Translator: CKtalon Editor: CKtalon
Chen Daming became angry as well as he ignored her. “Fine, go ahead and leave!” Then he took wide strides towards Yang Hua’s house.
Their quarrel immediately attracted countless stares. People in the village ran out to look, and when they saw that it was Chen Daming and Wang Yunfeng who were quarreling, they rushed over to mediate. The men urged Chen Daming to apologize, while the women urged Wang Yunfeng to calm down.
“Wang Yunfeng, look at the two of you. Why are you quarreling? Your days are good. We are so envious of you.”
“That’s right. You are like a phoenix that soared out of this village. Who doesn’t know your husband is capable. He earns tens of thousands a month.”
Wang Yunfeng immediately burned with fury when she heard that. “Who said that!?”
“Third Chen, your uncle.”
“As expected! We earn a thousand, and he brags that we earn five or six thousand. We earn just ten thousand, and he says we earn tens of thousands. Even if he wants face, that’s not the way to do it, right? It’s no wonder everyone comes to us to borrow money. When we don’t lend it to them, they look as though we dug up their ancestors’ graves. So that’s the reason!”
Everyone turned silent when they heard that. Not only did they not manage to appease her, they had even fanned the flames.
“Wang Yunfeng, enough. Don’t say any further.” Chen Daming finally came over and tugged at Wang Yunfeng.
“Don’t say any further? Why not? Are you afraid of embarrassing yourself by saying it out loud? Chen Daming, I’m telling you I’ll still say it today! I can’t bear with this if I don’t say it! We have been married for two decades but let me ask you, what have these relatives of yours done for us? Borrow money! All they do is borrow money! Or ask for gift-returning! Gift-returning all the time! A thousand here, three hundred or two hundred over there. And it increases with the years! They seek us for every trivial matter. Everything requires our help. If we don’t help them, it’s like we owe them something. Why? Did I owe your family in my previous life? Can’t I just improve my own life with the money I earn? Why must I improve your entire family clan or the entire village’s life?”
Chen Daming said in a deep voice, “What are you saying?”
“What do you mean by that? Did I say something wrong? Should I take out the IOUs and call them out by name?” yelled Wang Yunfeng.
This yell made many people lower their heads in shame.
At this moment, Wang Yougui arrived and saw Wang Yunfeng and Chen Daming quarreling. He too felt helpless for he really could not interject in such matters. He knew very well why Wang Yunfeng was angry. In fact, there was an increasing number of people who were angry over such matters. Wang Yunfeng was not the only one.
At this moment, Wang Yougui saw Fangzheng and immediately went over. He prodded Fangzheng and said, “Fangzheng, think of something. This can’t continue on the day of Yang Hua’s celebration. Besides, if this continues, it won’t be good for the both of them.”
Fangzheng smiled bitterly. “Patron, although This Penniless Monk understands the situation, This Penniless Monk really doesn’t know how to resolve it. It’s really quite a difficult matter.”
“Would I need you if it were easily resolved?” Wang Yougui rolled his eyes.
Meanwhile Wang Yunfeng and Chen Daming had started quarreling again.
“Are you done or not? Can’t we talk about this at home? Why must you do it here?” Chen Daming shouted furiously.
“Because that’s what I want to do! I want to let everyone know! If you can’t live on and require money in an emergency, I can lend it to you on account of our familial ties and out of humanitarianism! But if you want to buy a chicken to improve your meals, get lost! I’m not lending! Also, when your family has a newborn chick, duckling, puppy, or kitten, don’t invite us for gift-returning! I don’t want to do it!”
“Wang Yunfeng, they are all relatives. This is just about maintaining relations. Gifts come and go. It’s all the same. Don’t be angry. Think about it, when you are old, everyone can get together. How lively will that be.” Wang Yougui finally spoke up.
“Heh heh. Forget it. I’ll feel better not seeing them,” said Wang Yunfeng with a sneer.
“If there’s any sickness or disaster, everyone can take care of each other after all,” said someone.
Wang Yunfeng scoffed. “I have medical insurance. I have social and housing insurance, and I have children to take care of me. If they don’t torture me, I might still be able to live for a few more years. If this goes on, I feel like I’m going to have my soul interred.”
Wang Yunfeng’s words were extremely biting. It immediately left many people at a loss for words.
When Chen Daming saw Wang Yunfeng say such things, he truly blew his top. “Wang Yunfeng, you are too much! I hail from this village. Can’t I do some gift-returning? Besides, there’s giving and taking. When we hold a banquet, doesn’t everyone come too?”
“That’s right. All of them came. But apart from our child’s birth, when have we held another banquet? We don’t even hold one in years. You said that you were afraid of troubling everyone, but what about them? They have a small one every other day, a big one every half a month. Why? Are we the only idiots to not hold banquets who only know to give away our money? Chen Daming, you are a man who managed to gain success outside the village. Back then, my mother was disagreeable to my marriage with you. Know why? She said that our backgrounds didn’t match. If we got together, just your family’s matters would drive me crazy. I didn’t believe it back then. But now, I believe it. I’ve had enough! If you want to be a good guy, do it yourself. I only want to lead a happy and comfortable life. I don’t want to be a messiah!”
“Enough! Wang Yunfeng, that’s enough! Why? Do you city people think so highly of yourselves that you look down on us villagers?” Chen Daming also began shouting.
“Don’t you know how I actually feel? If I looked down on you, would I have married you? If I looked down on you, would I work overtime with you and then return to your hometown to engage in gift-returning? They borrow money from us when they can’t pay their children’s school fees. Have I ever complained when each family borrows a hundred from us? But this can’t continue! Chen Daming, are you really going to quarrel with me over this? Fine, let’s separate and get a divorce when we return. Do whatever you want to do, alright!?”
Chen Daming’s face was red from anger. However he had no way of retorting Wang Yunfeng’s words. All these years, Wang Yunfeng had been a good wife, but these interpersonal relationships were necessary. They had to be upheld.
At that moment, a Buddhist proclamation sounded. “Amitabha, Patrons…”
“Shut up!” Both of them roared at Fangzheng in unison.
Fangzheng immediately looked at them with an innocent look.
Both of them turned red in embarrassment after the shout. Wang Yunfeng said a little embarrassingly, “Sorry. I was having a temper. I apologize.”
Chen Daming said, “Sorry, we…”
“Amitabha. It’s fine. Patrons, just vent your anger on This Penniless Monk. It’s a good thing,” said Fangzheng with a smile.
“A good thing?” The couple was taken aback. This was something good? Was someone actually rushing to get scolded? Seriously, there were all kinds of people in this huge world.
