Qiao Zhengping thought to himself, I don’t know why they’re acting like this either.
He also ran out after them.
Zheng Xin continued to cry and shout as she ran, constantly explaining, “We can’t go on like this! My husband and I hand over our entire salaries to his parents every month, but they won’t let our family of four eat!”
“We’re not allowed to eat today, and we won’t be allowed to eat tomorrow either! They want the four of us to starve to death!”
“Even landlords weren’t this cruel. This is murder for money! We can’t go on living like this.”
More and more people came out to watch the commotion.
“Old Qiao’s family, this is going too far. Your eldest son is your own flesh and blood, isn’t he? How can you two be so heartless as to starve them to death?”
Someone who had quarreled with Grandma Qiao before chimed in, eager to stir up trouble.
“Yes, parents like this are truly unkind. They should be dragged out for public criticism.”
Grandma Qiao also shouted back, “What do any of you know? Why don’t you ask what this little bitch did? She dared to flip over the dining table I worked so hard to prepare!”
“Who in their right mind would waste food like that?”
At this, the crowd turned their attention back to Zheng Xin.
“That’s not right of you. How could you waste food like that? No wonder you got beaten.”
Zheng Xin cried even harder. “My in-laws have often forbidden us from eating before, leaving all four of us hungry. We adults can manage, but look at my children—they’re older than the second son’s kids, but compared to them, anyone with eyes can see the difference.”
She glanced around subtly to gauge the crowd’s reaction. “They have nothing to wear, nothing to eat. They’re already suffering from malnutrition!”
“Tonight, my in-laws said we’re not allowed to eat again, and they even said we won’t be allowed to eat tomorrow either. They want to starve us for days! My heart is breaking! They’re trying to starve our family of four to death!”
Grandma Qiao yelled, “You shameless wretch! How dare you slander your in-laws? May you die a miserable death!”
Zheng Xin cried even more bitterly, and her two children also wailed, “We’re so hungry! Grandpa and Grandma won’t let us eat. We’re going to starve to death!”
The crowd’s sympathy shifted once again.
Seeing that even more people had gathered, Zheng Xin continued, “Why should we work ourselves to the bone and still not be allowed to eat? Why should our children starve? If that’s the case, let the whole family die together. If we’re not allowed to eat, then no one in this family should eat!”
Her two children were clever and knew how to win sympathy. “Grandpa and Grandma only let Second Uncle’s children eat. They only make new clothes for Second Aunt’s children.”
The crowd’s eyes darted around, and without comparison, they might not have noticed. But now, it was impossible to miss.
Father Jiang knew that if he didn’t step in now, the Qiao family would be ruined.
He could see that the eldest son’s family was staging this scene with a clear goal in mind.
His face darkened as he stepped forward. “Eldest daughter-in-law, you have quite the temper. You’ve upset your mother-in-law, and all she did was scold you a little?”
Seeing that her father-in-law was trying to downplay the situation with a few words, Zheng Xin refused to let it go. “Father Jiang, search your conscience. Didn’t I ask you several times tonight if we were forbidden from eating? And didn’t you say yes? If I didn’t know better, I’d think the eldest son wasn’t your own, but some bastard child Mother bore that you despise so much!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd’s eyes shifted between Old Qiao and Qiao Zhengping, trying to see if Qiao Zhengping might not be Old Qiao’s biological son.
Father Jiang’s face grew even darker. “What nonsense are you spouting? The eldest son is my own flesh and blood, Qiao Jianping’s son.”
Damn it, even if it wasn’t the right time, he had to say it was. Besides, Qiao Zhengping was his own flesh and blood.
“Just tell me what you really want to do?”
Zheng Xin cried, “Zhengping is your child, so why can’t you treat everyone fairly? Why does this family only make the four of us, young and old, work like oxen?”
At this moment, Qiao Zhengping felt utterly humiliated and wanted to pull his wife back inside. Family matters should be settled behind closed doors at home.
“Wife…”
Zheng Xin shook off his hand. “Look at you—you hand over your entire salary every month without keeping a single cent, while the second branch only pays half, and they don’t even eat half as well as we do.”
Old Qiao finally realized that his eldest daughter-in-law was making this scene just to pay less money.
Grandma Qiao, hearing this, refused to agree. “I run this household, and what I say goes. If you dare disobey, you’re unfilial.”
What she meant was: if you want money, you might as well wish for death. Asking to pay less is like asking for her life.
Zheng Xin also understood that if she didn’t get a result today, there wouldn’t be another chance.
She wailed loudly, “Qiao Zhengping, are you sure you’re really a son of the Qiao family? Why does the second branch only pay half their salary?
We have to pay everything and still go hungry? Why? Aren’t you a son of the Qiao family?
Heavens, open your eyes and see this!”
Seeing her mother-in-law about to rush over and hit her again, she ran while shouting,
“Qiao Zhengping, say something! You useless coward, what’s the point of marrying you?
Your Qiao family is a den of wolves. I’m going to find the Women’s Federation, I’m going to ask the Street Office.”
Qiao Zhengping crouched on the ground in agony, holding his head. Why was everyone forcing him like this?
His life was already so hard—why wouldn’t anyone leave him alone?
Old Qiao saw that letting this continue would only make things worse. Judging by his eldest daughter-in-law’s determination, she was dead set on causing a scene to the bitter end.
If they didn’t agree today, who knew where she’d take this tomorrow?
Some onlookers couldn’t stand it anymore and advised,
“Old Qiao, you don’t have just one son. Don’t break their hearts completely, or you’ll still need them to support you in your old age.”
This situation really was mishandled by the old woman.
“Eldest daughter-in-law, stop making a scene. We didn’t think it through before. From now on, you can pay the same as the second branch.”
Grandma Qiao, hearing this, protested, “Husband, I don’t agree. Why should they keep half for themselves?”
Zheng Xin said, “Because we earned this money through blood and sweat. Because if the second branch gets it, the first branch should too. If you don’t agree, then let’s split the family.”
The word “split” silenced the entire crowd. Everyone lived together as one family—no one dared mention splitting up.
Some thought, the Qiao family’s daughter-in-law was really bold.
Grandma Qiao’s eyes turned red with anger. This wretched woman was too vicious—she just wanted to tear the Qiao family apart. Her third son wasn’t even married yet—how could they split the family?
“If you want to split the family, you’ll have to wait until I’m dead. If you keep making trouble, I’ll hang myself right at your door.”
Zheng Xin also lost her temper. She remembered what Yang Yiyang had said: if she’s ruthless, you have to be even more ruthless. Those with nothing to lose fear nothing.
Yes, she had nothing left to lose—what was there to fear? If things continued like this, death was the only way out.
“Then let’s die together. Death will bring relief. If our family of four has no way to live, then let’s set a fire and all die together. Our four lives for yours—it’s not a bad trade.”
After speaking, she began forcefully pulling Grandma Qiao. "Come on, let's go back and hang ourselves together, let's die together. Whoever doesn't hang themselves is a coward."
Grandma Qiao had only wanted to scare the couple, never intending to actually die.
Now she was frightened, afraid that her crazy daughter-in-law might accidentally drag her to death.
"Father Jiang, Father Jiang?"
Father Jiang shouted loudly, "Enough, all of you stop arguing. Isn't this embarrassing? It's settled—each family will hand over half their wages."
Just as Grandma Qiao was about to disagree, Zheng Xin pulled her, making it clear that if she didn't agree, they would die together right then and there.