Chapter 203

How did Fan Jin manage in the beginning?

Fan Qian and Sun Jinhua knew well.

On the first day, they just made do on a barren piece of land for the night. The next day, Fan Jin’s father-in-law, Butcher Hu, brought over ten to twenty men, and they built a thatched hut in a day.

The family lived in the thatched hut for a few months before they managed to build their current large house and moved in.

But how many people can earn enough to build a large house in just a few months?!

If it were their family, they would likely die of old age in a thatched hut.

Sun Jinhua immediately shook her head, deciding that no matter what her brother-in-law said, she would not move!

She still had four sons. Dazhu and Erzhu were of marrying age, and how could they arrange marriages while living in a thatched hut?

Which good family’s daughter would agree to marry into such conditions?

Even if they did, how would they all live in such a small space?

She looked at her husband, signaling that they absolutely couldn’t agree.

Fan Qian understood.

If they moved out, not to mention building a grand house like Fan Jin’s, even building a three-room brick house like their current one would be impossible.

A three-room brick house would cost at least thirty silver taels to build. How could they possibly earn thirty silver taels?

“You already have a large house. Why do you still need this house? You can’t possibly live in the large house and leave our mother here, right?”

Fan Jin looked at his brother and spoke gently, “Of course not. My father-in-law and mother-in-law live with us, so we can’t leave mother here. Besides, they go to the fields to work early in the morning, and we can’t have breakfast ready that early.”

When Fan’s mother heard that she would have to get up early to cook, she got angry. But upon hearing that her son said his father-in-law and mother-in-law also had to work in the fields, she couldn’t express her anger.

They kept comparing everything to Hu Shuiqing’s parents. They couldn’t refuse to work when it was their turn. That would be shameful.

“Then… then this house will be empty…”

Fan Jin quickly responded, “Of course not. Leaving a brick house empty would be a waste. Building such a house costs over thirty taels of silver and requires a lot of effort. If we sell these three rooms for ten to twenty taels, surely someone will buy it.”

The moment she heard about selling the old house, Fan’s mother immediately objected, “No way!”

This house was supposed to be passed down to her eldest grandson. How could it be sold?

Fan Jin respectfully said, “Mother, it’s a large house, and leaving it empty would be wasteful. How about we sell it and split the money, giving half to Uncle Huang and Uncle Huang?”

Uncle Huang and Second Uncle Huang stood up excitedly.

They asked, “Really?”

Ten to twenty taels of silver, even half of that would be several taels each. They could each get three to five taels.

That was three to five taels of silver!

Immediately, they reprimanded their sister, “Sister, you just need to follow your son and listen to him. As a woman, you shouldn’t be making decisions.”

“Such a large house, leaving it empty would be wasteful. How can you bear that? No wonder your life turned out this way!”

Fan’s mother panicked. How could her brothers side with her youngest son?

Fan Qian and Sun Jinhua were bewildered, not knowing how things had taken such a turn.

Initially, Uncle Huang and Second Uncle Huang were there to support them, but now they were siding with Fan Jin.

Although their mother would live with their younger brother, which was supposed to save them some food, now it seemed they would even lose the house…

“Grain and household items, Brother and Sister-in-law can take the same amount as I did when I left. Just move out.

As for the fields and forests, I’ll invite the village elder over. Since my family has many people who can work, we can take care of Mother’s share.” Fan Jin made a move to leave.

Fan’s mother, Fan Qian, and Sun Jinhua simultaneously grabbed him.

Fan Jin’s dark, clear eyes looked at them coldly.

He sighed helplessly, “Mother, you should know that if Brother took care of you and you didn’t bring your share when I take care of you, people in the village would talk behind your back.”

Fan’s mother reluctantly let go of her son’s hand.

“And besides, these fields and forests will be divided among my children in the future. I’ll have the village elder look it over and get it recorded at the county office tomorrow. This way, it won’t be involved with Dazhu and the others.”

Fan’s mother asked hesitantly, “Why does this include Daya and Erya?”

She could understand giving it to Jiang, He, and Hu, but why did the girls get a share too?

“They are going to get married in the future!”

Fan Jin nodded, “Yes, and if Yan Qiuxing gets a son-in-law, they will have a share. Mother, you’re right, Shuiqing and I have considered this issue. If they marry, they can’t take the fields and forests with them, so we will convert them into silver as their dowry.”

Fan’s mother couldn’t help but curse in anger!

Giving silver as a dowry for those two girls! Why?

Fan Jin’s expression turned cold, “Mother, you are their grandmother, not their mother. Leave the children’s matters to their mother.”

Fan’s mother met her youngest son’s cold eyes and was at a loss for words. The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was unfair and unbearable.

What if those two girls refuse to get married for the sake of these fields and decide to bring in a son-in-law instead? That won’t do, those are meant for her grandsons, not granddaughters.

Sun Jinhua regretted deeply at this moment.

She had thought that since her mother-in-law’s share was theirs, they had an extra portion compared to Hu Shuiqing’s family.

She had not thought much about the clearly written deed, feeling that what belonged to her mother-in-law was naturally her sons’.

Who knew, who knew that Fan Jin was waiting for them!

“You… You planned this all along!” Sun Jinhua accused.

Fan Jin raised his eyes, his expression no longer gentle but still calm, “What are you saying, sister-in-law? The division was done according to the terms you and brother agreed upon. Is this not fair and just?”

Sun Jinhua was speechless.

The scene fell silent.

Fan Jin waited quietly without rushing them.

Only Uncle Huang and Second Uncle Huang occasionally urged their sister to enjoy life with her youngest son.

Fan’s mother: Enjoy life? Didn’t you hear she has to cook three meals a day and take care of Zhaodi?

And those fields, forests, and the house wouldn’t belong to her precious grandsons…

Fan Qian felt the pain of losing his mother’s entire share of the family property to his younger brother, as if his flesh was being cut away.

His mother had a whole share to herself!

He was foolish, truly.

He had thought it was a good deal, not realizing his younger brother had it planned out all along.

Sun Jinhua’s heart ached with anger.

She had thought it was a done deal and was pleased with how smoothly things were going.

Of course it went smoothly; her brother-in-law was waiting to inherit his mother’s property.

Especially the house, the deed had stated it was for their mother to live in.

They had thought their brother-in-law was being filial, thinking it didn’t matter if it was in their mother’s name or theirs. They hadn’t paid attention, not realizing their scholar brother-in-law had a hidden agenda!

He was really untrustworthy.

The three of them each calculated in their minds, all reaching the same conclusion: it was not worth it!

Fan Qian gritted his teeth, “I thought about it. Mother is used to living with us. Moving suddenly might be hard for her; besides, your sister-in-law takes good care of her. Moving to your place and having to cook would be too tiring.”

Uncle Huang and Second Uncle Huang exploded in anger before he could finish.