The old woman was savvy. She knew this wasn't the time to gloat, which would only make people resentful, so she joined them in lamenting her own hardships. After all, her son had moved to the county town with his wife right after they married to start their own life. If you really thought about it, she was a pitiful old woman, too.
Hearing her mention her unfilial son, everyone felt a sense of relief. Of course, every family had its own problems. Their own sons and daughters might not be as successful as their old friend's children, but at least they were close by. If they got sick or ran into trouble, there was someone to help and take care of them, and that was good enough.
"Don't say that. Your Mubo is in a tough spot, too. He married that woman and they have a son. If he just abandoned his wife and child to come live with an old woman like you, people would gossip about him just the same."
