Chapter 23: Splitting the Family

Old Zhou knew that today’s events had reached this point, and the third son would definitely bring it up.

But when he actually did, Old Zhou still felt like he was doused in ice water.

If only he had known...

If only he had stopped Sun from faking illness earlier.

Why didn’t he stop her earlier?

Was it because he was tired of the heavy farm work and didn’t want to do it anymore? Or because deep down, he didn’t want the third son to go into business? Or maybe he didn’t even want the second son to continue his studies...

Deep down, he had actually approved of Sun’s faking illness, but the problem was that Qing had called a doctor!

And by sheer coincidence, the head of the clan’s family had a doctor over, otherwise Qing wouldn’t have been able to get one so easily.

Was it fate?

Trembling, Old Zhou took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and said, "Go get your second brother first."

"Father, if you agree to split the family, I’ll go." Zhou Huailin’s attitude was firm.

Zhou Huaihai was so anxious that his eyes were burning with anger.

He both wanted to immediately pull Zhou Huaishan in and didn’t want to split the family.

"Third brother, do you really want to anger our parents until they fall ill? Splitting the family, splitting the family, don't you know that we don’t split the family while parents are still alive!”

Zhou Huailin looked coldly at Zhou Huaihai.

"Is it really me who made mother sick, or did someone incite her to fake it? The doctor knows the truth."

"You..."

Zhou Huaihai, infuriated and humiliated, wanted to hit Zhou Huailin, but he knew he couldn’t win.

Old Zhou banged his tobacco pipe on the table.

"Enough, you go call your second brother, call him back and we’ll split the family!"

"Father!"

Zhou Huailin strode out.

Zhou Huaihai looked at Old Zhou in disbelief.

Wang also panicked and immediately pulled Sun, "Mother!"

Old Zhou glared at Sun, who was about to speak, "Shut up, I'm still alive, I'm still the head of this family!"

Sun, recalling the slap from yesterday, moved her lips but didn’t dare to speak, only casting a resentful look at Zhou Qing.

If it weren’t for Zhou Qing calling the doctor, none of this would have happened!

Little brat!

Zhou Huailin brought Zhou Huaishan back into the house, and the onlookers gradually dispersed.

As soon as Zhou Huaishan entered, Sun angrily grabbed something nearby and threw it at him, "Who would have thought you seem honest and kind but so heartless? What did your big brother do to you that you have to harm him this way!"

Zhou Huaishan looked at Sun with wide eyes.

Is this mother an idiot?

Huaishan’s sincere confusion appeared on Zhou Huaishan’s face as simple, honest shock.

Seeing this honest expression of shock and grievance, Old Zhou sighed again, "Shut up!"

Sun’s eyes blazed with fury, but she didn't say another word.

Old Zhou sat on the kang with a somber expression, fiddling with his tobacco pipe. After a long silence, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Have you thought it through? You want to split the family?"

Old Zhou looked at Zhou Huailin.

Zhou Huailin nodded, "Yes."

"And you?" Old Zhou looked at Zhou Huaishan, "Do you also want to split the family?"

Sun started to cry, "You’re all bloodsuckers. We gave birth to you, raised you, helped you start your own families, and now that you've grown wings, you don’t care about your parents anymore and want to split the family? Have you forgotten how we raised you from little children to adults? Every time you got sick, wasn’t it me and your father staying up all night with you? And now, just because things aren’t going your way, you want to split the family..."

In the past, such words from Sun would make Zhou Huaishan waver.

Zhou Huailin watched Zhou Huaishan anxiously.

Zhou Huaishan licked his dry lips, wearing a look of honest and simple determination, "Yes, I want to split."

Completely ignoring Sun’s words.

Zhou Huailin breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Sun cried and cursed in rage.

"I disagree."

Zhou Huaihai glared at Zhou Huailin and Zhou Huaishan, eyes red with anger, "Parents are still alive, you can’t split the family. What are you making a fuss about?"

Zhou Huailin sneered, "Who is really making the fuss in this family? Who followed Qing? Who smeared her name? Who incited mother to fake illness?"

"You..."

"Everyone be quiet!" Old Zhou banged the table, "Fine, you can split the family, but how it’s done will be decided by me."

"Father!" Wang and Zhou Huaihai both called out to Old Zhou.

They didn’t want to split the family.

Old Zhou sighed deeply.

If you didn’t want to split the family,  why did you make such a fuss!

If you hadn’t caused trouble, we wouldn't be in this situation!

He glared at the eldest son and daughter-in-law, then said, "The family land will be divided into four parts. Each of you will get one part. The part that belongs to your mother and me will stay ours while we’re alive, and after we’re gone, you will split it evenly. The grain storage will also be divided into four parts."

Deciding to split the family pained Old Zhou as if he were being scalded by boiling water.

Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly.

"As for the family money..."

Wang almost pleaded, "Father, Yuan will soon need money for his tuition fees."

Old Zhou said, "Over the years, first it was the eldest who studied, then Yuan. Most of the family’s money has been spent on them. I know you have complaints, but I have to make things clear. We can split the family, but seventy percent of the money will be kept for Yuan, and the remaining thirty percent will be split among the two of you."

In other words, the eldest family would keep seventy percent, and the remaining thirty percent would be split among the second and third families.

This was already quite unfair.

Zhou Huaishan and Zhou Huailin exchanged a glance.

"Fine!" Zhou Huailin just wanted to split the family. As long as they could split, it was fine.

After looking at each other, Zhou Huaishan also looked at Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing gave a subtle nod, and Zhou Huaishan followed, "I agree too."

Zhou Huaihai’s veins bulged with anger.

This money originally belonged to the eldest family, and now it had to be shared with the second and third families!

Why!

"The family chickens will be equally divided among you three. Your mother and I won’t take any. The pig belongs to us, and when it’s slaughtered at the end of the year, we’ll split the meat with you."

Old Zhou explained the details.

These trivial matters made his heart feel like it was being cut by a knife.

"Even though the family is splitting, I have one requirement: you are not allowed to move out."

This was Old Zhou’s final insistence.

"Alright!"

"We'll listen to father."

Zhou Huaishan and Zhou Huailin spoke in unison.

With that, the family was split.

Old Zhou handed out the land deeds, distributing them to the brothers, and then took out the family money, dividing it into three parts and giving each of the three brothers a share.

"From today on, the family is split. Each household will bear its own expenses and responsibilities. Any problems, your mother and I will not intervene!"

Zhou Huailin glanced at Zhou Huaihai and said to Old Zhou, "Don't worry, father. Since we’re splitting, it’s only right we bear our own expenses, but we will still be as filial to you and mother as before."

Zhou Huaihai sneered, "Nonsense! If you were really filial, would you still be insisting on splitting the family?"

Zhou Huailin retorted firmly, "We will be filial to our parents, but I no longer want to be filial to my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew."

"You..."

Sun interrupted, coldly laughing, "Remember this, when Yuan becomes successful, don’t come begging to us, clinging like leeches."

No one expected Sun to throw out such a statement.

"Don't worry, mother. Even if we have to beg, we’ll never beg at the eldest family’s door!" Leaving this remark, Zhou Huailin stormed out with Zhou Ping.

As they left, Zhou Huaishan looked at Zhou Qing, "The same goes for us."

Father and daughter left as well.