The rule in the village is that the family does not split up while the parents are still alive, mainly to protect the rights and interests of the elderly. When people get old and can no longer work, their children and grandchildren have to take care of them. What does it matter if there are some minor frictions between children and grandchildren? The most important thing is that the elderly live comfortably, and this is also the most important thing about filial piety in this era.
However, before the old couple could say anything, the first and second wives were already clamoring to separate!
"You think I'm a dead person! I'm letting you divide the property!" The old man usually doesn't talk much with his daughter-in-law. He considers himself a particular person and lets his wife pass on messages and handle trivial matters at home. It doesn't look good for an old man to talk much with his daughter-in-law.
But now he couldn't help it anymore, pointing at Wang's nose and scolding her: "Why did our family marry a troublemaker like you? You are always short of food and drink at home, and the second son's family spends a lot of money on the first son. In the spring, he bought new clothes for Lian Bao but not for Rong Jie'er. What else are you dissatisfied with? Why did you do such a thing!"
Wang covered her face and cried. She had no face left after being scolded in public by her father-in-law. He explained in a low voice: "It's not me who wants to split the family, it's the second eldest sister who insists on splitting the family. She said she doesn't want anything, why is Dad scolding me..."
Even the old man was so angry that smoke was about to come out of his head. If she hadn't asked her nephew from her mother's side to block Lianou, would the second son's wife have made such a fuss? He got angry when he talked about this, because Lian Ou was his grandson and a member of his Lian family. Wang let her nephew, an outsider, bully Lian Ou. In Wang's opinion, it was just to cause trouble for the second house, but the old man Lian felt that he, the head of the family, was not taken seriously!
The old man looked around and saw that the second son's wife and her family were in a threatening manner, while Miao and the village chief's wife were on her side. My second son followed behind with his head down, and no one knew what he was thinking. Ou Ge'er was not there. Lian Shi and his wife, as well as Lian Rong, were standing aside, looking at Wang with hatred in their eyes.
He sighed, knowing that this family was really going to break up. He didn't care whether Wang's nephew lived or died, but he also wanted to teach that boy a lesson for bullying his grandson! Miao Hexiang's threat to Wang was nothing to him. But even if he used his authority as a father to force the two families to stay together, something like what happened to the Shen family might happen again.
After all, the reason their two sons are in such a mess is that they, as parents, are incompetent and unable to control them!
No matter how unwilling you are, you have to make plans for your retirement. The old man even glanced back and forth between Wang and Miao Hexiang. Is there any need to think about who he would live a more comfortable life with in the future? The old man thought about it for a while, then turned to his eldest son and asked, "Big Boss, do you have the same idea as your wife? Do you want your brother to leave the house?"
Lian Lao Da was stunned. He didn't expect that Old Man Lian would ask him. He lowered his head and grunted for a long time without saying anything.
Seeing this, the old man stopped asking and turned to look at Lian Lao Er: "Lao Er, what do you think?"
Lian Lao Er wiped his face and said, "Dad, Ou Ge'er is my own child, your grandson. It's a good thing that the master from Miaoqian Village passed by, otherwise how could Ou Ge'er survive? It's just a small fight, but how can family members be so cruel to each other? She doesn't regard us as family!"
This is why he was determined to separate the family business and was not willing to live in the same courtyard with Wang.
The old man nodded and sighed: "Then let's divide it."
Even the old lady was a little anxious: "Old man, we can't divide the family!" If they divided the family, they would be the first case in Lantang Village to be divided while still alive. Not to mention where they would save their reputation, their future would be uncertain!
What is the difference between raising several children together and living with one son alone? As long as they have the reputation of being filial and have control over the family's money, these children and grandchildren must please their parents, be obedient, and do whatever they are told in order to gain more benefits for their own side. Parents' rights can be maximized in this small family.
But living alone with a son is different. There are no brothers competing for the few resources, no brothers checking and balancing each other, the son is young and strong, and the daughter-in-law has a strong family and can make money. Can you say for sure who will listen to whom in this family?
She claimed that she was not a shrewd mother-in-law, but it took her half a lifetime to go from a daughter-in-law to a mother-in-law. She couldn't just listen to her mother-in-law in the first half of her life and her daughter-in-law in the second half, and never be the head of the family, right?
Life is not difficult, but it is frustrating!
But the old man waved his hand. He glanced at Miao Hexiang, who was beaming with joy, and Wang, who also breathed a sigh of relief, and raised his voice again: "But this family is called Lian, and I can still breathe. It's not my turn to have two daughters-in-law to rule my family!"
After that, he turned to Miao Hexiang in a somewhat stern tone: "Today you brought your brothers to block the door of my old Lian family. I just thought you were a mother who was eager to protect her children, so I didn't bother with you. But after the separation, if you want to bully others at home by relying on your powerful family and capable relatives, then divorce now!"
Miao Hexiang was stunned and said subconsciously: "Dad, I don't think that way." She just couldn't get along with Wang, and actually had no opinion on her father-in-law and mother-in-law.
After hearing what she said, the old man nodded and said, "What's the point of blocking the door? Come in and sit down. The division of the family property can be completed in a short time." He glanced at Zhao Youdang, who had been following Wu Guixiang without saying a word, and said, "Village chief, please be a witness for my family."
After entering the main room, Miao Hexiang finally understood why her father-in-law said that. She originally thought that being able to divide the family property would be a great joy, and she was willing to pay a price for it. As for money, their family members have jobs and skills, so how much can't they earn? It may hurt now, but you will enjoy a lifetime of comfort in the future!
But her father-in-law's next words made her a little overjoyed: "This incident was caused by the eldest son's wife. Ou Ge'er was frightened and his reputation was ruined. It was really unfair to the child. As a punishment, the eldest wife will get less when the family is divided this time."
Even the eldest brother responded in a dull voice, and Wang was dumbfounded: "No, didn't they say that their second branch was kicked out of the house? Why——"
Lian Lao Da finally couldn't bear it anymore and pulled her. This foolish woman, my father has told her so many times that a daughter-in-law has no right to make decisions for him! They were kicked out of the house with nothing. Everything in the family, including them, their children and grandchildren, were their parents' property. Didn’t you see that the old Shen family said that Shen Xiaojuan was sold? Naturally, I can give my father's property to whoever he wants, or even sell it to whoever he wants. If he doesn't want to share anything, you have to accept it! At most, the villagers will say a few words to you, and it will be more difficult for your descendants to get married.
If you don't shut up now, you will pay a heavy price!
The people in the second room were also a little stunned. However, Wu Guixiang understood after thinking about it for a moment, and said with a smile, "The old man is a fair man." Miao Hexiang proposed to leave the house with nothing because she felt that the possibility of dividing the family was too small and the old man would not agree, so she put forward so many chips. But what if the old man himself agrees to divide the family? Why should the second wife pay the price?
She nudged Miao Hexiang and warned her good sister: "You must not be so impulsive in the future. When you are separated and there are no annoying people around, you must be respectful and filial to your parents-in-law."
Miao Hexiang: "Ah? Ah?"
Old Man Lian glanced at Wu Guixiang and said nothing. He didn't like women interrupting him when he was talking, even if she was the village chief's wife. The village chief's wife should just take care of the trivial matters between the women and the young men in the village. Even the old man felt uncomfortable with her getting involved in such a big matter. But after the Chinese New Year, Wu Guixiang had more responsibilities in the village than Zhao Youdang, and with the support of the workshop, it seemed as if she was the village chief.
But she was indeed smart. Even though the people in the first and second rooms, including the old lady, hadn't guessed what the old man meant, Wu Guixiang had already guessed it. Old Man Lian pondered for a moment and carefully counted the family property in his mind: "This house is given to the eldest son, but the second son will live here until his house is built, and move out by the Mid-Autumn Festival this year at the latest. The family's several acres of land will be divided into three parts, one for each of your two families, and one for us old couple, and the same goes for farm tools and tools. The chickens in the family belong to us old couple, and we will raise the pigs and kill them at the end of the year, and each family will get half. As for the cash in the family--" He looked at Old Lady Lian.
Even the old lady leaned over to his ear and told him a number. He didn't shout out in front of the people in the village. However, this amount surprised the old man. He never thought that his family could have so much money. But if you think about it carefully, you will know that it was earned by the second wife. He said, "Most of this cash is earned by the second son's family. Take out half and give it to the second son. Divide the remaining half into two parts, half for us and the eldest son."
Wang's eyes turned red with hatred. The things that the old man distributed were more than enough for the first wife to have enough food and drink, but how could Wang, who had barely accepted the second wife's move out with nothing, be satisfied! She was held down by her husband, so she endured it and didn't say anything. She comforted herself in her heart: No matter what, no matter how much money the second brother earns in the future, he will still honor his parents. If the gift is not much, she will complain to the whole village, saying that the richer you are, the more stingy you are, and you are reluctant to spend the little money you earn on your parents... In the future, those things will still end up in your own pocket...
But then she heard Old Man Lian say, "We old couple live together with the second family. When we are gone, the land and money belong to the second family. The first family sends us 500 kilograms of food every year, no matter what. If I am sick, the eldest brother has to visit me every ten days. I don't want your money, but just pour me and your mother a bowl of water, and that will be considered as your filial piety."
The eldest brother even knelt down, his voice tinged with tears: "Dad."
Even the old lady was dumbfounded: "Old man? This, this is considered a division of the family, how can you not live with the eldest son?" In her mind, the eldest son should be given priority. It's not just her, every family in the village is like this. When a family has no money, the eldest son marries a girl and the younger brother marries a boy. This is a custom passed down from generation to generation. Their family was better off and had tried their best to treat everyone equally, but she still couldn't help but rely more on the eldest son. Hearing what Old Man Lian said, I was confused.
The old man pointed at Wang in annoyance and said, "You live with her? How many days of comfort can you have if you live with her?!"
Raise a son to provide for your old age, but knowing that the second son's family will be more comfortable in retirement, he is sick and wants to follow the eldest son, living under the same roof with the eldest son's wife, that stupid woman! Don't blame him for being too realistic! Since you have decided to live with the second wife, you cannot favor the first wife. It will make the second wife feel uncomfortable and she will not have a comfortable life in the future.
Miao Hexiang finally came to her senses and understood her father-in-law's little thoughts. But she didn't care much. Her father-in-law and mother-in-law were not difficult people. She emphasized her status as the head of the family at this moment because she didn't want to lose face. In fact, as long as they separated, they would be laughed at by their peers.
Now that her father-in-law has agreed to let her split up the family, Miao Hexiang is still very content and immediately promised: "Dad and Mom, don't worry, we will get along the same way before the split up as we did after, and no one can get ahead of you two. From now on, the child's father and I will work harder to let you two live the most comfortable life."
If someone gives her a peach, she has to return the favor. No matter what she thought, the old man supported her, and if he lost face in the village, she had to make up for it elsewhere and earn back his face. Miao Hexiang promised: "I will make you two the most blessed elderly people in our Lantang Village!"
Even the old man felt much better after hearing this. The vague feeling of losing power was also mostly eliminated by these words. He looked at the children following Miao Hexiang, only Ou Ge'er was missing, and said, "And that kid who flirted with Ou Ge'er!"
Wang was originally filled with resentment, and she just wanted to cry and make a fuss, complaining that the old couple were partial to each other. Land, cash, and other practical things were given to them as their big house, but they were given very few. All they were left with was this shabby house they had lived in for more than 20 years. How could an old man be so biased? ! What’s more, they don’t live with the eldest son, but with the youngest son? Obviously, she is the one who contributed greatly to the continuation of the Lian family's bloodline. Lian Shi from the second room only gave birth to a little boy, and we don't know what's in Zhao Yu's belly yet. These two old people are not afraid of having no descendants!
But even the old man's words scared her so much that she swallowed back her words: Didn't we just say that we can just split up the family business? Why, why do you still want to hold her nephew accountable!
Lian Laohan said to Zhao Youdang: "If the little bastards from other villages bully the guys in our village, we have to rely on the village chief to make the decision."
Zhao Youdang was also angry when he mentioned this matter. Women and boys of this era depend on men for survival, and men have a strong desire to protect and possess them. They may even feel that their property is being coveted by others. When Wang's nephew bullied Lian Ou, it meant that old man Lian's "property" was almost stolen. And for village chief Zhao Youdang, it meant that the "property" belonging to Lantang Village within his jurisdiction was almost stolen by people from other villages.
He has experience in this matter! Zhao Youdang said immediately: "I will go to their village chief tomorrow to talk to him! If their village chief doesn't give me an explanation, I will personally bring people to break his leg!"
This was the first time he made a decision today, and it was quite impressive. Among the people watching the excitement in the yard, one person snorted contemptuously: "Now you think you are the village chief? Letting a woman ride on your neck, you finally said something a man should say!"
Zhao Youdang was very embarrassed, and his straight back slumped a little. The man looked about 60% similar to him, but was a little younger. He was leaning on a crutch. When he saw Zhao Youdang and Wu Guixiang looking at him, he snorted loudly, limped through the crowd of onlookers, and left.
Zhao Youdang moved his lips a few times but didn't say anything.
Wang was completely panicked: "Dad, you can't be so cruel! You are too partial to the second branch. You are partial to them when dividing the family property, and you are so cruel to my nephew. They are real relatives..."
"Real relative? What's his last name? Wang! What's Lian Ou's last name? Lian! I don't side with my own grandson, but with your maternal relatives?!" The old man was so angry that he almost laughed: "Otherwise, there's no need to divide this family. Boss, divorce your wife! Our family can't afford such relatives!"
In the end, he did not divorce Wang. No matter what, she has given birth to so many children and has become a grandmother. If you are divorced at this time, there is no way to survive. Besides, Wang had been competing with the Second House again and again, trying to take the Second House's benefits for her own family. Did he really not know anything about this?
Even the eldest brother saved her, but he also scolded her loudly, carried her away and locked her in the room.
No matter how much she cried and made a fuss, since the old man had made the decision on the division of the family property, no one could change it. Zhao Youdang wrote a deed of division and put it among a pile of documents and papers from the village. The matter was then settled. Miao Hexiang immediately kept Wu Guixiang and asked if there were any good vacant land in the village that could be bought to build a house. Wu Guixiang mentioned several places, but Miao Hexiang did not decide for herself. Instead, she gave them to Old Man Lian and Old Lady Lian to choose. The old couple, who were originally a little melancholy about the division of the family property, soon felt comfortable again.
"Later, we chose the one closest to the workshop. My father-in-law picked it himself." Afterwards, several people gathered in Miao's room and talked about it. Miao Hexiang's face was flushed: "My father-in-law also knows who to follow to live a good life. They are used to being the head of the family. They can't let go of that little power. They always want everyone to listen to him, fearing that the children will not obey. But he is a father, so I understand. Now I just go along with it. My father-in-law and mother-in-law are not the kind of people who make trouble for no reason. Life has been quite comfortable these days."
After all, Miao Hexiang was a native of ancient times. Even if she was slightly influenced by Shen Qing, she could not escape the framework of the times. Now that the family property has been divided, she has received extra money and land, and she no longer has to live under the same roof with Wang. She is extremely satisfied!
As for the father-in-law and mother-in-law wanting to hold power in the family, isn't that as it should be? Now they are the only family left, so they don’t even have to worry about being partial to others. Who else can the old couple be nice to except them? If you want to be in power, then take power. In Miao Hexiang's mind, this is natural.
Wu Guixiang also said: "My husband went to Wang's natal village, and the village chief was horrified. He had hoped that Qing'er could build a workshop in their village. It was another case of disrespecting the young man, so he had her nephew beaten with 80 sticks. I heard that her brother and sister-in-law were very distressed and scolded her in the village, saying that it was her who instigated the harm to their child and they wanted her to compensate!"
"That's what I thought. When I went out this morning, I vaguely heard a lot of noise over there." On the day of the family division, Miao Hexiang asked her brothers to build a wall and open a small door on the second room's side. Recently, people have been going through the other side.
"But this time, it was Ou'er who was wronged." Miao sighed deeply. That's how it is in the countryside. Even if Ou'er was the victim, even if Wang's nephew didn't really do anything to Ou'er, it was the boy and girl whose reputations were damaged. This is also the reason why Wang dared to do this. If the incident was exposed, not only would Ou Ge'er not be able to get married, but her marriage would also be affected. The best way is to swallow the bitter pill and just follow Wang's nephew. After all, her nephew is just not worthy of Ou Ge'er, and he is not the kind of person who is extremely poor and lame.
Who would have thought that Miao Hexiang would not fall for her trick and chose to confront her head-on, making her plan go awry.
But now Miao Hexiang also sighed: "Fortunately, our family conditions are better now. Ou'er cried and said that she would rather not marry for the rest of her life than swallow this breath. If it were in the past, how could our family have such confidence? Now... let's not marry." She couldn't bear to marry her child to a man who was several levels lower than her status just to let her son get married. How can there be any good person like that?
Shen Qing took a plate of sour apricots and ate them nearby: "Ou'er will work in my shop in the county town in the future. Maybe he can find a husband in the city. If he can stand on his own feet, who will care about the trivial matters in the village?"
Miao Hexiang looked at Shen Qing gratefully, but her teeth ached again: "Sister Rong picked some random fruits when she went up the mountain, and you are the only one who indulged her in eating them. My teeth are sore just looking at them."
Shen Qing was stunned, smiled and said nothing. Lian Rong originally picked these for Zhao Yu, but Zhao Yu didn't like them very much. However, Shen Qing was drooling over them and took them all. Not long after, Lian Rong came in again like a gust of wind, carrying a small basket full of green apricots on her back: "Brother Qing, if you like to eat them, I'll pick them for you!"
Miao Hexiang couldn't stand it after taking a look: "Why are you picking so many? Wait a little longer, wait until the apricots are ripe, yellow and sweet, then pick some for your brother Qing!"
"Brother Qing likes to eat the sour ones. Besides, when they become sweet, they are picked by the boys in the village. They occupy the tree and don't let us pass. It's so annoying. I can't beat them at that time."
"It's okay, I love to eat this. Sister Rong, keep it all for me." Shen Qing accepted the small backpack. Anyway, he has the space and there is no need to worry about it going bad. He can save it and eat it slowly. He really likes sour food recently.
Miao Hexiang said a few words like "Just spoil her", but didn't take it seriously. Miao, on the other hand, looked at Shen Qing suspiciously several times.
The division of the Lian family caused quite a stir in the village. Every family has its own problems: brothers quarreling, sisters-in-law not getting along, elders being partial... Which family doesn't have such problems? Every family is like this, so we can only endure it. But suddenly one family escaped from the sea of suffering, and the others were more or less interested in following suit.
So during this period of time, many families in the village became noisy. Most of them are like Aunt Lian Er, who works in workshops to earn money. They would rather support their adoptive parents than support their brothers and sisters-in-law with whom they have a bad relationship.
Many elderly people had just made fun of the Lian couple, and now it was their own family’s turn. However, not everyone can understand the current situation like Old Man Lian. Many people feel that their authority as parents is offended and become furious.
For a while, the village was in chaos and there was no peace for a moment. Because of this, some people became dissatisfied with Zhao Youdang: "He is obviously the village chief, but he didn't say a word when he came, and did whatever his wife told him to do. His wife has a good relationship with the second daughter-in-law of the Lian family, so naturally she is on her side and helped to split the family if they wanted to. If the old Lian family hadn't split the family and made such a scene, those people in my family would not have the courage to be restless even if they wanted to!"
"That's right. He used to be a bit out of control when doing things. Now he really lets his wife ride on his neck and shit on him! He has no manliness at all!"
"Alas, I shouldn't have chosen him as the village chief in the first place, if not for..." The man who was speaking glanced at the man holding a walking stick and squinting under the tree to enjoy the coolness, and swallowed the words that were on his lips: "In the future, will our village really be called by a woman?"
"That's right... not only my wife, but my brother has the final say too!"
In the past, Shen Qing opened a workshop, provided job opportunities for villagers, and helped them make money, which naturally made everyone happy. Now that some people have actually benefited from it, they are naturally grateful to Shen Qing. Those who have benefited little have now caused a lot of trouble, and another group of people have started to make sarcastic remarks again.
But now everyone is afraid of Shen Qing and dares not say it openly, so they only dare to talk about Wu Guixiang behind her back.
Seeing that the man under the tree still didn't open his eyes, an old man next to him couldn't help it anymore and poked him with his walking stick: "Don't you really have anything to say?"
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