Chapter 64: Dispute Over Inheritance

Sun Master refused to acknowledge this utterly unfilial thing as his son, his face dark with anger.

Qian Master sighed and said, “When I arrived, your sister fainted from crying; even after waking, she kept saying her descendants were unfilial. I knew something was wrong. I looked around but didn’t see Sun Wang until nightfall, when I finally heard he’d been beaten by Da Chang.”

Qian Master glanced at Sun Master, then glanced again, unable to hold back: “I asked around, and they say Sun Wang was beaten because your brother-in-law ordered him to transfer two hundred mu of land by the river to the village for the public school’s expenses?”

Sun Master flew into a rage: “He’s even trying to seize that money? The harvest from those two hundred mu has been going to the village school for years already. I was afraid that after I died, he’d stop funding it and the school would collapse—so I specifically changed the land deeds. I never imagined it would bring harm to Sun Wang.”

Sun Master scolded all his sons, and beside him, Pan Yun had already pieced it together.

Sun Da Chang, Sun Master’s eldest son, didn’t want to divide the family; he wanted to keep all property pooled together.

“Pooling property” meant that even though the immediate family members were gone, everyone still lived together, with all assets managed collectively by one person who handled distribution.

As the eldest son of the eldest branch, it was naturally his duty.

Sun Master sneered: “If he had a broad mind and foresight, if he cared for his younger brothers and sisters, I’d gladly keep the family united and let him be head. Don’t I know that unity makes a family thrive?

But is he fit for it? If we don’t divide now, he’ll drain the blood from his younger brothers. Better to split the family while I’m still alive—each branch lives in peace. Even if only one branch prospers, the other four will have support when they fall. Then I won’t shame my ancestors.”

Qian Master nodded vigorously: “Brother-in-law, your long-term thinking is right.”

“But none of these children understand me.”

Qian Master sighed, troubled: “So you mean… you want me to divide the estate for you?”

Sun Master waved his hand: “Forget it. I’ve come to terms with it. They’re all unfilial sons. I’m dead—why should I still worry about them? Let them fight, let them cause chaos. This family has no value left. Let it scatter.”

Qian Master widened his eyes: “Brother-in-law, you’ve changed your mind too fast. You really won’t care at all?”

“They’ve driven me to death over this estate, and to hide their unfilial truth, they put on a grand funeral for me—but behind my back, they hired Daoists to suppress my spirit. I’m a dead man—why should I still worry about a bunch of the living?” Sun Master cursed: “Not dragging them down with me is already my mercy.”

Qian Master heard this for the first time and immediately turned to look at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun quickly said: “It wasn’t me suppressing him, and it has nothing to do with my Sanqing Mountain.”

She spoke solemnly: “We Sanqing Mountain never do such heinous things.”

Sun Master hurried to add: “It wasn’t Xiao Pan. I owe her and her senior brother thanks—they helped me get out of the funeral hall, or I’d still be trapped inside.”

Qian Master flew into a rage and slammed his fist on the table: “Unfilial brats!”

Killing me is bad enough—but instead of repenting, they’re suppressing my spirit.

The first might be accidental; the second is pure malice.

Qian Master was furious: “Brother-in-law, wait. Tomorrow I’ll beat Da Chang and the others for you.”

Sun Master nodded eagerly: “Hit hard. Don’t hold back. Beat them to death if you must—I won’t blame you.”

Pan Yun, seeing they kept missing the point, couldn’t help steering them: “Sun Master, you haven’t said what your lingering attachment is. You only have five days left. If you can’t figure it out, I’ll have to forcibly send you on.”

Qian Master’s heart tightened: “What do you mean by ‘forcibly send’?”

“Forcefully send him to the underworld. If he lingers in the mortal realm, he harms both himself and others.”

Qian Master: “What’s the difference between going willingly and being forcibly sent?”

“One has fulfilled their wish; the other hasn’t,” Pan Yun said. “One departs happily; the other departs in sorrow and rage. Like Sun Master now—he’s in the state of unfulfilled wish.”

Qian Master turned to his brother-in-law, thinking of him vanishing into the underworld without even a chance to curse his unfilial sons, and felt grief: “Brother-in-law, think fast—what’s your wish? Even if… even if you want me to divide the estate exactly as you wish, I’ll do my best to fulfill it.”

Sun Master suddenly grew calm, sighing: “Even I, his own father, can’t control them. What can you, as his uncle, do?”

“I can! Your sister is still alive. A mother’s brother holds authority—if they dare disobey me, I’ll take them to court.”

Sun Master: “Nonsense. What about your reputation?”

Qian Master: “The dead come first. You must depart in peace. Brother-in-law, tell me—what are your wishes? List them all.”

Sun Master thought seriously, then began counting on his fingers: “My pet turtle in the study—it’s been with me nearly twenty years. After I die, these unfilial sons will surely boil it for soup. Xiao Shu, take it away, or release it into the pond, or keep it yourself—just don’t leave it in the Sun household. It looks so lonely and pitiful.”

Qian Master paused, then nodded: “Alright.”

Sun Master: “And the orchid on the shelf beside it—alas, none of the children understand it, and neither do you. Give it to Master Shao Zheng. Deliver it for me.”

Qian Master: “Done.”

Sun Master: “And my big water buffalo—it’s old too. It carried me all my life, plowing fields, hauling goods. Take it away too. When it dies of old age, don’t eat it—bury it.”

Qian Master: “...Whatever you say, brother-in-law.”

Senior Sun: “And also…” “Brother-in-law!” Senior Qian cut him off loudly, then, suppressing his temper, said, “Stick to the important points.”

“Brother-in-law!” Qian Master cut him off loudly, forcing patience: “Stick to the essentials.”

Sun Master looked at the head steward lying on the bed: “I promised Sun Wang to free his family. Besides the money he holds, I gave him fifty mu of land and a hundred taels of silver. But now, it’s clear staying in the village won’t help him.”

“The letter of emancipation and his family’s slave deeds are on the top shelf in my study. I’ve already informed the county registrar—once you retrieve them, you can erase their status. The hundred taels in silver notes are there too,” Sun Master said. “I can’t give the fifty mu now. Just deliver the box to him and act on my behalf to free them.”

Senior Sun said, “Take all the manuscripts and paintings from my study—say it was my order, and Da Chang won’t dare refuse you. Once they’re in your hands, pick out a few items to send to Hui Niang and Xian Niang, as a keepsake for them.”

Sun Master: “All my manuscripts and paintings in the study—take them all. Say it’s my wish. Da Chang won’t dare refuse. Once they’re in your hands, pick out a few pieces to send to Hui Niang and Xian Niang—let them keep them as mementos.”

Senior Sun paused before saying, “The books in my study—give the first two bookshelves to Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu, don’t meddle in the division of property. Let them fight it out. No matter how much each ends up with, don’t get involved.”

Sun Master paused before saying: “The books in my study—the first two shelves go to Xiao Wu. Xiao Shu, don’t get involved in dividing the estate. Let them fight. No matter how much each ends up with, don’t interfere.

But Xiao Wu is the youngest. I see he has some talent for reading. If you can, manage his share and send him to study under you.”

Qian Master immediately agreed: “No problem.”

Sun Master exhaled, smiling: “Besides these, I have no other wishes.”

Qian Master stared at him skeptically: “Really? Nothing else?”

Sun Master glared at him: “Do I have that many wishes? No more.”

Qian Master: “...What about your sister?”

Sun Master stiffened, glancing around guiltily: “Tell her… to live well with Da Chang. She can’t control the children’s affairs—so don’t interfere. I’m sure Da Chang won’t dare mistreat her.”

Qian Master protested: “What counts as not mistreating? Not lacking food or clothes?”

Qian Master fumed: “In my view, brother-in-law, you shouldn’t have planned to give Da Chang only a quarter of the estate. Split it into six parts—five sons and your sister each get one. When your sister passes, her share divides again among the five children. Isn’t that better than living under Da Chang’s thumb now?”

Sun Master fell silent.

Qian Master huffed, lecturing: “You should’ve done this two years ago. You dragged your feet and refused to divide the estate—that’s why it’s come to this.”

Sun Master snapped: “And what about you? You’re not young either. Why haven’t you divided your estate?”

“How can I compare? Your sons are unfilial; mine are filial. I won’t divide mine even after death—my eldest will care for his younger siblings.”

Sun Master thought of his nephew’s character and ability, felt a heavy lump in his chest, and fell silent.

Qian Master softened again: “I’ve already sent someone to summon Da Hong back. When he arrives, I’ll have him devise a plan—the estate will still be divided as you wished.

You’ve accumulated virtue your whole life. Don’t let your final moments be spent in unrest.”

Qian Master’s eyes blazed with determination: “Hmph. A bunch of brats with no beard yet—think they can overthrow heaven?”

Sun Master stared at Qian Master, stunned.

Soon his eyes welled with tears: “Xiao Shu… you’re the only one who truly understands me.”

Qian Master had walked more roads than anyone had eaten salt. Once decided, he immediately acted: “I’ll write several letters. Send them out tonight.”

Qian’s steward bowed: “Yes.”

Pan Yun eagerly fetched paper and ink for them, standing by to watch Qian Master write.

From the letters alone, it was clear he knew many people.

Qian Master wrote eight letters in one go—inviting the village head, elders, the county registrar, the county commandant, and several academy heads and teachers.

The letters revealed these men held great influence locally.

Qian Master: “When the village head arrives tomorrow, immediately summon the village elders. The Sun family’s division concerns them all—they share the Sun surname. They should speak up.”

Qian’s steward bowed: “Yes.”

With matters arranged, Qian Master confidently told Sun Master: “Brother-in-law, rest easy. You couldn’t divide the estate because you’re old and your children won’t listen. But I’m still young—they won’t dare defy me.”

Sun Master: “We’re not that far apart in age.”

“Little Immortal said I’ll live to eighty. With proper health habits, I could reach a hundred. I’m only halfway there—I’m still young. You can’t compare.”

Sun Master: …

The lucky number for this chapter is any number ending in 7. Screenshot as proof.

(End of Chapter)