Zhao Jianguo and Zhou Yunru had both gone to the Old Zhou family's house.
After the people from the Old Zhou family left, Zhao Yunlin didn't dare to make a sound, fearing he would get slapped again.
Wang Hongxia was genuinely angered to the point of illness. She barely managed to hold on until the door was shut before collapsing, clutching her forehead.
Her breathing became shallow, greatly frightening Zhao Yongqiang.
Fortunately, after being given a few mouthfuls of brown sugar water, she recovered.
"Tao'er, go make lunch first."
Cheng Tao was still contemplating how to gloss over the pregnancy when she heard his words.
Since marrying into the Old Zhao family, she had never entered the kitchen.
Even if she did, she wouldn't know how to cook.
"I'm pregnant, how can you make me cook?"
Zhao Yunlin frowned, still worried about Wang Hongxia.
"My mother could work in the fields while pregnant, what's wrong with you making a meal? Besides, Big Brother has separated from us, so from now on, all the household chores will depend on you."
Cheng Tao became unhappy upon hearing his words.
"I'm not doing it. Go tell your mother I'm pregnant and can't work."
Zhao Yunlin was about to try and persuade her again when he heard Zhao Yongqiang's voice from outside: "Cheng Tao is pregnant?"
She had only been married for a little over a month, and she was already pregnant?
Cheng Tao suppressed her guilt and said, "Dad, I'm pregnant, I just found out."
"Did you go see Uncle Li?"
"No, I went to the health clinic myself a couple of days ago to check."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yongqiang believed her pregnancy without question.
He hurried back inside and told Wang Hongxia.
As soon as Wang Hongxia heard, her headache disappeared, and she clamored to get out of bed.
Zhao Yongqiang stopped her, exasperated, "What are you doing? You're not due to give birth yet."
"You know nothing! Our eldest son is going to be a live-in son-in-law, and the child in Cheng Tao's belly is now my only grandson!"
Zhao Yongqiang retorted, "What if it's a granddaughter?"
Wang Hongxia glanced at him, "Yunlin isn't only having one child. He'll continue to have more."
Zhao Yongqiang thought about it and agreed. Perhaps because of all the recent events, the child in Cheng Tao's belly seemed exceptionally important now.
But Cheng Tao couldn't work, and someone had to do the chores.
Zhao Yunlin had to work, and Zhao Yongqiang was the head of the household. The only available workers were Wang Hongxia and Zhao Lifang.
Wang Hongxia, having rested for so long, had no desire to pick up the spatula again and ordered Zhao Lifang around.
Zhao Lifang refused immediately.
"Why should I do the work? Don't I have a sister-in-law? Can't she do it?"
"Your second sister-in-law is pregnant!"
Zhao Lifang immediately fell silent and grumbled reluctantly, "Did they get together before marriage?"
It must have been, otherwise, how could she have gotten pregnant so quickly.
But her cooking skills were poor, not as capable as Zhou Yunru's. She could barely manage to make a few edible dishes, but they made everyone lose their appetite.
"Can't you put more effort into it? Your second sister-in-law is pregnant, and you're giving her this to eat?" Zhao Yunlin complained.
Zhao Lifang scoffed, "Then I won't do it anymore. You make it for her yourself, my skill level is just this."
The Old Zhao family started arguing again, and the neighbors around them were already accustomed to it.
It had only been a few days since Zhou Yunru left, and the Old Zhao family had already descended into chaos.
...
Cheng Wenyu had been at home for several days. The people holding the IOUs had made no move, so he felt the storm had passed and wanted to return to school.
Cheng You wouldn't allow it.
"I went to check last time, and I couldn't find those people. Wait for me to go again."
With the issue of the IOUs unresolved, she felt like there was a landmine buried somewhere, ready to be stepped on at any moment.
Cheng Wenyu then relented. Studying at home was the same, the knowledge points in the books were simple, and he could understand them.
Cheng You went out to wash the clothes she had changed the night before. A while later, she saw Zhou Yunru arriving.
Zhou Wenxuan was accompanying her.
"Cheng You, I've come to bring you something."
This was a token of gratitude, and the basket contained several pieces of cured meat.
Cheng You accepted it generously. If she refused, the Old Zhou family would start complaining.
Sometimes, owing a favor was also a source of trouble.
Song Yulian looked at the basket in Cheng You's hands, her eyes lighting up.
Cured meat was also meat.
It was a pity her hands weren't fast enough to take it before Cheng You did.
"Yunru, would you like to sit down for a cup of water? I see you and Cheng You get along quite well, why don't you chat for a while?"
Zhou Yunru's second uncle was the production team leader of Taxia Village, and it was important to maintain good relations.
Who knew if they would need to ask for favors in the future.
However, as soon as she spoke, Zhou Yunru coldly refused.
"I have other things to do, I'll be going now."
Wang Hongxia hitting her was something that, although Cheng Tao had distanced herself from, everyone understood in their hearts.
Cheng Tao was a meddlesome person herself. Who would believe that this incident had nothing to do with her?
It was only because Zhao Yunlin had spoken as he did that the Old Zhou family let Cheng Tao off the hook.
After giving the cured meat, Zhou Yunru turned and went to the Old Zhao family's house.
Now that they had separated, besides money, there were also their shares of grain and belongings to be divided.
Pots, bowls, and basins, nothing could be less, even if they were lost, she wouldn't let Wang Hongxia profit from them.
Seeing that she had come to collect her belongings, Wang Hongxia cursed under her breath but still had to humble herself and give Zhou Yunru the items.
"From now on, after the separation, I will not acknowledge Zhao Jianguo as my son, and the child in your belly is not my grandson! If you want to marry into our Old Zhao family again, it won't be so easy!"
Zhou Yunru sneered, "My child's mother calls you Grandma, so of course, he's not your grandson. I'll leave after taking my things, do you think I want to see your vicious face here?"
"You!" Wang Hongxia was so angry she gasped for air.
Zhou Yunru, who used to be submissive, had completely changed. Her words were now much bolder.
"Little brother, we'll leave after we get our things!"
Zhou Wenxuan chuckled, "Alright."
He didn't want those bowls, so he simply smashed them all to the ground, shattering them into pieces.
"These things are too heavy to carry, we'll leave them for you."
Wang Hongxia's heart ached as if bleeding. These items were all bought with money!
"Zhou Yunru, you're going too far!"
Zhou Yunru sneered, "Who is going too far, the entire village of Wujing knows. You almost killed my two children, and I will remember this hatred for a lifetime. When it comes to viciousness, no one can compare to you, Wang Hongxia!"
Wang Hongxia was utterly shocked. How dare she say such a thing!
"Are you crazy!"
"I'm not crazy! From now on, Jianguo is Jianguo, and I am me. My children and I will never step foot here again, nor will we let my children call you Grandma and Grandpa!"
Wang Hongxia's face turned ashen with anger, "Who cares about your child? Cheng Tao is already pregnant, and from now on, our Old Zhao family's grandson will only come from Cheng Tao's belly!"
Cheng Tao: "..."
Her heart sank into despair. She had originally been thinking about how to gloss over the matter.
Now, with Wang Hongxia saying this, it was estimated that the entire village of Wujing would know about it in no time.