Chapter 38: Branches and Leaves Scattered

study

"Separation?"

Su Deyong's voice was filled with disbelief, shaking the snowflakes on the window lattice to the ground.

When the men of the Su family came back from work, they were overjoyed to hear that the wife of the Crown Prince of Ningguo's Mansion had come to visit them in person.

However, the atmosphere at the table was tense and they did not want to ask any more questions.

It was not until after dinner that Old Master Su summoned them to his study and took out fifteen taels of silver as the cost of buying the house.

The few of them took a deep breath. Why did they choose to mention the separation when the distinguished guests were visiting? Su Deyong couldn't help but think twice.

"Father, we are living well together, why do we suddenly want to separate?" He asked half in confusion and half inquiringly.

Old Master Su looked at him and said, "Haven't you always wanted to split up the family? Today I've finally fulfilled your wish."

Su Deyong glanced at the five taels of silver that was pushed in front of him. "Even if we want to divide the family, five taels of silver is too little, isn't it?"

The one who came from the second room was Su Wenxuan.

He pushed the five taels of silver back and said, "Grandpa and grandma are still alive, how can we talk about dividing the family property so easily? I, your grandson, cannot accept this."

Su Ruilin also expressed his opinion, "Father, no matter how unfilial a son may be, he must serve his parents until the end. How can we divide the family?"

Only the third son, Su Jingshan, had no money. Seeing that he didn't say anything, Su Deyong suddenly understood.

"Could it be that Father has climbed up the social ladder now and feels that we are a burden?"

Although his wife had only briefly told him a few words about the matter between Su Shengsheng and the Crown Prince's wife, Su Deyong knew that the Duke's Mansion could so confidently entrust the orphan to the third house because she was the granddaughter of the Emperor's tutor.

When Old Master Su heard this, he thought of the many efforts and sacrifices Su Shengsheng had made for the family's livelihood.

He sighed and said, "If you are truly filial, you can give these five taels of silver to the third wife for the house purchase fee, and you can move to the west courtyard."

How could Su Deyong let go of the silver he had obtained? He grabbed the silver in his hand and said, "Father, let's be honest. It's really too crowded for such a large family to live together."

He didn't want to live in the west courtyard, not because he looked down on the money in the hands of the two old men, but because the west courtyard needed to dig a well and repair the wing rooms, which would be very expensive, so it would be more cost-effective to buy new ones.

When Su Jingshan heard that Old Master Su arranged for the third room to live in the dilapidated west courtyard, he showed no dissatisfaction on his face, but was filled with confusion.

Su Ruilin looked at Old Master Su's expression and said, "Father, what happened?"

Old Master Su sighed softly, walked to the window, pushed it open, and let the wind and snow outside rush into the warm room.

"Father is old and can no longer protect you. You should all pursue your own future." He said in a heavy tone.

It must be said that the words of the Crown Prince’s wife today deeply touched Old Master Su.

If parents truly love their children, how could they only think about making them filial and not let them spread their wings and fly?

After this disaster, if the Su family cannot work together and continues to live in the glory of the past, its decline will be inevitable.

When Su Deyong heard this, he knew that Old Master Su had made up his mind, so he stopped pestering him.

"Father, you are too partial. The third wife has monopolized the entire shop!" he said indignantly.

Old Master Su slowly turned around and looked at Su Deyong with a cold gaze, "So you sent someone to follow Sheng'er?"

Su Deyong's face froze, and he immediately cried out in injustice: "Father, how could this be possible? You are clearly biased against our fourth branch."

Old Master Su was too lazy to argue with him. "From today on, you will each establish your own household. Your father does not ask you to be prominent in public, but you must not kill your own flesh and blood for money."

His words were weathered by the wind and as solemn as the snow outside the window, and they made everyone feel heavy in their hearts.

After that, Old Master Su didn't say another word, and the room fell into silence.

The division of the Su family became a foregone conclusion.

That night, everyone in the Su family couldn't sleep.

…

The eldest wife not only had five taels of silver for the house purchase fee and five taels of silver for the daughter's fine, but also had five taels of silver for the pregnancy maintenance fee given by Su Shengsheng to Cen.

Although the second wife had no daughter, she also received the five taels of silver that Su Shengsheng had given her before, and now she received another five taels of silver for the house purchase fee.

Needless to say, the third house didn't get any money, but the shop, the two hundred taels of silver mortgaged, and the income from the bookstore. Su Shengsheng only needed to teach the young master a few words, and the Duke's Mansion, which was full of gold and jade, would surely worship her as a god.

That’s not even counting the son-in-law who has already passed the imperial examination and has a bright future!

Su Deyong went home last night and thought about it all night, but no matter how he calculated, he felt that he had lost a lot.

So with two dark circles under my eyes, I wanted to make some more trouble during breakfast.

"Father, these five taels of silver are really too little. If you buy a house, you won't be able to buy food and oil. You can't just live with the third wife and not care about the fourth wife's life?"

Although Su Shengsheng was looking forward to the separation of the family, when the day finally came, she felt a little reluctant when she saw the look on her grandparents' faces.

She knew that her grandfather didn't want this big family to become a burden to her, so he gave her the opportunity to make her own way, but also cleared the obstacles for her.

If she lost the money, the shop, and turned around to get married and leave, she would definitely be hated by the other families.

But her grandfather didn't mention the division of the family property to her yesterday, but directly called the male members to the study.

He didn't want others to point the finger at her.

Just as she was feeling melancholy, she heard her grandfather say indifferently, "If you feel that your parents cannot rely on your granddaughter for support, they are willing to go with you to eat cold dishes and leftover porridge."

Although Old Master Su held a high position, he had always lived in poverty. In the past, only the children of the noble families under his guidance would send him some precious gifts.

But when it comes to eating delicious food and drinking spicy drinks, I never advocate it.

Su Deyong knew that Old Master Su would definitely do what he said, and he was afraid that he would really give up his good life and go with them.

He threw down his chopsticks angrily and said, "Let's divide it. Father used to favor the eldest brother, and now he favors the third brother. I am the illegitimate child."

Seeing him throw down his chopsticks and walk away, Su Ruilin looked dissatisfied, but because Old Master Su was in front of him, he didn't say anything.

Old Master Su's face remained calm. "Today's meal is considered a farewell meal. Each room should prepare their own food for the evening."

Su Ruilin opened his mouth, but after learning that his family was being taken care of at the mine by his niece, he felt that it was pointless to stay, so he stood up and bowed.

"Father, mother, even if I go to live in a separate house, I will never forget to be filial to you two."

After saying that, he sighed deeply and left with Su Yuanzheng.

Su Jingshan stood up a little awkwardly, "Then I... I..."

Looking at this father who was as clueless as a blockhead, Su Shengsheng laughed angrily.

"Father, our well hasn't been repaired yet, so we have to eat with our grandparents," she said.

Old Master Su looked speechlessly at his third son, who was not very smart. Then he saw his granddaughter, who was very smart and looked nothing like him, and he couldn't help but say, "It's a good thing I didn't learn from you."

The dull atmosphere at the dinner table was easily lifted by the old man who never liked to joke.

The women in the Su family were busy looking after the yard and packing their luggage, but Su Shengsheng was even busier than them.

She had to recruit and interview teachers, look at shops, and even go to the bookstore to receive the young master of the Duke's Mansion.

For a while, I was so busy that I wished I had three heads and six arms.

The division of the Su family caught her off guard, and many things that had been put on hold were suddenly put on the agenda.

…

"Miss, he's been hungry for two meals. How about I buy some delicious food for this young master?"

Qing Ning looked at Ning Jie who didn't eat with a worried look on her face.

"He will eat whatever we eat. If he doesn't eat, he will starve." Su Shengsheng's answer was the same as in the morning.