Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Division of the Family 3 Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Division of the Family 3 “Indeed, mother, my eldest brother speaks the truth! To provide for father is our duty, but what about taking care of the third brother? Why should we be responsible for him? Third brother broke his legs due to his own folly! How does that concern us? Originally, he was already a burden in the Gu Family; now with both legs broken, if we don’t separate, won’t we still be the ones to feed him and furnish his needs?”
The fourth brother, Gu Tiezhu, also clamored for the division of the family.
Only the fifth brother, Gu Jianghai, spoke in defense of Gu Ya and his wife. “Eldest brother, fourth brother, when the third brother earned a lot by hunting, why didn’t you stir up talk of dividing the family? Back then, you all lived off the money third brother made, didn’t you? Why didn’t you call yourselves freeloaders? Now that third brother’s legs are broken, you label him a burden?”
When Gu Ya was part of the Gu Family, both Mr. and Mrs. Zhang had indeed reaped many benefits from him. Gu Jianghai’s words left both the eldest brother, Gu Baofu, and the fourth brother, Gu Tiezhu, feeling somewhat guilty.
Previously, that was because Gu Ya had the ability to make money. Separating held no advantages for them, so why would they have wanted to divide the family? Now that Gu Ya was crippled, he was nothing but a useless person. If they didn’t separate, were they supposed to wait to be dragged down by him? They weren’t fools, were they?
How foolish it would be to still provide for Gu Ya and his wife after his legs were shattered!
“So what? Fifth brother, if you don’t want to separate, you can just live in the same room as your third brother. We’re not stopping you! Our desire to separate is our business, and it’s none of your concern,” Mrs. Zhang snorted coldly.
She had always disliked Gu Jianghai’s protective stance towards Gu Ya and his wife and disdained his words.
She didn’t take them seriously at all.
Mrs. Han also said, “Mother, even if you show favoritism toward the third brother and his wife, is there any reason for us, for the sake of these two, to live in difficulty? Eldest brother’s sons are growing up—one needs to take a wife, another to attend school. Tiezhu and I have kids who need money for food and clothing. If we don’t separate, all the money could be squandered by the third brother, the burden. Then, what about our children? Will they have money for school or to take wives?”
“Oh dear, my poor son, Changshun. It’s all because his mother has no ability that my son still can’t take a wife, and also my Dabao, mother, I’m sorry for you too! If grandmother doesn’t agree to separate, with such a burden as your third uncle, I fear even the money for your schooling next year will be gone,” Mrs. Zhang began to wail.
In no time, her clamor drew the curious from the village to the courtyard of the Gu Family’s house.
The villagers outside were chattering and pointing fingers. Although Mrs. An felt humiliated, Mrs. Zhang was indifferent and continued to cry and shout, as if afraid that those outside would not hear her. She even raised the volume of her cursing, calling Gu Ya a useless wretch and a debt-collecting ghost.
She also insinuated that Gu Ya’s father was a useless wretch.
The commotion in the courtyard was loud; both Gu Ya and his father inside the house could hear everything. Mrs. Zhang’s words grew more offensive by the word, angering Gu Ya’s father, Gu Chengxiang, who trembled with rage in the house and shouted, “A pack of vicious creatures, bent on separating? Then let’s separate!”
The sudden voice of Gu Ya’s father from inside the house startled everyone dining outside in the courtyard, including Mrs. Zhang who had been ceaselessly cursing.
“Mother, father has spoken! Do you still refuse to agree to separate?” Su Yunjin looked towards Mrs. An.