Anyone else with two daughters at her age would be enjoying their lives with their children providing for them. No one else was like her and had to spend within her daughters' budget for her. Her daughters were terribly selfish. The mention of money was as taboo as death.
"She's so brilliant now. Your dad's helping her and she has such a capable husband. I gave birth to her and raised her but I have to live in fear of her. Your dad's still angry at me. I've thought it through. I can't win against that wretched girl. I have only a few more years left to live. I don't want to kick up a huge fuss. There's no point in living such a rowdy life. Forget about going overseas. I'm tired of all that. I'm thinking that your dad should come and visit me now that I'm sick and hospitalized."
In short, Qiao Nan was someone she couldn't afford to provoke. Qiao Nan could call on anyone around her to support her and she wouldn't be able to handle that pressure.
