Chapter 21: Enough is Enough 

“So they went to pay respects at the old master’s grave—no wonder we haven’t seen them for days.” 

“Probably gets no respect at home, so he went to seek comfort from his grandfather.” 

“That Old Master Zhao is shameless. Third Zhao has been filial to his father’s memory, yet he won’t even let the man have a proper meal.” 

“Right? It’s not the first time he’s starved Third Zhao’s family.” 

“All because they don’t have a son—just bullying them however he pleases!”

“I heard the old man wanted to kick them out before, but for some reason, it fell through.” 

“What else could it be? He just didn’t want to lose the labor. Madam Song’s so useful—she handles everything inside and outside the house. Can Second Zhao’s wife even compare?” 

“Sayin’ that, Old Master Zhao really is ruthless!” 

“Shh! Eldest Brother Zhao’s a scholar—watch your words.” 

“Right, forgot about that.”

“Third Zhao, why are you kneeling? Do you think you’ve been reckless, always running around outside and using your grandfather as an excuse? I never blamed you for it, did I?” 

“Father, you’re my own father—whatever you say is right. I’ll go work tomorrow. I won’t eat, and the child’s mother won’t either. We’ll make do with wild vegetable soup. But the kids are still growing… I beg you, just spare one corn bun a day for Zhenyu and Lihua—half for Lihua is enough. I’m begging you!” 

“Old Zhao, this isn’t right. How can you deny them food? Even a mule needs to eat grass before it can work.” 

“No wonder Madam Song used to faint while working—she was starving! And Old Madam Zhao would scold her for pretending to slack off.” 

“Just look at her—thin as a stick, doing so much labor. Of course she’d collapse!”

“How heartbreaking!” 

“Father!” 

Once again, Old Master Zhao found himself under public scrutiny. 

“Grandfather, I beg you—I won’t eat, I won’t eat! Just half a corn bun for Lihua is enough. If even that’s too much, then… then have Big Uncle sell me. That master from last time will do. You can keep all the silver—just give Father, Mother, and Lihua one bun a day. Please!” 

The crowd erupted in murmurs. They had nearly forgotten—Zhenyu had just narrowly escaped death after jumping into the river, and only days ago, she was beaten so badly she ran out screaming for help. And now it was Third Zhao’s turn. This family… truly suffered too much.

“My poor daughter, it’s all because your mother is useless!” Madam Song wept bitterly, her heart utterly broken. 

Zhao Zhenyu and Zhao Dashu exchanged a glance: ‘Mother (Wife) is really putting on a stellar performance!’ 

“That Zhao old man is truly despicable!” 

“He’s practically driving his own son and daughter-in-law to their deaths!” 

Hearing this, Zhao Dashu suddenly had an epiphany—perhaps there was still a chance to save his own leg.

“Father, I beg you—give my family a way out!” 

Old Master Zhao’s temples throbbed violently. ‘What the hell are these bastards trying to pull?’ 

“Grandfather, please, leave us some way to survive!” 

The entire family knelt before him. ‘Damn it!’ Why was it that every time he tried to assert control, they made it impossible for him to back down? Why couldn’t he even outmaneuver a bunch of nobodies? 

The onlookers shook their heads in pity. Old Master Zhao’s head pounded fiercely—he had no idea how to end this humiliation.

“You came from my womb, you drank my milk to grow up—what? Now that your wings have hardened, you think you can fly? As long as I’m alive, your family will work yourselves to death or starve to death, but you’ll obey me!” 

‘It’s not the god-like opponent you should fear, but the pig-like teammate.’ That perfectly described Old Madam Sun. 

“Shut your mouth!” 

The old man cut her off just in time. “Can’t you keep that damn mouth of yours shut for once? Spouting nonsense like this—if the wrong person hears it, who knows what rumors they’ll spread about you!” 

“Mother, you gave birth to me—how about I return my life to you? But my children—can’t you give them a way to survive?”

“Your children are just like you—born to be laborers for life! They ought to work until they drop dead!” 

‘A virtuous wife saves her husband from calamity.’ 

The old man closed his eyes. He truly wanted to tear that old woman’s mouth apart. 

Old Madam Sun, still ranting and raving, suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. She cautiously glanced back at the old man—her heart sank to icy depths. The way he was looking at her… it was the same as staring at a corpse. The last time he’d looked at her like that was in their youth, when she’d foolishly provoked him and ended up beaten so badly she couldn’t leave the bed for a month. 

She… was done for!

“Third Zhao, can’t your family just keep quiet for once?” 

The clan leader and village chief had arrived yet again. 

“Big Brother, it’s just a minor disagreement—a few heated words. But this child Zhenyu, she makes a storm out of a breeze. The slightest thing happens, and she shouts it for the whole village to hear.” 

The clan leader glanced at Third Zhao, then at Zhao Zhenyu. He disliked this girl—her eyes darting around shrewdly, clearly a troublemaker. 

“Third Zhao, you ought to discipline your Zhenyu properly. At her age, she should know better than to stir up trouble constantly.”

Zhao Zhenyu thought to herself: ‘This damn old man seems to be asking for a lesson!’ 

Zhao Dashu had had enough. People could call him lazy, useless, or a troublemaker—but no one was allowed to badmouth his daughter. 

“Uncle—” 

Zhao Zhenyu cut in. Right now, the main target was Old Master Zhao; everything else had to take a backseat. “Great Uncle, you’re absolutely right. I was just frightened by the injuries on Father’s face, worried something might happen to him. Next time Grandfather and Grandmother get angry, I’ll stand in front of Father and take the punishment for him.” 

The clan leader stared at her for a long moment before suddenly laughing. ‘I underestimated this little girl—no wonder Third Zhao keeps losing to her.’ With such wit and courage, she could’ve been molded into something remarkable. A shame… she was just a girl. Useless!

The village chief also glanced at the injuries on Zhao Dashu’s face. This family truly was pitiful. 

“Uncle Zhao, by rights, I shouldn’t interfere in your family matters. But with all this daily drama, it’s really causing a stir in the village. I heard before that you wanted to split their family off?” 

Clan Leader Zhao naturally knew what his younger brother was scheming, but Third Zhao’s family clearly wasn’t having it anymore. As the saying goes, ‘a forced melon won’t be sweet’—if one side wants to strike while the other refuses to take it, the conflict will never end. Since they were no longer of one mind, keeping them together served no purpose. 

“Third Brother, I agree. This daily turmoil can’t go on. If Third Zhao feels there’s no future for him in this family, maybe it’s best to let him strike out on his own?” 

Old Master Zhao’s heart lurched in alarm. “‘Big Brother!’”

The clan leader, however, believed he was doing this for his younger brother’s own good. He had watched Third Zhao grow up—he knew exactly what kind of man he was. Though he might have seemed different these past few years, ‘a dog can’t change its habit of eating dung’. The only reason Third Zhao had been obedient was because he’d been eyeing Second Zhao’s son. 

Now that Second Zhao had made it clear he’d never hand over his child—and Eldest Zhao would certainly never agree—Third Zhao’s true nature had resurfaced. He was done playing along! 

Eldest Zhao would soon be taking the provincial exams. If he passed, he could become an official. Having a brother like Third Zhao would only drag him down. Once that happened, splitting the family would be far more difficult. Better to cut him loose now.