Chapter 215:
Luo Zhi’er felt that this was the normal attitude of parents toward their children.
Even after falling to the bottom, they were still planning for him!
Only toward this Li Sanmao was it an exceptional exception.
“Daqiang! Go quickly and find the Village Chief to discuss the family division!”
At this point, Xiao Zhou Shi quickly pondered the next step, urging to settle this matter quickly to avoid changes!
Under his wife’s indication, Li Daqiang turned around to go invite people!
“What?”
“No! Daqiang, stop!”
Wouldn’t this let others know that Li Gui was expelled from the school?
“Dad, Fifth Brother’s matter can’t be hidden; paper can’t wrap fire, everyone will know sooner or later!”
Luo Zhi’er saw through his thoughts, “To have no one know, one must not do it oneself; you worry about him, but don’t worry about how our several branches will fare in the future?”
“In the future, whether we and the younger generation can hold our heads up in the village, isn’t it all because of Fifth Brother’s misdeeds?”
“Exactly, we haven’t even said anything yet!”
Xiao Zhou Shi chimed in.
“Dad, don’t, don’t let them invite the Village Chief!” Li Gui shouted heart-wrenchingly; he was utterly finished.
“You know to worry now? Too late! This matter can only be resolved by family division; we’ll live separately!”
“In the future, you’ll take your Yangguan Avenue, I’ll cross my single-log bridge, and there won’t be so many strange looks on our family!”
After Li Sanmao finished speaking, Li Daqiang’s figure had already gone onto the avenue and disappeared around the bend!
The determination for family division could not be shaken in the slightest!
“Fine! Fine, you’ve come up with a great plan!”
Old Li Tou repeatedly sighed in despair; when sons grow up, they don’t obey their mother, nor their father!
After about half a shichen, the Village Chief, Li Zuzu, Zhao Zuzu, and others arrived!
Big trouble! Old Li Tou Li Depei’s family was making a family division!
Like a thunderclap from the flat ground, everyone rushed over to watch the excitement!
Family division was a big event in the village, the moment to witness fairness had come.
The Village Chief and the others arrived, followed by many onlookers, crowding into the yard.
Li Zheng Sen’s family saw that Li Depei’s family had many people come, so they followed behind the crowd to see what was happening!
Luo Zhi’er brought the already brewed tea to the wooden table in the garden near the bread kiln, inviting them to sit.
The Village Chief saw Third Wife’s lively eyes and gave her a reassuring look.
He glanced at the deflated Old Li Tou, then looked up at the stylish sunshade, feeling a bit envious for a moment!
When would his family get one too; it would be great for greeting guests!
He said plainly, “Old Li, your family’s matter was probably already told to us by Daqiang on the road just now…”
His eyes looked around, not seeing the person; everyone’s faces were ashen, Li Zuzu said, “Where is Li Gui?”
“Gui Wa, he’s in a bad mood and went to the room to rest!”
Old Li Tou said with an embarrassed old face, sighing repeatedly.
Li Gui had hidden early; with so many people, they would all know he was expelled from the academy and know his scandal; he might as well die!
He had a thin face and couldn’t get over that hurdle in his heart; Old Li Tou and Zhou Shi worried he might seek death.
“Hmph! He still has the face to hide?”
Li Zuzu flicked his sleeve! Lose face! That day he saw his behavior and knew this kid wouldn’t go far; sure enough…
“This matter concerns him too; shouldn’t we invite him out?” Zhao Zuzu said.
“This, no need; we can make the decision, I’ll notify him later!” Old Li Tou quickly backed off, knowing Li Gui had no face to come out and see people.
“Village Chief brother, Uncle Li, Uncle Zhao, my wife and I were also forced into this by several unfilial sons!”
Old Li Tou wiped his tears, expressing his unwillingness for family division.
“Old Li, actually, the few of us are giving you our opinion; we’ve wanted to say it for a long time: when the tree grows big, branches divide; when sons grow up, families divide—this is experience; since your family’s Li Gui has been persuaded to leave the academy, we support the younger generation’s intention!”
He turned to look at Li Daqiang, “Daqiang, your eldest son’s family’s request is family division, right?”
“Yes!”
Xiao Zhou Shi’s eyes darted around, seeing everyone pointing and whispering; she cried aggrievedly, “We were forced with no choice; Village Chief, look at what Second Brother and Fifth Brother have done—our years of hard work all wasted!”
“Forget us adults; what about the little ones? How long will they drag us down?”
She began crying with sobs.
“Alright, Daqiang’s wife, we all know your grievance; you stand aside first.”
“Yes!”
Xiao Zhou Shi was secretly delighted!
“What’s wrong with Fifth Brother?”
Many people were discussing animatedly…
“It seems he was expelled from school!”
“What? Who said that?”
They also speculated that Old Li Family being able to divide the family must mean Fifth Brother could no longer attend school!
“Didn’t the Village Chief just say it?” Ma Shenzi shouted shrilly!
Li Zheng Sen’s jaw dropped in shock!
“Chen Shi, what about you?”
“Village Chief, we naturally do not want to divide the family, but you know Li Lei is not here, and we have no farmland! Dividing the family at this time would be bullying us!”
Chen Shi hugged Jiayong and Jiabao, crying,
“Poor Jiabao and Jiayong have no one to rely on. If we divide the family, we only hope Parents will not be partial or treat Second Son’s Family differently! Give us mother and our two sons food and drink!”
These words were said ambiguously.
But the meaning was understood; she did not want to live together in her heart.
For survival, she had to insist on not dividing the family. Dividing would inevitably require giving the two elders some filial piety, but she did not want to spend money and even had to subsidize them!
“San Mao, what about you?”
“Village Chief, my wife and I agree with Oldest Brother’s opinion!”
The Village Chief nodded. That day when he saw them snatching the Third Wife’s silver, he knew this day would come sooner or later.
“Old Li, what do you two elders plan? To live with Oldest Brother, or with another son? Or live separately on your own?” the Village Chief said.
Old Li Tou did not want to divide the family at all; how could he speak?
“Zhengxin Brother, do you think this could work? We still do not divide the family. Let them manage the property themselves, and just give us two elders some living expenses each month!”
He could not accept it; the family splitting apart. Transition like this first, and later since not divided, gather them together again.
It was living together but managing finances separately; this was the best compromise he could think of!
“No!”
Zhou Shi jumped up. Not letting her manage the silver, and still talking about not dividing?
“You shut your mouth!”
“Anyway, I won’t agree!”
Zhou Shi persisted!
Since that’s the case, it’s better to divide the family, and each month each branch should hand over more filial piety silver to her!
“What do you mean?”
The village chief looked at the people from the other branches…
“Since Mother doesn’t agree, we also agree to split up!” Xiao Zhou Shi hurriedly chimed in, saying that whether it’s shared household registry or separate finances, if they haven’t split, it’s better to cut ties cleanly and neatly!
“Dad, this isn’t an issue of sharing wealth or not. Nowadays, the second brother has gotten into trouble, and the fifth brother has also been expelled from school. This concerns the future development of the younger generation!”
Li Sanmao pinpointed the key point, “Thinking about it, it’s still better to completely separate. From now on, everyone will establish their own households and strive for their own families, without being implicated by the reputation of the second brother and the fifth brother!”
The Village Chief nodded. Uncle Zhao, Li Zuzu also stroked their beards.
“That’s how it is. Dividing the family is the best solution. I think you two old folks have also noticed that not only are the villagers in our village rejecting you, but people from nearby villages are too!”
“As soon as people mention it, they say it’s your Old Li Family, what Li Depei’s family’s Li Lei did, this and that, the Old Li Family’s reputation is already ruined!”
“If you want it clean and neat, then separate completely!”
