Chapter 253 - 253: Outsiders Can’t Understand
However, Aunt Yang had no one to rely on, only enduring the bullying in silence.
Aunt Yang’s only hope now was for her daughter, who had moved away, to come back and visit. But as the years passed, she had lost most of that hope. If her daughter chose not to return, so be it.
The story had a profound impact on Gu Zi. Despite living two lifetimes, she was still amazed.
Yet, Gu Zi believed that Aunt Yang’s suffering didn’t solely come from her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Wang, but from her useless son, Yang Tao, who liked to shirk responsibility.
Gu Zi empathized with Aunt Yang but understood that everyone had their fate, and she could only sympathize. She couldn’t rescue Aunt Yang from her misery because she was helpless in that regard.
After all, Aunt Yang had raised her son, Yang Tao, and had willingly entered this difficult situation herself. She still held hope for her son’s change, and if she didn’t help herself, no one else could.
But, in all honesty, how many mothers in the world could truly hold a grudge against their own sons? Especially someone like Aunt Yang, who was giving and eager to please, it was even more unlikely.
In Aunt Yang’s house, Mrs. Wang stormed in and left her son aside, overturning several bamboo baskets in the room in a fit of anger.
She pointed at Aunt Yang, who had just finished washing clothes, and scolded, “You walk around all day, and these things aren’t even aired out yet? You’re such an old nuisance! Can’t go a day without annoying people!”
Aunt Yang was always reserved at home and didn’t say anything. She bent down to pick up the overturned baskets and the scattered dried radishes.
Her grandson, Yuan Yuan, also went to help Aunt Yang pick up, but because he was young, he liked talking to adults. He said, “Don’t cry, Grandma. Yuan Yuan will help you pick them up.”
Aunt Yang had shed all her tears over the past few years due to being bullied, so there were none left to cry. She took the dried radishes outside to dry in the sun and returned to speak to Mrs. Wang, saying, “Just say what’s on your mind, don’t always be like this.”
Mrs. Wang’s anger had subsided somewhat, and she recounted what had happened at the market earlier. She softened her tone a bit and asked Aunt Yang to request some pastries from Gu Zi.
She said, “I didn’t mean to take my anger out on you. I’ve been telling you to give me the red envelope you got from Gu Zi, but you keep it hidden away. Look at you, you don’t even know when you might develop dementia. If you had given it to me earlier, I wouldn’t have been scolded today. That Gu Zi is also infuriating. Go and ask her for some pastries, it would be enough for Yuan
Yuan.”
Aunt Yang stood still and said, “I can’t give you the red envelope. I don’t have much money myself. And as for the pastries, Gu Zi has no reason to give them to you for free, nor should she give them to me.”
Mrs. Wang’s expression changed again. Her eyes turned sinister, and she said, “You eat and drink at home, constantly falling sick and needing medication, all on my money. You can’t afford to say much. If you don’t bring back the pastries today, don’t bother coming back for lunch!”
Aunt Yang didn’t really have dementia. Mrs. Wang never used the money she earned herself. She only used the money that Yang Tao gave her before she left.
But Aunt Yang didn’t say more. She did have some money on her now, which she could use to buy some pastries from Gu Zi and settle the matter.
Aunt Yang understood her daughter-in-law’s intentions. Since she refused to give her the red envelope, she would have to find a way to spend the money herself. She pretended to be willing to ask Gu Zi for the pastries, but in reality, she knew she would buy them directly.
At the market, Gu Zi had already sold out of her two large steamers of pastries. She was pushing her cart back home when she spotted Aunt Yang waiting at the Su family’s doorstep.
Aunt Yang saw Gu Zi and said, “It’s nothing major, I just wanted to ask if you have a pound of pastries left, do you?”
Aunt Yang looked visibly nervous as she observed Gu Zi’s small cart.
Originally, she had intended to go to the market herself but had run into Mrs. Li, who had informed her that Gu Zi was already closing up her stall.
Knowing that she wouldn’t make it to the market in time, Aunt Yang had decided to wait near the Su family’s home, hoping to buy any leftover pastries from Gu Zi.
However, when she saw that both of Gu Zi’s large steamers were empty, she guessed that they had already been sold out..