"Stop causing trouble for Old Mother, sign first before you leave."
The brothers lined up, each signing and pressing their handprint.
Li Xiangqin picked up the letter paper, looked it over, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Fifth Child, open the door and let them go... As for the notarization issue, we'll notify you when there's news."
The group exchanged glances. They had arrived aggressively, failed to achieve any of their goals, and were forced to sign an agreement.
Now look at this, they confusingly divided the family assets. If you say they benefited, there was no actual gain, but if you say they suffered losses, it doesn't seem like it either.
Third Brother scratched his head, feeling his entire mind was a mess, with no clue what was going on.
As soon as Zhang Jianguo and the others walked out, the people gathered at the doorway immediately looked at them.
Everyone had heard the commotion and had been waiting at the door, ready to step in and mediate if a fight broke out.
Seeing the brothers walk out unharmed, everyone's gazes scrutinized them like X-rays, especially their cheeks, which were quite rosy.
"Jianguo, did you few brothers anger your mother again?"
"We heard Aunt Li raising her voice from far away. Be careful not to hurt your health. Since Auntie is in a bad mood, you children should be more patient."
"That's right, your parents have a good relationship and good tempers; they are famous in our courtyard. Getting angry two days in a row, who knows how much grievance she's holding inside."
"It wasn't easy for your mother to raise you all; you can't chill her heart, can you?"
Listening to these blatant accusations, the brothers felt bitter as wormwood. They hadn't done anything, hadn't even had a chance to speak up and question things, but their mother had shut it all down with one maneuver.
In the end, they still had to endure the neighbors pointing fingers. Which family's sons were as aggrieved as them?
"Aunties, sisters-in-law, my mother only called us over today to discuss matters; she wasn't angry. As you all know, my mother has always had a loud voice."
"Eldest Brother is right. My mother has always been the one in charge in our family; we do whatever she says. If you don't believe us, go in and ask."
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Of course. We've been neighbors for so many years; there's nothing to hide." Zhang Jianguo adjusted his glasses, which were nearly falling apart and needed fixing when he got back.
Hearing this, the crowd was half-believing, half-doubting, but ultimately, it was someone else's family affair. They could offer a few words of advice, but they couldn't interfere.
Living in the same courtyard, every household had several children. It was common to have occasional quarrels and spats.
Since they saw each other every day, they couldn't let things get too ugly.
Zhang Jianguo didn't want to linger there and quickly urged his wife to take the children and leave.
He couldn't stand their gazes, which felt like searchlights, making him uncomfortable.
"Hurry up and go, you're embarrassing us." Wang Yulan glared at Second Brother and pushed the bicycle, leaving first.
Only Third Brother and his wife remained standing in the courtyard, looking at each other helplessly.
They were squeezed out; where could they go?
"Wife, how about we go stay at your mother's place for a few days?" Third Brother scratched his head; he didn't want to go home and face his mother right now; she was too fierce.
Zhao Meijuan glared at him and looked back at the still-open door, furious inside.
"My mother's house can't fit us all."
"Then what should we do?" Third Brother looked troubled, seeing his wife's slightly red eyes, and was at a loss.
"Let's go buy some things, and we'll eat at my mother's place tonight." She needed her mother to help her come up with an idea; that old hag was too vicious.
"Alright then~" Hearing his wife's plan, Third Brother immediately brightened up.
Wang Erying returned from grocery shopping and saw everyone gathered in the courtyard whispering, occasionally glancing at the Zhang Family's main door and pointing.
"What are you all chatting about so enthusiastically?"
"Aunt Wang, the Zhangs had a fight; their sons came to cause trouble again."
"Exactly, we could hear Aunt Xiangqin cursing from far away; it sounded infuriating."
"Aunt Wang and Aunt Xiangqin have a good relationship; why don't you go persuade her? The sons will cause trouble and then leave, leaving the old and the young behind, possibly making them sick or have an accident?"
Seeing the gossipy look in their eyes, Wang Erying gave them a reproachful look.
"You all just enjoy the excitement and don't care if things escalate. Doesn't every family have times when pots and pans clash? With many people in the house, a little dispute is normal."
"That's true, but Aunt Xiangqin really has it tough. Uncle Zhang just passed away, and the sons came to cause trouble. It's easy to guess they are towards the solatium."
"When people are after money, they recognize no relatives."
"Enough, enough, stop guessing. You can't even sort out your own family matters, yet you have the leisure to worry about others." Wang Erying hooked her basket over her arm and went home after dropping the remark.
With the house quiet, Li Xiangqin washed her face and sat back down at the sewing machine, threading the needle, the machine clattering rhythmically as she pedaled.
"Mom, I caused you trouble." Fourth Child stood beside her with her head down, her eyes red.
For her sake, Mom had essentially fallen out with her elder brothers, and she felt very guilty.
"I know what's going on with today's events; it has nothing to do with you."
Li Xiangqin replied casually without looking up,
"Do you think they were after you? They were all after your father's solatium. If I hadn't put on a show today, they would have dared to reach out and snatch it.
Taking advantage of buying you a bicycle today, I settled it all at once, which saves trouble. We are trying to live our lives; we don't have time to constantly scheme against each other."
"...What if they resent Mom later?" Fourth Child rubbed her hands, still very worried.
She had been standing behind her mother and hadn't missed the looks from her elder sisters-in-law.
"If people are bad, no matter how much heart and soul you pour into them, you won't earn gratitude. If they had any conscience, they would remember how hard your father and I worked to support them."
Li Xiangqin stopped pedaling and looked up at Fourth Child.
"Relying on others is not as good as relying on yourself. As long as I have money, I can live in a high-class nursing home when I get old, even if no one supports me."
Human nature is greedy; what good does it do to be good to them? In the end, won't you still be abandoned?
What does it matter if I scold and hit them now? Didn't they still leave dejectedly?
"Mom, rest assured, I will support you in the future." Fourth Child raised her hand to wipe her face, her gaze firm.
"Fine, before you support me, get yourself established first. As the old saying goes, lean on a mountain and the mountain will collapse, lean on a person and they will run away. If you want to provide for me in old age, you must have strength yourself.
If you rely on your husband for your livelihood after you marry, and your husband disagrees, threatening divorce—even if you are full of filial piety, you won't be able to fulfill it.
At that time, you will become a sandwich, caught between two difficulties, which will only bring more pain."
She didn't rely on anyone in this life; even her own daughter, she held no hope for.
For the remaining years, she only wanted to live comfortably and freely, never again to work like a slave.
"Mom, I won't get married in the future; I'll stay with you and take care of you."
Just as Li Xiangqin was contemplating how to start her new life, Fourth Child suddenly knelt down and made a solemn promise.
Li Xiangqin: "..."
She really is a straightforward girl, but unfortunately, being too honest means you suffer losses.