Chapter 7: Making a Tough Decision

Chapter 7: Making a Tough Decision

She suspected that Tang Zhonghe had deliberately downplayed it, saying it was intermittent, but in reality, it probably meant constant care.

From now on, Yuan'er wouldn't be able to work and would need someone to look after her, and they would have to spend money on her treatment.

In the end, the family would be losing money every day for nothing.

Absolutely not!

Don't listen to what the doctor said so casually; any family with such a mad person would be in despair.

Auntie usually felt sorry for those unfortunate families and was grateful that her own wasn't like that. Now, faced with a mad niece, she absolutely refused.

Tang Zhonghe saw her reaction and deliberately softened her tone, then told Grandma Tang that it wasn't incurable. As long as she was properly cared for, took her medicine, and received injections, perhaps she could recover in five or ten years.

"As long as there aren't too many relapses, it can be considered cured, and she won't be affected in her work."

Grandma Tang was somewhat moved.

Auntie shrieked, "Old lady, don't be foolish!"

Grandma Tang retorted, "You wretched woman, what do you know?"

If the family didn't treat Tang Yuan when she first fell ill, how heartbroken would her parents be?

She knew the couple loved their only daughter dearly.

If their daughter went mad and they gave up without even trying to treat her, the couple would definitely have regrets.

Besides, this was her own granddaughter. Although she often despised this granddaughter and wished she would get married soon, after raising her for so long, just as she was about to be married off, if she suddenly went mad, it would indeed be hard to let go.

There was still some familial affection there.

If it were guaranteed to be curable, even if it cost ten yuan, she would grit her teeth and agree.

Of course, if it cost less or nothing, that would be better.

Her bottom line was ten yuan.

If ten yuan couldn't cure her and the family was already poor and in debt, the second couple wouldn't complain.

She pitied her second son and didn't want him to suffer too much.

She was also satisfied with her second daughter-in-law, who had been acquired for two buckets of cornmeal—a cheap laborer and daughter-in-law who listened to her.

Yes, except for protecting her daughter from her beatings, she was satisfied with her second daughter-in-law.

She didn't blame her daughter-in-law for not giving her a grandson; after all, she had been pregnant before, but the pregnancies ended in miscarriages.

It was all the fault of the only granddaughter!

Thinking about spending ten yuan on this girl and not being sure of a cure, she felt a sharp pain in her heart.

Sure enough, Auntie's words made Mother Tang cry louder and Father Tang's face turn grim.

Uncle Tang quickly pushed Auntie out, "You can't cure anyone, so what's your business here? Go see the grandchild."

Despite her reluctance, Auntie knew that at this critical moment, saying not to treat Tang Yuan would be disapproved of.

She squeezed her husband's hand, urging him to control the situation and not rashly agree to treat the niece continuously.

The old lady favors the second son; she's confused, but you mustn't be.

Uncle Tang indicated he understood and asked her to leave.

Auntie went to complain to her sons.

Second Uncle's room was too small, and they couldn't risk upsetting Tang Yuan, so Tang Wen and Tang Wu stayed outside.

They spoke quietly by the east wing door.

Auntie wiped her tears, "At least two yuan a day, where will we get the money? What should we do?"

Tang Wen: "Mother, even if we don't have the money, we still need to treat her."

If she were an old person, it might be different, but Yuan Yuan is still young. How can we not treat her?

Tang Wu was frustrated, "I heard that madness can't be cured."

It's delaying my marriage.

Inside, Tang Zhonghe continued to instruct Grandma Tang and others, "For the next few months, she can't be left alone."

Grandma Tang: "Rest assured, I'll stay with her every step of the way."

Tang Zhonghe: "Nai, you can't do it; you'll provoke her. It's best for Second Uncle and Second Aunt to take care of her."

Father Tang and Mother Tang agreed without hesitation.

Grandma Tang refused, as they needed to work—their wages were crucial for the family.

Tang Zhonghe showed no room for negotiation, "Nai, mental illness is triggered by stress. If you provoke her, it will worsen. Think of it this way: if the house catches fire, would you pour oil on it?"

Grandma Tang immediately understood.

So the mad girl hates me that much?

Outside, Auntie also felt sorry for the second daughter-in-law, who would stop working to care for the mad girl?

That won't do.

The second daughter-in-law is capable and can earn eight work points in a day.

Most women only earn six or seven.

She wanted to say something more, but Uncle Tang had already spoken from inside the house, saying that no matter what, they must treat his niece.

Everyone was tired, so after Tang Zhonghe spoke, she also took her leave, repeatedly reminding Tang Yuan that someone should always be with her, preferably her mother, and that she should be given nutritious food.

Look at how thin that girl is; her arms seem like they could break with just a slight bend. How pitiful.

We still have to work tomorrow, so Grandma Tang urged everyone to go to bed.

Dad Tang sent his elder brother out the east gate, feeling very grateful. "Elder brother, you've always treated Yuanyuan as your own daughter, pampering her since she was little. I know."

He was subtly expressing his gratitude to his elder brother for being willing to treat Yuanyuan's illness.

Uncle Tang: "Of course, you've always treated Wen'er and the others as your own children. Why wouldn't I?"

Dad Tang felt grateful, thinking that it truly was family that mattered.

Lying on the outer room's kang, he kept an ear out for any movement inside, ready to get up if his daughter showed any signs of discomfort.

Tang Wu was also troubled. If Yuanyuan goes mad, who will swap brides with him?

Xiang'er?

Would Mother bear to part with her?

Mother always says Xiang'er should marry a city man. What if she doesn't want to let her go?

Then how will he get married?

They should wait until Yuanyuan gets slightly better and then quickly settle things.

Tang Yuan understood that her father was tired, so she didn't cause trouble in the morning.

However, she wouldn't quietly "recover." If she got cured, how would they divide the household?

She needed to become increasingly severe, causing more destruction, so that Auntie would threaten suicide and force them to divide the household, just like in her dream.

So, after the men finished their meal and went to work, Tang Yuan started again.

Taking advantage of her mother going to the outhouse, she began screaming and raging in the courtyard, kicking over a broken pot used for feeding chickens, overturning a gray tile pot on the water stand, spilling a bucket of pig food all over the main room, and even trying to grab a knife to stab a crippled ghost in the stove...

Old Lady Tang was both frightened and angry, shouting at Mother Tang, "Quick, tie her up!"

Tang Yuan merely kicked over a washbasin, two broken pots, and spilled a bucket of pig food, yet Grandma Tang couldn't take it anymore.

In less than half a night, her resolve to treat Tang Yuan's illness wavered.

Saying it would cost ten yuan to treat her, it might end up costing a hundred.

Who can afford to keep breaking things every day?

Auntie also chimed in, "Mother, if you don't listen to me, you'll just end up crying. She kicked over pots today; tomorrow, she'll kill and set fires!"

Grandma Tang shuddered, listening to Tang Yuan in the east room yelling about "Jade Emperor" and "Heavenly King," and she couldn't hold on anymore.

So at noon, when Uncle Tang and Dad Tang returned from work, Grandma Tang called for a meeting at the dinner table.

To discuss whether they should continue treating Tang Yuan.

Uncle Tang said, "Mother, what's there to ask? Of course, we must treat her if she's sick."

Auntie: "Money? Will you pay?"

Uncle Tang, embarrassed by his wife's remark, couldn't lose face—he was, after all, a squad leader.

He scowled and cursed, "What nonsense are you spouting? Yuanyuan is my niece, which means she's my daughter. As her uncle, how could I not treat her?"

Besides, he had just told his younger brother last night that they would sell everything to treat his niece. Changing his mind so soon would make him look unreliable.

Where would he put his face then?

Even if they didn't want to treat her, they should at least try for a few months before giving up.

How could they give up after just half a day?

But Auntie wasn't having it. Pretending was fine, but now was not the time for empty words.

Tang Yuan's madness wasn't easy to cure, and the doctor said it would only get worse, with no help from medication.

What was unbearable was her destruction and violent behavior—what if she set a fire one day?

She started to cry, "Second brother, seeing the child sick breaks my heart as her aunt. I've always treated her like my own daughter. But given our situation..."

Uncle Tang slapped Auntie on the head, "You short-sighted woman, what nonsense are you spouting? The men are discussing this; it's none of your business. Get out of here."

He usually doted on his wife, but this sudden slap not only shocked Auntie but also Dad Tang.

Both Elder Brother and Second Brother were stunned.

Everyone quickly moved to stop Uncle Tang from hitting Auntie again.

Dad Tang: "Big Brother, we're discussing things here. What are you doing?"

Grandma Tang glanced over but didn't say anything else.

Auntie didn't take it lying down; she covered her face and started wailing, saying she couldn't go on living.

Grandma Tang: "I'm not dead yet, so don't rush to mourn. People will laugh if they hear this."

Auntie covered her face and ran to the east room, crying again.

Big Brother and Second Brother had grim expressions.

Their father had never laid a finger on their mother before, but today he hit her for Tang Yuan's sake.

Big Brother couldn't say much. After all, his marriage and house were all thanks to Uncle's help, and Uncle and Auntie had always been good to him, so he couldn't complain.

Second Brother was more impulsive. He raised his eyebrows, and the purple-red birthmark on his right cheek looked even redder. "Dad, if you have something to say, just say it. Why did you hit Mom? She didn't say anything. There are cases like this in the village too. Have you seen anyone get cured?"

As they were discussing, Tang Yuan in the east room started acting crazy again, babbling loudly.

In the east room, Auntie cried out loud, "We can't live like this anymore."

Her second son wasn't married yet, and with this happening, people would mock them even more, making it harder for him to find a wife.

Today, when she went to work, a group of people pulled her aside, asking if Tang Yuan was really crazy and how she got that way.

Although their words were meant as comfort and concern, she felt they were just there to gawk.

Big Brother sighed. "Uncle, don't get upset. Yuan Yuan isn't that bad. Let's take it one step at a time and see if we can treat her."

Second Brother rolled his eyes.

Seeing Tang Yuan's madness, it was clear she wouldn't get better, and he couldn't arrange a marriage for her.

With a mad person in the family, how could he find a wife?

Is Big Brother naive or selfish?

Now that you're married, you don't care, do you?

Trying to please Uncle and be the good guy?

He stopped talking and got up to lie down in the east room with Auntie.

Second Brother had a habit from childhood: when he was unhappy, he sulked, didn't talk, and didn't eat, silently protesting. If you didn't listen to him, you risked losing him.

He valued himself highly.

Even Dad Tang, who was usually tolerant, couldn't bear it.

When he went to the east room earlier, his wife told him that their daughter had an even worse episode in the morning and couldn't be stimulated further.

She wiped her tears and said they couldn't keep burdening the main house and suggested moving out so their daughter would be less stimulated.

Usually, when the family needed help, Dad Tang wouldn't agree to splitting the household. But now, their situation was a burden.

He could help Big Brother and his nephews, but he didn't want to burden them.

Though he didn't want to burden Big Brother's family with treating their daughter, seeing his sister-in-law and nephew like this made him feel terrible.

It was better to split the household to avoid burdening the nephews and facing resentment later.

He said, "Mom, Big Brother, if it really comes to it, we... we should..."

He rarely made decisions about major family matters, so he found it hard to bring up such a significant decision.

Thinking of his daughter, he gritted his teeth. "Let's split the household. I can't burden Big Brother."