It was already beyond her expectations that the dish turned out this flavorful.

“What? You guys really aren’t going to eat?” Jian Xiu asked again, glancing at everyone.

“I’ll give it a try!” Zhang Zixuan, who was sitting in a wheelchair, was the first to respond.

He picked up a piece with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The moment he tasted it, his eyes widened in shock.

“Are you sure this is pig offal?”

“Of course! Didn’t you watch me clean it this morning?” Jian Xiu replied with a playful smile.

Then, with a proud expression, she asked, “So? Isn’t it delicious?”

“It really is! This recipe will definitely sell!” Zhang Zixuan said as he picked up another piece, clearly unable to stop himself.

Seeing this, Zhang Zhiyong couldn’t hold back any longer. Mimicking Zhang Zixuan, he carefully picked up a piece and put it in his mouth…

Sure enough, his chopsticks kept returning to the plate of pig offal.

“I never thought pig offal could taste like this!” Zhang Zhiyong laughed.

As he spoke, he deliberately picked up a piece and placed it in Huang Chunzhi’s bowl. “Try it! I promise you won’t regret it.”

Hearing Zhang Zhiyong’s confident tone, Zhang Haifei and his wife became curious.

Their family sold pork, so they were extremely familiar with the taste of pig offal.

Seeing how much everyone was enjoying it, they decided to give it a try.

The moment they swallowed the first bite, their expressions mirrored Zhang Zhiyong’s—full of astonishment.

“Jian Xiu, how did you cook this? It’s way too delicious! If we didn’t already know it was pig offal, we wouldn’t have been able to tell! There’s not even a hint of that usual gamey smell!”

“So, do you all think it’s good? Or is there anything that needs improvement?” Jian Xiu asked everyone.

“Improve it? If I say it’s too good, would you think I’m exaggerating?” Lin Xia asked with a smile.

“Not at all! Because I think it’s delicious too!” Jian Xiu replied proudly.

At this, everyone burst into laughter, and the small courtyard filled with lively energy.

---

At the Old House.

“Why isn’t dinner ready yet? It’s already so late!” As soon as Old Madam Liu arrived home, she pointed at her three daughters-in-law and questioned them.

Hearing this, the eldest daughter-in-law, Fang Miaojun, rolled her eyes.

“Mother, you know how badly Zirong is injured this time. A whole day has passed, and he still can’t move. I just can’t find the time to cook!”

“Oh? Sister-in-law, that’s interesting. When the fourth household was still here, Zixuan was bedridden for two years, yet didn’t Fourth Sister-in-law still manage to do everything? How come when it’s your turn, suddenly nothing can be done?”

The second daughter-in-law, Chen Sixi, said mockingly.

The third daughter-in-law, Wang Xiuying, stayed silent.

She knew that if she spoke, both the eldest and second households would turn on her.

She had no choice.

They both had two sons each, which made them the pride of the Zhang family.

She, on the other hand, only had one son. And in the Zhang family, daughters were considered money-losing burdens.

So at this moment, how could she dare say anything?

But just because she remained silent didn’t mean she could avoid being dragged into the argument.

“Third Sister-in-law, Eldest Sister-in-law says she’s taking care of Big Brother, but what about you? Who are you taking care of?”

Chen Sixi turned her attention to Wang Xiuying.

Among the three daughters-in-law, Chen Sixi was the most aggressive.

Not only did she have two sons, but she also had five older brothers from her maiden family. This was rare in the surrounding villages.

Everyone in Chen Village knew that she was the only daughter of the Chen family, their youngest child, and was pampered beyond belief.

When she got married, her dowry was so generous that even the whole Chen Village was envious.

Because of this, the Zhang family also gained prestige.

That’s why among the daughters-in-law, Old Madam Liu favored Chen Sixi the most.

After all, who wouldn’t dote on the one who brought the biggest dowry?

And so, in the Zhang family, Chen Sixi was the most arrogant.

“Second Sister-in-law, I was just working in the fields. You saw me return right before Mother did,” Wang Xiuying explained softly.

“Enough nonsense! If you’re back, go make dinner!” Old Madam Liu shouted at Wang Xiuying.

Ever since the fourth household moved out, she had felt that something was off.

She just couldn’t put her finger on what exactly was wrong.

“Why is the pig squealing so much? Did no one feed it today?” Old Madam Liu continued.

This time, Wang Xiuying pretended not to hear and focused on cooking.

She had heard Old Madam Liu assign this task to the second household earlier in the morning.

Now she was curious to see how they would explain themselves.

“Mother, you can’t blame me! I was about to go feed the pig this morning, but right when I was leaving, Eldest Sister-in-law stopped me and said she’d do it instead.”

“Eldest daughter-in-law, is this true?”

“You wretched liar! How dare you slander me?!” Fang Miaojun shouted at Chen Sixi.

Meanwhile, Wang Xiuying secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She had worried the blame might fall on her, but luckily, she had gone to work in the fields that day.

Otherwise, she would have been beaten again.

“I… I didn’t slander you! Many people heard it. If you don’t believe me, ask San Tou and Si Tou.”

“Pfft! San Tou and Si Tou are your sons! Of course, they’d take your side. If you don’t believe me, we can wait for my son Tianyi to return and let him decide.”

Tianyi was Fang Miaojun’s eldest son, Zhang Tianyi, who was currently studying at Hua Heng Academy in the county.

He carried the entire family’s hopes on his shoulders.

The position of the eldest son and heir wasn’t only important in aristocratic families—it mattered just as much in rural villages.

Fang Miaojun was smart.

She knew that by bringing up her son at this moment, no one would dare speak against her.

After all, the family was still living together. If her son became successful, the second and third households would have to rely on her family’s goodwill.

How could she not feel smug?

Hearing Fang Miaojun’s words, Chen Sixi was furious but had no way to refute her.