At the same time, at the Wei family home.
“My son is calling the police to arrest his own father—this is simply a thunderbolt from the heavens striking us! Fellow villagers, please judge this fairly. If it weren’t for Old Wei bringing this little ungrateful wretch home back then, he would have starved to death out there already…”
Liu Gaihua raised her voice loudly, sitting on the ground and crying out her grievances.
Behind her, Old Wei sat silently, smoking a dry tobacco pipe with a troubled expression.
The Wei family’s second son—Wei Jiadong, only two years younger than Wei Ye, was also shouting at the house with deep resentment.
“My father picked you up. You ate and drank in our house without spending a cent. You got 1,000 yuan, and when asked for 500 you couldn’t even bear to give it. And you still had the nerve to call the police? People like you, ungrateful wretches, no wonder even the Army didn’t want you!”
A large crowd had gathered at the doorway to watch the commotion, and they all pointed and whispered at Wei Ye.
“My goodness, he got 1,000 yuan? No wonder he doesn’t want to share with his family.”
“He really has no conscience. The Wei family raised him; giving half as filial piety would’ve been reasonable…”
Most of them sided with the Wei family.
Old Wei’s couple had always been skilled at presenting themselves. Old Wei, in particular, had always maintained the image of an honest and kind man, and his reputation in the village had been good.
The Production Team Leader Liu Yong arrived with a dark expression and rushed straight into the Wei household.
“Wei Ye, come out here! Look at the trouble you’ve caused—higher authorities are already calling me to question this matter. You’re bringing shame to Honghe Village!”
Wei Ye, who had finally gotten a day of rest, had been kept awake by their noise.
He put on a coat and walked out. Seeing the courtyard filled with people, he let out a cold, mocking smile.
“Everyone, is this a stage play? Are you all here acting?”
Liu Gaihua saw that the “brat” had finally come out and immediately pushed through the crowd, raising her hand to slap him.
“You beast! I’ll beat you to death today!”
Unfortunately, Wei Ye was not someone who would endure abuse. He effortlessly raised his hand to block her and pushed her away.
Liu Gaihua staggered back several steps, then immediately wailed even louder.
“Oh heavens! He’s even trying to hit his own mother! Everyone saw that!”
Several women who were close to Liu Gaihua immediately stepped forward and pointed at Wei Ye, cursing loudly.
“You wretched thing struck by lightning! You dare push your mother in front of everyone—who knows how you treat them in private!”
Wei Ye looked at them with cold eyes and said sternly: “All of you acting like righteous judges—do you think the police comrade handled things unfairly last night? Should I call them back again?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the women instantly fell silent. Wei Ye’s sharp gaze also made them feel somewhat afraid.
A few fair-minded villagers stepped forward and said: “The Public Security already said yesterday that Wei Ye’s subsidies are for medical treatment. Since he hasn’t even been treated yet, taking half of it right away isn’t appropriate.”
Just as he finished speaking, Liu Gaihua glared fiercely at him.
“Stop talking nonsense! His illness can’t be cured anyway. Continuing treatment would just waste money. What’s wrong with taking half to support the family? Which grown child doesn’t support their parents? Besides, he isn’t even related by blood. We raised him—filial piety is only natural!”
Wei Ye let out a mocking laugh.
“Don’t talk such nonsense. The doctor said it can be treated, yet you insist it can’t. Are you saying you know better than the doctor?”
“Anyone with eyes knows what kind of childhood I had—never enough food, never enough clothing, endless labor. Even a landlord’s servant didn’t suffer like I did.
I joined the army at sixteen. You negotiated with the military leaders and took all my allowances every year. Thirty yuan a month, 360 a year—over five years, that’s 1,800 yuan. And you still have the nerve to stand here and talk about raising me. Anyone with even a shred of shame wouldn’t be thinking about my medical money.”
As soon as these words came out, the watching villagers were stunned.
The Wei couple had always claimed poverty and constantly said Wei Ye was unfilial. Who would have thought they had taken so much money over the years?
Some observant villagers also noticed that the Wei family’s clothing and appearance were better than most. In times when most households struggled to eat, this family looked well-fed and plump. It was nothing like Liu Gaihua’s claim of living frugally.
Those who had just spoken in their favor all fell silent.
Human nature was like this—once they heard how much money the Wei family had taken, jealousy and dissatisfaction immediately rose among the villagers.
Even Production Team Leader Liu Yong frowned.
“Old Wei, is what your eldest son said true?”
Old Wei blinked, still maintaining his honest appearance, and stood up with a foolish smile.
“Oh, it’s not that much. We don’t get it many times a year.”
Liu Gaihua also quickly added: “Brother Yong, don’t listen to this ungrateful wretch spouting nonsense. We don’t have that much money.”
Liu Yong remained doubtful, but since there were so many people present, he gave his cousin Liu Gaihua a meaningful look.
“Gaihua, no matter what, Wei Ye has called you mother for so many years. There’s no need to argue with a younger generation. If you can live together, then do so. If not, then divide the household and stop making a fuss that disturbs everyone.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Gaihua immediately had thoughts forming in her mind.
That’s right—this brat Wei Ye was not as easy to control as before. He had even brought up his military allowance earlier; he might try to take it back.
Her younger son Jiadong had never liked Wei Ye anyway. And since her son was about to get married, having an extra troublemaker in the house was not ideal.
Constantly arguing with him was indeed more troublesome than separating.
Thinking of this, Liu Gaihua immediately said: “Then we’ll split the family!”
Old Wei opened his mouth but said nothing in the end.
Seeing his cousin’s eagerness, Liu Yong’s suspicions were confirmed. With her stingy nature, she would definitely squeeze everything out of Wei Ye before kicking him out.
Being so anxious now likely meant Wei Ye’s words were true.
Liu Yong’s expression darkened.
His son was going to marry a city girl, but they still lacked a 200-yuan bride price. He had mentioned it to his cousin before, but she had said there was no money.
She had even suggested using Wei Ye’s subsidies instead, and they could “borrow” them after obtaining them.
Liu Yong had thought he had been controlling his cousin all these years, but he had not realized she had already been guarding against him.
However, this was not the time for internal conflict.
The priority was to drive Wei Ye out first. Once that was done, the entire Wei family would still be under their control.
“Since that’s the case, we’ll divide the household.”
Then Liu Yong looked at Wei Ye and said: “Wei Ye, you’re not the Wei family’s biological son, so you naturally cannot inherit the house or land. However, considering we’re from the same village, I can arrange for you to stay at Old Madam Qin’s house.”
Old Madam Qin had once been kidnapped by bandits and forced to become a bandit’s wife. After the bandits were wiped out, she managed to escape.
She had lost her honor and lived quietly with her family afterward. Later, after her only younger brother died of illness and her parents took their own lives, she suffered a mental shock.
Since then, she had lived alone in three rooms of her old house, rarely speaking and having a strange temperament, barely interacting with villagers.
Wei Ye let out a cold laugh.
“I refuse.”