She didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of the fourth household, nor did she want to live every day like a doormat.

Seeing their eldest son in such a state, Old Madam Liu and Old Man Zhang naturally felt worried.

At this moment, even though a few dozen copper coins were a painful expense, they could still afford it.

Without hesitation, Old Madam Liu ran into her room and brought out twenty copper coins.

“Hurry, hurry, hurry! Go get Doctor Zhang!”

“I’m going now! I’m going now!”

Meanwhile, Jian Xiu was still leisurely enjoying her meal, completely unbothered and without a trace of guilt over Zhang Zirong’s condition.

After all, if she weren’t a transmigrated post-apocalyptic special agent, she might have been the one lying underground instead.

A grown man like him had the nerve to come at her with a hoe, and she had merely injured him slightly—she figured she was already being merciful.

To everyone’s surprise, not only did Doctor Zhang arrive, but the village head, Zhang Wenyuan, came along as well.

As soon as Old Madam Liu saw the village head, she acted as if she had found her savior and immediately started complaining.

“Zixuan’s wife, is what your mother-in-law said true?” Zhang Wenyuan asked Jian Xiu.

“It’s true!” Jian Xiu answered without hesitation.

“Why did you do it?”

“Village head uncle, just look at my three children, then look at the children of my eldest, second, and third sisters-in-law. My kids are skin and bones, but theirs? And what about Zixuan? The doctor already said he needs proper nourishment. If he doesn’t get it, I don’t even dare imagine what might happen.”

“You wicked woman! You killed my pig, which was just starting to gain weight, just to feed that useless cripple in your house! Why don’t you just ascend to heaven while you’re at it?”

“Village head, did you hear that? Even in front of you, she calls her own son a useless cripple. Imagine what our fourth household’s life is like when you’re not around.”

As she spoke, Jian Xiu even wiped away a fake tear and continued,

“All those chickens, ducks, and pigs were raised by our fourth household, but we never even got a single bite of meat. Not even during New Year’s celebrations! We’ve never had a full meal! And you still think I’m the one being unreasonable?”

Hearing this, Chief Village Zhang Wenyuan immediately turned to scold Old Man Zhang.

“Old Man Zhang! I’ve always known you were biased toward your first three sons, but Zixuan is also a child I watched grow up. He has always been obedient and sensible, yet despite knowing the dangers of escorting goods, he still risked his life to earn money for this family. And look at how you treat him! You’ve truly lost your mind in your old age!”

Before the village head could finish, Doctor Zhang quickly stepped forward and said,

“I believe Zirong is injured internally. I don’t have any way to treat him here—you’d better take him to the county for another doctor.”

“What? Go to the county?” Old Madam Liu’s eyes widened in shock.

Seeing her reaction and recalling her past behavior, Doctor Zhang hurriedly slipped away.

Before coming, he had already accepted five copper coins from Fang Shi.

As for the consultation fee just now, he decided not to even ask for it—he knew too well that it would be impossible to get any money from Old Madam Liu.

“Mother, mother, what should we do about Zirong’s condition…”

“What happened?” Zhang Wenyuan asked again.

“Village head, look at Zirong! You heard what the doctor said! My perfectly fine son has been injured like this—what are we supposed to do?” Old Madam Liu cried out.

“You’re saying Zixuan’s wife did this?” Zhang Wenyuan asked in disbelief.

“Yes! I’m not falsely accusing her—everyone saw it!”

“Zixuan’s wife, is this true?”

“Yes, I did it.”

“What exactly happened?” Zhang Wenyuan asked again.

“Village head, my eldest and second brothers-in-law picked up a hoe and came at me, a defenseless woman. If I hadn’t fought back, I’d already be meeting the King of Hell by now.”

“Nonsense! You injured my son, and now you’re twisting the truth!”

“Village head uncle, everyone in Zhangjia Village knows what kind of person my mother-in-law is. I, Jian Xiu, have always believed in not attacking unless provoked. If they hadn’t pushed me too far, why would I fight back? Over the years, I’ve suffered countless grievances in this household. Even if I never said anything, you must have noticed.”

Hearing this, Zhang Wenyuan’s judgment naturally tilted in Jian Xiu’s favor.

He had never thought much of Old Madam Liu, and now, after Jian Xiu’s explanation, any lingering sympathy he had was completely gone.

He even turned to Old Man Zhang and asked, “So you just let your sons attack Zixuan’s wife like this?”

Old Man Zhang: “…”

“Forget it! I can’t handle your Zhang family’s affairs anymore. I was thinking that if you wanted to divide the household, I could help mediate. But now I see that you don’t deserve any sympathy at all.”

“No way, village head! Didn’t you see? That wretched woman slaughtered my entire pig! Is there no justice left in this world?”

“But that pig was raised by Zixuan’s wife, wasn’t it?”

“I don’t care! This household must be split today, whether you agree or not!”

Old Madam Liu continued with her usual shamelessness, refusing to back down.

Since he was already here, Zhang Wenyuan decided to settle this matter once and for all.

Turning to Jian Xiu, he asked, “Zixuan’s wife, didn’t you say before that you wanted to split the household? Why have you changed your mind?”

“Village head uncle, it’s not that I changed my mind, but if our family of five is kicked out just like this, we’ll either starve or freeze to death. In just a few months, winter will come. With my in-laws’ personalities, it would be more accurate to say we’re being driven out rather than being fairly separated.”

Hearing this, Zhang Wenyuan was stunned.

He thought to himself: This woman really thinks ahead.

Everyone knew Old Man Zhang and Old Madam Liu were notorious for being stingy and harsh.

Now that things had come to this, there was no way they would let Jian Xiu’s family take anything valuable when leaving.

At least by staying in the Zhang household, they could survive.

If they were kicked out in the middle of winter, they’d surely freeze to death.

With this realization, Zhang Wenyuan naturally stood on Jian Xiu’s side.

So, he turned to Old Man Zhang and asked, “What do you plan to do now? Don’t try to say anything about the fourth household. I don’t know much, but I do know that when Zixuan was still able to work, he earned quite a lot from escorting goods. Are you seriously telling me that you and your wife haven’t saved up even a single coin?”