Cruel Family Law Chapter 8: The Decision

I was like a gust of wind, blowing through the gates of the Zhang Family. I stood quietly before my mother's wing, the night deep, the entire family estate silent. My mother's soft sobs were clear, and a sudden, sharp pain pierced my heart, surging from my core to my entire body. I couldn't control myself; tears streamed down my face, falling to the ground. The distinct sound of "pat" from the falling teardrops—was my hearing too acute? I didn't know.

"Who's there, is it Xiao San?" My mother's anxious voice rang out. I could bear it no longer. I pushed open the door and looked at my haggard mother.

"Mom, Mom..."

"Xiao San, Xiao San, I'm not dreaming..." My mother stood by the table, seemingly still unable to process it.

I rushed to my mother, embracing her tightly. She held me close, so close that I could clearly hear her heart pounding, "thump, thump..." beating rapidly, so rapidly.

After an unknown amount of time, my mother slowly released me, her eyes constantly on me, "Xiao San, Xiao San..." She gently caressed my face, repeatedly speaking my name.

"Mom, the court session is over. Are my elder brother Lang Feng and his mother alright?" I calmed myself and asked my mother.

"According to the family laws of the aristocratic families, a court session must have the accused present to commence. Even if the accused is absent, a week must pass before the session can begin. Tomorrow is the seventh day, and you've returned just in time. Even if you hadn't, the court session would have been convened. Don't worry about your sworn brother Lang Feng and his mother. Your First Wife and Second Wife wanted to drive them away, but thankfully your father intervened. Your father still cares for you a lot. He did it for the family's benefit. Don't hold a grudge against your father; he was also forced into it. You know, the Elder Council even got involved, and the outcome couldn't be changed." My mother looked at me, trying her best to make me forgive my father.

"I know he did it for the family's benefit, but he should have at least considered me first. Even if the result was me being kicked out of the house, I wouldn't have held a grudge then. But he didn't say a single word for me from beginning to end. Do you know how heartless he was to me at the end? Huh! You want me to forgive him? Hmph!" The moment I recalled his expression when he left, saying "yes," my anger flared uncontrollably.

"Xiao San..."

"Mom, please don't say any more. Let's not talk about those things. Let's just chat. We won't have many opportunities like this in the future, but I'll still visit often." I said, looking at my mother.

"Xiao San, do you know why your father kicked you out of the house for this matter? And why you asked me before why your First Wife and Second Wife were so hostile towards you?" My mother looked at me and asked.

"Is there some secret?" I looked at my mother. I truly couldn't connect these two matters.

"This isn't really a secret; it's something all Four Great Families know and agree upon. It is: for the continuation of the family, only the eldest son can pass on the lineage to the next generation. Only when the eldest son dies can it be passed to the Second Young Master. The eldest son's guards are all third-rank experts, along with a second-rank Guard Captain. Furthermore, if it's discovered that the eldest son's death was instigated by the Second Young Master, the Second Young Master will be expelled from the family without a single tael of silver. And after the eldest son ascends to the position, the Second Young Master and Third Young Master will have one person chosen by the Elder Council based on their performance to become an elder. Your second brother is born to your First Wife. Your Second Wife and your First Wife were good friends since childhood, and since she didn't have a son, she naturally supported the Second Young Master, your second brother. Now you know why your First Wife and Second Wife treated you like that." My mother revealed all of this to me.

"Oh, I see. Then why did my father kick me out of the house for this matter?" I asked my mother.

"This is the same principle. The Second Young Master and Third Young Master who do not become elders in each generation must leave home to start their own ventures. Of course, they are given a startup fund of two million taels of silver. You're essentially leaving home early, but your name will be removed from the family registry. Also, you only have your New Year's red envelope money from the past five years, which is about a hundred thousand taels of silver. Your mother has several hundred thousand taels here; take it with you and live well!" My mother started to cry again. In truth, I also felt very sad thinking about parting from my mother. ...

"Mom, don't say that. How can I use your private savings? Besides, a hundred thousand taels is more than enough. Please don't worry." I said to my mother, forcing a smile.

"No, you must take the money. Your mother here, everything I eat, drink, and buy is paid for by the estate; I don't use a single tael of my own money. Don't worry, understand!" My mother immediately tried to persuade me again.

"Mom, no, you have to believe in my abilities, Mom..."

"Xiao San, don't be so stubborn. Listen to your mother. Take the money."

In the end, I had no choice but to take my mother's one hundred thousand taels in bank notes. Sigh, I knew my mother only wanted me to live a better life after leaving home. Truly, parents' hearts are filled with love. Mom, I will definitely be a good son to you in the future. I looked at her, and she smiled, looking at me. She blinked as if trying to imprint my image deeply in her heart. The sky was about to break, and I let out a bitter smile; it was time to leave.

"Mom, I won't attend this court session. I'll go call Lang Feng and the others to leave together. Mom, I'm leaving." I stood at the door, looking at my mother, not knowing when I would see her again.

"Go, Xiao San. I know you've been different since you were young, very sensible. Mom believes in you. Go and walk your own path. Mom will always support you." My mother said to me with a smile. Although she hid it well, my amazing eyesight could still see the tears she was holding back.

I smiled, turned, and walked directly towards Star Peak Pavilion. I never looked back until I had left my mother's courtyard and reached a place where she couldn't see me. Only then did I look back. The tears hadn't even fallen before they were easily evaporated by my True Primordial Energy.

I swiftly dodged the servants who were already working at home and entered my former quarters—Star Peak Pavilion.

Chun Yu was sitting in front of my old room, murmuring, "Young Master, why haven't you returned yet."

"Ah Yu, go back inside and sleep. I'll wait for the Young Master here." Uncle Wang draped his jacket over Chun Yu.

"Lin, I'm really worried about the Young Master. He's never lived alone since he was young, and now he's suffered a blow and has been out here alone for a week. How can you ask me to sleep inside? We watched the Young Master grow up. You know how proud he is. I really don't know how he's been managing on his own," Chun Yu leaned into Uncle Wang's embrace.

I really hadn't noticed. Uncle Wang was about twenty-five years old, and Chun Yu was twenty-two. Seeing them, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, they truly were a good match. The first thing I would do after settling down once I left home was to arrange their marriage.

"Hey, how long are you two going to be so intimate? I've been standing at the door for so long, and neither of you has come to greet me." I said to them with a stern face.

"Young Master, it's the Young Master! The Young Master has returned! That's wonderful, truly wonderful! Madam will be overjoyed." Chun Yu immediately exclaimed excitedly.

"Haha, I have to wait for you two to finish your affectionate reunion before I can see my mother. Wouldn't that make my mother worry to death? Haha, hey, why are your faces red? Even redder now. Uncle Wang, why is your face red too? What should I call you from now on? How about Brother Wang? What do you say! Ah, hahaha..." I found that even the usually stoic Uncle Wang was smiling. No, it was Brother Wang, Brother Wang was smiling, which was a rare sight. I couldn't stop laughing.

Watching their faces get redder and redder, I couldn't keep laughing. I took a deep breath, preparing to continue laughing.

"Young Master..." Chun Yu pouted coquettishly. Ha.

"Second Brother, it's Second Brother! You're back, you're really back! This makes me so happy! My mother has been thinking of you all this time." Elder Brother Lang Feng ran over from the small wooden bridge on the west wing. The moment he saw me, he immediately shouted excitedly.

Seeing my sworn brother, I also felt very excited. We had only known each other for less than two days, yet we had been separated for seven days. But I deeply felt the bond of brotherhood, forged in life and death. ...

"Elder Brother, I plan to leave the Zhang residence immediately. Will you and your mother come with me, or will you go to the countryside for a peaceful life?" I truly wanted to venture into the world with Elder Brother Lang Feng, but his mother's illness required constant care.

"What are you saying? We brothers vowed to live and die together. Are you looking down on me now? Do I look like someone who would abandon his brother when facing difficulties?" Elder Brother Lang Feng immediately shouted at me.

"Elder Brother, don't get agitated. If you leave with me, what about First Wife? Are you going to let her wander around with us? Can you bear to let First Wife suffer like this?" I said to Elder Brother.

Elder Brother calmed down. He knew his mother was in poor health and needed constant rest and recuperation. However, asking him to leave me because of this would likely be difficult for him to accept.

"Feng'er, you go with Third Young Master, and Mother will go with you." Lang Feng's mother stood on the small wooden bridge and said to us resolutely.

"First Wife, your health..."

"Third Young Master, it's alright. I know my own body. I've been much better these past few days. Besides, even if I go out with you, it's not considered hardship; it's much better than chopping firewood on the mountain. Please don't worry." First Wife seemed very happy, showing her healthy side.

"Second Brother, we'll just take good care of my mother on the road. Besides, my mother used to be very healthy when she was on the mountain, and with so many people on the road, what is there to worry about?" Lang Feng also started to persuade me.

I looked at First Wife, and then I thought of my own mother, my heart filled with emotion. I would definitely take good care of First Wife.

"Chun Yu, Brother Wang, Lang Feng, you all go and pack your things first. I'll wait for you. Take only important items; we can buy the rest later." I reminded them immediately.

Watching them return to their rooms, I also entered my own room. That round table, I had sat beside it almost every night to read. Inside that wooden chest was the Mysterious Iron Armor I wore as a child...

My entire body suddenly trembled. My spiritual sense clearly felt a gaze upon me. I could clearly feel from my heart that intense longing and care, and also, that apology.

It was Father!

. .