Ten Years Married, My Daughter-in-Law Wanted Three Hundred Thousand Back

The old house back home was set for demolition, and I was just about to bring it up at the dinner table. My daughter-in-law spoke first. "Mom, my brother's getting married!" I'd watched her brother Robert grow up. As an elder, of course I'd help out with his wedding. But before I could say a word, she set down her chopsticks, her voice turning serious, edged with complaint. "Mom, you should pay back the bride gift you owe me from before. Robert's still short for the wedding."