33: Chapter 34 Where is your oil residue?_1 33: Chapter 34 Where is your oil residue?_1 “Fourth Brother Tan’s wife, don’t harbor any illusions,” said Tan Yuancheng in a gentle and persuasive voice.
“It was agreed before Fourth Brother Tan got married that the division of the family estate would happen.
In our village, division is based on labor contributions, and our family is no different.
It’s just that Fourth’s household is smaller in number, so naturally, they are at a bit of a disadvantage.
But I’ve already said that whoever has a grandson will get an additional Twenty Taels of Silver, which is enough to buy three or four acres of land!”
The situation shifted with his words, making it seem as though Qiao Duo’er was the one making a fuss.
The rest of them had been planning according to their contributions, dividing the family estate accordingly.
And in the future, once Fourth’s household grew, they would even receive an additional Twenty Taels of Silver.
Does it not sound generous?
Do you not think Tan Yuancheng is being fair?
If you ignore the fact that the Tan Family’s assets were mostly accumulated by Fourth Brother Tan and also overlook his broken leg, then his words would indeed be perfect.
Unfortunately, Qiao Duo’er wasn’t about to let such crucial issues be overlooked!
No matter how many years you’ve planned, Fourth Brother Tan has only just broken his leg, and you shouldn’t be talking about dividing the family now!
“I don’t care when or how you divide the estate, and I won’t want your silver in the future.
I just hope you leave Fourth Brother alone and stop stabbing him in the heart,” Duo’er said, pretending to wipe tears from her eyes.
Tan Yuancheng spoke gravely, “I am his father, how could I let him suffer?”
“Fourth Brother Tan’s leg is unlikely to heal.
In the future, he won’t be able to go to the mountains or work the fields, yet he’ll need medicine and food, which will burden the whole family and may even hinder Xiao Fu’s studies.
I understand all this.
My request is not unreasonable, since we have already divided the family, let us live peacefully.
We will not dwell on the past, and as for the future, let there be no more entanglements.
Nobody is a fool; no one wants to be at a constant disadvantage,” Qiao Duo’er said in a burst of candidness.
Anyone with eyes could see that Fourth Brother Tan was at a significant loss this time.
But they accepted their fate this time, and the price Tan Yuancheng and his faction paid was that they could no longer take advantage of Fourth Brother Tan’s household.
Anyone would curse out Tan Yuancheng for this, no matter to whom the story was told.
With a sigh, Tan Yuancheng could only say, “I will take better control of Xiao Fu.
Now, folks, please disperse.
It’s all because Xiao Fu is unwise.
I will discipline him properly later.”
So, it was all Xiao Fu’s fault?
Fine, regardless, the onlookers all left.
After all, Tan Yuancheng had dismissed them, and if they didn’t leave, they’d seem somewhat shameless.
Qiao Duo flung her kitchen knife, and it planted itself firmly into the ground, splitting a wooden stick on the earth into two.
“Next time, let someone who doesn’t value their life try to mess with me!” Qiao Duo said, exuding dominance.
Both her posture and her tone were effortlessly cool.
Next time, she wouldn’t be so easy to talk to.
But she had achieved her goal this time; the villagers were now all aware of these people’s true faces.
Having said her piece, Qiao Duo went back to seasoning the stuffing.
Xiao Fu started to cry again, tugging at everyone’s heartstrings: “I want the fried pork scraps!”
Mrs.
Wang took a deep breath; with that fierce woman in the Fourth Brother Tan’s household, she dared not provoke any further.
But could she let her precious grandson cry?
Suddenly, Mrs.
Wang had an idea, remembering that the eldest’s family had also just set up their stove and must sure have rendered lard too.
If she asked them for the pork scraps, wouldn’t that solve the problem?
She took Xiao Fu with her to the eastern wing room: “Eldest, where are your pork scraps?”
“Mother, we’re practically starving to death; how could we afford to waste pork scraps?
Of course, I ate them all!” Tan Zhengyuan said without a trace of embarrassment or shortness of breath.
He had seen Xiao Fu going to the Fourth Brother Tan’s place to ask for pork scraps and knew his own stash was in jeopardy.
What to do?
Naturally, he had to eat them quickly.
Once eaten, could his mother expect him to regurgitate them?