After my father-in-law died, the family hen suddenly started laying golden eggs.
The bright egg sat there on the table.
So bright it nearly blinded me.
But my mother-in-law only stared at his portrait, weeping.
"The old man knew how poor we were. He couldn't bear to leave me here alone to suffer."
"Last night he came to me in a dream, on purpose, and sent this hen that lays golden eggs."
"He said whichever of you children is the most dutiful, the hen goes to that one!"
My sister-in-law and I glanced at each other, both of us unable to hide the excitement in our eyes.
Back when we were paying for my father-in-law's treatment, the family had piled up a mountain of debt.
The children's tuition, next month's grocery money, none of it was covered yet.
If we could have that hen, every one of those problems would sort itself out.
I was about to step forward and speak up, when I heard the old ox lowing in the yard.
"Silly girl, don't believe her."
"That's no golden egg. That's money to buy a life."
"The old woman means to trade away your years to stretch out her own!"
……
In the moment I stood there dazed, Daisy Gray had already dropped to her knees.
Thud, thud, thud, three loud kowtows to my mother-in-law.
"Mom, what are you saying? Isn't being good to you the most natural thing in the world?"
"From the day I married in, you've treated me like your own daughter."
"Even without this golden egg, I'd still owe it to you to take care of you."
My mother-in-law nodded, satisfied, then turned her eyes to me.
I hadn't come back to myself yet before Daisy cut in ahead of me.
"My sister-in-law came from the city. She's never thought much of country folks like us."
"Not long ago I even heard her on the phone with my brother-in-law, saying she wanted to take the kids and move to the city."
"Mom, her heart left this place a long time ago. Taking care of you in your old age, that'll be up to me and your younger son."
As she spoke, Daisy poured a cup of hot coffee.
Blew on it, and eagerly held it out to my mother-in-law.
"I'm not the kind who forgets a kindness."
"You've been good to me, and I'll be dutiful to you like you're my own mother!"
My mother-in-law's stiff face softened a little.
She picked up the golden egg from the table and put it in Daisy's hands.
"Nolan's wife really does have a heart. This first golden egg is yours."
"The rest depends on how you two do from here on out."
The heavy golden egg glittered in the sun.
Daisy bit down on it and grinned so wide her mouth wouldn't close.
"This has to be fifty grams. Worth a fortune."
"Mom, you just wait. I'll go make dinner right now, and I'll take such good care of you you'll live to a hundred!"
A fifty-gram golden egg, at today's gold price, was at least fifty thousand.
More than half a year of Otto Gilbert breaking his back on the construction site.
I stamped my foot, sick with regret.
I wanted to step in and explain, but that heavy, aged voice sounded in my ear again.
"Don't! That egg is for buying a life. Whoever takes it dies."
"You just clawed your way back from death. Don't you dare do something you'll regret!"
The foot I'd started to lift hung in the air.
I froze in place again.
This time, without waiting for me to say another word,
my mother-in-law impatiently drove me out.
As I left, she made a point of reminding me.
"Nolan's wife, I know you've got schemes running in your head. But take my advice and don't try anything sly."
"I'm the only one who knows the secret to the golden eggs. Steal the hen and it'll do you no good!"
The words left my face red with anger.
They say old folks dote on the youngest.
My in-laws were both honest, decent people, but even they couldn't rise above that.
All these years it was Otto and I who'd put in the most money and the most work.
Yet in my mother-in-law's heart, we could never measure up to sweet-talking Daisy and her husband.
I went back to my room with a bellyful of grievance, no heart even to cook.
And of all times, right then, a cry of alarm came from outside.
"Daisy, something's happened!"
"Your little boy went down to the river to play in the water and drowned!"
