Chapter 314 - Chapter 314: Chapter 322: Difficult to Walk (2/2)

“She’s hungry, yes. She last ate some rice cereal this morning,” Mrs. Wang replied nonchalantly as her mother-in-law inquired.

Upon hearing that, Mrs. Yang’s anger flared once more, almost reaching the point of striking out, “What? She last ate this morning? Mrs. Wang, you’re heartless! Are you trying to starve my granddaughter to death? How can you be so cruel? Si Ya is still your own daughter, after all!”

“There’s no need for you to tell me that. I know Si Ya’s my own daughter since I carried her in my womb. Do you think I don’t want to feed her? But look at the state of our home, there’s simply no food left. There’s also not much rice cereal left. If we feed her that sparingly, it won’t last two days. It’s better to fill her up and then let her be hungry; at least she won’t starve to death!”

It wasn’t true that the rice cereal at home had run out. Mrs. Wang was intentionally playing poor to Mrs. Yang, hoping to convey the extent of their distress: “See this? It’s not just us parents; your own granddaughter doesn’t have much to eat. Perhaps it’s time you helped us out a bit, right?”

Mrs. Yang was so angry her stomach ached. “If there’s no rice cereal, can’t you figure out a way to feed her? She’s just a little child; how can she endure hunger? Moreover, Si Ya was born weak. How can you—a mother—be so completely indifferent to your child’s suffering?”

This time Mrs. Yang didn’t blame Han Lin, understanding that reproaching her son, now lying ill in bed, would do no good. She had heard upon entering that the Third child still cared for his daughter, but he was simply helpless against Mrs. Wang.

“There’s some food in that basket; cook it for the Third child. I’ll take Si Ya to get her something to eat. We can’t let the child truly become ill from hunger.” With that, Mrs. Yang took the baby back to the Main House.

Mrs. Liu looked surprised as her mother-in-law came over with Si Ya, “Mother, what’s this about?”

Mrs. Liu knew exactly what the Third House was trying to do—expecting the grandmother to help raise Si Ya. She was determined not to agree—forget the expenses involved, why should their Main House take on the burden of raising the Third House’s child? She wouldn’t allow Mrs. Wang to have that satisfaction.

“Oh, what a sin…” Mrs. Yang sighed heavily and recounted what she had witnessed. Although Mrs. Liu was originally intent on making a fuss, she held back for the time being.

The child was indeed pitiable, having such a mother. Regardless, the priority was to feed the child. Mrs. Liu might wish for a son, having alas only daughters, but even so, she would not stand by and let a perfectly healthy child be ruined by hunger. No matter what, that was still her own flesh and blood, and she would care for them regardless.

Su Wenyue knew nothing of the events back at the family home; she was currently holding a post from the Governor’s Wife, which was sent by a messenger.

As the year neared its end, banquets became more frequent. Su Wenyue, being new to the prefecture and with Han Yu not yet officially in office, had few banquets to attend. She didn’t expect the Governor’s Wife to send her an invitation, and she wondered what her intention might be.

However, regardless of the intention, she couldn’t avoid attending. She had already offended Mrs. Sun, the Wife of the General Magistrate, and she couldn’t afford to offend the Governor’s Wife as well. If she alienated both key figures in the government, life in Yiyang Prefecture would become exceedingly difficult for them.