Chapter 54 - 44: Jiao Jiao’s Outburst (2)

Ever since I was little, my mom and grandpa’s family have mailed over countless clothes. And you, you pick first, and after you choose, sometimes you even step on them. Your Huang family’s kids always wear mine. Have I ever mentioned it to anyone? I haven’t. I didn’t think there was any need to fuss with you; I could wear patched-up clothes as long as you didn’t go too far. When I was in the first year of middle school, my mom, saving and scrimping with the leftover salary each month, bought me a watch, which ended up on your big brother’s wrist, and the clothes you laughed at me in were bought for me. Did I ever tell anyone? Your big brother got a job because your mom falsely claimed to be my mom. The unit took care of him as a martyr’s family, recruiting him into the factory. Did I ever state the martyr was my dad and disagreed? A year later, the bride price your second brother used to get married was wired over by my mom each month. Your second brother’s partner’s watch was a gift for me from my second uncle. The military coats and uniforms your eldest and second sister-in-law wore were sent over for me by my two aunts. Did I ever mention it outside? Your little brother’s spot in high school was obtained by your mom running over and saying my mom backed her up. Did I ever say your mom deceived society? Your dowry consisted of three turntables and a ring, all sent for me by my grandfather’s family. The cashmere coat you wear was mailed to me by my mom. The watch you wear was sent to me by my mom. The new cotton clothes and pants your son wears were handmade by my mom, and the sweater and knit pants were handwoven by her. These were all sent by my mom for her grandson. Where do you get off saying your mom raised me? Your parents were harsh with me, you siblings ganged up to bully me, yet you made use of my mom’s, my grandpa’s, my aunts’, my little aunt’s belongings. Where’s your conscience? When I was pregnant, my mom, my grandpa, my two aunts, and my little aunt mailed 28 parcels altogether in just eight months, and I didn’t even see a single hair of them. No wonder people say I sustain the life of five families with my own blood: your family, your two sisters-in-law’s families, your maternal Huang’s family, and your husband’s Wang family. Where do you get such audacity, taking possession of things from my grandpa’s family? Where do you get the guts to occupy the things my mom worked so hard to send? After using them, did I ever tell outsiders? But how come you can’t even leave my son’s things alone and wear his brand-new cotton clothes and pants, sweater, and knit pants? And you insult me to my face wearing the cashmere coat my mom sent, laughing at me. Now you’re even forcing your way in, making me acknowledge that your entire household hasn’t taken things from others. How dare you storm in just three days after I’ve given birth, cursing! Where do you get your nerve and audacity? These few families scrimp and save, afraid that I’d suffer grievances whilst pregnant, cobbling together all my cousins’ shares to mail to me, and yet you so shamelessly rely on military mail deliveries. Who gave your dad the gall to take my military mail? Military mail is for military personnel to send, but does your dad just know about not leaking secrets? Once my grandpa’s family learns of these things, let’s see if the county prison has enough space to hold you five families. You sure have the nerve. My dad was a martyr, my mom is a soldier, working on the frontlines for New China, for new socialism, yet you think it’s naturally right to take my assets. Who gave you that courage? Can you make the state’s decision to take someone’s military mail at will? Who gave you such audacity to disregard national military law, disregard national laws, and ignore the confidentiality of military mail? There’s also talk in the county that your grandpa, with a stomp in Beijing, can shake the city thrice. Who told you to say that? How did my biological grandpa become your grandpa? Your family has taken not only things but also wants to claim my relatives and insult my grandpa’s patriotism. My grandpa in Beijing, following the chairman, when did he become so formidable? Or is it that your maternal Huang grandpa is the boastful one, fabricating and spreading rumors. Zhou Xue, whose idea was this? After getting married, you dared to claim your grandpa would take your whole family to Beijing because you despise this little corner. How is it that this land can’t hold you? This land has nurtured the villagers and you too. How dare you? Whose grandpa can stomp in Beijing, shaking the city three times over? What does this imply? Is it a bid for monarchic restoration? Now the whole nation is toppling imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism. After hardship, people can finally decide for themselves; the people are the masters. Yet you, so painstakingly, fuel feudalism and monarchical rhetoric. What’s your intention? Do you plan a counter-revolution? My biological grandpa, my mom’s dad, three generations, all joined the army. He sacrificed his eldest son for New China; my eldest uncle became a martyr. Now his first grandson, my eldest cousin, is early on guarding the borders, ready to fight in the Northwest. The Lin family descendants are all fighting on the front and dangerous lines. My grandpa, my biological grandpa, grew up an orphan, joining the revolution in his youth following the Chairman, escaping death multiple times, all to drive out the invaders, to bring peace to the world, shedding blood and tears with those old revolutionary forerunners. Yet has he been used by people like you? My grandma, my biological grandma, joined the revolutionary ranks when she was young, working so hard that her health suffers now, often going to the hospital alone while her children all stay at the frontline. Zhou Xue, what exactly do you intend to do? Are you trying to stir trouble? Your statements, do your parents know? Does your Huang family grandpa know? Does your husband’s Wang family know?" Zhou Jiao, nearly tearful, shouted those words at the end, then quickly squeezed Zhang Guoqing’s hand, having him support her as she walked through the crowd. Everyone automatically stepped back a few paces; many still hadn’t awakened and were just staring dumbfounded. From a distance, Zhou Jiao saw Old Sir Zhou, his face ashen, his whole body trembling. She was worried, hoping he wouldn’t faint, because then, what would she have become? Zhou Jiao swiftly pulled Zhang Guoqing with her and when she reached Old Sir Zhou, she knelt and knocked three times heavily, speaking with tragic resolve, "Grandpa, I’ve failed your teachings, but the entire county is stormed with rumors, all spreading the opinions Zhou Xue circulated. I can’t let my grandpa down. Now with widespread opinions spreading rumors, in time, who can guarantee the sincerity of the Old Zhou and Lin families? You were also a revolutionary with a patriotic heart. Our Old Zhou family, my great-grandfather died for the revolution, drawing the invaders to wipe out our entire family to protect the frontline comrades. Nearly a hundred family members from elderly to babies perished under the invaders’ bayonets. My father was just a young man when he became a martyr. Now in New China, in this new socialist society led by Chairman, who would dare act this way? Please, grandpa, take a look, who’s feeding Zhou Xue such terrifying thoughts." After speaking, she squeezed Zhang Guoqing’s hand again. Zhang Guoqing hurriedly helped Zhou Jiao up, and Zhou Jiao slumped into his arms, holding his hand. She drew a line on his palm, worried that if she drew another, this fool might ask her to wait. Fortunately, this time, he knew to pick her up. She closed her eyes, and all she heard was a burst of applause. She passed this trial. Zhang Guoqing told Old Sir Zhou, "Grandpa, you should also come in and sit for a bit. Jiao Jiao just gave birth to Ping’an two days ago, she’s really weak. Let me take her back first." After saying this, Zhang Guoqing carried Zhou Jiao rapidly back to the courtyard from the main entrance, followed by the whole family. He whispered to Zhou Jiao, "Jiao Jiao, they really all came." Zhou Jiao got anxious, immediately opening her eyes, whispering quickly, "There should be someone at the door, they’ve arrived, and don’t let that troublemaker in." Zhang Guoqing glanced at his two brothers who seemed at a loss, then told Mr. Zhang, "Dad, tell my two brothers to guess who came and prepare first. Don’t let strangers in." As they approached the west wing, Zhou Jiao quickly wanted to get down, pushing Zhang Guoqing, "Go finish things up, don’t think too much, just stay calm." Turning to see her second sister-in-law pacing about unsure of whether to come in or leave, "Second Sister-in-law, come in, don’t be scared, there won’t be any trouble in the future." "Jiao Jiao, aren’t you scared with so many people and all the darkness? You spoke so well, I was so relieved," she said quickly, breathing a sigh of relief. "It’s fine, Second Sister-in-law. If it comes to it, those in military uniforms today will handle it. You go ahead out, I can handle it by myself."