Chapter 24: Truly Thick-Skinned

Acting is something anyone can do; she lowered her head, took a deep breath, then raised her head with tears filling her eyes: "Father, do you think so too?"

Old Man Liu wore an expression of difficult choice, making the mother and daughter trio of the Second Branch feel sick to their stomachs, yet none of the three offered him a way out.

In truth, the Eldest of the Liu family did not want the Second Branch to split off and live separately; after all, the Second Son and his wife had previously earned full work points, and besides, he had no son, so no matter how much they earned, it would only benefit his son anyway.

But with the current situation, he feared there was no choice left for him.

Old Man Liu knew the Second Branch family probably already hated the household, so he stopped pretending: "Don't blame the household; right now we can only look forward. Since you want to take a gamble, I can only split you off; from now on, whether your branch does well or poorly, do not blame the household."

What Mother Liu wanted was exactly this statement from her father-in-law; even if her own husband's leg could not be cured and he became a cripple, and even if life became extremely difficult in the future, it would still be better than being subjected to the household's passive-aggressive remarks every day.

Over these years, her in-laws were skilled at pretending in front of outsiders; they appeared to treat their three sons equally, but whenever there was a benefit, they used the fact that they had no son against them, leaving them with grievances they could not voice.

Had the two not been clear-minded people, they would have likely succumbed to depression and ended it all long ago.

The only resistance over these years was regarding the schooling of their three daughters; that time, her husband had issued a harsh threat: if the three daughters were not allowed to study, then from now on he would, just like his eldest and youngest brothers, never do an extra single work point, which finally forced her in-laws to relent.

The children of the Eldest and Third Branches could all attend school, yet their own had to fight just to get in.

Seeing that her father-in-law could agree so easily now, she knew without thinking what the reason was; it was simply because he saw her husband had lost the ability to earn full work points and feared they would incur debt to treat his illness and burden the household.

Thinking about it now, it was truly ridiculous.

Old Man Liu feared the Second Daughter-in-law might change her mind: "Dongzi, forget it. Eldest, you run over and invite the Village Head and the Party Secretary here."

He had wanted the Second Grandson to run the errand, but thinking that what they were about to do today was not honorable, it was better for the Eldest Son to go.

Liu Shangan hesitated somewhat: "Father, splitting off the Second Branch right now, I fear that is inappropriate."

Old Man Liu raised his eyebrows, lowered his voice, and spoke with anger: "Do you think if we wait until his leg cannot be cured before splitting, the villagers won't talk?

Besides, didn't you say Dongzi's job has hope? As long as things are arranged on that side and the money arrives, he can be assigned to the post. Who am I doing this for?"

The Eldest of the Liu family naturally understood his father's intention, but once the household split, the Second Branch would be beyond their control; what about the promise made to that person?

If the matter is not handled properly, Dongzi's job is just empty words.

But since his own father had already made the decision, he could only plan further later; he did not believe he could not find an opportunity. Anyway, if a man does not look out for himself, heaven and earth will destroy him; compared to his niece's future, his son's prospects were far more important.

Soon, the Village Head Deng Huaiming and the Party Secretary Liu Dagu, along with the Women's Director Zhang Ailan whom they met halfway, were invited to the home by the Eldest Liu.

Upon entering the main hall, the Party Secretary frowned and asked: "Fifth, I heard your eldest say you want to split the household; have you lost your wits?"

The custom in the village is that parents do not split the household while they are alive; of course, this is not absolute, as there are split households in the village, but they are few.

Moreover, the Second Branch has a leg injury and is still in the hospital; splitting the household now, even his own third uncle from the same clan cannot bear to watch.

Since matters had reached this point, Old Man Liu was now like a dead pig unafraid of scalding water, yet he still tried to justify himself: "As the saying goes, when a tree grows large it branches, and when sons grow up they split the household; we are old and can no longer manage, saving brothers from discord and preserving relationships in the future."

Heh, what beautiful words; does splitting now not hurt relationships? Their skin is truly thick enough.