According to their age, they could earn enough food for themselves with their current amount of work points, so they didn’t really need extra food. The three sons only needed to provide some symbolic subsidies. When they no longer become capable of working or when the work points were not enough for themselves, the trio would equally divide the work point required to make up for their parents’ loss of income and rations.
This was how every other family operated in the village.
Although Eldest Brother Han lived with the old couple and helped take care of them, his work points have to be calculated separately because he had not divorced Eldest Sister-in-law Han. Therefore, it was considered that he still had a family to support.
Old Lady Han became anxious when she heard this, “Why do we still have to give the work points to them? They have separated, so we now have two families and two accounts. The eldest child belongs to my family, so the work points belong to my family and do not count towards other people’s accounts.”
Listening to her talk was so irritating. Haotian was so angry that he wanted to just burst out and say, “You don’t have to give us then, if you don’t want to!” However, he was stopped by Han Qingsong placing a hand on his shoulder.
His mother had told him to listen to Third Uncle if he needed anything. Therefore, Haotian shut up and pretended that he was just a piece of wood.
Haotian also knew that with Third Uncle and the Secretary Head watching over him, he would not suffer any loss even after separating the family.
Han Yongfang said, “According to what you said, if the Second and Third sons separate, they will also have two accounts. Doesn’t it mean that they wouldn’t have to support the elderly then?”
Old Lady Han choked on her words, feeling resentful of the fact that Han Qingsong had invited the Secretary Head here as a deliberate attempt to defeat her.
Han Yongfang flipped through his notebook again and made some plans. Then, he used most of Eldest Brother Han’s work points to deduct his own rations and took account of the Second and Third families’ contribution in taking care of the old couple. A small part of the account would be used to subsidise the old lady’s work points, but the majority would be allocated to Haotian.
Old Lady Han couldn’t bear it anymore, “That’s not good. Wouldn’t that be equal to our eldest son being separated as well?”
Han Yongfang frowned, “Then tell me, do you want your eldest as a person or do you want his work points? He has you guys to take care of, but he also has a wife and children. You can’t just take both, can you?”
If she wanted him to stay, then his work points should be given to the family. That was very fair and just.
Han Yongfang refused to allow the eldest son to raise his younger sister instead of his daughter.
If he let that happen, he would be stabbed in the spine and others would claim that the family separation was unfair.
This way, at least he had a clear conscience and when asked by others, he could explain his methods clearly and rationally.
Old Lady Han was determined to have her eldest son return to his wife, but she couldn’t really bear to do so.
After all, there wasn’t another son by her side any longer.
Since there was no other way, Old Lady Han had no choice but to agree.