Old Madam Zhao was in a foul mood. After searching the entire house and failing to find anyone willing to cook, she had no choice but to do it herself.
The moment the food was served, the entire family appeared at the table.
Damn it. Were they all sitting on top of the chimney? Their noses were so sharp they showed up the instant the food was ready. Old Madam Zhao was so angry she nearly fainted.
Then her third grandson said something that almost finished her off and finally pushed her over the edge.
“Grandma, today’s food tastes awful. The vegetables are bitter, and the porridge is burnt. Which worthless girl cooked this? She wasted all our grain.”
With a loud bang, Old Madam Zhao slammed her chopsticks onto the table.
“What did you just say? Who are you calling a worthless girl? Every one of you is an ungrateful little wolf! Back in the day I cooked, washed clothes, worked the fields, and raised every one of you with my own hands. Now that I’m old, I still have to take care of this whole family. And this is the thanks I get? Complaints? Fine! If you don’t want to eat, then get out! Don’t waste my grain!”
The children of the eldest branch had been spoiled since they were little and had no sense of when to keep quiet.
“But it’s true,” one of them protested. “The vegetables are bitter and the porridge is burnt. Grandma, didn’t you always say grain is as precious as gold? Anyone who wastes food isn’t allowed to eat for three days.”
Already furious, Old Madam Zhao didn’t hesitate. She swung her hand and slapped him across the face.
Smack!
The boy was knocked straight onto the floor.
The entire room fell silent.
Third Grandson Zhang Renli immediately burst into tears.
That was the last straw for Little Zhao.
She seized the chance to settle both old and new grudges at once.
“What exactly is this supposed to mean? First you sent my second son off to the army a few days ago, and now you’re hitting my third son. You clearly have something against us! If you’ve got a problem, take it out on me! Why are you venting your anger on a child? One sentence from him earns a slap? Are we slaves in this family? Are we supposed to let everyone beat us, curse us, and walk all over us?”
“Big Sister-in-law, don’t say things like that,” Zhang Youxin (Zhang Laowu) said unhappily. “We’re all family. What do you mean by slaves? What would outsiders think if they heard you? Besides, Renli really was out of line. How could he call Grandma a ‘worthless girl’?”
Little Zhao grew even angrier.
“My son doesn’t need you lecturing him. Mind your own business. Haven’t you said enough shameless things yourself? You’re a grown man who spends all day whispering into Mother’s ear and stirring up trouble. You’ve done more than your fair share of dirty deeds. And now you have the nerve to criticize someone else?”
“What dirty deeds have I done? Explain yourself!”
“You know exactly what you’ve done. I wouldn’t even want to dirty my mouth by saying it.”
“Eldest Brother, aren’t you going to do anything? Your wife is talking like this!”
Zhang Youfu sighed.
“We’re all family. Everyone calm down. Don’t ruin the harmony.”
Listening to the room descend into chaos, Old Madam Zhao’s heart turned cold.
She couldn’t understand it.
Their family had lived together peacefully for so many years. How had everything fallen apart because of a single slap?
The truth was, the moment she struck her grandson, she’d already regretted it. She had doted on him for years—of course she loved him. She simply hadn’t figured out how to smooth things over before Little Zhao attacked her first.
Now, however, Old Madam Zhao felt completely justified.
The regret disappeared.
She had no intention of backing down anymore.
“Zhao Yulian,” Old Madam Zhao snapped, “if you have something to say, then say it directly. Stop taking indirect shots at everyone.”
“Fine. Then I’ll stop beating around the bush.”
“I want to divide the family.”
“Big Sister-in-law, what are you saying?” Zhang Youxin hurriedly interrupted. “As long as our parents are alive, the family shouldn’t be divided. Hurry and apologize to Mother.”
“Of course you don’t want to divide the family. You’re counting on the rest of us to support your family of four.”
“That’s rich coming from you,” Zhang Youxin shot back. “Your branch spends the most money. The entire family’s earnings have been poured into supporting your scholar.”
“Enough. All of you, stop talking.”
Old Madam Zhao felt like her lungs were about to explode.
She turned toward her eldest son.
“Eldest, what do you say?”
Zhang Youfu answered calmly,
“Mother… let’s divide the family. The children are all grown up now.”
Old Madam Zhao stared at him in disbelief, unable to utter a single word.
She had always believed her eldest son was the most filial and obedient, that he would unquestionably stand on her side.
She had been blind.
The truly obedient and filial one…
…had already died.
“Fine.”
“We’ll divide the family.”
The moment those words left her mouth, Old Madam Zhao rolled her eyes back and fainted.