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Zhao Zhenyu smiled awkwardly. Her space preserved things perfectly; whatever went in came out the same. Even if it was that amazing, she couldn’t explain it.
“Father, you go sell the honeysuckle; we’ll go to the mountain to continue picking.”
“No, you stay here for a while. Let’s go when it gets brighter.”
He then took out a few dark bread rolls. He brought a large earthenware pot from home this morning. The pot was filled with water. He would buy a few eggs in town and make egg drop soup for lunch. This earthenware pot was originally kept in their room, so there was no need to worry about the people in the old house discovering it.
As soon as it was slightly bright, the mother and her two daughters went up the mountain. Because Zhao Lihua couldn’t walk fast, Madam Song put her directly into the basket and carried her up the mountain.
“Father, Third Brother and his family are gone!” Second Zhao wailed, feeling as if the sky had fallen. Before he even reached the place, his legs went weak.
Old Master Zhao’s brows were tightly furrowed.
“Oh my god, these damned lazybones! Nobody fed the chickens, and the pigweed was eaten yesterday. What am I going to do! Old Master Heaven, why don’t you take away this bunch of ungrateful bastards!”
His face was ashen. “Second son’s wife, go cook!”
“Yes!”
Li Shi reluctantly went to the kitchen, having already cooked two meals yesterday. She was exhausted working all day, and she still had to cook and wash dishes when she returned home. Who could stand it? She admitted she wasn’t as capable as the Third Daughter-in-law, and she really couldn’t do it.
“Second son, have your Zhaodi go cut pigweed and feed the chickens. Your Dazhu and Erzhu should start working. Wife, you wash the clothes.”
Second Zhao refused. Why? Big Brother was studying and didn’t work. The Third Brother’s family went out to play all day and didn’t work either. He was supporting the whole family. Even if the sky fell, it wasn’t fair, and he wouldn’t do it!
His wife, who hadn’t done housework since getting married, refused, sitting down and slapping her thigh. “What kind of sin did I commit to marry such a scoundrel? In the end, I still have to serve the whole family. I won’t live anymore, I won’t live!”
Her voice was too loud, attracting several onlookers at the gate, constantly peeking into the courtyard. What was going on at Old Zhao’s house early in the morning? Things have been quite chaotic lately!
“Hurry up and pull your wife inside. Second son, go close the courtyard gate.”
Shameful things, causing him so much trouble.
Zhao Zhenyu and her family picked honeysuckle the whole day, and for the past two days, their spirits had been exceptionally high. They could pick dozens of catties a day! All the honeysuckle on the mountain could be picked within another day.
Zhao Dashu sighed regretfully, if only there were another honeysuckle forest! For the past two days, they had made a significant amount of money—about one or two taels of silver each day. He had never saved so much private money in his life.
Of course, besides buying food, all the money was with Zhao Zhenyu. Zhao Dashu was somewhat envious of his daughter. At such a young age, she had saved such a large dowry for herself. When things calmed down, he would discuss with her and take some out to buy a roast chicken. A large ham hock also sounded good.
“Tomorrow, let’s search around this mountain. This large mountain must have more honeysuckle. Of course, we definitely can’t go deep into the mountains.”
He loved money, but he loved his life even more!
Madam Song was also very happy. Her daughter was capable! Much more capable than her. With this money, she could finally have a proper wedding.
When they returned home, it was pitch black; they returned even later than yesterday.
“Third son, where did you all go? Why didn’t Zhaodi see you on the mountain?”
“The mountain is so big, it’s not unusual that she didn’t see us.”
“I also asked around the village, and no one saw your family. Were you hiding something from me, doing something shady?” The old master stared at him intently. The grand imperial examination was approaching, and at this time, he absolutely could not allow any scandals in the family to affect his career.
“Father, can’t you hope for something good for me? I took my wife and daughter. What kind of shady things could we do? We just went to find some wild vegetables to fill our stomachs. What’s wrong with that? Father, am I your own son?”
“If I had known you were doing this, I would have drowned you in a cesspool!” She washed clothes today and her waist and hands ached. She hadn’t done any work for over ten years, and suddenly doing it all at once was unbearable. Furthermore, her second son complained to her at night that the clothes weren’t washed clean, which angered her…
The Old Lady appeared out of nowhere and started cursing.
“Then why don’t you should drown yourself!”
His wife: …
“Impudent!”
The old man was furious. Was that human language?
“Do you not want to live in this family anymore? If you don’t want to, just say it!”
Zhao Dashu lowered his head and said nothing. His father didn’t give him anything. He couldn’t let his wife and child sleep on the streets.
Splitting the family…splitting the family…
The old man didn’t even look at him, saying indifferently, “Tomorrow, you work honestly. Whatever happened before, that’s in the past. If you’re not willing, then get out!”
Zhao Dashu suddenly raised his head, looking at his father.
“Father, haven’t I done enough work? From beginning to end, have I rested these days? Even oxen need to rest sometimes, but we haven’t even been treated as well as oxen.”
“Don’t give me any excuses. If you don’t go work, then leave. Choose!”
“Are you going to split us up?”
“If you want to think that way, that’s fine. The Zhao family doesn’t support freeloaders.” He needed to scare him; otherwise, he wouldn’t know his place.
Zhao Zhenyu went to Zhao Dashu’s side, held his hand, and nodded slightly.
Zhao Dashu looked at his thin family. His daughter had been blessed by the gods, and her future would certainly be good. If he followed her, the gods wouldn’t blame him, right?
“Father, I agree to the family split. Zhenyu, go call the village head!”
“Okay!”
Zhao Zhenyu ran off. Were they finally splitting up? Why was she so excited?
“Wait!”
She couldn’t hear, she couldn’t hear anything!
“What’s wrong?” Madam Song looked at him worriedly. After the family split, could they survive? Yes, they could. She and her husband were capable, and they also had their daughter. But, in this case, would Second Brother’s sons still support them in the future?
If no one performed the funeral rites for them, they would become wandering spirits after death. She couldn’t bear that!
Zhao Dashu patted his hand. After death, it’s just a handful of dirt; what does it matter? Besides, even if things are bad, isn’t there still his daughter? He didn’t believe that his two daughters wouldn’t take care of them after their death.
“Village head! Village head!”
“What’s wrong, Zhao Zhenyu? Take a breath, slow down!”
She couldn’t rest. Zhao Zhenyu covered her chest; she was exhausted running.
“Village head, Grandpa wants you to come over. He wants to split our family. Please come to our house with me. We also need the clan head, so please call him too.”
The village head was puzzled. Why would they split up? The Third Son didn’t have a son; wouldn’t splitting up mean they become extinct?
“Why does your grandfather want to split you up?” Why not split up the eldest and second sons, but only the third son who didn’t have a son? What was his reasoning?
“Grandpa said our family had to work like oxen every day without rest, otherwise, we have to leave the Zhao family. He said he wouldn’t support idle freeloaders.”
The village head: …
Old Master Zhao was being unreasonable again!
He waved his hand irritably, “Let’s go!”