Chapter 27: Settling the Assets, The Family Is Truly Splitting!

With money in hand, the eldest son had gritted his teeth and enrolled his two sons in a private school. It seemed they had taken the county examination this year, but no news had returned yet; it was unclear whether they had passed. If they had, there would be a good show to watch. Both the eldest and third households had long been the beneficiaries of the family's resources. If there were no one left to bleed dry, he wondered if the brothers would remain so harmonious. He was looking forward to it immensely!

Time ticked away. Two hours later, Erniu returned with Li Qingbao. As soon as he entered the main room, he followed suit, kneeling before Old Man Li and kowtowing. "Father, Mother, your son has returned!"

Seeing his eldest brother return, Li Qingyun’s heart sank to the bottom. This stubborn old man was truly determined to divide the family estate—what benefit could this possibly have for him? He had been kneeling for two hours and had worn his tongue thin, yet he couldn't make the old man change his mind. What was going on? Did the old man really believe the words of that shaman woman? Those were all baseless superstitions! How could the second brother be a harbinger of misfortune? If he truly were, wouldn't they have been cursed long ago instead of waiting until now? They had just been having a run of bad luck lately; why take it so seriously?

Seeing Li Qingbao, Li Qingyun spoke up, "Big Brother, Father wants to divide the family property. Hurry and talk him out of it!"

"While parents are alive, the family should not be divided. If we split now, won't others point their fingers at our spines?"

"If not for your own sake, Big Brother, you must think of Chengtai and Chengyou!"

The eldest brother also had two scholars in his household; he didn't believe he would allow the old man to divide the family assets so easily!

"I have already decided this matter, and it is useless for anyone to speak!" Old Man Li, fearing the eldest might disagree, said firmly, "I don't care what others think; the Li family will be divided!"

"You are all grown up now and should be masters of your own households. Your mother and I are old and will no longer interfere in your affairs!"

"The second son has suffered enough over the years; this division will make things easier for his family!"

The old man puffed on his long pipe and said word by word, "As I mentioned before, your mother and I will live with the eldest. The third son’s family has no sons, so he will be allocated two more mu of paddy fields."

"The eldest will support your mother and me, so he will receive a larger share of the land. As for this house, your mother and I built it; it will belong to whoever provides for our old age. You have no objections, right?"

"As for the second..." Old Man Li looked at Li Feng for a long moment before adding, "Your family has no one in school and possesses several strong laborers, so you will be given a few mu less land. You can take a larger share of the surplus grain, no problem, right?"

Li Feng’s mouth twitched. So he knew his family had several strong laborers? They always said that growing boys ate their fathers into poverty; they were all at an age where they consumed a lot, yet he was to be given fewer mu of land. How much grain could there be? Would the extra portion last even a month?

As for the silver, the old man didn't mention a word. However, this played right into Li Feng's hands. Having been accustomed to being filial, he didn't argue when he heard Old Man Li’s words, but nodded earnestly, "I will listen to everything Father and Mother decide!"

Old Man Li was satisfied. Having settled the second son, he looked at the eldest and the third. The family owned a total of thirty-five mu of land. Ten mu were superior-grade paddy fields. There were thirteen mu of medium-grade paddy fields. The remaining twelve mu were inferior-grade dry fields. Superior-grade fields were currently worth fifteen taels of silver per mu, medium-grade ten taels per mu, and inferior-grade six taels per mu.

Old Man Li calculated silently before continuing, "Our family has thirty-five mu of land!"

"Your mother and I will take five mu of superior-grade fields for our old age. Is that acceptable?"

No one dared to object and could only nod.

"Of the remaining thirty-one mu, the three of you will each get four mu of dry fields."

"Of the twenty-five mu of paddy fields, your mother and I take five. That leaves five mu of superior-grade paddy, three for the third and two for the eldest."

"For the thirteen mu of medium-grade paddy, the second gets three, and the eldest and third get five each."

"Puff, puff!" Old Man Li took a drag from his pipe and continued, "Once this land is in your hands, you may do with it as you please, even sell it if you wish!"

At these words, everyone’s eyes lit up! Especially the third son, Li Qingyun. He knew the market price of land. Superior fields were fifteen taels per mu; with three mu, that was forty-five taels! Medium fields were ten taels per mu; with five mu, he could get fifty taels! Inferior fields were six taels per mu; with four mu, he could get twenty-four taels. He had no emotional attachment to the land and would definitely sell it. With this sale, he could obtain 119 taels of silver. The house in the county seat would be within reach. They could move to the county. It was just a pity about the five mu in his mother's hands. If he could get his hands on that, he could have dozens more taels.

"Father, Mother, why don't you let your son support you?"

"I haven't been able to fulfill my filial duties by your sides these past years. Now that I have this opportunity, I want to serve you both well!"

"Third Brother!" Li Qingbao, who had remained quiet and followed the parents' wishes until now, could no longer hold back.

"Are you trying to make people point fingers at my spine?" Li Qingbao looked coldly at Li Qingyun. "I am the eldest son; it is my responsibility to support Father and Mother. If you dare to reach for this, don't blame your brother for being heartless!"

Li Qingbao’s expression darkened. He hadn't spent these years in town for nothing. With his carpentry skills, he knew the prominent families in town. Through his comings and goings, he had learned a lot. Not to mention, he often went to the county seat; the connections he had made over the years were enough for him to establish a foothold there.

He had heard that someone was interested in his craftsmanship and wanted him to enter the County Works Bureau—that was a proper imperial workshop. If he could get in, he would be eating "imperial grain." By then, he would be the most prestigious member of the Li family. What did the third brother count for? He had tolerated him only because he was educated and could tutor his two sons, but why tolerate him any longer? He needed silver to pull strings, and he couldn't let the third brother ruin his plans!

Li Qingbao spoke up, and Li Qingyun was displeased. He stood up and pointed at the other man's nose, "Are you trying to settle scores with me?"

In front of their parents, Li Qingyun no longer bothered to pretend.

"How are you any better than me? Do you truly want to support Father and Mother, or are you just eyeing the silver in their hands?"

"Don't think I don't know that you haven't taken less silver from the family than I have over the years!"

"You might fool the second brother, but don't take me for a fool now that I'm speaking up!"

"I don't care. Father and Mother can live with you, but I must have a larger share of the silver they hold. Otherwise, I will not agree to divide the family!"

"Bang!"

Seeing his sons arguing incessantly, Old Man Li slammed the table. "I'm not dead yet! What do you think you're doing!"

"Third son, that’s what you said—you won't agree to the division, is that it?" Old Man Li looked at Li Qingyun viciously. He glared fiercely at Old Woman Li; it was all the old woman’s coddling that had created this ungrateful wretch! Years of nurturing had all been for nothing!

Old Woman Li was still stunned and hadn't reacted yet. No, why did they have to divide the family? She had thought they were just talking!