Chapter 66: Division of Estate Before the Spirit Altar

Seeing this scene, anyone would know something had happened.

The servants dared not ask more or look further, retreating step by step.

The sky was still early, and few visitors had come to pay respects; seeing the family seemed to have urgent business, they all withdrew quietly.

Tao Ji and Xuanmiao exchanged a glance, then silently led the other monks and Daoists out with their own children.

The vast ancestral hall was now empty except for the Sun family, Old Man Qian and his men, as well as Wang Feiyin, Pan Yun, and Huiyuan.

The village head, also uneasy, seeing Old Man Qian’s grim face and silence, could not help asking, “Old Man Qian, what is this?”

Old Man Qian bowed slightly to him, then turned his gaze toward the door.

Everyone followed his gaze.

Soon after, a middle-aged man carrying a ruler hurried in, “Father.”

Seeing the ruler his son had brought, Old Man Qian’s face turned green: “I told you to bring the family punishment stick—this is what you brought? When you misbehaved, did I ever strike you with a ruler? Where’s the punishment stick? Go get it!”

The middle-aged man murmured, “Father, this is my aunt’s house, not ours.”

Who knew? After hearing of his aunt’s death, he rushed back overnight, hadn’t even slept when he received his father’s letter ordering him to bring the big punishment stick used for disciplining children—clearly trouble was coming. Qian Dahong wasn’t foolish; now that his aunt was gone, his family’s ties to his cousin’s household had grown distant.

Old Man Qian snorted at him, then turned to Pan Yun.

Pan Yun’s fingers twitched slightly, and the spirit of Old Man Sun, forcibly bound to her body, immediately floated free.

Seeing Old Man Sun’s spirit emerge, Pan Yun gave Old Man Qian a slight nod, her gaze sweeping over the spirit-binding talismans, then swiftly drew a Tianmu Talisman beside her, flicking her finger lightly—the talisman shot toward Old Man Qian.

Qian Dahong felt a flash of white light before his eyes, as if merging with his father’s image, but upon closer look, nothing remained.

Just as he wondered, he saw his father suddenly stand upright, his aura completely changed.

Old Man Qian saw Old Man Sun’s spirit, his confidence surging—he tossed the ruler back to his son and strode toward the talismans hanging and pasted on the wall.

A single glance revealed several talismans with holes torn through them.

He yanked them down, grabbed several, then turned and demanded sharply, “Da Chang, tell everyone—what kind of talismans are these?”

Sun Dachang’s face had already turned pale when Qian pulled down those talismans; now under direct questioning, his expression darkened further. He avoided Qian’s gaze, “Uncle, what are you doing? Let’s talk calmly.”

“I am talking calmly now,” Old Man Qian said coldly. “If I weren’t talking calmly, I wouldn’t be standing here in the ancestral hall—I’d be in the courthouse!”

Sun Dachang trembled; the other Sun family members also paled—some shared his guilt, others gleefully watched.

Old Man Qian scanned them; aside from Sun Wuyi, who seemed relatively composed, the rest of his nephews’ eyes betrayed their eagerness—just as his sister’s husband had said: all unfilial sons.

Old Man Qian’s chest tightened with a dull ache, a sense of helplessness rising—he shook a trembling finger at the two gleeful ones. “What are you two rejoicing over? If you didn’t do this, it has nothing to do with you, right? Unfilial sons! Unfilial sons! The man lying there is your father—your own father! He’s been sealed by these yellow talismans, and yet you feel nothing but joy?!”

“You two ungrateful sons—you’re even worse than those who knew!”

He glanced again at Sun Dachang and stamped his foot in rage: “Just as vile!”

Seeing Old Man Qian’s face flushed red with fury, everyone was startled and terrified. Qian Dahong rushed forward to support him. “Father, calm down—”

The village head and elders were jolted, immediately asking, “What do you mean, Old Man Qian? What kind of yellow talismans are these?”

Old Man Qian’s gaze turned icy toward Sun Dachang.

Sun Dachang fell to his knees with a thud, crying out, “Uncle—”

Old Man Qian crumpled the yellow talismans into a ball and hurled them at his face, voice thick with cold fury: “Today, with the village head and elders present, the Sun family will divide the estate before my sister’s husband’s spirit! Dachang, I am your blood uncle—I am here to preside over the division. You have no objection, do you?”

“I…” Sun Dachang glanced at the village head and others.

Seeing their wary, suspicious expressions, their eyes darting to the coffin behind him, he knew that if he refused, Old Man Qian would surely expose the spirit-binding talismans.

Once the talismans became known, speculation would multiply.

The first suspicion would be his father’s death.

Though his father’s death wasn’t his fault, there was no proof either.

His younger brothers were untrustworthy—if they falsely accused him of killing their father, and he had no evidence to prove otherwise, the existence of the spirit-binding talismans might seal his fate as an unfilial son who murdered his father.

This—this—this was a capital crime!

Sun Dachang didn’t truly believe his uncle would go this far, but now, with his uncle so enraged, he dared not provoke him.

He knew well: his uncle was far more violent-tempered than his father, and when enraged, he cared nothing for ties or propriety.

Sun Dachang bowed his head, gritted his teeth, and agreed: “Dividing the estate always requires an uncle as witness—no problem.” Old Man Qian immediately turned to the other four nephews, coldly asking, “And you?”

All four were delighted, nodding quickly: “We agree.”

That day, they hadn’t even settled the division before their father choked and died—so no division had taken place.

Though their father had offered them a meager share that day, it was still better than having everything now clutched by their elder brother.

These past two days, they’d been terrified their father’s death from anger might become known, and hadn’t had time to think further.

But now, thinking it over: their father was gone, their mother powerless—next time they divided the estate, they’d have to beg their elder brother’s mercy. How much would he give them?

Better to divide now while Uncle is here—if he divides, he might be fairer than Father.

Still… they glanced nervously at the crumpled yellow talismans on the floor, hoping Uncle wouldn’t expose this—if he did… they couldn’t stay here.

Seeing their agreement, Old Man Qian forced himself to calm slightly, his voice icy: “Dahong, go fetch your aunt, and your two cousins—have them come listen too.”

Sun Dachang said, “Uncle, my sisters are married—they received dowries when they wed. The estate doesn’t belong to them; why call them?”

Old Man Qian’s gaze fixed on him. “When you married, you didn’t just receive bride-price—afterward, your father gave you portions of private property to manage. So now, after dividing those, you plan to renounce all other family assets?”

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Sun Dachang muttered, “We’re different—they’re married daughters…”

Old Man Qian kicked him. “Shut up. Your two sisters don’t care about your share of land and shops—your father simply wanted to leave them something as a keepsake. He won’t be dividing your fields or shops!”

Sun Dachang lowered his head, silent.

Old Man Qian turned to the village head and elders. “What do you think, Village Head and elders?”

The village head said, “It’s only right. Though married daughters received dowries, if the elder’s final wishes specify otherwise, those wishes must prevail.”

The elders nodded. “Yes, we’re old. Before we die, our small wishes should be fulfilled if we can.”

Giving daughters a token gift as a keepsake—everyone understood.

Old Lady Sun was led out by her two daughters.

Pan Yun looked up, seeing Old Lady Sun’s face pale and drawn, her steps unsteady—clearly her vital energy was severely depleted, deeply shattered.

Old Man Qian ordered a chair brought for his sister. When all were assembled, he began: “Large trees branch out; large families divide—this is natural law. Normally, after my sister’s husband’s passing, we shouldn’t divide now—but he was most troubled by this very matter.

Today, I’ll play the villain: I’ll divide the estate before my sister’s husband’s spirit. If I divide poorly, let him come blame me—none of you are to blame!”

The village head hurried to say, “Old Man Qian, you worry too much. In Yushan County, who doesn’t know how close you and your brother-in-law were? And you’re fair-minded—no one could preside over this division better than you.”

Everyone echoed, “Yes, yes.”

Who didn’t know the Qian and Sun families were as close as one family?

Last night, the village heard Old Man Sun had been calling his little brother’s name before he died, sending two batches of servants to the county to summon Old Man Qian.

But before he arrived, Old Man Sun passed away first.

Old Man Qian scanned his nephews, coldly saying, “Since no one objects, I’ll proceed.

I won’t divide it as I please—I follow my sister’s husband’s wishes, and I follow Great Ming law!”

Old Man Qian said, “Of all the land and shops, first set aside a portion as clan land—this portion is not divided; it is solely for Sun clan sacrifices and aiding the poor and weak. Elders, you all know this portion, correct?”

The so-called elders in Sun Village were all Surnamed Sun, elderly men of moral standing.

They knew much and held considerable influence.

The previous Sun clan head had been Old Man Sun; now it was Sun Dachang. Old Man Qian didn’t fully trust this eldest nephew, so he asked the elders directly.

The elders nodded immediately: “We know. The clan keeps records. Last year, the clan head added twenty more mu to the clan land. Each year’s harvest, after giving festival gifts to villagers over fifty-five, goes to the widows and orphans—about a hundred catties of grain annually.”

Old Man Qian nodded. “The clan land remains untouched, managed jointly by the eldest branch and the clan. Another portion: two hundred mu by the river—designated for the public school’s expenses. The land deeds for this portion have already been separately prepared, as per my sister’s husband’s wishes. Dachang, you have no objection?”

Sun Dachang’s lips moved but he said nothing. Behind him, Sun Er muttered, “Uncle, those two hundred mu are top-grade land. Why not choose other land for the school?”

Old Man Qian glanced at him. “Even if I didn’t give it to the school, you wouldn’t get it.”

Sun Er realized it was true—he had an elder brother above him; he’d never win such rich land. He knelt properly and amended, “Then I follow Uncle’s decision.”

Sun Dachang: …

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(End of Chapter)