Chapter 53: The Lin Family Arrives (Part 2)

From childhood until now, how many clothes have my mother and my grandfather’s family mailed over? And you all—every time, you’d pick through them first, and after picking, sometimes you’d even step all over the clothes. All the kids in your Huang family, both paternal and maternal sides, have always worn my hand-me-downs. Did I ever complain to anyone? I didn’t. I never thought it was worth arguing with you. I could wear patched clothes, as long as you didn’t go too far.

When I started junior high, my mother scrimped and saved from her monthly wages to buy me a watch. But it ended up on your eldest brother’s wrist, and the clothes on your back. How did you mock me then? Did I ever tell anyone outside? I didn’t.

Your eldest brother got his job because your mother used my mother’s name. The factory only hired him because they were taking care of a martyr’s family. Did I ever say the martyr was my father and object? No, I didn’t.

A year later, when your second brother got married, the bride price was sent over by my mother every month. The watch your second brother’s wife wore was sent to me by my second uncle. The military coats and uniforms your sisters-in-law wore were sent to me by my two aunts. Did I ever tell anyone about this?

When your youngest brother got a spot in high school, it was your mother who went and claimed my mother had also asked her to put in a good word. Did I ever say your mother was deceiving everyone?

All your dowry—the “three rounds and one sound”—was sent to me by my grandfather’s family. The cashmere coat you wear was sent to me by my mother. The watch on your wrist was sent to me by my mother. The new cotton-padded jacket and pants your son wears were handmade by my mother. The woolen sweater and pants on your son were also hand-knitted by my mother. All these were sent by my mother to her grandson.

Where do you get the nerve to say your mother raised me? Your parents were harsh to me. You siblings ganged up to bully me, yet you used my mother’s, my grandfather’s, my aunts’, and my little aunt’s things. Where is your conscience?

After I got pregnant, my mother, grandfather, two aunts, and little aunt sent 28 packages in just eight months this year. I haven’t seen a single thread of it.

No wonder people say you all live off my blood, supporting your five families—your main branch, your two sisters-in-law’s families, your maternal Huang family, and your husband’s Wang family. Where do you get the face to take my grandfather’s things? Where do you get the nerve to take everything my mother worked so hard to send?

You took all that, and did I ever tell outsiders? But how could you even take my son’s things—dressing your child in my son’s new clothes, and you, wearing the cashmere coat my mother sent me, come to my face to humiliate and mock me? And now you even come to my door, forcing me to admit your family never took what wasn’t yours, forcing me—barely three days after giving birth—to curse you out at my own door. Where do you get the nerve, the confidence to be so arrogant?

My family scrimped and saved, afraid I’d suffer while pregnant, scraping together my cousins’ shares to send to me. Where do you get the shameless confidence to take military mail? Who gave your father the nerve to claim my military mail?

Military mail is for soldiers. Did your father not know about secrecy? When my grandfather’s family finds out, I’ll see if the county jail is big enough for all five of your families. Such nerve. My father was a martyr, my mother a soldier, both fighting on the front lines for New China, for socialism, and you all just take my property as if it’s your right. Who gave you the nerve?

Do you think you can do whatever you want, take anyone’s military mail? Who gave you the courage to ignore military law, to disregard national law and the secrecy of military mail?

And then there are the rumors in the county that your grandfather can stomp his foot in Beijing and the whole city will shake. Who told you to say that? How did my own grandfather become yours? Your family steals things and now wants to steal my relatives too, even slandering my grandfather’s patriotism. My grandfather followed the Chairman in Beijing—when was he ever so powerful? Or is it your Huang family’s grandfather who’s so amazing, spreading wild rumors? Zhou Xue, tell me, whose idea was this?

After you got married, you dared to say your grandfather would bring your whole family to Beijing, that you didn’t care for this backwater, that this land couldn’t hold you. But this land has fed the whole village, and it’s fed you too. Why don’t you just fly to the sky?

Whose grandfather can stomp his foot in Beijing and make the city shake? What does that mean? Are you trying to stir up talk of restoring the monarchy? The whole country is fighting imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism. Finally, the people are in charge, and you’re here scheming to revive feudalism and monarchy—what’s your intention, to be counter-revolutionary?

My own grandfather—my mother’s father—three generations of children all joined the army, sacrificed his eldest son for New China, my eldest uncle became a martyr, and now his eldest grandson, my eldest cousin, is already in the Northwest, guarding the border, ready to fight at any time. All the Lin family descendants are fighting on the front lines, in the most dangerous places.

My grandfather—my real grandfather—grew up an orphan, followed the Chairman from a young age, joined the revolution, survived countless near-deaths, all to drive out the invaders and bring peace to the world, shedding blood and tears with the other old revolutionaries and martyrs. Is this what you use him for?

My grandmother—my real grandmother—joined the revolution when she was young, worked herself sick, and now often has to go to the hospital alone, with all her children at the front.

Zhou Xue, what exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to cause trouble?

Do your parents know the things you’re saying? Does your grandfather in the Huang family know? Does your husband’s Wang family know?”

By the end, Zhou Jiao was almost shouting through tears. When she finished, she quickly squeezed Zhang Guoqing’s hand, signaling him to help her leave. As they walked through the crowd, everyone automatically stepped back a few paces, many still stunned and dazed.

From afar, Zhou Jiao saw Old Master Zhou, his face ashen, his whole body trembling. She grew anxious—he mustn’t faint. If he did, what would that make her?

Zhou Jiao hurriedly pulled Zhang Guoqing over to Old Master Zhou, knelt down, and knocked her head three times to the ground, her voice full of sorrow: “Grandpa, I’ve failed your upbringing, but the whole county is abuzz with rumors Zhou Xue has spread. I can’t let down my grandfather. With all these rumors and lies, who can guarantee the Zhou and Lin families’ loyalty will remain unquestioned over time? You’re an old revolutionary, a true patriot. Our Zhou family—Great-Grandpa died for the revolution, sacrificing himself to protect comrades on the front, and the whole family, nearly a hundred people, were slaughtered by the enemy, from the oldest to the youngest. My father became a martyr at a young age. Now, in New China, under the Chairman’s leadership, who dares act like this? Please, Grandpa, see for yourself—who’s been feeding Zhou Xue such terrible ideas?” She squeezed Zhang Guoqing’s hand again, and he quickly pulled her up. Zhou Jiao collapsed against him, clutching his hand. She traced a line on his palm, worried he’d misunderstand and think she wanted him to wait. Luckily, this time he understood and picked her up. She closed her eyes, hearing only applause all around—she’d passed the test.

Zhang Guoqing said to Old Master Zhou, “Grandpa, come inside and sit for a while. Jiao Jiao just gave birth two days ago and is still very weak. I’ll take her back first.”

With that, Zhang Guoqing quickly carried Zhou Jiao back to the courtyard, followed by the whole family. He whispered to her, “Jiao Jiao, they really all came.”

Zhou Jiao grew anxious and immediately opened her eyes, whispering, “Someone needs to guard the door. If they come, don’t let that troublemaker in.”

Zhang Guoqing glanced at his two brothers, who were still dazed, and told his father, “Dad, tell my brothers who’s probably coming. Get ready—don’t let any strangers in.”

As they neared the west wing, Zhou Jiao quickly tried to get down, pushing Zhang Guoqing, “Go out and wrap things up. Don’t overthink it—just act normal.”

She saw her second sister-in-law pacing, unsure whether to come in or go out. “Second Sister-in-law, come in and sit. Don’t be afraid—everything will be fine from now on.”

“Jiao Jiao, weren’t you scared? There were so many people, and you spoke so well—I was stunned. When you fainted, I was so scared I followed you in.” Lin Juhua patted her chest in relief.

“It’s fine. Second Sister-in-law, if the people in military uniforms today are from my grandfather’s family, don’t be scared. Here’s a way to win favor with your mother-in-law—go help our mother come in, and let the men handle things outside.” Zhou Jiao smiled.

“Then I’ll go out. Will you be okay alone?”

“I’ll be fine, really. I was just putting on a show earlier, otherwise I couldn’t have gotten away.”"