Chapter 3The Martydom Addiction

I thought that was the end of it. But as soon as we got home, Mom called our aunt to complain.

From the balcony, I heard her wailing.

"Sigh, who has a harder life than me? My clothes are practically rags, and I don't have money to replace them."

I don't know what my aunt said on the other end.

Mom's voice suddenly pitched up. "Enjoy life? What enjoyment? I can't sit still at home. My daughter-in-law does nothing all day. She sits at a computer writing 'novels.' When she gets bored, she goes shopping. So idle... I think I need to find a job. It'll be hard work, but at least I can help the family so my son doesn't have to work so hard."

My aunt must have asked what job she found.

"I saw some landscapers planting flowers by the road the other day. I asked if they were hiring. They said yes. Three thousand a month. Start at 6:30 AM, two-hour break at noon, off at 6:30 PM."

"I think it's good. I can make money and not rot at home."

Standing in the living room, my blood began to boil.

"Mom!" I shouted.

She jumped, quickly hung up the phone, and came back inside. "Why are you yelling?"

"Are you seriously going to get a job?"

She knew she couldn't hide it. "Yes. I can't sit still. Unlike your sister-in-law, I wasn't born with a silver spoon. I already booked a physical exam at the hospital. If I pass tomorrow, I start work."

I almost passed out from anger. "With your health? Planting flowers under the blazing sun? Are you insane? Do you know how hot it gets? If you get heatstroke, who pays for the hospital? The three thousand you earn won't even cover the ambulance ride!"

She pouted. "It's not like I'm under the sun all day. Besides, if other people can do it, why can't I?"

"Those other people don't have children sending them thousands of dollars a month! Do you know how much we give you? Do you need to do manual labor?" I was on the verge of a breakdown.

Seeing my state, she stopped arguing.

But she still wanted the job.

Then she muttered, "A household shouldn't have two idlers sitting around doing nothing."

Sarah, who had just walked in the door, heard every word. Her face dropped instantly.