Chapter 5

My mom picked me up from school, and the atmosphere at home was unusually weird.

Grandma snorted when she saw my mom return, her nose practically turned up in the air.

My mom shielded me, not even glancing at Grandma.

Opening the door to our room, my mom froze in the doorway.

This room used to be the woodshed, quite spacious.

After my mom came back, she’d cleaned it up thoroughly.

She even learned to lay bricks herself, building a small enclosure in the northwest corner specifically for firewood.

The rest of the space was where my mom and I lived.

But now, the room was haphazardly piled with firewood, some even thrown directly onto the bed.

I stood frozen, not knowing what to do.

Seeing my expression, Grandma sneered.

“Elara, this afternoon someone contacted me about sending Iris away, and I’ve made arrangements.”

“You take Iris to meet them, see if they’re satisfied.”

I didn’t understand who Grandma meant by "meet them."

But I could visibly see my mom’s body sway.

I stepped in front of my mom.

“My mom isn’t going!”

Grandma’s eyes instantly widened. She grabbed a wooden stick, ready to strike me.

“You worthless burden! Who said you could speak here?!”

Before she could hit me, my mom blocked me.

I distinctly heard a dull thud.

It was the sound of a stick, thicker than my arm, hitting my mom’s back.

It was as if I saw countless past instances of the old widower throwing chairs and stools at us.

Grandma paused, then scoffed with disdain.

“Still so sentimental, huh? You’re just going to get married off anyway eventually.”

“Elara, I’m a mother too, so I’ll give you some advice.”

“Go with me to meet them in a bit, ask for a good price, and we can all be one happy family, right?”

Aunt Brenda, leaning against the door frame, watching the show, giggled in agreement.

“That’s right, Big Sister. Why get upset with the family over such a small thing?”

“You’ve delayed things for so long because of you. Just give a quick answer. Mom’s waiting for dinner.”

Grandma nodded in satisfaction.

“Exactly. Because you didn’t work this afternoon, there’s no food in the house now.”

“You’re going to let Brad starve after school? Get up quickly, go meet them!”

My mom didn’t say a word, just turned me around and felt me up and down, her head down.

“Iris, you weren’t hit, were you?”

Tears welling up, I shook my head. “Mom, *you* got hit.”

This was the first time I’d seen my mom treated like this in her own family.

And the first time I witnessed such heart-wrenching malice.

In that moment, I finally understood how forced my mom’s smiles were when she returned to Grandma’s house.

My mom forced a smile. “Mom’s fine, it doesn’t hurt.”

“Elara!”

My mom ignored Grandma. Grandma’s face grew as long as a donkey’s.

“What do you want?! I found such a good family for this worthless burden, and you’re still not satisfied?!”

“Don’t you forget where you’re living right now?!”

“Yes, I got married, so I’m like spilled water. I shouldn’t be living here.”

My mom gritted her teeth and stood up straight.

“But Mom, I never said anything before, but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand.”

“You want to send Iris away, isn’t it because that family is offering a lot of money, and you want to use it to support Dustin and his baby?”

Grandma’s face turned red, exposed.

“You, you…”

“Since you said it, from today onwards, Iris and I won’t be living here.”

“And, I also have a share in the family’s house and land. You didn’t give it to me when I got married; I want it now.”

My mom immediately took me inside to pack our things, and I helped too.

Only Grandma was absolutely livid.

“Elara, you ingrate! Have you lost your mind?!”

“What share? What share of yours? This is all for Dustin and Brad!”

“I’ve fed and housed you for so many years. I haven’t even asked you for elder care money, and you’re asking *me* for money first?”

“I’m telling you now, either you get rid of this burden, or you get out!”

My mom desperately held back her tears, silently packing our things.