Those who couldn’t get past the hurdle were now making choices—one able-bodied man in exchange for twenty taels of silver could help a family survive this famine year.
Shen Wu’s family and Shen Qing Qing, hearing the news, rushed to the ancestral hall. Shen Wu anxiously pulled Grandpa Shen aside.
Clearly, he did not agree with the mutual separation.
“Father, if we really go through with the Division of Family Property and Household Separation, won’t we have to come up with twenty taels of silver too?”
In Shen Wu’s view, all Grandpa Shen needed to do was swallow his pride and coax a little. Not only could they get the second or third branch to pay, but they could also make those branches provide someone for Military Service.
“Stay out of this. Anyway, I have money now!” With that, he whispered a few words into Shen Wu’s ear.
The more Shen Wu listened, the brighter his eyes grew. “Alright then, we really should drive that old woman and her family away!”
Otherwise, how would his mother ever come back?
“Esteemed clan elders, the Shen couple’s relationship has broken down. They wish to separate mutually and divide the household. What are your thoughts?”
The village head said no more, simply pointing at the two standing in the center of the crowd.
The clan elders whispered among themselves, and then the eldest among them took out a letter.
“This is a letter written by Qiu Wa Zi’s parents while they were still alive and left with me. At the time, besides me, the village head and several other clan elders were present. We all read the contents of the letter.”
“Take another look, all of you. Is this the same letter with the same contents?” As he spoke, the letter was passed around among the clan elders.
“That’s right, this is indeed the letter from back then!”
Receiving their confirmation, the clan elder handed the letter to the village head. “Since everyone is here, let’s read it aloud. This is the arrangement the two elders made for fairness, knowing you would eventually divide the family!”
Hearing this, Shen Zhiqiu’s heart sank. “Wait, village head! Now that my parents are gone, shouldn’t I be the one in charge of the Family Property?”
“Everyone, listen. In the letter, the two elders stated: the Shen Family Property—twelve rooms, thirty mu of land, and four plots of Mountain Forest—were all Ancestral Property acquired during their lifetime. As for your own belongings, Zhiqiu, you may divide them as you wish.”
“As for fairness… back then, your concubine took all the cash—over five hundred taels. Therefore, the main branch of the Shen family does not deserve to receive the Shen Ancestral Property.”
“Why? I am a descendant of the Shen family! Why shouldn’t I get this land and Family Property?”
Shen Wu was furious. “Grandpa and Grandma were too biased! If they hadn’t favored the second branch, how could my mother have been driven away in anger?”
“Exactly! I’m not yet married, and there are also my two nieces. We need to prepare dowries for their marriages. If the Family Property isn’t divided with the main branch, how will we live in the future?” Shen Qing Qing couldn’t help but voice her opposition.
“Because those two elders had already transferred the House Deed, Land Deed, and Mountain Forest to Shen Da Shan. Whether this family divides or not, these things belong to Shen Da Shan!”
The village head’s words stirred up a thousand waves, and the surrounding villagers buzzed with discussion.
But Shen Zhiqiu looked utterly stunned. “I am their own flesh and blood! How could they do this to me?”
“Feng Meixiang, you poisonous woman! How did you bewitch my parents? How could you make them give these things to you so early on?”
Suddenly, Shen Zhiqiu’s eyes turned red. He strode forward two steps and grabbed Feng Meixiang by the collar.
Over the years, one major reason for their arguments had been that Feng Meixiang held the Shen family’s House Deed and Land Deed. Old Man Shen had personally given them to her just before he breathed his last, and many villagers had witnessed it.
He had once stooped low for this, coaxed and pleaded, but it was all in vain.
“So you knew all along. That’s why all these years, no matter what I said or did, you never trusted me. You kept everything to yourself, just waiting for this day, didn’t you!”
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Those who were struggling to get by were now making trade-offs; exchanging one male for twenty taels of silver could help a family survive this disaster year.
Shen Wu’s family and Shen Qing Qing heard the news and rushed to the ancestral hall. Shen Wu pulled at Grandpa Shen anxiously.
Clearly, he did not agree with this mutual separation.
“Father, if we really go through with the Division of Family Property and the Household Separation, won’t we also have to produce twenty taels of silver?”
In Shen Wu’s view, Grandpa Shen only needed to swallow his pride and coax them a little. Not only could they get the Second Branch or Third Branch to pay the money, but they could also make those two branches provide men for military service.
“Don’t worry about this. In any case, I have money now!” As he spoke, Grandpa Shen whispered a few words into Shen Wu’s ear.
Shen Wu’s eyes lit up as he listened. “Alright, then we definitely should kick this old woman’s family out!”
Otherwise, how would his Mother return?
“Clan elders, the Shen Family couple’s relationship is strained, and they want a mutual separation and Household Separation. What do you think?”
The village head didn’t say much, merely pointing at the two people standing in the center of the crowd.
The clan elders whispered among themselves, and then the oldest among them took out a letter.
“This was written by Qiu Wa Zi’s parents while they were still alive and left with me. At that time, besides me, the village head and several other clan elders were present and saw the contents of the letter.”
“You few, take another look and see if the contents of this letter are the same as back then!” With that, the letter was passed around among the clan elders.
“Correct, this is indeed that letter from back then!”
Having received a positive answer, the clan elder gave the letter to the village head. “Since everyone is here, read it aloud. The two elders knew you would divide the family sooner or later and made these arrangements for the sake of fairness!”
Hearing this, Shen Zhiqiou’s heart skipped a beat. “Wait a moment, village head! Now that my parents are gone, I should be the one making the decisions regarding the Family Property!”
“Everyone, listen up. In the letter, the two elders stated that the Shen Family’s property—the twelve rooms, thirty mu of land, and four mountain forests—are all Ancestral Property established while they were alive. As for your own things, Zhiqiou, you can divide them however you wish.”
“As for whether it’s fair or not… back then, your concubine took all the cash, over five hundred taels. Therefore, the eldest branch of the family is not worthy of receiving the Shen Family’s Ancestral Property.”
“On what grounds?! I am a descendant of the Shen Family! Why won’t you give me these lands and Family Property?”
Shen Wu was furious. “Grandpa and Grandma were too biased! If they hadn’t favored the Second Branch so much, how could my Mother have been driven away in anger?”
“Exactly! I haven’t even married yet, and there are still two nieces. Dowries for marriage need to be prepared. If the Family Property isn’t divided with the Eldest Branch, how will we live in the future?” Shen Qing Qing also couldn’t help but voice her opposition.
“On the grounds that before those two passed away, they had already completed the Transfer of Ownership for the House Deeds, Land Deeds, and Mountain Forests to Shen Da Shan! Regardless of whether this family is divided or not, these things belong to Shen Da Shan!”
The village head’s words were like a stone stirring up a thousand waves; the surrounding villagers were all abuzz with discussion.
Shen Zhiqiou, however, looked dazed. “I am their biological son. How could they treat me like this?”
“Feng Meixiang, you poisonous woman! How did you bewitch my parents into giving these things to you so early?”
Shen Zhiqiou’s eyes suddenly reddened. He rushed forward two steps and grabbed Feng Meixiang’s clothes.
Over the years, another major reason for their arguments was that Feng Meixiang held the Shen Family’s House Deeds and Land Deeds. They had been personally handed to her by Father Shen before he drew his last breath, witnessed by many in the village.
He had once humbled himself and tried to coax her for these, but it was to no avail.
“So you knew all along! That’s why no matter what I said or did all these years, you didn’t trust me and kept a tight grip on those things. You did it all for this day, didn’t you!”