CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62: FILIAL GRAIN 2

"Mom, didn’t we just give you two hundred pounds of grain when autumn harvest was divided? We agreed when the family split that my brother and I would each give two hundred pounds a year, and we’ve already fulfilled that for this year!" Daliang was puzzled why his mother was still demanding tribute grain.

"You unfilial son! How can two hundred pounds of grain be enough for us old folks for a year? You’re the eldest son!" Grandma Bai, upon hearing Daliang say he had already given, immediately started scolding him, slapping the edge of the kang.

Seeing the relief grain had arrived, her mind started to calculate. The eldest family had nine members, a considerable amount of grain, and she intended to extract some for her beloved little grandson to have a few decent meals.

"How can you say that, Grandma? If two hundred pounds a year isn’t enough for you two, isn’t six hundred pounds enough? Plus, you both can still work; Grandpa can earn ten work points a day! It should be more than sufficient to have full meals each time!" Xiao Xue, along with Bai Ruxia and Bai Ruchuan, walked in.

"You rascal, where’s the six hundred pounds of grain? This isn’t your place to meddle!" Grandma Bai, accustomed to bullying their family, gritted her teeth as Xiao Xue embarrassed her. She had only called Daliang, so why had these little rascals shown up too?

"My father and second uncle both give you two hundred pounds of grain each year; as another son, shouldn’t third uncle also support you? Three sons combined make six hundred pounds, right?"

"What grain does your third uncle give? We live with him!" Grandma Bai glared.

"That’s not right! You two take care of third uncle’s children, cook for them, and give your work points to them. Yet the responsibility of supporting you falls solely on the other two sons? How does that make sense?" Xiao Xue retorted, "Besides, we’ve already given the tribute grain we are obligated to give. What is this additional demand?"

"With the New Year approaching, isn’t it fitting for a son to show some respect to his parents?" Grandma Bai spoke justifiably.

"And how much do you want this time? What about second uncle’s family? Why aren’t they here?"

Xiao Xue thought that Grandma Bai had called second uncle over as well, but upon arriving, only her father was there, second uncle hadn’t come.

"A hundred pounds of grain will do, and also make a new set of clothes for us two old folks!" Grandma Bai felt no embarrassment, simply stating, "Let’s forget about your second uncle this time; their family only got one hundred and fifty pounds of grain, not enough for themselves!"

"Why not shoot for the stars?" Bai Ruxia quickly shouted, "It’s just our family providing tribute grain and making clothes? Trying to squeeze us dry?"

"You brat, what are you saying? Isn’t it proper for your father, as the eldest son, to support his parents?" Grandma Bai glanced at her own husband, who looked on coolly, showing no intention of asserting himself.

"When the family split, my father said he would support the parents, but how did you behave?" Though less than six years old at that time and without much memory, the original knew from Third Granny repeatedly mentioning it that she had remembered everything.

"You said you wanted to stay with your youngest son. You chose your youngest son then, so he should be the one supporting you. The sons that were split off have fulfilled their filial duties by giving what was due!" Xiao Xue told her clearly, word by word.

"You... Doesn’t your family have plenty of cloth and a sewing machine? Shouldn’t you make a set of clothes for us two old folks?" Grandma Bai, failing to argue with Xiao Xue, softened her tone a little.

"There isn’t any more cloth; it’s all been used to make clothes for our family! Not even a scrap left!" Xiao Xue replied bluntly.

"You used all that cloth up? How precious do you think you are?" Grandma Bai jumped in anger, standing up as if to strike.

"Mom, don’t hit the kids!" Daliang shielded the three children.

He couldn’t manage the quick refusals like Xiao Xue, but he didn’t stop the children from speaking up either; while he remained silent against his mother’s scolding, hitting was unacceptable. The children had stuck with him through tough times, finally able to have full bellies and warm bodies.

None of it had been provided by him as their father; it was thanks to his eldest daughter’s hard work, and he couldn’t let the children lose heart.

"Grandma, don’t think we’ve forgotten about stealing the new cotton clothes from my siblings. They are the same grandkids; I’m not going to talk about your bias, but don’t even think about taking anything else from us! If you push me, I won’t show mercy!" Xiao Xue wasn’t the original; she didn’t care about kinship or not.

If her bottom line was crossed, she would retaliate regardless of reputation.

"Wretched girl, shut up! Daliang, you tell me! Are you going to give the tribute grain and clothes or not?" Picking the soft persimmon to squeeze, she found neither could scold nor hit Xiao Xue, so she vented at Daliang.

"Mom, while our grain share is more than second brother’s family, we also have more mouths to feed and can’t give you a hundred pounds. The most we can give is fifty pounds; as for clothes, Xiao Xue is right! Not a scrap of cloth is left, so we can’t make clothes this year! But rest assured, we will surely try to make you guys a set next year!" Daliang spoke as if soothing a child.

"No way! It has to be a hundred pounds of grain, or at least make a set for your two nephews! They use less fabric!" Grandma Bai took a step back but demanded even more.

"Only fifty pounds of grain, nothing else, and you better stop with the demands or I’ll withhold even that. If you want, go let the team leader decide the reasoning! In times when everyone eats scarce meals, why do you keep repeatedly demanding grain from us? Don’t mention the two hundred pounds, hasn’t Grandma taken enough from us already? Do you know how many of your household items and food originally came from us? Don’t provoke me, or you’ll face the consequences! Just understand when to stop! Why should my father make clothes for Bai Ruying and Bai Rusheng? Are their parents deceased or something?" Xiao Xue’s strong voice dropped, while Daliang anxiously watched his mother, ready to protect his children at any sign of her acting.

Yet, before Grandma Bai could erupt, Li Guihua did. With a screech, she lunged to scratch Xiao Xue’s face, shouting curses, "You beast, little bitch, how dare you curse us to die? Who gave you the gall to speak like this in our home? I’ll scratch you to death today!"

Dahe intended to catch his wife; his clothes weren’t yet obtained, and he couldn’t offend his elder brother’s family now. But he couldn’t grab her, and Li Guihua succeeded.

Bai Ruxia and Bai Ruchuan weren’t pushovers either. Two of them caught Li Guihua’s arms before she could reach Xiao Xue, their hands didn’t stop, pinching and grasping at Li Guihua.

Xiao Xue knew not to get into a brawl here; with more of the other side, they would be at a disadvantage in a real fight.

"Grandpa, are you going to intervene? You’ve always been fair, are you just going to let third aunt attack us?"

"Everyone, stop!" Grandpa Bai, hearing Xiao Xue’s flattery, felt appeased. Perhaps it was time to tighten the net, so he spoke up to halt things.

Li Guihua was now howling from the pinches by the two small ones.

The three stopped at Grandpa’s words, also seeing the signal from their older sister.

"Old man..." Grandma Bai couldn’t scold Xiao Xue in time due to Li Guihua’s commotion, so she restrained herself when the old man spoke up.

"Daliang, go bring fifty pounds of grain here, and let the rest go! It’s hard with so many kids!" Grandpa Bai made his decision.

Xiao Xue rolled her eyes internally; these fifty pounds couldn’t be avoided. If Daliang hadn’t initially mentioned giving fifty pounds, she wouldn’t have handed over even a single kernel.

No matter, corn kernels weren’t worth her trouble; she’d give them to buy some peace.