack their bags and rush back to the Jiang Family.
But these two days, the mother and son had been brainwashed by Yang Yiyang. Though not completely, they no longer panicked upon hearing such words.
Seeing all three of them staring at her indifferently, Second Sister-in-law Jiang angrily threw down a harsh remark.
"If you don't go back now, when Father sends someone again, things won't be so easy."
"Hmph."
She turned and left.
Seeing her walk away, Yang Yiyang imitated Second Sister-in-law Jiang with a "Hmph," then wiggled her butt before placing the steamed buns on the table.
She climbed onto the bed and lay down.
The Jiang mother and son were left dumbfounded.
Yang Yiyang thought she needed another two or three days to recover. Once they returned to the Jiang Family, there would surely be a tough battle to fight.
Seeing that they had closed their eyes and didn't want to deal with them, Jiang Zihao took the steamed buns, gave one to Mother Jiang, and the two began eating.
Mother Jiang timidly said, "Maybe we should go back first?"
She was thinking about the cost of staying and eating. "Staying here one more day will cost a lot more money, won't it?"
Yang Yiyang said, "I still need to stay two more days. If you want to leave, go ahead."
"What will you do if you get beaten as soon as you return?"
Mother Jiang didn't know what to do either. Could she possibly fight her husband? Besides, she couldn't lay hands on a man.
Jiang Zihao thought that if his father hit them, he could only shield the two women and take a few more blows himself.
Yang Yiyang turned to her mother-in-law again. "Mom, if Father hits us, as a mother, you have to fight back fiercely. Whoever hits your child, you have to fight back like a wolf, fiercely and without regard for your life. That's called 'a mother's strength.'"
Mother Jiang's lips twitched. Would she dare to raise a hand against her own husband? Wouldn't she be beaten to death?
Yang Yiyang continued brainwashing her mother-in-law. "If you can't fight, use a knife, scissors, or anything you can find. Since you're not even afraid of death, you should take down anyone who harms your child before you die. That way, we'll be safe."
Then came another heavy blow, "If you don't finish them off, they'll beat your son to death. Do you want your child to die?"
The thought of her Zihao being beaten to death made Mother Jiang's heart ache unbearably.
"No, no one can lay a hand on my son. If anyone dares to hit him, I'll fight them to the death."
Jiang Zihao watched as his mother was stirred into a killing fury with just a few words from her.
He wondered, is this wife of mine really a good one?
Why did he feel a chill running down his spine already?
Would she one day give him a surprise in the middle of the night too!