Chapter 5: Separation (Part 2) 

Everyone in the house was stunned. The eldest and second brothers turned to Lin Heng, confused. Why was he suddenly talking about separating from the family?

Although they sometimes resented how much money the third household cost, their parents had never complained. As sons, they wouldn’t question it either.

Lin Guangbai looked at his kneeling son and grandchildren, feeling an indescribable sorrow. “Get up and eat first.”

With that, he picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

Seeing their grandfather speak, the siblings stood up and quietly returned to their seats to eat.

Madam Tian opened her mouth as if to say something but ultimately remained silent, stuffing a piece of flatbread into her mouth instead.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was heavy, with everyone lost in their thoughts.

After finishing the flatbread Wanru had given her, Wanqing returned to her mother’s room. Sitting on the bed, she leaned against Madam Li.

Madam Li noticed and asked, “What’s wrong? Didn’t you eat dinner?”

“Mother, Father just asked Grandfather about separating from the family.”

“What?” Madam Li was shocked. She knew Lin Heng wasn’t the type to act impulsively. Something serious must have happened.

“Mother, I was the one who suggested it first. I want us to separate. If we do, you won’t have to work so hard and get sick. If Grandfather agrees, we can move into the old house and stay far away from here.”

Madam Li frowned. She couldn’t understand why her daughter kept bringing up separation ever since she recovered. Had the near-death experience frightened her? “Why do you keep thinking about separating? As long as your grandparents are alive, we can’t separate. The village would call us unfilial.”

“But even if we separate, we can still be filial. We can still take care of Grandpa and Grandma.”

Meanwhile, in the main hall, after dinner, Lin Guangbai returned to his room.

Lin Heng watched his father walk away without saying a word and felt uncertain. Did this mean he agreed or not?

But now that he had spoken, there was no turning back. He could only hope his father would allow their family to separate.

In his room, Lin Guangbai sat in deep thought. This was the second time Lin Heng had brought up separation. The first time was when he got married, saying he wanted to live independently afterward. Back then, Lin Guangbai had refused. Now, he was bringing it up again.

Had he been wrong all along? Should he have agreed back then?

Over the years, Lin Guangbai knew that Madam Tian had never liked Madam Li and, by extension, hadn’t treated the third household’s children well. But she had always been good to Lin Heng.

He had chosen to turn a blind eye as long as things didn’t get too extreme. After all, Madam Tian managed the household, and every family in the village dealt with mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts.

He had watched Lin Heng grow up, marry, and now raise his own family. His eldest was already fifteen, and the youngest was five. He had done his duty as a father.

Finally, Lin Guangbai told Madam Tian that he would agree to the separation. However, he didn’t specify how the property would be divided.

Madam Tian sat in silence, feeling bitter. Though she was domineering within the household, she still respected her husband’s decisions regarding major matters.

When Lin Heng learned that his father had agreed to the separation, he sat by the bed, looking at his wife with guilt.

It was his failure as a man that had made his wife and children suffer. After separating, he would work hard to make money and nurse his wife back to health.

“Father, after we separate, let’s move into the old house. These three rooms can be left vacant for Third Cousin’s marriage,” Wanqing suggested.

“But how can anyone live in the old house?” Zhiwen asked, thinking of the rundown thatched cottages.

Lin Heng also disagreed. The old house was barely standing, its roof full of holes, with only a few wooden beams intact.

“We’ll fix it up. Of course, it’s not livable in its current state,” Wanqing explained. “We’ll only take the old house, but it has to be properly repaired before we move in. As for land and food, Grandfather can decide. If we don’t get any, that’s fine—we’ll earn our own.”

To her, simply getting their own household was already a blessing. She had been prepared to leave with nothing.

Lin Heng hadn’t considered these details. He only felt guilty—guilty for not properly fulfilling his duty to his parents and for failing to provide a good life for his wife and children.

He didn’t care about property division. With his older brothers around, he would be satisfied just to be allowed to separate.

Lin Heng told his wife and children that as long as they could split from the family, he would ask for nothing else. He would find work to support them.

Zhiwen immediately said he would also work to earn money.

Wanru said she would take care of household chores.

Their younger brother said he could gather firewood.

Seeing the family’s confidence in their future, Wanqing finally felt at ease.

The next morning, everyone except Madam Li gathered in the main hall.

Madam Li had wanted to go, but Wanqing insisted she rest at home.

After breakfast, Lin Guangbai cleared his throat. The room fell silent as everyone turned to him.

He looked at his eldest son, Lin Sheng, and said, “Go and fetch the village head, as well as Great Uncle and Second Uncle.”

“Father?” Lin Sheng already knew what this was about, but he still wanted to ask.

“Just go and call them.”

Lin Sheng acknowledged the order and left.

Once the village chief, Great Uncle, and Second Uncle arrived, Lin Guangbai addressed them. “I’ve asked you all here today because I want to separate Lin Heng’s family from ours.”

“Separation?” The village chief was taken aback, as were Great Uncle and Second Uncle.

“Yes, we’re dividing the family. I’d like you all to be witnesses.”

“Guangbai, what made you decide to separate the family?” Great Uncle asked.

“Village Chief, Great Uncle, Second Uncle,” Lin Heng interjected, bowing deeply with an apologetic expression, “I was the one who requested this separation.”

“In principle, families shouldn’t separate while the parents are still alive. However, Lin Heng is not my biological son. I raised him to adulthood, and now that he has his own family, it’s time for him to establish his own household.”

Boom—

Lin Guangbai’s words were like a thunderclap, shocking those who hadn’t known the truth.

Lin Heng’s elder brothers had been aware, but their wives had not. Both of them stared in disbelief—he wasn’t their husband’s biological brother?

The realization hit them. No wonder their in-laws had agreed to the separation so easily. It turned out Lin Heng wasn’t even their real son!

Wanqing was equally stunned. Her father wasn’t actually her grandfather’s son? Then whose son was he?

Grandmother had always treated Father decently—there had been no sign that he wasn’t her own child.

Did Father know? Did Mother know? What other secrets were hidden in this story?

Wanqing’s mind filled with endless questions.

The village chief and the two uncles, however, didn’t seem surprised. They had known the truth all along.

“In that case, how do you plan to divide the assets?” the village chief asked.

“Village Chief, Great Uncle, Second Uncle,” Lin Heng replied, “I owe my parents a debt I can never repay. I don’t want any farmland. Just let me have the three thatched cottages at the old house. I have no other demands.”

Lin Heng had taken Wanqing’s advice—if they were going to separate, it was best not to live under the same roof. Since they would still be in the same village, it wouldn’t be difficult to take care of his parents when needed.

Everyone was shocked again. No land? How was the family supposed to survive?

Lin Guangbai immediately objected. “No, that won’t do. How will your family eat without land?”

Lin Heng knelt before him. “Father, you and Mother have worked so hard to raise us. I won’t let my family starve—we have our hands and feet; we will manage.”

Lin Heng was adamant. He refused to take any land or property. Aside from the house and fields, everything else was trivial.

In the end, under the witness of the village chief, Great Uncle, and Second Uncle, the agreement was finalized. Lin Heng was given one mu of dry farmland, the three thatched cottages at the old house, and 200 catties of grain. He was also given a single iron pot and a few bowls.

Since the thatched cottages were in disrepair and uninhabitable, the Lin family was required to renovate them before Lin Heng’s family moved in.

Once the separation agreement was written, the village chief assured Lin Heng that if he needed any help with the repairs, he should come to him. He would do his best to assist.

And just like that, the separation was finalized. Since Lin Heng had asked for so little, the whole process went smoothly.

Wanqing felt a little emotional. She had known that they had no real leverage in requesting a separation and had prepared for a long struggle. But in the end, it had all happened so easily.

With that, their new life was about to begin.