Chapter 42 : Would you choose the eldest son or the younger son?

A good welcoming banquet was ruined by the old lady.

Cui Yunzhao found it quite odd. It seemed that the Old Lady couldn’t stand having a peaceful day without causing some trouble. The past few days had been smooth sailing due to the Wanyan family matter, and it seemed she couldn’t sit still any longer.

Today, she had come to stir things up.

As the Old Lady cried, Gu Yinghong also started crying, trying to comfort her, “Auntie, Auntie, it wasn’t meant that way. You’re getting older, be careful not to cry yourself sick.”

Cui Yunzhao remained seated, observing out of the corner of her eye. She noticed that despite the Old Lady continuously wiping her face with her sleeve, there were no tears.

To make her cry, it would take something truly distressing.

Cui Yunzhao wasn’t particularly concerned about the Old Lady’s matters, so she didn’t rush. She just sat there, demurely listening.

Lin Xiu Gu had long grown weary of the Old Lady’s antics.

If not for the Old Lady stirring things up, many of these family issues wouldn’t have escalated to this point. Lin Xiu Gu had tolerated her for her husband’s sake and now for her children’s.

Lin Xiu Gu had no intention of placating her. She sat up straight and said directly, “Mother, don’t you understand yet? If it weren’t for your stubbornness and selfishness, Xinzhi and Twelfth Brother wouldn’t have been harmed. Back then, why did you insist on choosing the Wanyan family as in-laws? Wasn’t it because Wanyan Dalang’s father offered you benefits?”

“Mother, some things, once done, cannot be forgotten.”

Old Lady Gu’s face grew even redder. Cui Yunzhao noticed that even her eyes had turned red.

Clearly, Lin Xiu Gu’s scolding in front of the grandchildren had angered her, making her feel cornered.

“Lin Xiu Gu, you… are you trying to defy the heavens?”

“What kind of crime have I committed? My son is gone, and now my daughter-in-law is bullying me. I can’t live like this, I can’t go on!”

The Old Lady cried out to the heavens and earth.

Gu Yinghong, who had grown pale from the commotion, kept patting the Old Lady’s back, whispering, “Auntie, please stop crying, stop crying.”

Meanwhile, the young girl, with tears in her eyes, looked at Lin Xiu Gu and said, “Auntie, how can you say that about Auntie? Auntie has cried many times in private over Cousin’s matter, she truly cares about her.”

These past few days, Lin Xiu Gu had been reflecting on many things. The day Cui Yunzhao, with her wisdom and decisiveness, solved the Wanyan family issue, Lin Xiu Gu deeply realized that the family needed someone clear-headed to take charge.

When her husband was alive, even though the Old Lady created trouble, she had to listen to her son. Now that Huo Tan, who the Old Lady disliked, was in charge, the Old Lady, relying on her position, had become increasingly difficult.

This was unacceptable.

The whole family, both old and young, couldn’t continue in this disarray.

The three younger siblings hadn’t grown up yet. If they were also subjected to the Old Lady’s unreasonable behavior, how would they manage their marriages in the future?

Moreover, Huo Tan was no ordinary person.

Raised by Lin Xiu Gu, she knew her son’s character well. He was not content to be just a minor military officer. He was smarter and braver than his father and could achieve greater heights.

When the time came, she couldn’t let the family become a burden to him.

When Huo Tan married Cui Yunzhao, Lin Xiu Gu was quite anxious. But after these past few weeks, it seemed that the marriage was a good match.

Cui Yunzhao was indeed exceptional.

With her by her son’s side, facing challenges together, Lin Xiu Gu felt at ease.

That’s why Lin Xiu Gu wanted to lay everything out clearly.

Gu Yinghong was there looking aggrieved, implying disrespect towards Lin Xiu Gu, but Lin Xiu Gu didn’t even glance at her. Her attention remained firmly on the theatrics of Old Lady Gu.

After spending over twenty years with the Old Lady, Lin Xiu Gu could easily tell whether the Old Lady’s tears were genuine or feigned.

Lin Xiu Gu said, “Mother, if you continue to cause a fuss, we’ll have to clarify everything that happened back then.”

Cui Yunzhao raised an eyebrow slightly.

Today, it happened to coincide with Huo Tan’s return, so they talked about past events.

However, Huo Tan, being younger, couldn’t speak too bluntly. Therefore, he didn’t emphasize why the Wanyan family was chosen back then.

From Lin Xiu Gu’s words, it seemed that the main reason Old Lady Gu chose the Wanyan family was due to the benefits offered by Wanyan Dalang’s father.

Thus, Old Lady Gu indeed favored Huo Xinzhi, but compared to Huo Xinzhi, she was more self-serving.

As long as money and benefits were in her hands, she was satisfied, without considering the possible pitfalls or whether it was inappropriate for her granddaughter to marry out of town.

Cui Yunzhao sighed inwardly. It seemed that Lin Xiu Gu harbored resentment towards the Old Lady because of Huo Xinzhi’s marriage.

Under Lin Xiu Gu’s gaze, the Old Lady couldn’t help but shrink back, momentarily forgetting her tears. She thought that no one knew about the things she had done. How did Lin Xiu Gu find out?

As she pondered this, she gripped Gu Yinghong’s wrist tightly, causing her pain. Gu Yinghong, however, dared not speak up.

Seeing that the Old Lady had stopped crying, Lin Xiu Gu’s tone softened “Mother, since you can listen to me now and everyone is present today, let’s clear up all the matters at once.”

The Old Lady hesitated, her anger now mixed with a sense of guilt. She no longer dared to make a scene and could only look away from Huo Xinzhi in silence.

Lin Xiu Gu was a person of decisive action. She looked at her children and spoke directly “You’re all grown up now, and even Twelfth Brother is mature. What I’m about to say, you should all understand.”

Huo Xinzhi was the first to speak up “Mother, please go ahead.”

Her attitude indicated her agreement with Lin Xiu Gu’s plan.

Lin Xiu Gu smiled at her and continued, “When your father was still alive, the family’s assets were already allocated. The dowries for Xinzhi and Liu Yatou were set aside long ago, and the dowries for the two sisters are the same.”

Huo Zhan was a clear-headed person. Before each campaign, he would meticulously arrange the family’s assets with Lin Xiu Gu. As the family grew prosperous, the assets also increased, allowing more to be given to the children and their spouses.

Lin Xiu Gu looked at Huo Xinliu “Yatou, what do you think?”

Since the eldest daughter was the oldest, her dowry had been prepared well in advance and was considerably more generous than usual. Even though Huo Zhan had passed away, Lin Xiu Gu still intended to be fair to her daughter and provided as much as she could according to Huo Zhan’s wishes.

Huo Xinyu, though younger, was not ignorant. She was just a bit slower in reaction. After a moment, she shyly smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll listen to Mother.”

This meant she agreed.

Lin Xiu Gu then turned to Huo Chenzhang and Huo Chengpu.

As a mother, Lin Xiu Gu treated her younger sons differently,she was stricter with Huo Chenzhang and more encouraging with Huo Chengpu. Overall, she was a kind and caring mother.

But at this moment, Lin Xiu Gu was unusually serious and stern.

Huo Chenzhang straightened up, and Huo Chengpu also adopted a serious expression, looking at their mother attentively.

Huo Chenzhang spoke up directly:“Mother, just tell us.”

Lin Xiu Gu nodded and said, “Your elder brother has always been smart, skilled in martial arts, and good in academics. The martial arts teachers and mentors praised him, saying he had the potential to become a general.”

“At that time, your father discussed with me that with so many children in the family, we couldn’t rely solely on your eldest brother. If you depended too much on him, you would find it difficult to achieve great things in the future.”

This statement seemed reasonable, but Cui Yunzhao felt something was off. However, she couldn’t pinpoint the issue.

Lin Xiu Gu continued, “At that time, your father said that if one day he was no longer around, the family should listen to Ninth Brother. However, Ninth Brother is only your elder brother, not your father. You can’t rely on him for everything.”

“So, your father proposed that if such a day ever came, the family head would still be Ninth Brother, but matters of your upbringing, marriages, and respect for your grandmother would be handled by the public funds, as your father had accumulated quite a bit of family assets over nearly twenty years in the military.”

This was indeed the truth. The Huo family not only had land in Qiyang but also in Boling. Life was relatively comfortable. Their current lifestyle was modest compared to their wealth.

Cui Yunzhao understood Huo family’s approach. They still lacked a solid foundation, and living too extravagantly would attract unwanted attention. It was better to live modestly.

Lin Xiu Gu took a breath and said, “Regarding your elder brother, he doesn’t use public funds, and the land is not divided among him. However, everything he earns through his efforts is his personal property and not shared with the public.”

“In fact, we are still benefiting from what your elder brother has earned.”

This statement was somewhat harsh, but every word was for the good of the family.

The Huo family wasn’t large but wasn’t small either. Huo Tan had five siblings, with the eldest sister being a widow at home. He was much older than his younger siblings, and in ten years, when his younger siblings were adults, they would support the family together. Those ten years were crucial for Huo Tan to achieve military success and rise in ranks.

Huo Zhan’s planning was meticulous. If he had not passed away, everything would have remained as before. But he had unfortunately passed away early, leaving Huo Tan to become the head of the family at fifteen and support the faltering household.

Perhaps, for Huo Tan, this was nothing. He was a man and could handle it well. But for his parents, how could they not feel heartache for their son?

Looking at it now, Huo Zhan and Lin Xiu Gu’s considerations were indeed correct. Because of their reliance on their elder brother, Huo Chenzhang had not taken on the responsibilities of an older brother, and Huo Chengpu had not matured as he should have.

Because of their dependence on him, they believed he was invincible. The Old Lady caused trouble without considering whether Huo Tan was injured, tired, or in need of care. After all, despite being married, Huo Tan was still under the age of twenty.

Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but admire Huo Zhan and Lin Xiu Gu’s attentiveness to their children. They truly cared for each child with sincerity. The Old Lady, however, did not.

The Old Lady suddenly shouted, “Lin Xiu Gu, what are you trying to do? Are you planning to divide the family? Are you trying to tear this family apart? He’s still so young, and you want to cast them out?”

The Old Lady, accustomed to making a scene, was not foolish. She quickly grasped the main point. What division of the family? Lin Xiu Gu had never mentioned such a thing.

Lin Xiu Gu didn’t even look at her, instead focusing on her two younger sons. Huo Chenzhang looked pale at this moment. These matters had never been discussed by his mother before, while Huo Chengpu remained calm, quietly observing his mother and elder brother. It seemed these issues were of little concern to him.

Lin Xiu Gu asked, “What do you think?”

Huo Chenzhang opened his mouth but didn’t speak, whereas Huo Chengpu was decisive “I will also listen to Father and Mother.”

He was truly a good child understanding, considerate, and decisive. Since the dramatic changes that day, he had shown progress every day, and by now, he had impressed Huo Tan.

Huo Tan couldn’t help but pat his younger brother’s thin shoulder. Despite his youth, Huo Chengpu could quickly make judgments about the future. It was rare and not easy, especially given that Huo Tan’s achievements had not made him vain.

Huo Chenzhang found it hard to believe that his younger brother agreed so readily. He stared with wide eyes, seeming to get stuck on a particular point. He asked, “Ah Pu, why are you also pushing Brother away?”

Huo Chenzhang was focused on a different issue. His face flushed, and he looked at his mother and elder brother with a stubborn neck. “Mother, although Father’s words are true, we cannot split from our elder brother. We are a family, a family.”

This child was clearly being obstinate. Cui Yunzhao suddenly realized that although Huo Chenzhang appeared more astute than Huo Chengpu and was more efficient in speech and action, he did not have Huo Chengpu’s clarity of understanding. The former’s cleverness bordered on impulsiveness, while Huo Chengpu was more insightful.

Lin Xiu Gu looked at her younger sons and sighed. Just as she was about to speak, the Old Lady grabbed Huo Chenzhang and cried out, “Eleventh Brother is the most considerate, knowing how to honor me as your grandmother. Eleventh Brother, we won’t stay with them anymore. Grandmother will take you somewhere else.”

This was entirely unreasonable. Lin Xiu Gu frowned. Her usual patience was wearing thin due to the Old Lady’s commotion, and her patience was nearly exhausted.

“Mother, do you wish for your husband to die in peace?”

These words were heavy enough to choke the Old Lady’s cries. She was momentarily stunned and had difficulty recovering.

Lin Xiu Gu glanced at everyone present, finally focusing on Huo Chenzhang. At that moment, Lin Xiu Gu felt a pang of disappointment.

Huo Chenzhang seemed to sense his mother’s disappointment. He shrank towards his grandmother and closed his eyes, unable to look further.

Lin Xiu Gu chose not to look at them anymore. She stood up in silence, went into the inner room, and retrieved an envelope. The envelope was thin and lacked a wax seal, indicating it was never sealed.

She took out a sheet of paper and handed it to the Old Lady.

Cui Yunzhao glanced at the few characters on the paper. Though she did not examine them closely, it was evident that the handwriting was not very skilled.

The Old Lady slowly released her hold on Huo Chenzhang and took the letter in silence, her eyes reddening. Although she couldn’t read, she recognized her son’s handwriting immediately.

Huo Zhan had learned some calligraphy in his youth but had not mastered it due to his military career. His handwriting was crooked and barely legible, but the Old Lady had seen his handwriting often enough to recognize it immediately.

Huo Zhan had been gone for four years, and receiving this letter was likely a significant emotional blow for the Old Lady. She held the paper with trembling hands, gently tracing the characters as if trying to recall her son’s appearance and voice.

Lin Xiu Gu sighed, “This is the last letter your father wrote before he passed away.”

The words “last letter” made Lin Xiu Gu’s eyes moisten as well. Cui Yunzhao bit her lip, feeling a heavy weight in her heart.

However, Lin Xiu Gu had matters to attend to and did not dwell too long in her grief. She quickly wiped her face and said, “Everything I just mentioned is written on this paper. If Mother does not believe me, you can have Eleventh Brother or Xinzhi take a look.”

Huo Xinzhi glanced at the dazed Huo Chenzhang, took the letter, and began reading it slowly. She handled the paper carefully, fearing to damage her father’s belongings.

After reading, Huo Xinzhi turned to the Old Lady and said, “Grandmother, this is indeed Father’s intention.”

As soon as she spoke, the Old Lady’s expression changed. Where there had been nostalgia and a trace of pain, now there was a flash of coldness in her eyes. It was brief and imperceptible to everyone present.

The Old Lady lightly patted her leg and said, “Alright, you are all so good.”

She sat up straight this time, not crying or shouting, and did not repeat her previous complaints. Instead, she fixed her gaze steadily on Lin Xiu Gu.

“Lin Xiu Gu, I’m only asking you this, Are you going to choose the eldest son or the younger son?”

The question seemed strange, but the Old Lady’s tone was very serious. It was as if one of the sons had to be chosen, pressuring Lin Xiu Gu to make a decision. But they were a family. Even though Huo Zhan left such a will, it was for the benefit of the family, with no intention of splitting it. After all, the Huo family and Huo Zhan were Huo Tan’s support, and Huo Tan was also the future of his younger siblings.

Yet, with the Old Lady’s involvement, the situation had become incredibly complicated and distant. It seemed that if Lin Xiu Gu chose Huo Tan, she would no longer be considered part of the Huo family.

Lin Xiu Gu’s face darkened. She took a deep breath, patted Huo Tan’s arm to signal him not to speak, and looked at the Old Lady.

“Mother, it seems you haven’t understood what your husband meant. Why did he leave this will? It was for the sake of the children.”

“Are you obstructing this because you don’t want your husband to rest in peace?” Lin Xiu Gu’s voice had grown cold. “I’ve said it before, this is all your husband’s last wish, and I’m just acting according to it.”

The Old Lady’s face grew solemn as she and Lin Xiu Gu exchanged a silent, tense gaze. An indescribable strangeness resurfaced in Cui Yunzhao’s mind.

Huo Zhan’s will might seem to favor the eldest son, but in the long run, it was beneficial for the whole family, especially for the younger children, as it served as an encouragement. Even if Huo Tan managed his own salary and war spoils, it was not a division of the family nor neglect of the family’s welfare. After all, Huo Tan remained the head of the family in the will.

The attitudes of the Old Lady and Lin Xiu Gu seemed very strange. Some matters were unclear to Cui Yunzhao, who could only sit there and listen to what was happening.

Lin Xiu Gu and the Old Lady continued to stare at each other in silence. Meanwhile, Gu Yinghong moved slightly, showing some anxiety.

Cui Yunzhao narrowed her eyes. She noticed that Huo Xinzhi also saw Gu Yinghong and exchanged a look with her. Though she hadn’t been familiar with Huo Xinzhi before, having only spoken a few words with her, she could now see that Huo Xinzhi was quite perceptive.

Unexpectedly, Huo Xinzhi seemed to have a sudden realization and thought of a possibility. She looked back at Cui Yunzhao, who had drawn her attention to Gu Yinghong, and suddenly understood many things.

The hall was very quiet, with no one eating or speaking, creating an extremely awkward atmosphere.

After a moment, Huo Xinzhi spoke up.

“Grandmother, what do you want?”

“Or rather, what would make you agree? What does the eldest brother need to give you?”

Huo Xinzhi’s words didn’t spare the Old Lady’s feelings, but the Old Lady, used to making a fuss, valued practical benefits over face. Especially since it was Huo Xinzhi speaking, the Old Lady, feeling guilty, was less likely to put on airs.

As soon as Huo Xinzhi spoke, Lin Xiu Gu blinked and immediately understood. Her irritation with the Old Lady increased, but she still had to care for the Old Lady as a family member.

Lin Xiu Gu steadied herself and softened her tone toward the Old Lady, giving her a way out.

“Mother, please state what you need. Let’s address your concerns first, and then discuss the family matters. What do you think?”

She was telling the Old Lady that to get things her way, she needed to learn to compromise. Not everything could go her way.

The Old Lady was silent, her long eyes seemingly contemplating the matter. At this moment, Gu Yinghong gently pinched her arm.

The Old Lady seemed to awaken from her daze, lifting her gaze to Lin Xiu Gu. Lin Xiu Gu knew that the Old Lady was about to compromise and promptly offered another way out.

“Mother, you’re still caring for the younger generation. Your presence at home is indeed a blessing.”

The Old Lady didn’t pick up on this. She stared directly at Lin Xiu Gu and said slowly, “Now, Ninth Brother doesn’t have a proper livelihood at home. The family relies on him as the pillar, but he can barely support himself.”

“He has elders above him and a family below him, and if he only relies on the land, the whole family will struggle.”

Cui Yunzhao understood immediately upon hearing “Ninth Brother” what the issue was. The Old Lady was still thinking about the Gu family’s well-being.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiu Gu’s expression softened considerably. As long as the Old Lady had something to gain and Huo Tan could resolve this issue, it would be manageable.

The Old Lady was most concerned with personal gain. As long as her interests were met, she would settle down for a while.

Lin Xiu Gu looked at Huo Tan. Though the recent commotion centered around Huo Tan, both Huo Tan and Cui Yunzhao had remained silent.

At this moment, Huo Tan gently smiled and said, “This small matter doesn’t require the matriarch to be so serious.” His voice was warm. “I would like to ask Grandmother, what does Cousin Gu want to do? And what is he capable of?”

Gu Yuan, who had also served in the military but returned to farming after his father’s death, lived with a small family,his mother and a few sibling close to his uncles and aunts.

When Gu Yuan’s father had just passed away, relatives had provided some support, but now every family was struggling. It was unreasonable to keep relying on others, so they could only rely on themselves to get by.

Cui Yunzhao vaguely remembered that this Cousin Gu was neither skilled in literature nor martial arts essentially, he didn’t have much ability. He was also a bit lazy, only thinking of drifting through life with Huo Tan. In the previous life, the Old Lady had caused trouble at home for him.

But that was all for the future, she hadn’t expected the Old Lady to start planning for Gu Yuan so soon in this life.

The Old Lady’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. She rarely showed any warmth towards Huo Tan but was now pleasantly surprised. “At least Ninth Young Master knows how to show filial piety, which is better than any of you.”

She looked at Huo Tan and then glanced at Cui Yunzhao. “I know what Yuan Ge’s situation is like. He is a man who can’t carry anything, and has no future. I don’t want him to have a bright future, as long as he can have enough food and clothing.”

“In a month, without being blown by the wind or exposed to the sun, and being able to give three or four strings of money, that’s enough.”

Cui Yunzhao raised an eyebrow.

Was that really such a high demand? Why not aim for the sky?