Dividing the Family (2)

Dividing the Family (2)

Tian Caihua's eyes lit up. This Red Brick House had only been built two years ago; it was still practically new! Back then, the family had not had enough money to build it, and half the funds had come from Zhou Chenglei sending money back. She had never expected him to give it up and let them have it.

At last, Tian Caihua felt a little more balanced inside.

"Then the new house will go to Chengxin, and the old house to Chenglei. Xiao Xia, do you have any objections?" Father Zhou looked at Jiang Xia.

Tian Caihua glanced at Jiang Xia. What objections could she have? The two of them were planning to divorce anyway, and she would not be staying much longer!

Last night, Zhou Chenglei had told Zhou Chengxin that, afraid their parents would not agree to divide the family, they should first hide the divorce from the old couple and only mention dividing the family.

Actually, she thought Zhou Chenglei was worried that if his parents learned the two were getting divorced, they would no longer treat Jiang Xia kindly.

After all, she would no longer be family. Who would be willing to support her for free?

Besides, her Younger Brother-in-law was not young anymore. He was twenty-eight, almost thirty. If Jiang Xia stayed in the house for another half year before divorcing, he would be twenty-nine.

After the divorce, he might not immediately be able to marry again. If things dragged on, would he not be thirty? His parents would certainly disagree. They had always wanted their Younger Brother-in-law to marry quickly and have children.

Only her Younger Brother-in-law was so honest and kind-hearted, supporting for half a year a woman who wanted to divorce him! Jiang Xia smiled. "Dad, I have no objections. Whatever Chenglei says goes. I'll listen to Chenglei."

That one sentence—whatever Chenglei said went, she would listen to Chenglei—made Father Zhou's expression look a little better.

Now that was how a daughter-in-law ought to behave! Having gained an advantage, Tian Caihua did not mind saying something nice. Smiling, she said, "Dad, Fourth Brother is capable, and Fourth Sister-in-law is educated. They'll definitely make enough money soon to build a Western-Style House, one even bigger than this."

There was no expression on Zhou Chenglei's face. Jiang Xia, seated beside him, merely smiled.

Father Zhou continued, "The family's fields and land."

Tian Caihua immediately said, "Dad, when the Production Team divided the land back then, all four Guang Zong Yao Zu brothers received a share. Fourth Brother's household registration was not here at the time!"

Zhou Chengxin shot her a glare. "Dad hasn't finished speaking. Don't interrupt!"

Fourth Brother had already given the New House to their family. What more did this woman want? Did she want to deny Fourth Brother and his wife a share of the Farmland too?

That was going too far! Tian Caihua glared back at Zhou Chengxin. He himself had no ability, yet he fought for nothing. Did he think he was rich?

Did he not know they still had four sons to raise?

Half-grown boys could eat their father into poverty. With less land, what would they eat? Besides, she was telling the truth. Zhou Chenglei really had not been assigned any land; his household registration had not been here.

Father Zhou ignored Tian Caihua. When dividing the family, how could things truly be completely fair? They could only do their best.

She had already been given the house. Though what she said was true, the land naturally had to be divided among Old Fourth and his wife too. How could she take every last advantage for herself?

"The family's Farmland, Private Plot, Vegetable Garden Plot, and Bamboo Garden will be divided equally among you Three Brothers. Your mother and I only need to keep one mu of farmland and two plots of land. They will go to Zhou Zhou in the future."

The moment Tian Caihua heard that, she was dissatisfied and blurted out, "Second Brother's family and Zhou Zhou get a share too?"

She had taken advantage with the house, and she could endure the land being divided to Jiang Xia. But the Second Branch couple both received state salaries, and they got a share too? And Zhou Zhou was just a girl, destined to marry someday—why did she get land too? Should not the old couple's land belong to their First Branch in the future?

Since ancient times, there had been Eldest Son's Field. Once the elderly passed on, should not those fields be left to the eldest son? Zhou Chengxin said, "Shut up! Otherwise, we'll divide this house equally."

Could she not say a little less? Zhou Chengxin was about to be enraged to death by his own wife. She was not even as sensible as Jiang Xia.

Look at Jiang Xia—she had not voiced a single objection. When asked, she only said she would listen to Chenglei.

Only then did Tian Caihua fall silent, though she was furious inside.

She had married such an incapable man, yet he still acted so generously!

Did he not know he had four sons? If this house were divided equally, where would his sons live after they married?

Did he have the ability to build another one?

Father Zhou asked once more, "You have no objections regarding the fields and land, right?"

Zhou Chengxin said, "Dad, we have no objections. It should be divided this way."

He tugged at Tian Caihua's clothes. Tian Caihua could only say, "However Dad wants to divide it is fine."

Their family had plenty of land. Divided this way, it was still enough to eat from.

Zhou Chenglei said, "No."

He did not care much about the Farmland and such. He did not have much time to farm, and Jiang Xia would not know how to farm either. She was so delicate that she could not manage it, and besides, they would be divorcing soon. Jiang Xia would not care either.

Father Zhou looked toward the silent Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia said, "I have no objections either."

Father Zhou continued, "The family boat."

Tian Caihua became anxious again.

Only with a boat could they go out to sea, fish, earn money, and support the family!

Her husband and she knew nothing else and had no education. How could they survive without a boat? If the Three Brothers divided it, or if it was split into four shares, how would their First Branch live? "Dad, will the boat be split half and half between us and Fourth Brother?"

Zhou Chengxin said, "Can you stop interrupting?"

Tian Caihua pouted. "So I'm not even allowed to speak now?"

Pretending not to hear, Father Zhou said mildly, "The boat will be used by the three of us—father and sons—one day each, taking turns."

This time, Tian Caihua had no objections. Though she wanted the two brothers to use it one day each, Father Zhou was still young and able to work. She could hardly forbid him from using the boat—what if she had to support him? Besides, this was a half-new, half-old boat they had bought from the Production Team not long ago. The family had not had enough money to buy it at the time, and Zhou Chenglei had paid part of it too.

She was only afraid the boat would be given to Jiang Xia.

Father Zhou continued, "The family pigs, cattle, chickens, and ducks. Each of you brothers gets one pig, and your mother and I get one. Your mother will raise the cow; when you need it, take it and use it. When it is sold in the future, the money will be split equally. The chickens and ducks will be divided equally among you as well. That brood of chicks is difficult to tend, so let your mother raise them."

Tian Caihua had no objections to that. Smiling, she said, "Whatever Dad says goes."

"As for the family's tables and chairs, farm tools, bowls, and chopsticks, Chenglei, take one set with you when you move over." There were many people in the family, and the storeroom still held two Eight Immortals Tables. They were only taken out during holidays and festivals, when all the brothers and sisters gathered together, but they were both old.

There were extra tables and chairs, so Tian Caihua had no objections to those either.

After all, the furniture had already been set out in the main hall, and it was all new. Zhou Chenglei had no reason to take away that set from the hall.

Father Zhou said, "As for the money—"

Tian Caihua shifted her bottom and sat up straighter.

Mother Zhou looked at the two daughters-in-law. One was calm and composed; the other could not hide her petty thoughts, looking as though she feared being shortchanged.

With that comparison, Mother Zhou found Jiang Xia much less displeasing to the eye. It seemed having some education really was better.

Still, educated people were broad-minded. She did not know whether Jiang Xia could keep living with Old Fourth. She had better not let her son's wholehearted devotion flow into a ditch!

Her son had even divided the family just to keep her.

Father Zhou glanced at Mother Zhou. "Take out the money."

Mother Zhou came back to herself and pulled out a large bundle of money from an old padded jacket.

Jiang Xia glanced at it. It was quite thick!

Then Jiang Xia watched Mother Zhou unwrap the money layer by layer. It had been wrapped in all kinds of packaging paper: the outermost layer was yellowed plastic film, then newspaper, then faded homespun cloth, and finally a handkerchief. Only after five layers had been removed did the Da Tuanjie inside appear.

Jiang Xia: "..."