Zhang Erlang and Zhang Sanlang both wore expressions of shock; they couldn’t believe how audacious Zhang Fang was!
“Mom and Dad won’t agree to this, right?” Zhang Sanlang whispered.
Zhang Erlang swallowed hard; it’s chicken! Their family hadn’t had meat in years! He was nearly forgetting what meat tasted like!
“I’ll take the blame. Go and kill it! Pick a fat chicken,” Zhang Fang said, his body also craving the feast, although his expression remained calm.
“You said it!” Zhang Erlang quickly grabbed Zhang Sanlang and went to kill a chicken.
“Are we really going to kill a chicken? What if Mom and Dad get mad?”
As they approached the chicken coop, Zhang Sanlang felt a bit timid. After all, Old Zhang had just fallen ill two days ago and had barely recovered, while Old Lady Zhang usually resented these three sons. If they killed the family’s chickens, the elders would surely erupt in anger! In their eyes, Zhang Silang ranked highest, and the chickens they raised came in second!
Zhang Erlang’s eyes lit up as he stared at the few chickens quietly sleeping in the coop, drooling at the thought. He whispered, “Anyway, Fourth Brother will take the blame. He’s making money now, making something of himself! Eating one chicken is not too much to ask!”
Zhang Sanlang felt tempted too, and ultimately, he joined Zhang Erlang in the coop, stealthily grabbing the fattest chicken.
The rooster sensed danger, but before it could struggle and cry out, Zhang Erlang had it firmly by the neck, unable to make a sound! Zhang Sanlang held onto the chicken’s body tightly. The two brothers controlled the bird without any issue.
As for the other chickens, they had already scattered in fear to the far corners.
The two brothers swiftly brought the chicken outside, and Zhang Sanlang made a quick trip back home to grab a kitchen knife.
When Zhang Sanlang’s wife saw him, she pulled him aside and asked quietly, “Where are you going with Second Brother? I brought Fourth Brother’s clothes for you to wash tomorrow.”
“Got it. Fourth Brother wants to eat chicken, so I’m going with Second Brother to kill one. Don’t let anyone know!” Zhang Sanlang made a shushing gesture, urging his wife to keep it quiet.
Zhang Sanlang’s wife appeared surprised and then asked softly, “What will Mom and Dad say when they find out?”
“Who cares? It’s Fourth Brother’s idea. He’ll take the blame. No more talking; I need to hurry and kill the chicken!” Zhang Sanlang rushed out of the house.
The brothers darkly and busily killed the chicken by the stream, lost in their task.
In the afternoon, Old Lady Zhang prepared the dough, but seeing Zhang Fang writing, she dared not disturb him. So, she waited. When Zhang Fang paused to rest, she began to prepare the noodles.
Stealthily approaching Zhang Fang’s room, she saw he was still writing, and she had to quietly return to her room.
Old Man Zhang asked her, “Is Silang still busy?”
Old Lady Zhang nodded, saying, “Silang is very serious about studying! My son studies so hard, he will surely succeed!”
Old Man Zhang thought of what Mr. Du from the academy had said. He remained silent, not wanting to say anything.
“When Silang passes the exams, it will be a glorious time for our Zhang family!” Old Lady Zhang fantasized about that scene with delight.
Old Man Zhang sighed silently, hoping his youngest son could truly change, study well, and pass the exams!
Once they cleaned the chicken meat thoroughly, Zhang Erlang and Zhang Sanlang sneakily returned home and placed the meat in the kitchen before going to find Zhang Fang.
“Fourth Brother,” Zhang Erlang called in a low voice from the doorway.
Putting down his pen, Zhang Fang turned to look at them and asked, “Did you finish?”
With expectant expressions, Zhang Erlang and Zhang Sanlang nodded.
Zhang Fang stood up and left the house to find Old Lady Zhang and Old Man Zhang.
“Dad, Mom, I’m hungry.”
“Silang, wait; I’ll go prepare it right now! It will be ready soon!” Old Lady Zhang immediately got up and rushed to the kitchen to prepare the noodles.
Running to the kitchen, after she lit the fire in the dark, Old Lady Zhang stood up again, only to see meat on the stove! Her excitement made her tremble.
“Where did this chicken come from?” Old Lady Zhang felt a bad premonition and rushed to the chicken coop, using one eye to count three times before she collapsed in despair, shouting, “My rooster! Damn it! Who killed my rooster?”
Old Man Zhang quickly ran over to check the chicken coop’s situation.
Zhang Fang walked into the yard and calmly explained, “I wanted to eat chicken, so I asked Second Brother and Third Brother to help kill one. Dad, Mom, I’ll bring back a few chickens tomorrow.”
Old Lady Zhang, on the verge of a breakdown, stared at Zhang Fang in disbelief. The curses that came to her lips were swallowed instantly. She was anxious and angry, yet couldn’t bear to scold Zhang Fang.
Old Man Zhang’s face turned dark with anger, but the night was so dark that it was hard to discern his expression.
Pointing at Zhang Fang with a pained look, Old Man Zhang lamented, “Silang! Dad knows you’ve been wronged lately and just wanted something good! Your mother is making noodles for you. How could you touch the chickens at home?”
“Dad, I’m so hungry. If I don’t eat something soon, I’ll faint from hunger. Mom, tonight the whole family will have chicken soup noodles,” Zhang Fang said, holding his head in an exhausted manner.
Seeing this, Old Man Zhang could no longer say anything. He could only sullenly return to the house, not wanting to face Zhang Fang at that moment.
Zhang Darlang and Zhang Darlang’s Wife came out to understand the situation after hearing the commotion. Zhang Darlang could not help but say, “Fourth Brother, the chickens are everything to Mom and Dad. Dad just recovered. If you do this….”
Zhang Darlang’s Wife pulled her husband, urging him to be quiet.
Although Mom and Dad cursed a bit when they first learned of this, didn’t they also follow Zhang Fang’s lead later? Mom and Dad had stopped bothering with it, yet Zhang Darlang kept nagging. He was such a nuisance!
Old Lady Zhang felt pity for Zhang Fang, who had suffered during his time in jail. Since the chicken was already killed, she decided it was time to nourish her youngest son! So she said nothing further and returned to the kitchen to continue her work.
Zhang Fang peeked in and only saw Old Lady Zhang putting a few pieces of meat into the pot. He simply reached in and dumped the entire basket of chicken meat into the pot.
Old Lady Zhang: !!!
This is outrageous! So much meat!
Zhang Fang smiled and said, “Mom, you’ve worked hard. In the future, I’ll buy you a set of gold jewelry.”
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