Chapter 13: Requesting to Split the Family Again

Yang the Second also felt that Li-shi’s scolding had gone a bit too far. He frowned almost imperceptibly, "Mother, it isn't entirely Qian-shi's fault."

Hearing this, Li-shi became even more furious, "So it’s my fault, is it? If you don't want to live here anymore, then all of you get out! Once you're all gone, I’ll finally have some peace!"

Yang the Second’s expression turned ugly, but he dared not say anything more.

Li-shi continued to curse for a while longer before turning and heading into the kitchen, preferring not to see them.

Jiang Ning remained stony-faced, showing no intention of backing down.

Old Man Yang sighed inwardly, knowing that his wife’s attempt to smooth things over had failed. He looked at Yang the Second and Yang the Third, "What do you two brothers have to say?"

Yang the Second naturally did not want to split the family, and even less did he want to move out of the old house. If nothing else, leaving the old house would make finding a place to live a problem!

Since Yang the Second didn't state his position, Yang the Third naturally found it difficult to speak.

Jiang Ning sneered, "Father, while it’s still light out, I’ll take you to the east side of the village to see! See what kind of house we’re living in! If the second branch refuses to split, we’re moving back tonight. From now on, every time I see Qian-shi, I’ll beat her until I’ve vented my anger! Datou, you all remember this! If I happen to be beaten to death, you must report it to the authorities! My wretched life is worth at least that much!"

Yang the Second and his wife were intimidated by Jiang Ning’s "all-or-nothing" stance. Even Old Man Yang hadn't expected Jiang Ning to be so ruthless, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Li-shi angrily threw down her spatula and actually left the old house to head toward the east side of the village.

Yang Santie and Yang Sizhuang immediately followed her.

The three returned as the last light faded from the horizon. Li-shi’s face was so dark it looked like it could drip ink. As soon as she entered, she didn't look at anyone else and said to Old Man Yang, "Those two rooms are not fit for people to live in. Let the eldest branch move back!"

"No! They’ve already been split off!" Qian-shi was the first to object. As if! Jiang-shi had just threatened to beat her; if the eldest branch moved back, how would she ever live in peace?

"Mother! You see, your word doesn't count in this house!" Jiang Ning seized the opportunity to stir the pot against Qian-shi.

Li-shi was already fuming from being used as a pawn by Qian-shi, and now that Qian-shi was challenging her authority, she roared, "Third one! Go and invite the village chief over! We are splitting the family tonight!"

Yang the Second said in a muffled voice, "Mother, where will our family live if we split off?"

Li-shi snorted, "Isn't there a piece of wasteland on the west side of the village? That land will be given to you."

Qian-shi was stunned, "Mother! The west side is all wasteland, there’s nothing there. What are we supposed to live in?"

Li-shi raised her eyelids, looking completely calm, "The two dilapidated rooms your eldest sister-in-law’s family got are as good as nothing. They are building a grass shed themselves and sleeping in it. If they can live there, so can you. It’s settled!"

Seeing Yang the Third hesitating and not moving, Jiang Ning gave Yang Datou a wink, "You go!"

Yang Datou, already won over by Jiang Ning’s fighting spirit, scurried off.

Qian-shi sat on the ground and began to throw a tantrum, wailing, "I won't split the family, I won't move, I won't live in a grass shed! Oh, Heavens! Open your eyes and look, this is going to be the death of our family! Wuwuwu!"

This time, Yang the Second didn't stop Qian-shi, letting her scream, wail, and roll on the ground.

The village chief arrived quickly. As soon as he entered, he frowned and shouted in a foul mood, "Making a scene all day long! You aren't tired, but we’re sick of watching it. Is there no end to this? What are you making a fuss about now?"

Jiang Ning remembered what the old man had said before and knew he didn't like her, so she looked at Li-shi, "Mother, you just said you wanted to split the family. The village chief is here, let’s begin!"

Li-shi had only said that in the heat of the moment because she was angry at Qian-shi. She hadn't expected Jiang Ning to keep holding her to it. Now that the village chief was here, if they didn't split the family, the eldest branch would surely hate them, but if they did, the second branch would definitely resent them too. Either way, it was a mistake.

Thinking of this, Li-shi began to shed tears in distress.

The village chief was startled, "What’s this? Why are you crying?"

The village chief looked at Old Man Yang, who was still the head of the Yang household.

Old Man Yang felt exhausted to the core. He let out a long sigh and smiled bitterly, "It is a misfortune for the family; none of them are easy to deal with! Since the eldest branch has already been split off, we might as well split everyone. Sorry to trouble you to make this trip."

The village chief was surprised, but said, "What are you saying! We’re all in the same village; if I don't handle your family’s affairs, who will? Then... how shall it be divided?"

Jiang Ning stared fixedly at Old Man Yang, waiting for him to speak.

Old Man Yang lowered his eyes and pondered, "The house and fields on the east side were given to the eldest branch. The wasteland on the west side will be given to the second branch to build a house. Additionally, the eight mu of land near the west side will all go to the second branch, along with the hoe Yang the Second usually uses."

There were no paddy fields on the west side, only dry land. The value of two mu of dry land was roughly equal to one mu of paddy field, so Jiang Ning had no objections.

Qian-shi, however, jumped up in dissatisfaction, "No! The eldest branch got two mu of paddy fields, we want two mu of paddy fields too!"

Old Man Yang said with a dark face, "Fine! Then you get four mu of dry land on the west side and two mu of paddy fields on the south side."

Qian-shi was still unsatisfied, "The paddy fields on the south side aren't as good as the ones on the east side. This division isn't fair!"

"Then how do you think it should be divided?" The village chief looked at Qian-shi with a calm, expectant expression.

Qian-shi said as if it were only natural, "Naturally, both the eight mu of dry land on the west side and the two mu of paddy fields on the south side should be given to us."

The village chief’s face darkened immediately, and he looked at Yang the Second, "Is that what you think too?"

Yang the Second was startled and stammered, "I... I listen to my father."

The village chief’s expression finally softened a little. He asked Old Man Yang, "How much land is left in the family?"

Old Man Yang sat down and took a puff of his pipe, "Four mu of paddy fields on the south side, four mu of dry land, and eight mu of dry land on the west side. That’s it. We two old folks will keep two mu of paddy fields. Whoever provides for our old age will get these two mu of paddy fields in the future."

"We can provide for Father and Mother! Just split the third branch off!" Qian-shi’s calculating mind was practically written all over her face.

Jiang Ning sneered, "Father and Mother must be provided for by the third branch, otherwise this matter is not over!"

"Why? What does it have to do with you?" Qian-shi began to make a scene again, her face flushed with anger.

Jiang Ning rolled up her sleeves, ready for action, "I’ll show you what it has to do with me! Let me tell you, Qian-shi! If you don't get out of the old house tonight, nobody is going to sleep! I’ll burn down the house you’re living in, and I’ll make sure you don't have a good time! At worst, we’ll all die together!"

The village chief was startled by Jiang Ning’s fierce demeanor, "What are you doing! Burning down the house! Look at how capable you think you are!"

Yang Datou said weakly, "Uncle Village Chief, my mother really will burn it down. She already did it once."

The village chief was shocked, "When did this happen?"

"Just a few days ago, she burned our kitchen." Yang Datou was on the verge of tears.

These words truly frightened the villagers who were watching the spectacle. They began to urge Old Man Yang and Li-shi, "I think you should just follow Jiang-shi’s wishes and split the family! Don't let that reckless woman actually set the house on fire!"