“You’re talking nonsense. Our family doesn’t have any account books. Giving Jiang Gou-dan five yuan is already the most we can spare. Don’t think you’ll get anything else,” Grandma Jiang said anxiously, fumbling to cover her pockets.
Jiang Yuyan ignored her and turned to the brigade leader.
The brigade leader looked embarrassed. “Lao Jiang family, Jiang Yuyan is right. Since your family wants to sever ties with Gou-dan’s household, everything must be properly accounted for.”
Before Grandma Jiang could respond, Xia Hong stepped forward, blocking the brigade leader.
“Leader, how can you listen to a little girl? She’s an outsider and doesn’t understand our Lao Jiang family—sure. But don’t you know?” She glared at Jiang Yuyan and said clearly, “Our Lao Jiang family, apart from these pots and pans, has nothing. No savings either.”
Xia Hong didn’t even bother respecting Jiang Yuyan. To her, this girl was just a moneyless city brat.
Hu Ye, frustrated, pointed at Xia Hong. “You say the family has no money, but then where did they get the money to buy grain for you before? Where did they get money to bring meat?”
“Heh, Second Brother’s wife, get this straight—what happened before is before, now is now. You don’t go out, you wouldn’t know. Sure, our Guangbao has formal workers, but factory efficiency has been low in recent years, and wages have been reduced,” Xia Hong explained.
Hu Ye didn’t believe her, but she couldn’t find evidence to prove the family had money.
Jiang Yuyan gently held Hu Ye’s hand, signaling her not to get worked up.
Ignoring Xia Hong, she turned to Grandma Jiang and asked again:
“Grandma, are you sure that besides pots and pans, the Lao Jiang family has no savings at all?”
Without hesitation, Grandma Jiang nodded. “Yes, certain, absolutely none!”
Jiang Yuyan then looked at the brigade leader. “Leader, you just heard them. Please issue a certificate and give me the Lao Jiang household account book.”
Grandma Jiang became wary. “You want the account book? Why should I give it to you?”
“I’m going to the bank to report the passbook lost. Grandma, don’t you think that with today’s technology, you can just say there’s no money and that’s it?”
Looking around at everyone in the Lao Jiang family, she slowly curled her lips into a smile.
“I won’t just report your passbook lost, Grandma. I’ll report my eldest and third uncle’s as well. I believe, except for a few truly penniless, I should be able to access the funds—”
“Wait!” Grandma Jiang gasped, struggling to breathe, her vision darkening.
She hadn’t expected this young girl from the Second Branch to be so ruthless, so absolute in her actions.
If she really carried out this plan, by tomorrow, everyone in the brigade would know exactly how much money the Lao Jiang family had.
There was no way she could investigate it herself, and even the account book—Grandma Jiang dared not hand it over lightly anymore.
Taking a deep breath, she forced a bitter smile toward the Second Branch.
“My child, I… I am doing this for your own good. Your family has some crippled, some criminal—do you want the Lao Jiang family to collapse along with you?”
Jiang Gou-dan gripped her hand in pain, crying out:
“Mother, you are my mother, and the grandmother to Mu Xuan and Mu Yi! Why won’t you give us a chance to live? Ten or so yuan could save them, so why won’t you give it?”
Grandma Jiang’s heart trembled. This was the first time the Second Branch had cried out like this. Her voice sent chills down Grandma Jiang’s spine.
Xia Hong, seeing Grandma Jiang falter, quickly signaled her sister-in-law, pulling Grandma Jiang aside.
“Second Brother—”
Jiang Yuyan interrupted. “Brigade Leader, I believe Grandma has already planned the split according to the rules. Please handle this for us quickly. Our family also needs to go to the hospital—time is pressing, so please forgive us.”
Xia Hong gritted her teeth. This little girl’s words were sharp and effective, shutting down all her arguments.
The brigade leader decisively called in several people and ignored the rest of the Lao Jiang family, counting everything item by item.
As for the money, Jiang Yuyan glanced at Grandma Jiang, who was avoiding eye contact. A single look from Jiang Yuyan made Grandma Jiang tremble, realizing this young girl was thorough and ruthless. She no longer dared resist and went inside, rummaging around until she pulled out a battered metal box.
“All the Lao Jiang family’s cash and bills are here. But of my three sons, only I and my husband, five shares in total, I will give the Second Branch one share.”
The brigade leader and Jiang Yuyan entered to personally count the money and bills. Once tallied, they brought out a stack belonging to the Second Branch.
“Total: 351 yuan plus miscellaneous bills. Gou-dan’s household, take it.”
Hu Ye’s hands trembled as she held the stack tightly. With this money, Mu Xuan and Mu Yi could be saved.
Jiang Yuyan then guided her father through the paperwork, step by step, signing and stamping, which calmed the bewildered Jiang Gou-dan.
Within half an hour, the split and severance between the Lao Jiang family and Gou-dan’s household was complete.
Jiang Gou-dan held the severance agreement, tears streaming down his face—pain, confusion, but also relief.
Grandma Jiang, seeing so much money leave at once, felt her heart bleed and immediately began berating the Second Branch.
“You Second Branch, you’re no longer part of the Lao Jiang family. Pack your things and leave—nothing but a bunch of unlucky folk!”
“Elder Jiang, no need to say it. I already feel the same. Let’s go pack and leave,” Jiang Yuyan said, guiding her parents to gather their things without waiting for Grandma Jiang’s reaction.
The five members of Jiang Gou-dan’s household lived in the two smallest rooms of the Lao Jiang house—short, narrow, dark, with no sunlight.
Inside, Hu Ye looked helplessly at her daughter, fearing she would be displeased. “Yuyan, this… this…”
Jiang Yuyan glanced around. Apart from thin bedding and a small wardrobe, there was nothing.
“First, pack your things. Then we’ll ask the brigade leader if there are any other houses in the village we can stay in.”
Hu Ye and her husband nodded. Whatever Jiang Yuyan said, they would do without question, completely trusting this daughter they had just met.
After packing, they had two large bundles and three bowls—no basin, as the Lao Jiang family claimed there was only one and refused to give it.
Jiang Gou-dan and Hu Ye stepped out, bewildered, unsure of what the future held or how they would survive.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Yuyan stopped and looked at them.
They quickly snapped out of it and hurried to follow. “Nothing, nothing. By the way, Nuan-nuan, where are we going now? Your eldest brother is still in the hospital. Only your third brother is watching over him.”
Jiang Yuyan nodded. “We’re going to the brigade leader to secure a place to stay. Once the belongings are set, we’ll go together to the hospital to see my eldest brother.”
Just as they arrived, the brigade leader understood their intention.
“Gou-dan, you know, besides that rundown house at the end of the village no one dares to live in, there’s nowhere else in the village to give your family.”
Jiang Yuyan frowned. “Leader, what’s wrong with that house?”