Li Changsheng had barely finished speaking when Liu Xiufen's voice interrupted.
“No, according to the rules of our ancestors, only six mu of those eighteen mu of land can be allocated to my second brother’s family.”
Li Changsheng gave a cold laugh.
"So now your second brother's family is bringing up the ancestral rules with me? According to the ancestral rules, this should all belong to the eldest brother's family."
And yesterday when I divided the family property among you, I said that your parents would be cared for by the eldest son's family, and your family would get a side house and nine acres of land. Why didn't you say that your family would only get six acres? At that time, you were complaining that you were given too little.
Now that the land has been given to the eldest son's family, you're bringing up the ancestral rules with me, complaining that it's too much? And now you think you should only get six mu?
Liu Xiufen blushed and was about to say something when An Mantun tugged at her sleeve, and she swallowed the words that were about to come out.
“Those three houses at the bottom of that mountain corner were originally built by Mancang himself; they belonged to Mancang.”
Hearing this, Liu Xiufen, who had been holding back, decided to stop doing anything.
"No, if that's the case, then all the money my family earns will have to go to our family?"
Li Changsheng was at a loss again. Well, this was a dead end, and he had come full circle back to yesterday's situation.
The second son's family is unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss.
Having already gained an advantage, they still want to tear a piece of flesh from the eldest son's family.
Li Changsheng glanced at An Daliang, then sat down on a wooden stool in the yard. "Daliang, what do you think we should do?"
An Daliang glanced at Liu Xiufen's unyielding expression, hesitated, and then looked at An Dalin again. This morning, the second brother's family had come to their door early to discuss their ideas. He and his wife also thought that it was a good idea to give Mancang to their second brother's family.
All the family's wealth has gone to the second son's family, so they can enjoy more of the good life. The more wealth the family has, the better.
Since the village head had already made him lose face in front of the villagers today, he wasn't afraid of losing face again. After all, once he lost face this time, the days of enjoying life would be just around the corner.
With their family's wealth and the money earned by the second son's family, the old couple were definitely the most comfortable people in the village.
With that thought in mind, An Daliang steeled his heart and his old eyes darted to An Dalin. “Second brother, I don’t want my eldest son anymore. I’ll give him to you and have him adopted into your family.”
An Daliang's startling words caused an uproar among the villagers who were watching the commotion inside and outside the courtyard.
"What? What did An Laosan say? Did I hear that right? He doesn't want his son anymore!"
"Oh my, they're even abandoning their son after dividing the family property."
"This made the second son's family extremely happy. If they didn't want their eldest son, wouldn't all the family property go to the second son's family?"
"Is this the kind of human language a father should speak? It's like he doesn't even want his own son anymore, and is giving him away to the second son's family as a son because he despises him!"
"The second son of the An family doesn't even get a proper adoption. He was adopted from the eldest son's family, so why is he being adopted into the third son's family?"
“An Laosan, are you getting senile? Don’t you even know the rules? Do you think your family has a say in the ancestral rules? If anyone’s going to be adopted, it should be Dafeng’s family.”
"I say, Mancang is such a pitiful kid, how did he end up with two such old bastards?"
"If we had a son like Mancang who could cultivate fifteen acres of fertile land, I'd be laughing in my sleep!"
"What family wouldn't want a son like that? I'd even be willing to give myself up to be his son. These two old folks, Old Man An, are truly blessed but don't know it."
An Mancang's eyes were bloodshot, and his suppressed voice was somewhat hoarse.
"Father, what did I do wrong? Why don't you acknowledge me?"
I just want to take care of you two in your old age. Did I do something wrong?
You want money? I'll go out and earn it!
"Father, Mother, you two stay with us. I'll go work in the mine. I'll dig for you and earn two taels of silver a month. Is that alright?"
When the villagers heard what An Mancang said, seeing that even though everyone had compromised so much, the old couple of An Laosan were still unmoved, the elders in the An family couldn't stand it anymore and got angry.
An Fuwang, with his hands behind his back, gave An Daliang a disgruntled look.
"Mancang, I'm telling you, don't be so stubborn, try to think more positively!"
With parents like these, what difference does it make whether they exist or not?
Let's forget about it. It's the same if I go out alone."
Upon hearing such an enlightened remark from the crowd, Anle immediately took another look at the old man.
The old man was in high spirits and dressed neatly. His brown cotton overcoat stood out among the group of people in short jackets, clearly indicating that he came from a well-off family.
It seems this old man has influence within the An family; otherwise, how come this scoundrel grandfather wouldn't dare utter a single word after he said it?
As Anle glanced over, another elderly man, dressed more plainly, stood next to the old man and sighed, holding his cane.
"I think your parents are such scoundrels. When they get into trouble, they're really no good. Even if you two were with them, you wouldn't have a good life. Listen to your grandpa Fusheng, you should live on your own."
Anle blinked, his gaze lingering between the two old men, and muttered to himself, "These two old men do look quite alike. Could they be brothers?"
Anle nudged An Yi, who was holding her arm, and grinned, asking, "Third Brother, are these two old men brothers?"
An Yi, in a bad mood, smacked An Le on the head and said irritably.
"What time is it? You still have the mind to care about this?"
Although he was unhappy with Anle's carefree attitude, he still quietly leaned in and answered her question.
"Those are the grandfathers of our An family, the grandfather who guards the mountain and the second grandfather."
The man in the cotton overcoat is the grandfather who guards the mountain.
The one next to me is my second grandfather.
The one standing next to him, hands tucked in his pocket and silent, is Third Grandfather. Don't let his quiet demeanor fool you; he's incredibly cunning.
Anle often heard Shoushan mentioned by An Yi. Although he didn't know who Shoushan was, Anle nodded as if he understood.
All around me were the cacophony of voices from the surrounding villagers—
"With parents like this, it's better if they weren't here at all. Don't be foolish. Is that a place for humans to go?"
“That mine is so dangerous. You never know when you could lose your life there. Unless you’re desperate to make a living, no one would go to that deadly place.”
"Mancang, don't do anything rash, you can't go to that mine."
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