Chapter 8

“Mom, please don’t send the things back again, okay?” A small, anxious voice pleaded.

Shuiqing was taken aback and looked at her youngest son, Fan Hu.

Again? Send back?

“Why do you want to send them back?”

“Every time Dad brings something, Mom always says it’s hard for you to live in the house, and then when Dad goes to the city, she gives the things back to Grandma and Aunt.” Fan Hu recalled past events, becoming more anxious and holding his mother’s hand tightly.

He could sense that his mother was different today, but he still remembered what had happened before.

Shuiqing finally understood why Fan Jin had skipped over her and asked their daughter instead.

She couldn’t be blamed for not understanding—there was no such memory in the original host’s mind. Maybe she hadn’t been here long enough to receive all the information?

She lowered her voice and asked her youngest son, “Why does your second sister call herself Xing Hui?”

Fan Hu’s mouth curled up into a smile, and he whispered, “Mom, you forgot? Grandma said girls don’t need proper names, but Dad said daughters should have good names too. Dad gave both big sister and second sister nice names.

But Grandma, Aunt, and even you all thought it wasn’t necessary, so only Dad calls them that.”

Shuiqing opened her mouth but said nothing for a long time.

Then she sighed softly.

In her memory, they were only called Daya and Erya. She never expected that the gentle-looking man in front of her had given such thoughtful names to their two daughters.

She asked curiously, “Da Hu, do you know what your big sister’s name is?”

“Yan Qiu.”

Xing Hui and Yan Qiu.

Shuiqing’s lips curved into a smile. It turned out her second daughter was born in December, and her eldest daughter in September.

“Those are indeed lovely names. From now on, I’ll call them by their proper names too.”

After all, which girl doesn’t like having a nice name?

“Great! Big sister and second sister will be so happy. Mom, you don’t know how pitiful it is for Zhaodi. She really envies big sister and second sister’s names.” Fan Hu was genuinely happy for his sisters.

Shuiqing looked at the little girl curled up in the corner. Despite having four older brothers, she was named Zhaodi, which indicated that Sun Jinhua considered daughters superfluous.

“In the future—”

“No, we can’t divide it by the number of people. That would be too unfair to mother-in-law!”

Sun Jinhua’s sudden loud voice interrupted Shuiqing and Fan Hu’s conversation. They turned to look at the group discussing the family division.

Although it was called a group, only Fan Mu, Sun Jinhua, and Fan Jin were proposing plans.

“What do you suggest then?” Fan Jin asked calmly.

“The big house counts as one share, the second house as one share, and mother-in-law counts as one share. We have eight people in the big house, and you have only seven, so you’re still getting the better deal.” Sun Jinhua calculated.

Fan Jin lowered his eyes and replied slowly, “Father has passed away, leaving only mother. I’ll take care of her in her old age.”

Sun Jinhua panicked. She had intended for her mother-in-law to have her own share for her family’s benefit!

She interrupted quickly, “Your elder brother is the eldest son, and Dazhu is the eldest grandson. It’s only right for them to take care of mother.”

Fan Jin frowned in distress, “But, if mother’s share runs out and elder brother and sister-in-law want to send her to live with us, I—”

Sun Jinhua shook her head vigorously, repeatedly assuring, “No, no, that won’t happen! No matter what, we’ll always take care of mother!”

She was speaking to Fan Jin and reassuring her mother-in-law at the same time.

Fan Mu looked even more at ease.

Fan Dazhu promised, “Don’t worry, Uncle. As long as we have food, Grandma will have food too! Even if we have nothing, we’ll still feed Grandma!”

Fan Mu was deeply moved by her eldest grandson’s words. She wiped her tears with her sleeves and sighed, “Grandma didn’t dote on you for nothing! My eldest grandson is the best, always treating Grandma well, unlike those two ungrateful wretches.”

Fan Jin timely interrupted, “Mother raised me, and I have no way to repay her. We’ll move out and build a new house. These three brick houses will be mother’s share, for her to live in during her old age.”

Sun Jinhua and Fan Dazhu: … This doesn’t seem right.

It felt odd, but they couldn’t pinpoint exactly why.

Fan Mu was once again moved to tears, “My son is still the best, unlike that heartless woman!” She shot a triumphant look at Shuiqing.

Shuiqing: … Sold and still counting the money for them!

Even if Fan Jin had insisted, Fan Mu wouldn’t have given the house to them. Fan Mu was determined to keep it for the eldest son’s family.

Now, Fan Jin saying it was for Fan Mu to live in during her old age meant that the deed would be in Fan Mu’s name. This way, the eldest son’s family wouldn’t dare drive her out, knowing she would have no other support except for the youngest son’s family. With Fan Mu’s meddlesome nature, she would certainly cause discord wherever she lived.

Fan Jin’s move was clever, securing the future.

“Twenty-seven acres of good land, nine acres per family. The dry land and hills will be divided by the hills. Sister-in-law, you choose first.” Fan Jin offered politely.

Sun Jinhua didn’t care much about the dry land and hills. Most of the hills were either bamboo groves or miscellaneous trees.

Bamboo could only be used to make bamboo products—not worth much since everyone knew how to make them. Selling them in the city wouldn’t bring much money.

Bamboo shoots were edible but too oily unless paired with meat or if the person had oil in their diet. Rural people rarely had meat, so they avoided eating bamboo shoots.

Miscellaneous trees could only be used as beams if straight, or as firewood.

In short, they weren’t valuable.

She waved her hand generously, “Little brother-in-law, you choose first.”

Fan Jin thought briefly and chose three hills.

Sun Jinhua and Fan Dazhu had no objections, as the three hills were not particularly advantageous, with one being a useless bamboo hill.

With the fields and hills divided, it was time to split the household grain.

Grain was crucial for farming families. Fan Dazhu and his brothers watched Fan Jin closely, ready to argue.

Strangely, Fan Jin didn’t argue about the grain. He only asked for what Fan Mu would give.

“My son, your nephews are growing boys, don’t blame me for being partial,” Fan Mu said guiltily.

Fan Jin shook his head gently, “As long as there’s enough for our family of seven to eat until the next harvest.”

Sun Jinhua scoffed inwardly.

Dream on!

If you have enough, you won’t sell land. Without selling land, how can we buy back the good land you got?

She glanced at her mother-in-law, signaling her.