“However,” Huang Shan’s voice was hoarse, “they are alive no matter what, aren’t they?”

He wanted to live, but he didn't even have the chance.

"It's all my fault," Ding Wan said, tears streaming down her face. "If it weren't for me, Brother Shan would definitely be alive and well, married to a beautiful wife, have two children, and in the future..."

“It’s not your fault,” Huang Shan shook his head. “It has nothing to do with you. You were also harmed by someone else.”

I don't resent or hate, but I'm still not entirely reconciled.

If you don't want to vent your resentment on your lover, then your parents are the only two people you have the closest connection with and don't need to worry about.

"Then," Ding Wan tentatively suggested, "Brother Shan, what do you think? Should we go and apologize to Uncle first?"

"Let me think about it."

Huang Shan listened to Ding Wan's words and did not immediately refuse.

However, Huang Shi refused to give him that opportunity.

"Husband, where are you going?" Seeing Huang Shi's hurried figure, Sister-in-law Huang quickly called out to him.

"Go and call someone to throw those two people in the house into the ancestral hall."

If he continues to endure this, he will truly become a thousand-year-old tortoise.

"No way," Sister-in-law Huang quickly bolted the door. "You really take a few words of argument seriously?"

"We can't let him continue to act so recklessly!" Huang Shi said unhappily. "I didn't drink a single drop of this perfectly good pot of chicken soup, aren't you angry?"

“I’m angry, but things can’t be done this way,” biting her lip, Sister-in-law Huang continued, “If we really lock people up in the ancestral hall, no matter what the outcome, we will regret it.”

Upon hearing this, Huang Chuan stopped abruptly.

He was actually aware of the situation, but he felt really frustrated, and this frustration made him want to cause some trouble to vent his anger.

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Huang Shi turned to his wife. "We can't just keep tolerating this and let him get even more arrogant!"

“Why bother arguing with them?” Sister-in-law Huang said calmly. “I took him too seriously before, which is why he took advantage of me.”

"Then why are you saying you won't hold it against him?"

“What I mean is, don’t pay them any attention,” Sister Huang shook her head. “Just ignore them, like I do.”

The food I painstakingly prepared was pushed over before I could even take a bite. I've really grown some skills.

If she's so good at it, why eat her cooking?

They dare to do this because they've never been hungry.

“No way,” Huang Shi disagreed. “He’ll still cause trouble even if you ignore him. That’s what happened today. We have to teach him a lesson.”

"But we can't take it to the ancestral hall."

For a moment, Huangshi was also stumped.

Just as they were thinking of a solution, someone outside called out, "Clan leader, there's a situation in Dingjia Village."

"I'm going out first. You take care of yourself at home. If Dashan gives you a hard time, ignore him. I'll deal with him when I get back."

With that, he left in a hurry.

"Wait, I'll go get you a steamed bun to tide you over. You can't stand not eating anything."

With her son no longer reliable, Sister-in-law Huang devoted all her energy to her husband, showing an unprecedented level of devotion.

Huang Shi was pleased with these changes. Although he didn't say anything, he smiled and stopped to wait for someone.

Sister-in-law Huang believes that everyone has moments when they are blinded by a leaf and get stuck in a dead end. Once you get over that hurdle, you will find that there is no need to make things difficult for yourself.

Huang Shan and Ding Wan overheard the couple's conversation and both breathed a sigh of relief.

Especially Huangshan.

He was selfish and willful, but not stupid. He knew that he depended on his family for everything and that he could do nothing but lie in bed and wait to die.

However, to their surprise, Sister-in-law Huang suddenly erupted from her silence, her attitude towards them changed drastically, and she even displayed a rather wicked sense of humor.

Because her son made a fuss about not delivering food, she stopped letting people go hungry, but she only delivered one serving of every kind of food.

Moreover, the portion size is just right, enough for one person to slightly fill their stomach.

Even water has been reduced to a single person's portion.

Once is accidental, twice is unintentional, but three or four times is definitely intentional.

After realizing this, Huang Shan was completely distraught.

The next day at noon, Sister-in-law Huang came to deliver food again: half a steamed bun, a plate of stir-fried vegetables, and a bowl of porridge.

"Mother, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"What are you talking about? Have I cut off your food or your clothes? Why am I making you unhappy again?"

"Mother, I apologize for what happened yesterday."

It's just that you spilled some food. Why are you still angry? Why are you so petty?

Hearing her son back down, Mrs. Huang had mixed feelings.

A mix of bitterness, anger, relief, and even a hint of exhilaration.

Sure enough, people are inherently cheap; the better you treat them, the less they appreciate it, and they might even take advantage of you and trample you into the mud.

After the special treatment was withdrawn, they were able to quickly face reality.

"I see."

Sister-in-law Huang did not say whether she forgave or not.

It's not like they're genuinely apologizing; there's no need for that.

Upon hearing this, Huang Chuan frowned and said, "It can always be the same as before, right?"

"What's not the same as before?" Sister-in-law Huang sneered. "Dashan, you are my son, that's true, so it's only right that I provide you with food and drink. But Ding Wan is not my daughter, we're not related at all. Providing her with food for five or six days is already generous enough. What, do you expect me to support her until she dies?"

Sister-in-law Huang spoke without any politeness.

She loathed Ding Wan so much that she wished she were dead, but she endured it for the sake of her son.

Now there's no need to endure; just do whatever makes you feel good.

Upon hearing this, Ding Wan nearly lost her footing.

It wasn't from anger, but from hunger.

She had experienced even more offensive and vulgar language, so now what she heard was just a drizzle, and she didn't care.

However, having missed three meals, and already weak and powerless from illness, he felt dizzy and his vision blurred.

"Mom, can't you be reasonable?"

“What’s wrong with what I said?” Sister-in-law Huang said calmly. “Perfect timing, we have some free time today, let’s have a good talk between mother and daughter.”

"Mother, is the family so short of food that we don't even have enough for one more person?"

“We certainly don’t lack food,” Sister Huang retorted, then changed the subject, “So what? Nobody’s food comes from thin air. Why should we give it to strangers for no reason?”

"How could they be unrelated? He and I..."

“So what?” Sister-in-law Huang interrupted her son directly. “There’s no engagement letter, and it’s not in the family genealogy. Just stop anyone and ask them what they have to say.”

These words made Huang Shan's face turn ashen. "Mother, can't you speak properly?"

He felt that he had already humbled himself enough.

“I should be the one saying this to you,” Sister-in-law Huang said, no longer wanting to talk to her hopeless son. “The food has been delivered. If you feel sorry for Ding Wan, just let her eat.”

Huang Shan also wanted to, but the problem was that Ding Wan did not agree.

Knowing her situation, she dared not make any trouble at this time, and no matter how Huang Shan tried to persuade her, she refused to eat anything.

"Wan'er, you haven't eaten for three meals. You must eat this time."

Huangshan's stance was very firm.

He couldn't let Ding Wan ruin his body any longer.