The Sixth Aunt was very pleased to hear this, and immediately showed off to Lady Chen. "This dress is my eldest daughter-in-law bought for me on my birthday. It's Su Embroidery, top-quality goods that ordinary families can't even buy."
"You've never seen such high-quality goods, have you? You wouldn't earn it in a year." Lady Chen's gaze lightly floated over the pattern of the Sixth Aunt's clothes.
Su Embroidery? At most, it just looks alike. This quality can only be considered passable. Lady Chen pretended as if she had never seen it before and said to the Sixth Aunt, "Aunt, you're blessed, wearing this dress even makes you look sprightly. But I think Aunt might have lost some weight recently. The hem looks a bit too long, if you don't mind, I could help you sew a few stitches."
The Sixth Aunt thought Lady Chen wanted to do business, so she pulled her sleeve and said, "Well, forget it. I think it's quite good, not long at all."
Lady Chen seemed to see through the Sixth Aunt's thoughts and grabbed her arm. "Look at what Aunt said. It's just a small matter. I'll just cut it with scissors and sew the edges around, and it'll be done."
"Can you do a rolled hem? Like the ones you can flip over on the edges of clothes? I see the ladies in the city have their clothes like that, they look so pretty."
"Give me the scissors, the thread, and needle, it'll be done in no time."
"Alright, but you said it, you won't charge me."
...
A while later, Lady Chen stumbled out of Sixth Aunt Tang's house, hugging a pair of shoes in her arms, staggering home as if in a daze. Her eyes were blank and vacant, her body trembling as she walked, seeming to forcibly suppress something within.
She walked woodenly, the words the Sixth Aunt had said echoing in her mind. "Yu Zhen, don't blame Aunt for being talkative, but your sister-in-law and mother-in-law have already talked to people in the village. They said if anyone dares to buy your family's shoes or associate with you, they'll be in trouble."
This can't be true, it just can't be. She rushed out, almost without a moment's pause.
Lady Chen couldn't believe these were words from her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Since meeting her husband and marrying into the Tang Family, her husband had always told her to be filial, to listen to the elders, and not to go against their wishes.
But now, why are they treating her entire family this way? They've already compromised. Her husband's pension was almost entirely given to them, and they didn't ask for any money during the family separation. Why force people into such a corner?
She couldn't understand, her mind buzzing in confusion.
...
Tang Wanwan was anxiously waiting at home for her mother, and upon hearing the familiar footsteps outside, seeing the familiar hem of clothes, she ran up joyously. She called out, "Mother!" But as soon as they met, before they could speak, Lady Chen suddenly fainted backwards.
Her fall was so sudden that, fortunately, Tang Wanwan was quick enough to catch her, but because of the unsteady center of gravity, both of them ended up falling to the ground together.
"Ouch...!" Tang Wanwan accidentally hit her back on something hard on the ground, causing her to gasp in pain.
Her cry of pain startled the two younger ones in the house, who quickly came out to see.
"Big Sister!"
"Mother!"
"Quick, help Big Sister up." The younger two, with the help of Tang Wanwan, pulled at the hands, tugged at the legs, and helped get Lady Chen inside the house.
Tang Wanwan took a while to regain her composure, twisting her sprained waist and calming herself, but the area still hurt and pained with every breath as she walked.
When it rains, it pours!
Pinching her philtrum, pouring some water into her mouth, using crossed hands to rhythmically press against her chest, and patting her back, Tang Wanwan applied all the emergency knowledge she knew. After a while, Lady Chen finally woke up slowly, but her face was as white as gold paper.
Tang Xiao Yi and Tang Xiaorou, young as they were, were scared stiff seeing their mother like this, standing silently by Tang Wanwan's side. "Big Sister, I'm scared."
"Mother, are you okay? You look so scary." Children can't lie; they say what's on their minds.
Seeing that she was awake now, facing three anxious faces, thinking of the uncertain future, feeling utterly powerless, she just wanted to end it all. "A Wan, why did you save me, why didn't you let me go see your father."
"Mother, don't talk like that, we'll all be okay."
"What on earth happened to you? I saw you go out after getting up this morning. Did you go deliver the shoes, and they didn't want them?"
"Is it my grandma and them causing trouble again? Apart from them, no one in this village has any grudge against us." Inside Tang Wanwan lived a mature soul, able to see through the interpersonal schemes and games clearly.
The shoes mother made were ordered by people from the village or neighboring villages. They were well-made and affordable, thus gaining some fame. If it weren't for Granny Zhang always withholding their silver, their family, with the original owner and mother earning money, would at least live better than they do now.
Todays Lady Chen had been out for so long, came back in a faint from anger, and hadn't sold any shoes—it was evident she had suffered a great grievance. It seemed clear upon thinking.
Lady Chen slowly propped herself up to sit, and Tang Xiao Yi and Tang Xiaorou leaned against her for comfort now that she was awake. Lady Chen held them both in her arms before tears fell silently. After a long while, she said, "A Wan, no matter what, Mother won't watch you starve to death. Just wait till I catch my breath; I'll go argue with them. They can't bully people like this."
"Mother, there's no need to say or think about anything; just wait for me." With that, Tang Wanwan stormed out of the door, leaving with a hint of wrath. She had never looked like this before.