Chapter 25: Who Told You to Get Out of Bed?!

His voice trembled as he let out a bitter laugh: “Hui Niang and I only had those two children, and then only Xiao Niang was left. But we’re an old couple with no capabilities. Sooner or later, we’ll pass before her. I feared that without a brother to rely on, after she married, she would be bullied because her maternal family had no standing.”

Such is the heart of parents everywhere. In the countryside, if a married daughter’s life was less than ideal, her family would take up tools and march to her in-laws to demand justice. He feared his Xiao Niang would have no one to turn to.

Though it was a bright sunny day, a chill penetrated everywhere, making his bones tremble.

Wei Shouzhong’s voice cracked with emotion: “I could only watch helplessly as Wei Qintian married. The main house banged gongs and drums, throwing a grand feast with my son’s pension money. How could I not hate that?”

“But I still couldn’t protect Xiao Niang.”

“Then heaven returned our son to us.”

Wei Shouzhong paused: “Since Hui Niang married me, she’s never lived a single good day. Ah Lang has suffered endless hardships. Isn’t that enough? Must we keep laboring like oxen and horses to fill the main house’s coffers?”

“I’ve had enough of this humiliation.”

The Wei family elders remained silent. They all knew Old Madam Wei had gone too far. Looking at Ah Lang’s injuries, even they felt uncomfortable. As parents themselves, who could remain impartial and set aside their own child to raise another’s?

Hui Niang turned away to wipe her tears, but no matter how she tried, they wouldn’t stop flowing.

“Second son!” Old Madam Wei struck Wei Shouzhong’s back hard with her cane. “Don’t be foolish!”

She pointed at Wei Zhao and snapped, “How long do you think this sickly boy will live?”

“If you insist on going your own way and provoke me and Shoucai, don’t expect the main house’s descendants to care for you in your old age or bury you when you die.”

In the countryside, being without descendants was a great disgrace, leaving one with no dignity to speak of.

Wei Shouzhong responded with a bitter laugh: “Mother, do you think I care?”

“Don’t even mention passing Wei Qintian under my name again. Just thinking about it makes me sick.”

Uncle Wei’s expression changed, fearing Wei Shen wouldn’t survive the harsh winter. “Shouzhong, you can’t speak so carelessly.”

“Today no one can persuade me,” Wei Shouzhong declared firmly. “Before all the elders here, I’ll make my position clear.”

“Even if my wife and I are reduced to begging, we’ll still treat Ah Lang’s illness. If the worst happens… we’ll accept it.”

“So what if I end up without descendants? Do I care?”

“My Ah Lang fought battles at the border under General Wei, killing enemies. He’s more accomplished than anyone!”

The crowd exchanged glances before looking to the village chief.

“What do you think?” someone asked.

The village chief turned to Wei Shouzhong. “Are you certain about this?”

“I am.”

“No regrets?”

“None,” Wei Shouzhong replied firmly.

Hui Niang knelt beside him, her tear-filled eyes pleading: “Uncles, please grant us your support.”

The village chief sighed. “Shouzhong, call your brother.”

This signaled approval. After all, splitting the household required the main house’s presence.

Old Madam Wei roared, “No! Don’t go!” She trembled with rage. “I don’t agree!”

But Wei Shouzhong didn’t spare her a glance as he strode out of the courtyard.

When Old Madam Wei tried to chase after him, the village chief stopped her. “If you keep pushing, the mother-son bond will be completely severed, leaving only hatred. How will you handle that?”

Without the second branch, how could Old Madam Wei’s life be good with the useless bunch in the main house?

According to custom, after dividing Wei Shouzhong’s portion, the second branch would provide regular support money to Old Madam Wei. But if they pushed the second branch too far, even if they stopped paying, the village chief wouldn’t intervene.

“Leave! All of you leave!” Old Madam Wei shouted. “This is my family’s business. If I don’t agree, no one can interfere!”

She wasn’t wrong – without family consensus, outside intervention wouldn’t stick.

But her obstinate attitude finally angered Uncle Wei. Pointing a trembling finger at her, he said, “When your husband was gravely ill, he confessed about sending Ah Lang to the military for the eldest grandson’s sake. He admitted wronging the second branch. He knew you and the eldest son were schemers, while Shouzhong, though honest, had his own mind. Ah Lang’s matter had already distanced him. He asked us to help if needed and let Shouzhong split from the family if he wished. Only then could he die in peace.”

“You really think Shouzhong invited us just as witnesses? He was there then too – He was giving you face!”

The division proceeded smoothly. When Wei Shoucai and Zhuang Mei tried to make a scene, the elders scolded them.

Old Madam Wei, knowing she couldn’t stop it, tried to give the poor land to the second branch while keeping the fertile plots for Wei Shoucai.

But the village chief wouldn’t allow it, ensuring Wei Shouzhong wasn’t shortchanged. A contract was drawn up in duplicate, with both Wei Shoucai and Wei Shouzhong affixing their fingerprints.

Wei Shoucai hadn’t expected things to turn out this way. With a sneer, he said, “You’ll regret this.”

“That’s none of your concern.”

Uncle Wei sighed. “Why argue? Even after a split, brothers are still connected by blood.”

With the matter settled, they didn’t linger. Uncle Wei reminded Wei Shoucai, “The yamen has records of Ah Lang’s pension money. Your mother spent most of it on you all. As his elder brother, you’d better return it. They need it to save a life.”

After everyone left, the Wei family courtyard felt less stifling.

After all the commotion, Hui Niang felt a weight lift from her chest. While preparing medicine, she noticed coins by the medicine pot. She froze, realizing something, and glanced next door.

This child…

The couple tacitly avoided mentioning Wei Zhao’s earlier confrontation with Old Madam Wei.

Having watched the drama unfold, Wei Zhao was exhausted. He gazed at the sky.

Leading troops in battle required reading the weather.

He slowly stood.

Hui Niang: !!! Who let you get up?! Can you even stand?!

She cried out in alarm, “Ah Lang!”

Wei Zhao paused, weakly muttering, “Do you want me to move the chair?”

The one he’d just been lying on.

In your current state, move a chair?

Hui Niang frantically shook her head. “No, no, no…”

Wei Zhao’s dark eyes seemed wrapped in thick fog as he mumbled: “It’s going to rain.”

Wei Shouzhong: … What nonsense was he talking about now?

Seeing his son’s unstable state, Wei Shouzhong felt a pang of sorrow. Gently, he reassured him, “From now on, except for sending support money during festivals, we won’t associate with those who harmed you.”

Wei Zhao had no memory of Wei Shen. The Wei military had many soldiers; he couldn’t remember them all. But Wei Shen had served under him and died in battle.

“Need help?” Wei Zhao asked.

“With what?”

“If you want them dead, just tell me.”

Then, seeming to realize something, he added, “Though in my current weak state, breaking necks barehanded might be difficult.”

“However,” he looked at Wei Shouzhong, “if you give me a knife…”

Wei Shouzhong, horrified by the bold statement, quickly interrupted, “Don’t even think about it!”

Want to stab yourself again, is that it?

No means no, why shout? The last person who yelled at him had been dead long enough for grass to grow tall over their grave.

But now, Wei Zhao had no temper. His tone was merely perfunctory.

“Ah, what a pity.”