By the time it was noon and time for a meal, Wang Cuihua had returned.
Wang Cuihua, who had never been particularly diligent in her chores, had gotten up, eaten breakfast, and immediately headed out to the fields. She could no longer stand Mother Shen and would rather toil in the fields than wait on her at home. At this moment, Wang Cuihua felt a shred of understanding for Jiang Tang, and perhaps even a hint of admiration. She hadn't even done as much work as Jiang Tang used to, yet she was already at her limit, gasping for breath. There were so many tasks, big and small, and she was only one person with two hands; how was she supposed to handle it all?
As soon as she stepped through the door, Wang Cuihua felt a chill wash over her. Mother Shen was glaring at her, her expression dark, tapping her cane against the floor. It wasn't just a tap; it was a reprimand. She looked over to see Shen Shan sitting by the table, also staring at her with evident displeasure.
"Wang Cuihua, so you actually know how to find your way back," Mother Shen said with a sinister edge.
Wang Cuihua offered a conciliatory smile. "Mother, you are my mother-in-law. This is my home; where else would I go?" Then, hoping to steer Mother Shen away from criticism, she quickly changed the subject. "Xiaoyuan, you made this meal? It’s really quite good."
Mother Shen had eaten more salt than she had eaten rice; she saw right through Wang Cuihua’s little schemes.
"You still know this is your home? I am your mother-in-law. I have worked myself to the bone for this family day and night, and now that I’m ill and need someone to care for me, where did you run off to? Is your heart black? I’m here, sick and bedridden, and you just wash your hands of everything. If I can’t move one day, who am I supposed to rely on?"
She turned her gaze. "Eldest, put your hand on your heart and tell me: how has Mother treated you? How have I treated your family? You keep talking about filial piety—is this your idea of it? If outsiders heard of this, they’d laugh until their teeth fell out."
Wang Cuihua didn’t know where to put her hands or feet. Seeing Shen Shan sitting there with a stony face, his lips pulled into a flat, hard line, she felt a sinking sensation in her gut. She had grievances of her own, but nowhere to voice them.
"Mother, you really are wronging me. I went out to work," Wang Cuihua said, pointing to the hoe she had just set down. "I wasn't being lazy; I was working. I told Xiaoyuan to take care of you before I left." She glared at Xiaoyuan. "You dead girl, did you not take proper care of your grandmother?"
Watching her mother’s fierce expression, Xiaoyuan stood silent, letting her mother poke at her arm. She knew that if she argued, it would only make Wang Cuihua angrier.
"Hah," Mother Shen sneered. "Try telling that to a child; you won't fool me. You talk a big game, but let’s see some action. You’ve only been caring for me for a few days—is that already too much for you?" She pressed on, "When you were in confinement after giving birth, did I not wait on you?"
Wang Cuihua fell silent. When she was in confinement, she hadn't been half as difficult as Mother Shen, and she hadn't dared to utter a word of complaint. She had even managed to care for the children without causing Mother Shen any trouble. She truly didn't know how the old woman could even say such a thing. She looked at Shen Shan, hoping he would speak up for her. Surely he knew the frustration she was feeling.
Mother Shen also looked at Shen Shan. With both of them now focused on him, Shen Shan didn't spare Wang Cuihua a single glance.
"Mother, Cuihua is in the wrong here. A daughter-in-law should wait on her mother-in-law; it has been that way from ancient times until now. Besides, you have worried yourself sick for our sake. I will absolutely not let you go uncared for."
Shen Shan’s words were impeccable, and Mother Shen found them very soothing. She hadn't raised this son in vain.
Wang Cuihua’s eyes went wide. What was he saying? Had she not sacrificed for this family, too? She had been married to him for so many years, serving his entire household—if she hadn't earned any credit, she at least deserved some sympathy. How could he not even ask her what happened, instead jumping straight to blaming her?
Mother Shen nodded with satisfaction. "Eldest, you’re a good man. You see that my legs aren't working well now—what do you think we should do?"
Shen Shan looked at Wang Cuihua. "From now on, you stay home and take good care of Mother. You don't need to worry about the work in the fields anymore."
"I..." Wang Cuihua began. She wanted to resist, but one look from Shen Shan forced her to murmur weakly, "I understand."
Mother Shen cast a glance at Wang Cuihua and smiled at Shen Guofu. "Good grandson, hurry up and eat."
Shen Guofu pouted. "Grandma, this food is terrible. There isn't even any meat. I want meat." He hadn't had meat in days, and the food was nowhere near as good as what his little aunt used to make. He suddenly found himself missing his little aunt’s cooking. "Grandma, that wom..." Shen Guofu hesitated, then corrected himself, "When is Little Aunt coming back?"
Before Mother Shen could speak, Wang Cuihua set down her chopsticks. "What did you call her?"
Wang Cuihua had always been gentle and easygoing in front of him, but the look in her eyes now frightened Shen Guofu. "She is dead," Wang Cuihua said viciously. She had truly underestimated Jiang Tang; since when did her own son start calling her "Little Aunt"?
Mother Shen’s face darkened. "You are becoming more and more childish, arguing with a kid like that." She turned back. "Guofu, be good. If you want meat, Grandma will buy it for you."
At the mention of this, Mother Shen remembered that it was almost time for Shen Chuan to send money home. Her legs made it impossible for her to get to the post office to pick up the letter. "Eldest, run to the post office tomorrow. Collect the money Shen Chuan sent home, and then go buy some meat for my good grandson."
Shen Guofu shouted, "I want candy, too!"
"All right," Mother Shen replied. "I'll buy you some."
As soon as Wang Cuihua heard Mother Shen mention the money, she began to regret her outburst. How could she have forgotten about that? Shen Chuan sent back a significant amount of money every month, and Mother Shen kept it all firmly in her grasp. It was either used for Shen Guofu or for Shen Shan. Of course, she would give Wang Cuihua a little bit—very little, but it was still real money.
Wang Cuihua’s eyes darted around, and she forced a smile. "Mother, this dish is good for your health. You should eat more."
Mother Shen ate the food Wang Cuihua had placed in her bowl. Her intention had been to keep Wang Cuihua in check, to keep her on her toes. Mother Shen didn't want the house to be a mess; she allowed Wang Cuihua her little schemes, because a person without any ambition was just a fool. But those schemes had to stay within the bounds she permitted.
Everyone grew old eventually, and the only person Mother Shen could truly rely on was her son, Shen Shan. Shen Chuan was away all year round, and because Mother Shen had nearly bled to death giving birth to him, she had always favored Shen Shan more. She was counting on Shen Shan to support her in her old age. As long as he remained loyal to her, she was willing to turn a blind eye to some of Wang Cuihua’s foolishness.