7
Forcing the Old Man to Divide the Family Assets
From the original host’s memories, she learned that the youngest son Li Mingjiang had repeatedly sneaked into the original host’s room while she was asleep, intending to do something wicked. Each time, however, the original host discovered him and resisted fiercely, even making such a scene that Granny Li found out. Because of this, Granny Li grew to despise the original host, viewing her as a fox spirit who tempted her most beloved youngest son into restless desire.
Unfortunately, the original host was only tough at home—though she wasn’t at fault, she ended up being controlled by Granny Li and Li Mingjiang after the incidents, not daring to utter a word in protest.
But she wasn’t the original host. If anyone provoked her, she would stop at nothing, even if it meant dying, to take down her enemy by the throat first.
Granny Li’s eyes blazed with fury as she glared at Gu Wenshu: “What nonsense are you trying to spout? If you dare spread unfounded rumors, I’ll tear your rotten mouth apart.”
How had this little wretch grown so bold? Before, a few threats would make her shrink back like a turtle, too scared to act. Now she was turning the tables and threatening her instead. If that matter were to be shouted aloud, her youngest son’s reputation would be ruined, and he might even be convicted of hooliganism.
Meeting Gu Wenshu’s slightly bloodshot eyes, Granny Li’s heart trembled. This woman seemed ready to go all out, fighting to the death.
She suddenly felt a twinge of fear.
Gu Wenshu leaned close to Granny Li’s ear, whispering so only the two of them could hear: “You old witch, you should understand that some things don’t need proof. If I were to prove it with my death, do you think I’d drag your precious darling down with me? That’s hooliganism—he might even face execution.Granny Li was terrified by Gu Wenshu’s crazy idea. She took two steps back, drew a deep breath, and asked, “What do you want?”
Everyone in the hall watched as Granny Li compromised, curious about what had passed between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Chen Hongzhen, thinking of the money that should be hers being divided equally, couldn’t sit still. She stood up and said, “Mother, is Third Sister-in-law bullying you?”
Gu Wenshu glanced at Chen Hongzhen: “Eldest Sister-in-law, that’s a bit unfair. How could I be bullying A Niang? Clearly, A Niang has come to her senses and wants to divide the family property properly.”
After speaking, she took the box and returned to sit beside Li Xiuran, starting to count the money inside.
Out of the corner of her eye, she didn’t miss observing everyone in the room, taking in all their expressions.
The eldest of the Li Family remained silent—no one knew what he was thinking.
The second son and his wife sat in the most inconspicuous corner; both seemed honest and had no apparent objections to the division.
Old Mr. Li’s gaze was fixed intently on her hands as she counted the money. Whether others noticed the anger in his eyes or not, she saw it clearly and was convinced that this old man was far from as simple as he appeared.
Perhaps this unassuming old man was the biggest boss in this family.
With a cheap husband who’s eyeing her like a tiger ready to kill her over selling their child, and a father-in-law coiled like a venomous snake waiting to strike her dead, this household was truly a den of tigers and wolves. Before she could secure her footing, it was best to keep her distance from these people. If she could avoid drawing a knife, she wouldn’t. Though the original owner had already lost her reputation, she still wanted to struggle and see if she could change others’ opinions. As for the grudge of how they had abused the original owner, she would settle it sooner or later.
Before that, she had to protect herself first in order to safeguard her two children.
She counted the money quickly—Great Unity banknotes plus some smaller denominations totaled five hundred and seventy-eight yuan. When she opened the passbook, her face instantly lit up.
“There’s two thousand five hundred yuan in the passbook, and five hundred and seventy-eight yuan in cash here, making a total of three thousand and seventy-eight yuan.”
She looked at Granny Li with a faint, mocking smile and said, “I just calculated that over the past ten years, Xiuran sent a total of two thousand nine hundred and twenty-six yuan back.”
Many people present had never seen a thousand yuan in their entire lives, yet Granny Li had secretly kept over two thousand for herself and tried to send off her third son’s family with just five yuan. The expressions of Seventh Uncle and the other elders turned extremely grim.
The old man coldly glared at Granny Li and asked, “Third daughter-in-law, when Xiuran had the accident, the authorities gave a thousand-yuan pension. Is it included here?”
Gu Wenshu shook her head. “Seventh Uncle, that sum isn’t in any of these passbooks.”
Li Xiuran calmly looked at his mother and said, “That money was deposited into a new passbook. Where did you put it, A Niang? Now that your son has returned safely, that money needs to be returned to the military.”
Granny Li hurriedly retorted, “You’re lying! That thousand yuan is in the passbook.”
She knew in her heart that she couldn’t keep this money, but she absolutely refused to hand over that thousand yuan. It was meant for her youngest son’s marriage and her only daughter’s dowry.
Li Xiuran frowned. “That money belongs to the state. If you take what isn’t yours, you’ll have to explain yourself to the military when they come.”
Thinking of how, over the years, his mother had repeatedly pressured him to send money home for his eldest brother, second brother, youngest brother, and sister, only to end up abusing his wife and children and even considering selling them off, the already scant affection between mother and son had been completely exhausted.
From now on, she was merely the woman who gave birth to him. In the future, he would only fulfill his filial duties like everyone else in the village. As for helping his siblings—that was out of the question.
Seventh Uncle, a retired soldier, despised behavior like Granny Li’s the most. He slammed the table and sternly said, “Hand over the passbook, or I’ll have someone send you to the police station right now.”
Then, he turned to Old Mr. Li and said, “If you can’t control your wife, then let the state do it for you.”
Those words felt like a pair of hands tightly gripping Old Mr. Li’s throat. He glared at his wife and snapped, “Hurry up and bring out the passbook!”
The eldest son, who had remained silent until then, also urged his mother to give the money to the third son so he could return it.
In the corner, the second son muttered under his breath, “Third brother is fine now, so that money should be returned. His life is more important than money.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Xiaoli tugged at her husband’s sleeve, signaling him to shut up and not meddle.
His voice was soft, but everyone present still heard it. Granny Li shot her second son a murderous glare; if there weren’t so many people around, she’d probably have grabbed a stick and beaten him to the ground.
Under pressure from all sides, Granny Li reluctantly shuffled back to her room and brought out a passbook.
She knew Seventh Uncle was a man of his word. Though she couldn’t bear to part with a thousand yuan, she dreaded going to jail even more.
Gu Wenshu unceremoniously reached out and took the passbook, finding a neat thousand yuan inside.
She said coolly, “This is Li Xiuran’s life-saving money. Didn’t it burn your hands when you held it, A Niang?”
“Or did you resent Li Xiuran for coming back and ruining your plans, costing you this thousand yuan?”
“You must have hated him to the core, thinking you could send our family of four away like beggars with just five yuan.”
After speaking, she smiled mockingly, seeing from the old hag’s expression that she had hit the mark.
Faced with a choice between the thousand yuan and her son, the old hag had chosen the money first.
She shoved the passbook into Li Xiuran’s hands. “Take your life-saving money.” Then she turned to Old Mr. Li. “Father, how should this family division proceed?”
This cruel old man thought he could scheme from the shadows, but she wouldn’t let him. She’d force him to divide the family property openly before everyone.
Wasn’t he supposed to be an honest man?
Then let everyone see how an honest man handles a family division.
He couldn’t have both wealth and reputation.