Li Zheng’s words were meant to persuade Sang Pingliang and subtly remind Sang Hong and his brother, hinting at Sang Hong to apologize first, and once he apologized, Sang Yufei would naturally follow suit. Then, with the help of the fellow villagers, the matter would be smoothed over and considered resolved.
In the past, Sang Hong would have apologized long before it escalated to Li Zheng’s involvement, but considering his brother’s future and Second Uncle Sang’s actions indeed being disheartening, reflecting on the past, he decided to let it go. Such an elder, it’s better off not having one at all! Thus, he pretended not to see Li Zheng’s hints.
Seeing Li Zheng speak in such a way, clearly flaunting his critical status, Sang Pingliang felt increasingly pleased. Glancing haughtily at Sang Hong and his brother, he swiftly decided, and arrogantly snorted: "I can forgive them, but they need to show sincerity! Kneel and kowtow three times to me, swear they will never talk back to me again! Also, Yu Fei, obediently return to farming, forget those unnecessary dreams, and send me 200 taels of silver, then I will no longer hold this against them!"
Everyone gasped upon hearing this: demanding kowtows, oaths, and even 200 taels of silver! His appetite was indeed not small!
Li Zheng was caught between laughter and tears, finding Sang Pingliang’s demand completely unreasonable.
"They are your nephews after all. I think a simple apology would suffice! Younger brother, you do have daughters who will also need their natal family’s support in the future!" Li Zheng tried persuading him again, also reminding him, you only have daughters, no sons, and the nephews would be needed to carry on familial duties in the future! Daughters and sons-in-law are, after all, from other families, who can be more reliable than your own nephews?
Upon hearing this, Sang Pingliang could not help but become highly vigilant and secretly thought: No good! It’s better to sever these ties, or else, wouldn’t these brothers covet my property in the future?
Thinking of the house devoid of people after his daughters are married off, fearing the property, house, and fields would ultimately go to his nephews after his death, Sang Pingliang felt a pang and covertly made up his mind.
"Thank you for your kind intentions, Li Zheng. I have my plans regarding our family issues, no need to trouble you anymore! Please proceed with drafting the document to sever our relations!" Sang Pingliang said, bowing his hands.
Mrs. Fang could not help but interject, "Whether the younger brother studies or not, it’s us who support him; we never complained. Second Uncle, what are you worried about? Oh, you’re not scared that if the younger brother becomes a top scholar or a high-ranking official and our main family gains prestige, you will feel jealous, right?"
"What nonsense you speak, woman!" Pointing out Sang Pingliang’s insecurity made him furiously jump up, he glared and scolded Mrs. Fang, taking the chance to complain vehemently to Li Zheng: "Do you see? How unfilial they are! How dare they speak to an elder like me in such a manner! You must decide for me today!"
This behavior was unacceptable, Li Zheng frowned and scolded Mrs. Fang: "Mrs. Fang, you are not supposed to speak here, apologize now! Sang Hong, keep your wife in check!"
"Yes, this unlearned woman has spoken nonsense, please forgive, Li Zheng!" Before her husband spoke, Mrs. Fang quickly softened, then with a grin bowed to Sang Pingliang, "Second Uncle, your niece-in-law was ignorant and offended you, I’ve angered you, it’s my fault, please don’t hold it against me, please forgive me!"
Even though it was an apology, Sang Pingliang, upon hearing it, became even more infuriated rather than calming down, contemptuously snorted: "Ignorant foolish woman! Arguing with you would only demean my stature! Fine, today I, Sang Pingliang, make it clear, even if Sang Yufei becomes the Prime Minister, I would never acknowledge any connection! Humph, make sure you see this clearly!"
Mrs. Fang just smiled and silently stepped back behind Sang Hong.
"Li Zheng, please make a decision on this soon! Even if they kowtow and apologize, and give me silver, I will never forgive them! I want to live a few more years without being annoyed to death!" Sang Pingliang exclaimed irritably.
Seeing Sang Hong and his brother showing no signs of making amends, Li Zheng thought it might be better this way, why bother when they are determined? Thinking back to how Sang Pingliang and his wife treated their nephews usually, he thought, maybe I’m being old-fashioned, if the relationship is really severed, perhaps the Sang brothers could indeed have fewer troubles and live peacefully!
"Alright! Since you trust me, then I will take charge of this for you! Follow me inside, I will draft the document immediately," Li Zheng finally agreed.
"Ah, thank you!" Sang Pingliang glared at Sang Hong and his brother, hurriedly went inside following Li Zheng.
Once the document was prepared and Li Zheng read it out loud, he asked both parties one last time if they wanted to reconsider. Sang Pingliang pressed his fingerprint without hesitation, "There’s nothing left to consider, thank you, Li Zheng!"
Sang Hong and Sang Yufei also pressed their fingerprints, making two copies of the document, one for each party.
Sang Pingliang, holding the thin sheet of paper between his fingers, shook it and said to Sang Hong and his brother: "Take a clear look, from today onward, I am not your Second Uncle anymore! Don’t even think about taking anything from our house!"
Sang Hong and Sang Yufei looked at each other, utterly perplexed by what he was saying! Coveting his property? When had they ever coveted his property?
"Rest assured, Second Uncle—"
As Sang Yufei was about to speak, he was abruptly interrupted by Sang Pingliang with a sharp "Ah," coldly mocking, "Don’t call me Second Uncle, I, Sang Pingliang, have no such talented nephew as you. Call me Second Uncle Sang!"