Chapter 36 - 35: Jealous
"Instead of worrying so much about my family’s affairs, why don’t you mind your own Er Shuanzi?"
Aunt Zhang’s grandson, Er Shuanzi, is in his twenties this year and hangs around with a bunch of young, half-grown kids from a few villages, doing some petty thievery and shady activities. He’s been in and out of the labor camp quite a few times.
Aunt Zhang left in embarrassment after being snapped at by Liang Hongmei.
Liang Hongmei was also angry. They were doing proper business, the children worked desperately hard to earn some money to live on, yet they ended up being gossiped about by others. Liang Hongmei was fuming at home, quietly stewing in her anger.
After Little Grandmother learned about the matter, she brought the couple of her eldest uncle to their house to talk some sense.
"I told you before, don’t do those speculative and illegal businesses, but you wouldn’t listen. There’s no wall that doesn’t have holes. No matter how tightly you cover it, there will still be people who’ll find out. Now, look, everyone in the village is hostile towards you," Little Grandmother said, with a mix of frustration and heartache.
Liang Hongmei was unconvinced, "What age is it now? The country encourages us to get rich. Our Xiao Wan is earning honest money through hard work, what does it have to do with them?"
"Sister, regardless of how much you earn, you did make money, and they’re just envious, squeezing you like this, aren’t they?" Liang Jian Country squatted nearby, holding a long tobacco pipe.