The taste of the pig offal was already beyond her expectations.
"How come? Are you really not going to eat?" Xu Xiu asked everyone again.
"Then I'll give it a try!" Zhang Zixuan, who was sitting in the wheelchair, was the first to speak.
Then he picked up a piece and put it into his mouth. Just this one bite caused his eyes to instantly widen larger than bronze bells.
"Are you sure this is pig offal?"
"Of course, weren't you watching me wash it this morning?" Xu Xiu replied with an amused smile.
Then she asked again, quite proudly, "How is it? Isn't it delicious?"
"It really is delicious. Your recipe will definitely sell!" As he said, Zhang Zixuan picked up another piece and put it into his mouth.
Looking at him, it seemed like he couldn't stop eating because it was so delicious.
Seeing this, Zhang Zhiyong couldn't hold back anymore. Imitating Zhang Zixuan's initial action, he carefully and gently picked up a piece and put it into his mouth...
Sure enough, the next time his chopsticks went straight back to that plate of pig offal.
"I really never expected pig offal to be made to taste like this," Zhang Zhiyong laughed heartily.
As he said this, he specifically picked up a piece and put it into Lin Zhi's bowl. "Hurry up and try it, I guarantee you won't regret it."
Hearing Zhang Zhiyong's confident tone, Zhang Haifei and his wife immediately became curious.
Their family sold pork, so they were more familiar with the taste of pig offal than anyone.
Seeing everyone eating so happily, holding an attitude of giving it a try, the two finally reached for that dish.
However, after swallowing the first bite, their expressions were basically no different from Zhang Zhiyong's.
They were both full of astonishment.
"Xu Xiu, how did you make this dish? It's way too delicious! If we didn't know this was pig offal, we really wouldn't have been able to tell. There's absolutely not a single trace of the offal's fishy smell."
"So, do you all think it's delicious? Or, is there anywhere that still needs improvement?" Xu Xiu asked everyone.
"Improvement? If I said it's too delicious, would you think we're exaggerating?" Lin Xia said with a beaming smile.
"Not at all! Because I think it's really delicious too!" Xu Xiu replied very proudly.
Hearing this, everyone burst into laughter. For a moment, the entire small courtyard was filled with the lively atmosphere of people.
Meanwhile, at the old residence.
"Why isn't dinner ready yet, even though it's so late?" Old Lady Liu pointed at her three daughters-in-law and questioned them as soon as she arrived home.
Hearing this, the eldest sister-in-law, Fang Miaojuan's eyes immediately darted around slyly.
"Mom, you know this too. Zirong is badly injured this time. It's been a whole day, and he can't move at all. For a while, I really couldn't get away."
"Oh, Eldest Sister-in-law, the way you put it... When the Fourth Branch was still there, Zixuan was bedridden for two years, and her Fourth Sister-in-law still managed to do everything just fine, didn't she? How come when it's your turn, you can't do anything?" The second sister-in-law, Chen Sixi, said in a sarcastic tone.
The third sister-in-law, Wang Xiuying, didn't speak. She knew that once she opened her mouth, the first and second branches would bombard her one after another.
There was no helping it. They had both given birth to two sons, making them great contributors to the Zhang family.
She, however, was different. She only had one son. In the Zhang family, daughters were basically just money-losing goods.
At this moment, how dare she make a sound?
But her not speaking didn't mean the fire wouldn't spread to her.
"Third Sister-in-law, Eldest Sister-in-law, has to take care of Eldest Brother. What about you? Who do you need to take care of?" second sister-in-law Chen Sixi said to Wang Xiuying.
Among the three daughters-in-law of the Zhang family, the most formidable was undoubtedly Second Sister-in-law Chen Sixi.
Not only had she given birth to two sons, but her natal family also had five elder brothers, which was quite rare in the nearby villages.
Moreover, everyone in Chen Village knew that the Chen family only had one daughter, Chen Sixi.
She was the youngest daughter, and the Chen family doted on her immensely—afraid she might be dropped if held in their hands, afraid she might melt if held in their mouths.
When she got married, her dowry was so abundant that the entire Chen Village was envious.
Even the Zhang family gained face because of it.
Thus, among the daughters-in-law, Old Lady Liu favored Chen Sixi the most.
There was no helping it; who made her dowry so large?
That's also why she was the most arrogant in the Zhang family.
"Second Sister-in-law, I just got back from working outside too. You saw it yourself. I came back right before Mom," Wang Xiuying explained softly.
"Enough nonsense! Since you're back, go cook!" Old Lady Liu roared at Wang Xiuying.
For some reason, ever since the Fourth Branch moved out, she felt that everything was off.
But she couldn't quite put her finger on what exactly was wrong.
"Wasn't the pigweed gathered today? Why is that pig squealing non-stop?" Old Lady Liu found fault again.
This time, Wang Xiuying inside simply pretended not to hear, focusing single-mindedly on cooking.
Because when she left in the morning, she heard Old Lady Liu assign this task to the Second Branch.
Now she wanted to hear how the Second Branch would explain themselves.
"Mom, you really can't blame me for this. Early this morning, I was about to go gather pigweed, but just as I was getting ready to leave, my Eldest Sister-in-law called me back. She told me not to go, saying she would help me gather it later."
"Eldest Sister-in-law, is this true?"
"You damned woman! How dare you slander me?" Fang Miaojuan pointed at Chen Sixi and shouted.
Wang Xiuying inside immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She was really afraid the fire would burn her this time.
Luckily, today she had gone to work in the fields with Old Man Zhang and the others; she hadn't slacked off.
Otherwise, she definitely wouldn't have escaped a beating today.
"I... I didn't slander you. Many people heard that. If you don't believe me, ask San-Tou and Si-Tou."
"Pah! San-Tou and Si-Tou are your sons, so naturally they'll side with you. If that's not good enough, wait until my son Tianyi comes home to uphold justice for his Mom."
Tianyi was Fang Miaojuan's eldest son, Big Head Zhang Tianyi, who was currently studying at the Huaheng Academy in the county town. He could be said to be carrying the hopes of the entire family.
The status of the eldest son and grandson wasn't just a thing in noble families; even in these rural villages, they also emphasized the importance of the eldest son and grandson.
Fang Miaojuan was also very clever. Knowing that bringing out her eldest son at this moment would silence everyone.
After all, they hadn't divided the family yet. Once her eldest son succeeded, even the Second and Third Branches would have to rely on the First Branch's goodwill.
How could this not make Fang Miaojuan smug?
Hearing Fang Miaojuan's words, Chen Sixi was furious, but for the moment, she was helpless.
However, she also knew that if she didn't think of a way out now, then even if it reached the hour of Zi (midnight), she would still have to go gather the pigweed.
Ever since that bitch Xu Xiu slaughtered that pig, Old Lady Liu had directly regarded the last remaining pig as her lifeline.
It couldn't be shortened even a little bit of food.
Before, she never had to worry about these chores. Now, with the Fourth Branch gone, all the chickens, ducks, and pigs had fallen onto her shoulders.
"Aiyo, Mom... Mom, I sprained my waist this morning. I meant to tell you earlier, but I forgot for a moment. I was just thinking of asking Zihua to go to my eldest brother's place to find some medicine for me, but who knew he'd be busy until now to come back?" As she said this, Chen Sixi quite convincingly supported her rounded waist.
Hearing this, Wang Xiuying finally twitched the corner of her lips, revealing a bitter smile.
"Third Sister-in-law, you don't need to cook anymore. Hurry up and go gather some pigweed!" Sure enough, before she could finish the work in her hands, Old Lady Liu's loud voice came from outside the door.
Old Lady Liu outside hadn't heard Wang Xiuying's voice for a long time and immediately grew impatient.
"What? Can't I even get you to listen now?" As she said this, Old Lady Liu pushed the door open, stretched out her right hand, and pinched Wang Xiuying's arm hard.
"Aiyo... Mom, I'll go, I'll go! I'm going right now!" Wang Xiuying said repeatedly.
"Then hurry up! If anything happens to my pig because it's hungry, I'll hold you responsible!" Old Lady Liu said through gritted teeth.
Zhang Zifu had just entered the room and hadn't yet figured out what was happening when he saw his wife walk out carrying a basket, her eyes red.
"Mom, what's going on? Didn't Xiuying just get back? Where is she going now?" Zhang Zifu couldn't help but ask.
His wife had been working in the fields with them today until dark before returning.
She couldn't have come back only to be driven out to work again by her Mom, could she?
"What? Feeling sorry for her already? What's wrong with me just sending her out to gather some pigweed? Is it only you who get to eat? Doesn't the pig need to eat? If this pig gets thin from hunger, no one will have a good life."
"But Mom, didn't you say this morning..."
"Enough! It's just gathering one basket of pigweed. That's the end of it." Old Man Zhang directly cut off Zhang Zifu's words.
If they kept arguing like this, they wouldn't be done by dawn.
Seeing his parents like this, Zhang Zifu, who loved his wife dearly, quickly chased after her.
He couldn't let his wife go to the foot of the mountain to gather pigweed alone at night!
Sure enough, as soon as he stepped out, he saw his wife walking slowly towards the village and carrying the basket.
"Why are you going there to gather pigweed?" Zhang Zifu asked as he took the basket from Wang Xiuying.
"Xu Xiu used to say when she gathered pigweed that the pigweed at the village end is the best. It's just that few people in the village go to the village end, so they haven't discovered it," Wang Xiuying said in a low voice.
Usually, Wang Xiuying had a timid personality, not fighting or grabbing for things, most similar to Xu Xiu's temperament.
Therefore, in the family in the past, she got along best with Xu Xiu and also talked the most with her.
"Xiuying, I'm sorry. I didn't know Mom would be like this!" Zhang Zifu said softly to Wang Xiuying.
"You haven't let me down. Actually, sometimes I quite envy my Fourth Sister-in-law."
"Envy what?"
"Envy her for being able to divide the family. No, for being able to sever ties with them," Wang Xiuying said in a low voice.
This statement actually contained a very clear hint. Zhang Zifu should be able to understand it as long as he wasn't stupid.
Zhang Zifu did understand. But thinking about how Xu Xiu was when they divided the family, he was truly worried that after dividing the family, he wouldn't even be able to fill his children's bellies.
In the old residence, at least they had a place to live.
Although they never ate their fill of three meals a day, at least they got three meals.
If they moved out, like the Fourth Branch, how long could they hold out?
Moreover, after the Fourth Branch moved out, it relied on Xu Xiu's iron-fisted methods.
Taking a step back, even if they really moved out, with Fourth Brother's condition, how long could their days last?
Thinking like this, he really didn't want to divide the family.
It wasn't that he was afraid of hardship or tiredness, but he was worried about the children suffering and enduring hardship, living a life without enough food, just like them.
Thinking of this, Zhang Zifu said softly again, "Xiuying, the Fourth Branch's life must be very hard now."
"I know. We'll pass by there in a bit. Why not go and see?"
"Alright then, and also see how Fourth Brother is doing?"
As he said this, Zhang Zifu carefully felt around his body.
"I didn't know you were coming to the village's ending. If I'd known, I would have brought some food."
"Have you forgotten? Xu Xiu carried away tens of pounds of rice and a pig weighing over a hundred pounds. They shouldn't go hungry during this time."
Actually, Wang Xiuying also wanted to say that, seeing how Xu Xiu's personality had drastically changed those past few days, she felt that with Xu Xiu around from now on, the Fourth Branch's days might actually improve?
But seeing Zhang Zifu's worried expression, she swallowed those words.
She knew Zhang Zifu; until things reached that point, he wouldn't believe it.
"It seems to be right there," Wang Xiuying pointed to the thatched cottage ahead.
"Huh? The roof seems to be fixed."
"Mum, probably Elder Brother Zhang Zhiyong and Zhang Haifei helped Fourth Sister-in-law fix it that day."
"They should be asleep. Should we still go in?" Zhang Zifu hesitated to ask.
"Better not, right? Let's quickly gather the pigweed and go back. They probably didn't leave us any dinner again tonight," Wang Xiuying said resentfully.
Thinking of this, the thought she had dismissed earlier resurfaced.
The Fourth Branch got nothing when they divided the family, but their Third Branch was different; at least Zifu could still work.
Moreover, judging by Old Lady Liu and Old Man Zhang's temperament, she should give them a bit of a warning.
Otherwise, they might always think the Third Branch was easy to bully.
Thinking of this, Wang Xiuying asked Zhang Zifu again, "What do you think? Should we also bring up dividing the family?"
"Are you crazy? You really dare to bring it up?" Zhang Zifu jumped up and said.
"Why wouldn't I dare? Our Third Branch has hands and feet. As long as Father and Mom give us one or two acres of land, won't we be able to feed our family of four? Besides, you could still go to the county town to do some odd jobs. Wouldn't that be much better than what we have now?"
"Furthermore, haven't you noticed? Ever since the Fourth Sister-in-law and her family were separated out, the chores that originally belonged to the Fourth Branch have now mostly fallen onto our Third Branch. Gathering pigweed was originally the Second Branch's responsibility. Look now, who's doing it?"
Although Wang Xiuying didn't speak much in daily life, she had always been a wise woman.