Chapter 29: The Biased Matriarch and the Eccentrics of the Zhao Family

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“Third Uncle, have you eaten?” Zhao Dabao came forward with a smile.

“I have.” Zhao Zheng’s expression was cold. That boy had never shown him the slightest warmth before. Why was he smiling so ingratiatingly today? He was clearly up to no good.

Just then, Zhao Wei’s voice came from inside. “If you’re here, then come in. What are you shouting for? Third Brother, get in here.”

Zhao Zheng stepped over the threshold. Inside, he saw Zhao Wei reclining in a rocking chair while a woman in her twenties fed him a bowl of rice gruel.

This was the woman his former self had commissioned Zhao Wei to find for him—a widow with a daughter. She was merely plain-looking, not even half as beautiful as Zheng Chunmei.

Still, she had youth on her side. She was nearly twenty years younger than Zhao Wei. Seeing Zhao Zheng, she smiled and said, “Third Uncle, you’re here. Sit down. Mother hasn’t gotten up yet.”

Zhao Zheng looked down on such a woman, but she had been married off with money that had once belonged to his former self. That account would certainly have to be settled.

“Say what you have to say. I’m in a hurry to go back and dig a cellar.” Zhao Zheng dragged over a chair and sat down with his legs spread wide. He had not the slightest fondness for this cheap elder brother, a man full of schemes who loved putting on the airs of a landlord.

“Dig a cellar?” Zhao Wei narrowed his eyes. “Oh, I heard you recently found some persimmons and traded them at the market for quite a few good things. You’d better dig a cellar to hide them away.”

“Are you going to speak or not? If not, I’m leaving.”

“Third Brother, are you still angry with me?” Zhao Wei sat up straight, then put on an expression of helplessness. “Your big brother hit you because you went too far. She is my lawful wife—your sister-in-law. How could you show her such disrespect?”

“That woman was bought with the ten taels of compensation money awarded for my son’s death. In other words, I paid for her.” Zhao Zheng showed him no mercy. “Of course, if you return my son’s ten taels, then she’ll be your woman. Otherwise, you’re nothing but a shameless bastard who stole his own brother’s wife!”

“From now on, I’ll spread the word everywhere and see how people spit on your reputation!”

Zhao Wei’s expression turned grim. “Don’t make wild accusations. It’s true that I took the compensation money, but I used it to support our mother.

“Your two short-lived adopted sons ate our family’s food and used our family’s things for all those years, yet they left without ever supporting their elders. What’s wrong with taking ten taels?

“That money was for filial support. Even if you take this matter to the village elders or the magistrate’s office, I’ll still be the one in the right!”

In the Great Kang, the word “filial” was enough to crush many people.

Abandoning one’s elderly parents was considered an offense against Heaven itself.

Looking at Zhao Zheng’s unpleasant expression, Zhao Wei sneered inwardly. His third brother had never been bright, and Zhao Wei had trained him to obey like a dog since childhood. How dare he bare his teeth now?

“I’m warning you. You’d better not go around spreading nonsense. Otherwise, I’ll beat you again.”

“An elder brother disciplining his younger brother is only natural. No one can do a thing about it!”

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“I called you here today to give you a way out. Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness!”

Zhao Wei’s voice was loud, his eyes glaring at Zhao Zheng.

In the past, Zhao Zheng’s former self would have lowered his head in fright long ago.

But now, Zhao Zheng gave a cold laugh. “I don’t acknowledge you as my elder brother.”

“What did you say?” Zhao Wei’s face darkened. “Are you asking for a beating? I didn’t beat enough sense into you the other day, and now you’re acting up again?”

As he spoke, he rose and began searching around for something.

His young wife hurriedly grabbed him. “Master, calm down. Don’t get violent. If word gets out, people will laugh at us.”

“He dares speak to me like that? If I don’t give him a beating, he’ll think I’m called his elder brother for nothing!” Zhao Wei said angrily.

Zhao Dabao quickly added, “Third Uncle, just admit your mistake to my father and let this matter end.”

“Admit my ass.”

Zhao Zheng pulled an axe from beneath his clothes and drove it hard into the ground.

“Anyone who dares lay a hand on me today, I’ll split him open!”

Zhao Dabao jumped in fright and hurriedly took a step back. “Third Uncle, where did you get that axe?”

Zhao Wei was stunned as well. A flicker of shock crossed his eyes. “Zhao Third, you dare raise a hand against me?”

Mao Xiaofang also cried out in alarm. “Third Uncle, you’re all brothers. Why bring out an axe? If word gets around, people will think the Zhao brothers can’t get along.”

“Enough nonsense. Call Mother and the entire family of Fourth Brother over here. If this matter isn’t settled today, I’ll chop down anyone I catch!”

These people preyed on the weak and feared the strong. If he did not show them his strength, would they take him for a sick cat?

“Third Brother, are you trying to get yourself killed?” This was the first time Zhao Zheng had ever resisted him. Zhao Wei was shocked, then furious from humiliation.

“My son is dead, and the compensation money is gone too. There’s no point in living anymore.” Zhao Zheng raised the axe. “I came here today for one thing: money. Either you give it back to me, or I’ll chop you to death!”

Looking at Zhao Zheng’s bloodshot eyes, Zhao Wei felt his heart pounding uneasily.

Mao Xiaofang was terrified as well. She had never imagined that timid, cowardly Zhao Third would dare speak to Zhao Wei like this.

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“You ungrateful wretch! Is that how you speak to your elder brother?”

Just then, an old woman in a blue jacket came out. Her hair was completely silver, yet she still looked remarkably spirited.

Even though she was doing her utmost to maintain a vigorous appearance, her waxen-yellow complexion betrayed her true condition.

She was holding the hand of a boy of seven or eight. He was the son of Zhao Zheng’s married elder sister.

Her sister’s husband’s family was struggling, so they had left their son in the Zhao household to be raised. All these years, the boy had eaten and drunk at the Zhao family’s expense, yet his mother had never mentioned contributing a single thing.

“Mother, you have to take control of Third Brother! He’s gone mad!” Zhao Wei hurried over to support the old woman. “He even brought an axe against me and said he’d chop me to death!”

The old woman sat down. “I’m right here. Let me see him try to touch you.”

In the Zhao household, the old woman was the unquestioned authority.

Zhao Zheng, meanwhile, was considering how to break through this impasse—how to reclaim his money while also giving Zhao Wei a thorough beating.

He absolutely could not allow himself to be branded unfilial. Otherwise, the whole village would turn against him.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind.

“Mother, Big Brother has gone too far. I only want an explanation.” Zhao Zheng’s eyes reddened. “He is your son, and so am I. Why can’t you treat us equally?”

“I’m the eldest son, the one destined to bring honor to the family. It’s only right that Mother favors me!” Zhao Wei said coldly. “Besides, Mother has always been fair. You’re simply ignorant and have kept upsetting her.”

The old woman agreed wholeheartedly with her eldest son. Yet she had heard everything Zhao Zheng had said moments earlier and did not want her favoritism to be too obvious.

“Third Son, you’re brothers by blood. Even if your bones are broken, your sinews remain connected. Put away the axe already. Are you trying to anger me to death?”

“I’ll put away the axe if he returns my money,” Zhao Zheng said.

“I told you, that money was for supporting Mother. It’s her provision for old age!” Zhao Wei said furiously.

“I can support Mother too.”

Zhao Zheng rose to his feet. “Mother, come with me. I promise I’ll take good care of you.”