BXBX NOVEL Chapter 123: The Separation of the Old House
Lei Xiangzhi didn’t seem to notice their uneasiness. “So then, our family now has 15 mu of paddy field and 10 mu of farmland. Father, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, and I can each be allocated 3 mu of paddy field and 2 mu of farmland. How to divide the rest is up to father.”
Lei Daqiang pondered for a moment and said, “As for the house, at present, everyone still lives in their rooms. The vegetable garden and the kitchen can be shared. The money at home… won’t be divided for the time being. Your fourth brother’s marriage must be settled this year. It will cost a lot of money to get married in spring at the latest. Only after your fourth brother gets married, can the money be divided. Old Five, what do you think?”
Lei Xiangzhi nodded, “It’s reasonable. Fourth Brother is not anymore younger, it’s time to get married.”
“En.” Lei Daqiang was very satisfied with his son’s filial obedience. He said with a smile, “As for other small things, it’s easy. Farm tools, tableware, and whatnot can be divided according to the headcount.”
“Good, I’ll go and invite Li Zheng now,” said Lei Xiangzhi.
Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli were standing at the gate of the yard. They could guess what Lei Xiangzhi, Lei Daqiang, and Du Shi were discussing. As soon as Lei Xiangzhi came out, they both looked at him nervously for fear of hearing the answer they didn’t want to hear.
Lei Xiangzhi smiled and nodded at them.
Lei Xiangyi breathed a sigh of relief, “Fifth Brother, you stay at home. I’ll go to invite Li Zheng.”
“I’ll go and ask Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law to come over,” said Lei Xiangli.
“Alright. Thank you, Third Brother and Fourth Brother,” said Lei Xiangzhi with a smile.
Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli quickly left.
“Hey? Where are you two going?” Lei Xiangren came out of the central room, just in time to see Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli happily leave, and quickly called out.
However, no one paid attention to him.
“Fifth Brother, what’s going on?” Lei Xiangren hastily asked Lei Xiangzhi.
Lei Xiangzhi answered, “It’s a good thing, Second Brother. Do you want to go and find Second Sister-in-law to return home?”
“Oh, I’ll go now.” Lei Xiangren ran away and went to find Zhao Shi, who was chatting in another person’s house.
“Fifth Brother.” Lei Chuntao came out of her room and looked at Lei Xiangzhi with some worry.
Lei Xiangzhi loved his twin sister very much. He rubbed her head and said with a gentle smile, “Don’t worry, Fifth Brother will handle it well.”
When Lei Xiangli arrived at Leisurely Farmhouse, Qin Mian and Lei Tie were making dumplings at home. Lei Tie made the dumpling wrappers, and Qin Mian wrapped the dumplings; the two cooperated very well.
Seeing Lei Xiangli with a smile on his face, Qin Mian teased, “Fourth Brother, did you pick up money?”
“Made Eldest Sister-in-law laugh at me.” Lei Xiangli rubbed his head with embarrassment, “Fifth Brother has already convinced Father and Mother to separate. I came to ask Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law to be the witnesses.”
“Sure.” Qin Mian patted off the flour on his hands and stood up, “Fifth Brother is straightforward as expected. Do you know how it’s going to be?”
Lei Xiangli shook his head. “I didn’t have time to ask, but I believe Fifth Brother will handle it well.”
Lei Tie poured out the hot water in the kettle for hand washing. Qin Mian’s hands would be cold in autumn and winter, and since then, he never let Qin Mian touch cold water.
After washing their hands, they went to the old house together.
On the other end, Lei Xiangyi also led Li Zheng to the old house.
Seeing this movement, the villagers had some guesses. A few married women went to Lei Daqiang’s neighbor’s house to get the first-hand information in time.
Qin Mian, Lei Tie, Li Zheng, Lei Daqiang, Du Shi, Wei Shi, Lei Xiangren, Zhao Shi, Lei Xiangyi, Qian Shi, Lei Xiangli, and Lei Xiangzhi sat in the central room. Lei Chuntao and the maid Xiaoxi were watching over the three children – Lei Dabao, Lei Erbao, and Lei Xinxin.
Lei Xiangren was certainly not an idiot. As soon as he saw them and even Li Zheng was called over, coupled with the happy expressions of Lei Xiangyi, Qian Shi, and Lei Xiangli, he immediately guessed that this was a family separation! His face abruptly changed color. With a gloomy face, he planned to listen first.
Zhao Shi and he were worthy of being husband and wife. She also saw the clue and looked at him nervously, “Husband…”
Lei Xiangren patted her hand, motioning her to stay calm. His eyes twinkled as he surveyed all of their faces on alert. If separated, so be it. However, he would not leave it at that if something was not to his satisfaction.
Lei Daqiang first saluted Li Zheng. “Trouble Li Zheng yet again.”
Li Zheng waved his hand as he said, “Haha, it’s a small matter, not worth mentioning.”
Lei Daqiang raised his voice, “Now that everyone is here, listen to me. As you can see, there are only a few rooms in our house. Now, both Wei Shi and Qian Shi are pregnant, and soon there’ll be two more people in the family. When Old Four is married, the house will be more crowded. Like the so-called ‘the tree has branches’, today, I’ve decided to separate the family. Li Zheng is here as a witness and writes down the separation document.”
Since they hadn’t talked about the key points yet, no one intervened.
Lei Daqiang continued, “Since we’re on it, then separate all at once. Old Two, Old Three, Old Four, and Old Five are all separated. I, Du Shi, Wei Shi, and Chuntao will stay with Old Five.”
Lei Xiangren immediately jumped out, “Father! What do you mean? We brothers have done so much to support Fifth Brother to become a Xiucai. How can we separate when we haven’t benefited even a little? Isn’t it inappropriate?”
“That’s right!” Zhao Shi curled her lips, her stern eyes cast sidelong glances at Lei Xiangzhi. “Fifth Brother. You, Father, and Mother have been whispering in the room for a long time – the matter of separation shouldn’t be your…” In the end, she still remembered that Lei Xiangzhi’s identity was different now, and so she didn’t dare to offend him too bluntly.
Li Zheng kept his head lowered without interrupting.
Qin Mian and Lei Tie looked straight ahead, seemingly absent-minded.
“Fifth Brother, it’s actually you?” Lei Xiangren looked hurt as he stared at Lei Xiangzhi in disbelief.
Lei Xiangzhi kept a straight face. “Second Brother, can you listen to me first?”
With a woody face, Lei Xiangren waved his hand, “You talk!”
“I did bring up the separation to Father and Mother.” Lei Xiangzhi said, “Besides the reasons that Father had just said, there is another important reason. With so many people living together, there’ll always be a blunder. On the contrary, once separated, we’ll be closer. Naturally, I remember that I could go to school without any worries because of everyone’s support. Without you all, there won’t be me, the Lei Xiangzhi of today.”
Lei Xiangren’s face looked slightly cordial, “As long as you understand that.”
“I knew Fifth Brother isn’t an ungrateful person.” Zhao Shi seemed very satisfied with Lei Xiangzhi.
Qin Mian disdainfully swept a glance at Lei Xiangren and his wife. Who wouldn’t understand [from those words] that the gratitude meant for Lei Xiangzhi to take along Lei Xiangren and Zhao Shi?
“I’d asked Third Brother and Fourth Brother’s opinion. Both are willing to separate.” Lei Xiangzhi said leisurely, “If Second Brother agrees to separate, I’m willing to give Second Brother 100 silver taels to support Dabao and Erbao’s study; if Second Brother wants to take care of our parents with me, I’m very happy too. This way, I can use the 100 silver taels for study without worry.”
Except for Qin Mian and Lei Tie, everyone was shocked.
100 silver taels!
Lei Daqiang and Du Shi’s first reaction was regret, they shouldn’t have agreed to separate. However, after thinking that their youngest son would have more money as an official in the future, their anger sunk.
Wei Shi looked at Qin Mian and Lei Tie with a profound meaning before quickly withdrew her eyes. She didn’t intend to get involved in the separation. Regardless, she followed Lei Daqiang; Lei Daqiang would never be separated from Lei Xiangzhi. She wouldn’t suffer a great loss. At present, the most important thing for her was to give birth safely.
Lei Xiangren and Zhao Shi shivered with joy, their hearts pounding.
Qian Shi’s heart also skipped a beat, and she was restless with anxiety. In her opinion, the fifth brother was too partial. Since he offered Lei Xiangren 100 silver taels, he should also offer her husband 100 silver taels.
Lei Xiangyi pressed her hand and gave her a warning look.
Lei Xiangli was as calm as Lei Xiangyi. Both brothers saw through it. Lei Xiangzhi offered Lei Xiangren 100 silver taels not because he was more intimate with Lei Xiangren, but for the opposite reason.
As for where the 100 silver taels came from, no one actually wanted to ask.
“Second Brother, what do you think?” Lei Xiangzhi sipped a cup of tea and asked with a grin.
Lei Xiangren hesitated. 100 silver taels were quite a lot, but after Lei Xiangzhi became an official, he could get more.
Zhao Shi was flustered, afraid that he would refuse. She tugged his sleeve, lowered her voice, and said eagerly, “Husband, what are you still hesitating about? Agree! We can’t earn 100 silver taels in our two lives! With these 100 silver taels, we can build a big house and send Dabao and Erbao to school. As long as we groom them well, they can become officials in the future!”
The last sentence moved Lei Xiangren and made him see another brighter and broader road in front of him. That’s right, why would he fixate on Fifth Brother? After all, the relationship with a younger brother was not deeper than with the sons. It was better to rely on the sons than the younger brother!
Qin Mian pretended to drink tea – there was a smile on his lips. He silently praised Zhao Shi and lit a candle for Lei Xiangren.1
Zhao Shi kept urging on that Lei Xiangren didn’t have time to think carefully. He sighed in pretense and nodded in mourning, “Dabao will be late for education, so I truly need this money – fine, I agree. It’s just that, if separated, we can’t be filial to our parents anymore…”
“That’s right, Father and Mother.” Looking at Lei Daqiang and Du Shi with a reluctant expression, Qian Shi wiped the corner of her eyes as tears rolled down her cheek.
Qin Mian had seen her secretly pinching her thigh hard. He suppressed his laugh, so much so that his body was shaking.
Lei Tie supported his back in silence.
Lei Daqiang continued to preside over the family separation. “Old Five bought a few mu of farmland for our family. Now our family has 15 mu of paddy field and 10 mu of farmland. Old Two, Old Three, Old Four, Old Five, and I each get 3 mu of paddy field and 2 mu of farmland… house…(blabla)… chickens, ducks, and pigs are divided this way…(blabla)… farm tools…(blabla)… Lastly, since Old Four, Old Five, and Chuntao have yet married, the family’s money is not divided for the time being. Only after Old Four is married will it be divided.”
Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli had no objection. As for Lei Xiangren, since he could get 100 silver taels immediately, he didn’t care so much about this ‘’small money’’, and therefore, he nodded in a frank and straightforward manner, whilst unable to cease the smile on his face.
Thank you, SadieWoods!
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Footnotes
- Candles are lit for prayer intentions. To “light a candle for someone” indicates one’s intention to say a prayer for another person, and the candle symbolizes that prayer. In this case, QM showed sympathy to LXR for having such a pit-wife.