Chapter 27: I Didn't Expect You to Be Right

The Party Secretary glanced at Old Man Liu and decided to go all the way: "It is fine to use the original main gate for now, but it won't work in the long run. You can't expect to leave a path for your entry and exit while the second branch is building their wall, can you?"

The third daughter-in-law, who was usually silent, could no longer sit still: "Our branch already received less than the eldest brother's; it's not right that we end up worse off than the second branch. After all, I gave the Liu family a grandson. If the main gate and the kitchen are allocated to the second branch, I will not agree.

If that happens, won't both the first and third branches have to tear down their houses to build new gates? Besides, this is just the second branch splitting off; we can't exactly give them the kitchen. What would happen to our parents and the rest of this large family?"

Liu Chuxue glanced at the Village Secretary: It would be ideal if the main gate and the kitchen could be allocated to the second branch, but Chuxue wouldn't force it. After all, her primary goal was to detach herself from the Liu family.

As for the house, that was only temporary. Once she had money in the future, she would naturally find another place to build a new one; she had no desire to spend her days bickering with the Liu family.

Chuxue whispered the pros and cons to her mother, and Mother Liu naturally understood the gravity of the situation: "We won't fight for the position of the main gate and the kitchen. In the future, if we enclose a courtyard, we will simply leave a 1.2-meter passage. We can't make Father's position difficult."

Her words sounded noble, but in reality, they simply didn't want to waste any more time. After all, Liu Shanliang's injured leg could not wait, and they had to catch the morning bus to the city.

Given that the second branch made concessions, the subsequent matters were settled quickly.

As for the elderly couple's retirement support, the Secretary and the Village Chief followed the village standards: starting from next year, they would receive 10 yuan in pension and 200 jin of grain annually, with fine grain not less than 20 jin.

The second branch did not object; after all, Liu Dazhu was already sixty-one this year, and Mother Liu was sixty.

Acting as a scribe, Liu Chuxue quickly drafted the family separation deed. Not only did she have the elderly Liu couple sign it, but the eldest uncle and the youngest uncle were also not spared. Finally, she had the Secretary, the Village Chief, and the Women's Director act as witnesses, who also signed and thumbprinted to finalize the matter.

Mother Liu wanted to demand more, but the village officials would not indulge her, bluntly stating: "You don't have Liu Shanliang as your only son."

Seeing things unfold as she expected, Liu Chuxue brought up the work points. The Liu family did not want to give them up, but how could the old Secretary allow them to do so? "I will have the accountant calculate the work points belonging to the second branch separately. Since the family is splitting, everything must be clearly divided."

With that one sentence, the matter was settled. After all, this was how family separations were handled in the village, and the Liu family could be no exception.

Finally, Mother Liu brought up the matter of the private plots. The Secretary and the Village Chief stated they would demarcate them for them later.

Seeing that everything was settled, Liu Chuxue sweetly greeted the uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters-in-law who were watching the spectacle outside. With many hands making light work, it took less than half an hour for the second and third branches to swap their houses.

They tossed their allocated belongings into the room, and without time for a thorough cleaning, they instructed the youngest, Chunxiao, to watch the house.

Mother Liu ran to ask the second daughter-in-law of the neighboring Li family to help look after her youngest daughter, Chunxiao, and then sought the Secretary's help to issue a letter of introduction. Only then did the mother and daughters hurriedly depart.

After walking a distance out of the village, the tense expressions of the three women finally relaxed. Liu Xiaqiu sighed softly, "Chuxue, I didn't expect you to be right."

Seeing their sorrowful expressions, Chuxue said, "Don't be sad. Being able to split off with this opportunity is a massive blessing for our second branch."

Knowing her daughter had misunderstood, Mother Liu explained, "I have looked forward to this day for so long; why would I be sad? I am only worried about your father's leg."

Having said this, the three women could not help but quicken their pace.

(End of Chapter)