Who understands? He traveled through time with a high-spec spatial ability.

In the Qiao family's old residence, Qiao Zhengguo sat on a bamboo chair in the main room, puffing on his pipe. Madam Xu remained silent, while the brothers Qiao Wanshi and Qiao Wanhe exchanged glances, each signaling the other to speak first.

Liu remained as taciturn as ever, but Huang could no longer contain herself.

“Mother, my elder brother’s family has really gone too far. They didn’t even tell me before they were collecting herbs to sell for money. We only found out when someone in the village saw Da Ya at the pharmacy in the county. They’ve been buying piglets, chickens, and ducks, and I heard they even got the village head to fence off some land, without ever thinking about you and Dad. Now that they have a formula to increase yields, they’ve already raised the seedlings before they went to the village head to discuss it, without even mentioning sending some over to you two. And that threshing machine—you and Dad are getting old, and they didn’t even offer to send it over for you to use first. They’ve used it themselves. It’s just too much!”

He looked indignant and stood up for the Xu couple.

Madam Xu glanced at her two sons, both of whom wore expressions of complete agreement. She sighed almost imperceptibly, her tone calm, "Second son's wife, what is your opinion on how this matter should be handled?"

Madam Huang was secretly delighted, but pretended to ponder for a moment before saying, "Of course, we should make them put you two, the elders, first in everything. At least half of the rice seedlings should be sent over, and the threshing machine should be brought over as well. Also, the money that Daya earned from selling medicine should be handed over. Whatever money a young lady needs, she'll definitely give it all to her elder brother. Isn't what her elder brother has yours?"

“That’s a good idea. In that case, second brother, you can give me the money from the eggs you sold a few days ago. I’ll ask the eldest brother for it later.”

Huang's eyes darted away. "Mother, what egg money? Everyone knows our second branch is the poorest. My husband works so hard, I gave him all the eggs." Her voice trailed off as she spoke. "Besides, haven't we separated the family now?"

As if she hadn't heard, Madam Xu spoke again, "Your father and I are getting old and can't do any more work. We might as well rely on you to support us in our old age. What do you think, second son?"

Qiao Wanshi quickly said, "Mother, you and Father are still young, what are you talking about being old? How can we let you and Father suffer?" As he spoke, he glared fiercely at Huang Shi.

Seeing this, Madam Xu turned to her youngest son and said, "Third son, what do you think? How about your father and I live with your third branch of the family?"

Qiao Laosan looked guilty. "Mother, you and Dad are overjoyed to have us as your sons, but we are really poor and we are afraid that we will make you and Dad suffer."

Xu felt a mix of emotions. In the past, she had favored her second and third sons, neglecting her eldest son. On the day the family property was divided, the eldest son had even offered to take care of her in her old age. She felt like her past self was a joke, and her children, whom she had genuinely loved, had disappointed her one by one.

She said slowly, "I used to favor you all, but now you all think I'm senile."

Everyone was shocked by these words. Huang said anxiously, "Mother, my elder brother's family is doing very well these days, it's only right that he should step forward." Xu glared at her, and Huang lowered her head guiltily, not daring to say another word.

"What, now that the family has split up, you're all clutching your purses tightly, afraid of giving away even a penny more. But when it comes to the eldest son's family, you suddenly become generous. I did favor you all in the past, and I wasn't entirely satisfied with the eldest son's wife. But look at you two, since the family split up, instead of thinking about how to manage the household well, you're only thinking about me getting things for you. As for the second son's wife, although I don't like the eldest son's wife, there's one thing about her: she never easily gives anything to her own family. Do you think I don't know what you gave your nephew?"

"What!" Qiao Wanshi never expected that Huang would secretly subsidize that good-for-nothing nephew behind his back. If he were a good one, it would be fine, but that person was spoiled by his parents-in-law and was extremely wicked.

Although Qiao Wanshi loved to take advantage of others, he was still a peasant at heart. Before the family division, he slacked off a bit because everyone ate from the same pot. After the division, he worked very hard, since he knew he could keep whatever he received. Therefore, he looked down on people who were lazy, good-for-nothing, and uneducated.

Huang was terrified, her face turning pale. She dared not look into her husband's eyes, which were practically spitting fire. "Daughter-in-law didn't, daughter-in-law just..." she stammered, unable to finish her sentence. She hated Old Madam Xu to the core. Wasn't my nephew also her relative? Did she have to embarrass me like this?

Madam Xu was angry that her daughter didn't know the importance of things. To Madam Xu, one was a distant nephew, and the other was her own son; there was no need to ask which was more important. Only Madam Huang was muddle-headed and didn't understand the situation. The two maids were about to be betrothed in the next two years; what were they going to do without some savings?

Madam Xu nodded slightly. "There's no need to say anything more. You came to me and I knew exactly what you were thinking. Now that the family has separated, how far things will go is up to you. The eldest son has his own plans, so let him be."

She glanced at the old man, her eyes asking if he had anything to say. Qiao Zhengguo, while adding tobacco, said, "I'll listen to your mother."

The group had no choice but to turn back to their own rooms. Qiao Wanhe had personally witnessed the benefits of the threshing machine and the rice seedlings, and he was extremely envious. However, his mother's attitude towards the eldest son's family had changed since the family split up, which troubled him greatly. Liu Shi noticed her husband's worries, and the usually quiet woman suddenly spoke softly:

"Two 'Qiao' characters are written in the same stroke; after all, they are brothers and uncles. My elder brother's family has so much work to do, they must need to hire people. I see they haven't cultivated many seedlings, so I'm afraid there's no hope of borrowing seedlings this year. In that case, why not look to next year? If you can build a good relationship with my elder brother, won't he think of you when it comes to rice seedlings next year? I don't think my elder brother is the kind of person who is heartless and ungrateful."

Qiao Wanhe was surprised that his wife not only spoke so much, but that every word she said made sense. He couldn't help but look at her a few more times, pondering what she had said.

Yes, he and his elder brother didn't have any real conflict. As for the relationship between sisters-in-law, his own wife and his two sisters-in-law had a so-so relationship, but his second sister-in-law and his elder sister-in-law were enemies. His second sister-in-law had teased Daya before, but he and Liu just stood by and watched, without escalating the situation.

If he lends a hand now when his older brother needs help, given his brother's personality, he definitely won't abandon him. This method works!

He looked at Liu with great satisfaction. Having been involved in cockfighting and gambling circles in the county town, he had seen a lot of the world and knew that people of a certain status understood the principle of marrying a virtuous wife.

He pounced on Liu, saying, "Yueyue is two years old now, it's time for you to give her a little brother." That would be the perfect wife for him.