The youngest son had his leg broken, and the couple were bullied together. Zhang's parents didn't stand up for justice, which shows that their hearts have already turned to Fengjing.
In that case, there's really nothing worth keeping in this place.
Zhang Qiquan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I don't want your money. I just want to know if my eldest and second brothers will make another move."
Thank goodness, this man, though filial, loves his wife even more.
Chang Yan nodded slightly and looked at Fang Heng, "Third Brother, take these few bundles of pastries with you. Tell them you made a fortune in the city and are sending money to Uncle Zhang."
Ten taels of silver was enough to tempt Zhang Qiquan's two older brothers to take action. If they really made a fortune, who knows how envious they would be.
As soon as Chang Yan finished speaking, Xu Mo nodded slightly, praising his fifth brother's wisdom.
Their arrival in a horse-drawn carriage was already quite eye-catching. Now, Fang Heng was carrying pastries as they walked out, exchanging a few words with the villagers and subtly revealing that they had given the Zhang family a lot of money, and that even the carriage belonged to them.
The bait was thus thrown out.
Feeling the envious or jealous looks from the villagers of Shilipu Village, Fang Heng walked all the way to the village entrance and then quietly circled back to Zhang's house.
He put down the pastries, found a corner, picked up the stick, closed his eyes, and waited.
Jiang Sheng and his sister hid in a side room with the curtains drawn.
Zhang Qiquan lay on the bed, holding his breath, staring intently at the doorway.
After half a cup of tea.
The door was knocked on as expected.
Liu Cui glanced nervously at Fang Heng at the door before taking small, quick steps over.
As soon as the door bolt fell off, the two men at the door rushed over impatiently. "We heard someone came to give money to the third son. It's not safe for you to keep it here. Take it to Mother for safekeeping."
"And that carriage, the third brother's leg is injured and he can't use it, I'll use it to take Mother to the county for medical treatment first."
Liu Cui was so frightened that she took a few steps back and said tremblingly, "Big brother, second brother, those... those were given to us by the children."
“Aren’t yours your parents’ too?” Zhang the eldest said dismissively. “Our third son has been away from home for years, and our parents have always missed him. Now that he’s finally back, we should take care of him.”
“That’s right. We’ve taken care of your parents for so many years, it’s only natural that we get a share.” Zhang Lao Er looked around, trying to see if there were any other good things hidden.
Liu Cui shook her head, before she could say anything.
Zhang Lao Er suddenly reached out and shoved her, "You woman, you're trying to ruin our brotherhood again. Don't talk nonsense!"
Zhang Qiquan, lying on the bed, was already furious. He dragged his broken leg and tried to get up, but suddenly fell against the door frame.
"Master!" Liu Cui screamed and rushed over.
The two Zhang brothers stood there indifferently, only asking, "What exactly did that child bring?"
"You don't even have any offspring. In the future, my son will have to break the pot for you. What's the use of leaving these good things?"
Your words, my words, are utterly ruthless.
They dared to do this simply because they were certain that Zhang Qiquan had no heir and wanted to exploit the childless.
"Master..." Liu Cui screamed, crying uncontrollably.
Xu Mo patted Wen Zhiyun.
The absent-minded fourth brother suddenly came to his senses, came out of the side room, took Zhang Qiquan's pulse, turned his eyelids, and examined his chest.
"Why are there still people here?" The Zhang brothers were startled.
Fang Heng closed the door, holding the stick. "There are not only people, but more than one."
With a series of crackling and popping sounds, two eerie howls echoed from the Zhang family courtyard.
Not long after, the door opened, they were kicked out, and locked outside.
Fang Heng finally released the anger that had been building up in his chest.
By the time Wen Zhiyun had revived Zhang Qiquan, who was overcome with anger, Jiang Sheng and his sister had all returned to the courtyard.
"Uncle Zhang, you lost."
Zhang Qiquan opened his eyes with a bitter smile, "I've lost, completely lost. This place can no longer accommodate us. Cui'er, I'll take you away, let's fly far away."
“My husband, wherever you say we’ll go, we’ll go.” Liu Cui hugged him and burst into tears. “As long as you’re here, anywhere is fine.”
If it weren't for having no other choice, who would willingly leave their hometown?
Zhang Qiquan disregarded his pride, pressed his forehead against his wife's, and his eyes reddened.
Chang Yan glanced at Zheng Ruqian and blinked slightly.
Zheng Ruqian was completely baffled.
Jiang Sheng kicked him in the backside. "Go away."
So the second brother was forced to stagger in front of the couple who were embracing and crying. When he saw Zhang Qiquan and his wife looking up in surprise, he awkwardly remembered the purpose of his trip to Shilipu Village. "Let's not go far away. I plan to open a workshop in Anshui County. Can you help me out?"
It's unclear what kind of struggle Zhang Qiquan went through, but he nodded heavily.
Liu Cui was happy and packed her things at home, saying, "I've only heard of Anshui County, but I've never been there."
After collecting ten taels of silver.
Zhang Qiquan held his wife's hand and said, "Cui'er, we won't be coming back anymore."
Liu Cui nodded, but a bad feeling crept into her heart.
"Let's leave this money to our parents," Zhang Qiquan said in a deep voice. "Consider it all the filial piety I can give them for the rest of my life."
Liu Cui's eyes were filled with tears.
Jiang Sheng, who was standing to the side, felt it was a bit cruel and tugged at Xu Mo's sleeve, unable to look.
But Liu Cui bit her lower lip and finally agreed.
After everything was tidied up, Liu Cui delivered the ten taels of silver to Zhang's parents, and the couple sat on the carriage shaft and slowly drove away.
Some villagers saw them and chased after them, asking, "Zhang Laosan, have you two struck it rich? Are you going to live in town or the county?"
Zhang Qiquan held Liu Cui in his arms without saying a word.
They were actually penniless.
But as the villagers passed on the word, what reached Zhang's parents' ears was that their youngest son had made something of himself and had run away with his wife.
"This unfilial son, giving only ten taels of silver, is he trying to appease a beggar?" Zhang's father stamped his foot.
"It's better to raise a dog than to raise him," Zhang's mother said, wiping away tears.
The Zhang brothers, Da and Er, even shouted, "You bastards, don't let me run into you, I'll beat you every time I see you!"
Fortunately, Zhang Qiquan and his wife couldn't hear any of this.
Carrying simple bundles, they huddled together on the cart shaft, watching Shili Pu Village fade from view to blur, watching their familiar hometown disappear from sight.
"It's sad, isn't it? I used to be just as sad." Xiao Jiangsheng rested her chin on her hand, her tone serene. "It'll get better with time."
Liu Cui snapped out of her daze, looked at her feigned maturity, and couldn't help but pat her little head.
Zheng Ruqian stuck his head out and said, "Auntie, isn't it nice to touch? My sister's head is the best to touch. I wish I could touch it every day."
Then he reached out and ruffled her hair, and Jiang Sheng's little bun came undone.
I worked so hard this morning, and I just finished combing my hair!
Jiang Sheng glared at him angrily, her hands clumsily groping her head, trying to smooth the fallen hair back up.
But she was small and her arms were short, so she couldn't straighten it properly even after trying for a long time.
Seeing this, Liu Cui's heart softened, and she moved closer to her, offering to help, "Let me do it."
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