"No other family has such an ungrateful bastard like you! You heartless thing, what face do you have to come back and ask for your inheritance? When you originally stole and sold the deed, you knew it belonged to our Wang Family, didn’t you? You hardened your heart and took it away, regardless of the life or death of our entire family! Your father was so angered that he had a stroke and has been bedridden ever since, and your brother nearly lost his life, with silver pouring out like water at the clinic."
"At that time, it was like the sky had fallen on our family! Do you even know how we struggled through those days? We lived in constant fear, worrying from meal to meal! We tried to borrow some silver, but everyone avoided us."
"Why? Because they all knew our family had no land left! No source of income! We became a fallen household! But you, you went off with the silver from the land sale, joining some noble patron to live the good life! If it wasn’t for your sister who gritted her teeth and held this family together, the grass on your father and Eldest Brother’s graves would be over a foot tall by now, and this household would have scattered. And you’d still have the gall to sit in this courtyard, talking so high and mighty?"
"Now this courtyard, everything the Wang Family has, it’s all thanks to your sister’s efforts! What does it have to do with you? You think your face is bigger than a grinding disc? You still want a share of the inheritance? Pah! I wouldn’t give you even a single straw! You’ve made your fortune outside, not even sending a penny back home to help support your parents, and now you also want a piece of your sister’s belongings? Have you no shame? Are you even human?"
"Enough of your nonsense, old woman, weren’t you saying that you’re bringing back the silver to redeem our land? Didn’t you say the silver note is in the chest? Come on, go and bring it here for me now!" As she spoke, she tried to pull Lady Qian out of the room.
Wang Yongan quickly stopped Old Granny Zhang and knelt down with a thud, "Mother, I’ve spoken out of turn! I shouldn’t have said I wanted to divide the inheritance! I was just feeling a bit aggrieved, after all, I’m still one of your sons. How could such a big matter as dividing the family happen without me knowing anything at all? That’s why..."
Then he searched the room for Wang Yongzhu; he had heard his sister’s voice earlier, the one asking their mother if scolding him was tiring.
He had been so focused on flattering Wang Laozhu that he hadn’t taken the time to look around.
The moment he looked now, his eyes lit up.
The girl who used to be both dark and chubby was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a beautiful girl standing before him, wearing a light red jacket, with fair skin, clear, bright eyes, and slightly chubby cheeks.
If not for her familiar eyes and brows, he would not dare to believe that this was actually Wang Yongzhu?
Her bearing, her demeanor, where was there the slightest bit of a rustic maid’s vulgarity? Compared to the Jinchai at home, she even had an additional touch of warmth.
Wang Yongan’s heart began to surge.
Taking a deep breath to suppress his excitement, Wang Yongan bowed deeply to Wang Yongzhu, "Little sister! Thank you so much! Big brother has done wrong, and as a result, you’ve had to bear the burden for me! It’s all my fault! Now that big brother is back, rest assured, I will treat you well! I will make it up to you!"
Wang Yongzhu saw Wang Yongan’s eyes light up the moment they landed on her, and then he started to breathe more rapidly before putting on such a show.
She just sneered, "Who’s your little sister? Our Wang Family doesn’t have a Wang Yongan. I remember father made it very clear, treating you as if he’d never had such a son, and threw you out of the house."
"Little sister, big brother knows he was wrong, and that’s why I’ve come back to admit my guilt," Wang Yongan said with a forced smile.
"So what? The family has already been divided; we’re all the masters of our own households now. Even if father has become senile and can forgive you, that’s his business, what does it have to do with me?" Wang Yongzhu said coldly.
Wang Laozhu’s face suddenly turned ashen.
Upon hearing this, Wang Yongfu’s eyes shone.
Wang Yonggui could not help but laugh out loud, "Exactly, even if father has become muddled, we certainly haven’t! With a person like you, we’d better keep our distance! Otherwise, we’ll have to worry about the deeds being stolen again!"
Wang Yongan, who had an excellent mental fortitude, did not lose his temper even when ridiculed by Wang Yongzhu and Wang Yonggui. He just laughed awkwardly, "So you still don’t forgive me?"
Wang Yongzhu’s wariness grew even more, considering how the previous Wang Yongan, or any scholar for that matter, would have been able to endure being pointed at and scolded .
It was either a sign of deep cunning or of great ambition!
And Wang Yongan was likely guilty of both.
She could easily guess that Wang Yongan’s return was probably all about the silver.
However, she had already thoroughly cut off Wang Yongan’s path, and even if Wang Laozhu gave him all his capital, it likely wouldn’t quench Wang Yongan’s immediate thirst.
Moreover, Wang Yongzhu glanced discreetly at Wang Yongzhen, who stood beside Wang Laozhu. With this big sister around, the two of them were the apple of Wang Laozhu’s eye, his treasures, making it difficult for Wang Laozhu to balance his affections evenly.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere in the room, Lady Qian and Jinchai also dared not to speak.
Wang Laozhu swept his gaze across the room and then said, "It’s getting late, let’s talk about this tomorrow. Laosi, since only your courtyard is empty, why not let Laosan stay at your place for a few days?"
After all his calculations, the Eldest Brother’s house was full of children, and Laosan already had his own place; as for the daughters’ and wife’s quarters, Wang Laozhu didn’t even dare to consider them.
After much deliberation, it seemed that only Laosi was honest and easy to talk to, and Laosi’s wife, being a new bride, was timid and was thought unlikely to oppose.
Wang Yongping hadn’t expected that Wang Yongan and his family would end up being dumped on him, and he reflexively looked at Wang Yongzhu.
Seeing Wang Yongzhu’s stern face, he immediately snapped to attention, "No way!"
Wang Laozhu had thought that Laosi would agree, so he was surprised when he flatly refused.
"Why not? You and your wife live in one courtyard with so many empty rooms, how can you say it’s not possible?" Wang Laozhu said discontentedly.
Wang Yongan also hurriedly said, "Laosi, don’t worry, our family will just stay temporarily for a few days—we’ll leave after the new year! No matter what, we’re brothers. Even though we’ve split the family, the bond of blood remains unbroken, doesn’t it? Besides, if a relative comes to visit, you have to arrange accommodations for them. I know you all have grievances against me, and I understand that. I’m not expecting you to forgive me right away. Now, think of me as an ordinary relative coming to visit—can’t we stay for a couple of days?"
This new house looked spacious, bright, and warm—a vast improvement over the old house.
Of course, Wang Yongan wanted to stay in this new house; he had to butter up his parents!
"Either way, it’s not happening!" Wang Yongping knew he had to stand firm at this moment; if he showed hesitation, his father would definitely turn to his wife.
He could say no, but his wife couldn’t!
Therefore, he didn’t give a reason and just adamantly refused to budge.
Having no choice, Wang Laozhu tentatively looked toward Old Granny Zhang, "Old wife, about your—"
Old Granny Zhang didn’t speak, merely waving her thin bamboo stick, which made Wang Yongan involuntarily shiver thrice.