Compared to Zhang Zifu, Wang Xiuying had more opinions on many matters.

Although she spoke less, she understood things more clearly than anyone else.

Originally, she hadn’t thought about dividing the family, but for some reason, at this moment, she really wanted to do so.

Especially when she saw the area at the end of the village, Wang Xiuying wanted it even more.

She could already imagine how warm it would be inside.

Zhang Zifu, who was following Wang Xiuying, also fell into deep thought when he heard her words.

“If the fourth branch dares to separate and live on their own, we, the third branch, with everyone in good health, can’t possibly not survive, right?” Wang Xiuying spoke again.

“But in the current situation, our parents might not agree to us separating.”

Sure enough, after hearing this, Wang Xiuying also fell into thought.

After a long while, Wang Xiuying spoke again, “No matter what, we have to try. Otherwise, we, the third branch, will have no place to stand in that house. Look at how we’re living now. Which family is forced to go out and gather pig feed in the middle of the night?”

“I know, I’ll think of a way!” Zhang Zifu said truthfully.

He hadn’t thought about this idea before, but after hearing his wife’s complaints tonight, the thought suddenly arose.

“Alright, stop thinking now. Hurry up and finish gathering the pig feed and go back! Otherwise, we won’t get any sleep tonight, and we still have to get up early tomorrow to work in the fields!”

“Okay, I’ll listen to you!”

Now that they only had one pig, it was much faster for the couple to gather the pig feed together.

In no time, they had a basket full of feed.

As they passed by the thatched house again, Zhang Zifu stopped.

“Xiuying, did you hear that? It sounds like someone is inside.”

“It seems like there is. Could it be that Fourth Sister-in-law hasn’t gone to bed?”

“Shall we go in and have a look?” Zhang Zifu asked again.

In the past, at the old house, only he and Zhang Zixuan had a better relationship.

When Zhang Zixuan was paralyzed at first, Jian Xiu couldn’t carry him, so most of the time, it was Zhang Zifu who helped.

But later, Zhang Zifu grew thinner, and it was only then that Jian Xiu could carry him.

“Isn’t it a bit late for that?” Wang Xiuying hesitated.

“I’m worried they might need our help. You know, Fourth Brother… in his condition…”

“Then what are we waiting for?”

In the small yard of the thatched house, after confirming that the women had fallen asleep, Zhang Zixuan sat in his wheelchair and slowly moved out.

Maybe it was because he had been eating well lately and had gained some strength in his arms, or maybe his mood had gradually improved.

This time, he didn’t rely on anyone; he managed to get into the wheelchair on his own.

There were still many bamboo shoots that needed to be peeled and some plantain grass that hadn’t been cleaned yet.

He was different from Jian Xiu, who had to carry things back and forth, which was very labor-intensive.

He, however, mostly sat down and did some work with his hands and feet.

However, before he could peel a few bamboo shoots, he heard a knock on the door.

“Jian Xiu, are you awake?” Outside, Wang Xiuying whispered.

Hearing Wang Xiuying’s voice and then some sounds from Zhang Zifu, Zhang Zixuan moved his wheelchair toward the door.

But after walking a few steps, Zhang Zixuan turned back and took a long look at the bamboo shoots and plantain grass.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the third branch, but he knew that these things were the only things keeping their family going now.

They couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.

When he opened the door, the couple stood there with their baskets on their backs.

Seeing the baskets, Zhang Zixuan could roughly guess that they had been sent out to gather pig feed.

After so many years in the old house, he knew their personalities well.

It could be said that after the fourth branch separated, the third branch would be the ones to suffer.

“It’s so late, are you two out gathering pig feed?” Zhang Zixuan quietly asked.

He stood at the door, clearly not intending to invite them in.

The couple hadn’t planned to go inside. They knew that the children were already asleep.

But at this moment, their thoughts weren’t about whether to enter but rather on Zhang Zixuan.

“Fourth Brother, what is this…” Zhang Zifu asked, staring at Zhang Zixuan’s wheelchair.

“This is a wheelchair, made by your sister-in-law,” Zhang Zixuan said softly.

“So, Fourth Brother, now that you’re sitting in this wheelchair, can you go anywhere?”

“Yes, I can. I can even weave some baskets to let Jian Xiu take to the market and try selling them.”

Seeing that the couple was looking into the house, Zhang Zixuan quickly moved his wheelchair out and said:

“Jian Xiu and the children are all asleep. I was just finishing up some things I hadn’t finished, that’s why I came out. I should go to bed soon.”

“Okay, Fourth Brother, then you go to bed. We were just passing by, and when we heard some noise from your yard, we thought we’d come over and see if everything was alright. If there’s nothing, you should go to bed, and we should go back too.”

“Alright, you two go back.”

Fortunately, it was the third brother. If it had been Zhang Zhirong or Zhang Zihua, he wouldn’t have even bothered to say a word to them.

But when he saw the couple heading back, Zhang Zixuan couldn’t bear it.

He called out to them: “Wait a minute!”

“Fourth Brother, what’s wrong? Do you need help?” Zhang Zifu quickly asked.

“Just wait!” Zhang Zixuan didn’t answer but instead asked another question.

He then went inside and soon came out with two servings of rice.

“This is what we had left from dinner. Take it with you and eat on the way.”

“No, no, we can’t take this. You two already have little to eat as it is. This could feed your whole family for a day.”

Zhang Zifu refused to take it.

“Take it. I still have some, and besides, we both know what those people at the old house are like. Do you think there will be food waiting for you when you go back now? Not just you two, but I bet Wutou and Daya also have nothing left.”

With their parents away, no one to care for them, and the children having no food left.