So that’s why she said to give them half an hour.

Normally, that would be enough time.

But for the people at the old house, it was actually a bit difficult.

---

At the old house.

As expected, a scene of quarreling and snatching was unfolding.

“Third daughter-in-law, no one is taking this!” The eldest, Zhang Zirong, guarded the three pieces of wild boar meat.

“This is what Mother said! Do you think I want to take it? Besides, Jian Xiu already said that if we don’t return this, Mother and the others won’t be able to come back,” Zhang Zifu said angrily.

He didn’t understand—wasn’t it just some food?

No matter how important it was, could it be more important than their own mother?

Indeed, Jianxiu was right. This family was full of selfish people.

At that moment, Zhang Zifu felt deeply saddened for his family.

He didn’t dare to imagine—if one day he ended up like his second brother’s mother, how would they treat him?

Thinking of this, the words his wife, Wang Xiuying, had whispered to him before bed echoed in his mind.

If they continued living with these people, he and his wife might endure it, but what about their son and daughter? Would they have to suffer as well?

Oh, wait. They were already suffering.

When Wang Xiuying walked in, the first thing she saw was the two brothers tugging at the pieces of wild boar meat.

Seeing this, she ignored them and turned to the old man, Zhang Laotou.

“Father, give me a clear answer. Are you returning the wild boar meat or not? If not, I’ll go tell Fourth Sister-in-law. If you are, then have Eldest Brother let go!”

At this moment, Wang Xiuying no longer had her usual timid demeanor.

Hearing this, Old Zhang was stunned.

Clearly, he hadn’t expected his third daughter-in-law, who was always the easiest to manipulate, to speak to him in such a tone.

But he quickly recovered and asked in a low voice, “Third daughter-in-law, do you know who you’re talking to?”

“Father, Jianxiu said only half an hour. If you don’t return it by then, do you know the consequences? Besides, you know what Fourth Sister-in-law is like. She’s not the same person she used to be.”

As she spoke, Wang Xiuying’s eyes never left Old Zhang.

She had a rough idea of what he might do.

But she dared not speak before he did.

“Fine, fine! Return half of it. We’ll keep the rest. The same goes for the rice and flour—return half and keep half!”

“Father, we worked so hard to get this little bit of food, and now you want to return half? We’ll have to go hungry for months again!” Zhang Zirong shouted in frustration.

To him, it was only natural for a father to eat what his sons provided.

Since when did they have to give it back?

Besides, the food was already in their hands.

Letting it slip away now—it was unbearable!

Wang Xiuying couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. She finally understood why Jianxiu had given them only half an hour.

This wasn’t something that could be settled in half an hour.

Not even in a full hour.

At first, she had wanted to say that Mother-in-law and Second Brother’s legs were probably crippled.

But seeing how this family was acting, she knew that even if she told them, they wouldn’t care.

All they cared about was the wild boar meat!

Hearing Old Zhang’s decision, Fang Miaojun quickly chimed in, “Exactly! Father, think about it. What’s the worst Jianxiu can do—kill them? She wouldn’t dare! Returning half is already generous. You’re her father—can’t you eat a little of her food?”

Fang Miaojun was calm because the ones being held hostage weren’t from her own household.

It was their mother-in-law and Zhang Zihua from the second branch.

So she wasn’t worried.

Meanwhile, Chen Sixi, who was usually the most vocal, remained silent.

She worried about her husband but also felt reluctant to give up the food.

They hadn’t eaten meat in so long—she couldn’t even remember the last time.

But upon hearing Zhang Laotou’s decision, she turned to Zhang Zifu and urged, “Third daughter-in-law, take this and go talk to that wretched woman. Tell her to accept it and release them!”

To Chen Sixi, returning even half was painful.

If the ones being held were from the eldest or third branches, she wouldn’t have agreed to return anything.

“Second Sister-in-law, that’s your husband. Why don’t you go yourself?” Wang Xiuying suggested.

She already had a rough idea of what the outcome would be.

More importantly, Jianxiu had told them to clean up her courtyard.

Thinking of this, Wang Xiuying continued, “Father, when they went to Fourth Sister-in-law’s place, they turned everything upside down. Now the place is a mess. She said it must be restored to how it was, or else…”

“What?! She wants us to clean up? She might as well ask for the moon!”

Before Wang Xiuying could finish, Fang Miaojun interrupted her.

Seeing this, Wang Xiuying fell silent.

She shifted her gaze to Chen Sixi.

She already expected Fang Miaojun to react this way.

After all, it wasn’t their family’s burden—it was the second branch’s backbone at stake.

But seeing the unwilling look on Chen Sixi’s face, Wang Xiuying finally understood—this trip was completely pointless.

She didn’t even know how she had lived with these people for so many years.

She reached out and tugged at Zhang Zifu’s sleeve, signaling him to just take the food and leave.

She had said all she could.

Whether they listened or not was no longer her concern.

---

When they returned to the village entrance, Jianxiu was already smiling at them.

Clearly, she had guessed the result.

“So? You didn’t get everything back, did you?”

Hearing this, Wang Xiuying laughed at herself. “You already knew? I said everything I could, but this was all I managed to get back.”