The fierce expression on Old Mrs. Chen's face immediately froze, instantly transforming into a smiling face.
This condition was something she added on a whim.
Forget about the New Year, even if we give them that little bit of rice bran, they probably won't survive five days. Then she'll have to come begging to me.
"Okay, it's settled then."
Seeing that there were no objections, Wu Baoan continued, "Zhanshan, Qingya, you should know how difficult things are these days. No one is having an easy time."
According to the headcount, your family will only receive half a bag of rice bran, two cowsheds, and an annual tribute of one tael of silver to Old Man Chen and his wife.
If you think this is reasonable, I will immediately write the family division document. Once you affix your fingerprints, it will be effective.
Just as Chen Qingqing was about to agree, she heard a series of clucking sounds coming from the Chen family's chicken coop.
She was secretly delighted and raised her face, "The division of the family property must be clear and transparent. Xiaohan and I have always caught insects for the four big hens in the henhouse, so two of them should be given to my family."
Old Mrs. Chen glared at her angrily and sneered disdainfully, "You brat, you really don't know what's good for you. You're lucky to have a place to stay, and you still want to divide up my property. You wish! Let me tell you, those four chickens are for my youngest son to nourish his body. Don't even think about taking them."
Chen Han licked his lips, his eyes brimming with tears, and said, "Grandma, you're being unfair. Those four chickens were raised by my sister and me. Why should the eggs be given to my third uncle?"
"You little brat, you want to eat eggs? You're not even worthy of eating shit."
Seeing her younger brother Chen Han's aggrieved look, Chen Qingqing felt a pang of anxiety.
Every time her younger brother said he had never eaten an egg, Grandma Chen would say, "When your third uncle passes the imperial examination and becomes rich, we will definitely let you taste what an egg tastes like."
Four hens, that's four eggs a day. Old Mrs. Chen has never fulfilled such a small request. She's a complete old wicked woman.
Looking at that half-bag of rice bran, I thought, "Great! This will be a good extra meal for my family tonight."
Without saying a word, she rushed into the kitchen, grabbed a cleaver, and headed straight for the chicken coop. With a swift stroke, she decapitated both chickens, killing them instantly.
"Here, I'll stew some meat for you tonight."
Chen Han took the hen, his eyes filled with admiration. "Sister, you're so awesome!"
Chen Qingqing said smugly, "That's right, from now on you'll follow me, and I guarantee you'll be able to eat meat every day."
"real?"
"Of course it's true, I never lie."
The chicken blood spurted out instantly, splattering all over Old Mrs. Chen's face. She was so frightened that she trembled all over, pointed at her with a trembling finger, and stammered, "You, you brat, do you want to die? That's a hen that lays eggs."
Chen Qingqing didn't tolerate her bad habits. She blew on the bloodstains on the kitchen knife and said coldly,
"So what if they're laying eggs? I'm already being lenient by not killing them all. If you think I didn't kill enough, I don't mind killing the other two to make stew."
"You, you, you dare!"
Everyone was stunned by her sudden action and no one cared about stopping her.
At this moment, Chen Qingqing's gaze was icy and terrifying, causing everyone present to shiver and fall silent, fearing that she would take a knife and strike them.
Chen Qingqing had no intention of paying any more attention to Old Lady Chen, and didn't even give her a glance.
"Alright, Uncle Village Head, you can start writing the document now."
"Alright!" Wu Baoan sighed, then said to Chen Zhancai, "Zhancai, go and get the brush, ink, paper and inkstone."
"Okay, I'll go right away."
Chen Zhancai turned around and quickly moved the paper and pen he had prepared beforehand, along with the table, into the yard.
Wu Baoan dictated the story, and he wrote it down.
...After discussion between the parents, the family property will be divided equally. From this day forward, the eldest son, Chen Zhanshan, will establish his own household. All matters recorded herein are to be done fairly and impartially. After the division of the family property, each person shall go their own way, make their own living, and not interfere with each other. No one is allowed to renege or argue. To prevent future disputes, this is hereby written as a written agreement...
Old Mrs. Chen was heartbroken and furious when she saw the two old hens with their heads chopped off. She was so angry that she ground her molars to powder.
She glared at her eldest son fiercely.
That disobedient and unfilial brat! He dares to defy his parents for the sake of that wretched girl!
What a heartless, ungrateful wretch! If I'd known he was this kind of person, I should have strangled him at birth. It would have saved me from all this humiliation. It's infuriating...
The more she thought about it, the more frustrated and angry she became. Her eyes blazed with fury, and she suddenly stood up.
“Village head, wait a minute, this can’t be written like that.”
Everyone was stunned.
Wu Baoan frowned, looking puzzled. "Auntie, do you have something to add?"
"I have nothing to add. I just thought about it again and I feel that splitting up the family is too easy on them."
Since the eldest son is disloyal and unfilial, I will pretend I never had this son and I will sever all ties with his family.
"Village head, you'll have to do this extra work—write a letter severing ties with your family."
“Auntie, you’re so confused. How can you sever ties with your own son?” Wu Baoan shook his head and waved his hands repeatedly. “You should really think this over carefully.”
"There's nothing to consider, this is settled."
Chen Zhanshan's heart was breaking. His mother disliked him so much that she wanted to sever ties with him. He was so heartbroken that he couldn't utter a single word...
Chen Zhancai looked bewildered and quickly stepped forward to persuade her, "Mother, what are you doing? Why are you trying to sever ties with your mother?"
"Mother, are you out of your mind? You should think things through!" Liu Fengjiao was so anxious that she stamped her feet. If they broke off the relationship, how could she sell the eldest son's daughter?
"You two stay silent, I know what I'm doing." After saying this, Old Mrs. Chen glanced at her eldest son, gritted her teeth, and asked, "Eldest son, considering our mother-son relationship, I'll give you one more chance."
"If you're willing to marry Qing'er to Butcher Li, I'll still acknowledge you as my son. Think it over carefully. How long can you survive on your own in these times? If you're stubborn and don't see the light, it'll be too late to regret it later."
After a long silence, Old Man Chen sighed, "Zhanshan, your mother is right. Think about it carefully. Our good days are yet to come."
Your third brother is clever and talented; he will surely bring honor to our family in the future. When he becomes a high-ranking official, you will also benefit from his success and live a life of luxury.
If you insist on doing things your own way, don't even think about getting your third brother's help!
Chen Zhanshan felt as if his heart was being torn apart. "Father, is the future of our third son really more important to you than Qing'er's life? If he could take a year off, everything would be resolved. Why are you forcing me like this?"
Old Mrs. Chen spat viciously on the ground, "Pah! How can your daughter's future be more important than your third brother's? She's a money-loser, what's there to be reluctant about? As the saying goes, daughters are destined for the outside world, and should be buried elsewhere after they die. Why don't you understand this principle?"
Chen Zhanshan closed his eyes in despair, tears streaming down his face. "Mother, if you want to sever ties, your son will do as you wish."
Chen Qingqing's face darkened, and she sneered, "You can keep this enormous wealth for yourselves; we can't afford it."
......
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