"Are you blaming us for being biased as your parents?" Shopkeeper Tian asked with a sullen face.
Tian Wuhu’s eyes reddened, "I wouldn’t dare! I am the son born and raised by you. If you want me to be born, then I am born. If you want my life, I will give it to you with no complaints, hands offered! I only hope that in this life I can repay the debt of your nurturing, and in the next life, I’d rather be a beast of burden and never trouble you again!"
Zhang Qiuju couldn’t stand these words the moment she heard them.
What did the Eldest Brother mean by that? Does he resent them as his parents now?
No matter what, he is the flesh and blood born of her ten-month pregnancy. Zhang Qiuju was both furious and anxious and reached out to slap Tian Wuhu: "You heartless thing, how much trouble and pain did I suffer when I gave birth to you? Went without eating and drinking, saving food for you. It was difficult enough to raise you up a bit, open a shop in the county, and your father was busy every day. I carried you, looked after the shop, and didn’t get a bite to eat or a sip of hot tea, never letting you suffer!"
"And now look at you! You hold a grudge against us, your parents, over such little things? I’d beat this ungrateful brat to death! Have you been bewitched by that wretched Lady Chen? Ever since you married her, you’ve had other thoughts, listening to that wretched woman all the time! Is she your real mother?"
Tian Wuhu wavered as he took a few blows from Zhang Qiuju and decisively knelt down with a thud: "My life was given by my parents. Now if my parents want to take it back, then take it back! There’s no meaning for me to live anyway—"
Zhang Qiuju’s vision blackened upon hearing this and almost collapsed.
However, Shopkeeper Tian, not fond of it as he may be, knew this was his own son, his offspring whom he once held, played with, and placed high hopes on.
Seeing the Eldest Brother so dispirited and looking lifeless, he did feel a pang of guilt.
Without showing it on his face, he coldly said, "You just heard a couple of phrases yesterday and really thought your parents are going to leave you alone? Wasn’t it just to coax your younger brother and sister-in-law away? Don’t you need to understand? Now, your sister-in-law is carrying the roots of our Tian Family, if anything happens, the Tian Family will end at my hands! How should I explain to our ancestors underground?"
"Besides, it’s just a contingency, isn’t it? Your father has backup plans! Do you think your father would really stand by and watch the family come to trouble? I love you both, even if I’ve been a bit partial to your second brother, but I haven’t been mean to you either! I raised you so big, and just for these words, you’ve grown distant and spiteful towards your parents?"
"To say nothing else, your father spent the whole day out today, sacrificed his old face, and ran through all the favors accumulated in half a lifetime, and finally solved this matter! Our Tian Family is safe, and your father can withstand a little storm! If you’re still worried, why don’t you go to the village tomorrow and bring back your second brother and his wife? If they’re back, you’ll believe it, right?"
Shopkeeper Tian knew where his eldest son’s heart was tied and realized that outrightly denying favoritism might provoke the Eldest Brother’s discontent, so he admitted it first, but spoke more kindly than Zhang Qiuju.
Seeing a change in Tian Wuhu’s expression, he added more fuel to the fire: "I know, you feel your father is biased, but who can you blame? Why did you treat that Lady Chen, who can’t bear children, as a treasure? By rights, the family estate should be passed to the eldest son and grandson—"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Qiuju became anxious. No way the head of the family was swayed by the Eldest Brother’s words to give the family estate to him? That wouldn’t do. She had already decided that the estate should go to the second son, who is both filial and good at business, entrusting him gives peace of mind.
The eldest is too honest and naive, handing over the business to him would ruin it all, wouldn’t it?
She was about to oppose, but a stern glance from Shopkeeper Tian made her dare not.
On the other side, Shopkeeper Tian continued to persuade Tian Wuhu: "But isn’t it because you haven’t even given us a grandson, not even a granddaughter, all this time? If the family estate were to be handed over to you and you have no sons, who would it go to in your old age? Wouldn’t it end up with your second brother?"
"So why bother with all that trouble? When your second brother has a nephew, won’t he take care of his uncle in old age? You are my son as well, how can I not plan for you?"
"Moreover, if you’re unhappy about something, you should say so, only then will your father know, right? If you truly want to help with the shop, just tell your father, and he will arrange something. You’re my son, how could I refuse you?"
After hearing these words, Shopkeeper Tian himself nearly believed that he had such plans for the eldest son all along.
At first, Tian Wuhu looked confused, but as he continued listening to Shopkeeper Tian, his expression became more and more calm.
He finally kowtowed with a few loud thumps: "Father! Mother! Forgive me for being unfilial! I’ve thought it over. I’m not as smart as my second brother, I’m no good at business, and I can’t be of much help at home. This family situation made me realize that I had intended to repay parents’ nurturing with my life."
"But now, as you say, since our shop is fine, I am relieved! I’m useless and dare not expect anything from home, I just ask my parents to let me out of the family, I have hands and can at least support myself!"
"What did you say?" Shopkeeper Tian sprang up, trembling as he pointed at Tian Wuhu.
He hadn’t expected after saying so much, Tian Wuhu actually wants to split from the family?
"I am unfilial! Please, Father and Mother, fulfill my wish!" Tian Wuhu bowed and didn’t rise.
Shopkeeper Tian was furious: "You ungrateful son! You little beast, your parents aren’t even dead yet, and you already want to split the family?"
If this spread, the Tian family would become a laughing stock.
Zhang Qiuju was dumbfounded, as if seeing her eldest son for the first time.
Tian Wuhu’s voice did not fluctuate: "Father, Mother, please fulfill my wish! I am such a useless person, I can’t help the family business above, nor protect my wife below, I’m a coward, I can’t even continue the Tian lineage. Whether the Tian family has me or not makes no difference!"
"Father and Mother have my second brother and sister-in-law’s filial piety, no need to worry about me! But rest assured, whatever money should be given for retirement respect each year, I’ll risk my life to give it! I’ve grown up all these years, never have I asked my parents for anything, today I’m begging you, please fulfill my wish!"
After saying this, he kowtowed heavily on the ground.
Zhang Qiuju was both angry and heartbroken, turning to look at Shopkeeper Tian.