"Thank you for your generosity, third brother. Second brother has made many mistakes in the past. I apologize to you here and promise not to repeat them. Please forgive me."
Zhang Liunian listened with an indifferent expression. He didn't believe Zhang Liuxing's apology, as ingrained nature was an undeniable fact.
"Eat quickly, or it will all get cold."
Zhang Liunian did not answer whether he forgave Zhang Liuxing, but instead urged everyone to eat together.
"Alright, everyone eat quickly." Zhang Wenxue, sensing the discord between his two sons, smiled apologetically and urged everyone to eat.
Seeing this, everyone could only continue eating. However, with Zhang Liuxing's presence, no one dared to make a sound at the dinner table, and they could only bury their heads and eat.
After finishing the tasteless reunion dinner, the women immediately got up to clear the dishes, not daring to stay any longer.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was too stifling for them to bear.
After Jiang Qingqing and Zhang Xiaomei and the other women left, Zhang Liunian looked at Zhang Liuxing and said directly, "Did you break out of prison!"
Boom!
Zhang Liunian's words shocked everyone. Zhang Wenxue looked nervously at his second son, "Second son, did you really escape? If you really escaped, then go back and surrender quickly, otherwise, if the police come to arrest you, you'll never get out again."
Zhang Liushui also quickly advised, "Second brother, you must accept punishment for your mistakes. It's best for you to surrender."
Zhang Liuxing looked at his father, who had always doted on him, but now, based on Zhang Liunian's words, believed he had escaped. A cold smile flickered in his eyes.
He had always said that his parents' love for him was not pure. The reason they treated him well was only because they saw that he, their son, was successful and could bring them honor.
Now that his son's reputation was ruined, his job was lost, and his wife had left, his parents had indeed turned their attention and favored the younger son who was making money. They were truly as cold-blooded and heartless as he had imagined.
"Dad, Big Brother, why do you believe third brother without even asking me? Don't you look at my physique? Can I escape from prison?"
Zhang Liuxing's words seemed unremarkable at first, but when everyone pondered them carefully, they could discern the endless dissatisfaction in them.
Zhang Wenxue was a bit embarrassed. He really couldn't figure out why his second son could be released at this time after being sentenced.
If it wasn't a prison break, what other situation could it be?
"Second son, then tell us why you could come out at this time? None of your uncles and their families have come out, so how can you?" Zhang Wenxue, both curious and worried about his son, suppressed his emotions and asked.
"Of course, it's because I met a benefactor. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to get out. I'll be working for this benefactor tomorrow and will have very few opportunities to return. Please take care of yourselves, Mom and Dad."
Zhang Liuxing's return this time was at the request of Zhu Lao Si. He wanted Zhang Liuxing to return for two reasons: first, to disgust Zhang Liunian, and second, to have Zhang Liuxing do something to ruin Zhang Liunian's New Year.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed back to Zhang Family Village at this time to cause trouble for Zhang Liunian. As he saw it, he would have been happier if he never had to see these relatives for his entire life.
Unfortunately, he was saved by someone and owed a debt. Moreover, he wanted freedom, so he had to obediently do as he was told.
"Benefactor? Who has such great ability to get you out of jail?" Zhang Liushui exclaimed in surprise. But before he finished speaking, he saw his second brother look at him with a cold face, which made him inexplicably flustered and dare not say more.
"Yes, second son, who got you out? They must have demanded something from you to get you out. There's no such good thing in the world." Zhang Wenxue firmly believed that there was no such thing as pie falling from the sky; if there were, it would definitely have conditions attached.
"They just want me to help them with their work and recognize my abilities. It's not as bad as you think." Zhang Liuxing did not answer about the benefactor's information, nor could he, so he could only say that he was a capable person who was recognized.
Few people believed this, and even Zhang Wenxue was half-convinced. But seeing his son's determined look, he couldn't say much. "You're leaving tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'm leaving early tomorrow morning. Please don't tell anyone in the village that I'm back. It will cause misunderstandings. My benefactor saved me because they recognized my abilities, and I don't want to make things difficult for them." Zhang Liuxing also didn't want the villagers to know he was back, which was why he chose this time to appear.
Because at this time, every household was closed for the New Year, who would notice his return?
Zhang Wenxue nodded, "I understand. Let me take you back to rest while everyone is still celebrating the New Year."
He knew his second son and third son were enemies, and he dared not let his second son stay here. After speaking, he got up and pulled his second son to leave.
Zhang Liuxing did not object. However, as he got up, he said to Zhang Liunian, "Third brother, second brother doesn't blame you for sending me in. We are brothers, how can we kill each other, don't you think?"
After saying this, he walked away with Zhang Wenxue.
Zhang Liunian watched Zhang Liuxing disappear into the night, his expression shifting.
Zhang Liushui seemed to have heard something and looked at his third brother, "Third brother, I have a feeling that second brother still wants to do something this time? Be careful, don't fall for his tricks.
I'll tell Xiao Mei a few words later and tell her not to meet with second brother again. Even ten Xiao Meis can't outsmart one second brother."
Zhang Liushui feared that Zhang Liuxing would steal the recipe again and immediately offered to warn his younger sister.
Coincidentally, Xiao Mei, who came over to clear the table, heard this and quickly asked, "Big brother, what do you mean by that? Could it be that second brother came back to harm third brother again?"
"This is my guess. Anyway, I find second brother very strange. He gives me a weird feeling. You must not make the same mistake again and cause third brother to lose everything."
Zhang Liushui had observed his second brother frequently and found him to be ill-intentioned.
It wasn't that Zhang Liushui deliberately thought of his own brother so badly, but he truly felt malice from Zhang Liuxing.
"Absolutely not. After being fooled once, how could I be fooled a second time? No matter what second brother asks me to do in the future, I will consult third brother about everything and will never agree easily." Zhang Xiaomei felt extremely guilty when she thought about how she had caused her third brother to lose a lot of money last time. Since that day, she had decided that if her second brother asked her to do anything, she would first consult her third brother about it.
"That's for the best, so that third brother won't get hurt." Zhang Liushui highly agreed with her approach, as no one knew what else second brother might do, so it was better to ask third brother first.
Zhang Liunian listened to his older brother and younger sister, but his mind was on what Zhang Liuxing had said about not killing each other. He thought his words were meant ironically.
It seemed that what he would do after coming out would surely be against him.
He just didn't know where he would start.