Watching the Monkey Show

Grandma Evans didn’t even bother going home; fuming, she stomped straight to Lily Evans’s house.

On the way, she ran into several young wives out with their kids, setting off firecrackers. Spotting Grandma Evans—who hadn’t shown her face in ages—heading toward Lily Evans’s place, one of the women covered her mouth and teased, “Oh, is the old lady off to visit relatives?”

Grandma Evans spat, annoyed, “Relatives with that wretched girl? Don’t be ridiculous! Go play with your firecrackers!”

Everyone in the village had received New Year’s gifts from Lily Evans’s family. Having benefited, they naturally paid close attention to her household’s affairs. So, a crowd giggled and followed behind Grandma Evans, eager to see what this feisty old lady was up to.

Grandma Evans stomped up to Lily’s door and saw Lily Evans and a few children putting up Spring Festival couplets. She shouted from afar, “You wretched girl! Setting off fireworks during New Year’s—blinding everyone!”

Lily Evans turned around, “Oh, Grandma, you’re here. We set off our fireworks at our own house—how could it possibly blind you from so far away? Maybe there’s something wrong with your eyes and you’re here to blame me for money?”

The young wives who’d followed Grandma Evans burst out laughing and started pointing at her.

Grandma Evans huffed, “Lily Evans, you gave every family in the village New Year’s gifts. I’ve come for our share! I’m your grandmother, so you should give my family at least ten times more!”

“Why should I give your family New Year’s gifts?” Lily Evans blinked innocently.

“Because I’m your grandmother!” Grandma Evans snapped.

Lily Evans scoffed, “Grandma, since when have you ever treated me like your granddaughter? Your whole family can’t wait for me to drop dead, and now you’ve got the nerve to come asking for gifts.”

Everyone in the village knew the situation between the two families. Calling them relatives was a stretch—they were more like enemies. When Lily nearly drowned, everyone knew it was May Parker who did it, but the Evans family used their connection with Governor Yao to bully others and get May Parker off the hook.

Of course, the authorities had their verdict, but the villagers had their own sense of justice. Everyone knew May Parker had pushed Lily Evans into the river in the dead of winter, nearly killing Lily and her husband.

That was a life-and-death grudge; Lily was merciful not to burn the Evans family to the ground. And now they had the gall to ask her for New Year’s gifts? Shameless!

This time, Grandma Evans threw all dignity aside, plopped herself down on the ground, and started making a scene—crying and rolling around. Lily Evans, exasperated, ignored her, took her family back inside, and shut the gate. No matter how wildly Grandma Evans acted, no one paid her any mind.

The young wives watching were thoroughly entertained, as if they were watching a monkey show.

“Stop howling! The door’s closed—who are you performing for now?” someone called out.

“Let the old lady roll around a bit longer! It’s New Year’s—free entertainment!”

“Yeah, yeah, Grandma, keep going! Make it even louder!”

Seeing that her tantrum wasn’t working on Lily Evans, Grandma Evans had no choice but to get up, dust herself off, curse at the young wives, and head home with her money.

She hadn’t gotten any meat from Lily Evans’s house, and her cravings only grew. Suddenly, inspiration struck—she knew exactly where to get some!

Grandma Evans turned a corner and headed to Sam Evans’s house. As she neared the yard, the smell of meat wafted out, making her eyes light up with greed. She hurried inside.

The Evans family was in the middle of their New Year’s Eve dinner—meat, eggs, and pork dumplings made with white flour filled the table.

“Mom, why aren’t you at home for New Year’s dinner? What brings you here?” Sam Evans stared in surprise as Grandma Evans barged in.

But Grandma Evans only had eyes for the plate of meat. She snatched the chopsticks from Lana Evans, shoved her aside, plopped down, and stuffed a huge chunk of meat into her mouth.