Zeng Ruixiang stood up and said he had something to say, his face serious. The old man was taken aback, worried that Zeng Ruixiang would say something unpleasant, like in the past, and they would end up parting on bad terms again. He hastily intervened: "Xiang'er, today is a day for reunion, everyone is here, can't whatever it is be said another time?"

  "Dad, it's precisely because it's a day for family reunion and everyone is present that I'm saying this together with my elder brother and sister-in-law. Dad, Mom, just now my elder brother also said that these past few years he hasn't been filial to you both, and he acknowledges this point. You two are after all the parents of both of us, so during the years when we split up, I was the one who took care of you two, providing for your livelihood. Before my younger sister got married, let's not mention it, but after she got married, every year I still gave you two twelve taels of silver, plus a year's worth of festival gifts and seasonal clothing, which adds up to fifteen or sixteen taels of silver. My elder brother only took care of two dan of rice. Later on, because of Zi Ping's matter, my elder brother went to the city for five years, so it was just me who supported you two. Right, elder brother?" Zeng Rui Xiang asked Zeng Rui Qing.

  "I already know all these things, just say what you want to say, big brother is sorry to father and mother."

  "Alright, big brother, with your words, I'm satisfied. Nowadays my demands aren't high either. I've taken care of our parents for five years by myself, not counting the previous years. This time, it's only right that you take care of them for five years too. As for their current expenses, you all can decide on how to handle it, I won't participate anymore. Either way, you won't let our parents starve. Our parents still grow some vegetables and raise some chickens and ducks every year. I know you might say that the family's situation is a bit tough, but we'll still prepare new clothes for them during Chinese New Year. Big brother, big sister-in-law, do you think this is feasible?"

  "What are you doing? Don't you know how much silver your elder brother can earn in a year? What's the point of that? Ah, it's only been a few years and you're already tired of us, wanting to push us out. You heartless thing! I worked hard to raise you, even delayed Summer Jade's illness treatment so you could study. And now you don't want your parents either? Who else is in your eyes?" Madam Tian shouted as she went forward and slapped a few times on Zeng Rui Xiang's back before being pulled away by Old Master.

  Ziying thought, and it's the same old routine. Really no new ideas, even less creativity, poor old dad, still carrying this heavy burden for how long?

  "What's wrong with you? What do you know?" The old man scolded Tian Shi, thinking to himself that his second son had also paid the price for so many years. If it weren't for you always causing trouble, would his second son be like this? This time is really good, he has finally pushed his son out. Thinking of this, the old man glared at Tian Shi.

  The Shens and their son Fu did not expect Zeng Rui Xiang to say this today, it was too unexpected, too surprising, they finally saw a glimmer of hope, no matter what the outcome is, at least Zeng Rui Xiang's performance today gave them something to look forward to.

  Zeng Ruiqing remained silent. He had a stern expression, making it impossible to read his thoughts. Zhou Shi was taken aback after hearing this and paused with a piece of meat in her chopsticks, as if she hadn't understood Zeng Ruixiang's words. She asked, "Second brother, what did you mean just now? Are we supposed to support Father and Mother from now on? What for? Haven't they been well taken care of all along?"

  "Sister-in-law, I didn't say that we would be supported by you all the time. It's just that we've been supporting them for five years, and now it's your turn. Eldest brother is still the eldest son after all. Didn't he also say that these years have been a disappointment to our parents? Now that they're back home, it's only right that they make up for it. You are also people with sons, don't you hope that in the future they won't treat you like this either?"

  "This is ridiculous! I was wondering why we were suddenly invited to dinner. We haven't been given a good face in months, and now they're calling us over for a reunion dinner? It seems like they've been waiting for us all along. We might as well not have come home." Zhou Shi put the meat into Zi Quan's bowl and shouted.

  "Eldest sister, it's not right for you to say that. It was Father's intention to invite you to dinner. Besides, even if we didn't come for this meal, I would still find Elder Brother to discuss this matter with him. Are you willing to abandon your family just to avoid serving Father and Mother? Don't you fear that in the future, when the children grow up, they will be ridiculed by the villagers? Do you plan on never returning home for the rest of your lives? Does Ziquan not want to enter the family genealogy either? Are you really willing to spend your old age alone?" asked Zeng Rui Xiang.

  "Alright, you don't need to say anything more, I understand what you mean. You also don't need to force your older brother. This matter, when it comes down to it, is not your older brother's fault. But your older brother has no choice either. As I said before, let's just forget about past matters. When eating, we should give your older brother a few days' time to think carefully about what to do next."

  "What are you thinking, still the same as before? The second family gave 12 taels of silver and the big family gave two stones of rice. So many years have passed, who is behind stirring up trouble, with an evil heart, stirring up so much that you don't even support your parents anymore. What do you want to do? Get rid of all these annoying people and let your family live a peaceful life. You've thought it through well, calculated the pros and cons, but there's no door for me to go back to. From now on, I'll just rely on your family. If you don't give me silver, I won't leave. Your books are all nonsense, you're not even filial to your parents." Tian Shi cried out.

  "Mother, when was I ever unfilial? All these years, wasn't it always you first? For a whole year, not one of my children fell behind, and rather than inconvenience you, I endured the hardship for several children. That's fine, that's fine. And all these years, taking my money to support Spring Jade's family is also fine. But after we divided the family property, didn't Zifu and the others spend my money entirely? You never said a good word about me, Mother. Instead, you're still not satisfied and are helping Spring Jade's family scheme against me. A son can get hurt too! When will this kind of life come to an end? Although I wasn't raised solely by you, I'm still your own flesh and blood!"

  "You heartless thing, can I be blamed? If you hadn't gone to read that ghost book, our family would not have been ruined. When did you ever listen to me? You only listened to your aunt, relying on the old lady's fondness for you and the fact that she raised you for a few years, you've forgotten about me. You don't even listen to your mother's words, doing whatever she tells you to do, stirring up trouble between us for so many years. Now that you're successful, no matter what, you're still my flesh and blood, don't you know who Spring Jade married? Is it wrong for me to ask about your sister?"

  Zi Qing was stunned after hearing this. It turned out that her father wasn't raised by her mother, but rather by his own grandmother. No wonder her mother's feelings towards her father weren't deep. But every time they got into a fight and argued, didn't she always say that she had raised him? What exactly happened?

  "Alright, the more you talk, the more absurd it gets. You're even bringing up Chen Guzi's rotten sesame seeds, aren't you afraid of being laughed at by a few younger ones? Shut up, everyone! Xiang Er,"

  "This is all your fault, your elder brother just came back and didn't say he wouldn't support the family. You insisted on pushing us like this, if in the future you get old and your sons also push you out, what will you think?" said the old man.

  "Grandfather, this is not quite right. I am the eldest son and the head of the household. When we divided the family property, I said that I would take on the responsibility of the family, but my parents said that it's not necessary for now and gave each of us siblings a chance to make our own way, so as not to crowd together and cause discord. In the future, if my parents get old and need me, I will definitely be responsible and take on the burden of caring for them first. All of you brothers and sisters are witnesses." Zifeng stood up and said.

  Zifu had just finished speaking, and Zilu also stood up and said: "Father and mother are not only one person's, we must each do our best to take care of them. The kindness of parents is greater than heaven, how can we abandon father and mother?"

  "Logically, this is not something a junior like me should say, but over the years, my parents have been constantly giving. Just recently, my father said that it's not necessary to mention it to Grandpa and Grandma, but Grandma has never said anything good about my father; as for Uncle, I've also fulfilled my duty as a younger brother. My father has been supporting Grandpa and them every year, isn't it because of the brotherly love between him and Uncle? But as for Uncle, I won't say anything. Under such circumstances, my parents still want to take care of Sister Ping's family, bringing big and small packages every time they come, with everything they need; as for several aunts, it's even more unnecessary to mention. However, just like this, no one has said that my parents are good, everyone thinks that my parents' contributions are what they should be getting, isn't it because they think my parents are honest and don't like to calculate?" Zi Fu stood up and said.

  "Do you know what, if it weren't for your father, could this family be like this? Your grandfather passed away early, and when your grandmother was alive, she insisted on spoiling your father. All the good things in the house were given to your father. Even during those difficult times, she still insisted on sending these two grandsons to school..."

  "Mother, this statement is biased. Later when I was poor, I didn't use the family's money either. If it weren't for my uncle's support, how could I have passed the imperial examination to become a scholar?"

  "You heartless thing! Where did your uncle's silver come from? Don't you know? You still have the face to say such things?" Tian scolded.

  "Shut up, all of you. The more you talk, the less it sounds like the truth. We'll discuss this later." The old man stood up and tapped his cane as he spoke.

  "Alright, let's not talk about it anymore. If we continue, I don't know which one of you young people will come to bother me next. Second Brother is right, I should also take care of Father and Mother. Let's just settle on this. However, Father, Mother, I don't have the financial resources like Second Brother does. All I can do is provide two dan of rice and three liang of silver per year for you both. If you think it's not enough, then let's eat together as a family. We're all living in the same house anyway, so we'll at least be able to guarantee that everyone has enough food." Zeng Ruiqing finally spoke up, and Zhou Shi listened with a huff, glaring at him, just about to speak when she was cut off by Zeng Ruiqing.

  Tian heard the urgency and took a look at Old Master, seeing that he didn't say anything, still asked: "Then in these few years, Second Brother won't give us any more living expenses? This little bit of silver is enough for what? What about after five years?"

  "After five years, we'll take turns supporting them again. For the past few years, we've been responsible for our parents' new year's clothes and gifts for three festivals a year. Plus, with the two dan of fine rice and three liang of silver that Big Brother gives us, it should be enough for you to make ends meet." Zeng Rui Xiang said.

  "What's enough for you? Your whole family eats the finest food every day, but your parents want to eat plain congee and vegetables. Can you really swallow that?" Tian Shi was still feeling unbalanced in her heart.