Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space-Chapter 266. Keep it for paying rent

Sure enough...

"Mom..."

Zeng Yong, who was about to speak with a frown, was stopped by Hua Da Gu.

"Mom, the way you’re talking makes it seem like we aren’t supporting you. If I remember correctly, as soon as the grain is harvested each year, we don’t dare to keep it at home for long before sending it over. Your words are really disheartening!"

"Since that’s the case, hurry and send it over this year, along with the money for your old age and clothes. Look at what you’re wearing and what we’re wearing. We’re in rags, and you, as a daughter-in-law, can bear to see this? Aren’t you ashamed?"

Seeing that the wife of the third son wasn’t getting angry, Zeng’s old lady grew bolder and arrogantly ordered.

Originally, Hua Da Gu planned to prepare clothes for them seeing their worn-out attire, but only if it was her own choice, not like this. This made Hua Da Gu very unhappy.

"Mom, have you forgotten something?"

"Forget what, hurry up." Zeng’s old lady, rubbing her stomach which ached from hunger, couldn’t help but shout. Following their family up to this point was their limit, and having finally found her daughter-in-law, Zeng’s old lady couldn’t bear it any longer.

"I do want to hurry, but have you forgotten it’s a year of disaster? Our fields are still submerged in floodwaters, no grain to be found. My children and I still rely on my family for help. Without a harvest, how can a daughter-in-law provide grain to honor you? However, I won’t shortchange you on the old-age money. Let’s convert all the grain owed to you into cash and see how that works for you, Mom?"

"Hua, you vicious woman, you intend to starve us. My good son was ruined by your manipulation. The old-age money must be given, and the grain cannot be neglected."

"Mom, I’m not taking the blame for this." Hua Da Gu chuckled, crossing her arms, showing no signs of giving in.

"Third son, are you just going to stand by and watch your wife bully your old mother?"

"Mom, have you forgotten that in our house, the wife is in charge? Besides, you asked for a hundred jins of grain right from the start. Not to mention it’s a year of disaster and there’s none, even in normal times, who can spare that much except during the harvest?"

"You think I’m asking too much?" Zeng’s old lady pointed her trembling finger at her son, gasping heavily.

"Yes," Zeng Yong nodded. Seeing his mother panting heavily stirred a hint of reluctance in his heart, but he quickly stifled it.

Seeing his parents didn’t bring joy in his heart like typical parents would. All he saw was greed and calculation. At that moment, Zeng Yong truly gave up.

After all, he’s always been a dispensable, unloved son, just a free laborer.

Moreover, their parents have always been in good health. Though hungry now, they’re still so full of energy, indicating no serious issues.

"Third son, you can’t just leave us like this?" The silent Zeng old man spoke up bitterly, struggling to stand with the help of the eldest son, pleading with his youngest son.

"Yes, third son, we’re blood brothers connected by bone, you can’t just stand by and watch. Look how famished Mom and Dad are. Can you really be so heartless?"

To his credit, Zeng Lao Da was somewhat clever. Seeing they couldn’t get any advantage from his wife, he swiftly changed tactics, trying to use familial bonds to guilt-trip and win back the third son’s sympathy.

However, before the third could reply, Hua Da Gu had already spoken up.

"Big brother now remembers you’re blood brothers bound by bone? How could you forget how this blood brother bullied our children’s father? Our child’s dad still carries a deep scar on his heel, isn’t it a gift from you this good, blood brother? A moment later before sending to the doctor and he’d surely be a cripple. I haven’t forgotten big brother’s kindness."

Zeng Lao Da couldn’t make eye contact with his sister-in-law’s fierce gaze and shrank behind Zeng old man.

Wasn’t he almost beaten to death by this shrew once? If it weren’t for the intervention of parents and the villagers... The mere thought of it frightened him, but he didn’t dare provoke her. Zeng Lao Da felt utterly wronged.

This stifling feeling from such a family finally made Hua Da Gu feel a bit more relieved. Her sidelong glance caught her child’s dad pressing his lips together.

"However... while you may be heartless, we mustn’t be. Regardless, we can’t let Mom and Dad starve. At most, ten jins of coarse rice, fifty jins of sweet potatoes, I’ll shamelessly borrow some from my family, and consider it this year’s retirement food. Of course, the cash for filial piety will still be given." Saying this, she took out two taels of silver and placed it on the lap of her mother-in-law sitting on the ground.

"Mom, you should be pleased, I’ve even added five hundred extra coins."

"You good-for-nothing third son’s wife..."

"Mom, you know I have a bad temper," Hua Da Gu interrupted Zeng’s old wife’s wailing, giving her a frosty glare.

"...if you don’t want it, it’s simple, I won’t need to ask my family for a loan. After all, everyone is short on food now, the mountains have everything, no one will starve at least."

Zeng’s old wife seemed to choke like a chick’s stiffened throat, voiceless.

She was still a bit afraid of her daughter-in-law. If this fierce woman truly got angry, she’d recognize no kin, thus swallowing the threatening words sensibly.

Having obtained some food with difficulty, it can’t just vanish, as a cunning look flickered in her eyes.

"Forget it, although there’s not much food, being parents who know how to care for their children, let’s keep it. But third son’s wife, seeing your father and me this frail and bony, a dark and damp cave doesn’t suit your father. As our son and daughter-in-law, you can’t just let us suffer outside, better we stay with you instead."

Zeng old man quickly nodded, though ideally they’d live with the eldest or the second, the third son obvious lived better, and without them, their children might eat better. Also, the eldest and third could find excuses to visit them occasionally, once settled, kicking them out wouldn’t be easy.

Sneakily praised, the old woman knew how to think on her feet, Zeng old man gave an approving glance to his wife.

They sure thought well, but unfortunately...

Hua Da Gu smirked, sarcasm lining her lips. Her mother-in-law was as calculating as ever!

Turning to look at Zeng Yong: "What do you think, child’s dad?"

She pushed the dilemma onto Zeng Yong, testing him now.

If he dared to agree, despite their good marital relationship, she would immediately ensure the child lost a father.

If he cared so much for his parents, let him accompany them to suffer.

Hua Da Gu’s gaze was overwhelmingly threatening, how could Zeng Yong not see it after decades of marriage, he quickly voiced his position.

"Mom, that’s not happening, you know we have five sons, four daughters-in-law, and a nest full of kids at home, not even a standing spot available. Besides, the house isn’t ours, we pay rent. If you truly want to stay, the grain and money promised by the children’s mom earlier can stay for rent."

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m