Chapter 43: What Filthy Language!

On the country path.

Gu Xiaorou cast a seemingly casual glance at Du Qingqing.

"Sister Qingqing..."

"Hmm?"

"Why did Cheng An give you honey?"

"Ah? This..."

Du Qingqing’s pretty face flushed slightly. She then smiled gently and said, "The child is sentimental and knows how to be grateful. It shows he has a pure and kind heart; he is a good boy."

Is he just pure and kind?

Gu Xiaorou recalled her father’s warnings. For some reason, her heart felt a twinge of bitterness...

...

Meanwhile, at the Cheng household, the confrontation had just begun.

Early the next morning, before Cheng An had even fully awakened, he heard someone calling from outside the courtyard.

"Third brother, Cuiyun! Are you home?"

Mrs. Liu hurried to push the door open. "Second sister-in-law? Why are you here so early?"

"Is this early?" Yao Chunhua looked solemn. She grabbed Mrs. Liu’s hand and started pulling her along. "Hurry up, the village chief is already here. No matter what, we must get the land divided today!"

"This..." Mrs. Liu felt a tremor of fear. Despite how determined she had appeared earlier, now that the day had arrived, the ingrained fear of being dominated by the old matriarch, Madam Han, made her heart race uncontrollably.

"What’s wrong?" Yao Chunhua grumbled with dissatisfaction. "We already agreed on this. Are you backing out? Besides, this is for your own good. If you don't want the land, then consider it unsaid. I’m leaving!"

"Don't, second sister-in-law. Husband! Come out, husband..." Mrs. Liu clutched Yao Chunhua’s arm. After Cheng Dashan emerged, she urged, "Quick, call Xiao Liu (Cheng An), we’re going to the Cheng house! That land is rightfully ours, why shouldn't we take it?"

"Are you dreaming?" Cheng Dashan glared at his wife. "Dividing the land is one thing, but why bring the boy?" What if things turned physical? Wouldn't that be putting their son in harm's way?

"What do you know?" Mrs. Liu frowned and scolded, "It’s precisely because this is difficult that we need our son! Have you forgotten? That wheel mechanism, and what happened yesterday—weren't those all solved by our son?"

That was true! Although their son was only eight, he was a genius. Subtly, their first instinct when facing trouble had become to seek their son's help.

Cheng Dashan immediately agreed. "You're right, we must take our son. He can read! If there’s any signing or fingerprinting to be done, we won't be easily swindled."

"Then let's go, quickly!"

"Fine!" Cheng Dashan turned back into the room. "You and second sister-in-law go ahead, we’ll be there in a moment."

Mrs. Liu ran toward the Cheng house alongside Yao Chunhua.

"Cuiyun..." Yao Chunhua’s expression was strange as she turned to ask, "Your Xiao Liu has only been studying for half a month, can he really read?"

"He recognizes quite a lot!" Mentioning her son, Mrs. Liu gained a surge of confidence. She puffed out her chest and said, "Don't underestimate our Xiao Liu because of his age. Master Du at the academy has praised him more than once, saying our child is gifted—a child prodigy!"

"That capable?" Yao Chunhua blinked.

"Would I lie to you?" Mrs. Liu rolled her eyes. "Master Du said that not long after our Xiao Liu started school, he could fluently recite the primers and even compose poetry!"

"This... then he truly is a genius!" Yao Chunhua nodded, feeling a bit deflated. Although she was illiterate, she knew that success in studies required talent. The father and son of the eldest branch were prime examples—after studying for so many years, they had nothing to show for it.

And as for Cheng Xiaoyuan, that was not even worth mentioning.

Yesterday, Yao Chunhua had made a trip to town and learned quite a bit about Cheng Dahai. The scoundrel not only kept a mistress on the side but also had children with her. For years, he had been siphoning money from the family to support those two wretches. But where did the family's money come from? The eldest branch had not done a lick of honest work in years—had they ever earned a single copper? It was infuriating! Just thinking about it made her feel stifled.

...

By the time Cheng An and his father arrived at the Cheng house, the room was in an uproar. Madam Han lay on the bed with her eyes closed, her legs twitching—whether from genuine rage or an act, it was hard to tell.

"Who agreed to split the family?" Cheng Dahai pointed at Cheng Dahe, cursing, "That shameless animal, the third brother, could just leave! Second brother, are you thinking of following his lead?"

"Who is the truly shameless one?" Yao Chunhua strode into the room, ignoring the village chief, Wang Defu, standing to the side. She glared at Cheng Dahai and shouted, "Big brother, do you want me to tell everyone here about the rotten things you've been doing behind our backs?"

"You wretch! How dare you slander your elder brother?" Cheng Dahai reacted as if his tail had been stepped on, instantly flying into a rage.

But to Yao Chunhua, he looked like nothing more than a clown. She smirked, "I made a trip to town last night and learned quite a few interesting stories. Does big brother want to hear them?"

Impressive! Cheng An gave a mental thumbs-up. He had only dropped a few hints yesterday, and he hadn't expected Yao Chunhua to actually investigate it, and in just one day... What efficiency! With this level of execution, it was a waste for her not to be a spy.

"You..." Cheng Dahai was struck dumb.

Qin Dongzhi countered, "What nonsense are you spouting, Yao Chunhua? My husband just borrowed some money outside! It’s not like he said he wouldn't pay it back! You want to use this to threaten us? You're dreaming!"

"Borrowing money?" Yao Chunhua laughed so hard she doubled over. To her, Qin Dongzhi was a fool who would help count the money for the person who sold her. She mocked, "A sister-in-law is a sister-in-law, what imposing air! Those who didn't know better would think you’re actually the one in charge of the Cheng family! Do you know what big brother has been doing outside..."

"Shut your mouth, you wretch!" Cheng Dahai was completely panicked. He cut her off, saying, "If we are splitting the family, then let's split it. Why all the useless talk? But let me say this first: once the family is divided, you are no longer Cheng family members! If you run into trouble later..."

This was a threat. Qin Dongzhi used to love using this tactic. Relying on Cheng Dahai’s status as a xiucai candidate (budding scholar), they were not only tyrannical at home but also arrogant outside, constantly saying, "When my Dahai passes the exam..."

Rural folk rarely saw powerful figures, and to them, a scholar was an unattainable existence who could decide their fate. But could Cheng Dahai actually pass? In the past, not only Yao Chunhua but also Mrs. Liu had been terrified, fearing that if Cheng Dahai truly became a scholar and gained a government position, he would surely take revenge on them.

But now that they saw Cheng Dahai’s true colors, they felt only disgust.

"I dare to split the family, so why would I fear trouble?" Yao Chunhua stood tall, glaring at Cheng Dahai. She sneered, "Stop with the useless talk. Divide the land that belongs to us. After that, we’ll have nothing to do with each other. Otherwise, don't blame me for not being able to hold my tongue!"

"Split your mother..." Qin Dongzhi started to curse.

*Slap!*

Cheng Dahai struck her, knocking her over. With unconcealed ferocity, he growled, "Get out, you brainless thing! Don't you see our mother isn't even speaking? If you say one more word, I’ll divorce you immediately!"

"You... you hit me?" Qin Dongzhi’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Cheng Dahai ignored her. He offered a fawning smile to the village chief, Wang Defu, muttered an apology for the "spectacle," and led everyone to the fields.

The Cheng family had a total of eight acres of land—considered quite a lot in the countryside. But Cheng Dahai was cunning; he deliberately assigned four acres of poor, rocky land near the mountain to the second and third branches, even factoring in Madam Han’s share.

"This isn't right!" Mrs. Liu was dissatisfied with the poor-quality land they were allotted. "I won't say anything about mother's share, but..."

"Mother." Cheng An tugged at her sleeve, stopping her. "Let it be. It's good enough that we're getting anything at all. If we keep making a scene, Grandmother will surely start causing more trouble."

"But I just can't swallow this anger!" Mrs. Liu’s eyes were red with grievance. "Why do the best things always go to the eldest? Why have your father and I worked so hard for so many years only to end up working for someone else’s benefit?"

Just like her son, she didn't care about that bit of land or the so-called "family fortune"—she just wanted justice for the grievances and unfairness she had suffered all these years.