After a night, Zhao Dayong spoke much more calmly when he said these things, but the way he gripped the stool betrayed his mood; his hand was clenched very tightly.

Zhao Dayong said that even Zhao Dashu dared not listen or believe it.

My second sister-in-law is amazing!

No wonder the two of them are getting more and more dissolute; it's all because she spoils them.

Looking at my second brother, whose hair was now gray, I felt a pang of sympathy. He'd been tricked by his wife and then beaten by his son—oh dear, he was in a terrible state!

My heart must be aching terribly right now, like a hornet's nest.

But the eldest sister-in-law wouldn't stop, insisting on demanding money from them. She's become incredibly shrewish; it's easy to understand why he's asking for money—he must have been driven to desperation.

"Second brother, why are you doing this to yourself? You've worked so hard your whole life, what's the point in the end?"

What's the point?

He used to act out of spite, but now he's lost and feels like he's lived a joke his whole life.

"Second brother, I'm not trying to be nagging, but your family can't let your wife run the household anymore. From now on, you should keep your money safe yourself."

“I know your second sister-in-law has changed. I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me for saying this, but I used to think she was good to me and the children, and that it was strange that she suffered her whole life. But recently, when the doctor prescribed medicine for me, she and Dazhuzi advised me not to get the medicine, saying that all doctors are crazy and want to prescribe medicine for every patient they see, which is ridiculous. That's when I realized that I'm nothing special.”

After a lifetime of hard work, no one would think it's worth spending a tael of silver on me. If it weren't for Dazhuzi wanting to buy my mother's house, I probably wouldn't have been able to.

Third brother, tell me, what have I been striving for in this life?

At some point, Zhao Dayong's face was covered in tears, which made Zhao Dashu feel heartbroken.

Poor second brother!

"Your two sons are really no good, especially the eldest. To be honest, seeing you like this, I'm so glad my wife only gave birth to daughters."

If I had two rebellious sons, or even just one, I would be so angry I'd die; it would shorten my lifespan by at least ten years.

Zhao Dayong froze, feeling as if he had been shot several times in the heart. His third brother's words were still so venomous, leaving him no way out.

"However, the reason they dare to be so presumptuous is because you spoiled them. They say that children are raised with a stick, so their lack of filial piety must be because they weren't beaten enough when they were young."

Second brother, you and your wife spoil the kids way too much! They've become so unruly that they don't treat you like human beings. If Dazhu were my son, I'd give him a house and money—he'd be dreaming!

Zhao Dayong was well aware of this principle; the child's unruly behavior was simply a result of his and his wife's indulgence.

“You don’t know, ever since Dazhuzi couldn’t have children, his temperament has become increasingly difficult. Your second sister-in-law pitied him for having no children or wife, and there was a lot of gossip in the village, so she was quite tolerant of him.”

"The result of your forbearance is that he will take action against you."

Doesn't he deserve it?

"Third brother, you've seen a lot, can you help your second brother think of a way? Do you think there's any hope for them? Especially Dazhuzi, he's really gone a bit crazy right now."

You don't know, he not only wants everything we have, but also Erzhuzi's money and his son.

Since Zhao Dashu already knew the most embarrassing thing, Zhao Dayong felt there was no point in hiding it, so he might as well talk to him and ask for his help in coming up with a solution.

Zhao Dashu was laughing so hard. "He's dreaming. He wants all the good things in the world for him, right? This guy is a lesson learned. You give an inch and he takes a mile. Just beat him up. Second Brother, if you're willing to listen to my advice, go for it. Otherwise, Dazhu will definitely cause a lot of trouble in the future."

Zhao Dayong's heart skipped a beat; what Zhao Dashu said was exactly what he feared most. "What do you mean? What trouble could he possibly cause?"

"What do you think? If you give him what he wants, he'll feel like he got it too easily, like the whole world owes him something because he can't have children. He'll become even more demanding, and if he doesn't get what he wants, he'll resent you and resort to dirty tricks. Like hitting you..."

Zhao Dayong: ...

What else does he want?

"Second brother, you're a smart man. You should know what Dazhuzi wants most right now and who he's after."

“They are brothers. Erzhuzi has many children, so what’s wrong with giving him one? Brothers should help each other out, shouldn’t they? I’ll talk to Erzhuzi about it. That kid is no good now; he’s very selfish.”

A mocking glint flashed in Zhao Dashu's eyes. "Second Brother, it's easy for you to talk when you're not in the same boat. You know perfectly well why Dazhu wants Erzhu's son. Do you really think he'll raise a child properly? He just wants someone to serve him."

Brothers should help each other, doesn't Second Brother find this even more ridiculous? I don't have a son either. Did you and Eldest Brother help me out in the slightest back then? Talking about giving me a child? My wife and I are much better people than Dazhuzi, aren't we? If your child came to my house, I would take good care of him. Don't you know that?"

Zhao Dayong was speechless.

"I...I..."

"Honestly, second brother, I think you and your wife might not have been beaten badly enough. You're still not fully awake."

When the conversation fell apart, Zhao Dashu lost interest in lecturing. Everyone has to walk their own path. If someone knows they're wrong but insists on going down a dead end, frankly, no one can save someone who wants to die.