“You… fine, fine, fine! So you, Second Brother, think this way too!”
Seeing Shen Da Shan remain silent, Grandpa Shen’s expression turned ugly. “You’ve all been led astray by this poisonous woman! The whole family insists on tearing itself apart. If that’s the case, then divorce by repudiation it is!”
“Divorce by repudiation is impossible. Only mutual separation is allowed. It’s best if we part on good terms. As long as you agree to mutual separation and sever kinship ties with the second and third branches, the family property will be divided into three shares. Think it over!”
“You… you’re dreaming! My own sons, and you’re urging them to sever ties with me? You poisonous woman, you truly are vicious!”
Grandpa Shen was so enraged he was about to charge forward, but Shen Hong stopped him.
“Or are you planning to make me expose your disgraceful affair in Taohua Alley today? I could have given you nothing at all. But these two are, after all, your children. Consider it as money for your old age. Severing ties won’t leave you at a loss.”
“How do you know… Shen Xixi, did you say something improper in front of your grandma?!”
Grandpa Shen quickly realized and glared furiously at Shen Xixi, roaring.
“Grandpa, I didn’t say anything. It’s just that you and an auntie went into a carriage, stayed inside for half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and the carriage was rocking…”
Shen Xixi was about to continue when Liu Taohua quickly covered her mouth.
“Hahaha, half a cup of tea’s time! Looks like Scholar Shen really is getting old.”
“Oh, no wonder! So he has a mistress. And he still has the nerve to demand divorce by repudiation.”
“The Shen family has been impoverished these past few years, right? Their son is so ill, yet they don’t get him treatment but have money to go out looking for women? What kind of person is this? I support Aunt Feng’s request for mutual separation.”
“A man whose heart isn’t at home—what’s the use of keeping him?”
“Exactly! If she weren’t utterly heartbroken, with the second and third branches living such difficult lives, why would Aunt Feng want mutual separation and to sever kinship ties?”
“Ah, you! Old habits die hard. Back then, you ruined your future over a brothel girl, even cutting off your path to the imperial examinations. Your parents died of anger because of you. Now, at this age, you’re still stirring up trouble and disrupting the household.” The village head’s father and Shen Zhiqiu’s father were brothers.
Second Uncle died before he was fifty—wasn’t it because of this unfilial descendant?
“Elder Brother, this is all nonsense from a child!”
Shen Zhiqiu still tried to defend himself, but inwardly, he hated Shen Xixi even more.
“You know it’s a child? What does a child understand? Could she make up such lies to deceive people? Divorce by repudiation? You’re dreaming! Only mutual separation is allowed. I’ve decided this matter. Don’t even think about it!”
“As for severing kinship ties, you think it over yourself. If you want a share of the family property, you must sever ties. Even if you don’t want the property, mutual separation is still the only option!”
The village head was utterly disappointed in this cousin of his. The clan elders behind him also shook their heads. “What a sin! A good life, and you won’t live it properly.”
“Father, sever ties then! With the state of the second and third branches, can we really expect them to provide filial support money in the future? If we don’t sever ties, what if Second Brother comes to you for money for his treatment? What if Third Brother asks you for money for his studies? This whole family is nothing but a burden.”
Shen Wu’s wife, Du Shi, grew anxious. How could the family property be divided without giving a share to the main branch?
“That’s right, Father! Claim the house. We don’t want the mountain, just one-third of the land. If you don’t make a clean break now, when Mother finds out, she’ll surely be furious. What if she stops giving us money then?”
Shen Wu whispered quietly into Old Man Shen’s ear, believing that only when their father took charge of the household would their eldest branch of the family have a good life. As for those fields, since no one in their family farmed, having so much land wasn’t particularly useful—a large house was far more practical.
Later, when they went to Fucheng, he could ask Mother for some silver, spend it to marry a concubine, and have a few more sons—that was the real priority.
Clearly, Shen Wu’s words struck a chord with Grandpa Shen. A gleam shone in his eyes. With Shen Da Shan incapacitated, and only Shen Wenxing, a half-grown boy from the second and third branches, available to farm the land, it would be impossible to manage. Even with the fields, they would just lie fallow.
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“You… fine, fine, fine. Old Second, you think this way too!”
Seeing Shen Da Shan remain silent, Grandpa Shen’s expression turned grim. “You’ve all been led astray by this venomous woman. You’re hell-bent on tearing the family apart. Since that’s the case, then I will divorce you by repudiation.”
“Divorce by repudiation is impossible. It can only be a mutual separation. It’s best we part on good terms. As long as you agree to a mutual separation and sever kinship ties with the Second Branch and Third Branch, the Family Property will be divided into three parts. Think about it!”
“You… you’re dreaming! My own sons—you’re inciting them to sever ties with me? You venomous woman, you truly are cruel!”
Grandpa Shen was so furious he was about to rush forward, but he was stopped by Shen Hong.
“Then are you prepared for me to reveal the scandalous things you did today in Taohua Alley? I could have given you nothing at all, but since these two are your children after all, consider this your retirement money. You won’t lose out by severing ties.”
“How did you know… Shen Xixi, what nonsense did you spout in front of your Grandma!”
Grandpa Shen reacted quickly, turning to roar at Shen Xixi with a look of fury.
“Grandpa, I didn’t say much. I just saw you and an auntie get into a carriage. You were inside for about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, and the carriage was shaking for a while…”
Shen Xixi was about to say more when Liu Taohua immediately covered her mouth.
“Hahaha, only half a cup of tea’s time? It seems Scholar Shen truly has grown old.”
“Oh, no wonder. So he has a lover, yet he has the nerve to demand a divorce by repudiation.”
“Hasn’t the Shen Family been destitute these past few years? His son is this sick, yet instead of getting the child medical treatment, he has money to go out and find women. What kind of person is he? I support Aunt Feng’s mutual separation.”
“A man whose heart isn’t with his family—what’s the use of keeping him?”
“Exactly. If her heart wasn’t completely broken, why would Aunt Feng demand a mutual separation and sever ties, especially considering how difficult life is for the Second and Third Branches?”
“Oh, you… you never change. Back then, you ruined your future over a prostitute, even cutting off your path to the imperial examination. You even angered your parents to death. Now, at your age, you’re still causing such unrest in the household.” The village head’s father and Shen Zhiqiou’s father were biological brothers.
When the Second Uncle died, he wasn’t even fifty. Wasn’t he angered to death by this unfilial descendant?
“Big Brother, this is all just a child’s nonsense!”
Shen Zhiqiou tried to defend himself, his hatred for Shen Xixi intensifying.
“You know she’s a child too? What does a child know? Could she make up such lies to deceive people? Dreaming of a divorce by repudiation? It can only be a mutual separation. I’m making the decision on this; don’t even think about anything else!”
“And you think over the matter of severing kinship ties yourself. If you want a share of the Family Property, you sever ties. If you don’t want the property, it still has to be a mutual separation!”
The village head was utterly disappointed in this younger cousin. The several clan elders behind him also shook their heads. “What a sin. Why can’t they just live a good life?”
“Father, if we sever ties, then we sever ties. Look at the state of the Second and Third Branches; do you really expect them to give you any filial piety money in the future? If we don’t sever ties, what happens when Old Second needs money for his illness or Old Third needs money for his studies? This whole family is nothing but a burden.”
Shen Wu’s wife, Du Shi, grew anxious. How could the Division of Family Property not include the Eldest Branch?
“That’s right. Father, take the house. We don’t need the mountain; just one-third of the land will do. If you don’t cut ties cleanly now, Mother will surely be angry when she finds out. What if she stops giving us money then?”
Shen Wu whispered urgently into Old Man Shen’s ear. He felt that as long as his father was in charge of the household, the Eldest Branch would have a good life. As for those fields, no one in their family worked the land anyway; having too much was useless. The large house was much more practical.
Once they were in Fucheng, he could get some silver from Mother and then spend it to marry a concubine and have a few more sons—that was the real priority.
Clearly, Shen Wu’s words moved Grandpa Shen. A sharp glint appeared in his eyes. Shen Da Shan was a cripple now, and in the Second and Third Branches, only Shen Wenxing was a half-grown boy. He couldn’t manage the farming alone, so the land would just go to waste anyway.