Chapter 690: Chapter 595: A Firm Refusal

After a long silence, Grandpa cleared his throat twice and began to speak. He started with some pleasantries, as usual. But to the surprise of Xiao Man, Grandma, and Fifth Auntie, Grandpa wasn’t indecisive this time. Instead, he flatly and decisively rejected the request from Liang Xiaoju and the other girls:

"It’s a good thing that you want to study and better yourselves. Your grand-uncle verbally supports this and approves of it. However, I cannot grant your request. That is to say, whether it’s for tuition or anything else, your grand-uncle can’t help you with a single penny! As for the reasons, first, I’m old. I have limited energy and ability. I look busy every day, but I don’t actually accomplish much. If you were to calculate my ’salary,’ it would only be enough for your grand-aunt and me to get by. Second, the pillar of this family is your cousin-uncle, Jiabao. The herb plantation was funded by a bank loan taken out in Jiabao’s name. Whether or not we can repay the bank loan, whether we end up poor or rich, it’s all Jiabao’s responsibility. If he can’t repay the loan, he’ll have to go to jail. And if he becomes rich? Well, that’s what he deserves. ’Fortune is found in peril,’ as they say. Meat pies don’t just fall from the sky. Jiabao and his wife also have a whole brood of kids to feed, clothe, and educate. And when your grand-aunt and I can no longer get around, they’ll have to support us... So, as you can see, your grand-uncle has neither the authority nor the ability to suddenly spend a large sum of money for your education. You should just go home. Have a good talk with your parents. Perhaps they can find another way."

Liang Yanliu and the two girls who came out of the kitchen all looked awkward, their expressions souring, but they said nothing more.

Liang Xiaoju, however, was unwilling to give up. She raised her hands and rubbed her eyes hard until they were red as a rabbit’s. With two streams of tears flowing down her face, she continued to shake Grandpa’s arm and wailed:

"Grandpa, don’t worry about them, just take care of me! That’s all I ask! Back then, my grandma gave me to you and Grand-aunt! For all these years, I’ve carried that title. Everyone says I’m your granddaughter. At home, whenever my parents give anything to my brothers and sisters, I never get a share. They just say that since I’m your granddaughter, it’s not their responsibility... I know you have granddaughters like Xiao Man, Xinghua, and Qiuyan now. You treasure them, dote on them, and even paid for them to have a bright future. I’m grown up now, so I should be sensible. I won’t compete with them. Just help me with this one thing, and I’ll be content! Grand-uncle, you watched me grow up. Can you really bear to see me spend my whole life toiling in the fields, living a life of such bitter hardship? I could endure a hard life, but right now I belong nowhere! My parents say you should take care of me, but you don’t want me and won’t provide for me either. My only choice is to go jump in the river and die! Grand-uncle, I’m still young! I don’t want to die! You have to give me a way to live! AHHHHHH!"

The more Liang Xiaoju spoke, the more agitated she became, seemingly moved by her own performance. Tears and snot streamed down her face as she plopped right onto the floor, wailing and flailing as if someone were actually forcing her to her death.

Xiao Man was speechless. She was so disgusted by Liang Xiaoju that she couldn’t even bring herself to crack another melon seed.

Fifth Auntie was seething. She shot up from her seat, ready to march over and teach Liang Xiaoju a lesson, but Grandma reached out and stopped her, then stood up herself. Xiao Man understood Grandma’s intention. She and Qiuyan flanked Grandma, supporting her as she walked over to Grandpa’s side. The three generations of women stared coldly at Liang Xiaoju, who was a sobbing, incoherent mess on the floor.

But Liang Xiaoju was thick-skinned and, it seemed, ready to go all out this time. She deliberately avoided looking at Grandma and Xiao Man, simply covering her face with her hands as she continued to sob pitifully.

Grandma glanced at Eldest Liang and Liang the Second. They were Liang Xiaoju’s uncles, yet as their niece caused such a scene in someone else’s home, they hadn’t said a single word. Their expressions were placid. ’It’s impossible to know what they’re really thinking,’ she thought.

Grandma snorted. Ignoring Liang Xiaoju, she addressed her husband’s sister, Granny Mo, directly: "Back when you brought Liang Xiaoju and Liang Yonggan over, Amu and I told you loud and clear: We have Xiao Man, and we don’t want anyone else! Xiao Man’s household registration is under our name. There’s black-and-white proof at the village committee that she is in our custody. If you claim Xiaoju is also our responsibility, what proof do you have? Where is her household registration? If you dare say again that Liang Xiaoju is our granddaughter, I’ll go to the higher-ups and demand a full investigation! Never mind that I don’t lack for grandchildren; even if I did, I wouldn’t want one from your family! I told you this years ago, don’t you remember? Amu, out of consideration for you as his only living sister, has always wanted to treat you well, no matter how despicable or annoying you are. But how have you ever repaid him? He treats you like his own sister, but do you treat him like your own brother? You have sons and grandsons, and so does he. Are your children and grandchildren treasures who must have this and that, while his are just a pile of weeds that don’t need to eat or drink? It’s bad enough that you constantly come here to leech off him, but you even indulge your granddaughter’s behavior. Do you have any conscience? I’ll tell you the truth: I have never welcomed you or your children and grandchildren here. I just wanted peace in the family, so I turned a blind eye and let Amu maintain relations with you, just to avoid fighting with him. But after today, I can’t stand it anymore! If you want Amu to continue acknowledging you as a relative, then you’d better take these troublesome granddaughters of yours and get out of my house, right now! And in the future, if you don’t feel like coming, then don’t! My home is not a charity, nor are we some rich landlords. If you want to sponge off the wealthy, go find someone else!"

In the early years, Grandma had been looked down upon by her sister-in-law, Granny Mo. She was constantly being cursed at or lectured. Grandma’s gentle temperament meant she would never argue with her husband’s elder sister. It was only in recent years, as the family’s fortunes prospered and with Jiabao’s return, that the other Granny Mo had no choice but to put on a smiling face. And Grandma, for her part, had remained as she always had been—lukewarm, never returning the harsh words.

This sudden outburst, which sounded very much like she was cutting off all ties, completely stunned the other Granny Mo. Her mouth hung open, and for a moment she was speechless. Even Liang Xiaoju’s wails from the floor subsided a little.

Nearby, Liang Panqiu and the two Liang family daughters-in-law grew anxious, especially when they saw Grandpa Mo’s face darken. After Granny Mo finished speaking, he walked over to her side. He reached out to pat Qiuyan’s head, but his eyes were fixed on his wife, obviously afraid that she was truly angry.

Liang Panqiu quickly shoved her two sisters-in-law, gesturing for them to grab Liang Xiaoju and drag her outside. She then forced a smile and walked up to Grandpa Mo and Granny Mo to offer placating words and apologies.

The grand-aunt, Granny Mo, watched as her two daughters-in-law dragged the desperately struggling Liang Xiaoju out the door. She finally seemed to recover from the shock, shot a complicated look at her sister-in-law, and yelled at Grandpa Mo, "Brother, what’s gotten into Granny Xinghua? Has she gone mad? How could she say such brainless things? Just look..."

Grandpa Mo waved his hand dismissively at his sister. He sighed, his voice full of weariness and disappointment. "What Granny Xinghua said is what I meant. I’m tired. I had a couple of extra drinks just now, and I need to go rest. The road is dark at night. You all should head home early."

Dapeng squeezed through from the back and took hold of Grandpa’s arm. "Come on, Grandpa. I’ll take you to bed!"

A smile finally broke across Grandpa’s face. He chuckled, putting an arm around Dapeng’s small shoulders as they headed for the stairs.

Seeing this, Liang Panqiu grew even more anxious. ’If Uncle goes upstairs and lies down, who knows when he’ll get up again? I haven’t even mentioned borrowing money yet. And now Liang Xiaoju has thrown the hall into chaos, provoking Auntie into saying all those harsh things. It’s obviously not a good night to stay over—besides, how could so many of us even stay? I can’t let this end with their whole family hating us. It wouldn’t be worth it if they really cut us off.’

Liang Panqiu yanked on the back of the grand-aunt’s collar. Shaken from her stupor, the elder Granny Mo hurried after him. "Brother! Brother, wait! I still have something to discuss with you!"

Liang Panqiu pretended to help her mother as she hurried to follow, secretly delighted. ’Once we’re upstairs without any interruptions, I’m sure we’ll succeed!’

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