I have a feeling this isn't a work and the reason fatso being so silent probs owing to him being so tied down with payments through the horse. If she stops paying for his truck or house he's fucked. Playing nice till he can find the next farm animal with a bank account and loving family to fleece. Might also be that he has learned if he ever wants to see at least on of his kids not to slander the shit out of the mother for once. I might be wrong though, who knows for sure. However if it's true I'll put my guess for Ethanol xanex Ralph's death in less than a year if he's lucky.
Edit: More WWE tier drama, has the Rosie on the run arc beginning?