"Mother, we know, don't worry, we won't try to curry favor with the third brother," Huo Hai quickly stated.
Su Xuemei said, "Our third son has had a tough time in the army all these years and has sacrificed a lot for this family. We all know that."
Huo Jiang nodded vigorously, "Over the years, I, as the older brother, have been helped by my younger brother. It's because I'm incompetent."
He remembered that when Xia was born, Sun Hongying was worried because it was another girl and she was fussy during her postpartum period. As a result, she lost her milk supply. It was only thanks to the milk powder that her third son sent back from the army that her second daughter did not starve to death.
Huo Xiao: "Mom, I'm also a member of the family, this is what I should do."
Ye Weiwei: ……
Should I say something too, or I'll seem like an odd loner?
She smiled shyly, appearing to be completely at Huo Xiao's mercy.
Liu Guilan was very satisfied with the attitude of her three sons and their eldest and youngest daughters-in-law.
“I’m so glad you think this way. I’m not suggesting we separate the family today because I want you brothers to drift apart. It’s because you’re all grown up and have your own families now. It’s time for you to have your own little homes and live your own lives. Your parents can’t live with you forever. But even if we separate the family, you brothers can’t be estranged. I won’t interfere with anything else, but if anything happens, you must work together and help each other.”
The three sons of the Huo family nodded in unison.
After saying this, Liu Guilan took out a small wooden box.
Upon opening it, there were neatly arranged banknotes inside. At a glance, there were probably over a thousand yuan in cash alone.
"Most of these bills were saved from the wages that Lao San sent back over the years. After deducting the expenses for Lao San's wedding, there was still 1234 yuan and 56 fen left."
Liu Guilan had always managed the family's money, so even though everyone knew she had a lot of money, they were still shocked to see the thick stack of banknotes in the small wooden box.
However, they were simply shocked; there was no greed in their eyes.
"This is what Mother is thinking: this money should be divided into two parts, one part for the third son and his wife."
"Mother..." Huo Xiao was about to refuse when he heard Liu Guilan divide the money in half for him and his wife, but before he could finish speaking, Liu Guilan interrupted him, "Third son, I know you are a good child. If you hadn't joined the army at such a young age and sent your salary back every month to pay for my medical treatment and support the family, how could I have gotten better? I might not have had the good fortune to see you get married."
Huo Xiao's voice trembled slightly, "Mother, this is what I should do."
Liu Guilan patted her youngest son's hand, "My third son has been smart, sensible, filial, and capable since he was little. I'm so happy to have such a good son like you. Your father and I both know you're filial, but this family doesn't belong to you alone. You've given so much to this family over the years. Giving you this money makes me feel like I'm shortchanging you. Besides, there are conditions to giving you half of the family's money: you won't get a share of these houses."
Huo Xiao thought that even if he didn't get the house, giving his family half the money would be more than enough.
Liu Guilan didn't give Huo Xiao a chance to speak, "Your eldest and second brothers didn't go to school much and don't have much experience, but they are honest and hardworking. If you really want to help your eldest and second brothers, just remember to lend them a hand if you need anything in the future."
Seeing that Liu Guilan had made up her mind, and that her father did not object, and that her eldest brother and sister-in-law and second brother also had no objections, Huo Xiao could only nod and take the more than six hundred yuan that Liu Guilan had allocated.
After dividing Huo Xiao's share, Liu Guilan placed her hand on the remaining money in the small wooden box. "Your father and I will take half of the remaining money, and the rest can be divided equally between your two families, eldest and second sons. Do you agree?"
"We agree," Huo Hai and his wife said in unison with Huo Jiang.
After distributing the money, Liu Guilan continued, "Let's talk about the houses in the house. As I just said, after the third son gets his share of the money, he won't get any of the houses. His house will be given to the eldest son's family. Second son, do you have any objections?"
Huo Jiang shook his head, "No. Over the years, the family has benefited greatly from my elder brother and sister-in-law, especially my sister-in-law who has helped my mother manage the household without ever complaining. This is what my elder brother and sister-in-law deserve."
Su Xuemei was surprised that her usually taciturn second brother would say such a thing. Her heart warmed, and her eyes reddened. She said gratefully, "Thank you, second brother."
Huo Jiang scratched his head sheepishly, "You're welcome, you're welcome."
Actually, besides being happy to receive so much money after the family division, he felt mostly uneasy.
Although he worked hard all these years and always earned full work points, his family had a cunning and lazy daughter, Sun Hongying, and three children to support. If it weren't for his parents' help, they wouldn't have earned enough to eat.
This is all thanks to the eldest brother and sister-in-law and the third brother's magnanimity and lack of concern.
Thinking about it this way, he felt very guilty and useless.
"Mother, I think I'd better not take this money."
Liu Guilan glanced at her second son and said irritably, "Just take it. You're a grown man, why are you dawdling like this? If you really feel like you've taken advantage of your older brother and third brother, then remember their kindness and do your best when it's your turn to help in the future."
Huo Jiang nodded vigorously, "Yes, I'll listen to Mother."
Liu Guilan sighed inwardly. Although he was a bit slow, at least he was obedient.
Finally, there's the issue of elderly care.
"Your father and I can still work now, so you don't need to worry about our retirement for the time being. When we can't work anymore, you can just give us grain and money according to the village's standards. If you think we two old folks are in the way and don't want to take care of us anymore, you can just leave us on the street!"
"Mother, aren't you making fun of us brothers?" Huo Hai was both amused and exasperated by his mother's words.
Although I know my mother was joking, if he really did something like abandoning his parents on the street and not taking care of them, what difference would he make from an animal?
Huo Jiang and Huo Xiao both stated that they would never do such a heartless thing.
Lu Mingfa, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but laugh and said, "Huo family, you can rest assured. I don't think any other family in the whole village would fail to support their parents. It's not like your three boys."
Accountant Wu chimed in, "You two old folks, from now on you can enjoy your retirement with your son and daughter-in-law."
Upon hearing this, Liu Guilan beamed with joy and said, "You make it sound like your two families are so different. Everyone knows that the daughters and sons in both of your families are all outstanding."
After exchanging a few jokes and signing and pressing their fingerprints on the family division document, the division of the family was considered complete.
When Lu Mingfa saw that Liu Guilan had given most of the family property to her youngest son, and that the two older brothers not only had no complaints but also seemed to have the same good relationship as before, he couldn't help but sigh after leaving the Huo family, "The Huo family is indeed very good at raising children."
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