I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel-Chapter 356 - 311: The Family Split

After Shen Yanrong’s account, Jiang Mingyue learned that her grandmother’s family was having a dispute over dividing the family property.

The good news was that it was proposed by her elder uncle, and her grandmother also agreed, with her grandfather tacitly acknowledging it.

The current issue was how to divide it.

In her grandparents’ house, there were four main rooms and two side rooms. At present, the main rooms were occupied by her elder uncle’s family and her grandparents, while the third uncle’s family lived in the side rooms. Her grandmother’s idea was to keep things as they were, without any changes. The main rooms should be occupied by the elder uncle’s family because they had two sons, and also because the grandparents were to live with them.

In Tiansheng Bridge, it wasn’t a given that the elderly should naturally live with the eldest son; it all depended on mutual willingness. Clearly, it was a two-way street. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

But the problem was, is it reasonable?

In terms of quantity alone, it wasn’t reasonable. Currently, the elders occupied one room, and the other three rooms were taken by the elder uncle’s family. Does having more sons mean you get more?

Moreover, the main rooms were newer tile-roofed houses, while the side rooms were old and shabby straw houses. It was clearly unreasonable to anyone with eyes.

As for money, the elders claimed there wasn’t any, so it wasn’t divided.

There was certainly some, and by saying so, the elders appeared to favor the eldest son’s family. Since they’d be living with them, the money in their hands wouldn’t withstand the deductions from the eldest son’s wife.

But all the sons being treated this way was simply outrageous to the underworld.

Jiang Mingyue thought this couldn’t be resolved anytime soon; there would be a lot of back and forth.

And this was indeed the case.

At Tiansheng Bridge Village, the matter of the Shen Family’s property division had dragged on for five days since it was proposed, without any progress. The eldest son’s family insisted on staying in the main rooms, while the third son’s family insisted on staying in the side rooms. Meanwhile, the two elders remained silent.

Old Third, Shen Fangmai, was completely disillusioned this time, realizing that the silence of his parents was a way to force him to compromise.

After years of compromising, he would no longer do so this time.

Not for himself, but for his wife and children. All these years, his compliance had caused them endless suffering.

He knew clearly that if he compromised this time, he’d never regain his dignity. The eldest son’s family wouldn’t think he was considering familial ties; they’d just see him as someone easy to bully, a big fool they could trample any time.

After dinner, Shen Fangmai stopped his wife, who was about to do the dishes, and told his daughter to run an errand. "Yan Guo, take these bird eggs over to Xingxing and call your Uncle Captain over."

Shen Yanguo swallowed back her words; she guessed her father was planning to finally divide the family property today.

Su Lianyun understood her husband’s intentions, as he had already discussed it with her. She was mentally prepared, but still worriedly asked him in a low voice.

Su Lianyun: "Are just five bird eggs enough to persuade Captain Liu to come?"

Shen Fangmai replied in a low voice, "He’ll come. I visited Captain Liu last night." He had sent someone to bring a pack of premium cigarettes from the city to give to him. Just because he usually didn’t fight or compete didn’t mean he was foolish. Captain Liu liked smoking, so he gave him a good pack, making sure he was both substantively and superficially satisfied.

Seeing her husband so confident, Su Lianyun also calmed down.

Elder sister-in-law Fan Xiaocui noticed that neither the dishes nor the chopsticks had been cleared from the table, while the third brother-in-law and his wife were whispering to each other in the courtyard. Even their little girl was nowhere to be seen, and she immediately started shouting loudly.

"Oh my! Some people just know how to eat, and after eating, they don’t even clear or wash the dishes. In any other family, their mother-in-law would’ve long driven them back to their maternal home!"

The couple from the third branch, who had their heads together, suddenly looked up upon hearing Fan Xiaocui’s mockery.

Su Lianyun frowned, "Sister-in-law, out of sixty meals a month, wasn’t it always us from the third family cleaning up? If your memory’s bad, I can help you recall. All these years, our third family has been busy both inside and outside, working on everything.

But your family, whenever you come back, you hide in the room and only come out when you smell the food."

Fan Xiaocui’s face turned sour, "Su Lianyun, what are you talking about? Our family has five people earning work points, more than your three, so we should get an extra share of food every time. Naturally, your third family should do more housework—how can you not understand?"

Su Lianyun chuckled angrily, "Your family has five people earning work points, but ask yourselves, has there been a single month where your total points exceeded ours?

Yes, our third family has one less person than your family, but you also have one more person eating, don’t you? Moreover, your family takes leave frequently, while our third family works tirelessly year-round. Even when my daughter had a fever, she was still working in the fields, yet you still think we should come back and do housework because we earn fewer work points?

By your logic, shouldn’t it be your family that’s responsible for housework?"

Fan Xiaocui gritted her teeth in anger. Since when did the third family start to talk back? Weren’t they always the quiet sort who just buried their heads in work like an old ox? Now they had gotten slick with their words.

Seeing that Su Lianyun was determined, Fan Xiaocui rolled her eyes and suddenly laughed at her, "Oh my! We’re family, no need to be so particular. Please help with the dishes, sister-in-law. I’m really not feeling well today. Oh, no! I’m feeling really dizzy... Qingmei, come support me back to the room to rest."

Su Lianyun: "Wait up, Sister-in-law! Just at the right time, let’s talk this over. This division of the family can’t drag on indefinitely, especially since Captain Liu will be coming over."

Su Lianyun’s words immediately drew disapproving glares from the two elders who had been silent all along.

In the end, it was Shen Weiguo who spoke first, but not to his third daughter-in-law. Instead, he looked at Shen Fangmai with anger.

"Third, if you agree, just let me know. Why call Captain Liu?"

Shen Fangmai sneered inwardly, "Dad, you’re mistaken. Precisely because this is a significant matter like dividing the family, it’s natural to call a witness. We also need to write it down in black and white, to prevent certain people from denying it later."

Shen Weiguo’s face turned dark, "We’re family, what’s there to deny? Your mother and I are still alive! Do you think we’ll give you less?"

Shen Fangmai looked at Shen Weiguo with a smile, "Clear accounts among brothers. Since big brother suggested dividing the family, let’s make it clear. It’s good for everyone. Dad, why are you so mad about this? Could it be that you knew you were unfair to me and feel guilty?"

Enraged, Shen Weiguo picked up a water pipe to throw at the third son, when someone entered the courtyard.

The newcomer was indeed Captain Liu.

"Uncle Shen, let’s talk this over peacefully. Violence won’t solve anything. I’m here today as a witness. Have you all discussed it thoroughly?"

Faced with an outsider, Shen Weiguo was momentarily at a loss.

Shen Fangmai felt contempt in his heart. When there were no outsiders, his dad and mom favored the first branch as much as they could, but now faced with an outsider, they were too embarrassed to say it, right?

So he might as well speak openly for them.

"Captain Liu, we’re nearly done. My big brother, my dad, and my mom are waiting for me to agree. But I refuse."

Actually, Shen Fangmai had already explained everything last night when he went to Captain Liu’s house. He had understood it clearly.

In the past, Shen Fangmai’s family was always the hardworking, uncomplaining old ox. As a captain, he saw it clearly, but since the old ox didn’t complain, why should he be the villain?

He actually never liked Shen Fangmai’s timid demeanor. No matter what step you take, people have to rely on themselves to stand upright.

But he didn’t expect that the guy who usually didn’t speak would turn out to be insightful last night when he sought him out. Only then did he realize that some people are deep and unfathomable, and the Shen Family would regret it in the future.

"Then let’s hear it."

Shen Fangmai repeated it again, and Shen Weiguo’s face turned ugly, while on the first branch’s side, Shen Fangdiao remained silent. He also resented his third brother for not saving face but wouldn’t reflect on himself.

Yang Qiuhua didn’t care much about face; she was more interested in extracting more benefits for the first branch.

After listening, Captain Liu frowned and looked at Shen Weiguo disapprovingly, "Uncle, both are your sons. You should think twice about favoring one over the other, lest you hurt the relationship with the third branch. When people get old, you really can’t say what might happen. Just think about Granny Yang at the east end of the village. When she was young, she tormented her daughter-in-law relentlessly. Look at her now.

Lying in bed, needing care for everything. The daughter-in-law is considered good, at least delivering food every meal. But in hindsight, if the old lady had been kinder to her daughter-in-law back then, the daughter-in-law might be even more dedicated now, helping with washing and all that."

Shen Weiguo and his wife, upon hearing this, had their minds cleared up a bit.

Indeed! When you get old, you never know what might happen next. Even with neighbors, they say to leave a way out, let alone with your own sons.

"So, Captain Liu, how do you think it should be divided?"

Once Old Shen softened, the first branch immediately objected.

Shen Fangdiao: "Dad, we had agreed that the main house goes to us, the first branch. Qingzhi and Qingyun are not that young anymore and still haven’t spoken about marriage. If you divide the house, how will your two grandsons find wives?"

Shen Weiguo glanced at his eldest, thinking to himself that though the eldest seemed shrewd on regular days, he still lacked at critical times.

Captain Liu chuckled, "I’m just here as a witness. How to divide is up to Uncle Shen, the head of the household."

The implication being, if you, as the head, can’t make a decision, then you’re living in vain.

Though Shen Weiguo was old, he wouldn’t be provoked, but he did have his pride. After some thought, he turned to Shen Fangmai.

"Then Third, how do you think it should be divided reasonably?"

Having finally gained the initiative, Shen Fangmai naturally wanted to fight for his own interests.

"Simple! The side rooms, divide the two into halves, one for the first branch, one for us. The main house, four rooms, also divided in half, two for the first branch, two for our third branch. That’s fair."

This time the first branch immediately shrieked.