Chapter 1

Everyone said that Old Zhang and his wife had a good relationship.

Just a week ago, Old Zhang passed away. While his body was still lying in the mourning hall, Mr. Li suddenly collapsed—and never got up again.

So, the two funerals were combined and held together.

The ceremonies were kept simple. On the day of death, the family visited relatives to announce the news. The next day, close friends and family were gathered for a funeral meal. That afternoon, the bodies were cremated. After picking up the urns, another meal was held, and that was it.

After the meal, relatives and friends were still chatting, in no rush to leave. The food had been prepared by a team of local cooks, who brought their own helpers. No one even had to clean up the tables and dishes.

“Hongying,” called out Zhang Hongxing, whose hair had already turned grey. “Now that Mom and Dad are gone, and the relatives are all here, let’s split the family property.”

“Split the property?” Zhang Hongying was stunned.

Her younger brother, Zhang Hongxing, had been sent to technical school with money from the family and had even gotten a house bought for him in the city. That house alone would now be worth at least ten million yuan. If he was talking about splitting property, surely he didn’t mean splitting that house?

“Yeah,” Zhang Hongxing scratched his head. “Mom and Dad said everything was to be inherited by me. Uncle and Aunt were there when they said it. If you don’t believe me, ask them.”

Zhang Hongying snapped, “But that house was built by me and Shen Yongjian! Mom and Dad were already old—how could they have possibly built such a good house on their own?”

Zhang Hongxing looked troubled. “But I can’t just go against what they said. If I don’t inherit it, people will say I’m unfilial, like I looked down on what they left behind.”

Their aunt, Zhang Xiaomei, chimed in, “Hongying, you’ve always been obedient and sensible. Now, at your age, you’re really going to fight your younger brother over a house? That’s not something your parents would rest in peace over.”

Zhang Hongying burst into tears. “So they’d rest in peace if the house I built with my own blood, sweat, and tears was given away?”

“That’s your own brother, not some outsider,” Zhang Xiaomei said disapprovingly. “What kind of daughter fights over her parents’ assets?”

Zhang Hongying’s face turned red with rage. “But I’m the one who brought my husband into this family! I’m not a married-off daughter! Tell me—which married daughter takes care of her parents every day, puts her own life on hold, and serves them so well until the very end?”

The room fell silent.

Old Zhang had heart disease and had suffered a stroke. Mr. Li had been on dialysis for nearly 20 years. Without Zhang Hongying’s tireless care, they would have died more than a decade ago.

Second Uncle, Zhang Xiaogen, finally spoke. “Hongying, your devotion to your parents is undeniable. Everyone in the village knows how filial you’ve been. Even if they’re in the afterlife now, your parents couldn’t say a bad word about you.

But the ancestral home belongs to the Zhang family bloodline. It can’t be inherited by you.”

Zhang Hongying waved her hand. “Zhang Yuhao, come here. Come show your ID to your granduncles and grandaunts. Tell them—what’s your last name?”

Thirty-year-old Zhang Yuhao sighed helplessly. “Mom, just forget it.

It’s just a house in the countryside. Grandpa and Grandma never intended to leave it to you. No matter what you say, it won’t change anything.

I’ve already settled down in Suzhou. Just come with me.

Let’s never come back to this place again.”

Third Uncle, Zhang Xiaocao, added, “Hongying, maybe it’s better this way. Parents playing favorites—that’s been happening since ancient times. When our parents split the family, they didn’t give me a thing either.”

Zhang Hongying stood firm. “If it’s their house, they can divide it however they like. I can’t change their favoritism.

But this house—I built it. If they want to give it to Zhang Hongxing, they’ll have to step over my dead body first.”

Her husband, Shen Yongjian, had been silent until now. Seeing how red her face had gotten, he finally spoke. “You’ve got high blood pressure—don’t get too worked up.”

Zhang Hongying roared, “Don’t ANY of you try to stop me!

Since I was 14, I’ve worked myself to the bone—earning money to send my brother to school, buying him a house in the city, supporting our parents, and taking them to the hospital.

Did Zhang Hongxing ever once help? Did he ever spend a dime?

Now he opens his mouth and wants to take my house? What a joke!

This house is the blood and sweat of the three of us. If he wants to take it, he’ll have to trade his life for it!”

Zhang Hongying was filled with regret. She should have changed the property deed back then to put it under her own name.

Because the plot of land was originally registered under her father’s name, she had gone to the town government to try to update it under her own or her son’s. But the old man cried and said he was useless now, afraid that one day his son-in-law would kick him out and he’d have nowhere to go.

Even though she knew her husband wasn’t that kind of person, she had softened and kept the house under her father’s name.

That moment of weakness had now become her biggest mistake.

Cousin Zhang Xiaona, from another branch of the family, stepped forward and said, “Hongying’s had it tough all these years. She took care of your parents every single day, took Mr. Li for dialysis three times a week.

There isn’t a more filial child in the world.

Hongxing, you never lifted a finger for your parents. It’s one thing to take their things, but how could you still try to take your sister’s house?”

Zhang Xiaona was an only child who also had a live-in husband. She understood just how hard it was for someone like Zhang Hongying.

Bringing in a son-in-law—if he’s too strong, you can’t control him. If he’s too weak, you just end up working yourself to death. A woman trying to hold up a household was ten times harder than a man.

Zhang Hongying’s husband was the quiet type, working hard all day but never speaking up. And the toll it had taken on her showed—she looked at least ten years older than her age.

Zhang Hongxing wasn’t the type to feel guilty. Glaring at Zhang Xiaona, he snapped, “This is our family’s business. You think it’s your place to talk?”

Zhang Xiaona hesitated. “I spoke out of turn.”

Zhang Hongying looked around at everyone. Aside from her husband, her son, and that one cousin who had defended her, everyone else stood with Zhang Hongxing.

Zhang Hongying laughed. “I never heard Mom and Dad say the house was yours. If there’s a will, show it. If not, the funerals are over—get out.

If you want the house, go sue me.

Your household registration isn’t even in this village. You have no right to the land. I’d love to see how you plan to take the house.”

Zhang Hongxing softened his tone. “Sis, that’s exactly why I need to inherit—because my household isn’t registered here.

You, my brother-in-law, and my nephew all still have your registration here. You can still apply for land.

I’ll give you 100,000 yuan. How about that?”

Zhang Hongying laughed in disbelief. They had spent 700–800k on rebuilding the house when materials and labor were still cheap. Another 400k went into renovations.

These days, with inflation, you couldn’t build this place for less than 2 million yuan. And he thought he could buy it for just 100,000?

Zhang Hongying burst out laughing. “Take your generous 100k and go buy a house in Suzhou!

This rural plot—stop dreaming about it.

Our parents only had 84 square meters. If you want something, fine—the old part of the house we used for storage? That’s yours.

But the remaining 126 square meters? That’s for the three of us!

From the size to the materials—every single thing was paid for with our money.”

Seeing how firm she was, the aunts and uncles realized it was hopeless. One by one, they made excuses to leave.

There’d be no visiting again for quite a while after that screaming match.

Zhang Hongying had won. She opened Zhang Hongxing’s suitcase, stuffed his clothes in without folding, and threw it outside:

“GET LOST!”