Chapter 48

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"Isn't seeing a doctor and taking medicine free?"

Auntie Da Yifu muttered unhappily: "Not being able to have children isn't just my problem; his sperm is weak, both of them need to take medicine, and just the medicine costs a lot. They can't save much money all year..."

"Then stop drinking."

Aunt Da frowned tightly: "Rather than spending that wasted money, you might as well just adopt one."

"Why adopt?"

Auntie Da Yifu was unwilling: "The doctor said there's still hope."

"You've been married six years; if there were hope, you'd have had a child by now."

Aunt Da had been holding a grudge, and her words weren't pleasant.

"I just don't want to adopt!"

Auntie Da Yifu most hated others saying she couldn't bear children; her temper flared, and her voice rose an octave.

"Alright, neither of you say another word."

Grandma saw the two of them snapping at each other and about to start arguing; her expression darkened, and she slammed the table hard.

Auntie Da Yifu and Aunt Da both trembled and meekly closed their mouths.

"Xiaomei, Xiulan, you two listen well..."

Grandma glared at her eldest daughter, then glanced at her second daughter, who was keeping her head down in thought, and issued the command as head of the family: "Mom decides this matter. Both families: one pays 10,000, and the remaining 19,000 will be paid by your younger brother."

"10,000?"

Aunt Da said incredulously: "Mom, you're not serious, are you? Do I look like someone with 10,000 yuan? My husband and I earn just that little bit each month, supporting two children's schooling, and we can't save a penny. We've barely managed to get them graduated, and now we need to save for our son's marriage..."

"I don't have that much money either."

Lin Xiyu's mother, Chen Xiulan, also spoke with a worried face: "Mom, you know my monthly salary. Xu Yi's father works at the water plant, where business is poor and his pay is even lower than mine. We spend our money separately, each raising our own daughter, and only Xiao Yi's expenses are shared."

"Xiyu lives with you, and I pay 100 yuan a month for her living expenses. After deducting Xiao Yi's share, I calculate what's left each month, and there's almost nothing. I'll be honest with you: I only have 2,000 yuan on hand right now, not a cent more..."

"You are the elder sister."

Grandma's face grew darker the more she listened, unable to contain her anger, and she slammed the table again: "The elder sister should support the younger brother. If not now, then when? You don't need to feel wronged; buy a house, and I'll live with your younger brother in the future. When I'm old and can't move, I won't need you to serve me."

"Mom, don't be angry."

Da Yifu, seeing the atmosphere was off, smiled and tried to smooth things over: "Xiaomei isn't unwilling to help; it's just that 10,000 yuan isn't a small sum, and we can't come up with it right away. Don't rush, old lady; give us some time to think of a way."

"What way is there to think of?"

Aunt Da felt wronged in her heart and didn't dare talk back to her mother, so she took her anger out on Da Yifu: "Your family has six siblings, all expecting you to support them. Not borrowing money from us is already good enough; do you think you can squeeze money out of them?"

"My family is poor."

Da Yifu was shouted at by his wife and felt a bit embarrassed; he stopped smiling: "I didn't mean to borrow from my family either..."

"Then where do you want to borrow from?"

Aunt Da was still unhappy: "Are you thinking of selling us three women?"

"What are you talking about?"

Grandma couldn't stand her making a scene and got even angrier: "Saying things like that, do you want to anger me to death?"

"Mom, don't push us."

Aunt Da threw caution to the wind: "If you keep pushing us, we can't borrow that much money anyway. Rather than letting your two daughters become estranged from you, you might as well sell the bed."