He spoke with difficulty, a desolate smile: “Hui-niang and I only had that one pair of children, and at that time, only Xiao-niang was left. But we, husband and wife, were useless, and already old. Sooner or later, we’d go before her. We just feared that without a brother to support her, once she married out and her natal family had no power, what would she do if she got bullied?”
Pity the hearts of parents under heaven.
In the countryside, if a married daughter didn’t live well, the natal family would all take up tools and go to the in-laws to demand an explanation.
He was worried his Xiao-niang would be alone with no one to rely on.
Clearly it was a sunny day, but the cold air seeped in everywhere, and even the bones trembled from the chill.
Wei Shouzhong’s voice was tinged with choking.
“I could only watch helplessly as that Wei Qintian took a wife. The main house beat gongs and drums, held a huge banquet, and even used A’Lang’s compensation silver—how could I not hate it?”
“But still, I didn’t manage to protect Xiao-niang.”
“Heaven actually gave A’Lang back to us.”
Wei Shouzhong paused: “Hui-niang married me and didn’t live a single good day. A’Lang also suffered bitterly—isn’t that enough? Do we still have to keep being oxen and horses to fill the pit dug by their main house?”
“This cowardly anger, I’ve had enough of it.”
The elders of the Wei family were all silent.
How could they not know that Old Lady Wei had gone too far?
And looking at A’Lang—this body full of injuries—even they felt pain just seeing it.
Also parents themselves, who could truly have no resentment, give up their own son, and go raise their brother’s bones?
Hui-niang turned away, going to wipe the tears at the corners of her eyes, but no matter how she wiped, they wouldn’t stop.
“Second!”
Old Lady Wei stabbed Wei Shouzhong’s back with her cane: “Don’t be muddle-headed!”
She pointed at Wei Zhao: “He’s sickly—how long do you think he can live?”
“If you insist on being obstinate and make me and Shoucai angry, don’t ever dream of the main house’s descendants giving you old-age support or burying you after death.”
In the countryside, being without descendants was extremely shameful! It meant you’d never be able to lift your head.
Wei Shouzhong only gave a desolate laugh: “Mother really thinks I care?”
“Don’t mention again the disgusting idea of adopting Wei Qintian under my name.”
The Wei family’s grand-uncle feared Wei Shen wouldn’t survive this harsh winter, and his face changed: “Shouzhong, words like that can’t be said recklessly.”
“Today, no one can persuade me. In front of all the elders, I’ll put the words here.”
“Even if my wife and I become so poor we have to beg, we will still treat A’Lang’s illness. If he really… we’ll accept it.”
“So what if there’s no heir? Do I care?”
“My A’Lang followed that General Wei on the frontier, fought in battles, killed enemies—he has more promise than anyone!”
Everyone looked at each other in dismay, and in the end turned to the village head.
“This… what do you think?”
The lizheng looked toward Shouzhong: “You’ve truly decided?”
“Decided.”
“No regrets?”
Wei Shouzhong: “Absolutely not.”
Hui-niang knelt beside him, eyes full of tears: “I beg uncle-granduncles to fulfill this.”
The lizheng sighed: “Shouzhong, go call your brother over.”
This meant he agreed.
After all, in a family separation, the people of the main house must be present.
Old Lady Wei: “You’re not allowed to go!”
She trembled with rage: “I do not agree!”
But Wei Shouzhong didn’t look at her even once and strode out of the courtyard.
Old Lady Wei wanted to chase after him but was stopped by the lizheng.
The lizheng said: “If you keep making trouble, the affection between mother and son will be exhausted, and only resentment will be left. Let’s see how you clean up that mess then!”
Without the second house, with a bunch of useless and lazy good-for-nothings in the main house, could Old Lady Wei’s days still go smoothly?
Once the share that was supposed to go to Wei Shouzhong was divided, according to the rules, the second house still had to give Old Lady Wei a fixed amount of support money for her elderly care.
But if the second house couple were truly forced into desperation, and one day refused to pay that money, even the lizheng himself wouldn’t intervene.
Old Lady Wei: “Go! All of you get out! As long as I don’t nod, no one can meddle in my family’s affairs!”
There was nothing wrong with this statement—in the end, when family opinions don’t agree, even outsiders can’t do anything.
But her attitude completely angered the Wei family’s grand-uncle.
With a trembling finger, he pointed at Old Lady Wei.
“Back then, when your man was seriously ill, he talked about that military draft back then. Said that in those days, for the sake of the eldest grandson, you all gave up A’Lang. Said he wronged the second house. He knew full well that you, woman, and the eldest were full of scheming, said that although the second son, Shouzhong, was honest, he had his own ideas. As for A’Lang, that matter had already made him lose heart. Said if anything came up later, let us come out to help. If Shouzhong wanted to split the family, just let him. Only when he saw us nod did he close his eyes willingly.”
“You really think Shouzhong asked us here just to bear witness? He was giving you face!”
The division of the family property went quite smoothly. During the process, Wei Shoucai and Zhuang Mei came rushing in wanting to make a scene, but were scolded harshly by the Wei elders.
Old Lady Wei, knowing she couldn’t stop it, tried to divide the barren land to the second house and keep the fertile land for Wei Shoucai.
But how could the lizheng allow that? He did not let Wei Shouzhong suffer a loss.
A written document was drawn up in two copies, with handprints from both Wei Shoucai and Wei Shouzhong.
Wei Shoucai never expected things to develop like this. He sneered coldly: “You’ll regret it for sure.”
“Then no need for you to worry about that.”
The Wei grand-uncle sighed: “What are you arguing for? Conflicts break out, families split, but brothers of one family—even if the bones are broken, the tendons still connect them.” [This is a traditional Chinese saying: “打断骨头连着筋” – meaning blood relations can have severe conflict, but familial ties still remain.]
With the proper matters settled, they didn’t stay long.
Wei Shugu still didn’t forget to say to Wei Shoucai: “The amount of A’Lang’s pension silver, the yamen] has records. Over the years, your mother has spent quite a bit, but it was all spent on you all. This money—as the eldest brother, it’s not right for you to keep it to yourself. Remember to return it. After all, they’re still waiting on it to save their lives.”
Once all these people had left, the Wei family’s courtyard didn’t feel so cramped anymore.
After such a ruckus, Hui-niang felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted. She prepared to decoct the medicine, only to find that on the side of the medicine pot, there was a wenqian [文钱 – ancient copper coin with a square hole, historically used as currency].
Hui-niang paused, and thought of something. Her gaze turned toward the neighboring room.
This child…
The couple, with a strong tacit understanding, did not bring up the matter of Wei Zhao injuring Old Lady Wei.
After watching this whole show, Wei Zhao was also tired.
He slowly lifted his gaze to look at the sky.
Leading troops in battle requires the ability to observe the celestial signs.
He got up slowly.
Hui-niang: !!!
Who let you get out of bed?!
Can you even get out of bed?!
She cried out in alarm: “A’Lang.”
Wei Zhao stopped and weakly, listlessly spoke: “You wanted me to move the chair?”
Mm, the chair he had just been lying on.
With the way you are now, you can move a chair?
Hui-niang hurriedly shook her head: “No no no…”
Wei Zhao’s dark eyes were like they were wrapped in thick fog. He muttered: “It’s going to rain.”
Wei Shouzhong: …
Why so mysterious and strange.
His son’s mental state wasn’t right. Wei Shouzhong felt pained.
He coaxed him: “From now on, except for New Year’s and holidays when Dad will go to the old house to deliver the elder care money, we won’t associate with those people who harmed you.”
Wei Zhao had no impression of this person, Wei Shen.
There were too many people in the Wei family army. How could he remember each one? But that Wei Shen had indeed followed him and died in battle as one of his men.
Wei Zhao: “Need help?”
Wei Shouzhong: “What?”
Wei Zhao: “If you want those people dead, just tell me.”
After speaking, he thought of something.
In his current state, after all, he was weak—breaking someone’s neck barehanded should be difficult.
“But.”
He looked at Wei Shouzhong: “You’ll have to give me a knife.”
Wei Shouzhong had just been frightened by Wei Zhao’s world-shocking, outrageous words, but when he heard that he wanted a knife, he panicked even more.
“Don’t even think about it!”
Trying to stab yourself again, is that it?!
If you won’t give it, then don’t—but what are you yelling for?
The last person who yelled at him—even the grass on their grave is taller than Wei Shouzhong’s now.
But the current Wei Zhao had no temper.
His tone was also perfunctory.
“Ah, what a pity then.”