Chapter 147: Driven Away

Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Driven Away

"See? This one ended up with us too," Zhang Dazhuang said, gesturing as he spoke. He then pointed to the basket on his back. Inside, atop a pile of herbs, sat the unlucky pheasant that had ultimately fallen into their hands.

"Wow, your luck is something else."

"Of course. We thought it was all over for us today, but who knew... Heh, it’s all thanks to my Nuannuan’s quick thinking. She’s our family’s little lucky star," Zhang Dazhuang said with a chuckle.

"Doesn’t this just prove the saying? ’Survive a great disaster, and good fortune will follow.’ These two boars alone are worth a small fortune! Hey, Uncle Dazhuang, how can you let your little lucky star drag something so heavy? Here, let me take over. Uncle Dazhuang, you take my hoe, and I’ll drag this home for you." Zhang Sanqiang smiled and took the rope from Gu Nuan Nuan’s hands. The moment he grasped it, he yelped, "Whoa, this thing is seriously heavy."

"It’s got some real heft to it. I struggle to pull it alone. Good thing we have Nuannuan—have her pull it with you." As Zhang Dazhuang spoke, Gu Nuan Nuan had already grabbed the other rope. Zhang Sanqiang had just started to say, "No need—" when he felt the weight in his hands lighten. He froze, stunned. "Nuannuan is pretty strong!"

"More than just ’pretty strong.’ Her strength is almost on par with mine, and she’s definitely stronger than her mother. Why else would I have her help pull this instead of her mom?" Zhang Dazhuang continued to chuckle.

"She’s that strong?" Zhang Sanqiang was astonished. Gu Nuan Nuan and Zhang Minzhen simply smiled.

On the way home, they ran into several more people. Everyone was shocked to see the two massive wild boars they were dragging, and Zhang Dazhuang had to repeat his story several times. Some kind-hearted villagers took turns helping Gu Nuan Nuan with the rope. Others who loved a good spectacle—mostly those close to the Zhang family or from the same clan—flocked around them, accompanying them home. The whole way, they pointed and chattered about the two boars, envying the trio’s good fortune and marveling at Nuannuan’s unusual strength.

When they arrived home, the rest of the Zhang Family heard the commotion and came out. They, too, were stunned by the sight of the two wild boars.

With many helping hands, the boars were quickly carried into the courtyard. One of Zhang Dazhuang’s clan nephews, who had experience butchering pigs, even ran home to grab his knives and helped process the two animals. Afterward, Zhang Dazhuang gave a couple of pounds of pork to every family that helped. He didn’t forget those who hadn’t, either—other clan members and the village officials also received a share. For a while, many people in Zhang Family Village were overjoyed.

Many villagers also asked when he would start selling the pork. When they heard Zhang Dazhuang say he wasn’t selling it, they all looked disappointed.

It was late by the time everything was finished and everyone had left, after a hastily prepared dinner. Zhang Weihong, his face full of indignation, confronted Zhang Dazhuang. "Dad, why aren’t you selling the pork? We have so much of it; it’ll spoil in a few days if we just keep it. Wouldn’t it be better to sell it, split the money, and use it to help with building our houses?"

Zhang Weimin nodded beside him and chimed in, "Xiuying is pregnant, too. We have a lot of expenses. It’s better to sell the meat and split the cash."

"How will it go bad if we cure some and dry the rest?" Zhang Dazhuang laughed coldly. "Let’s not even mention that these boars were caught thanks to Nuannuan, so they should all be hers. But even if that wasn’t the case, we’ve already split the family. Why on earth would I have to share the money with you if I sold it? So it’s best you stop eyeing what little I have."

"Dad, who’s going to believe you if you say a little kid like Nuannuan brought down these boars? Fine, so she’s a little strong, but... Heh, I just don’t buy it." Zhang Weihong was getting angry, and his tone hardened. "Dad, even though we’ve split the family, building a house is expensive! Besides, you originally promised to give each of us five hundred, but in the end we only got four hundred. Now that you’ve come into this huge windfall, why are you still being so harsh with us?"

At his words, Fang Juxian, Guo Xiuying, and Zhang Weimin all nodded along in agreement. Guo Xiuying looked utterly aggrieved, her eyes welling with tears. "Exactly, Dad. You can’t always play favorites. I’m carrying your grandson right now!"

"Do you even know what ’splitting the family’ means? It means from now on, we are separate households! Do you understand? If I give you something, it’s a kindness. If I don’t, that’s my right. Is it really your place to accuse us of playing favorites?"

Zhang Dazhuang was unmoved. Today’s brush with death had made him think of his wife. ’Thank goodness I still have my eldest son,’ he thought. ’If something had really happened to me, I’m afraid my wife’s life would become incredibly difficult. It would be better to have no second or third sons at all. With them around, forget being cared for in our old age; they probably wouldn’t stop until they’d picked our bones clean, looking for any opportunity to exploit us.’

He yelled at his two sons, "Each of your families can take ten pounds of pork and go. Don’t even think about getting anything else. And don’t you dare eye what we have left over after that. I told you this pork is all Nuannuan’s, but you refuse to believe me. If it wasn’t for Nuannuan, I wouldn’t have even made it back today, and you’re here demanding a share? Fine. Believe it or not, I don’t care. But if anyone stays here and keeps nagging, they’ll get nothing at all. And if you’re still not happy, you don’t have to wait until the houses are built at the end of the year. You can move out right now. If any of you want to disown us two old folks, we’re fine with that too!"

"Dad, Mom, that’s not what we meant!" Hearing that final threat, Zhang Weihong and Zhang Weimin’s faces flushed with anger. Fang Juxian’s and Guo Xiuying’s eyes were also red.

"I don’t care what you meant. Just stop talking nonsense. Now, are you all leaving or not?" Zhang Dazhuang asked, waving his hand impatiently.

Seeing her second and third uncles’ families get practically thrown out by her grandfather, Gu Nuan Nuan covered her mouth to hide a giggle.

"What on earth happened today?" Only after her second and third sons’ families had left did Wen Xiu pull the three of them aside to ask for details.

"Let’s put everything away first. Once everything is in the cellar, I’ll tell you the whole story." Zhang Dazhuang waved his hand. "By the way, did you put away the fish, the rabbit meat, and that pheasant? Especially the fish—did anyone see it?"

"No, no. You gave me specific instructions, so how could I possibly let anyone see it?" Wen Xiu quickly shook her head. "I hid the fish away separately a long time ago."

Zhang Dazhuang nodded. "We’ll discuss everything together once our eldest son and his wife are back."

Just as they were speaking, Zhang Weiqiang and Lin Qin returned. When he pushed open the gate, the smell of blood hit him. He saw the piles of boar meat in the yard, especially the two huge heads with their sharp tusks, and his heart sank. Remembering that Zhang Dazhuang, Zhang Minzhen, and Gu Nuan Nuan had gone up the mountain that day, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of anxiety. "Mom! Nuannuan! Why is it just you two? Where are Dad and my little sister?"