Shipin Dalizheng

Unexpectedly, for the first time in her life, Zhou retorted, "How am I talking nonsense? Mother, we are both your sons, why are you so partial? I work day and night, and give you every penny I earn. My second sister-in-law sneaks out to visit friends, and when she comes home she has to eat the food I cook, but I have to go hungry and continue to work. Do I owe her something? I give you this money, and you say it's for San Ya's dowry. Do you believe it, mother? Don't lie to me anymore. Men are unreliable, daughters are unreliable, only money is reliable. I don't care whether this family wants to be divided or not. In the end, no one can take a penny from me when I make money in the future."

Rong Dashan was shocked, "Mother Daya, what's wrong with you? Why am I unreliable?"

Zhou roared, "You're such a fool! You only care about being obedient and filial, and you don't care about how my daughter and I live. Yes, I haven't treated you unfairly, and you have enough to eat, but what about me and the children? We work just as hard, but combined we don't eat as much as Xiaobao alone. When we were starving, did you ever say a word for us or ask for half a steamed bun?"

Rong Dashan seemed to be struck by thunder and was unable to utter a word. After a long while, he said, "Whose family...isn't like this?"

"Yes!" Zhou scoffed. "Every family is like this. You two conspired to deceive me, telling me that Xiaobao would support me in my old age. I believed it, and for years I endured it in silence, letting my three daughters work like slaves and getting beaten and scolded by their mother. But what's going on now? Do you still say Xiaobao will support you?"

Rong Dashan trembled violently, "He, he..."

The Third Grandma cried out, "I'm going to die! What sin have I committed? Two aunts, picking a fight with a child."

Zhou was frantic at the moment, but her thoughts were clear. "Mom, don't accuse me of being too serious. After all, I don't owe the second wife anything. Don't tell my family that I have to rely on Xiaobao in the future. From now on, I won't rely on him anymore. I'll take the money I earn and support myself. Rong Dashan, if you agree, we can live together. If you don't agree, we can divorce. You and my parents can live together, and all the money you earn will be given to your nephew. He will support you in your old age. Whether the three of us live or die is none of your business. Anyway, you are only the children's father in name only, and you haven't really cared about them."

Rong Dashan was shocked again and again, feeling ashamed and confused. Was he really such a bastard in the past?

The Third Grandma was so angry that her chest heaved violently. In all the years she had been in charge of the family, her eldest daughter-in-law had never said a harsh word to her. This was crazy, really crazy!

"Dashan, if you still recognize me as your mother, then you..."

"Wife!"

The Third Master shouted angrily to stop her, pointing at Qian and saying, "Second brother's wife, it's your turn to cook today. From today on, if you continue to act silly and lazy, Erhe will divorce you. Second brother, from tomorrow on, you have to go to work, whether it's digging ditches or collecting firewood. If you don't work, you won't eat a single meal at home. And Xiaobao, a child of the same age, does whatever others do, collecting firewood, cutting grass. If he doesn't work, he won't have anything to eat either. Big brother, take your wife to your room and don't let her talk nonsense outside and embarrass herself. Erya..."

Looking at his second granddaughter, who was obviously older than Xiaobao but shorter than him, the Third Grandfather finally realized that he had treated his granddaughter unfairly and felt ashamed. "Go to the compound more often in the future. Do whatever the Third Grandfather asks you to do, and give the copper coins you earn to your mother."

Erya was already frightened and started crying when she heard the noise. She sobbed, "Grandpa, Grandma, don't blame Mom. She's just scared. Sometimes she cries out of hunger at night and just drinks a bucket of water to keep herself from crying. Grandpa and Grandma have sons, and my second uncle has a son, but she doesn't. She's afraid of starving and that no one will feed her. Grandma, please stop pushing her. It'll drive her crazy."

The third grandmother cried and cursed, "You silly girl, this is all my fault..."

"Old woman." The Third Master stopped her again and yelled at his sons, "Get out now, all of you!"

As soon as the younger generations left, the Third Grandfather glared at the Third Grandmother with bloodshot eyes, "Are you satisfied! Are you satisfied! You've broken up a family, and you're happy!"

The Third Grandma was so upset that she almost died. "You old idiot, are you blaming me? It was clearly that bitch Zhou who rebelled against Tiangang and wanted me to be stronger..."

"You are blind! Can't you see that she is crazy? You have driven her crazy! You damn stupid woman, why did you starve her? Is she greedy or lazy? Is there a lack of food and drink at home, and the whole family is starving to death? How cruel and evil must you be to do such a conscienceless and vicious thing! You spoil a good grandson to no end, and with that kind of personality, you expect him to support you in your old age, he is just a leech! When we die, he may not even tolerate his own parents."

The Third Grandma collapsed and wailed loudly, "How should I know she was that hungry? She only missed a few meals. In the past, she and the other maids just gave in and apologized, and I gave it to her. Who knew she would be so stubborn this time! Oh my God, what happened?! Everything was fine before, but since that man came, there hasn't been a single day of peace in our family. Why did you ask him to come back?"

The third master slapped her, and the third grandmother closed her mouth with a look of fear and disbelief.

Eighth Master’s house.

As soon as the Eighth Master returned home, he was pulled into the house by the Eighth Grandmother and asked what had happened. The Eighth Master refused to say anything, but after all, the Third Brother was the head of the clan and he couldn't lose face. Sooner or later, the news of something would spread in the village.

"It's nothing serious. Prince Tang has taken a fancy to Sanya from my third brother's family and wants to raise her. He said that when she grows up, she will be found a good family and can help support our brothers and nephews."

That’s right. In the Eighth Master’s opinion, that’s how things are. When a girl grows up, she will get married. The only difference is what kind of family she marries.

Eighth Grandma tutted her tongue, "This is just like Xiu. Although she suffered in her early years, she is now rich and noble, and has become a lady. San Ya is so lucky! Why didn't our brother Wang have such a good fortune?"

You see, this is what my wife thinks. I don’t know what’s going on with my third brother’s family. Prince Tang helps them raise the children and doesn’t let them spend a penny. It’s like he’s cutting off their flesh.

As they were talking, several children in the family came back. Some of them caught small fish, some picked up firewood, and some cut grass. No one came back empty-handed.

Grandma Ba said, "Hurry up and wash your hands and face, it's time to eat."

The eighth master also has two sons. The eldest son has two boys, and the youngest son has one girl and one boy. There is nothing regrettable about them, except that the youngest son's daughter is named Wangdi.

Chuncao had chosen the younger daughter-in-law to cook, so the older daughter-in-law took the initiative to take on the housework. When it came time to assign work, the eighth grandfather didn't ask for a spot and assigned both sons to dig ditches. With only two meals a day, it saved the family a lot.

During the meal, the Eighth Master paid close attention and saw that the old woman gave Wangdi a lot of food. He nodded. It seemed that Prince Tang hated people treating girls harshly.

After dinner, snacks were distributed. These were candies that the second daughter-in-law had brought back. She said they were broken and difficult to sell, so Chuncao had asked them to bring them back for the children. In fact, the second daughter-in-law had hinted that the candies were not a problem if they were broken, as they could be repaired. It was Prince Tang who was generous and willing to give sweet things to the children.

This Prince Tang is not a bad person. Anyone who knows how to care for children is not bad.

He smacked his lips as he watched the old woman distribute the candy. She pinched out four pieces from a small bag of candy and distributed them to the children, one piece for each child. It seemed fair, and the Eighth Master was quite satisfied. At least his old woman was more sensible than the Third Sister-in-law.

Who knew that after the candies were distributed, the little grandson grabbed his sister's piece as well, saying, "I want to eat it, give it all to me."