Mei Niang ate most of the old hen soup and decided to eat the remaining soup early the next morning.

Wan Changsheng waited until dark before going to the old patriarch's house.

The old patriarch and his son were also shocked when they heard Changsheng's words.

The old clan leader said, "The fields have already been planted. You said that the fields will be planted by the clan members, and the land will be planted by your eldest brother? If you go out to work, will your wife and children go with you?"

Wan Changsheng nodded and said, "Uncle, our family of three will go out together and will not be back in a short time. If one day I can work outside for a long time, I will give this land directly to the clan, but not for the time being."

Wan Changshou said, "Changsheng, you go out and give it a try first. If things outside don't go well, come back quickly. While you are away, the fields will be cultivated by the clan, and the produce will be used to repair the ancestral hall. But as soon as you return home, the fields will be returned to your family immediately. For the country people, fields are more important than anything else."

"I'll leave early tomorrow morning and visit my eldest brother's house."

Chief Wan stood up and said, "Go ahead and work hard outside. When you are really happy in the future, don't forget your clan. This is your root. If you feel uncomfortable, return home immediately. Just be well."

Wan Changsheng bowed deeply and said, "I won't say goodbye to my aunt and cousin's wife. I will remember your words."

Wan Changshou looked at Changsheng's receding back and said, "Dad, why don't you ask them where they are going and what they are doing?"

The old patriarch shook his head: "If he doesn't want to talk, we won't ask. If he wanted to talk, he would have already said it."

Wan Yu came out and said, "Your father is right. Changsheng must be scared. Wan Taozi is a scoundrel who keeps looking for Changsheng. She has a step-son and will soon have her own child. Why should I help her raise her grandson? Isn't that just bullying? What's wrong with the elders? They are not my biological parents. They are four generations apart. What kind of relationship do you have?"

"And his eldest sister-in-law took over half of the house and didn't pay a grain of rice for seven years of rent. I was there with her mother-in-law before she left, and I gave them all the instructions. Chang Geng is a selfish person after all. He believes whatever his wife says, and has driven his brothers apart."

Wan Changshou sneered: "That woman relies on Changsheng's thin skin. Dad, do you think Changsheng can survive if he goes out?"

The old clan leader sighed, "Changsheng has great willpower. I have also met his wife and children twice, especially the child. He is very smart and steady at a young age, just like a young master from a wealthy family. He will have a bright future sooner or later. I have promised that on the first day of the first lunar month next year, whether they come back or not, the child will be recorded in the family tree of my Wan family."

…

Wan Changsheng called his eldest brother out of the yard.

"Brother, I met a good friend from the past and agreed to help him. I will set off early tomorrow morning. I just came out from the old clan leader and handed over an acre of land to the clan to help work. During my absence, the crops from the land will belong to the clan, but not much, after all, it is only an acre of land.

The one acre of land next to the house is actually one and a half acres. Sweet potatoes and vegetables have already been planted. While I'm away, you can plant the land. I can give you some subsidies based on the production."

"Second brother, I will help you plant the crops, and the harvest will belong to you. I don't want it."

Wan Changsheng shook his head and said, "Brother, I will be gone for several years. The key to the house is under the stone slab at the gate. If it rains while you are farming, go inside and take shelter. I am leaving now. Take care of yourself."

"Second brother, ..."

…

Wan Xu came out and said, "I heard your brother talking about fields and land. What's going on?"

Chang Geng felt upset and walked into the room with his head down. In the dim room, his eyes gradually turned red. The two brothers used to be so close, but now everything has changed and they are just like strangers.

He should have been the one to serve in the military back then. At that time, he was already 22 years old and the father of two children. The second child was less than 17 years old and they had not even been married.

That's fine.

He promised his mother that he would give him the money to buy half the house, but in the end he didn't get a penny. He also didn't pay a single grain of rent for the land he cultivated for seven years.

What's wrong with me? Am I out of my mind?

He got on the kang and curled up in the quilt. Only then did he feel like he had come back to his senses.

"Boss, what on earth is going on here, second brother?"

Chang Geng simply recounted the incident.

"What?" Xu's voice broke for a moment. "Is the second son stupid? The fields are already planted, and we are just waiting to check the water, weed, and then wait for the harvest. At least 300 kilograms of rice a year. How much will it change if we change it to broken rice or brown rice? Head of the family, go to the clan and ask for it back. We are his legitimate relatives."

Wan Changgeng was furious and sat up. "How can I be considered his real brother? I forced him to serve in the army when he was still young and unmarried. When he came back, I didn't help him at all and didn't pay him the rent for seven years. I said I would give it to you and you would hang yourself. Who in the village respects me?"

Xu lowered her eyes, "Didn't you go to help him build the house? I said Tian should come back, was it for me alone? We have three sons, how much money will it cost in the future, head of the family, do you think he will come back? If not, can you take the house? His house is well built, at least more than twenty taels of silver."

"Shut up." Wan Changgeng got off the kang. "Xu, I have lost my mind these years and obeyed you in everything. Are you speaking human language? They go out to work, and you say you want their house and land. Are you cursing my second son?

Xu, the conditions of my Wan family are like that. If you can't stay here any longer, I can give you a divorce letter and you can go back to your parents' home tomorrow."

After saying that, he put on his clothes and went to the west room, which was his son's room.

Xu was dumbfounded. Divorce? What had she done to deserve the head of the family asking for a divorce?

Isn't everything he did for his family? Was it just for her?

Is it easy to be a soldier? If she can die at any time, what will happen to her and her children?

In the darkness, she cried until a pair of small hands reached out to her: "Don't cry, Mom. Qin'er is scared."

That was her four-year-old daughter.

"Qin'er, don't be afraid. Mom and Dad are just playing around. Go lie down and go to sleep."

Xu hugged her little daughter and lay down. Her heart gradually calmed down. She would apologize to the head of the family tomorrow. After all, she was doing this for the family.

My uncle's family is going out. If they do well, I can borrow the house sooner or later. I was indeed a little hasty tonight.

Wan Changsheng, even if you have a problem with me, your sister-in-law, Chang Geng is still your biological brother, and Qing'er, Xiang'er, and Xi'er are also your biological nephews. You should never give that piece of land to the clan to farm.

Three hundred kilograms of produce a year, what if it lasts another five or seven years, how much would that be? After a careful calculation, Xu couldn't sleep anymore. She sat up straight, looking at the darkness outside the window, and her heart was chilled.

But if the head of the household does not agree with you, if you insist on having your own way, you will really be divorced and sent back to your parents' home. Your parents' home is now headed by your eldest sister-in-law. If you bring a lot of things back, she will give you a smiling face. If you bring too little, she will hate not to give her food and drink.