123 The Separation of The Old House

Brought to you by Elaine

Lei Xiangzhi didnt seem to notice their uneasiness. So then, our family now has 15 mu of paddy field and 10 mu of farmland. Father, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, and I can each be allocated 3 mu of paddy field and 2 mu of farmland. How to divide the rest is up to father.

Lei Daqiang pondered for a moment and said, As for the house, at present, everyone still lives in their rooms. The vegetable garden and the kitchen can be shared. The money at home wont be divided for the time being. Your fourth brothers marriage must be settled this year. It will cost a lot of money to get married in spring at the latest. Only after your fourth brother gets married, can the money be divided. Old Five, what do you think?

Lei Xiangzhi nodded, Its reasonable. Fourth Brother is not anymore younger, its time to get married.

En. Lei Daqiang was very satisfied with his sons filial obedience. He said with a smile, As for other small things, its easy. Farm tools, tableware, and whatnot can be divided according to the headcount.

Good, Ill go and invite Li Zheng now, said Lei Xiangzhi.

Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli were standing at the gate of the yard. They could guess what Lei Xiangzhi, Lei Daqiang, and Du Shi were discussing. As soon as Lei Xiangzhi came out, they both looked at him nervously for fear of hearing the answer they didnt want to hear.

Lei Xiangzhi smiled and nodded at them.

Lei Xiangyi breathed a sigh of relief, Fifth Brother, you stay at home. Ill go to invite Li Zheng.

Ill go and ask Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law to come over, said Lei Xiangli.

Alright. Thank you, Third Brother and Fourth Brother, said Lei Xiangzhi with a smile.

Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli quickly left.

Hey? Where are you two going? Lei Xiangren came out of the central room, just in time to see Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli happily leave, and quickly called out.

However, no one paid attention to him.

Fifth Brother, whats going on? Lei Xiangren hastily asked Lei Xiangzhi.

Lei Xiangzhi answered, Its a good thing, Second Brother. Do you want to go and find Second Sister-in-law to return home?

Oh, Ill go now. Lei Xiangren ran away and went to find Zhao Shi, who was chatting in another persons house.

Fifth Brother. Lei Chuntao came out of her room and looked at Lei Xiangzhi with some worry.

Lei Xiangzhi loved his twin sister very much. He rubbed her head and said with a gentle smile, Dont worry, Fifth Brother will handle it well.

When Lei Xiangli arrived at Leisurely Farmhouse, Qin Mian and Lei Tie were making dumplings at home. Lei Tie made the dumpling wrappers, and Qin Mian wrapped the dumplings; the two cooperated very well.

Seeing Lei Xiangli with a smile on his face, Qin Mian teased, Fourth Brother, did you pick up money?

Made Eldest Sister-in-law laugh at me. Lei Xiangli rubbed his head with embarrassment, Fifth Brother has already convinced Father and Mother to separate. I came to ask Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law to be the witnesses.

Sure. Qin Mian patted off the flour on his hands and stood up, Fifth Brother is straightforward as expected. Do you know how its going to be?

Lei Xiangli shook his head. I didnt have time to ask, but I believe Fifth Brother will handle it well.

Lei Tie poured out the hot water in the kettle for hand washing. Qin Mians hands would be cold in autumn and winter, and since then, he never let Qin Mian touch cold water.

After washing their hands, they went to the old house together.

On the other end, Lei Xiangyi also led Li Zheng to the old house.

Seeing this movement, the villagers had some guesses. A few married women went to Lei Daqiangs neighbors house to get the first-hand information in time.

Qin Mian, Lei Tie, Li Zheng, Lei Daqiang, Du Shi, Wei Shi, Lei Xiangren, Zhao Shi, Lei Xiangyi, Qian Shi, Lei Xiangli, and Lei Xiangzhi sat in the central room. Lei Chuntao and the maid Xiaoxi were watching over the three children Lei Dabao, Lei Erbao, and Lei Xinxin.

Lei Xiangren was certainly not an idiot. As soon as he saw them and even Li Zheng was called over, coupled with the happy expressions of Lei Xiangyi, Qian Shi, and Lei Xiangli, he immediately guessed that this was a family separation! His face abruptly changed color. With a gloomy face, he planned to listen first.

Zhao Shi and he were worthy of being husband and wife. She also saw the clue and looked at him nervously, Husband

Lei Xiangren patted her hand, motioning her to stay calm. His eyes twinkled as he surveyed all of their faces on alert. If separated, so be it. However, he would not leave it at that if something was not to his satisfaction.

Lei Daqiang first saluted Li Zheng. Trouble Li Zheng yet again.

Li Zheng waved his hand as he said, Haha, its a small matter, not worth mentioning.

Lei Daqiang raised his voice, Now that everyone is here, listen to me. As you can see, there are only a few rooms in our house. Now, both Wei Shi and Qian Shi are pregnant, and soon therell be two more people in the family. When Old Four is married, the house will be more crowded. Like the so-called the tree has branches, today, Ive decided to separate the family. Li Zheng is here as a witness and writes down the separation document.

Since they hadnt talked about the key points yet, no one intervened.

Lei Daqiang continued, Since were on it, then separate all at once. Old Two, Old Three, Old Four, and Old Five are all separated. I, Du Shi, Wei Shi, and Chuntao will stay with Old Five.

Lei Xiangren immediately jumped out, Father! What do you mean? We brothers have done so much to support Fifth Brother to become a Xiucai. How can we separate when we havent benefited even a little? Isnt it inappropriate?

Thats right! Zhao Shi curled her lips, her stern eyes cast sidelong glances at Lei Xiangzhi. Fifth Brother. You, Father, and Mother have been whispering in the room for a long time the matter of separation shouldnt be your In the end, she still remembered that Lei Xiangzhis identity was different now, and so she didnt dare to offend him too bluntly.

Li Zheng kept his head lowered without interrupting.

Qin Mian and Lei Tie looked straight ahead, seemingly absent-minded.

Fifth Brother, its actually you? Lei Xiangren looked hurt as he stared at Lei Xiangzhi in disbelief.

Lei Xiangzhi kept a straight face. Second Brother, can you listen to me first?

With a woody face, Lei Xiangren waved his hand, You talk!

I did bring up the separation to Father and Mother. Lei Xiangzhi said, Besides the reasons that Father had just said, there is another important reason. With so many people living together, therell always be a blunder. On the contrary, once separated, well be closer. Naturally, I remember that I could go to school without any worries because of everyones support. Without you all, there wont be me, the Lei Xiangzhi of today.

Lei Xiangrens face looked slightly cordial, As long as you understand that.

I knew Fifth Brother isnt an ungrateful person. Zhao Shi seemed very satisfied with Lei Xiangzhi.

Qin Mian disdainfully swept a glance at Lei Xiangren and his wife. Who wouldnt understand [from those words] that the gratitude meant for Lei Xiangzhi to take along Lei Xiangren and Zhao Shi?

Id asked Third Brother and Fourth Brothers opinion. Both are willing to separate. Lei Xiangzhi said leisurely, If Second Brother agrees to separate, Im willing to give Second Brother 100 silver taels to support Dabao and Erbaos study; if Second Brother wants to take care of our parents with me, Im very happy too. This way, I can use the 100 silver taels for study without worry.

Except for Qin Mian and Lei Tie, everyone was shocked.

100 silver taels!

Lei Daqiang and Du Shis first reaction was regret, they shouldnt have agreed to separate. However, after thinking that their youngest son would have more money as an official in the future, their anger sunk.

Wei Shi looked at Qin Mian and Lei Tie with a profound meaning before quickly withdrew her eyes. She didnt intend to get involved in the separation. Regardless, she followed Lei Daqiang; Lei Daqiang would never be separated from Lei Xiangzhi. She wouldnt suffer a great loss. At present, the most important thing for her was to give birth safely.

Lei Xiangren and Zhao Shi shivered with joy, their hearts pounding.

Qian Shis heart also skipped a beat, and she was restless with anxiety. In her opinion, the fifth brother was too partial. Since he offered Lei Xiangren 100 silver taels, he should also offer her husband 100 silver taels.

Lei Xiangyi pressed her hand and gave her a warning look.

Lei Xiangli was as calm as Lei Xiangyi. Both brothers saw through it. Lei Xiangzhi offered Lei Xiangren 100 silver taels not because he was more intimate with Lei Xiangren, but for the opposite reason.

As for where the 100 silver taels came from, no one actually wanted to ask.

Second Brother, what do you think? Lei Xiangzhi sipped a cup of tea and asked with a grin.

Lei Xiangren hesitated. 100 silver taels were quite a lot, but after Lei Xiangzhi became an official, he could get more.

Zhao Shi was flustered, afraid that he would refuse. She tugged his sleeve, lowered her voice, and said eagerly, Husband, what are you still hesitating about? Agree! We cant earn 100 silver taels in our two lives! With these 100 silver taels, we can build a big house and send Dabao and Erbao to school. As long as we groom them well, they can become officials in the future!

The last sentence moved Lei Xiangren and made him see another brighter and broader road in front of him. Thats right, why would he fixate on Fifth Brother? After all, the relationship with a younger brother was not deeper than with the sons. It was better to rely on the sons than the younger brother!

Qin Mian pretended to drink tea there was a smile on his lips. He silently praised Zhao Shi and lit a candle for Lei Xiangren.1

Zhao Shi kept urging on that Lei Xiangren didnt have time to think carefully. He sighed in pretense and nodded in mourning, Dabao will be late for education, so I truly need this money fine, I agree. Its just that, if separated, we cant be filial to our parents anymore

Thats right, Father and Mother. Looking at Lei Daqiang and Du Shi with a reluctant expression, Qian Shi wiped the corner of her eyes as tears rolled down her cheek.

Qin Mian had seen her secretly pinching her thigh hard. He suppressed his laugh, so much so that his body was shaking.

Lei Tie supported his back in silence.

Lei Daqiang continued to preside over the family separation. Old Five bought a few mu of farmland for our family. Now our family has 15 mu of paddy field and 10 mu of farmland. Old Two, Old Three, Old Four, Old Five, and I each get 3 mu of paddy field and 2 mu of farmland house(blabla) chickens, ducks, and pigs are divided this way(blabla) farm tools(blabla) Lastly, since Old Four, Old Five, and Chuntao have yet married, the familys money is not divided for the time being. Only after Old Four is married will it be divided.

Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli had no objection. As for Lei Xiangren, since he could get 100 silver taels immediately, he didnt care so much about this small money, and therefore, he nodded in a frank and straightforward manner, whilst unable to cease the smile on his face.

Thank you, SadieWoods!

Note:

FootnotesCandles are lit for prayer intentions. To light a candle for someone indicates ones intention to say a prayer for another person, and the candle symbolizes that prayer. In this case, QM showed sympathy to LXR for having such a pit-wife.