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Chapter 19: The Partial Division of the Family

The Shen family split up, and except for the children, all the family members gathered. Even Shen Zigui, the second son of the Shen family who was working outside, was called back, and the room was filled with people.

Shen Zifu usually doesn't like to talk, and he didn't say anything at this time. He knew that his wife Wang wanted to separate Shen Zian. She told him not to say anything before she came out. Although he sympathized with his brother, he had no choice. After all, it was his father who wanted to separate his fourth brother. He thought about helping his fourth brother more in the future.

Shen Zigui was a calm man, and he didn't like to talk, but his silence was different from that of his elder brother. His elder brother wouldn't talk, but he didn't like to talk. He was silent there. Li beside him looked at Shen Zian with some envy. If she could separate from the family and live on her own, she would rather leave the house with nothing. But if she had to pay the same price as her fourth brother's wife, she was unwilling to do so. Although she didn't have a son, she still had three daughters, and the reputation of her daughters' families was more important.

Shen Ziping and his wife were very excited. They had finally squeezed Shen Zian out. This way, they no longer had to support that sickly child. They could also occupy Shen Zian's room. Looking at the current situation, Shen Zian shouldn't think about taking too much of the property. The less others take, the more they get! The most important thing now was to make sure Shen Zian didn't take too much.

Shen Ziju also showed up today. He was fifteen years old. Although he was a country boy, he had a white face, gentle features, and was dressed neatly and decently. He looked like a scholar. He sat there straight, with no expression on his face, but his eyes showed a trace of sadness, which made the head of the village and several others have a better impression of him. They thought that he still valued brotherhood, and that he was so calm at a young age, so he would definitely have a promising future.

Shen Zhu also stood behind Shen Zhang. She was still a little unhappy that Shen Zian chose Su Zhi. She didn't like Shen Zian very much, but Shen Zian was a good worker and contributed to the family, which was good for her. Moreover, she thought from the bottom of her heart that Su Zhi was like a pearl and a stone compared to herself. How could Shen Zian give up her sister for such a woman? She hated him in her heart, and she also wished that Shen Zian would leave the house and see if he would regret it!

No matter what these people think, Shen Zian doesn't care. All he wants now is to divide the family property quickly and live a comfortable life with his wife. He doesn't want his wife to be locked up in that thatched hut surrounded by fences all day. He also wants his wife to have a good meal of the game he hunted and to buy things for his wife openly instead of hiding them so that others can't find out.

"Zi'an, you can't live here anymore given your situation."

Shen Youfu spoke and glanced at Shen Zian. Seeing that he had no expression, he felt unhappy. This son was always so lifeless. He was really unpleasant, just like his mother.

"My family is not well off. All the money we have is for your sister's dowry and Zi Ju's exam fees, which cannot be used. So there is no extra money to build a house for you. Your grandfather has two rooms on the east side of the river. Although they are a bit shabby, the place is large. You can go there. There is also five mu of land there, which is also yours. It will be convenient to farm there."

What Shen Youfu said sounded true, but as soon as he said it, everyone felt that the father-son relationship between Shen Youfu and Shen Zian was too thin.

Hebian Village is called Hebian Village because there is a river beside the village. Most households in Hebian Village live on the west side of the river. There are very few families on the east side of the river, and you can count them on your fingers. Those who live on the other side of the river are those who can't live in the village, so they move to the other side of the river and build a few thatched houses to live there. Over time, living on the east side of the river has become a symbol of lowliness. People will never build houses there unless they have no other choice. Even when interacting with people there, they are a bit arrogant.

The five acres of land that Shen Youfu mentioned were not good either. The crops grown there were worse than anywhere else. They were inferior land. Giving them to Shen Zian sounded generous, but there was not much benefit in it.

Shen Zhang was happy when she heard this, but her face showed no expression. She kept her head slightly lowered, looking sad and embarrassed.

Shen Ziping and his wife were so happy to hear this that they couldn't help but smile, which made the head of the village and the two cousins ​​of the Shen family frown a little. They thought that Shen Youfu treating such a good child like Shen Zian like this might not be a good thing for him to have such a son and daughter-in-law. However, since this was someone else's family business, they didn't want to say anything.

Shen Zian nodded. He had expected this. As long as he had a place to live, it would be fine. Although the east side of the river was remote, it was suitable for his wife. He knew the people there. Although they were poor, they were simple and honest. At the same time, they were also excluded by the villagers. Maybe they would not care about his wife's illness and reputation. And he believed that with his own hands, he could definitely build another good house for his wife to live in. As for the land, as long as he worked harder, he could do more hunting and odd jobs to supplement the family income.

Seeing that Shen Zian agreed, Shen Youfu continued, "Including the five acres of land, there are a total of 28 acres of land in the family. Each of you five brothers will have one share, and your mother and I will have two shares, so each of us will only have four acres of land. I gave you five acres of land. Although it is not good land, it is one acre more. Don't complain."

Shen Youfu's words were somewhat shameless. Those five acres of land were inferior land. Even two acres were not as good as one acre elsewhere. He was basically at a loss.

"My son won't."

Shen Zian had no complaints. For so many years, he had been disappointed with his father. He had imagined that this was the case. If he had any complaints, it would be better for him to fight for it himself.

The head of the village and two cousins ​​of the Shen family looked at Shen Zian's calm face and felt sorry for him. They all watched Shen Zian grow up and of course knew his character. They thought he was a promising boy, but it was a pity that he was not liked by his father and married such a daughter-in-law.

Shen Zifu and Shen Zigui both felt sorry for Shen Zian, but they said nothing.

Shen Ziju glanced at his fourth brother and said, "Dad, give my share of two acres to my fourth brother."

Everyone looked at Shen Ziju. Shen Zhang's eyes flashed a bit of sharpness, but it was only a flash. Shen Zhu twisted her handkerchief unconsciously, and soon let it go. Greed flashed in the eyes of the Sun couple. The eldest brother felt a little ashamed. He wanted to say something, but was stopped by Wang, so he could only lower his head. Shen Zigui didn't say anything. He was thinking about something.

The head of the village and several others looked at Shen Ziju with admiration, thinking that this young man had a pure heart and was loyal to his brother. If he became an official in the future, it would be a blessing for the people in that area. If he entered the court as an official, it would be a blessing for the whole country!

Shen Youfu said, "Zi Ju, Dad knows that you care about your brother, but don't interfere in this matter. Dad has already let him choose. He chose this path himself and he has accepted it. Let him bear all the consequences. What's yours is yours. You will need a lot of money in the future. Don't waste it."

Shen Zian said to Shen Ziju: "Thank you, Fifth Brother. I can't accept it. Thank you in advance."

Shen Ziju stopped talking.

After the house and land were divided, what remained were the household items, domestic animals, and money.

There was nothing much to share, just two sets of plates, bowls, and chopsticks, two earthenware pots, an iron pot, and a spoon and spatula for cooking. They also took the broken bed and the quilt. They also took Shen Zian's usual set of farm tools.

The family raised two pigs, which could not be shared with them. There were eight chickens, and Sun complained that these were not fed by Shen Zian. Finally, Shen Zhang stepped in to be a good person and gave Shen Zian a hen. Sun also picked the most listless one among them, which had not laid eggs for several days because Silang had pulled its tail hair a few days ago and frightened it.

As for the money, Shen Youfu said that Su Zhi had spent too much money on medical treatment after she came into the family, so he would not share it with them.

The family was divided up very quickly. To outsiders, it seemed extremely unfair to Shen Zian, but he did not say anything. The head of the village and others could only sigh in their hearts. They helped write the division form, and then asked Shen Zian and Shen Youfu to put their fingerprints on it, explaining that the family had been divided up and that they would be two families from now on. Neither party would be allowed to control the other's property income. Shen Zian only needed to give Shen Youfu one thousand yuan, which was one or two taels of silver, and two dan of grain every year, and give him gifts during the New Year and other festivals, and that would be filial piety.

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