Chapter 26: Splitting the Family

Old Man Liu had figured it out by now — the second branch had come prepared. He didn't want to lose any more face and was ready to end this quickly: "Second son's wife, I'll be straight with you — don't even think about the money. As for the house, what split do you think is fair?"

Liu Pozi, hearing her own old man's words, refused to back down: "Old man, have you lost your mind?"

Old Man Liu shot his old wife a warning glare: "You keep quiet."

Only then did he turn to look at his second daughter-in-law, waiting for her answer.

Liu's mother would never fall for his trick. She turned to the village cadres: "I'm just a woman and don't really understand these things. I'd trouble the village cadres here to decide for me."

The Party secretary was from the main Liu branch, so the village head and the women's director both looked at Liu Dagui in unison.

One thing after another these days — the Party secretary had already worked out a plan in his head while they were going at each other hammer and tongs: "Fifth brother, fifth sister-in-law, since you insist on splitting the family today, let me say a few words. Second brother may have no sons under his knee, but he does have three daughters. Over the years Second Brother and his wife haven't earned the family any fewer work points. Giving him only one room really isn't appropriate."

Saying so, he walked over to Old Man Liu and his wife, and after a round of back-and-forth finally managed to persuade them and reach a result.

With things having turned out like this, Old Man Liu just wanted to end it quickly — it was far too embarrassing: "Laosan, swap rooms with your second brother."

The moment he said that, his third daughter-in-law objected first: "What's the point of swapping rooms? What a hassle that would be."

Old Man Liu said, displeased: "Do as I say. You think I'd shortchange you?"

He swept a glance over the gathered sons and grandsons, took a deep breath, and went on: "Since the second branch wants to split off, while your mother and I aren't yet senile, let's settle the houses for you all in one go, so we won't have conflicts later.

Our family has five main rooms in total, two rooms each in the east and west wing-rooms, and four rooms in the south rooms.

Eldest and Laosan each get two main rooms; Second Brother gets one;

Of course for now each branch still keeps one room. After we're gone, the central hall goes to Laosan, and the room your mother and I live in goes to the eldest.

As for the wing-rooms, the two east wing-rooms go to the eldest's branch, the two west wing-rooms go to Second Brother, and the four south rooms are split two each between the eldest and Laosan. Any objections?"

This time the third daughter-in-law said nothing — after all, they'd gotten two main rooms and two south rooms. Though not as good as the eldest branch, it was far better than the second branch.

Though a little envious of the eldest branch, who could blame it — their branch had only one son. She exchanged a glance with her own man, and they both nodded slightly, answering in tacit unison: "We have no objections."

Laosan had no objections, so naturally the eldest had even fewer — after all, their branch had gotten the most: "We have no objections. We'll do whatever Father arranges."

Seeing things were nearly settled, Liu Chuxue whispered a few words in her mother's ear.

Then Liu's mother said: "We have no objections either, but I'd like to ask one thing — how do the front gate and the kitchen count?"

Hearing this, the Liu family members all froze for a moment — after all, the main room the second branch had been assigned faced south, where half had been the kitchen and half the front gate.

Once Liu the Eldest caught on, he said, somewhat displeased: "Second sister-in-law, what do you mean?"

Liu's mother was not to be outdone: "Since we're splitting the family, from now on we'll inevitably each need to wall off our own courtyard. Naturally I have to ask clearly."

The Party secretary glanced outside and felt Sh Liang's wife had a point — after all, their main house faced the kitchen and front gate on that side. Now that they were splitting up, dividing the courtyards was unavoidable; it wouldn't do for their two families to still use the old front gate.

Though the eldest and third branches understood the logic too, they didn't want to have to tear down a perfectly good house just to open a new gate. But now that the second branch had laid the matter out in the open, it had to be dealt with.

Wanted to insert a house layout, but didn't know if it was lack of permissions or lack of skill.

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(End of chapter)