I survived the famine by scavenging and supported my family.

Neither of them was surprised to run into each other today. Seeing that Zhao Lao Er didn't react, Zhao Wenyuan kept buzzing around like a fly.

Even with his excellent self-control, Ning's father couldn't stand having someone constantly chanting scriptures beside him. Finally, he couldn't help but put down his fan, pick up his cane, and say, "What, are you looking for trouble?"

Zhao Wenyuan was surprised that his second uncle, who usually didn't dare to speak loudly, would stand up and question him. Seeing that someone was looking over, he didn't want to lose face, so he stiffened his neck and said, "What's wrong? I was just chatting idly!"

"Gossiping? You're spreading rumors!" Ning's father rolled up his sleeves. "Other people who study get knowledge and skills, but I think you've spent years in school and all you've filled your head with is bad ideas!"

At first, he could tolerate it, but later this brat dragged Ning's mother and Zhao Ningning into it, saying that they said they went to the county town to do business, but they were never busy and only bought this and that back home. How could money be so easy to earn? They must be doing some shady business.

Rumors were being spread about them, and Ning's father couldn't stand it at all.

When Ning's father cursed in such a roundabout way, the villagers laughed. Zhao Wenyuan looked around and trembled with anger.

He had lost all face and substance. Pointing at Ning's father, he was so angry he couldn't utter a coherent sentence, "You! You!"

"Let it go. Today is the day to pay the grain tax. There are yamen runners here. Let's not make a scene."

Some villagers offered him a way out, but Zhao Wenyuan angrily flung his sleeves, looking defiant, and remained standing there with his head held high.

That kind of posture would make anyone angry.

"Get lost. My wife can handle you all with one hand, let alone me." Ning's father strained his arm, and his muscles immediately stretched his clothes.

Zhao Wenyuan was intimidated by his imposing manner and took two steps back. Feeling embarrassed, he gritted his teeth and kicked Ning's father's good leg.

Isn't this a classic case of "kicking the good leg of a cripple"?!

Except for the first few days, Ning's father was able to get out of bed with crutches. He had been getting used to it for almost half a month. When he saw Zhao Wenyuan using this kind of low-level footwork, he grabbed the crutches and clamped them under his armpits. Using the crutches as a fulcrum, he nimbly circled around like a compass.

After regaining his footing on one leg, Ning's father picked up his crutch, and with a burst of strength, swung it directly at Zhao Wenyuan.

Unable to dodge in time, Zhao Wenyuan was struck by a cane, and his entire arm felt as if it were broken.

"Ah!!" Zhao Wenyuan cried out in pain, instinctively covering his face with his left hand.

"Wen Yuan!"

Sun rushed up, threw the grain she was carrying on the ground, pushed aside several onlookers, and as soon as her hands touched Zhao Wenyuan's right arm, he shoved her away violently.

"It hurts! Don't touch me!" Zhao Wenyuan yelled at his own mother.

The noise was so loud that even the villagers who hadn't paid attention to this area noticed something was wrong.

"Wen Yuan... this, this is his right hand!" Madam Sun turned around, glaring at Ning's father. "Our Wen Yuan is going to take the imperial examinations!"

"What if you break his hand!"

Ning's father was speechless. If Zhao Wenyuan hadn't stirred up trouble, would he, a low-key cripple, have dragged his good leg here to beat people up?

"Aren't you going to ask who started it?" Ning's father said. "Who struck first?"

"Even if you're dividing the family property, you can't treat your own nephew like this!" Mrs. Sun seemed deaf and kept questioning Ning's father.

"Hello!"

Zhou Jian pushed aside the people blocking his way and stepped forward, saying, "It was your son who spread rumors first and then started the fight!"

"He not only laid a hand on his elders, but he also kicked their legs!"

Zhou Jian said, "You only have one good leg to begin with. If you injure it again, can you afford to compensate me?!"

"Don't forget you've separated from your family and broken off ties!"

"I didn't expect Zhou Jian to be so quick-witted. No wonder he's from the Zhou family!" Ning's father gave Zhou Jian an appreciative look.

After her words, Madam Sun's momentum immediately weakened by three points, but she still wouldn't give up, saying, "Xiao Yuan is still a child. Why are you, his second uncle, arguing with a child!"

Ning's father: "I'm his elder! He even went to school for several years, did all that education go to waste? Attacking an elder in public!"

Since Sun used seniority as an excuse, he could also use seniority to oppress others. No matter what, Zhao Wenyuan's public beating of him was an act that disregarded human ethics.

"You! How can you be so petty! I was just stating the truth, and you! You!"

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean, '!'" Ning's father said, "Aren't you supposed to be taking the imperial examinations? What if you get accused of publicly assaulting your second uncle...?"

Before Ning's father could finish speaking, one of the officials weighing the grain inside heard the commotion and came out.

"What's all this commotion!" The constable slapped his sword shut. "If you don't want to live, just say so!"

"Sir, you must do justice for our family!" Madam Sun covered her face with her sleeve, sobbing and trying to speak, but was stopped by her son.

Stopping his mother from speaking, Zhao Wenyuan looked embarrassed and panicked.

"Sir, sir, it wasn't me!"

Zhao Lao Er didn't finish speaking just now. If he had, he wouldn't have been able to think about taking the imperial examinations anymore! The Great Zhou Dynasty values ​​filial piety highly. If his actions today are remembered by someone with ulterior motives, he could be attacked at any time once he passes the examinations.

If we can avoid making a big fuss about this today, we should do so; making a big fuss will only be detrimental to him.

The constable's gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on the man leaning on his cane. "Speak," he said.

Zhao Wenyuan tensed up, fearing that Zhao Lao Er might say something he shouldn't.

"This man is my nephew. I was just sitting here resting when he not only spoke ill of our family behind our backs, but also hit me," Ning's father said truthfully. He had no obligation to cover for Zhao Wenyuan.

"You're talking nonsense!" Madam Sun flung her sleeve away from Zhao Wenyuan's grasp and stepped forward despite his attempts to stop her. "It was clearly you who hit my son with the cane!"

"With so many people here, why would I need to lie?" Ning's father was so angry that he laughed. He now knew that the Zhao family, from top to bottom, were all black-hearted. Otherwise, how could they call white black?

Surrounded by a crowd and watched by the yamen runners, Zhou Jianben was a little uneasy. Seeing his second uncle standing alone and helpless in the middle, he turned around and glanced at his mother.

He nodded to him, and Zhou Jian stepped forward, clenching his fist, and said firmly, "I can testify!"

"You're the ones bullying my brother-in-law!"

"Sir, he's the second son's brother-in-law. How can his words be trusted? Don't listen to him..." Seeing the constable's increasingly displeased expression, Madam Sun spoke softer and softer.

"Nonsense!" the constable said to the person next to him, "Go and fetch your village head and chief!"

The villagers responded and hurried to the village head's main room to find him.

Knowing that it was the Zhao family causing trouble, the village head wore a polite smile, but in his heart he wished he could torture Zhao Wenyuan to death a thousand times over.

—It's the Zhao family again!

—How can there still be so much trouble after the family has separated!

The village head and the village chief apologized to the grain official and got up to go outside the courtyard.

Sun sensed something was wrong and kept her mouth shut like a clam. Under Zhao Wenyuan's uneasy gaze, the village head came out to uphold justice.

"Officer, it's hot outside. Please come inside. We can handle this little matter ourselves." The village head said with a smile, accompanying the constable back inside.

When he came out again, the village headman's face darkened. "Even if you're being unreasonable, there's a limit! Today is for collecting grain taxes. Whatever it is, can't we talk about it tomorrow? Why make a scene today and upset the constables!"

After a barrage of harsh words, Sun was forced to lower her head.

"You too! Someone who has studied and learned etiquette should know what propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame are, how could you act so absurdly?!" The village head took a deep breath and sighed, "Apologize to your second uncle."

"Second Uncle, I'm sorry." Zhao Wenyuan lowered his head and said these words almost through gritted teeth.

"Alright, watch your mouth from now on." Ning's father nodded.

Zhao Wenyuan clenched his fists tightly at his sides, so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his lowered head just happened to conceal the resentment in his eyes.

"I will avenge this!" Zhao Wenyuan roared in his heart.

Seeing that the matter was over, the village head and the village chief returned to the courtyard. Today, the harvest was more important than the matters in the courtyard.

After they left, the villagers dispersed in twos and threes. At this time, Granny Qian and Old Man Zhao, who were directing the last few bags of grain to be moved from their homes, arrived.

Seeing that her grandson and daughter-in-law looked strange, Granny Qian glanced at Zhao Lao Er, who was resting against the wall, and asked, "Sun Shi, what's wrong with you two?"

"Mother..." Madam Sun stammered, "Just now—"

"Mother!" Zhao Wenyuan interrupted her, "Hand over the grain first."

Sun awkwardly went to the side to help carry the grain.

What kind of riddle are they playing? Granny Qian was puzzled. Since her grandson didn't want her to talk about it, and seeing that this wasn't the place to talk, Granny Qian didn't press the matter further.

Time passed by, and with the village head presiding, the forty-two households in Wangli Village handed over their grain one by one, with the grain bags lined up from inside the courtyard to outside.

There was none of that kind of stuff—stale rice, pebbles mixed into the bags, or half-dried grain used to make do. The grain inspector was very satisfied with the village head of Wangli Village. After drinking the last cup of tea, he got up and told everyone to take the grain back to the yamen.

The village head had already sent people to other villages to borrow oxcarts when weighing the grain. Part of the grain was escorted by officials, while the rest, which couldn't be carried, required one person from each household to help deliver it to the county town.

Zhou Jian told his brother-in-law to rest at home without worry, while he went with his friends from the same village to keep an eye on both families.

This time, there was no entrance fee to the city. Many families who usually couldn't bear to spend a penny or two to go to the city brought their own money today, instructing their families to go to the county town to pay their grain taxes and then buy something from somewhere.

The Zhao family had a lot of grain, so usually two men would go to deliver it. In the past, it was usually the eldest and second eldest Zhao brothers who went, but this year the family split up, so only the eldest and third eldest brothers could go.

Along the way, Zhao Laosan complained about the long journey and his sore feet. But after entering the city and transporting the grain into the Fengning County granary, Zhao Laosan's mind started to wander.

His feet and legs no longer hurt, and with the loose change his wife had given him before he left, he planned to buy some pastries in the county town to take back home.

Since they were already there, and there was a free oxcart ride on the way back, Zhao Laosan told his elder brother to go and buy the needles, thread, cloth scraps, and basins that Qian Pozi wanted, and then strolled along the yamen towards the bustling area.

After strolling aimlessly for half a street, Zhao Laosan bought a bag of red bean cakes and a bag of maltose. He rarely came to the county town, and everything he saw today was new and exciting. Zhao Laosan's gaze wandered around, but suddenly he stopped and fixed his eyes on a particular stall.

—The Zhou family?!

Old Zhao stuffed the pastries and candies into his pocket, quickly stepped forward, pushed through a few people, and got closer. He saw a table surrounded by the crowd, with several jars lined up on the table, containing small, crumbly things that looked like food.

Wu Ya was scooping spoonful by spoonful into the bowl, and finally poured on a soy sauce-like substance. The diners hurriedly took it and went to the side to slurp it down.

"Five Girls?!"

Zhao Laosan exclaimed in surprise.

Upon hearing someone call out Zhao Ningning's name, Ning's mother quickly looked up and glanced around. Sure enough, it was someone from the Zhao family.

"You guys are really setting up a stall?!" Zhao Laosan pushed through the crowd, and the people in line behind him immediately began to complain.

"Hey, hey—" Ning's mother put down her spoon, came around from behind the table, and stopped him. "Even if you're a relative, you can't skip the line. If you want to eat, stand at the back!"

"No, I didn't come here to eat..."

Before Zhao Laosan could finish explaining, he was pushed aside by the customers who had lined up behind him. He could only watch helplessly as Zhao Ningning's family sold food and collected coins.

Old Zhao's family.

"What!?"

The two-layered flatbread in Granny Qian's hand fell to the ground with a "thud." "They actually went to set up a stall and do business!"

They're still in the food business.

"Of course, there's a long line of people buying it. I heard it's a unique dish in Fengning County." Zhao Laosan smacked his lips. He wasn't craving the food, but rather the copper coins.

"No wonder the second son's family had money to go to the county town to treat their leg, it turns out it's because of this food business!" Granny Qian picked up the cake from the ground, carefully patted off the dirt, and held it in her hand.

Zhao Wenyuan's face darkened. "Grandma! How did they get the recipes for these dishes?! Did they find out from the family? Do you think they deliberately caused a family split so they could start a food business afterward?!"

Upon hearing her eldest grandson's words, Granny Qian felt a surge of loss of control. She tried to grasp something, but had no clue what to do.

Ever since Zhao Lao Er broke his leg, his temperament has become increasingly eccentric, completely different from the obedient, docile, and hardworking Zhao Lao Er of the past.

Now that the family has gone through the trouble of separating and moving out, and has also gone to the county town to treat their leg, while still holding onto a food business that generates a steady stream of income, wouldn't the second branch of the family be thriving from here on out?!

Separating the second wife's family wasn't to let them live a good life! They are clearly disabled and small; they should be starving and cold, kneeling at Old Zhao's door begging for mercy!

...The family then took pity on them and allowed them to return home, and then ordered the second wife to do chores for the family as before.

Granny Qian's mind raced with thoughts.

"No! Let's go to the county town tomorrow!"

Zhao Ningning's home.

As soon as the door closed, Zhao Ningning asked worriedly, "Mom, that family saw our stall today. They should be alright, right?"

Ning's mother shook her head. "Based on what I've learned these past few days, they'll definitely cause trouble. We'll deal with whatever comes our way. We just need to focus on doing our own thing."

Ning's father chuckled, "What are you afraid of? You know how strong your mother is. She can take on one person at a time, and two at a time!"

Hearing her own family still joking around, Zhao Ningning was speechless for a moment. She reached out and shook Zhao Qi, who was sitting to the side, and said, "Brother! Do you know the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty?"

"...Hmm, I know a little, but not much. Anyway, our stall is close to the county government office, so if they dare to cause trouble, we can report it to the authorities directly." Zhao Qi touched his head, lost in thought.

Ning's mother: "That's true. We chose Dongshi because it's close to the county government. If our family goes to bed early tonight, that family will definitely come back to cause trouble tomorrow!"

Ning's mother was absolutely right.