Chapter 10 How about exchanging marriages?
Old Mrs. Chen said angrily, "Forget it? That's easy for you to say. If we don't divide the family, I'll let her ride on my neck and shit. I don't believe I can't cure this damn girl. If I don't let her suffer a little, I've lived so much in vain."
Sun said, "Mother, what you said is true, but if the family is divided, my eldest brother and his family will starve to death!"
Old Lady Chen said viciously, "They deserve to starve to death!"
Sun smiled awkwardly, "That would be a waste of his life, what a pity! Look, my Dabao is also at the age to get married.
The Zhao family in the next village just happened to have a son and a daughter, but they had no money to marry their son, so they spread the word that if anyone had a daughter, they could marry her off.
Since Qing Yatou doesn't want to marry Li the Butcher, why don't we exchange our marriage with the Zhao family? That way, Dabao will get a wife, and Qing Yatou will have a good home. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone? "
Chen Zhanshan and Lin looked at each other and felt bitter. These people were truly his blood relatives, but they were thinking of harming their daughter. Good, that was really good.
Old Mrs. Chen instantly flew into a rage, pointing at Sun and cursing, "I knew you were chewing stinky bugs in your mouth and had nothing good to say.
"Third brother hasn't even passed the imperial examination yet, and you're already thinking about finding a wife for your son. You're dreaming too much. Let me tell you, the most important thing for our family right now is the future of the scholar. All other things can be put aside for now."
Sun's smile instantly collapsed, "Mom, what you mean is that your third son is the most important thing, and your grandson's affairs are not important!"
When Old Lady Chen saw her frown, her heart tightened. This second daughter-in-law was not as soft-hearted as the eldest daughter-in-law.
She was cunning and arrogant, with a loud voice. When she started making a noise, the whole village would be attracted.
I remember one time when no one was at home, I secretly gave a boiled egg to my granddaughter Ruolan, and she happened to see it. She cried, made a fuss, and threatened to commit suicide. Nothing I said was of any use, and she accused me of being partial.
There was no choice but to boil ten eggs for her to suppress the matter.
"My grandson's matter is equally important. What I mean is that if your third brother passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar, Dabao will be his nephew. Then when you find a wife for Dabao, all the good girls will line up for you to choose from. Don't you agree?"
Sun curled her lips in dissatisfaction, "If the third son never passes the imperial examination, Dabao will never marry!"
"Bah, bah, bah, shut up! If Zhancai fails the exam again this year, it's all your fault." Old Mrs. Chen glared at Sun fiercely, wishing she could slap her twice.
Liu Fengjiao glared at him, "Second sister-in-law, you are so rude. My son Zhancai is the hope of our Chen family. How can your son compare to him? You even want to marry your son off. You are just a turtle wanting to ride on a phoenix. It's a pipe dream."
"Liu Fengjiao, what nonsense are you talking about? What's wrong with my son? He has all his arms and legs. If you dare to belittle him again, I will tear your mouth apart." Sun almost roared.
Chen Zhanliang looked unhappy. "Sister-in-law, you'd better think before you speak. All the money we earned these years has been spent on your husband. If Dabao can't find a wife to exchange, then your Ruolan should be used instead. What does Qing girl have to do with it?"
Liu Fengjiao's face turned pale, and her hands couldn't help but tremble. "You wishful thinking, my Ruolan is a young lady, how could she marry a peasant?"
Sun looked contemptuous, "It's not what you want. Your ambition is as high as the sky, but your life is as fragile as paper, you little bastard."
"You, you're talking nonsense."
.....
Old Mrs. Chen's head ached from their noise, and she interrupted them harshly, "All of you, shut up and go away."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Qingqing led the village head in from the gate.
Old man Chen greeted him warmly, "Village head, please take a seat."
Wu Baoan didn't hesitate and got straight to the point. "Everyone is here. What's going on? Why are you splitting up?"
Old Mrs. Chen pretended to wipe away her tears and said, "Village head, I'm not afraid of you laughing at me. I want to divide this family."
Wu Baoan frowned and said, "Auntie, if we split up the family these days, I'm afraid the eldest brother will have a hard time. Why don't you think about it carefully?"
Chen Zhanshan sighed, "Village head, let's divide the family. If we don't, Qing girl will have to marry Li the butcher, and that will be a waste of her life. Even if she starves to death, I can't let my daughter be beaten to death."
Wu Baoan looked at the man in front of him. He was only forty years old, but because of years of hard work, he looked like a sixty-year-old man.
Dividing the family property will be branded as unfilial and life will become even more difficult.
"Boss, have you thought about it? If we really divide the family, and Zhancai passes the imperial examination and the government reduces taxes and labor service, it will have nothing to do with you."
Chen Zhanshan nodded, "I understand."
Chen Qingqing pursed her lips lightly, "Uncle Lizheng, just write the document for the division of the family. We, the eldest family, don't care about whether you are a scholar or not.
Let alone a scholar, even if the third wife passed the imperial examination and became the top scorer, what would it have to do with our eldest wife? My grandparents are so partial to them, they won’t get any benefits, it’s just some empty title.
Next spring I will send my younger brother to study in town. The children of our eldest family are no worse off than others."
Upon hearing this, Old Lady Chen gnashed her teeth in anger, her ribs aching. "You damned girl, you're really not crying until you see the coffin. I want to see how long I can last without you. Break up, break up now!"
Seeing that there was no room for maneuver, Wu Baoan slowly said, "Aunt, how are you going to divide the land among the eldest wife and the food in the family?"
Old Mrs. Chen narrowed her eyes. "Food? Who still has food these days? We only have one bag of rice bran left. I'll give half of it to the eldest son out of kindness. Third daughter-in-law, go to the corner of the east room and get that half bag of rice bran."
"Mom, I'll go right away." Liu Fengjiao twisted her body and went into the house.
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