Chapter 219 - 220: Everyone comes to Borrow Food 3
Ma Xiulian’s preemptive move proved timely, as sure enough, first thing the next day, the old Mrs. Li showed up to borrow grain.
Her old face split by a chrysanthemum-like grin, she greeted warmly, "Oh, my dear relative, who upset you so early in the morning? Why such a long face?"
Ma Xiulian retorted grumpily, "Just seeing you spoils my mood."
Hearing her mother’s voice, Li Chunhua inside the house quickly and quietly locked the door.
Unfazed, the old Mrs. Li said, "Didn’t Chunhua just give you folks at the Chen Family a big fat grandson? As a grandmother, I had to come and see."
Ma Xiulian, too lazy to argue, replied, "Your daughter’s in the house. Take a look and leave."
The old Mrs. Li’s smile stiffened momentarily, but she quickly recovered, "I’m not only here for that, I also have another matter to discuss with you. You see, the harvest this year—"
"Save your breath if you’re here to borrow grain. We don’t have any to spare."
Ma Xiulian cut her off before she could finish her sentence.
"You can’t do this at a time like this!" the old Mrs. Li shouted dramatically, sobbing, "The harvest was bad this year. Our family of more than ten is waiting for food. You’ve got lots of grain, just lend us some, I’ll be sure to return it next year."
Ma Xiulian rolled her eyes, ungraciously retorting, "Whether or not the Li Family goes hungry has nothing to do with us Chens!"
"Dear relative, being so self-serving is not right. Isn’t this like pushing us down the death road?"