The village head was furious when he saw the register of the fields.
With so much land, yet only one acre of wasteland was allocated to the eldest son's family. Isn't this a clear indication that they don't want anyone from the eldest son's family to survive?
The village headman declared without allowing any argument, "Today, I and everyone here will bear witness: Brother Jingsheng, you should redistribute the spoils!"
Gu Jingsheng glanced at the Li family members, then at his wife, and said, "Then let's have two mu of fertile land and two mu of wasteland from the main house, as well as the rice from the house. Twenty jin per person, thirty jin of coarse rice per person, and fifteen jin of coarse flour per person. Is that alright?"
After Gu Jingsheng finished speaking, the second wife of the Gu family looked at him with a pained expression, and Old Lady Gu glared at him fiercely.
They all gave him disapproving looks, saying he had given too much.
“No, there are still two acres of fertile land that were bought with my father’s military pay, and my father’s pension, which should also be divided!” Gu Lili said coldly.
That old man is really something, he didn't even mention his father's pension!
Old Mrs. Gu couldn't help but exclaim, "You little hussy, that's enough! You're so greedy!"
Gu Lili immediately glared at her. Although the old lady was afraid of Gu Lili's gaze, she was even more unwilling to give up the money.
So he looked away as he met Gu Lili's gaze.
Gu Jingsheng continued, "You can have half of that money."
"Old man, what nonsense are you talking about? That money is for Shuwen's private school education, how can it be distributed!" Old Mrs. Gu shouted anxiously.
Just as everyone was wondering why Gu Jingsheng was willing to give up the money, Gu Jingsheng said again, "What's the rush? Let me finish! But right now, the second branch of the family needs money. How about I give you and your brother an IOU, and I'll pay you back later?"
It's impossible to get them to return the money.
I could give her an IOU, but whether she pays it back is another matter.
Besides, when my grandson becomes a high-ranking official, will he still be short of money?
But he forgot that these four emaciated children in front of him were also his grandchildren!
Gu Lili sneered inwardly. She thought the old man had a guilty conscience, but it turns out he wasn't hiding anything good either!
Gu Lili said without allowing any argument, "No! You either take out the money now, my brother and I only need five taels, and my father only needs one mu of the good land he bought, just to fulfill my father's filial duty. If you don't give it, that's fine too, then give six mu of good land in exchange! Nothing else is negotiable. If you don't agree, go find the magistrate."
Today, Gu Lili is determined to take back what belongs to them in one fell swoop while everyone is here.
Grandma Gu finally lost her temper. "You little slut! You can barely read a few words, and you got married when you were fifteen or sixteen. What do you need so much money for!"
Seeing her granddaughter being scolded, Old Mrs. Li angrily pointed at Old Mrs. Gu's nose and cursed, "You old hag, you better speak properly, or do you want to get beaten up again!"
Grandma Gu shrank back in fright; she was truly terrified of being beaten today.
She huddled next to Aunt Gu and muttered, "That's right, what money do a few little bastards need!"
Old Mrs. Li glared at her, and Aunt Gu quickly moved to the side.
She was afraid that if Old Mrs. Li rushed up to hit her mother-in-law, she might accidentally hit herself instead.
The village head was having a headache and just wanted to resolve the matter as soon as possible so he could go back and rest. So he said, "I think Lili made the right decision. Separating the family means there are two families now, so it's important to make the distribution clear. Brother Jingsheng, do you want to give money or land?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, and Gu Lili looked at the village head with gratitude.
No wonder everyone in Gu Village respects the village head so much; he is fair and doesn't favor Gu Jingsheng and the others just because Gu Lili and the others are children.
The second branch of the Gu family felt a pang of heartache, and the two women were now crying together, as if they had suffered a great injustice.
The neighbors all looked at it with disdain, and some of the more outspoken ones even spat at it.
Gu Chuan and Gu Jingsheng exchanged a glance. Gu Chuan sighed, nodded to his father, and agreed.
Gu Jingsheng said with great distress, "Then give it to us. Give us five taels of silver, one mu of land, plus the things we just mentioned."
Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Gu fainted from anger.
Aunt Gu, wailing and weeping, pointed at her four siblings and cried, "Mother, what's wrong with you? You bunch of heartless bastards, you've made my old lady faint!"
"Gu Chuan, your mother has fainted! Quick, quick, carry her back to rest! Hurry!" Gu Jingsheng said urgently.
If it weren't for the fact that her eyelids were still trembling slightly, Gu Lili would have really thought that the old lady had fainted.
Gu Lili sneered, "Wait, since we're going back, let's hand over the land deed, the silver, and the food in front of everyone, so as to avoid any further trouble."
"Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, my siblings and I can't carry all that rice and flour. Could you please help us carry it?" Gu Lili turned to the Li family and said.
When Grandma Gu, who was originally on Gu Chuan's back, heard that they were going to her house to move things, she immediately jumped off Gu Chuan's back.
"We won't renege on your promise. We'll just deliver it to you later!" Old Mrs. Gu shouted.
There was absolutely no sign of weakness in someone who had just fainted and woken up.
This action drew laughter from the neighbors. This family was truly shameless; they even pretended to faint in order to avoid paying their debts.
Gu Lili couldn't help but laugh. It was such a pity that Old Madam Gu didn't go into opera.
The village head glared at Gu Jingsheng and said to everyone, "Then let's all go and help you move it."
Everyone was naturally happy to oblige. Some even went back to their own homes and took their own scales to the Gu family's second branch, fearing that the second branch might try some tricks again.
Amidst the cries and wails of the two women from the second branch of the Gu family, the grain was quickly distributed.
Under the pressure of the village head, the money and land deeds were also handed over.
The village head solemnly handed the things in his hand to Gu Lili, "Lili, keep this money safe. Tomorrow, your Uncle Dazhu will take you to the county government to change the name on the land deed to yours. From now on, you can live a good life with your younger brother and sister."
“Thank you, Grandpa Village Head. However, there is one more thing I need you to witness for.” Gu Lili said.
"What is it?"
Gu Lili looked at everyone present and said, "As you all know, my mother lost her life because of the second branch of the Gu family. So, today I hope that all of you uncles, aunts, grandfathers and grandmothers will bear witness for me that from now on, my four siblings and I will have no further connection with the second branch of the Gu family."
The second branch of the Gu family looked disdainful, and Gu Jingsheng even cursed, "You ungrateful wretch, who cares about having anything to do with you? From today onwards, I have nothing to do with you four siblings!"
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