The Old Zhou family hadn’t all gone to sleep yet; the adults were in the main room discussing the division of the family property. Old Lady Zhou, watching the faces of her eldest son and his spouse, felt an indescribable chill in her heart.
She hadn’t expected that even her eldest son and his spouse would agree to the separation, and she was acutely aware of what they were scheming.
It was nothing more than the belief that, as the eldest now held the status of a scholar, his prospects could not be poor, and they did not want to share the benefits with the second branch of the family.
Yet he failed to consider that the portion of silver given to him also contained a share for his youngest brother, which he was now disinclined to recognize—a truly heartless act. No wonder his younger brother and the rest had become so thoughtful.
"...Mother, after the family is divided, we are still blood brothers. If both households respect you, that means you have gained more!" said Madam Lu with a giggle.
She had been wanting to split from the family, especially since her husband became a scholar—she didn’t want to live with her brother-in-law any longer. As a Scholar’s Mother, how could she possibly mix with those who farmed the land?
Only due to her mother-in-law’s strong personality had she not dared to speak up. Now, it was her brother-in-law who had brought up the idea of division, playing right into her hands.
At first, when she heard they wanted to split the family, Madam Lu was somewhat annoyed. Why should they divide now, just as her own family was improving, with a bright future ahead? Did they despise her, or what?
Upon further thought, it became clear that her brother-in-law’s suggestion to divide the family was perfect. They would be the ones to play the villain, while she, from the main branch, was merely complying with her younger brother’s wishes.
Hmph, later on, they better not come crying and clinging to her like chaff to gold.
Old Lady Zhou’s face darkened, and she took a deep breath, clenching her fist and thumping her chest.
She then looked toward her youngest son. Both sons were hanging their heads low, but her eldest son had a look of disdain, which only added to her heartache.
A grown son is not a mother’s business, is this how trees branch out?
She had thought that the family would only split after she had gone to join her late husband.
But what could she do when the heart of the family had already scattered?
"Mother..." Madam Lu wanted to persuade her further.
Old Lady Zhou glared at her angrily and snapped, "Are you that eager? You must be dying to see me dead, aren’t you?"
Madam Lu immediately shut her mouth and, casting a glance at the couple across from her, disdainfully rolled her eyes.
Zhou Xueli, seeing his mother’s displeasure, thought of suggesting not to split after all, but Lady Liang pulled on his sleeve.
Old Lady Zhou noticed and felt an even greater sense of desolation. She was about to speak when suddenly, someone outside began pounding on the courtyard gate.
"Who could it be, knocking at this late hour?" complained Madam Lu, just as they were getting to the crucial point of the discussion.
"Mother, I’ll go take a look," said Zhou Xueli as he walked out.
Shortly after, he returned with a terrified look on his face and said, "Mother, it’s Shi Tou. He says that Dajun is at Quan’s family home."
Good heavens, what was Shi Tou talking about, what he said about Dajun...
Zhou Xueli’s face turned ashen, unable to believe Shi Tou’s words.
"Dajun?" Madam Lu stood up, "Dajun is at my mother’s home, how could he be at the Quan family home?"
"It’s true, it’s all kicked off over there. Big brother, you must hurry over, Shi Tou said, Shi Tou..." Zhou Xueli trembled as he struggled to finish his words.
Zhou Xuennian furrowed his brow, observing his younger brother’s ghostly pale expression. What exactly had Shi Tou said?
And why had his son, who was clearly at his wife’s family home, suddenly returned and gone to the Quan family? What was he doing there?
Old Lady Zhou, however, sensed something was amiss. Her youngest son rarely showed such panic; what on earth had happened?
With her eldest grandson involved and thinking of her own family matters, Old Lady Zhou’s heart started pounding chaotically, filling her with unease.
Something major had happened!