Now, regardless of whether her eldest sister-in-law wants to make the Wang family bleed, for her own benefit, she should ask for more.
“My eldest sister-in-law needs rest. Does she need my mom to take care of her? Or should she be discharged back to the Wang family?”
Wang Zhigang hurriedly said, “She married into your Zeng family, so naturally she’s one of you. If she comes back for postpartum care, others will gossip.”
“Well, if my mom is to care for her, she needs to restore her health, and that costs money.” Zeng Shuyi said, “Next is compensation for my eldest sister-in-law. She can’t have children anymore. For a woman, do you know how big a price that is?”
She could choose not to have children, but not lose the ability because of others.
Wang Zhigang’s anger flared immediately.
He ordered his youngest son to bring out the thermos bottles and bedding.
Zeng Shuyi told her brother to take the bedding. “Exactly what we need.”
She looked at the Wang couple again. “All these years, my eldest sister-in-law gave you ten yuan every month as filial respect. That’s her duty as a daughter, and I don’t oppose that. But she was so good to you, and now because of you and the Ming family, she can’t have children. Who knows what aftereffects remain? Uncle Wang, Aunt Wang, you must have gotten quite a compensation from the Ming family, right?”
Wang Zhigang, who had been smiling when he came in, now wasn’t.
Zeng Shuyi could tell he was quite pleased with the Ming family’s compensation.
Wang Zhigang said no. “The Ming family only paid for Xiao Juan’s medical bills, plus ten yuan for nutritional supplements. Don’t worry, we feel sorry for Xiao Juan. I’ll add another forty yuan, fifty total for her care. She’s our daughter; we care for her too.”
“Not likely.” Zeng Shuyi said, looking at her brother. “Go to the Ming family and ask how much they really gave the Wangs.”
“Eh, no need.” Wang Zhigang got anxious. “We cut ties with them; visiting again wouldn’t be good. Shuyi, don’t you trust us?”
Zeng Shuyi nodded seriously. “Of course not. Are you trustworthy people?”
Wang Zhigang: … That girl, such a pain in the neck.
Zeng Xiangmin ran off, promising to return quickly.
Zeng Shuyi looked at Wang Zhigang. “Uncle Wang, Xiangmin’s already gone to the Ming family. Just tell me the truth. No need to make things uglier.”
At that moment, Wang Weiguo charged out, pointing at Zeng Shuyi. “Our business with the Ming family is none of your damn business! Zeng Shuyi, you opportunist, get out!”
“Fine, then I’ll leave.” Zeng Shuyi stood, but was stopped by Tian Xiaohua.
“Weiguo, don’t say that!” Tian Xiaohua tried to pull her son back. “Isn’t your married family messy enough? Shuyi, don’t listen to him. Let’s talk inside.”
These past days, so much happened at home that neighbors watched the drama.
If it got out that they caused their daughter to become infertile, who’d want to marry into the Wang family?
Zeng Shuyi said, “We can talk inside, but if I hear that nonsense again, don’t blame me if I take a megaphone to your workplace. I have no job, so I don’t care about face or shame.”
She sat down again. “Over the years, my eldest sister-in-law took a lot from your family. Adding it all up, it’s at least fifteen hundred yuan, maybe two thousand.”
Tian Xiaohua denied, “How could it be that much?”
“Fine, if you say no, then no.” But Zeng Shuyi had calculated: ten yuan monthly living expenses, gifts during holidays, money for Wang brothers’ work and school—all paid by Wang Juan.
Now, whether or not her eldest sister-in-law wants to make the Wang family pay, she should ask for more for her own benefit. “My eldest sister-in-law needs rest. Does she need my mom to take care of her, or should she be discharged back to the Wang family?”
Wang Zhigang hurried to say, “She married into your Zeng family, so naturally she’s one of you. If she comes back for postpartum care, others will gossip.”
“Well, if my mom is to care for her, that costs money.” Zeng Shuyi said, “Next is compensation for my eldest sister-in-law.
She can’t have children anymore.
For a woman, you know what a heavy price that is.”
She could choose not to have children, but not lose that ability because of others.
Wang Zhigang’s anger flared.
He ordered his youngest son to bring out the thermos bottles and bedding.
Zeng Shuyi told her brother to take the bedding, “Just what we need.”
She looked at the Wang couple again. “All these years, my eldest sister-in-law gave you ten yuan every month as filial respect. That’s her duty as a daughter, and I don’t oppose that. But she was so good to you, and now because of you and the Ming family, she can’t have children. Who knows what aftereffects remain? Uncle Wang, Aunt Wang, you must have gotten quite a compensation from the Ming family, right?”
Wang Zhigang, who had been smiling, now was not.
Zeng Shuyi saw he was pleased with the Ming family’s compensation.
Wang Zhigang said no. “The Ming family only paid for Xiao Juan’s medical bills, plus ten yuan for nutritional supplements. We’ll add another forty, fifty total for her care. She’s our daughter; we care about her.”
“Not likely.” Zeng Shuyi said, “Go ask the Ming family clearly how much they gave.”
“Eh, no need.” Wang Zhigang panicked. “We cut ties with them; it’s not good to visit. Shuyi, don’t you trust us?”
Zeng Shuyi nodded. “Of course not.”
Wang Zhigang: … That girl, so annoying.
Zeng Xiangmin ran off, promising to return quickly.
Zeng Shuyi looked at Wang Zhigang. “Uncle Wang, Xiangmin’s gone to the Ming family. You might as well be honest.”
At that moment, Wang Weiguo charged out, pointing at Zeng Shuyi. “Our business with the Ming family is none of your business! Zeng Shuyi, you opportunist, get out!”
“Fine, I’ll leave.” Zeng Shuyi stood but was stopped by Tian Xiaohua.
“Weiguo, stop!” Tian Xiaohua tried to pull her son back. “Isn’t your married family messy enough? Shuyi, don’t listen. Let’s talk inside.”
The neighbors watched all this like a soap opera.
If word got out the Wang family caused their daughter’s infertility, who would marry in?
Zeng Shuyi said, “We can talk inside, but if I hear that again, don’t blame me if I take a megaphone to your workplace. I have no job, so I don’t care about face.”
She sat again. “Over the years, my eldest sister-in-law took a lot from your family. Adding it all up, at least fifteen hundred yuan, maybe two thousand.”
Tian Xiaohua denied. “That much? No way.”
“Fine, if you say no, then no.” But Zeng Shuyi had done the math.
Now, regardless of whether her eldest sister-in-law wants to squeeze the Wang family, for her own good, she should ask for more. “She needs rest. Should my mom care for her or should she go back to the Wang family?”
Wang Zhigang quickly said, “She married into your family, so she’s one of you. If she comes back for postpartum care, people will gossip.”
“Well, if my mom cares for her, that costs money.” Zeng Shuyi said. “Next is compensation for her. She can’t have children. You know what a heavy price that is for a woman.”
She can choose not to have children, but not lose that right because of others.
Wang Zhigang got angry.
He told his youngest son to bring the thermos bottles and bedding.
Zeng Shuyi told her brother to take the bedding. “Just what we need.”
She looked at the Wang couple again. “She gave you ten yuan a month as filial support. That’s her duty. But now, because of you and the Ming family, she can’t have children. What will happen to her? Uncle Wang, Aunt Wang, you must have gotten compensation from the Ming family, right?”
Wang Zhigang, no longer smiling, answered no. “The Ming family paid medical fees and ten yuan for supplements. We will add forty yuan, fifty in total, for her care. She’s our daughter; we care about her.”
“Not likely.” Zeng Shuyi said. “Go ask the Ming family how much they gave.”
“Eh, no.” Wang Zhigang panicked. “We cut ties. Shuyi, don’t you trust us?”
Zeng Shuyi nodded. “No.”
Wang Zhigang: … That girl’s mouth…
Zeng Xiangmin ran off, promising to return quickly.
Zeng Shuyi looked at Wang Zhigang. “Xiangmin’s gone to Ming family. Just be honest.”
At that moment, Wang Weiguo charged out, pointing at Zeng Shuyi. “Our business is none of your business! Get out!”
“Fine.” Zeng Shuyi stood but was stopped.
“Weiguo, stop!” Tian Xiaohua tried to pull him back. “Isn’t your married family messy enough? Let’s talk inside.”
Neighbors watched the drama unfold, curious about the trouble.
Zeng Shuyi said, “I’ll talk tomorrow. But I can say one thing — Wang family men? Tsk tsk, no good!”
The crowd grew even more curious, but Zeng Shuyi deliberately kept them guessing.
If she revealed everything, and the Wang family refused to pay, they’d lose out big time.
She wanted the money, and by causing this scene, the curious ones would find out on their own.
Wang Zhigang went home looking defeated.
Hearing his son threaten to die, he flew into a rage and slapped him.
“I’m not trying to die, why do you say that?”
Wang Weiguo was stunned, not reacting for a while.
Tian Xiaohua was shocked, “Why hit the child?”
“Don’t defend him. It’s all that little idiot’s fault. Couldn’t find anyone good, had to pick a crazy woman, now I don’t dare meet anyone. Did you know Zeng Shuyi went to the factory today?”
Mentioning Zeng Shuyi made Wang Zhigang grit his teeth in hatred.
“That damn girl made big posters and shouted at the factory gate all morning. I couldn’t even raise my head at work!”
“How could this happen?” Tian Xiaohua said, “She only talked a bit. What is she trying to do?”
“Trying to squeeze money, capitalist through and through!” Wang Zhigang took deep breaths but couldn’t calm down. Then he looked at his son. “I tell you, the engagement with the Ming family is off. Don’t even think about it. If you keep acting like this, I’ll tie you up and throw you out.”
Wang Weiguo burst into tears. “I… I feel so bad inside. Don’t I even have the right to complain?”
“Why cry? You’re a man. Being dumped isn’t the end of the world. Show some backbone!” Wang Zhigang scolded him harshly, mouth dry.
Tian Xiaohua frowned, “Looks like Zeng Shuyi’s really gone all out. No wonder Zeng Qingliang wanted her to speak for them. She really dares. But nine hundred yuan is way too much!”
“Who says not? That damn girl is so annoying!” After cursing Zeng Shuyi, Wang Zhigang suddenly thought of his daughter in the hospital. “How’s Xiao Juan? Did you go see her today?”
Tian Xiaohua said no. “I watched Weiguo all day. How could I go?”
“What about Weibing?”
Tian Xiaohua didn’t know.
“You’re really something. You can’t go yourself, but you send Weibing? Whatever. Tomorrow, go see her. We have to start with Xiao Juan; she’s family. If she steps up, maybe Zeng Qingliang and his wife will ease up.”
Wang Zhigang just said this, thinking the compensation would go to the daughter and maybe they could get some back later.
Anyway, they had to visit the daughter first.
Tian Xiaohua nodded.
Actually, she also hoped that after Zeng family paid the daughter, they might get some money back.
Otherwise, the whole matter would never be resolved.
They couldn’t have Zeng Shuyi causing scenes at the factory every day; the whole family would lose face.
Meanwhile, Wang Juan in the hospital was wide awake.
She’d waited all day, but not a single person from her natal family came, only her mother-in-law by her side.
From the mother-in-law, she learned her father had gone to work.
Went to work?
Thinking of her husband’s cold expression when he came that evening, Wang Juan felt terrified.
He must be very disappointed in her.
In the darkness, Wang Juan silently cried but dared not make a sound.
In the end, the only one caring for her was her usually indifferent mother-in-law.
She suddenly realized she had done some wrong things before.
She shouldn’t have ended up like this.
Her mind was in chaos, and she couldn’t sleep all night.
The next day at noon, she finally waited for her parents to come to the hospital — but she no longer had such high hopes.