Chapter 9 – Captain, Our Family Wants to Apply for a Plot of Land

The Shen Shengli family returned to the Yangliu Production Brigade around lunchtime, and as soon as they got back, they heard about what had happened the previous day. The commune members who were gossiping told them that Shen Laoqi had probably been pushed too far—his temperament had completely changed and he was now a totally different person from before.

Earlier this year in the Songshu Brigade, a girl had gone up the mountain to gather mushrooms, fallen, and injured her head. After returning from the county hospital, she too was like a different person—she used to be meek and mild, but now she stirred up trouble every day. This story had spread throughout the nearby villages.

Shen Laoqi wasn’t as exaggerated, but the situation felt oddly similar.

At first, Shen Shengli didn’t believe it. Now, he was starting to.

After all, Shen Shaoyuan—who previously couldn’t be bothered to say a word even if hit three times—had dared to accuse him, his elder brother, of being deceitful right to his face. And he even had the gall to flatter the brigade captain!

Shen Shengli realized things were turning out more difficult than he had expected, but he still rushed to speak before Zhou Mancang could: “Laoqi, those two rooms—your nephews have been living there for years. They’ve got wives and kids—you can’t just throw them out and force them to sleep on the streets, can you? As their uncle, you should be more generous. Your nephews will remember your kindness. Once Mo’er is married, won’t they still show you respect? When you’re old, won’t they be the ones to carry your coffin and beat the funeral drum?”

Shen Shengli didn’t think there was anything wrong with what he said.

Shen Shaoyuan didn’t have a son, just a daughter. That was almost the same as having no descendants. If he had any sense, he should take this chance to give more, establish good relations with his nephews.

He considered himself as offering sincere, well-intentioned advice—for Shen Shaoyuan’s own good.

Thick-skinned people he had seen before, but never anyone this thick.

Shen Shaoyuan was nearly laughing from rage. He pointed at his nephews, who were either sitting or squatting nearby, and sneered, “You expect them to carry my coffin and beat the drum? I ask you—do any of them look like they’ll even outlive me? Instead of persuading me, why don’t you persuade them to start showing me some respect? Maybe I’ll burn a little paper money for them when they die!”

Tch. His nephews back in the Great Liang Dynasty were all princes—each one noble and dignified. Unlike this bunch of misshapen melons and cracked dates.

Shen Shengli hadn’t thought that deeply about it—he just assumed that since Shen Shaoyuan had no son, he’d eventually need to rely on his nephews to care for him and send him off when he died. But he’d forgotten that although Shen Shaoyuan held a higher seniority in the family, he was actually younger than many of his nephews.

Looking at his sons and nephews, some older than Shen Shaoyuan and others younger but looking even older—Shen Shengli’s mouth twitched. He was speechless for a long moment.

“Even if your nephews can’t care for you in old age, don’t you still have your grandnephews? And let’s not talk so far ahead—just look at your Mo’er. No matter where she marries, she’ll need her maternal family for support. So really, we’re all one family. No need to divide things so clearly. Your household’s small, one room’s enough. Your nephews will remember your kindness and surely help Mo’er out more in the future, won’t they?”

This came from Shen Yongjun, the second eldest brother.

As the saying goes, people judge others by their own standards. Shen Shengli didn’t have a daughter and looked down on girls, so he assumed Shen Shaoyuan would be the same—only worried about someone to care for him in old age.

But Shen Yongjun did have a daughter—one who was good-looking, had a high school education, and worked as a teacher at the village school. Though he was biased toward sons deep down, he still cherished his daughter dearly.

So compared to Shen Shengli, Shen Yongjun could better understand Shen Shaoyuan’s love for his daughter and knew where his soft spot was.

The idea that a married daughter needed the backing of her maternal family did strike a chord with Shen Shaoyuan.

After all, his little Mo’er used to be a noble Commandery Princess of Great Liang. When it came to backing, what could compare to an emperor uncle or the imperial family?

But that was because his imperial elder brother truly loved Mo’er.

As for the people in front of him… Shen Shaoyuan couldn’t help but sneer again. “Is it the kind of ‘support’ where they snatch the good house, or the kind where they take away all our grain?”

Mo’er wasn’t even married yet, and these people already wanted to move everything in their house over to theirs. When they were bullying his family, they didn’t hesitate a bit, nor did they show any of that “we’re all family” sentiment.

And he was supposed to expect them to support Mo’er in the future?

Wasn’t that just wishful thinking?

After leaving Great Liang, Shen Shaoyuan might have fallen from power, but he didn’t believe for a second that Mo’er would ever need this bunch of rotten fruits and vegetables for support.

He raised his brows and declared flatly, “Enough. You all just want to take advantage of my family. Let me tell you—it’s not going to happen! I was foolish before and let myself be duped, but from now on, every needle and thread in my home belongs to Mo’er. Anyone who tries to snatch it—I won’t hang myself again. I’ll take that rope and strangle them instead!”

Shen Shaoyuan, once a soft and timid man, had now become someone who screamed threats of violence at the drop of a hat. Not only was Captain Zhou Mancang getting a headache—everyone in the Shen family was dumbfounded.

They say the soft fear the hard, the hard fear the crazy, and the crazy fear the ones with nothing to lose. Shen Shaoyuan had suddenly jumped all three levels, leaving Shen Shengli and Shen Yongjun speechless.

After all, Shen Shaoyuan only had one daughter. They had sons and grandsons. If they pushed him too far and he really strangled someone, they’d go mad.

Seeing there was no way to turn things around, Tian Fang grew anxious and kept signaling Liu Huihua with her eyes.

Liu Huihua was someone who never made decisions on her own and always followed Shen Shengli’s lead. Now that Shen Shengli was silent, she dared not speak either.

Tian Fang had no choice but to speak up herself. “Laoqi, about the grain—your sister-in-law owes you an apology. I really didn’t know what was going on. If I had, I would’ve definitely stopped your third sister-in-law.”

Since the third brother’s family wasn’t present, Tian Fang simply pushed all the blame onto Cao Mei.

Then she continued, “About the house, you did suffer a bit of a loss. But Laoqi, don’t just look at how nice those two rooms are—it’s only because we’ve repaired them year after year. Both our families have invested a lot of money into them. If we’re switching back, shouldn’t you pay us back that money? Given your family’s current situation, can you really afford that?”

She put on a heartfelt expression. “Your family’s small—one room’s really enough. It’s just leaking, right? Let your nephews fix it. We guarantee they’ll patch it up real tight. What do you think?”

Repairing the house would cost a bit, but it was nothing compared to giving up the rooms.

Clearly, they couldn’t walk away from this without shedding some blood.

Shen Shengli quickly chimed in, “Exactly! Let your nephews repair it—fix the walls, replace the tiles—we promise it’ll be watertight!”

Shen Shaoyuan let out a cold laugh. “Still think I’m a fool you can trick, don’t you?”

Just then, Shen Mo’er, who had been quietly watching the show, suddenly spoke: “Dad, actually the place we’re living in now is pretty nice. It’s a shorter walk to work, too.”

Tian Fang’s face lit up. “Laoqi, see? Mo’er likes living by the village entrance.”

Shen Mo’er gave a shy smile and said, “My dad loves me, that’s why he wants to get the house back—so I can live more comfortably. But… seeing that my cousins have wives and kids and no place to stay, I thought about it and I can’t bear it either.”

Tian Fang was even happier. “Mo’er, you’re such a good girl—so kindhearted. Don’t worry, your cousins will definitely remember your kindness. No matter where you marry, they’ll have your back!”

Shen Mo’er smiled innocently. “My cousins are used to living there, and I’m used to it too. So actually, not switching houses is okay…”

Shen Shengli slapped his thigh. “See, Laoqi? Your daughter’s more generous than you!”

Shen Mo’er’s expression didn’t change as she continued, “But… two brick-tile houses versus one mud-brick room—if we don’t switch back, the price difference should be paid to us, right? Those houses are spacious—one room’s as big as two. Building a room like that now would cost at least 200 yuan. Two rooms is 400. Our current place, let’s say it’s worth 100. So the difference is 300. Uncle, second uncle—you pay us the difference, and we’ll draw up a written agreement. How about that?”

How about that? Of course not!

The entire Shen family was stunned. They thought Shen Mo’er, timid as a mouse, had opened her mouth to persuade her father. Who knew she’d open with a 300-yuan price tag!

Shen Shengli kicked over a stool in rage. Shen Yongjun also jumped to his feet. “What kind of girl are you, talking so big?!”

Shen Mo’er blinked, completely unfazed. “And I haven’t even charged labor yet. After all, we’re one family—if our family built a new house, our cousins would definitely help, right?”

Shen Shaoyuan also stood up and slapped a hemp rope on the table. “No one’s taking the house without paying! Anyone dares glare at my daughter again—I’ll strangle them!”

The sons from both Shen Shengli’s and Shen Yongjun’s families stood up as well.

Zhou Mancang slammed the table. “What, you want to brawl at the brigade office? Sit down, all of you!”

He pointed at Zhou Peijun, squatting by the door. “If anyone causes more trouble, take my bicycle and call the police!”

The Shen family was cowed by his glare and reluctantly sat back down.

Zhou Mancang made the final decision: “Enough. Either switch back the house or pay up. There’s no such thing as living in someone else’s house for free!”

Tian Fang tried to plead poverty. “We don’t have money, Captain. Where could we come up with that much?”

Shen Mo’er said, “If you really don’t have money, you can use something else to make up the value. I don’t need anything from your house—except for Shen Lingling’s…”

“No! Absolutely not! Give her the money, Mom! Give her the money!” Shen Lingling screamed.

Strictly speaking, today’s incident had nothing to do with her—she was a girl who would eventually marry out. But Shen Lingling had begged her mother to bring her along today, all because she was afraid Shen Mo’er might take her job.

Greedy as ever, her family had already taken over half a brick house and still wasn’t satisfied. But now it was clear—they couldn’t keep it for free. If her job could be traded for a room—or more—she believed her parents might actually agree.

After all, a daughter’s job goes to her husband’s home. But a house would always stay in the natal home.

“I can pay! I’ll give an extra three yuan every month to the family. Mom, give them the money. We only have half a room—seventy-five yuan is enough. That’s a bargain!”

She quickly looked at Shen Shengli. “If Uncle’s family doesn’t want to pay, we can chip in more. Then everyone can live more comfortably.”

Shen Yongjun and Tian Fang exchanged glances—both their eyes lit up.

Shen Shengli nearly passed out from anger. The war had just started, and they were already infighting. His family had many kids, and even with one and a half rooms they were squeezed tight. If the second brother’s family snatched even half a room, his grandkids would have to sleep hanging from the ceiling.

Before they could speak up, Shen Shengli slammed the table. “Two hundred twenty-five yuan—one and a half rooms! The brigade captain will bear witness—we’ll write it up!”

And just like that, Shen Mo’er sold the brick-tile house for 300 yuan.

After Liu Huihua and Tian Fang went home to get the money and came back, and with the captain witnessing the signed agreement, Shen Mo’er smiled sweetly and asked Zhou Mancang:

“Captain, our family would like to apply for a plot of land—to build a new room next to where we currently live. Is that okay?”