Time flies, and another year has passed in the blink of an eye. Junjun and Zhuangzhuang have recovered quite well, but the monthly medical expenses are still considerable. Niu Erge works diligently and is very strong, earning three to four thousand yuan a month. He is reluctant to spend a single penny and takes it all home.

Brother Niu, however, was just muddling through his days. While Brother Niu's second brother could earn three or four thousand yuan, he couldn't even earn a thousand. It was only because he was a relative that he was so successful. If it were any other foreman, he would have fired this good-for-nothing long ago.

Tang Yuanyuan didn't care. How many more years could that money last? Once the money ran out and they couldn't make ends meet, let's see how Brother Niu would survive.

Moreover, Brother Niu is completely ruined. It is said that Niu Dazhu went to the construction site to beat him up several times, but he couldn't straighten him out. He just didn't want to work and hung out with the hooligans on the construction site all day. He didn't learn anything good and instead became lazier and lazier.

Tang Yuanyuan sends her 800 yuan monthly living expenses back to her hometown on time. Her in-laws can spend the money however they want, whether it's to help their son and daughter, since it's only 800 yuan.

Tang Yuanyuan thought Brother Niu could still get away with things for a few more years, but she overestimated him. Not long after, he got into trouble and was arrested by the police station. Niu Dazhu hurriedly called Tiedan.

Tie Dan had no choice but to rush over. Niu Dazhu couldn't explain the specifics over the phone, but the police station charged Brother Niu with theft, and the amount involved was not small. Hundreds of thousands of yuan worth of steel bars were stolen from the construction site. Brother Niu and a group of people stole them, but his accomplices all escaped, and only Brother Niu was arrested.

After arriving there, Tiedan learned what had happened and called Tangyuan back.

Tang Yuanyuan felt no sympathy for Brother Niu after hearing this. He deserved it and should go to jail to learn how to be a human being. What's the point of saving him?

"Don't worry about it. Just let them sentence you however they want. Let your older brother go in for labor reform and turn over a new leaf. Maybe he'll be able to change for the better," Tang Yuanyuan said angrily.

"But my mother is crying so hard," Tie Dan said, troubled.

Actually, he didn't want to get involved in his older brother's mess. His older brother wasn't innocent at all. His accomplices who stole the steel bars were also construction workers. Brother Niu often hung out with them, but these people were actually after the steel bars at the construction site. Brother Niu was just a scapegoat they had chosen.

When it was Brother Niu's turn to work the night shift, they colluded to move the steel bars onto the truck. They then made Brother Niu pretend he knew nothing about it, promising him a share of the money afterward. Brother Niu, seeing the money, happily agreed.

In reality, those people took the steel bars and ran away without giving Brother Niu a single penny. This fool was still waiting at the construction site to get his share of the money, but instead, he was met by the police. He didn't get any money and ended up in jail.

"Out of sight, out of mind. You won't see him when you come back. Your mother is getting more and more confused as she gets older. If she hadn't spoiled him, would your older brother have turned out like this? He's broken the law now, so he has to face the consequences. It's good for him to suffer in there." Tang Yuanyuan said impatiently.

Her mother-in-law was quite capable when she was young, but in her old age she became a troublemaker and utterly muddle-headed.

Tie Dan originally wanted to hire a lawyer, but after hearing what Tang Yuanyuan said, he stopped caring. However, his accomplices were eventually caught. The steel bars had already been sold, and the people divided the money and were preparing to run away when they were caught at the train station.

Brother Niu didn't get a share of the loot, so the offense wasn't too serious, and his sentence wouldn't be too long—two or three years would be enough. Letting him suffer in prison for two or three years wouldn't be bad.

Not long after Tie Dan returned, Brother Niu was sentenced to three years in prison. The guy completely chickened out. It is said that when Niu Dazhu went to see him, he knelt on the ground and cried bitterly, saying a lot of regretful things. Let's just hope that it was what he really felt.

Fortunately, Junjun is recovering very well, and the medical expenses have been reduced significantly. Moreover, Sister-in-law Niu's eldest daughter has found a job in the county town, earning about a thousand yuan a month. Her second son is also quite sensible, working in the fields during his holidays. The family is more united than ever before and is living more comfortably than before. It can be considered a blessing in disguise!

After that, Tang Yuanyuan received an additional 500 yuan in living expenses each month. She didn't explicitly say what the 500 yuan was, but Niu Dazhu knew it was a subsidy for his eldest son's family. However, he couldn't let his second son's family know. His younger daughter-in-law was doing a good job. Alas, it's just that his son is not up to par.

The days that followed were uneventful, except for two weddings. One was when Wang Guilan married Liu Erdan, a good-for-nothing from the village. They didn't have a big celebration; they just treated the villagers to a meal. Wang Guilan finally reformed and started living a proper life.

Another event was Xing'er's wedding. She and Lin Zhengmin got married and the wedding was held in the county town. It was a very lively affair. Although the villagers laughed behind Xing'er's back, saying that she had married an old man and would become a stepmother, they were all envious and jealous of Xing'er's good fortune when they saw the villa that Lin Zhengmin had bought.

Tang Yuanyuan was also very happy for Xing'er. Since they lived too far apart to go for a drink, she sent a large red envelope, which she had Ya Dan deliver on her behalf.

Ya Dan has completed her studies and returned to the provincial capital to open a postpartum care center. The business is booming. With more experience, Ya Dan has become more discerning and doesn't have a particularly strong desire to get married. She lets things take their natural course; if someone is suitable, she'll get married, and if not, she'll stay single. She's quite carefree living alone.

Although life has had its ups and downs, it is generally happy. Tang Yuanyuan is very content and extremely grateful to Ye Qingqing for coming into her life and changing her life.