Chapter 67: Uncle, I Don

Sun Da Chang had objections, but meeting Qian Master's warning gaze, he couldn't speak, and so the matter was settled.

Qian Master took out a box, pulled out the land deeds for two hundred mu, and handed them to the village elder: "The Great Emperor Taizu valued education greatly—everyone knows this. Since the Baojia Academy in Sun Village was established in the twenty-eighth year of Hongwu, forty-seven years have passed; in these forty-seven years, Sun Village has produced two Provincial Graduate and twelve licentiates."

Now, only five licentiates remain in the village—won't you let the children study hard while they're still here? When these five licentiates grow old and die, and no new ones rise to take their place, won't Sun Village decline forever?"

The village head perked up, his whole demeanor turning solemn as he said gravely: "Qian Master, your foresight has deeply considered the welfare of Sun Village."

Qian Master shook his head. "This isn't my idea—it's my brother-in-law's concern. The Sun family is still a branch of the Shi Sect; one prospers, all prosper; one falls, all fall. My nephews here are poor scholars with narrow vision, nowhere near their father's caliber."

My sister-in-law passed away too early, too suddenly, leaving many matters unattended—I must take up this burden for him, to fulfill his final wish."

Both the village elder and the village head agreed and expressed admiration for the first two provisions of the will.

Alas, no wonder Master Sun favored Qian Master—Qian Master truly cared more than his own sons.

"The third provision is the division of assets," Qian Master glanced at the five kneeling men, his face stern. "The Sun family holds no official status, no hereditary privilege. According to the Great Ming Code, aside from noble titles and official patronage passing to the eldest legitimate son, all other family assets must be divided equally among all sons."

Upon hearing this, Sun Er and Sun San perked up, their eyes brightening; even the youngest, Sun Wuyi, lifted his head.

Sun Da Chang's eyes instantly reddened; without thinking, he shouted: "No!"

Qian Master asked him: "Why not?"

"This contradicts our ancestors' teachings," Sun Da Chang said. "When my grandfather divided the family estate, he gave my father seventy percent, and my second and third uncles split the remaining thirty percent. Even further back, my Ceng Zu gave my grandfather the larger share. Our Sun family's tradition has always been for the eldest son to receive the majority—I deserve at least seventy percent. Why should I split equally with them?"

"Precisely because of this speech!" Qian Master jabbed his finger at Sun Da Chang's nose. "Do you think your branch of the family grew rich overnight? It was earned, basket by basket, from your Ceng Zu onward—three generations of accumulation built this estate!"

Your second and third uncles are right here—ask them how much they had to divide before, and how much they have now. What did your father do for them these past years?"

Qian Master: "'A good elder brother, a respectful younger brother'—I've said this until I'm hoarse! Your Ceng Zu gave more to your grandfather, your grandfather gave more to your father, because they knew your grandfather and father bore the responsibility of the eldest—they would care for their younger brothers, honor and support their parents, and grow the family fortune. What can you do?"

Qian Master spat as he pointed at Sun Da Chang's face. "If you'd only been capable, if you'd shown even a little breadth of heart, your father would've seen you could uphold the family—and he wouldn't have planned to divide it this way!"

Sun Da Chang, face flushed, cried out: "But my father never said he'd give me only twenty percent—he meant to give me forty percent!"

Qian Master shouted: "Half of that forty percent belongs to your mother!"

Sun Da Chang fell silent.

Qian Master's face darkened. "That's precisely what I'm saying: your parents must also be counted. Divide the estate into six shares. When your mother grows old, you'll divide her share among yourselves."

Sun Da Chang: "There's never been such a division."

Sun Er and Sun San whispered to each other: "We've never heard of the mother getting a share in the division."

Sun Si and Sun Wu said nothing.

Even the village elder and the village head couldn't help shaking their heads—they finally understood why Qian Master insisted on dividing the estate at the wake, and why he insisted on giving Sun Laoyi a share.

Seeing her brother's face nearly purple with rage, Sun Laoyi feared he'd have a stroke and hurriedly said: "I live with the eldest—I'll give up my share..."

Qian Master: "Sister, don't speak."

Sun Laoyi obediently fell silent and sat back down.

Qian Master said: "I'm not asking your opinion. Your father—I would never let your mother live as a commoner among you! I say this plainly: if you refuse to give your mother her share, after the funeral, I'll take her home. From now on, you won't need her—I'll have Da Hong care for her and bury her!"

Sun Da Chang trembled, immediately kowtowed, and cried out: "Uncle, you're making the world stab my back! I'm still here—we five brothers are alive! How can we let our cousin care for Mother and see her to her end?"

Qian Master sneered.

Sun Er and his three brothers also kowtowed repeatedly, weeping and refusing.

Sun Da Chang wiped his tears, turned, and knelt before Sun Laoyi. "Mother, say something! Do you really want to leave with Uncle?"

Sun Laoyi looked at her eldest son with resentment and fury. When he leaned his face close, she, who had been gentle her whole life, slapped him across the face and spat: "Ungrateful son!"

The village elders were stunned; Sun Er cried out in shock: "Big sister!"

Everyone knew his big sister was a soft-spoken, timid woman—he'd never seen her lose her temper in his life.

Sun Laoyi's lips trembled. She couldn't bring herself to mention how they'd driven her husband to death, so she said weakly: "How dare you defy your uncle? Your uncle has been so good to you—you must listen to him."

Her words were feeble, clearly an excuse. The village head and elders grew suspicious—could Master Sun's death truly have been unnatural?

Master Sun suddenly leapt from his coffin, eyes brimming with tears, and walked to his wife's side, speaking tenderly: "Yuan Niang, I was wrong. I blamed you, thinking you watched me die from anger, silent, even allowed them to use the Spirit-Sealing Talisman on me. You struck well, you scolded well—keep hitting and scolding. Don't fear their reputation is ruined—they don't care. Why should you worry for them?"

Sun Laoyi didn't hear her dead husband whispering in her ear. After slapping and scolding him, she felt regret and fear, and instinctively looked toward her brother.

Qian Master had heard—but he ignored Master Sun, pressing on: "Do you agree to give your mother her share?"

Sun Da Chang covered his face and wept, turning to seek support from his second and third uncles.

His family's estate division, aside from Qian Master's authority as a close uncle, also depended on the opinions of Sun Er and Sun San.

But upon hearing Sun Da Chang's words, Sun Er and Sun San both frowned and said: "Your uncle is right. Your mother deserves a share. When she grows old, you can divide her portion then."

Sun Da Chang said: "Mother is already so old—she can't till the fields or spin thread. Why give her land, houses, or shops she'd have to manage? I'll care for her. If she needs anything, just tell me—I and my brothers will get it for her. No need for her to trouble herself."

Sun Er said: "Tenant farmers till the land; hired hands spin thread. Your mother has her dowry—she's managed it all these years without issue. Give her her share now, and let her manage it the same way as before."

He paused, then added: "I know you're filial, but I think your mother wouldn't want to keep burdening her children. She should use what's hers."

Sun San nodded. "Exactly. If you're already resisting giving her a share now, how can we trust you'll truly be filial later?"

Sun Wuyi kowtowed: "Uncle, Pan Ershu, Third Uncle—I agree to give Mother her share."

Sun Da Chang turned back with a threatening glare: "Wu Yi!"

Sun Wuyi lowered his head and whispered: "It was Father's wish."

"You lie! When did Father ever say to give Mother a share? Her portion was always meant for me—I alone should get forty percent!"

Qian Master: "So you want to follow your father's original division?"

Sun Er immediately said: "Didn't you say you didn't accept this division?"

Sun San: "I don't accept it either. By law, our estate must be divided equally. Why should you alone get forty percent?"

Sun Da Chang wanted to change his mind and claim seventy percent, but he glanced around the funeral hall, saw his uncle's expression, and silently knelt, saying nothing.

Qian Master waited until they'd all spoken before saying: "After all this time, Sun Er, Sun San, Sun Si—you three finally opened your mouths."

The three instantly grew uneasy.

Qian Master casually pulled two yellow talismans from his sleeve and asked: "Do you know what these are?"

Aside from Sun Wu's confusion, everyone else's faces changed slightly.

Master Qian snorted and said, "Your father is right here. This new arrangement of mine follows your father's wishes."

Sun Da Chang and the others fell silent.

Master Qian: "Don't believe it? Then I'll have him tell you in person."

He turned to look at Pan Yun, cupped his hands, and said, "Little Immortal, please work your arts and let them see my brother-in-law, to prove I'm not lying."

Pan Yun silently regarded him for a moment. Just as she was about to draw a talisman, Master Qian suddenly said, "And the village head and the village elders — they're witnesses, they need to see my brother-in-law too."

Pan Yun: …

She swept her gaze around, and simply gave up on drawing talismans. Instead she pulled out a handful of copper coins and said, "Easy, easy."

Why bother drawing talismans? With this many people, was he trying to drain her spiritual power dry?

Better to just set up a large array and let the spirit manifest.

Pan Yun took the handful of copper coins and darted all over the mourning hall.

Sun Da Chang looked at his uncle with an indescribable expression, feeling his uncle must have been driven mad by the five of them brothers, to come up with such a crooked scheme.

How could there possibly be ghosts in this world?

That was what Sun Da Chang thought, and that was what he said.

Master Qian, seeing him trembling so badly he could barely stay on his knees, said, "If you don't believe there are ghosts in this world, why are you shaking? If you think your father's spirit is gone, why are you carefully pasting that yellow talisman? Got nothing better to do?"

Sun Da Chang was trembling so badly he could barely stay on his knees, yet still talked tough: "Uncle, the Master did not speak of strange forces, supernatural beings, or gods."

The lucky number for this chapter is a number ending in 1, screenshot as proof

(End of chapter)