Grandma Is the Boss

Grandma Evans's face changed instantly, and she snapped, "Ungrateful brat! Scheming against your own mother? I carried you for ten months, suffered so much just to give birth to you, and now you can't even share a little food? What kind of person are you!"

As she spoke, Grandma Evans stood up, yanked Lana Evans over, and twisted Lana's ear. "You spoil this useless girl with meat, but when it comes to honoring your parents, you suddenly get stingy?"

Lana Evans cried out in pain, her wailing making Grandma Evans irritable. With a slap, she barked, "Quit your howling! Bad luck to cry on New Year's! If you keep it up, I'll toss you to the wolves in the hills!"

Lana Evans, still young, was so frightened by Grandma Evans's threat that she dared not cry. She clutched her ear and sobbed quietly, which broke Susan Evans's heart. Susan rushed over to try and rescue her daughter.

But Grandma Evans refused to let go. The more Susan Evans tried to pull Lana away, the harder Grandma Evans twisted Lana's ear. Lana's face turned pale with pain and tears streamed down.

"I bet this useless brat ate the meat that was supposed to be for her grandma! Might as well sell her and use the money to buy more meat!" Grandma Evans said, yanking Lana Evans by the ear and making as if to drag her out to be sold.

Lana Evans was terrified, too scared to cry. Her little face turned blue and purple, afraid her grandma might really sell her.

Sam Evans and Susan Evans, along with Sean Evans, quickly chased after them. Sam Evans, ever the honest man, knelt before Grandma Evans and pleaded, "Mom, Lana's still just a child. If you're angry, take it out on us adults. Please, let Lana go!"

Seeing her son give in, Grandma Evans grew even more smug. She turned to Susan Evans and said, "See? Even your husband admits he's wrong. So why are you still standing there? Stingy with rice and meat, you can't even honor your mother-in-law. Do you admit your fault or not?"

Susan Evans clenched her teeth, wishing she could bite a chunk out of Grandma Evans, but seeing poor Lana Evans, she swallowed her anger, knelt beside Sam Evans, and said, "Mom, I know I was wrong."

Grandma Evans looked triumphantly at her kneeling son and daughter-in-law. "Hmph, see? It’s so much easier when you listen. Sean, go to your kitchen and move everything to mine—right now."

Sean Evans, eyes red, looked to his parents for instructions. This only made Grandma Evans angrier. She slapped Lana Evans again and shouted, "Useless brat! When Grandma tells you to do something, you do it! In this house, besides your grandpa, I’m the boss! Got it?"

Lana Evans clutched her swollen face, nodding desperately in fear.

Sean Evans didn’t dare look at his parents again. He hurried to the kitchen, packed up all the rice, flour, meat, and some food into a big basket, and carried it out.

Grandma Evans inspected the basket Sean Evans brought, checked the food inside, and finally satisfied, she let go of Lana Evans.

Grandma Evans sneered, "Don't you forget who's the boss here. That word 'filial'—burn it into your heart!" She jabbed Sean Evans hard on the forehead, scolding, "What are you standing around for? Move aside! Sean, grab the basket and follow your grandma!"

Sam Evans quickly pulled Susan Evans to her feet, while Susan clung tightly to Lana Evans, holding her as if she’d never let go.

Grandma Evans strode off, triumphant, with Sean Evans trailing behind, carrying the basket on his back.

Only after the two were out of sight did Susan Evans break down, clutching Lana Evans as she sobbed, "I thought splitting from the family meant life would get better. But every New Year, it’s the same old mess! She hits my daughter, takes our food… Sam, is she really your birth mother? She treats us worse than outsiders!"

Sam Evans squatted on the ground, clutching his hair in pain, sighing, "She really is... But after all, she’s still my mother…"