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Shen Zigui remained kneeling on the ground, his eyes fixed directly on Shen Youfu. His eyes were still red from crying moments ago, and coupled with his desolate expression, it was heart-wrenching to see.
“Father, let us split up and live separately. We’ll do our best to provide for Zhu’s dowry and cover the examination fees for Fifth Brother. We’ll contribute our share. Please grant your son’s request! Otherwise, your son will kneel here until death today!!” Shen Zigui pushed away Shen Zifu, who was trying to help him up, with an extremely determined attitude.
Su Zhi looked at Shen Zigui in astonishment. She had been thinking about how to encourage the second household to propose a division, intending to retaliate against Shen Youfu’s manipulation of her and her husband. She hadn’t expected Shen Zigui himself to suggest it!
Shen Youfu’s expression turned extremely unpleasant, dark as the bottom of a pot. He hadn’t expected his usually silent second son to pull such a move today. In his view, as long as he didn’t suggest a division, none of his sons would dare to propose it. Even if they harbored such intentions, it should have been the eldest and third households, not the second household, that considered splitting up.
After all, the second household had no sons, only three daughters. If they were separated, and without sons in the future, their connection with their nephews would be distant, potentially leading to the family line being cut off. He believed the second household should rely on the unity of the entire family.
“Second son, get up. Even if you kneel here to death today, I won’t agree to your request for separation!” Shen Youfu felt that his second son had taken the initiative, using the fourth son as a pretext! You can’t put all the blame on me!”
“That’s right! Second sister-in-law is very close to Fourth Sister-in-law. Didn’t she help make those gloves a while back and earn some money? It’s definitely because she saw Fourth Brother living a good life after splitting up and got influenced to seek a better life for herself!”
Sun Shi, standing aside, spoke up for the head of the family. She had just pondered the situation. If the second household were truly separated, wouldn’t more chores fall on her shoulders? Moreover, given the close relationship between Su Zhi and Li Shi, they would certainly pull the second household to earn money. At that time, the money they earned wouldn’t go to the family’s collective fund anymore. Why should she watch them make money and feel envious? If they couldn’t split up, the money would go to the collective fund. Even if she couldn’t get her hands on it, it would still reduce the amount of money her parents asked for from them. So, she thought it was better for the second household not to split up.
Su Zhi noticed the gazes of the Shen family members all directed towards her and Shen Zi’an, especially the looks from Shen Youfu and Shen Zhu, which felt like daggers, as if they completely believed they had instigated the second household to seek separation.
Su Zhi glanced at Sun Shi, thinking this woman was really annoying. She shouldn’t expect to gain any benefits from her in the future!
“No one instigated us, Third Sister-in-law, don’t talk nonsense.”
Li Shi felt guilty when the discussion turned to the fourth household. A few days ago, Su Zhi had taught her and the eldest sister-in-law how to make gloves. Originally, Su Zhi intended for them to sell the samples directly to the embroidery workshop, but the eldest sister-in-law suggested making a batch first to sell together, thinking it would earn them more money. To avoid giving this money to the collective fund, they claimed it was payment for Su Zhi’s teachings, even though Su Zhi hadn’t accepted a single penny. Now, they were being implicated, and Li Shi felt uneasy about it.
Wang Shi also chimed in, “I helped make them too. Does that mean you’re accusing me of wanting to split up and live separately?”
“Eldest son’s wife! Don’t talk nonsense,” Shen Zifu quickly interjected.
Shen Zifu hurriedly pulled Wang Shi aside. He knew that Wang Shi actually harbored thoughts of splitting up, so when he heard her words, he immediately stepped in to stop her. He didn’t want to anger Shen Youfu any further.
Wang shi glanced at Shen Zifu and said, “Husband, I didn’t mention splitting the family. It’s just that the words of the third brother and sister-in-law sounded unpleasant to me. If I remained silent, perhaps Father and Mother might have thought I desired a separate household, or even considered me the instigator. I can’t bear such accusations!”
Chunyue, quick-witted, chimed in, “Fourth Aunt asked us to help make gloves and paid us. Now, people are portraying us as ill-intentioned. After this, even the Shen family members won’t dare ask us for help. What were you thinking, Third Aunt?”
Chunxiang added from the side, “Third Aunt, perhaps you’re angry because Fourth Aunt didn’t ask you to earn that money? You can’t blame others. Your needlework is too poor. Even if it’s just a small pair of gloves, you can’t sew them properly. If you made them, people wouldn’t accept them.”
Chunlan added, “Moreover, Third Aunt, you often complain about your health. Who dares to assign you tasks? You might need to see the doctor before you even finish the work.”
The eldest and second brothers chuckled on the side, but Shen Zifu quickly urged them not to joke around.
Shen Zhu went over to Shen Zigui and said, “Second Brother, please get up quickly. We are family. In the future, when Fifth Brother succeeds in the imperial examination, you will also share the glory. What’s the point of talking about splitting the family? Even for the sake of Chunyue, your little girls, you cannot divide this family. Please don’t upset our parents. Get up!”
Shen Zhang shi also joined in persuading, always showing the demeanor of a compassionate mother.
Li Shi, seeing even her younger sister-in-law persuading, felt worried that Shen Zigui might be convinced. She truly desired to split the family, and if it didn’t happen this time, she didn’t know how long she would have to wait.
Chunyue was supporting Li Shi and sensed her tension. Chunyue herself was also anxious, fearing that their father might be persuaded again. She thought it must not be like this; the family must split today! She glanced around and noticed Fourth hiding behind Sun Shi. An idea struck her, so she gently tugged on Chuncao’s sleeve and made a crying gesture to her.
Chuncao, quick-witted, immediately burst into loud tears.
Shen Zigui, being pulled up by Shen Zhu, turned around immediately upon hearing his daughter cry, asking what happened.
Chunyue stared wide-eyed and said, “Dad, I saw Fourth Younger Brother glaring at Little Sister just now!”
Chuncao immediately cried out, “He glared at me! And Third Younger Brother did too! Dad, we shouldn’t give our things to them anymore! Last time, Fourth Younger Brother even said he would sell me!”
“Did he dare?!”
Shen Zigui became furious again upon hearing this, glaring at the Fourth grandson, who cowered behind Sun Shi.
Sun Shi said, “My son wouldn’t say such things. Chuncao is his sister; why would he say that?”
“But he did! Fourth Younger Brother, did you say it or not? If you lie, you’ll starve for the rest of your life, never eat meat again. Do you dare to say you didn’t say it?”
Chuncao looked at Fourth Younger Brother and said, “Fourth Younger Brother did say it. I believe as long as he swears on something delicious, he wouldn’t dare lie. He’s just a glutton; if he can’t eat, it’s like a death sentence for him. And he’s a bit foolish, he believes in swearing.”
“Fourth, did you say it or not?” Shen Zigui looked at Fourth grandson, thinking how a kid this young already knows about selling people. It must be something he heard from someone else, probably from his parents!
The Fourth grandson, frightened, shrunk behind Sun Shi and peeked out to say, “I just said it to scare her.”
That admission confirmed it.
Shen Zigui, who had already been considering dividing the family earlier, now felt even more inclined. He turned to Shen Youfu and said, “Dad, you see, with a nephew like this, even if I don’t have sons in the future, can I entrust my daughters to such a nephew? Dad, let’s just split up this family! I need to give my wife and daughters some peace of mind!”
Shen Youfu roared, “You’re not trusting me and your mother! With me here, with your mother here, with your Fifth Younger Brother here, who would dare to sell our own daughters? You, with your brain full of water, you reckless fool!”
Li Shi also knelt down, crying, “Dad, Mom, ever since I married into this family, apart from not giving my husband a son, I haven’t committed any major wrongs. Now, I’m begging you. Let us split up the family! Someone is already eyeing us, even thinking about selling my daughter. I can’t eat from the same pot with such people anymore! Dad, Mom, even if I’m unfilial, I beg you to let us split apart!”
Chunyue and the others also knelt down.
Shen Youfu said, “Even if you say it a thousand times, we won’t split the family!”
Shen Zhu exclaimed angrily, “Second Brother, you’re all so selfish! You know that our younger brother will take the imperial examination next year, and his reputation is crucial. Yet here you are, kneeling and begging to split the family, as if this whole household is bullying you. What are your intentions?”
At this moment, Shen Ziju also stepped forward, bowing to the Second Branch, and said, “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, and three nieces, I assure you here that as long as I’m around, no one in this family will dare to sell the three nieces. The snow is heavy outside, and the ground is cold. Let’s all rise!”
Su Zhi looked at the desolate appearance of the Third Branch and felt sympathetic towards them. She thought, why should such good people be bullied like this? Moreover, recalling how Shen Youfu had schemed against her family earlier, she felt inclined to retaliate and help the Second Branch break free from his control. This was the best way to retaliate now.
“Father, Mother, younger sister, Fifth Brother, are you opposing the division of the family because you’re worried it will affect Fifth Brother’s imperial examination next year? Actually, there’s no need to worry about that. If the separation is voluntary, then no one can say it’s a bad thing. It’s just that with the New Year approaching, the urgency of splitting the family might lead to misunderstandings. Your concerns are understandable. I have an idea that might satisfy everyone.”
Su Zhi stepped forward with a smile.
Chunyue knew that Su Zhi often had multiple ideas, and seeing that Grandfather disagreed with splitting the family and that Grandmother, younger uncle, and younger aunt were all against it, she realized that it might not be possible. Seeing Su Zhi take the lead, she immediately grasped this opportunity.
“Fourth Auntie, please share your idea.”
The members of the Second Branch looked at Su Zhi with hope, as they wished for the family to be divided. Meanwhile, those who were against the division glared at Su Zhi, especially Shen Youfu. Su Zhi didn’t mind. She thought, “If I don’t prevent you from losing another useful son today, I would truly disappoint my role as a transmigrated woman!”
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