Chapter 409: Chapter 396: Playing Unconventionally

Can we talk? Can I see mother again?

During Mid-Autumn Festival, coming empty-handed, even a fool would know why Zhang Xiangrui has come.

Not angry?

How could that be possible!

Zhang Xiangrong’s face was already veiled with anger at this point.

When they had divided their family assets, their father had insisted that because Zhang Xiangrong had no sons, he should not inherit property. Even though Mrs. Liu had appealed on his behalf, he had received not a single plot of land or house.

Fine, he was childless and had not fulfilled his duty to continue the family line, so he didn’t mind not inheriting property. He had his two hands and his two feet. He could make his own way.

However, not long after their father’s death, Zhang Xiangrui claimed that he was overwhelmed with work and could not take care of their aging mother. He asked Zhang Xiangrong and Mrs. Cao to care for her for a while – until the Chinese New Year, he said, then he would take her back.

At the time, Mrs. Liu was ill, and Zhang Xiangrong, noticing that Zhang Xiangrui was not caring for her properly and worrying that Zhang Xiangrui may bear a grudge against her for the things she had said at the time of their property division, took Mrs. Liu into his care and cared for her meticulously.

This meticulous care lasted over a year. When Chinese New Year came and went, Zhang Xiangrui showed no intention of taking Mrs. Liu back. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiangrong and Mrs. Cao had been working steadily, buying new acres of farmland and building a few houses out of blue bricks and adobe. Their circumstances had significantly improved, and they could easily cover the costs of Mrs. Liu’s retirement.

Despite this, as he saw his brother’s life improving, Zhang Xiangrui grew disgruntled. He accused Zhang Xiangrong of amassing wealth too quickly, going from no property to owning acres of land and houses in just a few years, and suggested that he had hidden away some assets during their property division.

He also accused Mrs. Liu of favouritism, claiming that while living with him, she had done nothing but eat, drink and idle around. Yet now that she was living with Zhang Xiangrong, she was working and even making fried chop rice cakes to sell in the town, all to supplement his family’s income.

Furthermore, he accused Zhang Xiangrong of being short-sighted and not planning for the future. As someone without an heir, he should be treating his nephew as his own son, giving him all the best foods and drinks and leaving the best things for the future. That way, when his own time came, there would be someone to mourn for him.

But instead, he was selfish and only cared for his own family, leaving his brother’s family to eat coarse grains. If in the future, nobody was there to mourn for him, it would be his just desserts!

Even when Zhang Xiangrong hurt his foot while working and had to sell his land to cover his medical costs, Zhang Xiangrui still took pleasure in his misfortune. He scorned Zhang Xiangrong, claiming that whatever wasn’t truly his would eventually be lost anyway.

Zhang Xiangrong was forced to hear such harsh words every few days.

However, since he could not control what others said, and arguing with Zhang Xiangrui would only upset Mrs. Liu, he decided to let Zhang Xiangrui’s words slide. After all, he reasoned, it did not matter what others say as long as his own family lived a good life.

Not long ago, Zhuang Qingning had proposed they sell hot and sour powder in the town and help with the shop. The entire family moved to the town, and Zhang Xiangrong was relieved.

While he didn’t care too much about Zhang Xiangrui’s words and wouldn’t let them interfere with his life, his spiteful remarks made him uncomfortable. He was glad to move to the town, where the sight of Zhang Xiangrui would be less frequent, and he wouldn’t have to hear his constant complaints anymore. This made Zhang Xiangrong feel liberated.

Seeing Zhang Xiangrui again, Zhang Xiangrong was decidedly displeased.

The displeasure grew even more when he saw Zhang Xiangrui speaking to Mrs. Cao in strange tones.

“If you’re hungry, go buy your own food. My home doesn’t have any for you.” Zhang Xiangrong retorted.

This Zhang Xiangrong was significantly different from before.

In the past, regardless of what Zhang Xiangrui said, Zhang Xiangrong never argued with him. Even when he was insulted, he never responded. But now, he had suddenly started to raise his voice at him.

“Come on, brother, I specifically came to town to see you and mother. You won’t even let me eat a bit of rice and even talk to me in such bizarre tones, that’s not right.”

Zhang Xiangrui frowned, looking wronged, “People always say that once someone gets rich, they forget their poor kin. Now you’re acting like this, brother, are you planning to become someone who looks down on others with contempt?”

“But that makes sense too. Now that you have a shop in town, and your family is all living here comfortably, and I’ve even heard that the shop is flourishing, and you make money hand over fist, you’re living a lavish life. So, why would you ever remember your poor brother back in your old hometown?”

“Alas, I am such a fool. I knew that some people despise their poor relatives and yet I still presented myself eagerly, I deserved to be lectured!”

Hearing his words, Mrs. Cao was so furious that she stomped her foot.

This Zhang Xiangrui, his speeches were truly shameless.

Undeniably, he had always found ways to bully others. As the younger brother, he had never checked on his elder brother’s injured foot, and even secretly wished they would meet with disaster. Now seeing that his elder brother’s family has moved to the town, he was planning to find an opportunity to take advantage of them. Such a person, devoid of any conscience, was accusing others of being cold and faceless. How thick-skinned could he be?

“You know you deserve it and still insist on showing up at our doorstep, is that not a problem?” Zhang Xiangrong shot Zhang Xiangrui a glance and retorted sharply.

Zhang Xiangrui was taken aback on the spot.

Most people cared about their face, and the response he usually garnered with his confrontational approach was a flustered explanation, which allowed him to gain the upper hand. He could then gradually corner his opponent.

But this time Zhang Xiangrong…

It was a completely unexpected response!

All the responses Zhang Xiangrui had planned were suddenly stuck in his throat, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to counter Zhang Xiangrong.

“If you have nothing to say, you better go, don’t waste time.” Zhang Xiangrong was unsparing, stretching out his hand to drag Zhang Xiangrui out.

Zhang Xiangrui, always lean, was taken by surprise. He was forcibly dragged out of the backyard, out of the shop door, and thrown out onto the street.

“My place is small, I’m childless, and I only care about myself. If you dare to come here again, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” Zhang Xiangrong shouted, not bothering to waste his breath with Zhang Xiangrui any longer, and quickly shut the door.

“Hey, big brother…”

Zhang Xiangrui had just reacted and rushed forward with a stride, but his face went “bang” against the closed door.

The pain in his forehead and nose was intense, and Zhang Xiangrui even felt warm liquid flowing out of his nose…