Upon further thought, one couldn't quite say that, because after Zhang Liuxing enrolled in university, the two brothers rarely spoke in front of them, so they had no idea how they got along.
However, their discord today was clear for everyone to see.
"You couldn't even take care of yourself before, now that you're married, you need to learn to take care of Qingqing and Huabao."
"Qingqing isn't someone Second Brother can call by name. From now on, you'll call her sister-in-law!"
"..."
Sensing the problem, Zhang Wenxue squeezed through the crowd, grabbed Zhang Liuxing, and was about to leave. "Second son, come help us with some work."
Zhang Liuxing was unhappy. Since enrolling in university, he hadn't done any manual labor. "Dad, I'm clumsy and don't know how."
He still wanted to spar with Zhang Liunian.
But Zhang Wenxue wouldn't agree, stubbornly pulling Zhang Liuxing along. "Dad has something to discuss with you."
Zhang Liuxing was impatient but still left. Before leaving, he turned to glance at Zhang Liunian, as if to say, "You just wait."
Zhang Liunian wasn't afraid of him. He helped Jiang Qingqing to the bridal chamber to stay with Zhang Xiaomei. "Qingqing, there are too many people outside. You stay with Xiaomei and take care of Huabao, I'll go serve the dishes."
After instructing Jiang Qingqing, Zhang Liunian turned to get busy. Soon it was time for the feast. After Zhang Datou finished eating, he took a portion back for Zhang Liuhuo.
Many people saw him eating and then taking food away. But not long after he left, someone ran to say that Zhang Datou had collapsed at home, vomiting and convulsing, seemingly poisoned.
Zhang Liunian and the guests who hadn't left were stunned. Poisoned?
Weren't they all fine after eating? Where did the poisoning come from?
Zhang Liunian looked at the young boy who delivered the message and saw that he was also confused. He turned, took a basin of soapy water, and rushed to Zhang Liuhuo's house.
Enema with soapy water could induce vomiting of most harmful substances, a method commonly used in Zhang Family Village.
However, it was unclear if it would work for Zhang Datou.
Upon arriving at Zhang Liuhuo's house, they indeed found Zhang Datou lying on the ground, foaming at the mouth, his body twitching slightly.
Zhang Liuhuo was currently by the doorway, glaring at Zhang Liunian and shouting, "Zhang Liunian, I'll kill you! You poisoned my Datou and harmed him. I won't let you go!"
It was truly a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Zhang Liunian turned and glanced at Zhang Laoshi and the others. "Uncle Laoshi, help me restrain him and try the induced vomiting."
If it doesn't work, he'll have to be sent to the clinic.
Zhang Laoshi and the others didn't hesitate. They immediately helped Zhang Datou up and began the process. The soapy water worked quite effectively, and within a few minutes, Zhang Datou vomited everything he had just eaten. He recovered, stopped convulsing, but his complexion was still not good.
"Send him to the clinic," Zhang Liunian said, rising and wiping his hands. Then he dismantled the door of Zhang Liuhuo's house and called two people to carry the door panel.
Zhang Liuhuo, who was lying on the ground, showed a flicker of undisguised panic in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. "Zhang Liunian, you pay for my Datou's life! If anything happens to him, I won't let you go."
Zhang Liuhuo hadn't expected Zhang Liunian to act so quickly and save his son's life in such a short time. Now he was truly panicked because he had tricked his son into drinking the pesticide. If his son recovered, wouldn't his scheme be exposed?
Wouldn't he then be sent to prison? Thinking of this, he lunged towards the door panel, trying to prevent them from carrying Zhang Datou away.
Zhang Liunian looked at Zhang Liuhuo, who was clinging to the door panel, and narrowed his eyes. He didn't want to maliciously speculate, but his behavior was indeed strange.
From the moment they entered to rescue Zhang Datou, there was no expression of concern for Zhang Datou on his face. Instead, there was only hatred directed at Zhang Liunian.
Didn't Zhang Liuhuo dote on his son before? He had even sought revenge against him for his son's sake. How could he now, with his son poisoned, be solely focused on taking revenge on Zhang Liunian and even blocking them from taking his son to the clinic?
This Zhang Liuhuo was very suspicious.
"Do you know how Datou got poisoned?" To confirm his suspicions, Zhang Liunian decided to test him.
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Liuhuo's expression showed a moment of panic. Although he quickly masked it, Zhang Liunian still saw it. It seemed this matter was indeed related to him.
"What nonsense are you talking about? My Datou was poisoned by eating your family's food! You must have wanted to kill my Datou. You are so vicious. Datou is your nephew, how could you do this?" Zhang Liuhuo glared at Zhang Liunian, wishing he could tear him apart.
"Is that so? This is what your Datou vomited. Whether it's food poisoning or some other kind of poisoning, it can be determined by having it tested." Zhang Liunian pointed to the vomit on the ground, showing no fear.
Zhang Liuhuo's eyes flickered at the words, then he seemed about to say something. Zhang Liunian, too lazy to deal with him, reached out, tossed Zhang Liuhuo aside, took out twenty yuan, and put it into Zhang Liusha's pocket. "You guys take him to the clinic first."
"Okay," Zhang Liusha nodded and lifted Zhang Datou to leave. After they left, the crowd did not disperse but continued to gather there, awaiting the truth.
Zhang Liunian walked directly into the house and, after a sweep, discovered a few suspicious drops of liquid on the muddy ground by the bed. He squatted down and sniffed, confirming it was the smell of pesticide.
Zhang Liunian looked at Zhang Liuhuo in horror. "These few drops smell of pesticide. Zhang Liuhuo, you wouldn't have poisoned your own son to frame me, would you!"
Boom!
The crowd erupted in an uproar, looking at Zhang Liuhuo in disbelief. Poisoning his own son to frame someone? How dare he?
No, why shouldn't he dare? Their family had always been harming Zhang Liunian's family. They were brothers, and now harming a son didn't seem incomprehensible.
Zhang Laoshi, with a stern face, walked in. He first sniffed the liquid Zhang Liunian had pointed to, then sniffed what Zhang Datou had vomited earlier. Indeed, the smell was somewhat similar.
"You're talking nonsense and slandering me! Datou is my son. Even a tiger wouldn't eat its cubs, so how could I do such a thing?" Zhang Liuhuo was furious, but Zhang Laoshi's next words sealed his fate.
"I've smelled it. The scent from both places is very similar, and it's the straw ash we're reluctant to use."
Zhang Laoshi found it hard to believe that Zhang Liuhuo could be so ruthless, feeding his son pesticide to harm Zhang Liunian.
But the facts were before him, and he had to think that way.
The surrounding people whispered amongst themselves, all in disbelief.
After all, even a tiger wouldn't eat its cubs, and if Zhang Liuhuo truly did this, then he was worse than a beast.
"I didn't, I didn't..." Zhang Liuhuo, seeing that no one believed him, shouted hoarsely, but no one believed him.
After all, their family had committed too many wicked deeds; they could understand worse.
"Let's call the police!" Zhang Liunian didn't believe this matter had nothing to do with Zhang Liuhuo. Whether Zhang Datou was forced to drink the pesticide or tricked into it, he had indeed harmed his son.
Zhang Laoshi agreed. He immediately had someone keep an eye on Zhang Liuhuo and then returned with Zhang Liunian to call the police.
Having a phone was indeed much more convenient; there was no need for someone to personally go to the county town, a phone call was enough.
The police arrived quickly. Upon hearing it was Zhang Liuhuo's family again, they could hardly believe this family could be so wicked.