Ning Shu was instantly curious. “The brigade leader is back?”

She didn’t know how many days it took to go to X City from here, but considering they left on New Year’s Eve and today was the eighth day, they returned quite quickly.

“That’s right. He came back early this morning, accompanied by the police, and they went to the Jiang family together. Everyone saw it. Third Daughter-in-law, do you think this means Zhuang Daming’s death is related to Jiang Xiaoyue?” Lin’s mother speculated.

Ning Shu admitted, “I don’t know. You can ask the captain’s wife about it when you see her.”

And Lin’s mother indeed had plans to do just that.

“Oh, there’s something else. The captain’s back, and Xiaopang’s mother has also returned, and…” Lin’s mother lowered her voice. “She brought back Zhuang Daming’s ashes.”

“Nowadays, in big cities, cremation is the norm. Bringing back the ashes is more convenient and cost-effective than transporting the body,” Ning Shu explained.

Cremation facilities began to emerge in the 1960s, and by the end of 1966, there were over 80 such facilities.

The widespread construction of these facilities began after 1966, during the ten years of turmoil, as part of efforts to eliminate feudalistic ideas and practices.

So it wasn’t surprising that Zhuang Daming, who died in X City, had his ashes brought back.

“But, Mom, would the Zhuang family hold a funeral?” While the old customs were abolished, funeral rites could still be observed, albeit without extravagance.

“Why bother? I reckon they’ve already buried him. I saw Xiaopang’s mother carrying the ashes while holding Little Xiaopang’s hand, and Zhuang Daming’s brother was carrying a hoe and heading up the mountain. They must’ve buried the ashes,” Lin’s mother replied.

“In that case, they’ll probably divide the family estate,” Ning Shu remarked. “Given Xiaopang’s mother’s personality, and considering that Zhuang Xiaopang’s parents have been sent for reeducation, she’ll likely choose to divide the family estate.”

“It’ll be tough for her to raise Little Fatty alone after the split,” Lin’s mother sighed.

Ning Shu didn’t necessarily agree.

Without in-laws to worry about and with only one child, Xiaopang’s mother could support Zhuang Xiaopang on her own.

These were the kind of days many daughters-in-law could only envy.

But Ning Shu knew better than to say that in front of Lin’s mother, or else she’d be furious.

Ning Shu recognized that no matter how good her in-laws were, they couldn’t change her determination to split the family estate.

Luckily, they had already done so, or else come September, the first thing she would have done was to initiate the split.

Splitting the family estate didn’t mean she was being unfilial.

She would still fulfill her duties as a daughter-in-law where necessary, and splitting the estate wouldn’t affect the obligations her children had to fulfill.

“Little Fatty’s parents must have some private savings. Now that the Zhuang family only has Little Fatty as a grandson, considering their temperament, they’ll surely leave these savings to him,” Ning Shu remarked. “Besides, even after the split, Zhuang Xiaopang is the only grandson in the Zhuang family, and Zhuang Daming’s brother won’t neglect him.”

“That’s true.” Lin’s mother knew the importance of having a grandson. “By the way, Third Daughter-in-law, I have an idea I’d like to discuss with you. Listen to it and tell me if it’s feasible.”

Ning Shu was surprised by Lin’s mother’s sudden interest in discussing matters with her. Nonetheless, she didn’t mind. “Go ahead, Mom. I’m listening.”

“It’s like this. After the Lantern Festival, we plan to split the family estate. We’ve talked about this before the New Year, and you should be aware of it,” Lin’s mother brought up the topic of splitting the estate.

This gossip piqued Ning Shu’s interest. “Yes, I remember. What’s the plan for the split? How do you intend to divide things?”

Lin’s mother explained, “The split will be between the two families. Our family—me, Old Man Lin, and Xiao Jing—will be one, while the eldest son’s family and the second son’s family will each form another. Old Man Lin and I have already discussed it, and we’ve decided to split everything evenly. The money for Xiao Jing’s marriage will come from Old Man Lin and me, so she won’t need to worry about it separately. Even though Xiao Jing hasn’t found a prospective partner yet, she has the job you transferred to her, so I’m not too worried about her.”

Ning Shu nodded in agreement. “That’s a great plan. When parents have their own separate household, they can freely decide what to eat and buy. It’s not satisfying to be treated like a workhorse when living with others. When we’re young, we raise our sons, and when we’re old, we take care of our grandsons. But when do we get to live for ourselves?

If it were me, after raising my son, I would never be like an old workhorse, raising my grandchildren. Children are the responsibility of their parents, not their grandparents. When my conditions are good, I’ll offer financial support for my grandchildren. But if my conditions aren’t good, then there’s nothing to discuss. However, my conditions will definitely be fine. I can’t say I’ll be very wealthy, but it’s certain that I’ll be able to offer financial support for my grandchildren.”

Her biggest regret in life was not treating her eldest and second sons well when they were born.

But she had no choice.

She thought she was doomed to die, and rather than treating them well and having them miss her, she preferred them to resent her.

Then, after her death, they could live their own lives.

But now, thinking about these matters was pointless.

It was all in the past.

Ning Shu’s words were indeed unbelievable to people of this era, but Lin’s mother wasn’t surprised to hear such words from her.

“You make a good point. As long as there’s money, it’s fine. For daughters-in-law, their mother-in-law is always a hindrance until they receive money to make them happy. Nowadays, people only value money, not relationships,” Lin’s mother sighed.

Having been a daughter-in-law herself, she understood the thoughts of daughter-in-laws very well.

Ning Shu nodded in agreement.

It wasn’t just nowadays; it had always been this way throughout history.

“Actually, after the split, what I’m worried about the most is the second family. You know the temperament of your second sister-in-law. She’s brainless. I’m afraid she’ll sell her two daughters for the sake of her son.” Lin’s mother’s words were exaggerated, but she was genuinely worried.

She feared Zhang Qinfang would pressure her two daughters into dropping out of school and going to work.

---

“It’s hard to say,” Ning Shu said, “because even she, Zhang Qinfang, can do such things.”

“So, I came up with an idea. When it’s time to divide the money, I’ll set aside a portion to use for the educational expenses of the eight children from the first and second families. Of course, if the children don’t go to school, then this money won’t be given to them. Zhang Qinfang is not one to lose out. If the educational expenses for the four children from the first family are covered by me and the old man, she’ll definitely make sure the children from the second family also go to school. In her words, not taking advantage would be a waste.”

Ning Shu didn’t expect Lin’s mother to consider her grandchildren so much, but she didn’t express any opinion. “Your arrangement sounds good.”

Actually, if Zhang Qinfang really wants her children to do something, Lin’s mother can’t intervene.

Grandparents are not as authoritative as parents. If they insist on intervening, it will only lead to conflicts.

Lin’s mother sighed.

After having breakfast, Ning Shu and her mother-in-law moved chairs to the doorway and sat there chatting.

“Are the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sunbathing?” a teasing voice sounded, it was Youfu’s mother accompanied by his son.

“Youfu!” Erbao enthusiastically called out, “Come play ball with us.”

“Coming.” Yang Youfu happily went to play with the two kids.

“Why do you have time to visit today?” Ning Shu stood up and brought out another chair.

Youfu’s mother sat down and whispered to them, “Do you know about the Zhuang family’s situation?”

Ning Shu hesitated. This seemed like another gossip session.

Lin’s mother nodded. “We heard something when the police came today, and then they went to the Jiang family. Did you hear anything?”

Youfu’s mother said, “The police have left, and we don’t know what they said. But today, everyone saw Xiaopang’s mother carrying a box up the mountain. Some say it contains Xiaopang’s father’s ashes.”

Ning Shu remained silent. Lin’s mother had just mentioned this gossip.

“It’s indeed Xiaopang’s father’s ashes. Although it’s not good to speak ill of the dead, Xiaopang’s father really… caused a lot of trouble for his family,” Lin’s mother sighed again.

Youfu’s mother disagreed, saying, ” I think ita both Xiaopang’s Grandma and Grandpa, so the son Zhuang Daming.”

In her opinion, it’s not Xiaopang’s father who ruined the family, but their family’s roots were already rotten.

Xiaopang’s grandparents could secretly give Xiaopang’s father a letter of recommendation.

From this, it’s clear they weren’t good people either.

“That’s true. Xiaopang’s grandmother wasn’t easy to get along with when she was young…” Lin’s mother and Xiaopang’s grandmother have been daughter-in-laws in the same village for decades, so they know what kind of person she is.

Youfu’s mother curiously asked, “What was she like when she was young?”

Ning Shu’s curiosity was also ignited by gossip.

“When she was young…” Lin’s mother was interrupted by the village loudspeaker.

“All villagers of Qinglin Bay Brigade, please gather at the village committee courtyard.”

“All villagers of Qinglin Bay Brigade, please gather at the village committee courtyard.”

“All villagers of Qinglin Bay Brigade, please gather at the village committee courtyard.”

The loudspeaker repeated continuously.

Ning Shu instructed her two kids, “Yi Bao, Er Bao, I’m going to the village committee courtyard. If anything happens, come find me there.”

Youfu’s mother also took the opportunity to say, “Youfu, Mom is going to the village committee courtyard too. You stay at Yi Bao’s house and play. If there’s anything, go to the village committee courtyard to find Mom.”

“Got it.”

The children obediently responded.

Lin’s mother said, “They’re calling us to gather at the village committee courtyard now. It’s probably related to what happened this morning.”