Wang Qingchen didn't know what to say about the old man pulling a muscle in his back while trying to hit someone. Fortunately, the doctor said it wasn't serious and he would recover in two or three months.

Thinking back to the look on the old doctor’s face when he saw the messy scene in the room after Wang Qingchen brought him back, Wang Qingchen felt quite embarrassed. Luckily, the old doctor had seen the world and didn't ask many questions, instead calmly treating the old man.

However, the old man was probably too ashamed of himself. Ever since the old doctor left, he had stayed locked in his room, hardly seeing anyone. Usually, the old lady would bring his meals to him there.

Although the family didn't spread the news of this incident, the fact that the old man hadn't gone out for so many days naturally made others curious. So, somehow, rumors started circulating that the Wang family elder had tried to beat his son but ended up throwing out his own back. Soon, most of the village knew about it. As for why the elder Wang tried to beat his son, that remained unclear. But this was enough to keep Wang Youliang afraid to leave his house recently, because everyone knew he was the one who was beaten. To be a grandfather and still be beaten by his own father was hardly a glorious matter. Even Tian Shi had stopped going out much lately, afraid of being cornered and asked about the family's troubles.

Wang Qingtong also hadn't been in good spirits these past few days. Initially, he had believed Wang Qingchen’s first explanation, or perhaps the scenario he had concocted in his own mind. But the scene his father created that day after school, coupled with the elder’s fierce intent to thrash his father, forced him to doubt the real truth.

Seeing Wang Qingtong standing before him, once again pressing for the whole story, Wang Qingchen could only reluctantly tell him everything. The result was that Wang Qingtong felt even more ashamed in front of Wang Qingchen, considering what his own father had done.

Wang Qingchen, however, didn't care; his father was his father, and he was himself. So, seeing Wang Qingtong so uncomfortable, he kindly tried to comfort him, which only made Wang Qingtong feel more guilty. He secretly vowed that he would never do a series of things to his brother like his father had done.

After that day's incident, Wang Qingchen’s relationship with Yang Shi had actually grown closer. Wang Qingchen was deeply moved by Yang Shi stepping forward to take the scolding for him that day. Even though he knew Yang Shi was only standing up for the original Wang Qingchen, and not for him, Xiao Luo, this did not diminish his emotion. Moreover, since deciding to become Wang Qingchen, he was Wang Qingchen.

Regarding the elder’s assault incident, although Zhang Shi wasn’t present and didn't know the details, she naturally heard about it as it circulated in the village. When others asked her about the old house, she could only awkwardly say she didn't know, and then came over to Yang Shi's place to inquire.

Yang Shi recounted the entire event of Wang Youliang feigning illness and being exposed.

“This… what on earth is his uncle thinking?” Zhang Shi, perhaps accustomed lately to Wang Youliang’s startling behavior, could now accept his unexpected actions quickly.

“We all want to know! But after this episode, the relationship between our family and the First Branch is likely solidified at this icy point. I don't even know if we'll interact anymore!” Yang Shi sighed as she spoke.

“His uncle and aunt are truly something, living such a good life and yet stirring up all this trouble,” Zhang Shi pouted.

“Their whole family wants too much; they are simply too greedy,” Yang Shi shook her head.

“Exactly! Oh, and how did our father throw out his back? Did he really injure it while hitting someone?” Zhang Shi asked.

Yang Shi’s expression became slightly strange as she recalled that day. She had never known that a father trying to beat his son could result in such a scene. Yang Shi wondered if she was simply too naive, having been stunned by the sight for so long. That day, after the elder’s blow missed, and Wang Youliang managed to escape, the elder became furious. He grabbed the door bolt and chased after Wang Youliang, who kept dodging while begging for mercy. The elder couldn't land a blow and was boiling with anger. The others, seeing how enraged the elder was, didn't dare intervene. Later, the elder, likely maddened by frustration, hurled the door bolt he was holding towards the fleeing Wang Youliang. Not only did the bolt miss, but the sheer force of the throw caused the elder’s body to pitch forward. It would have been nothing more than a tumble, except that Wang Youliang, trying to dodge the bolt, jerked his head aside, then slipped underfoot and fell backward, his entire body landing squarely on the elder’s lower back, thus spraining it.

Hearing this, Zhang Shi didn't know how to react. If this hadn't happened within their own Wang family, she certainly would have laughed about it for half a day. “Is the old man alright now?”

Yang Shi shook her head. “The doctor said it’s not too severe, thankfully. He should be fine in about two or three months of rest. Otherwise, an injury to the back at his age is the easiest way to end up bedridden.”

“Thank goodness it’s not serious, otherwise this whole affair would truly be…” Zhang Shi snorted. “No wonder his uncle and aunt have been hiding lately. If people ask them about it, they truly have no face to tell the story.”

Yang Shi smiled but said nothing.

Zhang Shi thought for a moment, then recalled another piece of village news. “Oh, by the way, Zhang Yunzhu’s daughter-in-law has moved in. I heard people say the bride is quite stout and large, and their son is very unhappy with her!”

“No way! Their daughter-in-law moved in so quickly?” Yang Shi hadn’t even heard about this.

“I didn’t believe it either at first, but many people in the village know now. I heard their son was very dissatisfied with his bride when he came back that day; he went straight back to town and hasn’t returned since, driving his mother absolutely mad,” Zhang Shi chuckled slyly.

“So that daughter-in-law just puts up with it?” Yang Shi was perplexed.

“What else can she do? Her maiden family lives far away. Though she was married in, everyone in the village knows she was essentially bought,” Zhang Shi explained.

“Alas, that girl is truly pitiful. Not only is her family far away, but she married a husband like that. How will she manage her life?” Yang Shi pitied her.

Zhang Shi laughed hearing this. “Haha… I knew you would say that. But you are mistaken on one point. Although their family has a new daughter-in-law, I heard she does absolutely nothing around the house! Zhang Yunzhu’s wife is doing all the housework!”

“You don’t say? They treat their daughter-in-law that well?” Yang Shi was surprised.

“It’s not that they treat her well; it’s that the daughter-in-law can’t do anything right. Ask her to cook a meal, and it comes out burnt—it breaks Zhang Yunzhu’s wife’s heart! Wash the dishes, and she breaks them. Sweep the floor, and she scatters dust everywhere. Even feeding the pigs, she manages to spill the feed all over the ground… haha… Zhang Yunzhu and his wife are furious! If they scold her, she just ignores it and smiles foolishly at them. Later, the couple stopped daring to order the daughter-in-law around, fearing she would destroy something in the house,” Zhang Shi laughed again as she recounted it.

Yang Shi was dumbfounded. “What kind of daughter-in-law did they marry?”

“Indeed! But it’s their son’s fault for being such a disappointment; which family nearby would be willing to marry their daughter to them? The villagers are just waiting to see them become a joke!” Zhang Shi said.

Meanwhile, Gao Shi, the daughter-in-law of Zhang Yunzhu who was the subject of the villagers' gossip, was secretly eating stolen food in her room. Gao Shi had a large appetite, but Zhang Yunzhu and his wife wouldn't supply her liberally, so she had to resort to sneaking food to fill her stomach.

“Oh dear, where did my egg pancakes go? Which starving ghost took them?” Zhang Yunzhu’s wife roared toward her room from the courtyard.

Gao Shi heard the shout but pretended not to. Utterly unfazed by the noise outside, she quickly stuffed the pancakes into her mouth, puffing her cheeks out like a frog before desperately forcing the food down.

Before she could swallow, she heard footsteps approaching. A moment later, Zhang Yunzhu’s wife burst into the room. Seeing Gao Shi still desperately choking down what was in her mouth, she immediately understood, and a surge of anger rose: “You hungry ghost reborn, you wasteful woman! You stole and ate all those egg pancakes! Let me teach you some manners today!” She started looking for a stick or something to beat Gao Shi with.

Gao Shi didn’t flinch. After finally swallowing, she smiled foolishly at Zhang Yunzhu’s wife. “Mother, I was so hungry. I didn’t eat enough at noon, and when I saw those cakes there, I just took them to eat.”

“You hungry ghost! Were those meant for you? That was our family’s supper!” Zhang Yunzhu’s wife snarled viciously.

“Mother, but I’m hungry. Back at my mother’s house, they said once I married into a proper home, I’d be well-fed and never go hungry again. But I’m not full every day. Mother, are all other people’s daughters-in-law hungry too?” Gao Shi asked.

“You…” Zhang Yunzhu’s wife genuinely feared she would go out and spread tales of them starving her. So, she suppressed her anger and managed to say, “I’ll let this slide this time. Next time you want something, tell me first, understand?”

“I understand, Mother! You are so kind!” Saying this, Gao Shi smiled foolishly at Zhang Yunzhu’s wife again.

Only after Zhang Yunzhu’s wife left the room did Gao Shi’s expression change completely. Her eyes now held unconcealed disgust. Ever since she saw Zhang Wenbing’s frivolous and slovenly demeanor, she felt a wave of revulsion. Fortunately, he had gone to town. Her own parents, to save money for her younger brother’s wedding, had essentially sold her off here to be a wife. If the recipient had been respectable, so be it, but instead, he was someone utterly lacking class. Therefore, she secretly resolved to find an opportunity to leave this place. (To be continued)