Chapter Three Hundred Seventy-Eight: The Partition
At the second watch of the night, seeking your favor.
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Lian Shouren was about to take his whole family with him to assu his new post, Old Master Lian, Lady Zhou wanted to bring Lian Xiuxiu along. Lian Shouyi of the second wife and his family also all wanted to follow, with no one wishing to stay behind. Yet the Lian Family’s ancestral ho, the undivided gardens, fields, and the chickens and pigs raised in the courtyard all needed soone to look after them.
"The eighteen acres of land can be fard by you. And there are thirty acres of tenant-fard land, after this year’s harvest. Next year, whether you continue to farm it or give it up, it will all be up to you," Lian Shouren said.
Lian Shouren also claid he wouldn’t fight for the family property, saying it should all go to Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin. Old Master Lian announced that he wanted to give these things to his third and fourth sons as well.
Lady Zhou went to the west room, while Lian Shouyi, although present, said nothing.
Old Jin clamored for a written agreent, arguing that verbal promises held no proof.
Lian Shouxin anwhile stood up and flatly refused the offer.
"The land, gardens, chickens, pigs—we already have our own. The children are still young, with Wu Lang and Xiao Qi needing to study, and the two girls shouldn’t suffer too much. Just the two of us, there’s already enough to keep us busy. If there’s more, we won’t be able to manage. Having enough to eat and drink, we don’t have any desires for more," Lian Shouxin continued to say.
Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi calculated every move, but Lian Shouxin had seen just how Lady Zhou and Old Master Lian treated them. He might not contend for more, but he sincerely complied, obeyed, and considered the elders first in all matters—how did Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou treat him in return? He couldn’t keep deceiving himself and others like this.
Especially today, Lady Zhou’s actions spoke volus. Her opening bid was four hundred taels—not for ergencies or life-saving purposes, but she suggested they were getting an advantage. He couldn’t agree, and at first, Lady Zhou cursed, but then she actually knelt down to him, calling him ’uncle.’
His own mother, at the very mont she was planning to follow his elder brother to live comfortably, still shalessly scraped and pressured him to death, leaving him no dignity, unable to rest in peace even after death.
Shortly after, Lady Zhou threatened to hang herself, and as he tried to persuade and stop her, she ended up scratching his face.
He was filial and forbearing, yet Lady Zhou wished him to die poor and lose face. Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi selfishly protected themselves, letting Lady Zhou and Lian Xiuxiu bear the bla, but Lady Zhou could swallow her pride, humiliate herself for the sake of Lian Shouren’s prospects.
Feeling the stinging cuts on his face, Lian Shouxin’s heart was cold.
He was a man of honest nature, not accustod to pretense or ornantation. Holding back his righteous indignation was already at its limit; speaking out, he could not care for reserve.
"Let it all fall to Huihui. Fairness resides in the heart of the people. I, Lian Shouxin, have wronged no one. Even if my own mother intends to sar my face with filth, it is not my fault," he said.
"Father, I don’t want what you’ve ntioned either. I plan to keep working in the mountains. Yeye and his mother can’t manage it alone," Lian Shouli spoke up, standing and speaking in a subdued tone.
Lian Shouli was the elder brother but at this point, he was entirely taking his cue from Lian Shouxin. Compared to his parents and the other two brothers, Old Fourth was honest and treated him well. Following Old Fourth, he felt at peace.
"You two should ignore your mother’s rambling. In this house, I’m still the one who decides. I said I would give it to you for nothing, and that’s that. We talked about this earlier but got sidetracked. You two don’t need to feel any burden. These things, if not given to you, then to whom?" Old Master Lian was sowhat anxious, wanting to compensate Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin in front of all present, and eager to reestablish an image of harmony and unity.
"Father, it’s not just those things I don’t want. The house, garden, and land that I received during the division, as well as these household affairs, I don’t plan on keeping either," Lian Shouxin slowly said, "The six acres of land, half of the front garden, two and a half rooms in the house, all these household items and farm tools, from now on, they will serve for you and mother’s retirent."
The face of Old Master Lian turned dark imdiately.
"Old Fourth..."
"Father, if that’s not enough, you just say how much..."
"Old Fourth, what are you saying? Your mother, she’s just that kind of person. I can’t do anything about that. Why are you taking it to heart?" Old Master Lian said urgently.
"Father, your son is unfilial," Lian Shouxin slowly knelt down, "I believe, all these years, I’ve done nothing wrong to father, mother, or my brothers. What was the reason we separated before? Now, I don’t even want to think about it... These recurring troubles every now and then, if it were not for the thought of my wife having suffered so much with and that the children are still young, without , they definitely wouldn’t survive, I would consider giving up my life to repay father and mother."
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