You’ve got questions? she’s got answers(but you probably won’t like them)

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 好吃懶做?（h3och～ l2nzu7， lazy glutton） squandering her sons hard-earned money. She apparently wants to 給你點兒顏色看看?（g0i n@ di2nr y1ns- k3nkan， “teach you a lesson”）， but if you dont want to get bossed around like a 老媽子?（l2om`zi， “old nanny”）， you can tell that 媽寶男?（m`b2o n1n， mommas boy）： 老虎不發威，你當我是病貓？ （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