Chapter 8 You Deserve to Starve to Death
Chen Zhanshan pleaded bitterly, "Mom, you can't kick us out just because the third child is studying. If you kick me out, the villagers will call me unfilial."
When parents are still alive, the family will not be divided. Now that parents-in-law are still alive, dividing the family will be considered unfilial. If they are driven out, the villagers' spit will drown them.
What's more, if we drive this family out now, they will only have one way to go, and that is death, in this famine.
Lin's face turned pale. "Mother, calm down. Don't get angry and make yourself sick. It's all your fault. I'll apologize to you."
A glint of pride flashed in Old Lady Chen's eyes. She couldn't control the others, and the eldest couple were both honest and timid. How could she not control them? Now they knew they were scared!
She cleared her throat and said, "Zhanshan, mother is not biased and wants to drive you out. You just need to marry Qing girl to Li the butcher obediently, and this matter will be over.
In the future, we will work hard to earn money to support your third brother's education, and strive to have him pass the imperial examination as soon as possible, so that you can live a decent life."
Chen Zhanshan's body swayed, and the chill in his heart grew deeper.
This year is not a good year. Although my family has more than ten acres of land, there was little rain in the first half of the year, so the harvest will definitely be halved.
By the end of autumn, after paying taxes, the remaining grain might not even last through the winter.
Even if he went out to do hard labor and dig wild vegetables, he could only barely avoid starving to death.
If the third son insists on studying and doesn't marry his daughter off, he will definitely not survive this winter.
But if I marry my daughter to Li the Butcher, she will die.
He looked desperate, "But we can't sell Qing girl!"
Old Lady Chen looked indifferent. "I'll give you two choices. First, agree to Qing's marriage. Second, we'll split up. You both move out. From now on, I'm not your mother, and I don't have a son like you."
"Mom, you are trying to force your son to death!"
Chen Zhanshan felt desolate. His family was almost starving, and his parents were still biased towards and indulging the third child.
Although he had gotten used to his parents favoring the third child for so many years, his eyes instantly turned red with sadness when he heard that his mother wanted to separate them.
Chen Qingqing curled her lips sarcastically.
I have seen shameless people, but I have never seen anyone as shameless as this. He talks about being righteous, but in fact he is selfish.
Since you are so heartless, don't blame me for being ungrateful. I have unique medical skills and I will never show you any mercy when I become rich in the future.
She took Chen Zhanshan's arm and said, "Dad, since grandma wants to divide the family, then let's do it. If we refuse to leave and make grandma angry, you will really be branded as unfaithful, unfilial, unkind and unjust."
Lin was terrified. This girl must be joking. Did she know what splitting up the family meant? If things went wrong, people would starve to death. Wouldn't splitting up the family at this time be tantamount to seeking death?
Lin quickly reached out and pulled her, "My daughter, don't say anything. Don't worry, mother won't let your grandmother kick us out."
"Don't worry, mother. Even if I starve to death, it's better than being beaten to death by Li the Butcher. At least I'll be happy if I die in your arms."
Chen Qingqing said calmly again,
"Besides, my father doesn't agree with me marrying Li the Butcher and sending him to his death. What if one day he secretly enters the palace to become a eunuch in order to support my third uncle? Mother, would you be willing to let him go?"
Mrs. Lin choked. It seemed that her daughter was right. Dividing the family might give her a glimmer of hope. If she didn't, her daughter would be sold and her husband would lose his dignity. Her fate might be even more miserable.
Thinking of this, he sighed softly, "Aren't you afraid of starving if the family is divided?"
"Don't be afraid. As long as we are together with our parents, our family will definitely get better and better."
Old Mrs. Chen glared at Chen Qingqing. This girl seemed to have really changed. She became sharp-tongued and even tried to sow discord.
I chased them out, it was just a casual remark, but why did this girl seem so happy? She must be playing hard to get.
Old Lady Chen snorted coldly, "Qing girl, think carefully. If the family is divided, you will no longer be descendants of the Chen family. In the future, if your third uncle passes the imperial examination and gets tax exemptions for farming and government labor service exemptions, it will have nothing to do with you."
Chen Qingqing smiled disapprovingly, "What a bullshit scholar, I don't care. If I want, my little brother can also pass the exam to become a scholar."
Old Man Chen acted as if he had heard a huge joke. "Qing girl, you still want to support Xiaohan's education? The school in town charges two taels of silver a month for tuition. You are not afraid of getting your tongue bitten by such boasts."
Chen Qingqing smiled frivolously, "It's just two taels of silver. All the money my father earned over the years has been paid as tuition to my third uncle.
Wouldn't it be better to use this money to support my younger brother? Why should I put my hope on someone who has taken exams for more than ten years and still hasn't been able to pass the examination to become a scholar?
Maybe my little brother can study hard and become the top scholar.”
Old Mrs. Chen spat and said viciously,
"You stupid girl, you still dare to speak such arrogant words? Why don't you take a piss and look in the mirror? You are just a poor ghost with your head. You will starve to death if you leave me. You are dreaming of becoming the top scholar."
"Boss, tell me straight today, are you going to marry Qing girl to Li the butcher, or are you going to get out of here?"
Seeing Old Lady Chen's aggressive attitude, the last glimmer of hope in Chen Zhanshan's eyes collapsed. "Mom, I am an unfilial son. I cannot serve you and father. I hope you take care of yourselves."
"Okay, very good. You actually gave up on me just for a money-losing commodity."
"Mom, please don't torture me. It's you who doesn't want me anymore. How can I bear to leave you?"
Old man Chen frowned. The eldest son was the main labor force in the family. He was indispensable whether in the fields or in the mountains.
Although the second son was never idle when he was busy, he was sneaky and cunning. He was either defecating or peeing, or he was thirsty, always looking for ways to avoid work.
If the eldest brother's family is really separated, who will do these jobs?
His eyes gleamed slightly, "Mother, calm down first. How can we divide the family just like that?"
"Why can't we divide it? Why keep them around when they just eat and do nothing? Divide them up as soon as possible, they deserve to starve to death!"
Chen Zhancai was so anxious that he stamped his feet. Most of the money for his studies in the town was earned by his eldest brother through hard labor. If the family split up, who would support his studies?
The little food we have on the land is not enough to sell.
"Mom, you must stay calm and don't split up the family!"
Liu Fengjiao was also getting anxious and angry. She thought to herself, what's wrong with this old man? Why is he talking about dividing the family property? If the family property is divided, who will marry Li the Butcher?
You can't return the betrothal gift, how can your man go to school then?
Although the eldest brother is old and doesn't earn as much money as before, a grasshopper, no matter how small it is, is still meat and can still contribute a lot to the family income.
Lin is also a good worker. The family cannot do the laundry and cooking without her. If she leaves, who will do these jobs?
No, I have to persuade my mother-in-law and not let her get confused.
Liu Fengjiao said humbly, "Mom, Zhan Cai is right. We can't split up the family. If we do, the villagers will laugh at us."
......
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
