The Fortunate Lady and Her Mountain Man

Chapter 146: Chapter 146: The Eldest Branch Splits Off

"Dad, I’m honest, but I’m not stupid."

A bitter taste filled Ji Liansong’s mouth, matching the bitterness in his heart.

"For years, all the money we’ve earned has gone into the family’s shared funds to pay for Fourth Brother’s education and expenses. My own children have worn the same cotton-padded jackets for years, their hands and feet covered in frostbite, yet my son never uttered a single word of complaint. But... if I had only known... if I had known Fourth Brother was capable of something like this, I..."

Ji Qingshan was alarmed to hear this.

’The eldest is regretting it! He regrets working himself to the bone to support the fourth.’

"I’m the eldest son; it’s my duty to do what’s best for this family. But Mother and Fourth Brother... they’ve truly chilled my heart to the bone! I haven’t wronged this family over the years, but I have wronged Ming Fang!"

Ji Liansong wiped his face and dropped to his knees before Ji Qingshan.

"Dad, let’s separate our branch of the family. I’m not capable enough; I’ve let my child suffer all these years. Fourth Brother is precious and can’t be beaten or scolded; he’s going to be a government official one day... I ask for nothing else. Even if I can’t get justice for Ming Fang, I can’t let him live under the same roof as the person who harmed him. Dad, let’s split the family!"

The resentment in his eldest son’s voice made Ji Qingshan understand that things were beyond repair.

In this family, the first branch and the fourth son could no longer coexist.

Besides, after what’s happened, it was probably impossible to expect the first branch to keep supporting the fourth.

He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

"Then... let’s split."

The hardest part was making the decision. Once it was made, all that was left was to consider the practical matters.

"Eldest, I won’t treat you unfairly in the family division, but... your fourth brother has his exams soon. If word gets out about Ming Fang’s situation... no matter what, he’s still your full-blooded brother, don’t you think?"

Ji Liansong nodded numbly. "I understand, Dad."

’He actually wanted to ask if that was a request or a condition.’

’But then he felt there was no need to ask.’

’Wasn’t the answer obvious?’

Mrs. Zhu never expected her father-in-law to actually agree to separate the first branch.

After a brief moment of shock, her spirits immediately lifted.

’Splitting a family is a huge deal. There’s so much scheming involved in who gets more and who gets less.’

’Besides, the family’s assets are finite. If Dad said he wouldn’t shortchange the first branch, then someone else would have to lose out.’

"Um... Dad, I don’t think Eldest Brother’s family needs that much. They have fewer people and no major events to prepare for in the future, unlike our second branch. We have so many mouths to feed, and in a few years, Mingmao will need to get married..."

Wasn’t she implying that Ji Mingfang wouldn’t need to get married? That with his bad leg, no one would marry him anyway?

The one thing Ji Qingshan couldn’t stand right now was people bringing up his grandson’s leg.

But before Ji Liansong could react, Ji Qingshan had already snatched a nearby bed-sweeping broom and thrown it at Mrs. Zhu.

Mrs. Zhu shrieked and barely dodged it.

It was considered highly improper for a father-in-law to strike his daughter-in-law, but who could she blame? Mrs. Zhu had no tact and had decided to provoke him when he was already furious.

Ji Qingshan pointed at her, his face dark. "If you have a problem with it, I can just as easily separate the second branch as well. Just like with the first branch, I won’t shortchange you. You decide!"

’This trouble-making woman, always stirring things up. The first branch is already full of resentment. Is she trying to make the two families never speak to each other again after the separation?!’

’In the end, no matter how much he valued the fourth son, the traditional importance of the eldest son and eldest grandson still existed deep in his heart.’

’It was just a shame his eldest son wasn’t very promising, and his eldest grandson was half-crippled...’

’And he had another concern: if he offended the first branch too badly and they recklessly exposed the whole affair, the impact on the fourth son would be too great.’

Terrified, Mrs. Zhu shrank behind Ji Lianhuai and fell silent.

’She absolutely did not want to be separated.’

’Fourth Brother was on the verge of success, and her branch of the family was waiting to bask in his glory and enjoy the benefits. At a time like this, only a fool would want to be separated!’

No one in the main room spoke again.

After a moment of silence, Ji Qingshan told Ji Lianhuai to go invite the village chief and a few village elders.

Following Ji Huan’s separation from the family, the Ji Family now separated the first branch as well, with less than half a year between the two events.

The news quickly caused a sensation in Dafeng Village.

If Ji Huan had been separated because of her reputation as a jinx, that was one thing—she was just an orphan from the second branch, after all, and therefore insignificant.

But Ji Liansong was the eldest son. To separate him too was simply unthinkable.

Among farming families, as long as the parents were alive, it was rare for sons to split off. Even if they did, the eldest son would typically stay to care for the parents while the others took a share of the family property and established their own households.

The Ji Family, however, did the exact opposite, which naturally led to speculation and gossip.

"I don’t know what your grandparents are thinking. After they pass, don’t they expect their eldest son to care for them in their old age and arrange their funerals? There’s no precedent for this in our village."

Widow Xie was sitting on the kang stitching a shoe sole as she discussed the matter with Ji Huan.

Ji Huan was leaning over the low kang table, guiding Dabao’s hand as he practiced writing.

Hearing this, she answered without looking up, "It’s nothing that strange. Rules are important, but people have to be flexible to get by. Since it reached the point of splitting the family, it must have been unavoidable. As for how to split? Even the five fingers on a hand have different lengths. At a time like this, you can really see who’s considered long and who’s short."

’They were guarding Ji Liantang, the goose that lays golden eggs, while Ji Liansong had no skills other than farming. Wasn’t it obvious who they would choose and who they would discard?’

’Ji Qingshan was waiting for his fourth son to bring glory to their ancestors, and Granny Kang was waiting to become the mother of an official, or even a titled lady. How could they possibly choose to live with the first branch?’

Widow Xie sighed with emotion. "I never would have guessed. Your uncle is usually so quiet, and he’s famous for his filial piety. To think he’d find the courage to do this for his own daughter."

Everyone assumed that the first branch was separated because Ji Liansong insisted on keeping his divorced daughter and three granddaughters, which Ji Qingshan and his wife adamantly refused, leading to the family split.

Now, everyone in the village was saying Ji Liansong was a fool.

’Falling out with his parents over a married-out daughter... well, look what happened. He got himself kicked out.’

’Not only did he burden himself with four extra mouths to feed for nothing, but now he won’t get to share in the glory when the Ji family’s fourth son makes it big.’

Hu Ximei, who was learning needlework nearby, sidled up and asked Widow Xie with a grin, "Mom, if one day I get sent back by my husband’s family, will you still want me?"

"SPIT, SPIT, SPIT! You’re just a child, what nonsense are you spouting? Spit it out, quick!"

’She isn’t even engaged yet and she’s already thinking about being divorced. Isn’t she just cursing herself?’

Hu Ximei obediently spat twice, but then immediately went back to pestering Widow Xie with questions.

Annoyed by her questions, Widow Xie said, "You’re my own flesh and blood. You’ll always be my daughter, no matter what. How could I ever not want you!"

"Then... what if my sisters-in-law won’t let me in the house?"

"Then I’ll just pretend I never gave birth to your two blockhead brothers, and Mom will move out to live alone with you."

Hu Dacheng, who was playing with his two nephews, immediately protested.

"Mom, I’m not a blockhead! If my wife doesn’t let my sister in the house, I’ll kick her out! I won’t have her!"

"Oh! I’ll be sure to remember you said that. If you ever dare to be one of those men who forgets his own family after getting a wife, see if I don’t give you a good slap across the face!"

Widow Xie raised her hand as if to strike him. Hu Dacheng immediately covered his face, his eyes peeking playfully through his fingers, which made everyone in the room laugh.

Having gotten the answer she wanted, Hu Ximei returned to her embroidery, satisfied.

Widow Xie shook her head. "That girl, I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She’s been especially clingy lately."

Ji Huan smiled. "Aren’t daughters supposed to be doted on?"

Hu Ximei pouted. "Not as much as Dabao is."

Another round of laughter filled the room.

As if unaware that he was the object of their teasing, Dabao tugged on Ji Huan’s sleeve, pointed to the next character, and said, "Write."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!