country bumpkin

Chapter 210 Celebrating the Lantern Festival

The day quickly arrived at the Lantern Festival. The soft sunlight shone on the village roads, draping the simple little village in a warm veil.

The town's market was bustling with activity, with colorful lanterns hanging all over the streets and alleys, and the air filled with the sweet aroma of glutinous rice balls and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares.

Early in the morning, Kong Xiangguang was preparing to go to the carpenter's shop as usual, but Wang Cuihua grabbed him, her eyes showing dissatisfaction: "Xiangguang, it's the Lantern Festival today, can't you take a day off and stay home with me?"

Kong Xiangguang said, "Why don't you take the children to the old house today? You won't have to bother cooking then."

Wang Cuihua said, "Going to the old house again? Look at your mother. Every year on this day, she's in the kitchen preparing glutinous rice balls and snacks for the second son's family. When has she ever been so attentive as to making them for us?"

Kong Xiangguang scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, "Cuihua, don't say that. Mother has always worked very hard. It's just a holiday." After saying that, he turned and went out the door.

Wang Cuihua watched Kong Xiangguang's retreating figure, her lips pursed, her dissatisfaction growing stronger. In the end, she reluctantly went to the old house, because she was too lazy to cook.

Around noon, Kong Xiangguang also arrived at the old house, and the family sat around the slightly dilapidated dining table.

At the dinner table, besides the family of four, there was Kong Xiangguang's mother, Mu Shuyun; his second brother, Kong Xiangdong; his sister-in-law, Zhou Caiyun; and their child, Qingsheng. Of course, little Yunya was also there.

Looking at the several dishes her children loved on the table, Wang Cuihua deliberately raised her voice: "Oh, Mom, this is such a feast today! These are all dishes that my second brother's family and Yunya love. Jianjun and Jianguo have been talking about braised pork for so long, but we've never even seen it before."

Mu Shuyun was slightly taken aback, and quickly explained, "Cuihua, we just wanted to make sure everyone could eat together and that the tastes were suitable for most people. We'll make braised pork again tonight."

Wang Cuihua snorted and stopped talking, but gave Kong Xiangguang a wink.

After dinner, the children played and laughed in the yard, while the adults went about their own business. Wang Cuihua pulled Kong Xiangguang into the inner room, and as soon as they entered, she began to wipe away her tears: "Xiangguang, are you really not able to see it or are you pretending? Your mother is so biased. She's so good to my second brother and her granddaughter. She buys new clothes and toys for my second brother's child, but what about our child? Last time my second brother's child was sick, Mother was busy taking care of everything. When our child had a fever, she only came twice. Also, when my second brother's family got a new wardrobe, Mother even helped them out with a lot of money. But when we wanted to replace our old table, she didn't say a word."

As Kong Xiangguang listened to these words, his brows gradually furrowed: "Cuihua, don't think nonsense, your mother is not that kind of person."

Upon hearing this, Wang Cuihua cried even harder: "You only protect your mother. Look at this family. Does anyone care about us? You, the eldest son, are not even as good as a granddaughter in your mother's heart."

At this moment, Mu Shuyun and her second daughter-in-law Zhou Caiyun were clearing away the dishes in the courtyard. Zhou Caiyun said softly, "Mother, my sister-in-law seems a little unhappy today."

Mu Shuyun sighed, "Sigh, I don't know what's wrong with her. She can't even have a peaceful Lantern Festival. We're all family, how can I not treat everyone equally? She's forgotten all the good things I did for her before."

As evening fell and the lanterns were lit, the village's Lantern Festival celebrations officially began. Children ran ahead carrying lanterns, with adults following behind.

Wang Cuihua kept a dark expression on her face, and Kong Xiangguang had lost his usual enthusiasm. The conflict finally erupted.

Wang Cuihua once again complained to Kong Xiangguang about her mother-in-law's faults, her voice growing louder and louder, attracting the attention of the surrounding neighbors.

Looking at the chaotic scene before him, Kong Xiangguang's heart gradually swayed towards Wang Cuihua.

Just then, the second brother, Kong Xiangdong, stepped forward: "Eldest brother, sister-in-law, you can't talk about Mother like that. Last time when sister-in-law was sick, Mother took care of her for several days and stayed up many nights. Have you forgotten all of that?" Zhou Caiyun nodded in agreement.

Hearing these words, Kong Xiangguang felt a little guilty. He looked at his mother, who was in tears, and then at Wang Cuihua, who was speaking with a straight face. He was at a loss for what to do.

Moonlight streamed through the window, filling the room with a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere.

Kong Xiangguang was filled with mixed feelings. He knew he had wronged his mother, but he didn't know how to face her. He knew he had been misled by his wife and had followed her train of thought.

Looking at Kong Xiangguang's expression, Wang Cuihua feared he had listened to Kong Xiangdong again, and that her performance would have been in vain. She stubbornly refused to admit her mistake, showing no remorse whatsoever.

That night, amidst the festive atmosphere of the Lantern Festival, the family was plunged into an unprecedented coldness and estrangement.

The relationship between Kong Xiangguang and Wang Cuihua was also quietly fractured because of this family turmoil.

What will become of this family in the future? How will Kong Xiangguang balance the relationship between his mother and wife? Everything is uncertain.

Kong Xiangguang felt too ashamed to stay in the old house any longer, so he took his children and wife home. Only then did the noisy commotion subside.

With tears in her eyes, Mu Shuyun said, "I don't think I've ever treated them badly. Xiangguang is the eldest son in the family, yet he thinks the same way about me, his mother."

Kong Xiangdong comforted her, "Mother, don't take it to heart by your sister-in-law and brother. Everyone in the village knows what kind of person your sister-in-law is. Your brother was bewitched by her. Don't be sad. I think he will come to his senses."

Zhou Caiyun also comforted her, saying, "Yes, Mother, everyone in the neighborhood and village knows what kind of person you are. My older brother knows it too; he's just been misled for a while and hasn't thought things through yet. Maybe he'll figure it out in a while."

Seeing her grandmother crying sadly, Yunya felt heartbroken and cried along with her. She silently cursed her aunt in her heart.

"Unfilial, troublemaker, wicked person. I hope she meets an even more awful daughter-in-law when she becomes a mother-in-law, so I can make her angry and torment her..."

Mu Shuyun felt distressed and saw Yunya crying as well, so she slowly stopped. She was afraid of frightening her granddaughter.

Yunya said, "Grandma, please don't cry. I will take care of you in the future. And also Mom, Second Aunt, Third Aunt, Second Uncle, and Little Uncle."

Mu Shuyun gently patted her head and said, "Good child, Grandma won't cry anymore. Grandma's eyes are just tired and she wants to rest."

Yun Ya helped Mu Shuyun into the bedroom, where Mu Shuyun lay down on the bed with her eyes closed to rest. Yun Ya also lay down beside her.

Kong Xiangdong and Zhou Caiyun closed the door and, carrying their child, prepared to go home. Just then, Kong Tongming returned from his elder brother Kong Tongyuan's house.

The three brothers gathered together today to drink and celebrate the Lantern Festival.

He was a little drunk, and Kong Xiangwei helped him back. Kong Tongming, not seeing Mu Shuyun, asked, "Second brother, where's your mother?"

Kong Xiangdong said, "Father, Mother is a little tired and is resting." Zhou Caiyun wanted to tell him what had happened, but Kong Xiangdong tugged at her arm, and she shut her mouth and didn't say anything.

Kong Xiangdong and Kong Xiangwei helped Kong Tongming to another bedroom. After helping Kong Tongming to bed, they each went home.

Yunya wisely didn't tell her grandfather about it. She knew it was the Lantern Festival, a day to celebrate, and she didn't want everyone to be unhappy.