"It's not a big deal. Your uncle is their son too. Giving him some money doesn't seem unreasonable," Zhu Yan probed.
The old woman snorted, not looking at Zhu Yan, and fixed her gaze on Feng Yaojun. "You know how much savings you have at home, don't you?"
A guilty flicker crossed Feng Yaojun's eyes.
Of course, he knew.
He had worked for many years, his salary was not low, and he wasn't extravagant. He had accumulated a considerable amount of savings.
Logically, it shouldn't have been spent so quickly.
Feng Yaojun didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Just then, Zhu Yan spoke up. "Mom, I manage everything at home. He wouldn't know. We really have no money."
"Is that so?" the old woman scoffed. "Ah Xu isn't married yet, and your savings are gone? Will you not even have money for the betrothal gifts in the future! Yaojun has worked for so many years, and your savings aren't even enough for a few days in the hospital. You're worse off than farmers in the countryside!"
Feng Yaojun remained silent. With his father present, he dared not lie and could only let Zhu Yan take the lead.
Zhu Yan, putting on a great performance, wiped away tears. "Mom, are you blaming me for not managing the household well? Ah Xu isn't married, but Feng Xue is! Her dowry, her wedding banquet, don't they all cost money?"
"Your words confuse me. How much betrothal gift did Ruan Tianyang give? You were the one who took it, weren't you? You were so eager to publicize it to the entire compound. Have you forgotten?"
Zhu Yan's face stiffened. She had shot herself in the foot.
"Show me your savings passbook. If there's truly no money left, we'll use our coffin money to pay for our son's medical treatment!"
The old woman's attitude was unyielding, forcing Zhu Yan to produce the passbook.
Feng Yaojun found it strange. He was certain there was still money in the account, yet Zhu Yan dared to take it out so readily.
Cheng You leaned over to take a look. The money in the passbook was enough to hire a caregiver for a few days but not for the surgery fee.
Feng Yaojun's eyes widened, and he looked at Zhu Yan with a questioning gaze.
Zhu Yan avoided his eyes and looked away. Kuaishu Ge.
"I told you it's all gone. Do you think I'd lie to you?"
Cheng You closed the passbook and said, "Grandma, I'll go and hire a caregiver."
"Oh, that would be wonderful. Cheng You, you're not short on money. Hire someone who can stay overnight. I've slept in the hospital for two nights, and my back and waist are aching," Zhu Yan said quickly.
The old woman stopped Cheng You and said sternly, "He is your husband. For the first half of his life, he gave all his earnings to you, hired a nanny, and took good care of you. Now that he is ill, taking care of him for a couple of days is your duty! In my opinion, there's no need to hire a caregiver. This is a good opportunity to show your marital affection!"
She felt sorry for her son but had no reason to make Cheng You pay.
It wasn't about the money; she simply couldn't stand Zhu Yan.
"However, since you have no money, your father and I cannot stand by and do nothing. From now on, give us the medical bills, and we will pay for Yaojun's treatment."
Zhu Yan's face darkened. "You're guarding against me."
"I am guarding against you. Shouldn't I be?" the old woman retorted.
As if they had a good mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship.
Zhu Yan let out a scoff. "Fine. From now on, I'll give you all your son's medical bills!"
Having lost an opportunity to get her hands on money, she was somewhat displeased.
After speaking, the old woman reminded Feng Yaojun to rest well before pulling Cheng You away.
As soon as they left, Zhu Yan immediately started cursing, "I've been married into the Feng family for decades, yet I'm still treated like a thief! Feng Yaojun, I must say, your parents are truly..."
Feng Xue couldn't cover her mouth in time. The next moment, the door opened again.
Cheng You poked her head in with a smile. "Auntie, be careful, walls have ears. If you truly think Grandpa and Grandma are bad, then don't expect their money."
With that, she chuckled and closed the door.
Zhu Yan gritted her teeth in anger. She was about to curse when she worried that the old couple was still outside.
She quickly opened the door, looked around, and breathed a sigh of relief when she confirmed no one was there.
"Pah! That brat!"
Feng Xue called out impatiently, "Mom, that's enough! How many times have I told you, 'Patience is a virtue that achieves great things.' We're after the inheritance. Can you stop being so impulsive?"
Zhu Yan sat down to the side with a dark expression.
Feng Yaojun finally couldn't help but ask, "Where did you put my money?"
Zhu Yan's back stiffened, and she pursed her lips.
"What money? Our family's condition is like this. Where would we have any money?"
Feng Yaojun grabbed the nearest object and threw it, shouting, "No money? Then have I been working for decades for nothing! Zhu Yan, I know exactly how much money is in our savings passbook. Don't try to fool me!"
Feng Xue listened, becoming increasingly annoyed. "Mom, where did you put the money?"
Zhu Yan pouted, her voice cold. "I lent it to your uncle to buy a house."
Feng Yaojun almost fainted from anger, his chest heaving violently, as if he were about to collapse.
"Isn't it enough that you've been subsidizing your maiden family all these years? You even lent the money for my medical treatment to your brother! Zhu Yan, are you trying to watch me die!"
Zhu Yan gave a cold laugh, her anger turning into rage as she yelled, "Are you done yet!"
She stood up and walked over with a clatter of her high heels.
"Your parents have money. Aren't you afraid you can't afford to see a doctor? If they could really watch you die, then you're a pathetic son! Besides, even if your parents don't give it, your niece has more money. It's not too much to ask her to be filial to you, is it? As for my brother, this is the only suitable house. If he doesn't buy it now, he won't be able to!"
Feng Yaojun clutched his aching chest, feeling that Zhu Yan's face was utterly unfamiliar.
The Zhu Yan he remembered, though shrewish, would usually act cute and soft when facing him.
For a moment, Feng Yaojun felt an emptiness in his heart.
Feng Xue glared at Zhu Yan. Feng Yaojun wasn't dead yet, and she could say such heartbreaking words.
"Dad, Mom didn't mean it like that. Don't take it to heart. Besides, the money was only lent, not given away. Uncle will return it."
Feng Yaojun sneered, "When has your uncle ever returned anything he took from our family?"
It was like throwing a stone at a dog.
Feng Xue remained silent, unable to refute.
Feng Yaojun felt a pang of panic at the thought of the money in the passbook being gone.
He glanced at Feng Xue and said, "Your child is gone. Did Feng Yaojie say nothing? Didn't he give you any compensation?"
Feng Xue's face showed embarrassment. Although it was an unspoken understanding, they rarely discussed such matters openly.
Especially since Feng Yaojie was Feng Yaojun's brother, saying it out loud made it even more shameful.
Zhu Yan had been busy with Feng Yaojun's illness and had indeed forgotten this matter.
"That's right, Feng Xue. He didn't give you any compensation? You're divorced now, and he hasn't made any gesture?"
Feng Xue felt ashamed to speak and didn't want to discuss it further.
"I'm divorced, but he's not. Even if he were divorced, would he marry me? Feng Xue covered her face and said.
Zhu Yan pouted. As long as Feng Yaojie wanted to, anything was possible. It wasn't like they were related by blood anyway.