Chapter 3: Conditions

Old Mu, who had remained silent until now, finally grew anxious. “This has nothing to do with you. Don’t drag us into this.”

The rest of the Mu family felt as if the sky was collapsing.

“What are we going to do? Father, please save us.”

“It’s all Big Brother’s fault. Even in a drought, he still gambled and lost a lot of money. If he hadn’t lost, Sister-in-law wouldn’t have had to sell herself, and we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“The first and second branches have several children. They can’t just be ruined like this.”

Mu Gushan, the eldest son of the Mu family, flushed deeply, lowered his head, and awkwardly remained silent.

Lady Liu wore a worried expression. “I don’t want to implicate you all either. The master of the house has regarded me as honest and straightforward before, so only the family members related to me will be punished. Other relatives, neighbors, and friends won’t be dragged down.”

The neighbors of the Mu family suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Yu Jinchen’s face was filled with regret. “So as long as the family splits, they will be safe? That’s quite a deal for them.”

Lady He immediately caught on. “Yes, once the family separates, we have nothing to do with the third branch. If anyone is to be implicated, it will only be them.”

The first and second branches of the Mu family were also excited.

Indeed, once separated, they would no longer be implicated.

Old Mu pondered carefully but felt that something about today’s events was off. Yet so much had happened that day his mind was muddled, and he couldn’t quite pinpoint what was wrong.

Eldest son Mu Gushan urged anxiously, “Father, let’s split the family now. Everyone is here, including Xu Lizheng. If we separate them, we’ll be safe.”

Second son Mu Gushui also said, “Father, although it’s a bit unkind to split because the third branch is in trouble, you have to think about the descendants of the Mu family. Even without the third branch, the two of us won’t let the family line die out.”

Hearing the mention of ending the family line, Old Mu hesitated no longer. With a solemn expression, he approached Xu Lizheng.

After hearing him out, Xu Lizheng said solemnly, “You must think carefully. Family is meant to share hardships together. After all, Mu Guhuai is your own son.”

Old Mu smiled bitterly. “I have no choice. I can’t let my lineage end.”

Xu Lizheng continued his counsel, “Your eldest son is in trouble, and Lady Liu stepped forward, selling herself to pay his debts. Your family has been living off that money for months. Now that the third branch is in trouble, not only do you not help, but you also make things worse. That will hurt the third branch’s feelings, cause rifts among brothers, and once broken, it will be nearly impossible to mend.”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Old Mu’s eyes.

Lady He immediately interjected, “No matter if it’s impossible, we’re going to split the family.”

They didn’t even know if the third branch would survive, so why bother repairing?

Seeing Old Mu nod, Xu Lizheng had men bring tables and chairs and fetch pen, ink, paper, and inkstone. After writing a few words, he looked up and asked, “How will the property be divided?”

Lady He frowned. “The third branch probably won’t need anything from the house. We won’t divide anything. They just have to leave.”

Mu Guhuai hadn’t expected his mother to be so ruthless. His face full of sorrow, he said, “Mother, don’t forget, if it weren’t for my daughter’s mother paying Big Brother’s debts, the whole family would have been lost long ago.”

Lady He retorted with righteous confidence, “So what? If your branch gets wiped out, it only benefits others. It’s better to leave everything to your elder brothers and nephews.”

Lady Liu suddenly spoke up, “I’m not the one who caused the family’s downfall.”

Lady He rolled her eyes. “Then I won’t give you anything either.”

Old Mu also said, “Third son, don’t blame us. It hasn’t rained this past year. To survive, we had to sell everything we could.”

Mu Guhuai frowned. “What about the grain? I saw the rice jar this morning; there were at least three pounds of rice left. And the pots and pans—last time the debt collectors broke all of them. Everything in the house now was bought by my branch. The money from my wife selling herself should still have some left.”

Mu Gushan said harshly, “Third son, those things aren’t worth anything. Just forget about dividing them.”

Xu Lizheng frowned displeased. “Mu family, don’t be too much. How can a family split and give the son nothing?”

Old Mu sighed. “I really have no choice.”

Xu Lizheng asked again, “What about the house?”

Lady He said, “No division either. The house has just three bedrooms and a main hall, all connected. How do you divide that?”

Old Mu was taken aback. “Right, right, no division. Not the house either.”

Mu Guhuai’s heart turned completely cold. With a grim face, he said, “If you won’t divide, then if I’m punished, I’ll drag you all down with me, even if it costs me my life!”

Everyone’s faces changed drastically.

Lady He shouted angrily, “How dare you!”

Mu Guhuai’s tone was icy. “You can try me. The whole village knows why my wife sold herself. To tell the truth, Big Brother is the culprit. If the general finds out, he won’t spare you either.”

“You—!” Lady He nearly choked with rage.

Where was the once submissive son gone?

Could it be that she had pushed him too far?

Old Mu was deeply disappointed in his third son. “What do you want?”

Mu Guhuai thought for a moment, then said solemnly, “First, you must return the gold bracelet that Jinjin gave me back to her. Second, anything in the house bought with my wife’s money, I want it all. Third, I don’t want the room I live in, but you must pay me. Whoever from the first or second branch wants it must give me two taels of silver. I will move all my belongings out.”

“Dream on!” Lady He shouted. “Those are mine. Don’t even think about getting them back.”

Xu Lizheng couldn’t stand the Mu family’s behavior and earnestly advised, “Mu Delu, just do as your third son says. Don’t push him too far. A cornered rabbit will bite.”

Old Mu’s name was Mu Delu.

Lady He’s tone was resolute, “No, I won’t agree!”

Though Mu Delu disliked his third son, he understood the gravity of the situation and simply nodded, “I agree.”

Mu Gushan grew anxious. “Father, if we give him everything, how are we supposed to live?”

Mu Delu glared at his eldest son displeased. “Who’s the head of this family?”

Mu Gushan was stifled, then whispered, “You are.”

Since Mu Delu had made his decision, Lady He couldn’t undermine her husband’s authority. “Then after the split, they have to pay monthly support—two taels of silver per month.”

Everyone glanced at Lady He with mixed feelings.

Songshan Village was a poor place. Even in normal years, a household might not save two taels of silver in a year, let alone now after two years of drought.

“Hahaha… this is hilarious.”

Suddenly, laughter rang out from the crowd.

All eyes turned instantly to Yu Jinchen.

Yu Jinchen, undeterred, sneered maliciously, “Our third branch is about to face disaster and might be leaving Songshan Village soon. And you still want two taels a month? Fine, then from now on, burn two taels worth of paper money for them every month. That way, you’ll ‘collect’ it faster.”