Chapter 64: Dispute Over the Family Estate

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

Qian Lao Ye sighed and said, "When I arrived, my sister had fainted from crying; when she woke, she still said her descendants were unfilial. I felt something was wrong, looked around but didn't see Sun Wang—only at night did I learn he'd been beaten by Sun Da Chang."

Qian Lao Ye glanced at Master Sun, then glanced again, unable to help asking, "My men inquired—did they say Sun Wang was beaten because Brother-in-law made him transfer two hundred mu of land by the river to the village, to be used exclusively for the public school's expenses?"

Master Sun flew into rage, "He even wants to seize that money? The harvest from those two hundred mu has been going to the village school for years already. I only feared 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 harm Sun Wang."

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

Sun Da Chang, the eldest son of Master Sun, did not want to divide the family; he wanted to keep all property jointly held.

"Joint property" meant that although the immediate blood relatives were gone, the entire household still lived together, with all assets pooled under one manager who handled distribution.

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

Master Sun sneered, "If he were broad-minded and strategic, 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 clan thrive?

But is he fit for it? If we don't divide, I fear he'll drain the blood from his younger brothers. Better to divide the estate while I'm still alive—let each live in peace. Even if only one branch prospers, when the other four fall on hard times, they'll have some support. Then I won't shame my ancestors."

Qian Lao Ye nodded repeatedly, "Brother-in-law, you think far ahead—you're right."

"But none of these children understand me."

Qian Lao Ye sighed, troubled, "So you mean… you want me to divide the estate for you?"

Master Sun waved his hand, "Forget it. I've come to terms. They're all unfilial sons. I'm dead—why should I still worry about them? Let them fight, let them brawl. This family has no value left. Let it scatter."

Qian Lao Ye widened his eyes, "Brother-in-law, you've changed too fast. You truly 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 while secretly hiring Daoist Priests to suppress my spirit. I'm a dead man—why should I still worry for a bunch of the living?" Master Sun cursed, "Not dragging them down with me is already my mercy."

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

Pan Yun immediately said, "It wasn't me who suppressed him, and it has nothing to do with Mount Sanqing."

Her face was stern, "Mount Sanqing never does such heinous deeds."

Master Sun quickly added, "It wasn't Miss Pan Xiao—thankfully, she and her senior brother helped me, or I'd still be trapped inside the funeral hall."

Qian Lao Ye flew into rage and slammed the table. "Ungrateful brat!"

Killing their father was bad enough, yet they didn't repent—instead, they suppressed his spirit.

The former might be accidental; the latter is malicious intent.

Qian Lao Ye was furious, "Brother-in-law, wait. Tomorrow I'll beat Sun Da Chang and the others senseless for you."

Master Sun nodded vigorously, "Hit hard, don't hold back. Beat them to death if you can—I won't blame you."

Pan Yun, seeing they kept missing the point, couldn't help steering them: "Master Sun, 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 away."

Qian Lao Ye's heart tightened, "What do you mean by 'forcibly send away'?"

"Forcefully send him to the Underworld. If he lingers in the mortal realm, he harms himself and others."

Qian Lao Ye: "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 grief and rage. Like Master Sun now—he's in the state of unfulfilled wish."

Qian Lao Ye turned to his brother-in-law, thinking of him vanishing into the Underworld without even a chance to curse his unfilial sons, and felt sorrowful: "Brother-in-law, hurry and think of 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."

Master Sun suddenly grew calm, sighing, "Even I, his own father, can't control them—what can you, his uncle, do?"

"How can I not? My sister is still alive. Uncle's authority outweighs father's. If they dare disobey me, I'll take them to court."

Master Sun: "Nonsense. What about your reputation?"

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

Master Sun thought seriously, then began counting on his fingers: "My pet turtle in the study—raised for 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 raise it yourself—just don't leave it in the Sun household. It looks so pitiful, so lonely."

Qian Lao Ye paused, then nodded, "Alright."

Master Sun: "And the orchids on the shelf beside it—alas, none of these children understand them, and neither do you. Give them to Mr. Shao Zheng. Deliver them for me."

Qian Lao Ye: "Done."

Master Sun: "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 Lao Ye: "…Whatever you say, Brother-in-law."

"There's also—" "Brother-in-law!" Master Qian cut him off loudly, swallowed his temper, and said, "Get to the point."

"Brother-in-law!" Qian Lao Ye interrupted loudly, restraining his temper: "Pick the important ones."

Master Sun 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 Registrar at the county office—once you retrieve them, you can erase their status. The hundred taels in banknotes are there too," Master Sun said. "I can't give the fifty mu anymore. Just deliver the box to him, and act on my behalf to free them."

Master Sun said, "Take all the manuscripts and calligraphy and paintings from my study — just say it's my word, and Da Chang won't dare refuse you. Once they're in your hands, pick out a few things and send them to Huiniang and Xianniang, as keepsakes for them."

Master Sun: "All my manuscripts and paintings in the study—take them all. Say it's my wish. Da Chang won't dare refuse you. Once they're in your hands, pick out a few pieces to send to Huiniang and Xianniang—let them have something to remember me by."

Master Sun paused before saying, "The books in my study — the books on the first two shelves all go to Xiao Wu. Xiaoshu, don't you meddle in the matter of dividing the family property. Let them make a fuss. No matter how much each of them ends up with in the end, don't you get involved."

Master Sun paused before saying, "The books in my study—the first two shelves go to Xiao Wu. Xiao Shu, don't meddle in the estate division—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 possible, manage his share for him and send him to live with you to study."

Qian Lao Ye immediately agreed, "No problem."

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

Qian Lao Ye stared at him skeptically, "Really nothing else?"

Master Sun glared at him, "Do I have that many wishes? None left."

Qian Lao Ye: "…What about my sister?"

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

Qian Lao Ye objected, "What counts as 'not mistreating'? Not lacking food or clothing?"

Qian Lao Ye grumbled, "In my view, Brother-in-law, you shouldn't have thought of splitting the estate into four parts—you should've split it into six: five sons and my sister each get a share. Then, when my sister passes, her share divides again into five for the children. Isn't that better than living under Da Chang's thumb now?"

Master Sun fell silent.

Qian Lao Ye huffed, lecturing: "You should've done this two years ago. You dragged your feet, refused to divide the family—now look where it's gotten you."

Hearing this, Old Master Sun grew annoyed and retorted, "How are you any different? Your sons are unfilial, but mine are filial. I won't split the family now, and I won't split it after I die either. My eldest can take good care of his younger brothers and sisters."

Old Master Sun thought for a moment about that eldest nephew's character and talent, felt a tightness in his chest, and fell into a sullen silence.

Old Master Qian, seeing him like this, softened again and said, "I've already sent someone to call Dahong back. When the time comes, I'll have him think of a way. The family property will still be divided the way you want.

You've accumulated virtue your whole life; I can't let you, at the end, leave without peace of mind."

A fierce fighting spirit blazed in Old Master Qian's eyes. He snorted and said, "A few brutes whose fuzz hasn't even grown in yet, and they think they can turn the world upside down?"

Old Master Sun stared blankly at Old Master Qian.

A moment later, his eyes welled up with tears. "Little Shu~ you really do understand me."

Old Master Qian had traveled more roads than the rest of them had eaten salt. Once his mind was set, he immediately had an idea. He said to Steward Qian, "I'll write a few letters; have someone deliver them through the night."

Master Qian had traveled more roads than the rest of them had eaten salt. Once his mind was made up, he had an idea at once. He said to Steward Qian, "I'll write a few letters. Have someone send them out tonight without delay."

Pan Yun enthusiastically rummaged through the room for paper and brush for them, then stood to the side watching Old Master Qian write.

From the letters he wrote, one could tell he knew a great many people.

Old Master Qian wrote eight letters in one go. Besides inviting the village head and the village elders, he also invited the county seat's Registrar, the County Lieutenant, as well as the heads and Mr. s of several academies and schools.

From the contents of the letters, one could see these people carried great prestige locally.

Old Master Qian: "Once the village head arrives tomorrow, immediately have someone invite the village elders as well. The Sun family is splitting the household and dividing the property; they all share the surname Sun, so they can certainly have a few words to say."

Master Qian: "Tomorrow, as soon as the village head arrives, immediately send someone to invite the village elders as well. The Sun family is dividing their property — they all share the surname Sun, so they can certainly have a word to say."

Once the arrangements were made, Old Master Qian said confidently to Old Master Sun, "Brother-in-law, just rest easy. You can't split the family because you're old and your children won't listen. But I'm still young, and they wouldn't dare disobey me."

With everything arranged, Master Qian said to Master Sun with full confidence, "Just rest easy, brother-in-law. You can't divide the family because you're old and the children won't listen. But I'm still young, and they won't dare disobey me."

"The little immortal said I can live to eighty, and if I pay attention to my health normally, living to a hundred isn't a problem. So I'm only at the half-century mark now—still young. You can't compare."

"The little immortal master herself said I can live to eighty, and if I take care of my health in ordinary days, living to a hundred is no problem either. So right now I'm only at the half-century mark — still young. You can't compare."

The lucky number for this chapter is a number ending in 7; screenshot as proof.

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

(End of Chapter)