"Second Brother, what are you doing?"
Seeing that Fang Jianye had no intention of handing over the money, Fang Jianjun immediately panicked.
This was his money—how could someone else just take it?
Zhou Dongmei also snapped, "Jianye, give me that money right now!"
"I'm the one who manages the household finances. What are you doing with that money? Watch out or your wife will take it, and you won't get a single cent!"
Fang Jianye was obedient, but he wasn't stupid.
Once money was in his hands, why would he give it up?
Besides, he and his elder brother had already split the family assets. Even if he gave the money to his wife, it would still stay within his own household.
He had come here today specifically to back his brother up because Fang Jianjun was afraid of getting beaten.
Surely, he deserved a cut, right?
With that thought, Fang Jianye took a few steps back.
"Big Brother, I came here to help you. Isn't it fair that I get a share?"
"Bullshit! This is money my wife gave me—what does it have to do with you?" Fang Jianjun cursed.
Hearing this, Fang Jianye instantly flared up.
So, his brother never intended to give him any money at all.
If that was the case, why should he return it?
Clutching the five hundred yuan in his hand, Fang Jianye bolted out of the civil affairs office and sprinted into the distance.
The three of them had come on a single bicycle—a classic "28-inch" model.
Now, Fang Jianye hopped onto it and wobbled away, leaving Fang Jianjun and Zhou Dongmei chasing after him on foot.
But how could they possibly catch up to a bicycle? Soon, all they could see was Fang Jianye's back, disappearing into the distance.
Fang Jianye glanced back and pedaled even harder.
He wasn't a fool—even if he took the money home, they'd catch up eventually and demand it back.
Might as well spend it now.
Gritting his teeth, he headed straight for the market.
Without hesitation, he spent a hundred yuan on ten pounds of pork ribs.
Then he rushed to the clothing store next door and picked out the trendiest dress for his wife.
Price? Two hundred yuan.
Fang Jianye didn't even haggle—he just bought it outright.
Then, with the dress and the ribs in hand, he hurried home.
Sure enough, by the time he got back, Zhou Dongmei and Fang Jianjun were already waiting for him.
The moment they saw him, they were practically shaking with rage.
"Jianye, hand over the money!" Fang Jianjun roared.
At the door, Fang Jianye's wife, Pang Xiufen, looked utterly confused.
"Jianye, what's going on? Mom and Big Brother showed up demanding five hundred yuan from me. Where would I even get that kind of money? What happened?"
Fang Jianye grinned, squinting as he carried the meat and dress inside.
Facing his brother and mother's accusations, he retorted boldly, "What? Does this money have your name on it? Why should I give it to you?"
"Big Brother, I went with you. Isn't it fair that I get a little something for my trouble?"
"I only wanted a hundred, but you wouldn't even give me that. Of course I wasn't going to return it."
With that, he waved the ribs in his hand. "Now there's only two hundred left. I spent the rest."
"What?!"
Fang Jianjun and Zhou Dongmei were livid.
"That was my wife's divorce money! And you just spent it like that?"
"You blew through three hundred yuan in such a short time?"
They couldn't believe it. Zhou Dongmei was so angry her nose was practically crooked.
But Fang Jianye ignored them, proudly presenting the goods to his wife.
"Here, I bought this new dress just for you. It's the latest style—you'll look amazing in it."
"And these ribs—tomorrow, we'll have a feast."
Pang Xiufen was stunned.
But when she saw the dress, she couldn't stop grinning.
"You rascal, no wonder I dote on you."
"Heh heh!" Fang Jianye smirked triumphantly.
Meanwhile, Zhou Dongmei and Fang Jianjun were absolutely furious.
"Jianye, you bastard! That was my wife's divorce money! How could you just spend it like that? Are you insane?"
"Give it back!"
"Return the money!"
Fang Jianjun grabbed his younger brother by the collar and yelled.
But Fang Jianye wasn't scared. He pulled out the remaining two hundred yuan from his pocket.
"This is all I have left. Take it if you want—I'm not keeping it."
Pang Xiufen chimed in, "Why should he? Who can prove this money is even his?"
"Don't give it back!"
At that, Fang Jianjun panicked and snatched the remaining cash.
But even so, out of the original thousand yuan, only seven hundred remained.
Fang Jianjun was so angry he wanted to slap his brother across the face.
Zhou Dongmei, meanwhile, was cursing up a storm.
"You good-for-nothing! How did I raise such an ungrateful wretch?"
"The money barely made it home, and you snatched it away!"
"Didn't even think about filial duty to your mother before spoiling your wife, huh?"
"Now that you have a wife, you forget your mother! You heartless brat! I risked my life for this money!"
She wailed and flailed, clawing at Fang Jianye.
Pang Xiufen, however, was unfazed.
She shot the old woman a disdainful look and sneered.
As another daughter-in-law, Pang Xiufen actually got along decently with Jiang Xu.
Luckily, Fang Jianye had split from the old lady's household, and with her own family nearby to back her up, he didn't dare treat her too harshly.
But Jiang Xu? She was crushed under the weight of the old woman and Fang Jianjun's so-called "life-saving debt," enduring beatings, insults, and all the household chores alone.
Even in the dead of winter, she had to break ice to wash clothes.
It was clear how pitiful Jiang Xu's life was—and how vile the old woman truly was.
So if Pang Xiufen took the money, so be it.
Jiang Xu would probably rather see her spend it than let the old woman have a single cent.
With that in mind, Pang Xiufen scoffed, "Mom, stop hitting him."
"Big Brother is your son—isn't Jianye yours too?"
"Why should the money only go to you two when Jianye helped get it?"
"Do you really think our family is easy to bully?"
"The money's already spent. If you're unhappy, go ahead—hit Jianye, hit me."
"But let me make one thing clear."
"If you lay a hand on me, I'll tell my father. Just you wait!"
Her sneer grew even more pronounced.
If her father found out she'd been hit, he'd make sure the Fang family paid for it.
So Pang Xiufen was certain—Zhou Dongmei wouldn't dare do anything.
Sure enough, the old woman's expression changed immediately.
But that money—gone just like that!
For a while, Fang Jianye's household descended into utter chaos, with no one willing to back down.
Meanwhile, Fang Zhiyan had already taken his mother back to their rented room.
After handing over the thousand yuan, they were practically broke.
For the next while, they'd have to scrape by until Fang Zhiyan's next paycheck.
Only then could their lives return to some semblance of normalcy.
Yet despite the hardship, their eyes were filled with nothing but relief.
"A thousand yuan for freedom—worth it!"