Chapter 6: What do you need so many of?

Song Chuman stifled a laugh. *If you don't know how to use idioms, don't bring them out just to embarrass yourself.*

Song Hexiu's mouth twitched. "You mean to say I'm being pushy? That was all bought with my money, and I want it all. Is that too much to ask?"

"You!"

Song Hexiu cast a mocking glance at the members of the second and third branches who were glaring at him. "After all, some people were even trying to take my daughter's life; surely you aren't expecting me to leave them grain as well?"

Song Xiangqian said impatiently, "Fine, it's all yours."

Song Hemao complained, "Father, then what are we going to eat?"

Song Xiangqian roared, "We'll buy more!"

Though unwilling, Song Hemao had no choice but to agree.

Song Chuman spoke up, "Father, there is still land in the family. That was also bought with the money you earned; there's no reason we shouldn't get our share."

Most of the land by the seaside was saline-alkali soil, unsuitable for many crops, and the locals didn't know how to farm it. Much of the land was designated as agricultural land by the government, and the officials forbade citizens from building houses on it, stating they were waiting for the imperial court's research. They claimed that eventually, the land would be cultivable.

However, decades had passed and the court had researched nothing, so everyone assumed it was useless.

But she knew how to farm, and she could even improve saline-alkali soil.

Song Hexiu hesitated. "But..."

That land was useless; nothing could survive there.

Song Chuman said, "Father, it belongs to us, so we should have it."

Song Hexiu nodded and turned to his parents. "I know. The family has five acres of land."

Song Xiangqian said impatiently, "I'll give you two acres, alright?"

It was useless anyway. Every year, people went to the government to ask when the land could be farmed, and the officials would respond impatiently every time, saying "in a few years." But decades had passed with the same excuse; they were likely just stalling.

Song Hexiu said, "Those lands were sold cheaply by the government, and they were all bought with my money. Since they have been vacant for so many years and cannot be farmed, I want them all."

Song Xiangqian frowned. "Why do you want so much land that can't be farmed?"

Song Hexiu replied, "It was bought with my money. I didn't take the house or anything else, so of course I want all the land."

Song Xiangqian only wanted to get this troublesome family of the first branch separated as quickly as possible. "Fine, I agree."

Song Hemao and Song Hewei said nothing; land that couldn't be farmed or built upon was useless to them, and they didn't care for it.

Song Chuman's eyes crinkled with a smile. *Just wait until you regret this!*

Li Cuicui snorted. "Even though we are separating, you must still pay your monthly filial piety money. In my opinion, it should be one tael of silver, one hundred catties of premium rice, three catties of salt, three catties of sugar, ten catties of fresh pork, and one bolt of linen."

Song Chuman was speechless. In the past, these items would have cost more than her father's entire monthly income. Most people in the village ate inferior rice; her current body was six years old and had never even tasted premium rice, yet this woman demanded a hundred catties in one breath.

Ten catties of meat? Back when Father handed all his money to Li Cuicui, she couldn't even bring herself to buy ten catties of meat a month. And linen—Li Cuicui only dared to buy a few feet of cloth for new clothes during the New Year, yet here she was demanding a whole bolt.

Song Hexiu was also very dissatisfied with Li Cuicui's terms. "I don't have a job right now, so I can't provide all that. In the future, I will only give what I can afford. If you don't agree, then we won't separate, and I'll just have to keep relying on you to support us."

Li Cuicui's face fell.

(End of Chapter)