Others shared this same bewilderment. Upon arriving at the old house, the woman surnamed Tian busied herself serving tea and water to everyone, and though Wang Youfu remained silent, his brow furrowed deeply.

Watching Mrs. Tian's uncharacteristic behavior today, everyone wondered what matter the old residence was convening about this time.

“Heaven has smiled upon us; this year's harvest was bountiful. We won't have to face the hardship of previous years,” the Old Master declared first with a sigh of relief.

“Indeed! Many families in the village have seen their yields increase by three or four hundred jin compared to last year!” Wang Youliang chimed in, though he quickly shook his head afterward. “Alas, it’s a pity that it rained while my family was harvesting wheat; much of it sprouted right there in the fields. Our harvest was actually over three hundred jin less than usual.” He finished with a look of deep sorrow plastered across his face.

“It is a blessing that our family harvested first. Otherwise, Second Uncle and Third Uncle would have harvested less, too. If you two can harvest more, we, as the elder brother and sister-in-law, are also happy.” Mrs. Tian spoke, forcing a smile so transparently pained that it was impossible to mistake her distress.

Seeing Mrs. Tian’s state, Wang Youtian started to ask if she was facing some difficulty, but then suddenly seemed to recall something. He glanced sideways at Mrs. Zhang and immediately lowered his head, falling silent.

Wang Qingchen observed his Third Uncle’s movement and couldn’t help a silent laugh. His Third Uncle must have learned his lesson from the last time and would never dare to speak carelessly or make unilateral decisions again—though he wondered how long that resolution would last.

Mrs. Tian, finding no response, shot an impatient look at Wang Youtian, only to see him keeping his head down, which filled her with silent resentment. She could only look pleadingly toward the Old Madam, hoping she would intercede.

The Old Madam glanced at her eldest daughter-in-law. “Second and Third sons, your elder brother’s family lost so much from the harvest this year. Don’t you two brothers have any thoughts on the matter? If your two families hadn't insisted on harvesting first, wouldn’t your elder brother have lost so much?”

“Oh, Mother, you’ve got that wrong,” Mrs. Zhang countered, covering her mouth to laugh. “It wasn’t that we were unwilling to harvest first; it was Big Sister-in-law herself who was eager to harvest first because the weather looked fine for those two days. But who knows what happened? The weather was perfectly fine, but as soon as Big Sister-in-law’s family started harvesting, it started raining! Heh heh… there’s that saying, something about Heaven having eyes, isn't that right? If Heaven wants to punish someone, what can we do about it?”

“You… you’re speaking as if we committed some terrible deed!” Mrs. Tian was so enraged her face turned pale green.

Mrs. Zhang chuckled. “Big Sister-in-law, don't be angry. My mouth just runs ahead of my thoughts; I just say what I hear others say, without thinking it through carefully. You are magnanimous, Big Sister-in-law, and won’t hold it against me, will you?”

At that moment, Mrs. Tian wished she could tear Mrs. Zhang’s mouth off, but remembering her objective for the day, she managed a smile. “How could I hold it against you? I’ve always known you have that forthright way of speaking.”

“Second and Third sons, this is what your father thinks: if the eldest branch hadn't harvested first, then one of your two families would have suffered the loss. Your elder brother took that loss on behalf of you two; you should compensate your elder brother a little, regardless. Your elder brother already said you don’t need to compensate for the extra grain he could have harvested this year; just compensate the amount his family harvested less than previous years,” the Old Master stated.

By now, Wang Qingchen was completely dizzy from the Old Master's logic. He glanced at the others in the room, estimating they were equally confused by the old man's words. Relying on his small stature, Wang Qingchen feigned ignorance. “Grandpa, Big Uncle’s family has so much land, and they harvested far more wheat than my family. Why should my family give Big Uncle wheat? Shouldn’t Big Uncle give us wheat?”

The Old Master saw that it was Wang Qingchen asking, thinking a child didn't understand and his words were pointless, so he initially ignored him. However, he quickly reconsidered, thinking it a good opportunity to lecture the adults of the second and third branches under the guise of educating Wang Qingchen. “Qingchen, you are too young to understand. Your Big Uncle’s family has many mouths to feed; they have to support me and your grandmother, and they still need to prepare for your Second Cousin’s marriage. Life is hard for them.” The Old Master then turned to the adults. “Second and Third sons, your elder brother is your own flesh and blood, born from the same womb. Now that your elder brother is struggling, you must support him.”

When Yang Shi heard the Old Master’s words, she grew anxious. They had finally harvested a little more this year. She and her husband had planned to sell some of the wheat and scrape together enough to pay back the money they owed for the piglet they bought on credit. That way, they wouldn't have to live so frugally in the second half of the year. Now, the Old Master’s demand threatened to derail their plans. Yang Shi, usually mild-tempered, dared not contradict the Old Master and looked anxiously toward Wang Youfu.

Wang Youfu’s frown deepened after hearing his father speak. After a moment of thought, he looked up at the Old Master. “Father, it’s not calculated that way! The money I received from the division of property was spent long ago building a few mud huts and purchasing some necessities; there’s essentially nothing left. Back then, our family didn't see meat for an entire year, only managing two jin of pork for the New Year. It wasn't until the end of last year that life became remotely comfortable, and I resolved to go into debt to buy a small piglet. I haven't paid that debt yet and was counting on this wheat harvest to quickly settle it. Now, Father asks me to give some of this wheat as compensation to Big Brother’s family. My own family is in debt; it makes no sense to compensate others. I will state clearly before you all today,” Wang Youfu swept his gaze over the members of the first branch and the Old Madam, “You all know that our family’s life is far worse than Big Brother’s and Third Brother’s. I can barely manage my own household right now, and I absolutely will not give things away for free to others. If this is about giving things away for nothing, Father, please don't call me here in the future, lest we end up damaging our harmony.”

The Old Master was stunned by Wang Youfu’s blunt rebuttal. He hadn't expected Wang Youfu to refuse him so uncompromisingly and was momentarily speechless.

The Old Madam observed the Old Master’s reaction and secretly sneered. “Second son, how can you speak like that? Is your father asking you to give things to your elder brother for free? Why don’t you consider why your elder brother lost so much wheat this year? Aren't your words chilling the hearts of your elder brother’s family? Regardless of whether your elder brother’s family chose to harvest first, they took the disaster upon themselves for the sake of your two families, and you two families both harvested significantly more than before.”

Wang Youfu said nothing. He had already made up his mind not to compensate the first branch. There was no logic in the poor compensating the richer. He wasn’t afraid even if this matter went to the village headman.

Mrs. Zhang sneered from the side. “Mother, if that’s the case, then our two families benefited from Big Brother’s family suffering this year? Then last year, when our family suffered rain during the wheat harvest and took the disaster for Big Brother’s family, we never saw Big Brother’s family compensate us, did we? Last year, we harvested before Big Brother’s family!”

The Old Madam shot Mrs. Zhang a fierce glare upon hearing her words. “Your maternal uncle helped you so much, and you two are so well-off, yet you still expect compensation from your elder brother’s family? Have you no conscience?”

Mrs. Zhang bristled at the Old Madam’s words. “My maternal uncle’s help is between my uncle and me, and whether Big Brother’s family compensated us last year is a separate matter. Furthermore, is the help from my maternal uncle not something that must be repaid? We are honest people; we always intend to repay others who help us. It’s only people like Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law who, when helped by others, never remember to repay, only thinking of taking advantage for free.” As she spoke, Mrs. Zhang glanced at Wang Youliang and Mrs. Tian, then added, “There are several families in the village who harvested first just like Big Brother’s family. Tomorrow, I’ll go ask around the village who compensated them for the lost wheat. We should follow suit; we certainly can’t make things difficult for Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law.”

The Old Master and Old Madam naturally knew that no one else in the village handled things like their family, but they held the belief that a son must obey his parents, thus proposing the demand that seemed correct to them.

“Third son hasn't spoken yet. Why are you, a mere woman, speaking up? This wheat isn't your maternal uncle’s; it’s not your place to decide.” The Old Madam then turned to Wang Youtian. “Third son, tell me, should you give this wheat or not?”

Wang Youtian, called upon, flinched. “This… the matter of the wheat is managed by my wife.” He realized the old couple's faces had changed immediately after he spoke and quickly lowered his head again.

The Old Madam, enraged, flung her teacup toward Wang Youtian. “Why are you such a coward… you’re infuriating me!” Then, she threw her head back toward the heavens. “Oh, what sin did I commit? These aren't sons I bore; I gave birth to a daughter whose heart leans toward outsiders…”

Wang Youtian, struck by the flying teacup, got blood streaming down his forehead. Mrs. Zhang cried out in alarm, “Husband, are you alright?” As she carefully held his forehead, she realized it was just scraped skin, not broken bone. Seeing the wound, an idea sparked in her mind. “Oh dear, so much blood! Did it hit the bone? We must have a doctor look at this! What if there are lingering problems later on? How will my children and I manage?”

“Wife, I’m fine…” Wang Youtian, seeing that Mrs. Zhang had misunderstood, quickly tried to say. But a harsh glare from Mrs. Zhang silenced him immediately.

Meanwhile, Wang Youfu thought the injury was severe and hurried over to check Wang Youtian’s forehead. He noticed something was off. He glanced at Mrs. Zhang, who was subtly signaling him. Wang Youfu instantly understood: if he didn't leave now, when would he? Wang Youfu lifted Wang Youtian onto his back, turned to the Old Master and Old Madam, and said, “Father, Mother, Third Brother’s head is seriously hurt. I must rush him back to fetch a doctor; otherwise, if something serious happens, regret will be too late.” He then called out to Wang Qingchen. “Qingchen, quickly! Go call Doctor Li over, hurry up!”

Wang Qingchen, hearing this, rushed to fetch Doctor Li, wondering if Third Uncle’s head injury was truly serious. Injuries to the head were unpredictable, so Wang Qingchen ran even faster.

Watching the members of the second and third branches swiftly leave the old house, Mrs. Tian, uncertain how things had escalated, asked cautiously, “Mother, Third Uncle’s head bled so much; won't something actually happen to him?”

“Mother, that was a teacup; how could you just throw it? If something really happens, what will we do?” Wang Youliang scolded.

The Old Madam had been startled by the sight of Wang Youtian’s blood-streaked face. She stammered, “How was I to know he wouldn't even move out of the way while sitting there, to let me hit him like that! Old Man, did I really cause him some lasting damage?”

The Old Master also felt uncertain. “You shouldn't have just thrown it. Couldn’t you have said what you needed to say calmly? Alas, Eldest son, come with me to check on Third son’s house.” Saying this, the Old Master called Wang Youliang to accompany him, and they left for Wang Youtian’s home.