Grandma 05

This is all the village committee's fault! Why couldn't they just talk to me directly? Did they have to announce it to the entire Fang Family?

He stood in the village committee office, confidently stating his demands.

"I'm the eldest in the Fang Family. This child should naturally be under my care." Fang Jianjun spoke with increasing conviction. "Don’t bring up my mother—her mind’s already gone. How dare you give the money to her? Don’t you remember what she was like before?"

The village head rubbed his temples, exasperated. The Fang Family was truly a nest of oddballs. As Fang Jianjun continued his tirade, curious villagers began gathering outside to watch the spectacle. Who doesn’t love a bit of drama?

Just as the head was about to respond, his gaze shifted past Fang Jianjun to someone behind him.

Fang Jianjun pulled out a cigarette, already scheming—even if he couldn’t get the full amount, he’d make sure to take a cut. But before he could light it, a grating voice, rough as sandpaper on metal, rasped behind him.

"Fang Jianjun." The voice demanded, "Say it again. What was your mother like before?"

Fang Jianjun froze, the lighter hovering mid-air, his face paling. He turned slowly. "M-Mom... What are you doing here?"

Zhao Yumei swung her wooden cane hard against his shin—solid oak, and it hurt. "I’m not dead yet! Who gave you the right to act like the big shot? And what’s this about ‘taking care of Fang Zhiyi’? Everyone knows you’re just after your brother’s blood money! Have you no shame?"

Fang Jianjun yelped in pain, dodging her blows and curses.

Fang Zhiyi had been roused early by Zhao Yumei to do chores while she went to the village committee to file paperwork, declaring that he’d live with her from now on. But instead of returning, gossip spread of Zhao Yumei beating her own son. Fang Zhiyi couldn’t resist—how could he miss such excitement?

He arrived to find villagers parting silently to let him through.

At the front, he saw his uncle cowering, hands over his head, pleading.

"Mom, I was wrong!"

"I’m the one who was wrong! Wrong to have ever given birth to a heartless wretch like you! My life’s been cursed since marrying into the Fang Family—your father was a fool, and you brats are even worse!"

"Ow! Mom, stop hitting me!"

"What, you wanna hit back? Raise a hand against your own mother?"

Under the dual assault of words and cane, Fang Jianjun didn’t dare fight back—until he spotted Fang Zhiyi. "Zhiyi! Quick, stop your grandmother!"

Fang Zhiyi hesitated, regretting his front-row seat.

But someone else moved faster. A woman wailed as she rushed forward. "Enough! Are you trying to kill him?"

It was Fang Jianjun’s wife, trailed by their two sons.

Zhao Yumei pointed her cane. "Since when does a little tramp like you meddle in a mother disciplining her son? Scram!"

Tears welled in the aunt’s eyes. "Go on, beat him to death first, then me! Let the whole village laugh at you!"

Zhao Yumei sneered. "Laugh? The Fang Family’s already a joke! Kicking me out to live in a broken-down temple, eyeing your own brother’s death compensation, and now badmouthing me behind my back—if you’re not ashamed, why should I care?"

"You old witch!" The eldest cousin stepped forward, tall and seething as he watched his father take the beating.

Zhao Yumei paused, then laughed coldly. "Ah, children learn from adults. So I’m the ‘old witch’ in your household, am I? Everyone, look! This is my eldest son! This is my grandson!"

She swayed slightly, and Fang Zhiyi hurried to steady her. Zhao Yumei glanced at him and sighed. "At least one in the Fang Family has a conscience."

"Hit my dad again, and I’ll kill you!" the cousin spat.

Zhao Yumei turned back to Fang Jianjun, who was still shielding his head. "Hear that, Fang Jianjun? Your son wants me dead."

Coming to his senses, Fang Jianjun took in the crowd, the whispers, his son’s words. The boy helped him up. "Dad, you okay?"

The villagers murmured. No matter how unreasonable Zhao Yumei seemed, she was still his mother—and now, Fang Jianjun looked utterly unfilial.

The accusations, his wife’s nagging, the villagers’ judgment—it all crashed over Fang Jianjun. After a dazed moment, he suddenly slapped his eldest son. Fang Zhiyi winced as the cousin’s face contorted from the force.

"Fang Jianjun! Have you lost your mind?" The aunt shrieked, abandoning her husband to tend to her son.

Zhao Yumei scoffed. "Too late for that. You can’t even raise your own brats right, and you think you’re fit to take in my second son’s child? Disgusting!"

"Mom, I—" Fang Jianjun floundered. Nothing had gone right today.

"Shut it. Mark my words—if you ever dare scheme for that money again, I’ll hang myself at your doorstep! See if any woman will marry your sons after that!"

The threat silenced the crowd. No one doubted Zhao Yumei meant it.

Fang Zhiyi and Little Hei exchanged awed glances. Now that’s credibility! When Zhao Yumei spoke, no one questioned it.

Dragged home by the ear, Fang Zhiyi endured a scolding for leaving chores unfinished and being irresponsible, followed by Zhao Yumei’s lamentations about her miserable life. He could only nod along.

Dizzy from the lecture, Fang Zhiyi was arranging a Buddha statue at her command when Zhao Yumei suddenly cried out from the inner room. She flung the curtain aside, her clouded eyes burning with fury—so intense that even Fang Zhiyi felt a chill.

"Grandma?"

Panting, Zhao Yumei grabbed his arm and marched outside.

"What’s wrong, Grandma?" Fang Zhiyi asked, bewildered.

She didn’t answer, storming ahead as villagers, still buzzing from the earlier drama, noticed her expression and eagerly followed.

A sequel?

They reached Third Uncle’s house. Zhao Yumei released Fang Zhiyi, raised her cane, and hammered the iron gate.

The banging echoed until Third Uncle finally opened the door, confused.

"Mom? What’s—"

A sharp slap cut him off. The crisp sound made the watching villagers collectively wince.