The Second Brother and Third Brother exchanged a glance and shook their heads one after another.
“Mom, we will listen to whatever you say.”
Even if we objected, you wouldn't listen to us, and might even scold us or slap us twice.
Since the Eldest Brother didn't gain anything, they didn't care either way.
Li Xiangqin snorted, "You're being sensible enough."
“Lao Liu, prepare paper and pen. Write down what I say as an agreement, then everyone sign and affix their handprint. I will keep this agreement, and later I'll ask how to get it notarized and filed as a will.”
“...Okay.”
Lao Liu ran to the room, took out a sheet of letter paper, spread it on the table, and waited attentively with wide eyes.
“A will!”
Li Xiangqin took a sip of water to moisten her throat, sweeping her gaze over her sons and daughters-in-law, whose expressions varied.
“Article One: The house currently occupied in the Machinery Factory Family Courtyard. After I pass away, the four brothers will divide it equally. Before that, all children have the right to reside there and cannot be driven out under any pretext, unless they leave voluntarily.
Article Two: The solatium from my Old Partner's compensation will be reserved for Lao Wu and Lao Liu as education funds. I will manage it personally and have the freedom to use it; no one is allowed to interfere.
Article Three: Lao Si will take over his father's job and will no longer participate in the division of the real estate.
Article Four: Lao Wu and Lao Liu are minors. As their mother, I will support them until they graduate. As for their future marriage and employment, that will depend on the situation. During this time, I will not burden my elder brothers regarding their marriage or job prospects.
Article Five: If I live past the age of sixty, all children must fulfill their duty of support, each submitting ten percent of their monthly salary as support funds, which cannot be delayed.”
After Li Xiangqin finished speaking, she walked behind Lao Liu.
“Have you written it down?”
“I wrote everything you said, Mom, take a look.” Lao Liu immediately picked up the letter paper and handed it over.
Li Xiangqin glanced at it, wrote her name and the date, and affixed her handprint.
“You all look at it too. If you agree, sign and affix your handprints.”
Zhang Jianguo was the first to take it, reading from beginning to end, then passing it to the Second Brother...
After everyone had gone through it once, Zhang Jianguo pushed up his glasses and coughed,
“It looks fine...”
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Zhang Yanli.
“Mom, what does your last article mean? The three brothers end up getting nothing, yet they still have to pay money in the end? That’s not fair.”
“Are your ears stuffed with donkey hair? Didn't you hear the real estate is divided equally, or were you pretending to be deaf during the accounting just now? Do you want me to list it out for you separately?
When it comes to taking advantage, you act like a quail, but when it’s time to work, you’re full of excuses. I wouldn't say anything to you, out of consideration for my two grandsons, but if you don't appreciate the respect I'm showing you, don't blame me for being impolite.”
Li Xiangqin took a step forward, startling Zhang Yanli, who quickly hid behind Zhang Jianguo, covering her face.
“What are you trying to do?”
“Rest assured, you weren't born to me, so I won't hit you.”
After saying that, Li Xiangqin raised her hand and slapped her Eldest Son twice across the face.
“You unfilial brat! Did you study only to end up with the brains of a dog? Daring to act aggressively in front of your mother! I’ll beat you to death, you bastard.”
After two slaps, the glasses perched on Zhang Jianguo’s nose fell to the ground with a snap, leaving him completely stunned. Then, his face flushed red as he roared,
“Mom, why did you hit me again?”
“Zhang Yanli is your wife; her disrespect towards your mother is your responsibility. If I don't hit you, who should I hit?”
Zhang Jianguo: “...”
He confirmed once again that he shouldn't have shown up today.
Li Xiangqin snorted and glanced lightly at the Second Brother and Third Brother. Their faces immediately tightened, and they pulled their respective wives a step back.
Zhang Yanli lowered her eyelids. Realizing her Mother-in-law wasn't going to lay a hand on her, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“According to Mom’s logic, can I also give my own mother support money?”
“That is a domestic matter between you two; your mother won't interfere.” Li Xiangqin shot her a sidelong glance, completely unconcerned.
Zhang Yanli was stunned and looked up at her Mother-in-law’s eyes. She couldn't quite understand this Old Hag.
All the other mothers-in-law around her, ever since marrying a daughter-in-law, were always on high alert, terrified that the daughter-in-law would secretly support her maternal home.
This Old Woman truly didn't care?
She couldn't believe it.
“When that time comes, just don't go threatening to die, Mom.”
“Stop using that to disgust me. In all the years you've been married to the Eldest Son, have I ever seen you give a single cent? Me helping with laundry, cooking, and childcare was to ease the burden on the Eldest Son; I never expected your thanks.
But what about Lao Si? She doesn't owe you anything, yet she has been washing dirty clothes and diapers for years. Did you, as the Eldest Sister-in-law, ever thank her once? Or buy her a single hair tie?
You have white hair all over yourself, yet you insist others are demons. Why don't you take a look in the water basin to see if you even have the standing to say that?”
Zhang Yanli listened to her Mother-in-law’s barrage of retorts, her entire face flushing red, and she immediately shut up.
The Eldest Son and his Wife were utterly defeated. The Second Brother and Third Brother exchanged glances and gave up their thoughts.
Only Zhao Meijuan looked mournfully at Li Xiangqin, twisting her hands together.
“Mom, I know you want to treat everyone equally. Parents always want their children to live well. But reality is what it is; most parents favor the weaker child.
Take our family as an example: Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law have respectable jobs, and the Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law come from cadre families. Only Jianshe has no backing. Doesn't Mom need to consider our situation carefully?”
Zhao Meijuan’s meaning was clear: we two are the weakest and poorest, so we should get a larger share.
The Third Brother’s eyes lit up when he heard this.
“Yes, Mom, Meijuan has poor health and no job. I haven't become a regular employee yet either. We are the most struggling in the family, so Mom should consider our actual circumstances more.”
As soon as the Third Brother said that, Zhao Meijuan knew things were going south and hated Zhao Jianshe to death in her heart.
She had deliberately avoided talking about herself, not wanting her Mother-in-law to use her as a stepping stone for public humiliation. But the brainless Zhang Jianshe dragged her out to be displayed, making her feel embarrassed.
As expected, Li Xiangqin paced over to the two of them.
“What, you think you're entitled because you're weak? Others either studied well or were lucky. But you were blind enough to marry an unemployed sickly person who looks miserable every day, as if she can’t afford to live.
Didn't you bring this upon yourself? I thought you enjoyed this kind of life. At least I arranged a job for you. As for your wife, that is your responsibility.”
Zhao Meijuan’s neck turned bright red from shame, wishing she could find a crack in the floor to crawl into.
Seeing this situation, everyone couldn't help but sigh at how sharp-tongued Mom was!
“Mom, how can you talk like that?” The Third Brother was displeased.
“Which part of what I said was wrong? Does she have a job? Isn't she a sickly person?”
“Waaah... Your Zhang Family is bullying people too much, I don't want to live anymore.” Zhao Meijuan covered her face, unable to stay any longer, and turned to run out.
“Lao Wu, close the door and stop her!” Li Xiangqin called out to Lao Wu, who was guarding the door, directly blocking her exit.