Dormancy 011

"What gives! He gets paid for doing nothing! And he gets paid for working too! But I get nothing!" Liu Wen didn't dare vent in Fang Zhiyi's direction, so he turned to Hu Xiulian and started shouting.

Just then, Liu Wu said, "Big brother crying, how embarrassing."

"I'll show you!" Liu Wen wiped his tears instinctively and lunged at Liu Wu, grappling with him. Since he was a head taller than Liu Wu, he quickly gained the upper hand.

Fang Zhiyi hurried over to separate them. To outsiders, it looked like he was breaking up the fight, but in reality, he was only restraining Liu Wen's movements, giving the stunned Liu Wu time to react.

"Xiao Wu, don't fight back! He's your brother!"

This rang a bell for the dazed Liu Wu. He let out a yell and threw himself at Liu Wen, punching and kicking wildly. Liu Wen tried to fight back, but both his arms and legs were firmly held by Fang Zhiyi, leaving him to take the beating passively.

Finally, Hu Xiulian stepped in and pulled her younger son away. Her mind was in turmoil—what was happening? How had her two sons turned against each other?

Seeing the situation had stabilized, Fang Zhiyi released Liu Wen and gave him a slight shove. Liu Wen took the chance to swing his fist at Liu Wu's face again. Hu Xiulian tried to block him, but Liu Wen didn't hold back at all.

"Ouch! Stop fighting, stop it!" shouted Old Mr. and Mrs. Fang as they came out with their belongings packed.

Fang Zhiyi turned around: "It's all your fault! And you're still talking? Come with me!"

Hu Xiulian wanted to call Fang Zhiyi for help, but she just watched him grumbling as he dragged the two elderly people out the door.

This early morning scene at the Fang household was witnessed by many neighbors. Even as Fang Zhiyi led his parents along the road, people were pointing and whispering. But Fang Zhiyi couldn't care less—after all, the original owner's reputation wasn't worth saving anyway.

Second Brother Fang never expected that first thing in the morning, he'd see his parents standing at his door with big bags and small bundles. On asking, he learned that Fang Zhiyi had kicked them out.

"Why come to me? I don't have any room for you here..." That's what he said, but Second Brother Fang wasn't really unfilial. He was just angry that his parents always favored the eldest and the Third Son. But when he saw that the Third Son had actually dumped their parents at his doorstep, he had no choice.

"I'll clear out my place for you to crash for now. I'll go find the Third Son later!" he grumbled.

"Second Son, your father and I aren't going back..." Old Mrs. Fang said.

Second Brother Fang was taken aback: "What do you mean? What do you mean you're not going back? You've got more sons than just me..." Before he could finish, Old Mr. Fang pulled out a bulging envelope from his pocket.

Second Brother Fang reached out and took it; he immediately shuddered. "Mom, Dad, where did you get this money?"

Old Mr. and Mrs. Fang exchanged a glance.

"We saved it up behind your brother's back... Since he married a woman with a child, we had to be a little cautious."

Second Brother Fang hesitated for a moment, then abruptly shoved the money back: "Then keep it safe! That Third Son is a bastard too! You used to say he was young and told me to give in to him. Hah, look now—you spoiled him rotten!"

He cursed as he spoke, but his hands were busy tidying up.

"Second Son, you're not planning to plant that east field this year, are you?"

"Plant? I can't even keep up with my fish pond. Plant something if you want! From now on, you'll eat whatever I eat. Having three sons, and every one of them is a thankless ingrate!" Second Brother Fang was still fuming.

"In that case, your father wants to raise a few pigs..."

Second Brother Fang was stunned again: "Dad, at your age, why are you still messing around with that?"

Old Mr. Fang gave an awkward smile, suddenly recalling what Fang Zhiyi had said to him yesterday.

"Take this! This is money from mortgaging our house."

"Son... how—how could you pawn the house?"

"Enough chit-chat. In a few days, I'm sending you to Second Brother's place. Don't even think about going to the eldest's—that sister-in-law of yours is no pushover either."

"Son, why don't you keep the money, and your father and I will just live with you," Old Mrs. Fang begged.

Fang Zhiyi was silent for a moment, then a look of impatience crossed his face. "What's so good about living with me? Huh? Being free labor? Go, go, go! Go to Second Brother's place. Keep yourself busy with something—like raising pigs, for instance."

"Raising pigs? Son, why would you think of that?"

"Didn't you boast that you've raised pigs your whole life? That you were a pig-farming model in your younger days?"

"But, but..."

"No buts. You're in your prime now. I'm counting on you. When I need money, I'll come to you!"

The two old Fangs couldn't quite put a finger on what felt off, but seeing Fang Zhiyi's sour expression, they didn't say much more.

"Oh, and Second Brother has a sour temper. Don't say the money came from me. Say you saved it yourselves."

Hu Xiulian had finally managed to send both sons off to school. Returning home to a mess all over the floor, she shouted a couple of times, then remembered that the two old folks had been sent off by Fang Zhiyi. She felt a pang of regret—why hadn't she stopped him at the time?

But it was too late now. She could only mutter to herself as she started cleaning up.

Fang Zhiyi came back, looking thoroughly annoyed.

"Honey, did you really send your parents to Second Brother's?"

Fang Zhiyi nodded: "Of course. Drop it. Get me something to eat; I'm hungry!"

"Get something..." Hu Xiulian looked at him. "I've been exhausted all morning. Get it yourself!"

"Oh, you—" Fang Zhiyi rolled up his sleeves. Now that there was no one left to stop him from going all out, maybe he'd just break the norm.

But Xiaoxiaohei suddenly warned, "Host, you definitely can't have a falling out with Hu Xiulian."

Fang Zhiyi froze, then gritted his teeth: "So you're saying I can't even kick her to the curb?"

"Yes. The original owner's fate is tied to Hu Xiulian's. If you two divorce, it will have a big impact on you."

"Fine, fine, fine." Fang Zhiyi let out a helpless laugh and turned to head into the kitchen himself.

Hu Xiulian sneered at his back.

"If I'd known your family had so many troubles, I'd never have married you!"

At this moment, Fang Xiaolian had no idea what was happening at home. She was at a relatively large shop in town, where she had found cheaper supplies. Overjoyed, she bought a bunch of nice-looking stickers and stationery and wrote down the accounts very clearly.

She just felt that her father had changed in some way, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. He was still harsh with her, always calling her a blockhead and even hitting her with a wooden stick on her calves and arms when he got upset. Although he had given her money to start her little business, they had agreed upfront that part of her earnings would go to him as a tribute.

Her father was still lazy and gluttonous. Her two older brothers still bullied her. And then there was her stepmother... but lately, apart from being at school or up on the mountain, she rarely saw her stepmother.

It wasn't until she saw her deskmate's seat empty and heard classmates say her family wouldn't let her study anymore that Fang Xiaolian suddenly understood everything.

Her father was paving the way for her to drop out of school!