Chapter 4: Splitting the Family 1

Old Master Sheng passed away the year before last. Old Madam Sheng had three sons and two daughters. Sheng Wanqiu’s father was the second son. The eldest uncle is Sheng Dashan, and the eldest aunt is Liu Juan; they have three daughters and one son.

The three daughters are Sheng Zhaodi, 14; Sheng Laidi, 12; and Sheng Pandi, 10. The son, Sheng Yaozu, is 7.

The second son was her father, Sheng Daniu, who had two sons and one daughter. A while ago, he went out to do odd jobs, but the employer’s house caught fire, and he was burned to death. Two other villagers who went to do odd jobs with him died at the same time.

The third son is Sheng Dalin, and the third aunt is Zhang Guihua. They have one son and one daughter: the daughter, Sheng Wenwen, is 12, and the son, Sheng Jinbao, is 8. Sheng Dalin works as a handyman at a grocery store in town, and Zhang Guihua stays home to look after the children and do housework.

The eldest aunt, Sheng Chunhua, married into the village next door and had two sons. Because her personality is very similar to Old Madam Sheng—both being sharp-tongued and fierce—she has a very high status in her husband’s family.

The younger aunt, Sheng Xiaohua, has a gentler temperament. She married just last year into a scholarly family in town. It is said that she is doing quite well, but she rarely returns after marriage, so the original owner did not know the specifics of her life.

"Actually, splitting the family is good for everyone. I don't think anyone wants to spend money to raise us three half-grown children who have no father or mother!"

"I want to keep the compensation money from my father's death for my younger brothers' schooling. I won't be taking it out. I want to make that clear first."

As soon as Sheng Wanqiu said this, the eldest aunt Liu Juan’s face changed. She reached out and poked Sheng Dashan, who was standing in front of her.

Sheng Dashan looked back at his wife, his eyes tightening, but he didn't speak.

The third aunt, Zhang Guihua, did not change her expression; she just pursed her lips and remained silent. Sheng Dalin also kept his head down, silent, with no visible emotion on his face.

It wasn't just Sheng Wanqiu observing these people; Old Madam Sheng was observing them too. Her heart suddenly went cold. Her children and grandchildren were grown, and they all started to have their own ideas.

"Split it! Let's split it!"

"Since we are splitting the family, let's just split everything. That will save trouble, and save me, this old woman, from working hard only to be unappreciated!"

"From now on, I, this old woman, will live with Huaian and the others!"

After Old Madam Sheng finished speaking, it was as if her spirit had been drained away.

"Mother, how can that be? If we are splitting the family, you should be living with our family!"

"Otherwise, what will others think of us!" Liu Juan was unwilling. If the mother-in-law lived with the second son's family, what would happen to her own large household? After all, the mother-in-law could still work, and there were many things inside and outside the house that needed someone to manage.

"The second son's family doesn't have a single adult left. How do you expect these three children to live!"

"Your Zhaodi and Laidi can both work. As long as you aren't lazy, can't you do everything yourself?"

"Eldest, what do you say?" Old Madam Sheng asked directly, naming the eldest son.

Sheng Dashan was a cowardly person. Before he had a son, he felt he had no face to go out and walked with his head down. Later, when he finally had a son, he felt much more proud, but his cowardly nature had not changed.

"Master, say something!" Seeing her husband not speaking, Liu Juan began to panic.

Sheng Dashan raised his head, his lips trembling: "Mother, split it however you want! I have no objections, you decide!"

Liu Juan was almost driven mad with anger. What on earth was this damn man saying! He was completely useless.

Sheng Wanqiu looked at Sheng Dashan, not expecting this dull and cowardly man to be so firm in the end, ignoring his wife's wishes.

"Third, what do you two say?" Old Madam Sheng looked at her third son and daughter-in-law again.

"Mother, we have nothing to say, we will listen to you!" Zhang Guihua glanced at her husband and spoke first.

"Good! Then let's split the family!"

"Village Chief, I'll trouble you!" Old Madam Sheng looked at the Village Chief.

"Fine, since you say you want to split, then let's split," the Village Chief nodded at Old Madam Sheng.

Old Madam Sheng turned and went back to her room, bringing out a money bag.

"You all know how it's been for so many years, so I won't say much more. There are twelve taels of silver now. Divided into four parts, I will give three taels to each of your three families. You have no objections, right?"

"The rooms you currently live in will belong to you. The original kitchen in the courtyard will belong to me. You can build your own kitchens; there is plenty of empty space in the courtyard anyway."

"All the farm tools and dining utensils will be divided into three parts. Since I am living with Wanqiu and the others, that counts as one part!"

"There are three old hens in the yard, one for each family. The pig hasn't been sold yet; when it's sold at the end of the year, it will be divided into four parts—one for me, and one for each of your three families."

"There are twelve mu of good farmland and eight mu of paddy fields. Divided into four parts, one for each family, including me."

"There is only one pot now, which belongs to me. Regarding my support after the split, I can still move for now, so I won't ask you for money. Each of your two families just needs to give me fifty catties of grain every year. If I really get sick and need money, the three families will chip in together. Does that work for you?"

Hearing Old Madam Sheng’s rambling words, Sheng Wanqiu and her younger siblings all felt their eyes redden. Their grandmother, who seemed sharp-tongued, was actually soft-hearted. She had been very good to every one of her children, never overly harsh, and was fair at all times.

She should have lived with the eldest uncle's family, but she chose to live with them only because she saw that the three of them had not yet grown up.

Sheng Wanqiu saw in the original owner's memories that this grandmother had a bias toward her. The original owner was sharp-tongued and held grudges, sometimes acting like a rascal. If someone bullied her, she would definitely strike first and then talk, chasing people for two miles with a wooden stick.

Many times when she caused trouble, it was this grandmother who cleaned up the mess for her, at most scolding her a few times, but never hitting her. In this village, she was considered the best old lady.

After all, in this era, there were many people who favored boys over girls.

"You have all heard what your mother said, so I won't repeat it. I will write it clearly in the family separation document. If you all agree, I will start writing it!"

The Village Chief was quite impressed by Old Madam Sheng. She divided things quite fairly, without the favoritism toward the eldest or youngest son seen in other families.

Sheng Dalin and his wife did not hesitate at all. Both were smart people; they nodded directly to show they had no objections. Besides, their mother had divided things very fairly.

After all, they had hands and feet and farmland, and there were only two children in the family. The eldest daughter could already help with housework, and the younger son could also help with chores. As long as they were diligent, life would be no problem at all.

Sheng Dashan kept his head down and said nothing, but Liu Juan jumped out.

"Mother, this division is unfair. You and Wanqiu's lot are old and young. I'll let the rest slide, but the farmland cannot be divided like this!"

"You can't handle the farm work at all. If you ruin it, that's just a waste!"