Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Father, Mother, I Was Wrong!
They say children and grandchildren have their own blessings, but in this world, how many truly can let go and move on?
Old Yuan has let go, truly and completely.
His health is starting to decline; he has worked hard for most of his life, raised five sons, and found wives for four of them.
Now it’s only the youngest son’s marriage that hasn’t been arranged.
But from what’s happened yesterday, it seems to be well on its way.
In this life, he has lived up to his ancestors and also to his five sons.
As a father, he has fulfilled all his responsibilities.
As a descendant of the Yuan Family, his son finally had a daughter, fulfilling the Yuan Family’s generations-long wish; his life is complete.
In the days remaining, he should also live more lightly.
It’s the same for him, and it should be the same for his wife.
Simply put, in the rest of their lives, they should live less burdened and more carefree days.
The days of being workhorses for their sons should come to an end!
Old Yuan frankly told Mrs. Zeng this, leaving her somewhat dazed. Previously, she was the one who urged her husband not to work so hard and handle everything, but she did not succeed.
Now, the old man has figured it out and seen through it, but she has fallen into it instead!
Mrs. Zeng was silent for quite a while and soon figured it out too.
The sons are grown up, their wives have been married, the grandchildren taken care of; she even tended to the daughters-in-law during their confinement period. Whether as a mother or a mother-in-law, she’s owed no one.
"Old man, you’re right!"
"From now on, let’s live a lighter life!"
"If Xiao Wu’s wife gets pregnant and gives birth, and I can still move, I’ll help with the confinement period. To their brothers, it’d mean I’ve treated them equally and am not indebted to anyone!"
"That won’t do!" Old Yuan chuckled, "If you still have to tend to the confinement when Xiao Wu’s wife gives birth, then that means that rascal Xiao Wu hasn’t done his job well, and I’ll sort him out!"
In Old Yuan’s view, the youngest son, being so smart and capable, if by the time his wife gives birth the family can’t afford a maid to help, all the years of support have been for nothing, and he should be disciplined harshly!
"Don’t talk nonsense!"
Mrs. Zeng laughed and said, "Tending to daughter-in-law’s confinement is what I, as a mother-in-law, should do. From the eldest to the fourth, which of their wives did I not tend to during confinement?"
As a mother-in-law, Mrs. Zeng never troubled her daughters-in-law, and she never shirked the care they deserved.
No matter where she goes or who she faces, Mrs. Zeng can confidently say she owes nothing to her daughters-in-law.
...
While Old Yuan and Mrs. Zeng were talking in the kitchen, Mrs. Li, Song Family member, and Mrs. Peng stood outside the kitchen door, listening clearly to the elder couple’s conversation.
The three sisters-in-law lowered their heads in guilt upon hearing Mrs. Zeng’s words from the kitchen.
Before marriage, the days they lived as girls in their parental homes were far less comfortable than after marrying into the Yuan Family.
But now, even though life is getting better, they seem less and less satisfied.
Especially Mrs. Li, who always felt the parents-in-law favored Yuan Bao, who would eventually marry, forgetting Old Yuan and Mrs. Zeng owed them nothing.
All along, it’s they who owe the elder couple.
"Dad, Mom, I was wrong!"
Mrs. Li suddenly pushed open the kitchen door and knelt in front of Old Yuan and Mrs. Zeng.