Chapter 1918 White Cut Black
Mainly, Manbao and the others said, briefly recounting what they had found out today, and then said, "Tomorrow morning, we will go with Master Xia to pay respects to our grandparents. Dad, Mom, you two should come together. It's a good opportunity to meet Master Xia."
He added, "The Xia family's people should arrive at the county government office at noon. We can go meet them after we eat. Then our whole family will go."
Manbao said, "My grandparents' tombstones are still relatively intact. I think someone comes to visit every year. I don't know who it is, but I've made up my mind. No matter who it is, I'm going to give him something."
Manbao said, "If it's Master Xia, I'll give him the shop. If it's someone else from the tribe, I'll give him the land I've reclaimed."
Old Zhou felt a pang of pain when he heard this, but he didn't object. He just said, "You make the decision."
Even Qian couldn't help but look at him. He had been talking about giving the shop in the county town to Daya for several days. Why was he so generous this time?
Old Zhou and Manbao said, "It's most important that the ancestral tombs are in good condition. I remember that your great-grandfather also had a single lineage, so you have to take care of their tombs as well."
Manbao agreed.
Old Zhou then mentioned the property, "You should take it back if you can. It's what your parents left for you."
He said, "Your father is included in the Xia family's genealogy. As a man, he can't bear this injustice in vain."
Everyone: ...
Manbao said stubbornly, "Dad, my dad shouldn't feel wronged."
Bai Shan and Bai Erlang also thought so. After all, the Xia family not only saved Zhou Yin, but also got a wife for free. It doesn't matter which family tree they are included in, right?
It's just that the reputation is a little bad, but as a man, why would you be afraid of a bad reputation?
The younger Bai Shan and Bai Erlang did not have such a strong prejudice against marrying into the wife's family.
Qian couldn't stand Old Zhou's instigation, so when he was almost done eating, she asked him to go check on the horses. "See if the shop assistants have given them good fodder. Don't let them fool you. These horses belong to our in-laws and are very valuable. We brought them out here, so we have to take them back in good condition."
When Old Zhou heard this, he finished his meal and went to the stable to check on the horses.
Qian waited until he left before saying to Manbao, "Don't listen to your father. We came back with you. First, to find your relatives for you, and second, to let the Xia family know the whereabouts of your parents. This will both reassure them and let them know that your parents are not people who don't keep their promises. They're just gone, that's why they didn't come back."
Manbao nodded.
Qian said, "That family fortune sounds like a lot, but you don't need it to live on now. There's no need to quarrel with your relatives over it. Besides, we're not in the right on this matter."
She said, "We don't plan to change your surname. Your parents have been gone for fourteen years. Not to mention that your father is just marrying into the family, even in our village, if someone has been gone for five or six years and hasn't returned, and the family is extinct, the family property will be taken back and redistributed within the clan."
Bai Erlang said, "But Uncle Zhou and the others were forced to leave in the first place."
Qian smiled and said, "So even relatives have their own closeness and distance. Mother is a rough person and illiterate, so she doesn't know much, but she does know that there are many cases of disputes over property in the village. Even in our Qili Village, which seems to be quite harmonious, there are still some cases. Didn't you follow your second sister-in-law and watch people quarreling and fighting over land in the past?"
Manbao nodded.
"Do you think they are trying to win over people from the village and clan when they are fighting for land?"
Manbao whispered, "Second sister-in-law said that Dalu's wife secretly gave gifts to Dazhu's wife."
Qian hadn't expected the second son's wife to say such things to Manbao. After a moment of silence, she smiled and said, "Yes, so don't be afraid. Send someone to find out who is close to your grandparents and win them over. Then, in the future, it won't be difficult for you to visit relatives here."
"As for the family property, there's no need to force it," Qian said after a moment's hesitation. "If they're willing to return it, then give it back. Test the waters. If they're not willing, then give it away generously. Not only will the entire clan and village know about it, but even your entire neighborhood will know about it. Spread the word and it will reflect your sensibility and the kindness of your grandparents and parents."
Manbao showed the same pained expression as Old Zhoutou, "Give them all away?"
Qian looked at her and tapped her forehead. "Just like your father, you haven't learned anything except the stinginess of your Zhou family."
Bai Shan and Bai Erlang lowered their heads and laughed silently, their faces almost buried in the bowls.
Manbao muttered a little, "You can give away the shop or the land, but how can you give away all three?"
Manbao suddenly remembered something and immediately perked up. He said, "Yes, there are differences between relatives. I can let the shop and the land go as they please, but I must take back the house where my parents lived."
Qian did not object this time. She had just heard Manbao say that the daughter-in-law currently living in that house seemed very rude to Manbao.
Even if you are a Hui, you can't just keep giving and pleasing others, otherwise others will think you are easy to bully.
Thinking of this, Qian said, "Let's look at the situation later. The house must be taken back. As for the land, since Xia Yi is your closest blood relative, you can give him some of the land that cannot be taken back. This can be regarded as your grandfather's care for him."
Zhou Wulang on the side couldn't help but open his mouth wide, "Mom, doesn't that mean they can fight?"
Zhou Dalang patted his head and said, "You're stupid. I just wanted them to fight."
Qian glanced at him, and Zhou Dalang immediately changed his tone, saying, "That's not true. Since they are close relatives, we can't let them get nothing. Others can still get some land. This is called fairness."
Bai Shan and Bai Erlang were so shocked that they almost dropped their chopsticks. They looked at Qian, then turned to look at Manbao, deeply suspecting that Manbao was Qian's biological son.
Manbao kicked the two men under the table, asking them to calm down. Then she asked her eldest and fifth brothers, "Did you find out anything today?"
"We found the shop," Zhou Dalang said, "It's a silver shop. The craftsmanship is average, but the business is decent."
He had been squatting near the shop today and had asked many people about it, so he knew a lot. "I heard that the shop is owned by the son of Master Xia. I heard that Master Xia's craftsmanship is very good. Many nobles from other places come to him to make silver jewelry. Sometimes a set of intricate silver jewelry can sell for a thousand taels of silver."
This was something Zhou Dalang found difficult to understand. He was stunned that a set of jewelry worth a few taels could be sold for thousands of taels just because of the craftsmanship.
Zhou Dalang continued, "But I've seen and inquired about it, and his shop's business is very average. I heard that Master Xia had an agreement with his employer, the Hu family, that he would only work for the Hu family for the rest of his life. So now the silver jewelry in his shop is made by his son and grandson, and he never sells it, so the silver jewelry is average."
"But the Hu family also supports his business. They even place orders for some simple silver jewelry with his shop, so they're not losing money." Zhou Dalang paused and said, "I met the owner of the shop this afternoon. His name is Xia Rui. He looks about my age. When he heard that I was here to inquire about the owner of the shop, he kept asking who I was."
He smiled sheepishly and said, "You know that big brother is not good at talking. He was afraid that if he said too much, he would be exposed. So he just asked a few questions and left."
Manbao said: "It's okay, I saw his father today, and I can see him again tomorrow."
See you at 9pm
(End of this chapter)
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