Chapter 232: She Divided It Fairly

"Family, we don't want this!"

"These are their children: two sons and a daughter—Yang Hua, Yang Yun, and Yang Liu—one is eight, one is seven, the youngest is five."

The old ladies each took out a red envelope, had someone slip it into the children's hands, and the kids were so frightened they didn't dare speak.

"They're too shy; let Feng'er and the others take them out to play for a while, and we can chat."

A few of the Liu family's children were led away by Feng'er and the others, and the living room fell quiet.

Qiao Mai looked at Liu Mei and Liu Sunshi, and took a gift box that had been prepared earlier from the table beside her.

"I've already given to Liu Ye; this is for you!"

Liu Mei and Liu Sunshi quickly took it, and when they opened it they were startled and shut it back.

"Is this too valuable?"

"Not that exaggerated—just a pearl set in a silver ornament. Wear it for fun; later, days will get better, and you shouldn't wrong yourself too much."

Yang Shulin heard this and nodded eagerly, "Willing, willing. I'm strong; I can do anything. Can my older brother and second brother come along? They're also good at work."

"Ah, ah, thank you, brother‑in‑law!"

Not only did she give, but Liu Qiaoshi also secretly gave the eldest daughter a hundred taels of silver.

The two families quickly pulled two strips of meat from their own piles, saying, "This is for your family; it shouldn't have been given to us, and it can't be split evenly."

He sipped tea while watching Qiao Mai, wondering why his wife's belly had shown no sign after being together for so long.

Actually, Liu Mei'er isn't much younger than Qiao Mai; she's just a month younger.

Yuan Jiaqi brewed a pot of tea and poured her a cup, "Madam, would you like some tea?"

Liu Mei'er's family sat in a Qiao family carriage, followed by a Qiao family freight wagon, a whole load of goods.

With this silver, whether they run a small trade or buy a few acres of good land, at least for the next ten years Liu Mei'er's life won't be hard.

From time to time passing carts and horses would glance at them.

"This is within Shexian's jurisdiction, only a dozen or so li from the county town!"

"What about the harvest?"

After the division, Liu Mei took charge at home, "Father, mother, these were given by my mother and my cousin. Since my in‑laws and older brother's wife have treated me well, I thought we could share together and have a good New Year!"

So Liu Mei divided the pile of items on the ground; she split them fairly, keeping just a bit more for herself than they got, but not by much.

"Don't be nervous; we're all relatives. How many acres does the family have?"

"Pan Zigou!"

"Ah, ah!"

They say, help in emergencies but not the poor; to escape poverty, one must address the root cause.

Behind them followed Yuehong and Yuexia; for the young master, the two learned to ride horses and were accompanied by a few guards.

Feng'er and the others had already headed back from the south, and along the way several people were eating candied hawthorn skewers.

The Fengyun brothers, watching everyone work hard, knew that Feng'er leaned toward martial, Yun'er toward literary, and Ling'er was a girl—none of them quite suited his own wishes.

That doesn't mean he dislikes them; it's just that his mind is occupied with the offspring of him and his wife.

The Liu family happily had lunch at Jixiang Yuan, and the old master and old lady returned to their courtyard.

Did the Original Host get injured while giving birth? She should find a famous doctor when she has time.

Tian Sanzhuang rode a high‑steed from north to south, saw them, and especially after seeing Ling'er.

"Hosting people is exhausting, even more than training!"

"After the fifteenth, go to the Yamen to find me; I'll lead you to register."

So she glanced at him once, then turned away and chatted merrily with her brothers.

Yuan Jiaqi thought, "You're much older than me, and you call me brother‑in‑law so smoothly."

When they left, someone loaded a wagon with goods for them—grain, meat, snacks for the children—and Qiao Mai gave Liu Mei'er a hundred taels of silver.

Yuehong and Yuexia glared at him fiercely, and even the guards behind gave him a withered look.

Although she didn't care, it's best to bear children; after all, living with Yuan Jiaqi creates a bond that brings them closer.

If one's own family were as united as this one, sharing blessings and hardships together, how wonderful that would be.

They truly are rare, in dress and appearance; not just in this small town, but even in the county and prefectural cities they're top‑notch.

Don't think they're just guards; they are the Prefect Zhifu's dispatched guards.

Liu Mei felt especially gratified, "Take it; my mother gave me silver, so I won't share any with you."

When the Yang family arrived, Liu Mei had the courtyard gate blocked, and villagers outside crowded the wall to watch the spectacle.

People on the wall, seeing the whole family so lively, were moved.

At this moment Ling'er also saw him; her mother had said that this man was her former husband, who always thought she was his child and even performed the Blood Dripping Test. Since they're not relatives, there's no need to greet or get close, because mother dislikes him.

Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi stayed with them and never found it bothersome.

Having nothing to do at home, they all went out together to get some fresh air.

The two women's eyes reddened, "Thank you, cousin, thank you, little cousin."

It's not that Qiao Mai doesn't want to have children; she hasn't taken birth control for a long time and hasn't conceived, it's truly not her fault.

"I won't drink any more; I need to lie down for a while!"

She put the meat back for them, and only then did the two families gladly accept it.

Although they don't appreciate it, it's still her intention.

"One mu yields only two to three hundred jin of grain, and the court takes away a hundred jin, so the whole family doesn't have enough to eat."

"After the New Year, I have work over there; would you be willing to go and work?"

His horse slowed, standing still, his eyes fixed dead on Ling'er.

"No need to be polite; even after dividing the family, we're still one family—one stroke can't write two Yang characters."

He eagerly hopes to have a child with his wife; she knows martial arts, he knows literature—how wonderful it would be to have a child who is both literary and martial.

After the Yang and Liu families left, Qiao Mai finally breathed a sigh of relief, returned to the house, quickly took off her shoes and climbed onto the kang.

Inside were also things prepared by Liu Qiaoshi, but none as many as what Qiao Mai gave.

The moment they entered the village it caused a stir; Liu Mei, who dislikes ostentation, had two wagons bring goods to her doorstep, the Qiao family helped unload, and Liu Mei, being capable, took out a few taels of silver from her bosom and distributed them among the Qiao household servants.

Unlike Chuan'er, who just has a good mouth—can write, can speak, can eat, but cannot practice martial arts.

"Ten mu of land, all reclaimed from the wilderness."

"Mother, hold this; buy whatever you want, don't be reluctant; our family will keep getting better."

He didn't know what was happening, but felt this was his own daughter; a voice in his heart kept shouting like this.

On the men's side, Yuan Jiaqi asked Yang Shulin, "Where is your family?"

At this moment, the four Feng'er siblings rode ponies along the Guan Dao; despite the cold, the sun was fine and there was no wind.

Yuan Jiaqi not only inquired about Yang Shulin's situation, but also asked Liu Hai and Liu Dashan, which made the three very excited; if it weren't for this kinship, could they be sitting here chatting with the County Magistrate?

"Yes, that's right."

Yang Father and Yang Mother wiped their tears, "Mei'er, you are thoughtful, thank you."

Looking at the courtyard's items, Liu Mei let her own child go call the in‑laws, as well as the people from the First Branch and Second Branch families.

Previously they treated her well; when there were good things, she didn't keep them to herself.

Then Liu Mei pulled her mother‑in‑law into the house, took out ten taels of silver from her bosom, and stuffed it into her hand.

For a petty official like Tian Sanzhuang, if he dares to overstep, they would boldly execute him on the spot.

Tian Sanzhuang was actually sensible; knowing the few behind him were not to be trifled with, he glanced back a few times, raised his whip, and rode off on his horse.

He often travels this Guan Dao, frequently passes Jixiang Yuan, yet his encounters with Ling'er are few.

But each time he sees her, he feels she is his own biological daughter.

(End of Chapter)