Chapter 212: Chapter 213: A Chill Down the Spine

Gu Lejia had already felt regret back in Sea City. ’If I hadn’t been so impulsive back then, would I have to face all this today?’

Xie Ruyi snorted. "You’re so headstrong, always thinking you’re right. Your father and I can’t control you anymore, and we can’t help you. Besides, you’re both still young and able-bodied. As long as you work hard, you’ll be able to support your own family.

Look at your grandmother. Didn’t her family split up as soon as she was married? Everyone managed just fine. What’s the matter? It was good enough for your father and your uncles, but suddenly it’s not good enough for you?"

Gu Lejia felt a wave of dizziness. "But at least let us catch our breath! I haven’t even sat down for a sip of water since walking in the door, and you’re already trying to kick me out. Mom, are you still the same mother who used to dote on me?

Dad, don’t just stand there without saying anything. It’s not that I’m against splitting from the family, but can’t we postpone it a little?

If word of this gets out, people who don’t know the full story will think I did something terribly unfilial."

Gu Yuanjin said, "...Your mother already sent your uncles to notify everyone. Why don’t we just get the family split over with today?"

Hearing this, Gu Lejia deflated completely. ’My old man is still the same,’ he thought. ’He just goes along with whatever Mom says about everything. But this is a huge deal—splitting the family!’

"What about Second Brother? He’s older than me, and he hasn’t split from the family," Gu Lejia said, pointing at Gu Le Di. "If we’re splitting, he should split too."

This seemed to remind Xie Ruyi of something. She grabbed a broom from the corner and swung it right at Gu Lejia. "They say there’s an order to things, from eldest to youngest! Both your older brothers are still unmarried, and here you are, trying to find fault!"

After taking two hits, Gu Lejia couldn’t stand it anymore and started scrambling around the courtyard. "Mom, I wasn’t home back then, was I?"

"Not home? Who are you trying to fool? You ran into your Seventh Uncle. You think he didn’t tell you what was going on at home?

I think you’ve lost your mind, so bewitched you’ve forgotten who you are! And you still dare to make excuses to me." Having raised three sons, Xie Ruyi knew all their tricks. The broom found its mark every time.

"Daughter-in-law, if you’re going to teach your son a lesson, do it properly later. The clansmen will be here any minute. At least leave the boy some dignity." Li Cuicui saw the commotion from a distance and quickly called out to stop them.

Seeing his savior, Gu Lejia immediately ran over and hid behind the old woman. "Grandma, Mom’s about to beat me to death! I don’t want to split from the family."

But Li Cuicui sidestepped him. "If she beats you to death, you’ll have deserved it. Your mother worries about you boys all day long at home, and what do you do? You get married, something this important, and go right over your mother’s head.

It’s only because your mother is kind-hearted. If it were up to me, hmph!"

A chill ran down Gu Lejia’s spine. He no longer dared to hide behind Li Cuicui and instead crept toward the gate, already plotting his escape route.

Seeing his scheming and his movements, which were exactly the same as when he was a child, Xie Ruyi irritably tossed the broom aside. "Mom, you’re here.

I’ve thought it over and over, and I’ve decided to follow your example and split them from the family early. It’ll save me a lot of trouble."

Li Cuicui pursed her lips. ’It wasn’t about saving myself trouble,’ she thought. ’It was just that with so many sons living together, I was exhausted from settling their disputes all day.’

’My daughter-in-law only has two sons at home right now; she doesn’t have to worry about any of that.’

When it came down to it, this was all about money. But you couldn’t just throw the couple out empty-handed. Otherwise, the village would start to gossip.

Li Cuicui stated her reason for coming. "When you split a family, you have to give them something. Back in my day, I didn’t treat you all unfairly."

Xie Ruyi gave a bitter smile. "We just finished building these two rooms and bought some new pots and pans. Everything we have is right here. Mom, how do you suggest we divide it?"

"Then where are they supposed to live? Even if you’re splitting them off, you have to give them a place to stay."

Xie Ruyi already had a plan. She pointed to the thatched shed where they stored firewood. "We used up most of the firewood over the winter. The weather is warmer now. If they clean it up a bit, they can make do for a while."

’Besides, we’ve all survived much harder times than this,’ she thought. ’What’s so unbearable about that?’ 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Li Cuicui glanced at Gu Lejia, who was cowering by the gate. As his grandmother, this was as much as she could help. If she interfered any more, she’d just be seen as a nuisance.

Since the parents were determined to split the family, no one else could persuade them otherwise.

In less than half an hour, a family division agreement was placed in front of Gu Lejia.

"A few broken farm tools and two months of rations, and that’s it? What kind of family division is this?" Song Xiuxiang’s expression changed in an instant. "You’re not giving us a chance to survive."

"The spring planting season just ended. If you two are diligent and take good care of those few acres of land at the edge of the village, you’ll have a new harvest in a few months." Gu Shulin had already allocated the land for them the moment he heard Gu Lejia had returned.

"And what about a place to live? Just this one thatched shed?"

"Lejia’s wife, you should be glad to have a shed at all. A few months ago, when we first arrived, this place was nothing but wasteland," Dai Ling said, shaking her head. "Young people these days are never satisfied."

"..."

No matter how much he protested or argued, Gu Lejia still pressed his handprint on the division agreement.

Seeing the matter was settled, Gu Wenheng and Jin Qianqian prepared to leave with the other clansmen.

Unexpectedly, Song Xiuxiang rushed in front of them. "Seventh Uncle, Aunt Seven, please wait."

Jin Qianqian said, "Please call me Mrs. Jin. After all, my sister-in-law has yet to be served tea by you. We shouldn’t be careless with titles."

Xie Ruyi’s eyes lit up. She found Jin Qianqian particularly agreeable today.

Only then did Song Xiuxiang remember that from beginning to end, no one had prompted her to serve the tea. Her status was now awkwardly stuck in limbo.

Jin Qianqian had no desire to hear what she had to say, nor was she curious. ’Coming to me at a time like this can’t be good for anything.’ She and Gu Wenheng shared a tacit understanding and smoothly sidestepped Xiuxiang, not forgetting to exchange a few pleasantries with the older women of the clan as they went.

&

「Shangjing」

Hua Shunming stared at the letter in his hand and suddenly slapped the table. "Good."

Ye Yi knelt respectfully on the floor, holding a box with both hands.

"Le San, bring it over!"

Le San walked over, took the box, and carefully placed it on the writing desk. "Your Majesty, shall I open it?"

Hua Shunming raised a hand. Le San carefully opened the box, revealing it was filled to the brim with silver notes.

Hua Shunming stroked his chin. "I heard from your master that this Gu Wenheng also has the secret formula for soap. How are the profits on that?"

Ye Yi replied, "The price of soap is relatively low. It can’t compare to the glass.

Scholar Gu also mentioned that the secret formulas for both regular soap and scented soap were part of Miss Gu’s dowry, so she has always handled that business herself."

"What a pity," Hua Shunming said, motioning for Le San to close the box. "Did your master say when he would be returning?"

Ye Yi said, "It will likely be some time. A few barbarians placed a large order with our Princely Heir, and the Princely Heir is worried they won’t be able to handle it, so he’s staying there to oversee things."