EHCR 7

The Encyclopedic Harvest: Cultivating Riches in Lean Years

Chapter 7: Do You Dare Face the Confrontation?

Struggling to grab his walking cane, before Song Dachuan could even stand up, Song Pandi came running in with small, hurried steps. "Dad, Grandpa is calling for you."

This was clearly a summons to stand trial and assign blame.

Song Zhaodi quickly hurried over to help Song Yaodong up. "Dad, your leg is injured. I'm coming with you."

Looking at his sensible and considerate daughter, a wave of deep heartache washed over Song Yaodong, and he nodded. "Alright."

When they entered the east room, the moment Song Dachuan spotted Song Zhaodi trailing behind, his face instantly darkened with displeasure.

"Zhaodi, you get outside."

Song Zhaodi didn't budge. Instead, she kept a steady grip on Song Yaodong as they walked further inside. "Grandpa, the doctor said Dad didn't just injure his leg; he also took a heavy blow to the head. He needs proper, careful rest and absolutely cannot afford another fall. I have to support him."

At the mention of Song Yaodong’s leg injury, the displeasure on Song Dachuan’s face faded a fraction, replaced by a father’s natural concern for his child. He stopped trying to chase Song Zhaodi away.

"Dadong, what did the physician say?"

Song Yaodong reported the truth. The moment the words—“the medicine costs thirty copper coins a day and must be taken continuously for a hundred days”—dropped, before Song Dachuan could even react, Sun Xiuhe, who had been lurking and hiding right behind the door, completely lost her self-control.

"What kind of medicine costs thirty copper coins a day?! Why doesn't he just go rob a bank?"

"How could our family ever afford such expensive medicine?"

With a cold, mocking smirk, Song Zhaodi chimed in, "Why was Grandma sneaking around hiding behind the door?"

Song Dachuan looked awkward and averted his gaze. Sun Xiuhe only then realized she had failed to keep her composure, and unable to think of a clever excuse, she fell back on pulling seniority.

"Grown-ups are talking, children should mind their own business."

With a tight smile, Song Zhaodi helped Song Yaodong settle into his seat and spoke up, "Then right here in front of my grandpa, why don't you explain to my dad why you didn't save me today, and why you actively stopped other people from saving me?"

As soon as those words landed, not only did Song Yaodong glare over with blazing fury, even Song Dachuan snapped his head around to stare.

Sun Xiuhe had originally intended to use Song Dachuan to discipline Song Yaodong, and then have a frustrated Song Yaodong go back and deal with Song Zhaodi. She never expected to be hit with a preemptive strike.

Song Yaodong was Song Dachuan’s eldest son, honest, hardworking, and the absolute backbone of the household, holding a deep place of favor in Song Dachuan’s heart.

If she tried to brute-force her way through with Song Yaodong, she wouldn't get the upper hand.

With no other choice, she slapped on a hypocritical, sweet-talk facade. "Oh my, child, how could you still misunderstand me?"

As she spoke, she reached out to grab Song Zhaodi’s hand, but after being sharply brushed away, she awkwardly rubbed her palms together and stammered, "Dadong, listen to my explanation! I was completely out of my mind with panic back then, I didn't mean not to save her!"

"Thank goodness Shen Che fished her out..."

"Right. Shen Che is my life-saver. As an elder, not only did you fail to show any gratitude, but you actually smeared his reputation and slandered me by claiming we were tangled up together."

With a single sentence, Song Zhaodi completely ripped away her fake hypocrisy.

"Zhaodi, stop talking nonsense."

Seeing Song Yaodong’s complexion turn pitch black, Sun Xiuhe began to sweat with panic and shot a desperate, SOS glance at Song Dachuan.

"Auntie Wang Guihua is a living witness. Do you dare come with me right now to face her in a confrontation?" Song Zhaodi met her gaze head-on, giving her zero room to wiggle out.

Sun Xiuhe clamped her mouth shut, glaring daggers at Song Zhaodi. When did this little money pit turn into such an aggressive, relentless arguer?

At that moment, Song Yaodong slammed his walking stick heavily against the floor, his face dark as thunder. "Mother, is this true?"

He was openly backing up and shielding Song Zhaodi. Unwilling to clash with him directly, Sun Xiuhe chose to take a step back to advance later. "Fine, fine, fine! It was my fault, I apologize to Zhaodi."

With a cold, heavy expression, Song Yaodong stated, "Only when a mother is benevolent will the children be filial. I hope Mother can set a proper example for the kids and stop constantly looking down on and mistreating my children."

"I never want to hear the words 'money pit' ever again!"

Sun Xiuhe’s lips twitched as she wanted to argue back, but no words came out. Seeing this, Song Dachuan stepped in to smooth things over and muddy the waters.

"Alright, the two of you head outside first. I need to talk to Dadong."

Song Zhaodi knew it would turn out like this, but managing to block Sun Xiuhe’s counter-attack and forcing her to swallow a bitter pill already counted as a major phased victory.

She briskly walked out, and a fuming Sun Xiuhe stomped out right behind her.

Inside the room, the father and son sat in silence for a moment before Song Dachuan broke the ice.

"Dadong, she gave birth to a son and a daughter for me, she’s a contributor to the Song family. For my sake, just bear with her a little more."

Unlike his usual submissive self, Song Yaodong didn't back down. "Dad, I could let slide everything she did in the past, but this time, Zhaodi almost died."

Song Dachuan had expected his son to be obedient and sweep the matter under the rug to keep the peace. Seeing himself defied, his face instantly soured.

He abruptly stood up and snapped, "Didn't she survive? Besides, she didn't fall into the river because of her grandma."

Song Yaodong looked at Song Dachuan in absolute disbelief, his eyes carrying both deep disappointment and wounded pain.

"Dad, Zhaodi is your flesh and blood too."

Song Dachuan raged, "She’s going to marry out into another family eventually! You are my son, you have to side with me and listen to my words!"

Just as Zhaodi had predicted, her grandfather would only play favorites and never care whether they lived or died.

A chilling wave of despair washed over Song Yaodong. "Dad, I am your son, but I am also a father."

Song Dachuan stayed silent for a long time before finally speaking, "Tomorrow, I'll have your mother buy a few things, and you can take them over to Shen Che as a gift."

It was his compromise.

Before long, a thought crossed his mind, and he added, "As for your medicine money, the family can't pull that together. Go tell your wife to borrow it from her maiden family."

"All these years, her womb hasn't produced much, and our Song family has fed and raised her and her daughter for so long. It's about time her maiden family chipped in some cash."

The pain in Song Yaodong’s heart intensified. The wife he treasured like a precious jewel was treated as worthless in his father’s eyes. The stifled grievance and oppression he had swallowed for years suddenly burst wide open.

"Dad, let's split the household and live separately."

This wasn't the first time Song Yaodong had brought up dividing the family. Song Dachuan had always refused, and this time was no exception.

When he returned to the west room and saw his wife’s worried face, Song Yaodong could only report the good news and hide the bad.

The fact that they could make money selling water celery must be kept secret from Sun Xiuhe, otherwise, not a single copper coin would stay in their hands.

Before dawn broke, Song Zhaodi and her mother quietly got out of bed. Just as they picked up their sickles and prepared to head out to forage for water celery, their path was blocked.

A completely wasted, heavily intoxicated Song Yaozu staggered into the courtyard gate, flanked by a few equally drunk cronies. Slurring his words and letting his tongue run wild, he roared at the mother and daughter, "Quick, help my classmates inside so they can rest!"

Song Zhaodi didn't move an inch, and she held back Zhao Lanzhi who was about to step forward. Looking straight at Song Yaozu, she shot back, "That won't do! Grandma explicitly said we aren't allowed to have contact with strange men, it sounds terrible if word gets out."

Song Yaozu frowned at Song Zhaodi with irritation, poked the air unhappily with his finger, and slurred, "You little money pit..."

"Dad! Mom! I'm back, and Yaozu's back too!"

With that loud shriek, Song Dachuan and Sun Xiuhe burst out, and Song Zhaodi’s carefully plotted morning market venture was instantly put on hold.

After boiling three massive pots of hot water and finally managing to settle down the pack of drunken freeloaders, the moment Song Zhaodi stepped out of the kitchen, she spotted a plump, oversized red rooster with every feather standing on end, neck stretched out aggressively as it chased a terrified, defenseless little Pandi.

This chicken was clearly volunteering to become the main dish on the dinner table.

Song Zhaodi dashed forward at top speed, scooped Pandi securely into her arms, and launched a fierce, direct kick right into the charging, pecking rooster!

"Song Zhaodi! Have you lost your damn mind? How dare you!"

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