Chapter 3: Joy

Xia Daohua sneaked a glance at Lihua. Lihua tapped her on the nose and said, “Don’t listen to their nonsense! Our grandparents are in great health!”

Daohua smiled and nodded. She wasn’t really a child—how could she not know what Lihua was actually angry about?

But since Lihua didn’t want to say it out loud, Daohua wouldn’t expose her either.

After seeing off the guests, Xia Youtian and Jiang-shi walked back slowly, shoulder to shoulder.

It was clear from their expressions that both of them were feeling relaxed.

At that moment, Daohua suddenly realized—maybe the one who wanted to split the family wasn’t just Second Aunt alone.

According to the original host’s memories, before the family split, all the Xia family’s money was centrally managed. None of the family branches were allowed to keep private stashes.

Whether it was income from farming, or earnings from doing odd jobs in town during the slow seasons, or from weaving baskets and doing other handicrafts—every single copper coin had to be turned over to the communal family fund.

Old Madam Zhou managed the money with a tight grip. Even with sweet talk and flattery, you couldn’t expect her to let even a single extra copper slip through her fingers.

But it was precisely thanks to Zhou-shi’s frugality and meticulousness—

That the Xia family, despite its large size, never went hungry. During the busy farming season, they had two solid meals and one light one per day; during the slack season, one solid and one light meal. Not once had anyone starved.

Before winter each year, they’d even spend money to refurbish the kang bed, clean out the flue, and rebuild the chimney. If the thatched roof blew off or the walls developed holes, they would fix them without hesitation. When it came time to make winter clothes and bedding, they always bought fresh cotton.

Compared to other peasant households, the Xia family had enough to eat, warm clothes to wear, and decent shelter. Naturally, everyone grew up healthy and well-formed. Not only were they taller than average, even their complexions were noticeably fairer.

With people like that, even marriage proposals came easier.

It was just that Erlang had indeed been delayed. He was getting older, so it wasn’t surprising that Second Aunt would feel aggrieved on his behalf.

However, if the family had remained united, Erlang’s wedding expenses would have come from the communal fund. Now that the family had split, the second branch would have to come up with the money themselves.

That’s why Second Uncle reacted so violently back then. He left several bruised palm prints on Second Aunt’s face and even dragged her over to kowtow and apologize to Zhou-shi. At the end of the day, it was all about the money.

In the second branch, not only was Erlang old enough for marriage, but Sanlang and Silang would need wives in a few years too. Taohua, Xinghua, and Meihua would all need dowries when they got married. Weddings and funerals—none of them came cheap.

Zhou-shi understood this as clearly as if she had a mirror in her heart. So she swiftly and decisively divided the household.

Since this old woman had worked hard her whole life, yet still got no gratitude, then she might as well stop being resented altogether!

The family’s total visible savings amounted to sixty-six taels of silver.

Zhou-shi divided it according to branches, giving twelve taels to each son’s household, and the remaining change was split between the two daughters—three taels each.

As for how much private savings the old couple still held, no one knew.

But based on the annual crop yields and grain sales, sixty-six taels was already an astonishing sum. Anyone who heard about it would praise the old couple’s thrift and ability to manage a household.

The amount of silver each branch received far exceeded expectations.

So naturally, every household was pleasantly surprised.

Now that they could manage their own affairs and had some starter silver in hand—how could they not be happy?

Well, every house except the eldest branch.

The eldest branch had opposed the split most fiercely—even more than the regretful second branch.

After all, if the family had remained united, all income went into the communal fund, and its distribution was entirely at the discretion of the old master and old madam. As long as they kept the elders happy, the eldest branch could live comfortably and worry-free.

Now that the household was split, they couldn’t blatantly ask their brothers for money. And with only a bit of land that the old couple could farm, no matter how much they buttered up the elders, it was unlikely they’d get much silver from them anymore.

But Zhou-shi was just that kind of strong-willed person. Once she made up her mind, no one could sway her.

Though the eldest branch was miserable, they had no choice but to vent their anger by accusing the younger brothers of being unfilial—scolding them roundly.

In the end, their words became so harsh that the fifth son clapped back:

“Big Brother, since you’re so filial, why don’t you bring Father, Mother, and Little Sister to live with you in town? Let our parents enjoy the life of luxury with servants waiting on them, hmm?

After all, Little Sister is getting married this year. Even if she moves in with you and Sister-in-law, it won’t cost you much.

It’s perfect—she can learn from our virtuous Sister-in-law how to run a household and serve her in-laws.”

The eldest brother’s face flushed red instantly, and he hurried to defend himself:

“Old Five, what nonsense have you heard this time? Your sister-in-law and I live frugally in town—we don’t have servants or anything like that!

If my son has a servant boy in the academy, that’s just the school’s requirement, not us trying to show off!”

The fifth brother gave a mocking laugh:

“Whether it’s nonsense or not, you know the truth in your heart.

If you think we’re all unfilial brats, then why don’t you bring Father and Mother to live with you and personally fulfill your duty?

That would set a good example for the rest of us.”

The eldest brother was rendered speechless by this, but being used to putting on the airs of the eldest, he couldn’t admit he was wrong. So he tried to shift the blame to their parents:

“Back when we moved to town, I did say we should take Father and Mother with us! But they’re used to being industrious and didn’t want to leave the land. They didn’t want to go.

Now that the family’s split, if they want to come live with us in town, that would be ideal.”

Though he sounded firm, the eldest brother was actually nervous—his voice trembled slightly.

The fifth brother gave another mocking laugh, which only made the eldest brother’s face even redder.

The others stood by coldly, watching the show. No one cared to play mediator.

Old Madam Zhou clicked her tongue and handed out a verbal slap to everyone:

“Old Five, say no more—that’s still your Big Brother! Do you not know how to respect your elders?

And you, Oldest! Shut your mouth too. Your father and I aren’t senile—we know perfectly well what schemes you’re brewing in your hearts!

Your father and I aren’t going anywhere! And don’t you go around showing off in front of your brothers, trying to act all high and mighty!”

The moment Zhou-shi spoke with her stern face, silence fell. None of the sons dared say another word.

Later, when Lihua acted out the whole scene for Daohua, she was so animated and vivid, mimicking everyone perfectly—it made both Daohua and their younger sister Linghua burst into uncontrollable giggles.

Even Jiang-shi, listening from the side, couldn’t help but smile with her lips pressed together. But after the laughter passed, she still felt the need to caution Lihua:

“Lihua, don’t act like that when you’re outside! As a younger generation, it’s not proper to mock your elders.”

Lihua chirped sweetly, “Don’t worry, Mom, I know better!”

Actually, it wasn’t just the fourth branch feeling this cheerful.

Ever since the family split, every branch had noticeably more laughter and joy.

Yet no one knew that the happiest person of all was Xia Daohua—the soul-transmigrated outsider.

It wasn’t even because of the family separation, but because she had made an astonishing and delightful discovery:

The struggling little convenience store she had worked so hard to build in her previous life—had transmigrated with her!

(End of Chapter 3)