6
If You Dare to Steal, I Dare to Sue
Chen Hongzhen and Granny Li, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo, were so furious they could have devoured someone alive.
How dare he even think of spending so much money on medical treatment and then expect to stay at home with everyone helping out with the work? What wishful thinking was that?
Old Mr. Li, who had been silent on the side, glanced at his wife and whispered, “Maybe we shouldn’t go through with the separation after all. The child is in trouble now; if they stay at home, we can still lend a hand.”
Granny Li shot her husband a fierce glare: “Separate, and do it right now.”
“If you can’t bear to part with them, then move out with them.”
She turned a cold face to Li Xiuran: “You’re never home, and all the money you sent back was used to build this house. There’s only twenty yuan left in the household. I’ll give you five yuan, and you can take your wife and children and move out.”
Hearing this, everyone looked at Granny Li, feeling she was being a bit too harsh.
Li Xiuran had been sending money home for ten years, and in the end, he was only given five yuan—this was truly bullying.
Seventh Uncle’s eyes were frosty as he said in a deep voice, “Xiuran joined the army ten years ago, and it’s exactly ten years this year. He sent money back every single month. You yourself said this house was built with his money, and now you’re driving him out? Who gave you the nerve to make such a decision?”
Seeing Seventh Uncle’s anger, Granny Li paled in fear. She was genuinely terrified of this Seventh Uncle, who had fought on the battlefield and killed Japanese soldiers. She always felt he was brimming with a murderous aura, and when he wore a cold expression, it was as if he were about to kill someone.
But today’s separation concerned the future of her other children, and she absolutely could not back down.
“Seventh Uncle, I have no choice. I have many children, so the expenses are naturally high,” Granny Li said, pointing at Li Xiuran. “I did use his money to build the house, but I helped him marry a wife, and I’ve been supporting his wife and children all these years. Doesn’t raising three people cost money?”
“Besides, since Third Son joined the army, he’s rarely come back. It’s the other children who have been taking care of me and their father all these years. So, Third Son contributed money, and the other children contributed effort. Even if I gave Third Son nothing today, no one could accuse me of mistreating my child.”
Without even glancing at Seventh Uncle’s flushed, angry face, she threw caution to the wind and declared, “I’ll make it clear today: if you want to separate, take the five yuan and leave with your wife and children. And from now on, you must give your father and me twenty jin of Pension Grain and three yuan every month.”
Everyone felt Granny Li was going too far. Just as Seventh Uncle and the other elders were about to warn her not to push it, Gu Wenshu spoke up: “In that case, we won’t separate then.”
“My children are still young, and they were frightened this time. I’ll need to stay home to look after them for a long while. From now on, I’ll go to the fields to earn Work Points. The children’s father is in poor health and needs to see a doctor and take medicine, so he can’t work in the fields to earn Work Points either. We’ll have to rely on you, Father and Mother, and you, Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law, to support us.”
Li Xiuran glanced at Gu Wenshu and followed her lead: “If we’re not separating, then so be it. With more people around, we won’t have to struggle on our own.”
He turned to Old Mr. Li and Granny Li: “Father, Mother, I need to go to the town health center to see a doctor tomorrow. Please give me ten yuan first.”
“By the way, Mother and Sister-in-law pushed my wife today and injured the back of her head. Tomorrow I’ll take my wife to the town clinic for a check-up. This will also cost money, though I’m not sure how much yet. Why don’t you come with us tomorrow and bring the money, Mother, so you can pay on the spot.”
“That way you won’t have to worry about us cheating you out of your money.”
These words nearly made Granny Li spit blood.
She didn’t want to spend a single cent, let alone accompany them to pay medical fees – that was absolutely impossible.
“Split up, let’s split up right now.” She no longer cared what others thought of her; all she wanted was to drive this couple out. “This is all the money there is, take it or leave it.”
Sanbao, who was being held by Li Xiuran, looked at his father, then at Granny Li, before finally settling his gaze on Seventh Uncle. “Great Uncle Seventh, yesterday Uncle still took fifty yuan from Grandma, saying he wanted to go to the city to buy things for the girl he likes.”
“Grandma even asked Uncle if fifty yuan was enough, and said she’d give more if it wasn’t. Then Uncle took a hundred yuan from Grandma.”
Instantly, everyone present turned to look at Granny Li. She was only willing to give five yuan to send off her third son during the family division, yet she’d readily given a hundred yuan for her youngest son to squander in the city. This mother was clearly playing favorites.
Hearing Sanbao’s words, Granny Li glared at him and said viciously, “Sanbao, you’re so young but already lying through your teeth like your mother.”
“How could I possibly have that much money to give to my youngest? Lying about your own grandmother will send you straight to hell.”
“Shut up.”
“Mother, hold your tongue.”
Gu Wenshu and Li Xiuran spoke simultaneously, both looking at Granny Li. Gu Wenshu’s face was dark with anger – this old witch was truly malicious, daring to speak to Sanbao like that. She stood up and said coldly, “Saying such things proves you’re unworthy of being called the children’s grandmother. And those words of yours show there’s something wrong with your thinking.”
“I can report you at any time.”
“Just recently in the first brigade, someone with problematic thinking was caught and paraded through the streets.”
Seventh Uncle frowned slightly upon hearing this, not entirely approving of the third daughter-in-law using such matters to threaten her elder. But looking at Granny Li’s behavior, he felt that such an unreasonable, unkind elder indeed needed to be taught a lesson.
So he remained silent, calmly waiting for them to sort things out so he could draft the family division document.
With Seventh Uncle keeping quiet, the other elders didn’t speak up either.
Old Mr. Li sighed as he looked at Gu Wenshu. “Third daughter-in-law, you’re too impatient. Threatening your elders is a bad habit. If this gets out, and all the women in the brigade follow your example, wouldn’t every family be thrown into chaos?”
Gu Wenshu sneered. “Father, you certainly know how to pick your moments to speak. You said nothing when Mother tried to send our family of four away with five yuan. You said nothing when Mother cursed Sanbao. But now you jump out to criticize me. Anyone would think you’re deliberately using A Niang as a shield, only appearing to play the good guy when convenient.”
Her words made Old Mr. Li’s face turn ugly. He was so angry he wanted to curse at Gu Wenshu, but with so many people present, he ultimately gave up. He sighed and said, “I just don’t want you and Third Son to fall out with your mother. After all, we’re family – there shouldn’t be grudges that last overnight.”
Gu Wenshu sneered, “It’s you who don’t want to talk properly. Don’t tell me there’s only twenty yuan in this house—no one would believe such a statement.”
She stood up and placed Xiao Ni’er beside Li Xiuran. “Watch Xiao Ni’er.”
After saying this, she strode toward Granny Li’s room. Her movements were swift, and by the time Granny Li reacted and followed her in, Gu Wenshu had already emerged holding a box.
Granny Li tried to snatch it back, but Gu Wenshu was far more agile. No matter how loudly Granny Li protested, Gu Wenshu swiftly opened the box, revealing stacks of Great Unity banknotes and a savings passbook inside.
The sight left everyone present stunned, even the Li brothers stared fixedly at the box in Gu Wenshu’s hands.
Granny Li’s face turned ashen as she reached out to grab the box. Gu Wenshu snapped sharply, “If you dare try, I’ll go straight to the city’s Public Security Bureau and report Li Mingjiang.”