After obtaining the information she wanted, Sun Meiping returned to the Zhao household, fuming with anger.

As soon as she stepped into the main room and saw Zhao Daqing looking frail and sick, with her husband and mother-in-law feeding him medicine, all the anger in her chest instantly vanished.

Looking at the pitiful old couple, Sun Meiping couldn’t bring herself to vent her frustration.

Holding back her temper, she took her daughter by the hand and returned to the small side room next to the main house.

This room had been prepared for the three of them to stay when they visited home.

Zhao Daqing saw the change in her expression and quietly took note of it.

To be honest, Zhao Daqing was completely disheartened by what his eldest son’s family had done—especially after he coughed up blood.

Their behavior afterward truly broke his heart.

“Using the donkey after it’s worn out” didn’t even begin to describe what Zhao Yongqiang had done.

Zhao Daqing was, after all, his biological father, and he had just knelt before the clan leader to plead for his life.

And yet, before things had even fully settled, Zhao Yongqiang had immediately abandoned his sick father, showing no concern at all.

It was truly heartless.

Zhao Daqing understood that because he had been biased toward the eldest son’s family, the second household had already cut ties with him.

If he continued down this road, the third household might also become disheartened.

If Zhao Yongqiang had shown even a bit of filial piety, Zhao Daqing would still have been willing to side with him, even at the cost of alienating the third household.

But now that he had fallen ill, Zhao Daqing realized that no matter how much he protected the eldest, his son took it for granted—never showing gratitude, much less any intention to repay the kindness.

The doctor’s words earlier made Zhao Daqing realize that he didn’t have much time left.

Before he left this world, he needed to arrange a future for his wife.

If he continued to shield the eldest son’s family like before, not only he, but also his wife, would be doomed.

Zhao Daqing felt that only now, at the end of his life, did he truly understand: reputation and others’ opinions were empty.

Only family was real.

Unfortunately, the second household had already cut ties.

He felt regret, but it also strengthened his resolve to finally act on the thoughts that had been weighing on his heart these past few days.

After taking his medicine, Zhao Daqing leaned against the bed and looked at Zhao Yongwen. “Third son, stay home tonight.”

Looking at his weak father, Zhao Yongwen nodded.

Seeing his son agree, Zhao Daqing forced a smile. “Go rest for a while. You’ve worked hard taking care of me.”

Zhao Yongwen looked at his father in surprise.

This was the first time his father had ever acknowledged his hard work.

In the past, their father always had a stern face.

No matter what the sons did, there was only criticism—never praise.

He was slightly better off since he was the studious one and got more affection.

But the second brother, being naughty, often bore the brunt of their father’s scoldings and beatings.

As for the eldest brother, he had always acted honest and steady.

At the slightest hint of disapproval from their father, he would immediately adjust his behavior to avoid making him unhappy.

At this point, Zhao Yongwen still foolishly believed that his eldest brother was genuinely honest and decent.

But reality was about to slap him in the face.

When Zhao Yongwen followed his father’s suggestion and went back to their small room to rest, he found his wife sitting on the bed, wiping away tears.

Their daughter was sound asleep beside her.

“Meiping, what’s wrong?” Zhao Yongwen hurried over and gently held her shoulders, concerned.

Sun Meiping turned away sharply and gave him a fierce glare.

If it weren’t for the child being present, or the two elders next door, she would’ve cracked open his head to see what was inside.

He had read so many books and still remained so clueless.

How could he not see what kind of people his eldest brother’s family really were?

Suppressing her anger, Sun Meiping softly told him everything she had overheard under the old locust tree.

Zhao Yongwen was dumbfounded by the truth, his mouth wide open in disbelief.

This only made Sun Meiping even angrier.

She twisted his ear and growled, “What’s with that look? Are you doubting me?”

Snapping out of his daze, Zhao Yongwen quickly shook his head and covered her mouth. “Meiping, Meiping—keep it down. Our daughter’s still sleeping.”

Zhao Xiaoyun murmured something, rolled over, and continued sleeping.

Sun Meiping closed her mouth but glared at her husband in frustration.

“I do believe you,” Zhao Yongwen said softly. “I just never imagined Big Brother would do something like that.”

“Your father’s illness was all because of your big brother.”

“Sigh…” Zhao Yongwen let out a long sigh, but there was nothing he could do.

Though he was well-read, he lacked practical understanding of the world and often relied on Sun Meiping for guidance.

Sun Meiping, while not formally educated, came from a well-off family and had seen much of the world by her parents’ side.

She was far more capable when it came to dealing with people.

“So what should we do?” Zhao Yongwen couldn’t think of a solution and turned to his wife for advice.

Sun Meiping rolled her eyes at him. This is your family matter. I’m just the daughter-in-law. If I say too much, it’ll come back to bite me. And yet, here you are, the man of the house, and you don’t even have a plan.

She didn’t say all that out loud.

Instead, she answered vaguely, “Let’s wait until your father’s condition improves. We’ll talk about it then.”

Hearing that, Zhao Yongwen quietly let out a sigh of relief.

What he feared most was that Meiping would push him into doing something he didn’t want to do—especially when it came to family matters, which he tended to avoid.

“But—” Sun Meiping wasn’t done yet. Zhao Yongwen had relaxed too soon, and her next words made his heart clench again.

“But what?”

“But the Zhao family is about to expel someone from the clan. Don’t you think you should find out if it’s just Zhao Yongqiang’s family being expelled… or if it includes all of you?”

That was what worried Sun Meiping most.

Zhao Yongwen was on the imperial exam path.

No matter the reason, being expelled from the clan would leave a blemish on his record.

Zhao Yongwen shrank back. “We’ll deal with it tomorrow. That matter won’t be handled until then anyway.”

As usual, he was trying to escape reality.

Sun Meiping sighed helplessly. This is what happens when you read so much you become a fool. He acts like nothing matters except his books.

She lay down, turned her back on him, and ignored him.

Zhao Yongwen either didn’t notice she was upset or pretended not to. He got up and returned to the main room.

That night, after being absent all day, the eldest son’s family finally slipped out of their room.

Madam Zhao hadn’t prepared dinner for them.

As she, Zhao Yongwen, and his family were eating, Li Cuihong brazenly came out to ask Madam Zhao for ingredients and cooked for the eldest son’s family herself.

Having skipped lunch as well, the eldest son’s family descended on the food as soon as it was served, gobbling it up like starving wolves.

They completely forgot that one of their sons, Zhao Qingyun, was still at school and hadn’t come home.

After the meal, Zhao Yongqiang wiped his mouth and grinned at his father and brother, thinking he had once again dodged a bullet.

“All of you, stay,” Zhao Daqing said after dinner, addressing the eldest and third households.

“Father, get some rest. Whatever it is, we can talk after you’re better,” Zhao Yongqiang said quickly. Seeing the serious look on his father’s face, he got a sinking feeling and tried to slip away.

“We’re discussing the family division. If you leave now, I’ll make all the decisions on my own,” Zhao Daqing said, cutting off Zhao Yongqiang’s escape route.

Zhao Yongqiang breathed a small sigh of relief.

He thought his father was going to confront him about the morning’s incident—but it turned out to be about dividing the family assets.

Great!

Divide the family.

Let the third household move out.

That way, the old couple would stay with him, and all the family’s money would be his.

But… what if the one being split off was him?

At that thought, Zhao Yongqiang began to panic.