She had not only her parents and brothers and their wives, but also her husband and children. Even if her maternal family didn't like her, her husband and children loved her, and that was enough!
Liang Xiu wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve, deciding she would never cry for people who didn't cherish her again.
Having regained her senses, Liang Xiu picked up her youngest daughter and prepared to leave.
As for this maternal family, it was enough to maintain appearances.
She wouldn't ask for anything more!
Just as Liang Xiu stepped out of the door, she was bumped into by someone rushing towards her, causing her to stumble and almost fall.
Fortunately, Xiao Wu, who was beside her, caught her, and she managed to stand firm.
"Dad, Mom, you can't let her leave!"
The person who rushed in was none other than the shrewish Li Cuihua.
Liang Xiu was momentarily stunned by Li Cuihua's sudden intrusion.
Why couldn't she leave? She was just visiting her maternal home; she wasn't going to stay there forever, was she?
"Third daughter-in-law, what's wrong? Why can't she leave?"
Li Cuihua glanced at Liang Xiu, then turned to her mother-in-law and whispered something in her ear. No one knew what she said.
"Is what you're saying true?" Old Mrs. Liang looked at Liang Xiu in surprise.
Looking at her mother's gaze, Liang Xiu felt a chill run down her spine.
Su Xiaotian struggled to get down from her mother's arms.
From the expressions and eyes of these two people, she knew they were plotting something, but she didn't know what they wanted.
She thought to herself, they would deal with whatever came their way.
They couldn't possibly detain her and her children in Liangjiawan and prevent them from returning home, could they?
She suspected the Old Liang family was more worried about wasting food.
"Xiu'er, Mom has something to discuss with you. See if you agree!" Old Mrs. Liang put on a different face and stood before Liang Xiu.
Su Xiaotian couldn't help but sneer inwardly. They were trying to play the emotional card, intending to manipulate her mother with sentimentality?
She wondered what their true objective was.
Su Xiaotian tilted her head, pondering what else the Old Liang family could be scheming for.
"Mom, what is it?" Liang Xiu was kind-hearted. Despite feeling disheartened, she still responded.
Old Mrs. Liang said with a smile, "Xiu'er, look, your brothers and their wives are getting old, but they don't have proper jobs. Can you give your job to your brother?"
Liang Xiu was shocked that her own mother would say such a thing and was speechless for a moment.
What was her mother thinking?
Why should she give away her job for free?
So many people had almost broken their heads trying to get a job opportunity, and she had finally gotten one. Why should she give it up?
Even if she were willing to give it up, why didn't her mother consider her? Would her husband's family be happy about it?
How would she explain it to her husband's family if she went back?
Her mother's favoritism was truly excessive, without any bounds.
She only cared about her sons and grandsons, but wasn't her daughter also born of her ten months of pregnancy?
The Old Su family also had two daughters. Her mother-in-law and father-in-law didn't treat her like her own parents did; instead, they always took care of her.
Liang Xiu felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, completely chilled to the bone!
"Why aren't you speaking?" Seeing that Liang Xiu remained silent for a long time, Old Mrs. Liang became unhappy.
She just wanted a little something from her, so why was she being so hesitant?
All those sweet words of filial piety she usually spoke were all lies.
All her talk was just empty words. Giving birth to a daughter was just a waste of rice and grain, with no other use.
Old Mrs. Liang was immediately displeased and her face fell.
What an unfilial thing.
"Mom, if you want to discuss anything else, I can discuss it. But this job, it's really impossible!" Liang Xiu said, bracing herself.
"What do you mean impossible? It's just one spot. What's wrong with giving it to your brother? You're a woman. Shouldn't you be at home taking care of your husband and children, instead of going to the city and making a spectacle of yourself?" Old Mrs. Liang glared at her daughter, almost demanding her immediate agreement.
Seeing Old Mrs. Liang's self-righteous attitude, Liang Xiu didn't know what to say.
"Grandma, do you think jobs are so easily given away?" Su Xiaotian knew Liang Xiu's personality.
She might be able to say something to others, but facing Old Mrs. Liang, she knew she wouldn't be able to say anything, so she had to speak up herself.
"What does a little kid like you know? Why can't it be given away?" Old Mrs. Liang clearly looked down on Su Xiaotian and spoke without any politeness.
Su Xiaotian said with a stern face, "If it could be given away, my mom would have given it to my dad long ago. Why would she wait until now?"
Old Mrs. Liang was choked for words and didn't know how to respond.
"What do you mean give it to your dad? Your mom was born from my womb! She's a Liang!"
"My mom is the daughter-in-law of the Old Su family. She's my dad's wife. They'll be buried together even after death!"
Su Xiaotian spoke so fluently that even Su Xiao Wu couldn't help but want to applaud.
Su Xiao Wu thought he had seen many unreasonable people, but he had never encountered someone as unreasonable as his grandmother.
Other people's greed might manifest as wanting some food or clothing. This was the first time he had seen someone directly ask for a job.
After Su Xiaotian finished speaking, Old Mrs. Liang was so angry she almost rolled her eyes. However, she also knew that what Su Xiaotian said was the truth. Liang Xiu was married into the Old Su family, so she was now part of the Old Su family.
Decades ago, Liang Xiu wouldn't even be called Liang Xiu, but rather Su Liang Shi.
Knowing this, however, didn't mean Old Mrs. Liang was willing to admit it.
Her anger surged, and she grabbed the chicken feather duster by the door and lunged at Su Xiaotian, as if intending to beat Su Xiaotian soundly and make her too afraid to speak.
Su Xiaotian quickly tried to dodge, but found that Liang Xiu had already stepped forward to block Old Mrs. Liang's chicken feather duster.
"What? Are you, the daughter, going to defy your mother?" Li Cuihua said sarcastically from the side, "After becoming a worker, you don't even dare to make a sound when you come back to your maternal home?"
"Of course, I don't dare. But haven't you heard? Third Uncle's wife, you already know, and you've set your sights on my mom's job?" Su Xiao Wu, a young lad, stood before the shorter Li Cuihua without losing any of his imposing presence.
However, Li Cuihua, who was always presumptuous, immediately shouted at Su Xiao Wu, "As expected, like mother, like son. Look at you, just like your mother!"
Hearing his own mother being criticized again, Su Xiaotian's anger flared, and she immediately retorted.
"What are you saying? What's wrong with my mom? My mom is filial to the elders and caring towards the children. Isn't she much better than you? Everyone in the entire brigade knows what kind of shrew you are!"
Being so sharply rebuked by Su Xiaotian, Li Cuihua was completely taken aback, her face turning red. After a long pause, she pointed at Su Xiaotian and said, "You little slut, how dare you scold me? I am your aunt, your elder!"
"Did I say something wrong? Aren't you a shrew? Why don't we go to the brigade and ask anyone?"
"Look, look, the good daughter you raised, this is how she bullies her elders?" Old Mrs. Liang, who was often bullied by Li Cuihua, was afraid that Li Cuihua would seek revenge later. She immediately picked up the chicken feather duster and was about to hit Liang Xiu.
Liang Xiu was prepared to be hit, but she didn't expect Su Xiao Wu to snatch the chicken feather duster from Old Mrs. Liang's hand and break it in half before discarding it.
Old Mrs. Liang was stunned. After a long moment, she slapped her thighs and cried out, "What kind of vengeful children are these? They're bullying people right at our doorstep! Old man, what are you lying on the kang for? Aren't you coming to help teach these ignorant brats a lesson?"
Su Xiao Wu sneered, "I respect you because you are the ones who gave birth to and raised my mother. But you've gone too far!"
"Too far? I gave birth to her and raised her. Her life belongs to me!" Old Mrs. Liang said unreasonably.
"My life was already repaid when you took three bushels of grain and seventy yuan from the Old Su family as a dowry, without giving a single needle in return!" Liang Xiu, usually a good-natured person, could no longer bear it.
She might have a good temper, but she wasn't a pushover to be manipulated!
Old Mrs. Liang was shocked that her usually weak daughter could say such decisive words.
Liang Xiu pulled her children over and was about to leave when someone hit her back hard. Turning around, she saw Old Mr. Liang standing barefoot on the ground, holding his tobacco pipe.
What hit Liang Xiu's back was Old Mr. Liang's tobacco pipe.
"You unfilial thing, why don't you kneel down and kowtow to your mother, and then give your job to your brother!" Old Mr. Liang's eyes were cloudy, but his words were not.
Being hit hard on the back, Liang Xiu had completely lost all hope.
"Dad, I've done nothing wrong. I won't kowtow and apologize, nor will I give up my job!" Liang Xiu said word by word, her voice not loud, but her tone firm.
"What did you say? Say it again!"
Old Mr. Liang clearly did not expect his daughter to say such a thing, even after he had intervened.
This daughter had always been timid since childhood. As long as he spoke, no matter how difficult it was, she would find a way to do it, and she had never contradicted him.
It must have been the people from the Old Su family who had poisoned her mind, making this girl dare to talk back.
Old Mr. Liang never considered that he was wrong; instead, he thought his daughter was being defiant.
"Dad, I'll say the same thing ten times. I've done nothing wrong. If you cherish my brother, then find a job for him yourselves. I will never give him my job, even if I die."
As Liang Xiu spoke, she looked at her son, who was standing in front of her in a protective stance, and felt immensely comforted. Her children at home loved her, and that was enough.
"I have sons and daughters. Even if I die, this job will belong to them!"
Old Mr. Liang clearly did not expect his daughter to say such resolute words.
Was she planning to sever ties with them?
"You ungrateful girl, oh dear, my life is so bitter! Everyone, come and see, I gave birth to a white-eyed wolf, who is clearly trying to anger her own parents to death!"
Old Mrs. Liang, shameless, began to wail. Of course, the reason she was crying was that she noticed people were gathering outside the courtyard.
She intended to ruin Liang Xiu's reputation.
She was determined to get this job today!
She didn't believe that Liang Xiu would disregard her reputation and insist on keeping the job.
However, it had to be said that although Old Mrs. Liang was Liang Xiu's mother, she did not understand Liang Xiu at all.
Liang Xiu's personality was soft, and she responded better to gentle persuasion than to force.
If Old Mrs. Liang had spoken to her nicely, considering their mother-daughter bond, perhaps this matter could have been negotiated.
But Old Mrs. Liang's outburst shattered the last shred of hope in Liang Xiu's heart. She only felt that her life was a tragedy!
"Xiu'er, what's wrong with your mother? You finally came to see your parents, why did you make them so angry?" As expected, someone began to blame Liang Xiu.
Su Xiaotian didn't recognize the woman who spoke, but judging by her age, she was likely an elder.
"Fifth Aunt, why don't you first ask what my parents want from me!" Liang Xiu's eyes welled up, and tears began to flow.
Liang Xiu had always been a strong person, with a gentle and stubborn personality since childhood. Even the people of Liangjiawan had never seen her cry.
"Xiu'er, why are you crying? What exactly do your parents want from you?" Qiao Aihong, whom Liang Xiu called Fifth Aunt, saw Liang Xiu crying and felt that something might be wrong, so she quickly asked her.
"Fifth Grandma, my mom got a job as a worker at the food factory in the county town. She finally got a break and came to visit her grandma and grandpa. But not only did she not get a glass of water upon entering, they immediately asked my mom to give her hard-earned worker spot to my uncle!" Su Xiao Wu blurted out the whole story.
"What? This happened?" Qiao Aihong was stunned. She had lived a long time and had always known her fourth sister-in-law was unreasonable, but she never expected her to be so unreasonable!
Jobs weren't something you could just give to anyone you pleased. She heard that job applications required multiple assessments, and only after passing them would one be hired.
"Fourth sister-in-law, this is where you're wrong. Xiu'er got a job, and as a mother, you should be happy for her. Why are you coveting it?" Qiao Aihong, being a busybody, couldn't help but say a few words.
Li Cuihua rolled her eyes and immediately cursed, "Who do you think you are to interfere in our family matters? She's a worthless girl. Even if she becomes a worker, it's thanks to my father-in-law and mother-in-law. What's wrong with her giving it up?"
Qiao Aihong didn't expect Li Cuihua to curse at her right away, and her old face turned unpleasant.
She looked at Old Mrs. Liang, and seeing her acting like a quail, she was filled with hatred.
She had never seen anyone so spineless. She would relentlessly bully her filial daughter but always indulged her shrew-like daughter-in-law. How could such a person exist in this world?
Qiao Aihong, holding back her anger, spat fiercely towards the main gate of the Old Liang family: "Ptooey!"
Li Cuihua usually disliked the meddlesome old woman Qiao Aihong, but because Qiao Aihong was an elder and had several sons, she dared not act.
"You old hag, look! They're bullying you right at your doorstep, and you're still hanging your head? Are you waiting for them to shit and piss on you?" Li Cuihua dared not vent her anger at Qiao Aihong, but she had no qualms about scolding her own mother-in-law.
"You old shrew, how dare you spit at our doorstep? I'll beat you to death!" The quail-like Old Mrs. Liang suddenly became brave and immediately lunged at Qiao Aihong to tear at her.
Her demeanor was completely different from when she was being bullied by Li Cuihua, leaving the onlookers dumbfounded.
What was all this?