Chapter 331: In for a Penny, In for a Pound – The Daily Life of the Sickly Aunt in the Courtyard

Chapter 331: Go Big or Go Home—The Sickly Aunt’s Drama-Filled Days in the Compound

The children's cries instantly drew the adults out.

Jiang Dahu and Jiang Erhu began wailing to Grandma Jiang, "Waaah... Nana, pleeease! We want big chunks of meat like that too... Waaah..."

As they spoke, they motioned with their hands.

Grandma Jiang and Grandma Gu took one look and immediately understood what had happened.

Grandma Gu tittered, "Oh dear, so that's what this is about! I'm so sorry! It's all my Dabao's fault—if he hadn't mentioned the meat we ate in front of your grandsons, this wouldn't have happened. My apologies!"

Grandma Jiang's face went rigid for a moment. What’s this bitch getting at?

Was she mocking her?

Grandma Gu instantly read her expression and simpered brightly, as if to say: That's right, you heard correctly. I *am* mocking you—what are you going to do about it?

"Ha! Ha! It's fine, it's fine. Our families really can't compare to yours in this regard. With your tiny family, unlike my big one, how could we possibly give everyone such large pieces of meat?"

Grandma Gu's smile froze briefly before slowly creeping back.

Grandma Jiang truly was her archenemy!

She always knew exactly where to strike. The thing Grandma Gu hated most in life was anyone bringing up the fact that she had only given birth to one son. Compared to others in the compound at the time, this was her greatest regret.

Her son now only had two children—just one son—unlike her rival, who had four children: two daughters married off and two sons still at home, each with two children of their own. While not exactly a booming family, it was certainly more prosperous than hers.

"A big family has its advantages, and a small one has its own. Like now—when we eat meat, everyone can have several big pieces!"

Tit for tat. You make me unhappy, I’ll make you unhappy too.

Grandma Jiang was indeed displeased. Jiang Dahu and Jiang Erhu were still making a fuss.

After trading barbs, Grandma Jiang and Grandma Gu were about to snap and had to drag their grandsons back home before things escalated.

Fighting on New Year’s? That’s bad luck!

"Stop crying. Next time, Grandma will buy you red-braised pork—big, thick pieces! It’ll definitely be better than their lousy preserved meat."

"Okay!"

"Okay!"

The moment they heard "red-braised pork," their sobs tapered off.

That night, Grandma Jiang suddenly said wearily to Grandpa Jiang, "Honey, when will this life of ours ever end?"

"What’s gotten into you now?"

"Nothing. I just feel dead tired, worn out. Every day, putting food on the table and clothes on their backs—and still getting nothing but complaints."

"If you don’t want to handle it anymore, we could just break up the household." Half-asleep, Grandpa Jiang grumbled carelessly.

As soon as he finished speaking, he drifted off, leaving Grandma Jiang staring at the ceiling, turning his words over in her mind.

Break up the household? Was that really an option?

She was reluctant to let go of the purse strings, but today, she truly felt exhausted.

With such a large family and only a few ration coupons for meat, when would they ever get to eat big chunks of meat?

On top of that, the frequent arguments with Lin Shu recently had worn on her.

If splitting the family was what it took, then so be it. But even after dividing, they must still give her monthly support—she didn’t want to end up like Lin’s parents.

Once Mother Jiang made up her mind, she quickly fell asleep.

——

Late at night, in one of the rooms of the communal housing building, a woman quietly got up.

Walking softly, she approached her parents’ bedroom door, gently turned the handle, and pushed it open just enough for one person to slip through.

Once inside, she went straight to the spot she was looking for and rummaged around.

Aha!

It’s still here, after all these years—they never moved it. Heh!

She had originally planned to take only what she needed, but after counting, she realized it wasn’t enough. Gritting her teeth, she thought… If I’m going to do this, I might as well clean them out.

After getting what she came for, the woman quietly retreated from the room and returned to her pallet in the living room, slipping back into bed.

Before daybreak, she got up, intending to slip out before anyone else woke.

She opened the front door and slipped out silently.

“Phew—” She let out a breath, catching herself after how nervous she’d been just now.

...

“Agh—”

As the sun slowly rose, a scream rang out through the building.

“What? What’s wrong, Mom?”

Mother Zhang trembled as she pointed to her hiding spot for money. “It’s gone… all of it!”

Old Zhang looked where she was pointing—wasn’t that where his wife kept their savings?

His stomach dropped. Gone? Could the money really be gone?

He stared at Mother Zhang, hoping for a denial, but her words only deepened his despair. “The money’s gone… wah… my money’s gone…”

Just then, the eldest Zhang son and his wife rushed in. “Ma, what happened?”

“Son, son… our family’s money is gone… wah…”

The eldest Zhang’s wife stared blankly. What had her mother-in-law just said?

“The money’s gone? How could the money be gone?”

The eldest Zhang clenched his jaw in fury, and his wife was just as furious.

Suddenly, it hit them. “Was it… your little sister?”

“Little sister? Where is she?” The eldest Zhang immediately thought of her and rushed outside, only to find her bedding empty—he knew at once.

Old Man Zhang and Mother Zhang clapped their hands, instantly remembering—yes!

Where’s Zhang Mei?

Where is she?

“She must have taken the money. I knew her coming back empty-handed was no good,” Mrs. Zhang fumed. If only she hadn’t compromised yesterday—she should’ve kicked that wretch out right then.

“No way we’re letting her get away with this. I’ll go get our money back,” Old Man Zhang said angrily.

“I’m coming too! If I don’t teach that bitch a lesson, my name isn’t Wu Xiaohua,” Mrs. Zhang snapped immediately.

“Let’s go—we’ll all go after her!” Mother Zhang declared decisively.

If she’s handling it herself, there’s no way they wouldn’t get the money back for sure.