"No," Yang Anshi rolled her eyes. Want the Selling Covenant? Impossible. It was precisely because of that document that she had been able to keep Xun Hui under her thumb so obediently. Now that they had divided the family, she could still control things just as well.
"Since it doesn’t exist, it should still be written clearly on the division agreement to avoid any future complications," Yang Ruxin sneered. "Third Great-Uncle, Fourth Great-Uncle, and Governor’s Office Uncle Lizheng, what do you think?"
"That’s right," Lizheng nodded. "Logically speaking, since Xun Hui was wed through a proper marriage, the Selling Covenant should indeed be nullified."
"Impossible," Yang Anshi raised her voice, "I’m telling you, Xun Hui is purchased property; she’s a lowborn for life and must not dream of turning her fate around..."
The Third Great-Uncle and others immediately frowned; they all found Yang Anshi very disagreeable.
"Grandmother, must you be so ruthless?" Yang Ruxin gritted her teeth.
Yang Anshi sneered triumphantly.
"Then how can I get my mother’s Selling Covenant?" Yang Ruxin bit her lip.
"Want the Selling Covenant? Fine, exchange it for Silver." Yang Anshi looked smugly at Yang Dani. "I paid with silver back then..."
"I don’t have silver," Yang Ruxin spread her hands.
"Then you won’t get your share of the divided assets; it can offset the money for Xun Hui’s Selling Covenant..."
"Anshi," the Third Great-Uncle became irritated, "Even tigers don’t eat their offspring. This is a grandchild of the Yang Family; are you really trying to drive them to death?" He stood up. "Such harsh conditions for family division are unheard of in my life. Go find someone else to witness if you want, I’m leaving..."
Yang Rulin hurriedly supported the old master’s arm.
"Third Great-Uncle, please don’t be angry," Yang Peili hastily tried to smooth things over with a smile, then glared at Yang Anshi, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"These are my conditions, take it or leave it," Yang Anshi declared defiantly. "Even if we don’t divide the family, don’t expect to get a single penny from me..."
"You..." Third Great-Uncle’s face turned white with rage.
"Uncle, Aunt, one mustn’t be too absolute in everything," the village head frowned.
"I agree," Yang Ruxin suddenly spoke up, "Let’s do as Grandmother says." As for the assets, she could earn them back later, but Xun Hui’s Selling Covenant was a must-have—for otherwise, it would be a ticking time bomb.
"Child..." Third Great-Uncle frowned.
But Yang Ruxin smiled and interrupted Third Great-Uncle’s words, "Thank you, Third Great-Uncle. Since my grandparents are hellbent on abandoning us burdens, it’s pointless to cling to them. As long as I work hard, I believe we won’t starve..."
"Good child..." Third Great-Uncle met Yang Ruxin’s resolute gaze and nodded in approval, resolving to help them more in the future, so they wouldn’t starve.
"However, once the division is over, there’s still another matter to discuss," Yang Ruxin’s eyes flashed and landed on Yang Baichuan, "It’s said one must pay back their debts and a murderer must face justice. My mother was injured by Second Uncle, and the law should have provisions for this, right? How does it punish those who injure others?"
Third Great-Uncle nodded, "Indeed. This old man knows the law. Those who injure others are to be punished with three to ten years of labor, depending on the severity..."
Yang Baichuan’s face went pale with shock and he hurriedly stepped forward, "Dani, you..."
"I’m going to the Governor’s Office to sue," Yang Ruxin smiled, "Since you are unkind, don’t blame me for being unjust. I want to see—with a father in jail, how Yang Rusong will conduct himself... how he will proceed with the imperial examination..."