Since separating their household, Granny Yu’er rarely visited their courtyard, but often spoke in the adjacent residence, making veiled criticisms. However, Yu’er pretended not to hear. After a while, Zhao Yu’s mother stopped the sharp remarks, content instead to simply act as if Yu’er and her husband did not exist. If Yu’er called out to her, she would not respond, as if harboring some deep-seated grudge.

But Yu’er didn’t truly mind. Whenever she saw her mother-in-law, she would still offer a greeting. If there was any delicious food at home, she would always have Zhao Yu send some over, and the monthly elder-care allowance was delivered punctually. Yu’er figured that as long as her mother-in-law didn't cause trouble, this arrangement was tolerable; the main thing was that they weren't living together anymore.

Even when Granny Yu’er learned Yu’er was pregnant a while back, she showed no particular joy. When Yu’er and Zhao Yu went to her courtyard to share the news, she merely told Yu’er in a flat tone to take good care of herself before urging them to leave. So, when the old woman suddenly burst into her own courtyard today, Yu’er was slightly taken aback. He Shi, on the other hand, hearing the disagreeable tone of Zhao Yu’s mother, retorted, “In-law, this is none of your business. I am at my daughter’s home; I will stay as long as I please.”

“Hmph, In-law, your words are inaccurate,” Zhao Yu’s mother countered, not angry but smiling thinly. “I don't care if you stay at your daughter’s home, but this household belongs to the Zhao family—it is Zhao Yu’s home. The person in charge here is my son.”

“This is also Yu’er’s home. You have already separated your household; these matters are no longer for you to manage. Furthermore, Zhao Yu has no objection to me staying here.”

“We separated our households, yes, but no matter what, Zhao Yu is my son, and Yu’er is my daughter-in-law. Their domestic affairs are not for me to manage, but this place is also not for you to occupy. Besides, don't you have a home of your own? Why do you need to stay here?” Zhao Yu’s mother had evidently heard about He Shi’s situation and asked this deliberately.

“I… of course I have a home. I am here to look after Yu’er. She is pregnant with her first child. You don't value your grandchild, but I deeply value my own grandchild. I will serve Yu’er here until she gives birth, and then I will leave.” He Shi felt somewhat guilty under Zhao Yu’s mother’s gaze.

“Heh heh, In-law, you joke too much. Yu’er has only been pregnant for a few months. If you plan to stay until she gives birth, that’s at least a year or more. If you stay here that long, who will cover your food and board? How much silver did you bring from home? Surely you don't expect my son to cover your daily necessities, do you?” Zhao Yu’s mother’s words were quite sharp.

“I am not eating and staying for free! I am here to care for Yu’er. What is wrong with eating a little? What’s wrong with staying at your house? If you hired someone to care for her, you’d not only have to provide food and lodging but also a monthly wage, wouldn't you?” He Shi was flustered by Zhao Yu’s mother’s sharp questioning, and her reply immediately exposed a flaw.

As expected, Zhao Yu’s mother seized on He Shi’s words and refuted instantly: “In-law, our family is no great landlord, nor are we wealthy. To put it nicely, we can just barely keep our bellies full; to put it bluntly, we probably don't measure up to the toenails of wealthy families. Marrying into our Zhao family means accepting hardship. Now, forget that she is merely pregnant; even if what she carried in her belly were a golden cauldron, our family could not afford to hire help for her right now. Furthermore, she can currently walk and eat on her own; she doesn't require tending. Open your eyes and see which family’s daughter-in-law gets waited on during pregnancy.”

“People in our family hire help when they are pregnant. I won’t say anything if you can’t afford help now. I will care for my own daughter myself. If I manage everything here, Yu’er can rest more. You don’t feel sorry for her, but I feel for my own daughter.”

“Oh, so people in your family are great landlords? How could we possibly compare? If you want to care for your daughter, that’s fine. Like last time, take Yu’er back to your home, and I won't say a word. But while you are in my Zhao family’s house, I have a right to speak. I simply do not want you staying here. I do not want to support your daughter while also supporting you, do you understand?” Zhao Yu’s mother made her stance perfectly clear.

He Shi was choked into near silence by Zhao Yu’s mother’s words, merely glaring hatefully at her. After a long moment, she finally spoke, “You can speak, and I can speak too. I raised my daughter until she was this old and married her off to your Zhao Yu. It is only right that Zhao Yu should support me for a couple of years now.”

“In-law, if you speak that way, did you raise your daughter just so she could repay you? In other words, if your daughter grew up, married, and ignored you, would you not have raised her in the first place?”

“I didn't say that.”

“You clearly meant just that.”

“So be it. My own daughter is happy to support me now, and it’s none of your business.”

“Fine, I’ll grant you that you are right, but is your daughter supporting you right now? Has Yu’er earned a large sum of money somewhere? Let me tell you, my son is supporting this household. Although my son is a village teacher, he doesn't earn much. Their food and drink come from the grain harvested from our fields, and I planted those grains. Moreover, the land was bought by me and Zhao Yu’s father. In other words, you are currently being supported by me. Tell me, do I not have the right to meddle in this matter?” Zhao Yu’s mother analyzed things eloquently and methodically.

Zhao Yu’s mother was a formidable presence—her speech was fast and precise, and her reaction time quick. In a quarrel, He Shi was no match for her. He Shi hadn't fully processed the deluge of words from Zhao Yu’s mother, yet she was unwilling to concede the lower ground. Seeing she couldn't win the argument, He Shi resorted to unreasoning stubbornness: “I don’t care what you say about grain or fields. This is my Yu’er’s home, and if I want to stay, I will stay. I can stay forever, unless you make Yu’er kick me out.”

“In-law, are you trying to throw a tantrum? Let me tell you, this is the Zhao family’s domain, and we won’t allow you to throw tantrums or cause trouble here. Do you think just because you could act wantonly in the Lin family estate that we in the Zhao family will allow it? If you insist on staying here, then have your husband come over and clarify this matter, or else pay my Zhao Yu some silver every month for your sustenance. Otherwise, leave. I am tired of wasting words with you. If not, I will move in here too. I refuse to believe that Zhao Yu, who can support a mother-in-law, cannot live alongside his own birth mother.” With these words, Zhao Yu’s mother departed.

Yu’er had stood by the side the whole time without speaking, unsure whose side to take when her mother-in-law and her own mother argued. Moreover, some of her mother-in-law’s points were undeniably valid. Yu’er herself was happy for her mother to stay long-term, but if her mother-in-law escalated the conflict, it was likely no one would support her. (To be continued.)