The Family Had Split, Why Should I Care if They Go Broke? - Chapter 4

Xu Zhichun and Liang Mingxuan exchanged a glance, both stunned.

Go to waste?

What goes to waste? The five acres of rice had already been planted! All that remained was to make sure the fields didn’t dry out, check for weeds every couple of months, fertilize again, and then wait for the harvest.

And that benevolent look on Lady Zhang’s face, along with her condescending tone—how did she manage that?

And that line about “sharing a portion” was truly shameless. If the fields really fell into their hands, who knew how much they’d actually give back?

To be honest, over the past couple of years, the uncles’ families had bullied Liang Minglang’s household while he was away, taking advantage whenever they could. Xu Zhichun hadn’t dared to make a fuss. Money for Liang Mingxuan’s schooling had been handed to Li Zheng for safekeeping after discussion with Liang Minglang, and later, after being harassed by the uncles’ families, she’d even handed over proceeds from selling pigs and grains to Li Zheng as well.

The uncles’ families were furious but dared not speak out.

As for exactly how much money had been given to Li Zheng… Xu Zhichun didn’t remember. 

But it seemed like quite a bit. Apart from what they earned from escorting shipments, Liang Minglang had also gone hunting in the mountains before he left, selling several wolf pelts for money.

Anyway, she and Mingxuan had tightened their belts. As long as nothing major happened, and as long as the boy passed his exams without needing to repeat a year or two, they could likely raise him into a proper scholar.

Xu Zhichun smiled and was about to speak when Lady Bai arrived. “Zhichun, are you feeling better? I came to see you!”

Lady Zhang immediately rolled her eyes in disdain.

Xu Zhichun slipped out quickly to greet her, smiling warmly. “Ah, Second Aunt! You came. And… you’re empty-handed?”

Lady Bai, “…”

Xu Zhichun coughed lightly. “Sorry, Second Aunt, I really am terrible at speaking sometimes.”

Lady Bai snorted, her mood souring—she was sure Xu Zhichun was being deliberate.

Lady Zhang’s voice dripped with mockery. “I agree with Zhichun. How can you come to see an injured niece-in-law empty-handed? No eggs? Not even a few?”

Lady Bai scoffed. “What did she bring, then? Tell me.”

Lady Zhang, brimming with self-righteousness, shot back, “Our families aren’t the same! I have three sons, a daughter, and a grandson. My youngest is also in school. Expenses are high; we don’t have extras to spare. You, on the other hand, only have two sons, no school, no grandchildren. Can’t even spare a few eggs? That’s just being stingy!”

Lady Bai, naturally petty, was infuriated by the verbal jab and display of superiority. Her face twisted in rage. “Talk just talk! Why bring all that up? What’s it to you how my family’s doing? Mingxiang is older than Mingxuan by two years and reads worse than him—no shame in saying it!”

“Shut your mouth! My Mingxiang studies very well, much better than Mingxuan! You’re not a scholar, you don’t know anything. Mark my words, when Mingxiang becomes an official, you’d better not try to take credit!”

Lady Zhang couldn’t stand anyone badmouthing her youngest. She glared at Lady Bai and retorted fiercely.

Xu Zhichun rolled her eyes inwardly. Why drag her poor Mingxuan into their argument? Was all this just to protect their kids?

Worried the back-and-forth might hurt Mingxuan’s pride, she patted his shoulder gently. “Don’t listen to Eldest Aunt’s nonsense. I know you’re the best.”

Mingxuan glanced at the two aunts arguing noisily, then looked at Xu Zhichun with his clear, dark eyes. “Okay… I know.”

Xu Zhichun felt relieved. “Good boy.”

​​Impatient to get lunch underway, Xu Zhichun saw the two aunts showed no signs of stopping, so she interrupted, “Ahem… if there’s nothing else, maybe you two should go argue at your own home?”

Both women turned to glare at her, visibly frustrated. This girl really doesn’t know how to speak! So irritating…

And yet she’d said the blunt truth, leaving them flustered and unable to retort.

Lady Zhang, finally exasperated, huffed, “Fine, I’m leaving. What we just said stands!”

Lady Bai, even more impatient, asked, “What is she talking about? Let me hear too.”

Lady Zhang sneered. “Why should it concern you? Why would I tell you?”

​​Xu Zhichun spoke calmly, “Eldest Aunt said she would help take care of my fields, but I didn’t agree. I can manage myself, so there’s no need for your help.” 

Lady Zhang, fuming from her earlier argument with Lady Bai, exploded at Xu Zhichun. “You just shut up! Don’t act ungrateful! How can you manage those prime fields with your condition? We’re just trying to help, and you don’t appreciate it? You think we want to steal your land? The deeds aren’t in our hands? Ungrateful wretch!”

Xu Zhichun’s patience snapped. “No need! These are my fields. I decide. If anyone touches them, I’ll go to Li Zheng. Minglang just left, and you’re already bullying us. Do you want to drive me to my death?”

A bit of a staged tantrum—anyone could do it.

Life’s a performance, and she could play her role perfectly.

Perhaps she got a little carried away; her anger made her wounds ache, her head throb, and her face pale. She clutched her head and groaned.

Mingxuan rushed to support her. “Big Sister! Big Sister! If anything happens to you, I’ll go to Li Zheng myself!”

Lady Zhang remembered Xu Zhichun had jumped from a high cliff and was still injured. Seeing her pale and weak, she panicked slightly. “It’s her own temper, not my fault! Don’t talk nonsense. If you can’t appreciate good intentions, forget it—I’m not bothering anymore. Don’t come begging later, hmph!”

She muttered and stomped off.

Lady Bai, relieved Lady Zhang had left, forced a smile, “Niece-in-law, rest up. I’ll go too. If you need anything, ask us.”

And she hurried off as well.

Xu Zhichun couldn’t have a normal conversation in her current state. 

The eldest uncle’s family was far too impatient—they couldn’t wait a few days? And the idea of them wanting a monopoly? No way.

Mingxuan helped his sister-in-law to a seat. Xu Zhichun waved it off. “I just got a bit dizzy from anger, it’s fine now. Let’s get that chicken boiled. Eat well to recover. You should too—your body’s the foundation for studying. Eat plenty.”

Mingxuan felt his heart warm. “Yes,” he nodded. “Big Sister, you should take care of yourself, too. Don’t get angry.”

“All right, all right, no more anger.”

The chicken was quickly chopped into pieces, ready for the pot. 

Farm-raised chickens had good exercise and ate well, but they were thin, with little meat and no fat under the skin.

In modern times, this would be at least three times as expensive as factory-farmed chickens. But for Xu Zhichun, it still wasn’t enough.

“Go pull a few radishes from the garden, wash them, and cut some chives,” she instructed, sending the boy off so she could quietly fetch some chicken from the warehouse to slip into the pot.