The opinion of all of the villagers including the Village Party Secretary and the Village Director toward Shu Yan had changed instantly. They had always been bystanders to whatever Shu Youfu and Lin Zixiang had done to Shu Yan. Those were, after all, their family business. Now that Shu Yan had done such a big favor for the village, it was only natural for them to help Shu Yan out.
Shu Jianyang pulled out the agreement that Shu Yan had mentioned earlier and the Village Party Secretary read it in front of Shu Youfu and the other.
“Do you understand it now?” The Village Party Secretary felt that Shu Yan was truly a good child. As a daughter and that there were so many brothers at home, it really should not be her job to support her parents when they grew old.
“Whatever did she mean by that? She isn’t going to support us when we are old?” Lin Zixiang did not understand.
“What do you mean not supporting you when you grow old? Isn’t it clearly detailed out that she will chip in the same amount as your three sons? Have Jiangyang talk to your three sons. How many ratios and money will they be contributing every year and she will match them. When you are sick and have to be hospitalized, she will contribute her share as well. That a lot to ask for a daughter already. You can ask around all the villages around us. Who else have a daughter would do contribute as much as the sons?”
“That’s not the same.” What other women had so much money?
“How is it not the same?” The Village Party Secretary rolled his eyes. “If you ask me, Shu Yan isn’t even obligated to support you when you grow old at all. She was married off at 17. You’ve taken all of her bride money and didn’t even give her any dowry. Did she get a portion of any of your fields or houses? Why does she need to support you when you grow old like your sons? Any more words from you, you can forget about this portion as well.”
Back then, the Village Party Secretary had a lot of power. Very few villagers dared to challenge him and Shu Youfu, who had always been a coward one, all the more dared not to say anything.
“Have Second Brother come over and we will get this all nailed down today and include them in the agreement. Shu Yan will pay through me when the time comes.” Second Brother referred to Shu Youfu’s oldest son.
When Shu Jianyang was born, their family hasn’t split up yet so they were all numbered together. Shu Jianyang’s older brother was the oldest of all, followed by Shu Youfu’s oldest son, then Shu Jianyang himself. After the families had moved out, the children were reordered but as they were already used to it, none of them every switched the way they referred to each other. That was the reason why Shu Yan always referred to Shu Jianyang as Third Brother.
The oldest brother and his wife were in the mountains and were baffled when they were called back. They were related more decent than his two brothers and had no objection after hearing about the agreement.
It had always been the responsibilities of the three brothers. What was not to like when there was one more person to split the responsibilities with them now?
Granted, Shu Jianxiang and Shu Jianbin had a lot to say. In their minds, Shu Yan money was their money. Even if she wasn’t going to give them off of it, hundreds of thousand yuan to each of them wasn’t a lot to ask for. Nevertheless, with Shu Jianyang and the Village Party Secretary being there, neither one of them dared to make a peep.
“Hurry up. I still need to return to the city when this is settled.” Shu Jianyang rushed Shu Youfu and the others impatiently.
The two of them mumbled between themselves for a long time before Shu Youfu cleared his throat and said, “Okay, we have decided. 1000 jin (500 kg, 1,100 pounds) of wheat, 1,000 jin of millet, and 10,000 yuan per person.”
The Village Officials and Shu Jianyang all looked at them in disbelief.