Fang Zhiyan didn't speak, but his expression wasn't pleasant.
His older brother, accustomed to wielding power at home, was still behaving rudely in his rented apartment.
The moment Fang Bei entered, he sat down without a word, his gaze sweeping around before landing on the steaming meat broth.
"Wow? Living quite comfortably, huh? Even have meat broth to drink?"
As he spoke, he reached for the bowl of meat broth.
But before his hand could touch it, a slender blade sliced down from above.
Fang Bei jumped in fright, quickly retracting his hand and glaring at Fang Zhiyan.
"This is our meat. We've already separated. Who gave you permission to come here?"
"Don't you know to knock before entering someone's home?" Fang Zhiyan said coolly.
Fang Bei was taken aback, then sized up the knife in Fang Zhiyan's hand. "You dare use a knife? What? You want to kill me? I'm your older brother!"
As he spoke, he reached for the meat broth again, but Fang Zhiyan was quick to snatch it away.
This scene enraged Fang Bei, who slammed his hand on the table.
"Fang Zhiyan, you're nothing but servant material. What right do you have to have meat broth?"
"Without father and the Fang family, you'd be out on the streets, waiting to die."
"I'm your older brother. Whatever we have at home, I always get first dibs. You dare stop me? Aren't you afraid I'll tell father?"
In this era, family hierarchy was still taken very seriously.
Fang Bei, considering himself the older brother, always had to be one step above Fang Zhiyan.
But to Fang Zhiyan, he was just a joke.
A man in his twenties threatening to tell on his father? How laughable could such a threat be?
Jiang Xu's eyes showed a hint of worry.
Fang Bei was their older brother. If he really wanted to cause trouble, they'd have a hard time dealing with him as a widow and her child.
So Jiang Xu quickly said, "Zhiyan, let it go."
As she spoke, Fang Bei glanced at Jiang Xu, a smug look in his eyes.
"Fang Zhiyan, hear that? Give me the meat broth!"
Fang Zhiyan didn't respond. He took a sip of the meat broth - it was delicious, no wonder Fang Bei wanted it.
Then he casually placed the broth on a nearby table and walked toward Fang Bei step by step.
"What are you doing?"
Fang Bei took a few steps back, his eyes flickering.
Looking at the slender knife in Fang Zhiyan's hand, he was terrified.
That knife was specifically bought by Fang Zhiyan to practice surgical techniques, incredibly sharp.
Even a slight touch could injure Fang Bei.
He was already showing signs of fear.
"I warn you, Fang Zhiyan, I'm your older brother!"
"You're committing a grave offense!"
Fang Zhiyan remained silent, twirling the knife in his hand as he approached Fang Bei step by step.
Looking at the cold, sharp blade, Fang Bei was completely terrified.
Seeing Fang Zhiyan getting closer, Fang Bei finally couldn't hold it in.
"Fang Zhiyan!"
"Don't act rashly. I came today to give you an opportunity on behalf of father."
"Come back home. There's so much work to be done."
"As long as you and your mother come back, continue washing clothes, sweeping floors, cooking, and serving us, father won't hold it against you and will give you a place to stay."
"It's better than living under someone else's roof, right?"
Hearing this, Jiang Xu's eyes showed deep disappointment and anger.
"Go back to cook? Dream on!"
What he called giving them an opportunity was just making them serve others again.
She was tired of that life.
Fang Zhiyan was also amused by the audacity.
Looking at Fang Bei in front of him, he stopped the knife and said slowly, "Didn't you say you wanted to drink the meat broth?"
Fang Bei swallowed hard, somewhat tempted.
"Here's the deal. If you can withstand one cut from my knife, I'll give you the meat broth and go back to serve you." Fang Zhiyan continued.
As he spoke, Fang Bei's pupils suddenly constricted.
"What?"
Before he could react, Fang Zhiyan raised his knife and lunged at Fang Bei.
Seeing the blade coming quickly toward him, Fang Bei's eyes widened.
In the next moment, he screamed and collapsed to his knees in fear.
This scene almost made Fang Zhiyan laugh in frustration.
So cowardly, and he had the nerve to come here?
"Don't kill me, Zhiyan! I'm your older brother, please don't kill me!" Fang Bei cried, tears streaming down his face.
Completely different from his earlier arrogant demeanor.
Fang Zhiyan snorted coldly, "Fang Bei, I won't repeat myself."
"That broken family, we'll never return. This place will never welcome you. Get out!"
Hearing this, Fang Bei breathed a sigh of relief. He fumbled to grab the door, glancing fearfully at Fang Zhiyan's knife before turning and running away.
Jiang Xu stood and watched him leave the apartment, then breathed a sigh of relief.
She sat back down, sitting quietly in the corner without speaking.
She had married Fang Jianjun to repay his kindness, but who would have thought he would be such a scoundrel?
Even after she had left, he kept sending his children to harass her.
How could Jiang Xu not be deeply saddened by this?
Fortunately, she had a good son who could help her escape his clutches.
Jiang Xu felt a mix of emotions.
Fang Zhiyan walked over and gently took his mother's hand.
"Mom, don't worry. I'll protect you."
"That Fang family isn't our family. The three of us are a family."
"We'll work hard to make a good life, that's what matters most."
Hearing this, a warm feeling flowed through Jiang Xu.
Zhiyan had really grown up, become a man who could protect her.
She stood up, reheated the meat Xu Qiushuang had sent, and divided it into two portions.
One for Fang Zhiyan to eat, the other saved for his younger sister Zhi Xia to eat when she returned.
Fang Zhiyan looked at it with a bitter feeling, pushing half of his portion to Jiang Xu.
Jiang Xu wanted to say something, but Fang Zhiyan shook his head.
"Mom, we'll have a good life. I won't let you down."
Jiang Xu looked at him and nodded gently.
Fang Zhiyan remained silent, frowning in thought.
The biggest challenge at home right now was income.
He had the skills, but couldn't monetize them, which was what troubled him most.
But as the saying goes, gold will shine wherever it is.
Just as before, when he didn't have a medical license but still intervened in the emergency room to save many lives, earning him the opportunity to work at the Chinese Medicine Hospital.
Now, if he wanted more income, he couldn't hide his abilities anymore.
He had to show what he could do to get the hospital's attention and more training opportunities.
Thinking about this, Fang Zhiyan made up his mind.
Last time it was his night shift, today it was his day off.
When the time came, he hurried to the hospital.
This time, he needed to find a way to show his abilities and get the hospital's upper management to notice him.
At that moment in the hospital, Zhu Zixiao was on night duty, patrolling the ward to prepare for the shift change.
But just as he greeted someone, a nurse rushed over.
"Bad news, patient in bed four is having an episode."
Fang Zhiyan's eyes lit up - an opportunity had presented itself.