Chapter 18: You Want to Run? Not a Chance

The second and third sons exchanged glances and shook their heads one after another.

"Mom, we'll do whatever you say."

Even if they opposed her, she wouldn't listen to them anyway; she'd probably just end up scolding them and slapping them a couple of times.

Since the eldest brother didn't get anything, they didn't care either.

Li Xiangqin snorted, satisfied that they knew their place.

"Sixth, get some paper and a pen. Write down an agreement based on what I say, and then everyone will sign it and leave a thumbprint. I'll keep this agreement. Later, I'll ask how to get it notarized and filed so it can be treated as a will."

"...Okay."

The sixth son ran to his room, brought out a sheet of stationery, spread it on the table, and waited with wide, attentive eyes.

"A will!"

Li Xiangqin drank a glass of water to moisten her throat, then swept her gaze over her sons and daughters-in-law, whose expressions varied.

"Article one: The current residence in the machinery factory family compound. After I pass away, the four brothers will divide it equally. Before then, all children have the right to reside there; no one may use any excuse to drive anyone out unless they leave voluntarily.

Article two: The compensation/solatium from my late husband shall be left to the fifth and sixth children as education funds. I will personally keep and manage it; no one is allowed to interfere.

Article three: The fourth child will take over Father's job and will no longer participate in the division of the property.

Article four: The fifth and sixth children are minors. As their mother, I will support them until they graduate. As for their future marriage, it will be decided based on the circumstances; during this period, their marriage or employment will not become a burden to their older brothers.

Article five: If I live past sixty, all children must fulfill their duty of filial support. Each person shall contribute ten percent of their monthly salary as support fees, and no one is allowed to be in arrears."

Having finished, Li Xiangqin walked behind the sixth son.

"Is it written?"

"I wrote it exactly as you said, Mom. Take a look." The sixth son picked up the paper and handed it to her.

Li Xiangqin glanced at it, wrote her name and the date, and pressed her thumbprint onto it.

"You all take a look. If you agree, sign it and leave your thumbprints."

Zhang Jianguo was the first to take it. He read it from beginning to end before passing it to the second son...

Once everyone had passed it around, Zhang Jianguo pushed up his glasses and cleared his throat.

"It looks fine..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Zhang Yanli.

"Mom, what does your last point mean? The three brothers end up getting nothing in the end, so why do they have to pay money out at the end? That's not fair."

"Are your ears stuffed with donkey hair? Didn't you hear that the property is divided equally, or were you playing deaf when we were calculating the math just now? Do I need to list it out for you separately?

When it comes to taking advantage, you act like a quiet quail, but the moment work is mentioned, you start making a fuss. I'm not scolding you out of kindness; I'm doing it for the sake of my two grandsons. If you don't want to show respect, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Li Xiangqin took a step forward, scaring Zhang Yanli into quickly hiding behind Zhang Jianguo, covering her face.

"What are you trying to do?"

"Don't worry, you weren't born from me, so I won't hit you."

With that, Li Xiangqin raised her hand and delivered two sharp slaps to her eldest son.

"You worthless brat! All that schooling went down the drain if you dare to act tough in front of me. I'll beat the life out of you, you little bastard!"

With the two slaps, the glasses resting on Zhang Jianguo's nose fell to the floor with a *clack*, leaving him completely stunned. His face flushed with rage as he roared, "Mom, why did you hit me again?"

"Zhang Yanli is your family. If she doesn't respect me, that is your responsibility. If I don't hit you, who should I hit?"

Zhang Jianguo: "..."

Once again, he confirmed that he should never have shown up today.

Li Xiangqin snorted and gave a cold glance to the second and third sons. Their expressions immediately stiffened, and they pulled their respective wives a step back.

"Since you asked, I'll explain: I raised them when they were small, and they support me when I am old. It is only natural."

Zhang Yanli lowered her eyelids, secretly breathing a sigh of relief upon learning that her mother-in-law wouldn't lay a hand on her.

"Following Mom's logic, can I also give my own mother money for her old age?"

"That is a matter between you and your husband; I won't interfere." Li Xiangqin glanced at her sideways, completely indifferent.

Zhang Yanli froze, staring into her mother-in-law's eyes. She couldn't quite figure this old woman out.

All the other mothers-in-law she knew were constantly on guard against their daughters-in-law, fearing they would funnel money back to their own families.

Did this old woman really not care?

She didn't believe it.

"When that time actually comes, just make sure you don't go looking for death."

"Stop using those words to disgust me. In all the years you've been married to the eldest, have I ever seen you give a single cent? I help with the laundry, cooking, and childcare to lighten his burden; I don't expect your gratitude.

But what about the fourth child? She owes you nothing. She's been washing dirty clothes and diapers for years. As the eldest sister-in-law, have you ever thanked her? Have you ever even bought her a hair tie?

You're a white-haired old woman yourself, yet you call others hags. Why don't you look in a mirror and see if you even have the right?"

Listening to the relentless barrage of insults from her mother-in-law, Zhang Yanli's face turned bright red with shame, and she went completely silent.

The eldest couple had suffered a total defeat. The second and third sons exchanged looks and abandoned their schemes.

Only Zhao Meijuan looked at Li Xiangqin tearfully, her hands wringing together.

"Mom, I know you want to be fair to everyone. All parents want their own children to live well. But reality is right here; most parents tend to favor the weaker children.

Take our family, for example. The eldest brother and sister-in-law have decent jobs. The second brother and sister-in-law come from a family of officials. Only Jianshe has no support. Shouldn't you take that into consideration, Mom?"

Zhao Meijuan's meaning was clear: *We are the weakest and poorest couple, so we should get a larger share.*

Hearing this, the third son's eyes lit up.

"That's right, Mom. Meijuan is in poor health and doesn't have a job. I haven't even been made permanent yet; I'm the one struggling most in the family. Mom, you really need to consider our actual situation."

As soon as the third son spoke, Zhao Meijuan knew things were going south. She hated Zhao Jianshe to the bone.

She had been avoiding talking about herself because she didn't want her mother-in-law to use her as a scapegoat to humiliate her in public. But this brainless Zhang Jianshe had gone and dragged her out for everyone to see, making her lose face.

Sure enough, Li Xiangqin paced over to the two of them.

"What, because you're 'weak' you're right? Other people either studied well or had good luck. You, on the other hand, were blind enough to find an unemployed invalid who carries a long face every day like they can't survive.

Isn't this your own doing? I thought you enjoyed this kind of life. I went through the trouble of arranging your job; as for your wife, that is your responsibility."

Zhao Meijuan was so shamed that even her neck turned crimson; she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

Seeing this, the others couldn't help but marvel: *Mom's tongue is truly poisonous!*

"Mom, how can you talk like that?" The third son protested.

"What part of what I said was wrong? Does she have a job? Is she not an invalid?"

"Waaa... the Zhang family is too much of a bully! I can't live like this!" Zhao Meijuan covered her face, unable to stay any longer, and turned to run out.

"Fifth, close the door! Stop her!" Li Xiangqin called out to the fifth son, who was standing by the door, cutting off her escape.