“Changfeng is one of our Fu family members. Third brother, don’t forget, your roots are still in the prefectural city. The archway for the Juren (successful candidate in the imperial examination) will naturally be built next to our ancestral home. And don’t forget, you were raised by my mother. Now, don’t even think about letting your mother enter the ancestral grave!”
Before they even went inside, they heard their eldest uncle's tirade of abuse. Upon hearing this, Madam Fu's face darkened, and she stared at Madam Fu with a gloomy expression, as if to say that Madam Fu had instigated it.
"Brother, we have already separated our family, and our family will continue to live in Weinan County. I have already decided on this memorial archway, which will be built in our house in the county town. This is a reasonable thing, isn't it?"
Besides, my aunt was only buried on a desolate mountain outside the prefectural city. I only discussed this with you because you are the eldest brother. If you don't want my aunt to be buried in our family ancestral graveyard, we will find a feng shui master to find a good plot in the county town and move her there later. There's nothing I can do if you disagree. You both said back then that we are two separate families and that we shouldn't trouble you with our own affairs. I won't discuss this with you anymore.”
Master Fu was also very angry with his elder brother. He had originally just wanted to discuss it with his elder brother and ask them to help out and get together in the city. But he didn't expect them to have this attitude, so he didn't want to say anything more.
"Hmph, I am your mother. That vixen, even in death she still torments people. It's good enough that she wasn't thrown into a mass grave. If you dare to bring her here, then don't ever say you're a member of the Fu family again."
Madam Fu stormed in, looking at Master Fu coldly as if she harbored some deep-seated hatred.
“Mother, if you speak like this, you will truly damage the last bit of affection between us. I saw clearly what kind of life my aunt lived under your care. She died inexplicably and had to endure your insults for the rest of her life. How can I, as her son, bear to do this?”
I don't expect her to be buried in the ancestral graveyard. I'll find a suitable place for her myself later. If you don't agree, you can simply refuse to enter the Fu family's gate in the future."
"Third son, don't argue with me. If you don't think about yourself, you should think about your two sons. If you dare to move the grave, it won't just be you who will be labeled as unfilial, but also them. They will have to take the imperial examinations in the future. If your mother goes to the government to sue you for being disobedient and unfilial, you can try."
The master actually wanted to use the future of the Fu brothers to threaten Master Fu. The imperial court has always valued filial piety. If he really dared to do this, the old lady would probably do the same.
When Master Fu heard this, he looked at his two sons and hesitated. He hadn't told them about this beforehand, intending to tell them after talking to his elder brother. Little did he know that it would become a tool to blackmail him.
“Father, even if you don’t continue to take the imperial examinations, I still support you in moving Grandmother’s grave here. Uncle, my own grandmother was buried somewhere you just randomly picked. We, as her descendants, cannot watch her be buried there all alone. Please, Madam and Uncle, grant us, your father and me, our filial piety.”
“That’s right, Uncle. Even if I, Fu Changfeng, don’t continue to take the imperial examinations, I will still support my father in moving my grandmother’s grave here. Since you don’t agree to the ancestral grave, it won’t bother you if we find another place. This is not an unreasonable request. Please don’t make things difficult for our filial piety, Madam.”
Both Fu Changjin and his brother stood up, hoping that the elders would not put them in a difficult position.
However, the old lady and several uncles were obviously unwilling. In their opinion, the third branch of the family was already so prosperous even before being moved into the ancestral grave. If they were to move into the ancestral grave or find a good location, wouldn't the third branch of the Fu family only prosper?
Their own descendants still want a bright future and to surpass the third and fifth branches of the family. If they really get their wish, they will probably be forever overshadowed.
"No, I am the head of the Fu family. Without my permission, none of you can act recklessly. We are the ones who make the decisions in the Fu family. Third brother, you are just an illegitimate son. Don't think you can suppress us just because you have a son who has passed the imperial examination."
“That’s right, third son. I’ve noticed you haven’t had this thought all these years. Could it be that someone has been whispering in your ear, making you say such disobedient and unfilial things? You’re just a son of a concubine. Even if the family has been separated, it’s still the eldest son’s family that makes the decisions. You have no right to speak.”
After giving Madam Fu a fierce glare, Old Madam Fu began to persuade her again.
Madam Fu was already very angry after being looked at by her mother-in-law, but they both used filial piety and their son's future to pressure her, and Madam Fu couldn't think of a good way to deal with it for a while.
"Oh, so the old lady knows that we have already separated the family. As the saying goes, a big tree branches out, and a big family separates. I think you, my eldest and second uncles, understand the meaning of separating the family better than I, a woman."
There is a reason for the family to separate and each go their own way. Since everyone is going their own way, you have no reason to stop what Dad wants to do. Moreover, we are only trying to fulfill our filial duty. We are not asking for Grandmother and Grandfather to be buried together or to be buried in the ancestral grave. If you do not agree to this, I think outsiders will say that you are heartless.
If Grandmother wants to sue Father for being disobedient and unfilial, then we'll have to have a serious talk with him. If my husband's future is ruined, I won't mind letting the affairs of the first and second wives spread to outsiders.
As the saying goes, "One prospers, all prosper; one suffers, all suffer." If my uncles don't want our family to have a good life, then none of us should have a good life. We might as well just be content being merchants.
Xi Chun slowly looked around, suppressing the gazes of everyone who met her eyes. If they really dared to do that, she had come here with nothing anyway, and it wouldn't be shameful for her to become a merchant instead of an official's wife.
Such families need to be dealt with by throwing a tantrum; otherwise, a good-natured mother-in-law will only be manipulated by them.
"Changfeng's wife, what nonsense are you talking about? What's going on between our first and second wives? Don't spread rumors."
"Heh, Uncle, don't be angry. Just wait and see if I can do it again." Xi Chun smiled contemptuously. Did she think she hadn't inquired about it? She felt disgusted to even talk about the messy affairs of their families.
"Third son's wife, you've really married a good wife. If you dare to say anything out of line, be careful, this old woman will personally come and pull out your tongues. If you want to be accommodating, then be accommodating, but if you're so capable, then don't bother our family."
The old lady knew about the affair between the eldest son and the fourth son's wife. Even her eldest grandson followed suit and got together with her second son's concubine, and even had her current grandson. This was truly shameful.
She guessed that this was probably something the fifth son's wife had told the third son's wife, and couldn't help but glare at the fifth son's wife.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com