Dear Ayi,
I have to spend the Spring Festival with my husbands family, again. Its bad enough to abandon my own parents during the holidays, but my mother-in-law expects me to do all the housework when Im over there. Can you help?
No need to ask your husband the age old question: Who will he save first if both you and his mother are drowning? That woman is clearly an 惡婆婆 (-p5po, evil mother-in-law), and youre the 好吃懒做 (h3och~ l2nzu7, lazy glutton) squandering her sons hard-earned money. She apparently wants to 给你点儿颜色看看 (g0i n@ di2nr y1ns- k3nkan, “teach you a lesson”), but if you dont want to get bossed around like a 老妈子 (l2om`zi, “old nanny”), you can tell that 妈宝男 (m`b2o n1n, mommas boy): 老虎不发威,你当我是病猫? (L2oh^ b& f`w8i, n@ d`ng w6 sh# b#ngm`o? Dont misjudge a calm tiger for a sick cat.) If he doesnt step up, dont waste your time with him: My sons worked a steady job since getting out of prison, and I always do the dishes in my house.
Got questions for our Agony Ayi? Send them to agonyayi@theworldofchinese.com