At this point, Chen Sixi couldn’t help but cry.

When she was in the courtroom, she had already noticed that Zhang Zihua’s legs were completely useless.

If they didn’t find a doctor soon, it would be like Zhang Zixuan—he’d never be able to walk again in his life.

Thinking about this, Chen Sixi held back her tears and said again:

“The county magistrate has said that Zihua’s injuries are very severe. It’s not uncommon for prisoners to die in their cells; the government bears no responsibility, but if we ignore Zhang Zihua, he… he…”

What she said was true.

When they were leaving the courtroom, the county magistrate’s clerk had indeed told them this.

This wasn’t just heard by Chen Sixi, even the old man Zhang had heard it as well.

But when he returned, he had already sent several ounces of silver to the village’s end.

Now, if he had to take out more silver, how could he bear it?

At this point, Fang Miaojuan, who had been listening, immediately spoke up:

“Second sister-in-law, when the silver was originally divided, you didn’t say this. What did you say back then?”

At this point, Fang Miaojuan deliberately paused as if recalling something, then continued:

“Oh, right, you said that when the shameless Jian Xiu paid the silver back, it couldn’t be considered public money. It could only be counted as belonging to our second house.”

“That was at the beginning! Later, didn’t I say that part of the silver should be considered public, and part should be our second house’s own?” Chen Sixi immediately retorted.

She wasn’t the type to easily admit defeat.

When it came to arguing with Fang Miaojuan, one would speak in the shadows, and the other would curse in the open.

But Chen Sixi was the one speaking openly this time.

“Second sister-in-law, you’re saying one thing now and another later. Who knows what you’re really thinking? Now, with the second brother in prison, we all know that whether the silver will be used for him is uncertain. If we give it now, it might just disappear.”

“In my opinion, we’d be better off waiting until the second brother is released, then we can use the silver. At least then, we can ensure it will go to him, right?”

As far as scheming went, Chen Sixi was no match for her eldest sister-in-law, Fang Miaojuan.

When hard methods didn’t work, she would switch to softer ones.

There was always something that would make her appear to be in the right.

At this moment, despite her reluctance, Chen Sixi couldn’t bring herself to argue.

Because she knew, in the prison, even if the silver were given, it might be embezzled by the guards.

Just thinking about Zhang Zihua suffering there made her heart ache.

It wasn’t just about worrying for him, it was the thought of what would happen if his legs didn’t heal properly.

If he left any lasting effects, she certainly didn’t want to be stuck taking care of him for the rest of her life.

She didn’t want to end up like the fourth house.

Thinking this over, Chen Sixi continued: “Father, give me the silver, and I’ll deliver it myself. I’ll see…”

“Oh, second sister-in-law, what are you saying? How can you be sure you’ll even see the second brother?”

Before Chen Sixi could finish, Fang Miaojuan interrupted her.

Fang Miaojuan knew Chen Sixi well after decades of living together.

With her personality, once the silver was in her hands, even if it couldn’t reach Zhang Zihua, it would be like throwing it to a dog—gone without a trace.

“Eldest sister-in-law, if you don’t trust me, fine, let eldest brother take it, or if not, let father…”

“Enough, let’s end this here! No one say anything more. Until we find a way to see Zihua, the silver can’t be given to him. Like eldest son said, we don’t even know if it’ll end up with Zihua.”

Old man Zhang said to Chen Sixi in a deep voice.

“Father, this is a bit too much. Who doesn’t know that the fourth brother’s legs were left untreated, and that caused the problem? Back then…”

“Shut up!”

Before Chen Sixi could finish speaking, Old man Zhang interrupted her harshly.

This was the one thing Old man Zhang regretted the most.

If he had been willing to spend the silver to treat his legs back then, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

The fourth house wouldn’t have caused trouble, and they wouldn’t have had to split up.

Once Zhang Zixuan’s legs recovered, he could continue his work as a bodyguard.

If that had happened, their old house would have continued to live comfortably, just like before.

“Father, that’s too much. I’ll say it here: if you don’t give the silver, don’t think about sending my brothers to cause trouble!”

Chen Sixi shouted at Old man Zhang.

With the words from Jian Xiu in the courtroom, Chen Sixi felt more confident.

In the past, Old man Zhang was always the one in charge at home. Once he spoke, no one dared contradict him.

But now, things were different. The county magistrate had said it clearly: filial piety is important, but blind obedience is foolish.

For her, if she listened to Old man Zhang now, it would be foolish filial piety.

Most importantly, she had her own backing.

Her family had four brothers—that was her strength.

If Old man Zhang didn’t give the silver, she wouldn’t hesitate to bring her brothers over.

“What are you trying to do? Are you rebelling? Are you disrespecting your elders? Do you know what you’re doing?”

On the ground, Old Liu, still lying down, immediately scolded Chen Sixi.

If her legs weren’t crippled now, she would certainly make Chen Sixi pay.

“Am I wrong? Just wait! I’ll go back to my family right now, I’m going to find my parents…”

Chen Sixi said, and then really started walking out of the courtyard.

“Stop!” Old man Zhang immediately called out.

Seeing this, Chen Sixi walked back, satisfied.

“Zihua is also your son. If something happens to him, do you think your lives will be easy in the future?”

Once she sat back down, Chen Sixi said with a look of, “I’m doing this for your own good.”

But the smug tone in her voice was clear for anyone not deaf to hear.

Old man Zhang knew deep down that he was in the wrong. And not to mention that Zhang Zihua was his son.

Even if he wasn’t, if Chen Sixi’s brothers made a scene, it would really never end.

Ever since the fourth house split off, their lives had been anything but peaceful.

Thinking of all this, Old man Zhang felt a headache coming on.

Once the fourth house split, they should have lived a better life, and their family would have been one of the more comfortable ones in the village.