Shopkeeper Tian took a deep breath, his voice as cold as ice: "Eldest Brother, have you thought it through? Now that the matter of the Tian Family is in the past, and with Father having new connections, as long as we can secure them, the good days for our Tian Family are yet to come!"
"If you stay at home, when your mother and I grow old, naturally you will have your share in this family, and we’ll find you a good-looking wife. But if you really want to split up the family, I won’t give you even a single piece of silver! You shouldn’t even touch a hair of the Tian Family’s wealth! Think carefully about it!"
This was the last chance he was giving Tian Wuhu.
Tian Wuhu paused, kowtowed heavily a few times, "Please, Father and Mother, grant me this— "
Zhang Qiuju covered her mouth and began to sob.
Shopkeeper Tian stared fixedly at Tian Wuhu before sneering, "Very well! You have ambition!"
With that, he abruptly stood up and walked out.
Zhang Qiuju grabbed Shopkeeper Tian: "Where are you going, dear?"
Shopkeeper Tian shook off Zhang Qiuju’s hand: "I’m going to find witnesses, today I’ll finalize this family separation!"
Saying so, he stormed out, fuming.
As soon as Shopkeeper Tian left the house, Zhang Qiuju angrily grabbed Tian Wuhu and started hitting him: "Is there water in your brain? Or are you confused? Do you think talking about splitting the family is something you can say on a whim? Now you’ve angered your father , are you satisfied?"
"Is it because the family raised you that you’ve become so ungrateful? You heartless wretch, you’re stabbing your mother’s heart!"
Tian Wuhu lowered his head, letting Zhang Qiuju hit him, while no one saw his reddened eyes and the endless despair in them.
Shopkeeper Tian, being a decisive person, went to find witnesses right away as he said he would.
In no time, he had brought the neighbor over.
The neighbor tried to mediate, "Old Tian, the child was speaking out of anger, you as a father shouldn’t be angry with the child. Not to fault you, but you’ve been too partial with your wife, and this honest child saying such words must be because he felt wronged all along..."
Shopkeeper Tian didn’t explain, only kept silent with a stony expression.
When the neighbor came in and saw Tian Wuhu kneeling on the ground, his hair disheveled from Zhang Qiuju’s beating, with a few scratches on his face, he looked drained and listless, slumped on the floor.
The neighbor’s heart softened immediately.
The Tian’s Eldest Brother was known to be honest and sincere, and the surrounding neighbors knew him as someone who was willing to help others. Whenever anyone needed a hand, he’d step up without being asked if he saw it.
He was also gentle-natured, with the neighbor’s children all liking to play with him, and he often bought sweets for them.
To be fair, while he wasn’t cut out for business, he was dutiful and thoughtful, making others envious of the Tian Family. Who wouldn’t envy Shopkeeper Tian?
Seeing an ordinarily cheerful and amicable man in such a state, the neighbor felt sorry; it wasn’t the child wanting to split the family; clearly, he had no other choice being pushed by the parents?
The neighboring lady had long spread the word about Shopkeeper Tian and Zhang Qiuju’s discussions yesterday, making it known to everyone. Who didn’t know they wanted the eldest son to be the scapegoat for the second son?
Even if it were a block of wood, they’d feel hurt being treated by their parents, let alone a person?
The neighbor still wanted to say more, but after seeing Tian Wuhu’s condition, the rest of the words choked back and couldn’t come out, he just patted Tian Wuhu’s shoulder and turned to say: "Old Tian, since it’s come to this, why not let the child have his way? Wu Hu isn’t heartless, just because he’s separating, doesn’t mean he won’t care for you in your old age?"
Shopkeeper Tian sneered, "With such a rebellious son, I can’t hold high hopes! If he wants to split, then let it be! Don’t blame me for being ruthless; this family business shall be left to the second son, and with a golden grandson in the second son’s family, naturally, all this property will belong to my grandson in the future. I raised you, I don’t hope for you in the future to make any big achievements or support me! After all, I’ve raised you; for the last bit of father-son sentiment, there’s a courtyard in North Street Cauliflower Alley that’s yours, plus ten mu of land, enough to be fair to you!"
The neighbor took a while before speaking: "Old Tian, isn’t that too little? How can the child manage on his own? Not to say anything else, giving him two rooms from the shop for rent would make it a bit easier, wouldn’t it?"
The Cauliflower Alley is the poorest lane in Jing County, with residents being impoverished families; how much could that courtyard be worth?
Besides, compared to the Tian Family’s current wealth, giving the biological son just a courtyard and ten mu of land, it’s like handing over scraps! After all, he’s your flesh and blood; not asking for an equal share, but shouldn’t you at least let Eldest Brother split the family and live properly?
Shopkeeper Tian sneered, "I’ve raised this ungrateful wolf so big and never enjoyed any of his fortune! Now, being able to split him off with these things, ensuring he has a place to live and land, not starving, is good enough! As for the shop, forget it! It’s all for my grandson!"
The neighbor still wanted to persuade him.
Tian Wuhu had already kowtowed and said, "I have no objections, Father! Thank you, Father and Mother! Father and Mother, rest assured, as long as I have something to eat, I’ll naturally fulfill my filial duties!"
The neighbor could say no more, only shaking his head and sighing as he helped write the separation papers, then Shopkeeper Tian went inside, brought out a house deed and land deed.
He threw them in front of Tian Wuhu, "Take it and get out! Don’t come back to this home anymore! As of today, the ties between us as father and son are severed!"
Tian Wuhu didn’t say a word, picked up the house and land deeds, silently kowtowed nine times to Shopkeeper Tian and Zhang Qiuju, then got up and left.
As he reached the doorway, Shopkeeper Tian’s voice came, "Eldest Brother, I’m giving you one last chance! If you regret, admit your mistake and bring your second brother’s family back tomorrow! If you step out the door, there’s no turning back."
Tian Wuhu paused for a moment.
Everyone held their breath, watching Tian Wuhu.
But Tian Wuhu steadied himself, and step by step, slowly walked outside...
As Tian Wuhu exited the courtyard, Zhang Qiuju clutched her chest and cried out loud, "This heartless son, really for that harlot Chen, he doesn’t even want his parents— I raised such a big son in vain—"
Shopkeeper Tian’s face darkened, shouting at Zhang Qiuju: "Shut up! Such a rebellious son, good riddance!"
The neighbor only felt awkward and hurriedly bid farewell.
Shopkeeper Tian, in his rage, didn’t bother to see him off.
As the neighbor exited the courtyard, he hastened a few steps closer to Tian Wuhu, "Wu Hu—"
Tian Wuhu stopped, turned to glance at the neighbor, and called out Uncle, then fell silent.
The neighbor sighed and patted Tian Wuhu’s shoulder, "It’s so late, and you don’t even know where that courtyard in Cauliflower Alley is. In the dark, wouldn’t it be a wasted trip? Just come and stay at Uncle’s house for the night, and see what can be done tomorrow morning!"