"Mom, I, I didn’t." Tang Zhenghong was too scared to talk back after being scolded by Granny Tang.
Seeing her in this state, Granny Tang grew even angrier and questioned harshly, "When did Chen Jian Country start gambling? Are you an idiot? Don’t you know gambling ruins families and destroy lives? Haven’t you seen this in other places, even in our Shuanghe Town? Is the Chen’s family made of money, or do they have too much cash on hand?"
"Mom, I, I don’t want him to gamble either, I’ve argued and fought with him about it, who knew, who knew..."
The more Tang Zhenghong thought about it, the more upset she became, and tears started streaming down her face as she choked out the story.
Chen Jian Country’s Southern Goods Store at home was making less and less money, the monthly income wasn’t enough. Seeing the prosperity of her own family’s home, Chen Jian Country was displeased with Tang Zhenghong. Tang Zhenghong was also upset because Chen Jian Country once found some counterfeit goods, which led to her clothing store closing down.
The couple constantly bickered, having small arguments every three days and major ones every five days. It was during this time that a so-called friend took Chen Jian Country to play cards.
Initially, Chen Jian Country only won or lost ten or twenty, occasionally earning US$60, and his mood was good when he came home.
Seeing that Chen Jian Country could still make money playing cards and not losing everything as people said, Tang Zhenghong did not say much. As a result, Chen Jian Country became more excessive, frequently playing late into the night.
Occasionally, when Tang Zhenghong knew Chen Jian Country lost a few hundred, they had a huge fight.
Later, when Chen Jian Country lost his mind, and by the time Tang Zhenghong found out, Chen Jian Country had already lost nearly ten thousand yuan.
"Mom, Jian Country promised me that as long as this ten thousand yuan is paid back, he won’t gamble again." Tang Zhenghong lifted her hand in promise, as if swearing an oath to the heavens.
Granny Tang glanced at her, seeing her teary eyes, and scoffed, "Only you would believe his words."
If it were Zhao Youwei, she might believe it, but not Chen Jian Country.
The Chen and Tang families have been in-laws for over twenty years, so how could she not know Chen Jian Country’s nature over these years?
If she paid back this ten thousand today, Chen Jian Country would lose twenty or thirty thousand tomorrow.
"I have no money," Granny Tang spread her hands and refused directly.
Her money was from the filial piety of her three sons and one daughter, not for Chen Jian Country to gamble away. Even with mountains of gold and silver, one couldn’t keep up with Chen Jian Country’s squandering.
"Mom, please help me, will you just watch your daughter divorce?" Tang Zhenghong had been flattering Granny Tang for days, not daring to speak up, worried it would ruin the mood before Lian Qingyang’s wedding.
Now that Lian Qingyang was married, Tang Zhenghong had planned to speak on the way home. Still, when pressured by Granny Tang, she laid everything bare.
"What’s the deal with Chen Gang?" Granny Tang moved on, asking about the two thousand concerning Chen Gang.
Bringing up Chen Gang, Tang Zhenghong felt upset, but she thickened her skin for the sake of her son’s marriage. "Well, since Chen Gang is of marriageable age, he got engaged."
"What kind of girl demands a bride price of two thousand? Doesn’t she know the Chen family’s situation?" Granny Tang’s words left Tang Zhenghong speechless.
Granny Tang’s eyes widened as she scolded, "What, cat got your tongue now?"
Tang Zhenghong explained that the girl’s family was poor and had a paralyzed father.
"Ha."
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