https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-8-Splitting-the-Household-Part-1-/12811682/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-10-Why-Should-They-Always-Live-with-Us-/12811684/
Chapter 9: The Family Division (Part 2)
Chapter 9: The Family Division (Part 2)
Tian Caihua's eyes lit up. The red brick house had only been built two years ago and was still in excellent condition! At the time, they hadn't had enough money to build it, and half of the funds had come from Zhou Chenglei sending money back. She hadn't expected him to give it up and let them have it.
Tian Caihua felt a bit more balanced now.
"Then this new house will go to Chengxin, and the old house will go to Chenglei. Xia, do you have any objections?" Zhou Father looked at Jiang Xia.
Tian Caihua glanced at Jiang Xia. What could she possibly object to? They were planning to divorce, so she wouldn't be staying long!
Last night, Zhou Chenglei and Zhou Chengxin had discussed it, fearing that their parents would disagree with the division and had lied, saying they wouldn't divorce, just divide the property.
In reality, she thought Zhou Chenglei was worried that once his parents knew they were divorcing, they wouldn't treat Jiang Xia well anymore.
After all, they wouldn't be family anymore. Who would want to support her for nothing?
Besides, her brother-in-law was already twenty-eight, almost thirty. If they kept Jiang Xia at home for another half a year before divorcing, she would be twenty-nine.
After the divorce, he might not immediately find a second wife, and waiting could push him to thirty.
Their parents definitely wouldn't agree. They had always wanted their son to marry and have children quickly.
Only a kind and honest man like her brother-in-law would agree to support a woman who wanted to divorce him for half a year!
Jiang Xia smiled. "Father, I have no objections. Whatever Chenglei says, I'll follow his lead."
Hearing that she would follow Chenglei's lead, Zhou Father's expression improved.
This was how a good daughter-in-law should behave!
Tian Caihua, having gained an advantage, had no qualms about speaking well of them. She smiled. "Father, Fourth Brother is capable, and Fourth Sister-in-law is well-educated. They will surely earn enough money to build a larger house soon."
Zhou Chenglei's face remained expressionless, and Jiang Xia, sitting beside him, simply smiled.
Zhou Father continued. "The family's land and fields..."
Tian Caihua immediately interjected. "Father, when the land was divided by the production team, the four brothers all received their share, but Fourth Brother's household registration wasn't here then!"
Zhou Chengxin glared at her. "Father hasn't finished speaking. Don't interrupt!"
They were already getting the new house. What more did this woman want?
Wasn't it unfair to not give any land to Fourth Brother and his wife?
That was going too far!
Tian Caihua glared back at Zhou Chengxin. He was useless and didn't fight for anything. Did he think he was rich?
Didn't he realize he had four sons to support?
Boys could eat their parents into poverty. With less land, what would they eat?
Moreover, what she said was true. Zhou Chenglei hadn't received any land because his household registration wasn't here.
Zhou Father ignored Tian Caihua. Fairness in family division was impossible; they could only try their best.
Giving her the house, while she spoke the truth, the land should naturally go to the fourth couple. They couldn't let her take all the benefits.
"The family's land, the reserved land, the vegetable garden, and the bamboo grove will be divided equally among the three of you. Your mother and I will keep one acre of land and two plots for Zhou Zhou in the future."
Tian Caihua was immediately dissatisfied. "Second Brother's family and Zhou Zhou too?"
She had already gotten the house, and she could tolerate giving some land to Jiang Xia, but Second Brother and his wife both had government jobs. Why should they get land? And Zhou Zhou, a girl who would eventually marry, why should she have land?
Shouldn't the parents' land eventually go to the eldest son?
Since ancient times, the eldest son's land was passed down. After the elders passed away, shouldn't the land go to the eldest son?
Zhou Chengxin snapped. "Shut up! Or we'll divide the house equally."
Could she stop talking for once? Zhou Chengxin was almost driven to despair by his wife, who wasn't as understanding as Jiang Xia.
Look at Jiang Xia, who didn't object at all and simply said she would follow Chenglei's lead.
Tian Caihua didn't say anything, but she was fuming inside.
Marrying a useless man and pretending to be generous!
He didn't realize he had four sons, and now this house would be split. Where would his sons live when they got married?
Could he even afford to build another house?
Zhou's father asked again, "Do you have any objections to the land division?"
Zhou Chengxin replied, "Dad, we have no objections. This is how it should be divided."
He tugged at Tian Caihua's clothes, and she reluctantly said, "Whatever Dad says, we'll go along with it."
They had plenty of land, so this division would still provide enough for them to live on.
Zhou Chenglei said, "I have no objections either."
He didn't care much about the land. He didn't have much time to farm it, and Jiang Xia wouldn't know how to either. She was so delicate and wouldn't be able to manage it, especially since they were going to divorce soon. Jiang Xia wouldn't care about it anyway.
Zhou's father then looked at Jiang Xia, who hadn't spoken yet.
Jiang Xia replied, "I have no objections either."
Zhou's father continued, "The family boat."
Tian Caihua panicked again.
They needed the boat to go fishing and earn money to support the family!
They knew nothing about anything else and had no education. How could they survive without a boat?
If the boat was divided among the three brothers or into four parts, how would their household survive?
"Father, will the boat be split between us and the fourth brother?"
Zhou Chengxin scolded, "Can you stop interrupting?"
Tian Caihua pouted, "You can't even let me speak?"
Zhou's father ignored her and said calmly, "We'll take turns with the boat. Each of us will use it for one day."
Tian Caihua had no objections this time. Although she wanted the two brothers to take turns, Zhou's father was still young and capable. She couldn't stop him from using the boat, or she might have to support the family herself.
The boat had been bought recently from the production team. The family hadn't had enough money to buy it, so Zhou Chenglei had contributed a portion of the cost.
She was just afraid that the boat would end up with Jiang Xia.
Zhou's father continued, "The pigs, the cow, and the chickens and ducks. Each brother will get one pig, and your mother and I will take one. The cow will be raised by your mother, but you can use it when needed. When it's sold, the money will be split equally. The chickens and ducks will also be divided equally, and the chicks, which are hard to take care of, will be raised by your mother."
Tian Caihua had no objections to this and smiled, "Whatever Father says."
"Regarding the furniture, farming tools, and tableware, Chenglei, you can take a set when you move out." The family was large, and there were two sets of eight-legged tables stored in the utility room, used only during holidays when all the siblings gathered. But they were old.
There was enough furniture, so Tian Caihua had no objections.
Besides, the living room was already furnished with new items, and it wouldn't make sense for Zhou Chenglei to take the new set.
Zhou's father said, "As for the money—"
Tian Caihua shifted in her seat, sitting up straight.
Zhou's mother glanced at the two daughters-in-law. One was calm and composed, while the other couldn't hide her petty concerns and looked afraid of being cheated.
In comparison, Zhou's mother found Jiang Xia less annoying. It seemed a bit of education was a good thing.
But even with education, she had a big heart. Zhou's mother wondered if she could get along with the fourth son. She didn't want her son's sincere efforts to go to waste!
The sons had divided the family's assets to keep her around.
Zhou's father glanced at his wife and said, "Bring out the money."
Zhou's mother came to her senses and pulled out a large bundle of money from an old cotton jacket.
Jiang Xia glanced at it and was surprised by its thickness!
Then she watched as Zhou's mother carefully unwrapped the money, layer by layer. The outermost layer was a yellowed plastic film, followed by newspaper, then a faded piece of homespun cloth, and finally a handkerchief. It took five layers to reveal the large wad of bills.
Jiang Xia: "..."
(End of Chapter)
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