After the family division, Fu Dashi still lived in the main house.

But today, besides Fu Dashi, Fu Wenyu’s second uncle, Fu Qingshi, was also present. Fu Wenyu didn’t have a particularly strong impression of this uncle, as he had been busy with autumn plowing lately, leaving early and returning late, so they rarely crossed paths.

“Grandfather, Second Uncle.”

Fu Wenyu greeted them first, then placed the pastries on the table.

“Grandfather, these pastries were sent by Kaiyuan Bookstore. I brought them for you to try.”

Today, he planned to tell Fu Dashi about his storybook writing, so he didn’t hide the origin of the pastries. Previously, he had claimed to be copying books because the storybook hadn’t been published yet, and he didn’t want to draw too much attention. But now that he wanted to build a house, he had to come clean, as there was no way to explain the source of the money otherwise.

Sure enough, both Fu Dashi and Fu Qingshi asked in surprise, “The bookstore sent you pastries?”

“Yes, because I recently wrote a storybook, and the bookstore bought it,” Fu Wenyu explained briefly, then got straight to the point. “Grandfather, I want to build a few more rooms.”

He repeated the reasons he had given to Mrs. Zhou and added, “Mother and I don’t know much about this, so we’d like to ask for your help in arranging it.”

Fu Dashi was startled, then overjoyed. “Good, very good!”

“Building a house and acquiring land are signs of a family’s prosperity.”

“Leave this matter to this old bone of mine,” he said, his face beaming with joy. “It just so happens that your father’s hundred-day mourning period has passed, so building a house won’t be a problem. Once the autumn plowing is done, I’ll find some skilled workers in the village to get this done.”

Fu Qingshi was equally surprised. “Wen, Wenyu, you’re building a house?”

Fu Wenyu turned to his money-grubbing uncle and smiled. “Yes, I’ve earned some money recently. Second Uncle, I actually have to thank Second Aunt for this.”

Fu Qingshi repeated in confusion, “Th-thank your Second Aunt?”

“Yes,” Fu Wenyu put on a sincere expression. “If it weren’t for Second Aunt saying a while ago that I’m too weak to farm and can’t handle the land, I wouldn’t have rented out the fields and sought another way to make a living.”

“Who knew I had such talent!”

Fu Wenyu emphasized the word “talent” and deliberately acted smug.

“First, the bookstore hired me to copy books, paying me eight hundred coins a month. Then, before I even finished my first storybook, Shopkeeper Zhang from the bookstore bought it, saying it was very well written. It’s even been printed in our Liuzhou Tabloid. By the way, Second Uncle, I remember you can read, right?”

“The Liuzhou Tabloid is free this time, so you can go to the city and get a copy to read. Shopkeeper Zhang even said I don’t need to farm anymore to support my family.”

Seeing Fu Qingshi’s face flicker with various emotions, Fu Wenyu put on a happy expression and continued, “Thanks to Second Aunt for reminding me.”

“Second Uncle, thank you. Please thank Second Aunt for me when you get back.”

Fu Qingshi: “…Huh?”

Wait, his eldest nephew, who could do nothing but read, had, in less than two months since the family division, found a good job, written a storybook, earned money, and was now building a house?

Fu Qingshi suddenly felt as if his heart were on fire.

…

Fu Wenyu left the main house with a smile on his face.

The look of disbelief, regret, jealousy, and other emotions on Fu Qingshi’s face when he heard the news had been so vivid and satisfying.

He was determined to live better than his uncle!

This uncle of his had always played the role of a kind, caring man when Fu Qingshan was alive, showing concern and warmth toward his nephew. But as soon as Fu Qingshan passed away, he immediately turned his back, considering Fu Wenyu’s family a burden.

Before, Fu Wenyu had held back out of respect, but now he felt that if the second branch provoked him again, he would confront Fu Qingshi directly. During the family division, hadn’t they received a lot of money? Several times more than the first branch. So why hadn’t the second branch’s life improved after the division? It wasn’t even half as good as the first branch’s.

Hah!

He’d make sure to infuriate him.

…

Back in the main house, Fu Wenyu’s figure had already disappeared.

Fu Qingshi’s face still bore a trace of disbelief as he turned to Fu Dashi and said, “…Father, Wenyu just said he’s earned a lot of money and is planning to build a house—three rooms!”

Seeing his son’s lack of composure, Fu Dashi’s expression darkened.

“Is it not good that Wenyu has earned money?”

Fu Qingshi stiffened and quickly shook his head. “N-no, it’s not that.”

During the family division, Fu Dashi had agreed to it only because Fu Qingshi had promised to help support his eldest nephew’s family in the future. So if Fu Qingshi dared to say it wasn’t good, he knew he’d face consequences.

Fu Dashi snorted coldly.

“You should be happy for Wenyu’s success.”

“And as for Wenyu’s house, once the autumn plowing is done, you’ll take time off to help him dig the foundation with the clan members. He’s young and doesn’t know much, so we’ll have to arrange things for him.”

Fu Qingshi was reluctant and hesitated, “But Father, I was planning to go to the city to find odd jobs after the autumn plowing. I can earn a few coins a day.”

Fu Dashi waved his hand. “Not this year.”

Fu Qingshi: “…”

He didn’t dare argue and could only slump dejectedly as he wandered back to his room.

At this time, Fu Qingshi’s wife, Liu, was sitting in front of a bronze mirror, admiring a brand-new copper hairpin on her head. When she saw Fu Qingshi return, she casually asked, “You’re back, husband.”

Fu Qingshi absentmindedly grunted in response.

Just then, laughter came from the first branch’s side of the courtyard. Curious, Liu asked, “Hey, what do you think they’re laughing about over there?”

But her question went unanswered for a long time. When she turned around, she found Fu Qingshi lying on the bed, hands behind his head, lost in thought. This made her a bit angry.

“Husband, I’m talking to you!”

She complained, “You’ve been distracted ever since you came back from the main house. I ask you questions, and you don’t answer. Did Father say something to you? Did he ask us to return the land to Sister-in-law?”

Fu Qingshi spat and sat up.

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

“The land has already been divided. There’s no reason to return it. I’m thinking about something important.”

Liu turned to him, curious. “What’s so important?”

Although they were in their own room, Fu Qingshi instinctively looked around before lowering his voice and saying, “I was discussing something with Father earlier, and then Wenyu came in. He told Father he plans to build a few more rooms on their land, saying their current house is too small and cramped.”

Liu was shocked. “Where did he get the money?”

“He wrote a storybook, the kind that storytellers tell. Ah, you wouldn’t understand.” Fu Qingshi sat on the edge of the bed, growing more and more resentful. “What a pity, what a pity…”

“If we hadn’t divided the family, the money Wenyu earned from writing the storybook would have gone partly into the family fund, just like when his father was alive. But now that the family is divided, Father definitely won’t bring it up. And just now, Father said that after the autumn plowing, I shouldn’t go to the city for odd jobs but should help Wenyu build his house first.”

Thinking about the house, Fu Qingshi felt his heart burn with envy again.

“What a pity, such a pity.”

He regretted dividing the family too early, missing out on the benefits from his nephew. He also regretted not being more literate. Forget writing a storybook—he couldn’t even read one if it were placed in front of him.

Liu also felt it was a pity.

Her eyes darted around, and she thought she should find a chance to subtly remind Sister-in-law again. After all, Landlord Chen had personally promised that if the first branch was willing to marry Rong Jie, he would give two taels of silver as a thank-you gift.

Once she got the thank-you money, she would replace her copper hairpin with a silver one. The copper one just wasn’t good enough.

…

Fu Wenyu didn’t know that the second branch across the courtyard was eyeing his earnings. Having settled the matter of building the house, he once again immersed himself in the plot of The True and False Young Masters.

He had previously written about how Master Wang, from Madam Wang’s words and Nanny Zhang’s unusual behavior, sensed something was wrong and decided to investigate.

The Zhang family, in their panic, couldn’t withstand scrutiny. So, under Master Wang’s instructions, Butler Wang invited Old Zhang for a drink and successfully got him drunk. From the mouth of this worried father, the truth came out.

Wang Fugui was not Master Wang’s son.

Zhang Gousheng was!

And the drunken Old Zhang also revealed intermittently:

In fact, the Wang family was related to the Zhang family in the past. When Master Wang was young, he even looked somewhat like Old Zhang. Over time, Nanny Zhang, who had come to the Wang family to nurse Master Wang, developed a dark idea in her heart. Taking advantage of Master Wang’s absence on a business trip and the Wang family’s lack of leadership, she secretly swapped the two children!

Upon learning the truth, Master Wang was shocked—and then overjoyed!

So, did the story end here?

Would the Wang and Zhang families clear the air, the Zhang family face justice, and the Wang family reclaim their true son, Zhang Gousheng, living happily ever after?

Of course not!

He was a writer of melodramatic stories, after all.

Fu Wenyu felt he had to let ancient readers experience the creativity of modern authors. So, with a twist of his pen, he wrote the most thrilling part of the entire book.

A blood test to confirm paternity!