Liu Sanjin’s face turned pale as she looked around at her sons and daughters-in-law. Her whole body trembled slightly, and she felt a pang of unease in her heart. Over the years, she had saved some money. Even though her son Lu Zhenping sent her an allowance every month she still lived frugally. The reason was simple: her maternal family struggled financially, and she often had to lend them a helping hand.

“Jiahe, look around the village. How many families have actually divided their households? Now your elder brother, listening to that wretched woman’s pillow talk, wants to break up our family. And to make it worse, he’s threatening me with your younger brother’s future. My heart is heavy! How can you be so unreasonable at a time like this?”

In the past, Lu Jiahe would have softened at such words, but today he remained firm.

“Mother, if you don’t want to divide the household, then don’t. You’re the mother-in-law, and Shen Meng wouldn’t dare say much to you. Even if she stirs up trouble, it would only tarnish her own reputation. As for Little Brother, being a warehouse manager in the production team is a good position, isn’t it?”

Liu Sanjin’s heart constricted at his response. She cast a silent glance at the door, inwardly crying out, Old man, when are you coming back? These children are going to drive me to my grave! Truly, my fate is bitter, and no one listens to my woes.

“Fine, fine, fine! Here, take it all! Old Fourth, go call the elders of the Lu family, the village head, and the party secretary. Also, bring over your eldest sister-in-law and Mingyang. Let’s settle this today and divide the family once and for all. Second Son, I’ll divide everything, but if your eldest sister-in-law wants the private plot, that’s out of my hands.”

Lu Jiahe frowned slightly but said nothing to refute his mother. Instead, he began calculating how to secure the private plot for himself later.

Wu Xianglan felt a surge of secret joy. She hadn’t expected the division of the household to benefit her as well. Glancing at Lu Jiahe, she coquettishly raised an eyebrow and tilted her head in a smug manner. Pulling her two children close, her satisfaction was written all over her face.

In the adjacent room, Xie Jinghao, who had been peeking through the window, pursed her lips in disdain. Why is Second Brother so eager for money and goods? It’s clearly because of the trouble caused by that woman outside. Otherwise, would he use the child’s name to squeeze benefits out of his mother? I used to think Second Sister-in-law was smart, but now I see she’s just blind.

By the time Lu Debang and Zhang Hong arrived, the Lu family was already assembled, with even Chen Zhaodi sitting silently to one side.

When Shen Meng arrived with her children, she overheard that the household division was being initiated because Lu Zhenping had written home, explicitly requesting that his eldest son, Lu Mingyang, assist in managing the matter.

Although only nine years old, the responsibility placed on Lu Mingyang made him sit upright and proper beside Shen Meng, his small frame rigid with seriousness.

“Don’t be afraid. Mother is here. Relax,” Shen Meng whispered reassuringly.

Not only him, but the three other little ones standing behind them also wore solemn expressions. Anyone unaware of the situation might think they were here for a fight.

Seated with poise, Shen Meng exuded a calm confidence. Although she had never met Lu Zhenping, she inexplicably felt as if she had someone backing her.

“Today, I’ve called everyone here because Eldest Son has written home, requesting that the eldest household be separated. As the eldest son of our branch, I have to respect his wishes. Eldest Daughter-in-law, how do you want to divide things?” Liu Sanjin asked.

Shen Meng waved her hand dismissively.

“Oh, Mother, what are you saying? I only just found out about Zhenping’s decision. I imagine it’s because he knows that the children and I have often been mistreated and bullied. As for the household division, he has already said that Mingyang should take charge. Our eldest son believes everything should follow the rules. Whatever is fair, let’s proceed accordingly. As for me, a mere woman, I have no more to say.”

Liu Sanjin watched as Shen Meng neatly deflected the conversation back to her, pursed her lips, and swallowed the frustration rising in her chest.

“Fine, let’s stick to the rules. Over the years, the family has managed to save some money. I’ve pinched pennies and scraped together every bit. It’s not much—just 325 yuan. Your father and I will keep 50 yuan for our retirement. The rest will be divided among the households. The eldest household gets 68 yuan. The other three households won’t be splitting off yet, but in front of everyone here, I’ll take out a small amount—five yuan for each of the other three households. The remainder will stay with me, and when it’s their turn to divide, I’ll hand it over.

“As for grain, we already allocated some before. But thinking of Zhenping being away, I, as the head of the house, has decided to give another 100 jin of corn. Eldest Daughter-in-law, have someone carry it back home later. That’s all.”

Shen Meng raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself: This old woman sure knows how to maintain appearances. Even during a household split, she has to make herself look generous. At this point, if I ask for anything more, it’d seem excessive.

She coughed lightly, prompting Lu Mingyang to speak up immediately.

“Grandma, let’s divide it exactly as you said. You’re the fairest. But, Grandma, aren’t you forgetting something? Our private plot hasn’t been divided yet!”

“You little brat, what are you saying? Isn’t this enough for you? Why are you so greedy? Your father’s a soldier, and your mother’s lazy—what do you need a private plot for? Just let your Second Uncle handle it. He’ll grow the crops and share the food with you. Isn’t that fine?”

“No, Second Uncle, that’s ours! We need it to grow vegetables!” Lu Mingliang poked his head out from behind Lu Mingyang, said his piece, and quickly ducked back again.

Lu Jiahe’s face turned cold, but Lu Mingyang wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. Having grown up watching his face he wasn’t afraid of being glared at.

“Second Uncle, don’t go around calling kids names. If you keep it up, I might just throw a tantrum myself.” Lu Mingyang nonchalantly picked at his fingernails, casting a sidelong, disdainful glance at Lu Jiahe.

With his mother standing firm, Lu Mingyang confidently lifted his chin.

When Zhang Hongfa arrived, he’d already been warned by the family to support Lu Zhenping’s household. After all, the split was initiated by Zhenping. If it wasn’t done cleanly, Zhang Hongfa would feel embarrassed to ask Zhenping for favors in the future.

“Aunt Liu, Jiahe, Jiaxuan, if the private plot isn’t divided, can this even be called a proper household split? We farmers value nothing more than land. Zhenping’s family is unique. The production team allocated them five mu of private land. Whether they grow vegetables or grain is up to them. If the private plot isn’t divided, what will you say when Zhenping writes back? Jiahe, will you tell your elder brother you refused to divide it because you wanted it for yourself?”

Zhang Hong’s pointed words made Lu Jiahe’s face flush bright red.

With the money, grain, and private plot divided, Shen Meng returned home elated. Her weariness evaporated as she busied herself in the kitchen. She prepared a pot of noodle soup with shredded pork and reheated some braised pork and shredded potatoes.

Later, Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang carried steaming bowls of noodles and two buns to Xie Jinghao’s room under the cover of night. The fragrant aroma wafted through the Lu family courtyard.

Liu Sanjin, who had angrily skipped dinner, smelled the enticing scent, and her stomach growled loudly. She had thought that Xie Jinghao might bring some over to her.

But to her surprise, that shameless woman simply closed the door and enjoyed the meal with her son, eating with exaggerated enthusiasm as if to emphasize how delicious it was.