As evening fell, Wang Qingchen waited until Wang Qinghua was asleep, just as he did every night, then quietly slipped out of the house to the back. After checking that no one was around, he entered the spatial realm, finding the potted plant and the dozen packets of seeds given to him by Boss Xue.

The newly cultivated flower had several branches, and if Boss Xue’s words were to be believed, the flowers blooming from each branch would be a different color. Imagining how magnificent it would look when in full bloom, Wang Qingchen truly couldn't fathom how Boss Xue had managed such cultivation.

Wang Qingchen then opened the paper packets containing the seeds. He didn't recognize a single one of the seeds inside. After looking at them for a while, he scattered them on the empty ground next to the potted plant, leaving it to the spatial realm to see if they would sprout.

After tending to the things Boss Xue had given him, Wang Qingchen checked the medicinal mushrooms, wheat, and rice he had planted earlier in the space. Once he made some money this time, he was determined to persuade Wang Youfu to open a mill. After their family opened a mill, he would then encourage Wang Youfu to purchase grain, process it into white flour, polished rice, millet, and so on, and sell it. That should bring in quite a profit too. When they had more grain purchased, he could secretly transport a bit of this wheat and rice out. Though he couldn't move a large quantity, it would at least help consume some of his stock.

Wang Qingchen spent a long time contemplating his plans for the grain in the space before finally exiting. He returned to his room and quietly lay down next to Wang Qinghua.

The next day, Wang Qingchen went to the academy and overheard Wang Qingtong telling him that Zhang Wenbing had gotten into a fight and been beaten until his face was bruised and swollen.

It must be said, Zhang Wenbing was quite unlucky. After being beaten by Boss Xue’s servants yesterday, his lip was split, and he had numerous bruises and contusions on his body and face. He wanted to go to the pharmacy to buy some ointment, but he was short on cash. So, he went to a few friends he usually hung out with, but the people who usually called him brother wouldn't lend him a single coin, all making excuses. This infuriated him to the point where he felt like spitting blood.

Finally, Zhang Wenbing had no choice but to go home. Unexpectedly, on his way back, he ran into Granny Liu, the village gossip known for her loose tongue. The result was predictable: within a single night, the vast majority of the villagers knew that Zhang Wenbing had been beaten. Wang Youfu’s household, because Madam Yang didn't go out much to chat, hadn't heard the news yet, but with Aunt Gui around, they would likely find out today.

Wang Qingchen just treated Zhang Wenbing’s predicament as gossip to listen to. He certainly didn't imagine that his own actions could be connected to Zhang Wenbing getting beaten, assuming it was just some ruffians from the town.

However, Wang Qingchen soon grew puzzled. Could there really be something related to him in this incident of Zhang Wenbing being beaten? Wang Qingchen’s confusion was warranted. After school let out that day, the four of them ran into Zhang Wenbing heading towards town on their way back. Zhang Wenbing was indeed battered and bruised. Wang Qingchen was wondering why he wasn't resting at home for a few days instead of going to town, when Zhang Wenbing shot him a fierce glare. What was that about? Wang Qingchen was quite certain he hadn't provoked Zhang Wenbing. Why was he glaring at him like that?

Li Yuntai and the others were also very confused. They were about to ask Zhang Wenbing about it when he just glared at them a few times and then walked away quickly, leaving the four of them bewildered.

“Qingchen, how did you offend him?” Wang Qingtong asked, puzzled.

“How would I know how I offended him? I haven’t even spoken a word to him until now,” Wang Qingchen was equally unable to figure out where this hostility was coming from.

The four of them couldn’t make heads or tails of it and could only attribute it to Wang Qingchen having stared a few extra moments at Zhang Wenbing’s injuries, causing him to become enraged by embarrassment.

Wang Qingchen didn't dwell on the matter. Upon returning home, he resumed his usual routine, only noticing something unusual when he was teaching Wang Qinghua.

“Big Brother, what’s wrong with you today? You seem absentminded,” Wang Qingchen asked, noticing Wang Qinghua writing the wrong character for the third time.

“Huh? Oh, I’m fine,” Wang Qinghua snapped back to attention and looked at the character he’d miswritten, feeling a little embarrassed.

“Big Brother, what were you thinking about just now? This is the third time you’ve gotten it wrong today,” Wang Qingchen was not easy to fool.

Wang Qinghua stared straight at Wang Qingchen for a moment, then sighed, placing the brush on the brush rest. “Qingchen, I have something I need to tell you.”

“Big Brother, go ahead, I’m listening,” Wang Qingchen felt a bit curious about what Wang Qinghua wanted to discuss, given how much thought he seemed to be putting into it.

Wang Qinghua paused, then said with some guilt, “By rights, I am your elder brother, I should be the one taking care of you, and I should be the one carrying the heavy burden of the family. Instead, it’s you earning money to support your poor brother and support this household, and I, as the older brother, can’t help in the slightest. Even the money for my marriage was earned by you… I’ve thought it over. Since the money is yours, when you grow up and get married someday, all the money you earn will be yours. And the money I used for my wedding, I will earn it back and return it to you.”

Wang Qingchen hadn't expected Wang Qinghua to think this way. After a long pause, he became a little annoyed. “Big Brother, are you trying to create distance between us? Does it matter who earned the money? It’s all family money, isn’t it? What is there to feel guilty about? If we swapped roles, and you had earned a lot of money, I wouldn't have thoughts like that when I needed to use it.”

“It’s not the same. I’m the elder brother; it’s my duty to earn money for you all to use,” Wang Qinghua insisted.

“Ah, what’s so different? How is the money I earn different from the money you earn?” Wang Qingchen countered.

“It’s just… it’s just…” Wang Qinghua mumbled.

“See? You can’t even articulate it yourself, so there’s no real difference! Then why are you still feeling guilty?” Wang Qingchen laughed.

“It’s just not right somehow. I can’t just take the money you earned for free. If I can’t even let you enjoy life as you should, I certainly shouldn't be kept by you as an older brother,” Wang Qinghua maintained his stance.

“Big Brother, why are you being so stubborn? Isn’t the money I earn the family’s money? Why can’t you use the family’s money?” Wang Qingchen genuinely wanted to shout at Wang Qinghua; why was this man so obstinate?

“No use talking anymore. I’ve thought about this all day, and that’s settled. I’ll tell Mother and Father tonight,” After saying this, Wang Qinghua seemed instantly relieved.

“…”

Neither of them noticed that Madam Yang was listening to their conversation from outside their room. Madam Yang had considered what Wang Qinghua had said, and she had even worried that the two brothers might quarrel over the family assets in the future. However, after discussing it with Wang Youfu, that worry had somewhat subsided. Now, hearing Wang Qingchen’s viewpoint—that he harbored no resentment about the money he earned going to his elder brother or the entire family—Madam Yang's last remaining concerns vanished.

After Wang Youfu returned, Madam Yang quietly told him about the conversation she had overheard between their two sons. Wang Youfu was very gratified after hearing this. One son was unwilling to take advantage of his younger brother, and the other, while capable of earning, held material wealth lightly. Looking at this, he concluded that these two sons would never have estrangement or grudges between them in the future.

Then, no one knew how Wang Youfu managed to console Wang Qinghua, but in any case, Wang Qinghua never brought up the subject again. This also relieved Wang Qingchen; the stubbornness of an honest man could be quite terrifying.

Madam Yang was very happy. In her eyes, both sons possessed good natures, and when she and Wang Youfu grew old and the sons eventually divided the household, they would still get along well and offer each other mutual support.

Caiyun was also delighted because she and Madam Yang had gone to the town mill and collected the milled white flour. Madam Yang had also managed to be unexpectedly firm, setting aside two catties of meat. Upon returning, she cut some chives from their vegetable patch, mixed some dough, and started making dumplings.

Caiyun happily helped out on the side. It had been a long time since she had eaten dumplings, and the mere thought made her mouth water.

They made quite a lot of dumplings; they couldn't possibly eat them all in one sitting. Madam Yang picked out some of the best ones to set aside, dropping the rest into the boiling water. Once the dumplings were cooked, Madam Yang selected a few more choice ones, placed them in a bowl, and asked Wang Qinghua to take it over to the old residence for the Old Master and Old Madam. Although the family had separated, the second branch would still send a portion of any delicacies they ate to the elders in the main house.

At the main residence, they took the bowl of dumplings brought by Wang Qinghua and gave him an empty one to take back.

Looking at the dumplings sent by the second branch, Madam Tian smiled, “Father, Mother, the Second family’s life is certainly improving! Look at the dumpling wrappers—they must be white flour, right? And by the smell, they must be meat-filled, too? The Second family has such fine food and hasn't forgotten their duty to honor you two elders. Truly filial.”

Madam Tian placed the dumplings in front of the old couple, while in front of everyone else were meager pickles and flatbread. The focus of her words was not the Second family’s filial piety, but rather their newfound wealth, evident by such fine food. Coupled with the contrast between the dumplings and what the main house was eating, she didn't believe the elders would remain unswayed.

As expected, the Old Master looked at the comparison of food on the table and sighed, “Eldest Daughter-in-law, divide these dumplings among everyone so each person can have a taste.”

Madam Tian demurred a bit but couldn't refuse, so she followed the Old Master’s instructions and distributed the dumplings.

The Old Madam understood the Old Master better: “The Second family has truly prospered. Look at what they are eating, and then look at what we are eating. Doesn't he know his brothers are struggling? He doesn't even think about helping them along, only indulging himself.”

“You heard what the Second one said last time. He was unwilling, and it’s useless for me to force him!” the Old Master said helplessly.

“If saying it once doesn’t work, we say it twice. If twice doesn't work, we say it thrice… I refuse to believe he can refuse forever. If he does, then he is unfilial and disregards his parents’ wishes,” the Old Madam said resentfully, still harboring bitterness over Wang Youfu’s refusal to help the eldest branch.

“I’ll find another opportunity to talk to the Second one about it then!” the Old Master relented.

Hearing this, Madam Tian secretly felt her strategy had succeeded and became so delighted that even the pickles, which she usually found unpalatable, seemed delicious.

Meanwhile, Luo Yin, sitting at the same table eating, felt far from the calm expression she wore on her face. Before marrying into the family, her own mother had told her about the disparity between the Wang family’s eldest and second branches, but she hadn't felt it deeply then. After tasting those dumplings just now, and then looking at the pickles and bread on their table, she started to have some thoughts—was the gap between the two branches truly this vast?