Chapter 82 – Estrangement

Chapter 82 - Estrangement

For a moment, the only sound in the main hall was Qian Qiner's heart-wrenching sobs of regret.

How could she not regret it? Even if Qian Qiner had truly been cold-hearted, it was towards her stepmother, her stepsister, and even her half-brother, Qian Laifu, Qian Gouzi. She disliked her stepmother and certainly didn't like the daughter she brought into the family or the son she bore, but he was still her father, the one who had always treated her the best since she was little.

Her birth mother had passed away early, and her father, now an elderly man, wanted to remarry. Before marrying again, he had sought her consent, promising that his new wife wouldn't mistreat her and that he wouldn't let her intervene in her own marriage arrangements. Qian Qiner had seen how lonely her father had been all these years, especially during the bitterly cold winters without anyone to warm his bed. Despite her initial objections, she eventually agreed.

When the stepmother entered the family, she brought along a daughter, but her father kept his promises. He didn't make Qian Qiner do any farm work or household chores. Even tasks like cutting pig grass were taken care of by Taohua, the family's unrelated daughter. Qian Qiner had nothing to do but enjoy life as a young maiden at home, waiting for her father to find her a suitable husband.

She indeed married well, into the wealthy Zheng family. As long as she could bear a son, her position would be secure. Her sister-in-law couldn't produce a single son, so in the future, the entire Zheng estate would belong to her son. Even her elder brother and sister-in-law would have to curry favor with her, or else they would have no one to mourn them when they passed away. All she needed to do was give birth to a son.

She finally did have a son, transforming from an unwanted daughter of a poor family into a heroine in the Zheng household. Everyone eagerly awaited the celebration of her son's full moon, and her father could finally hold his head high with pride. Who could have known that he would come empty-handed to the Zhengs' house this time? Why was he empty-handed? Even bringing a chicken would have sufficed. Why did he arrive without anything?

Although her sister-in-law had given birth to several daughters, their family's prosperity meant that even if her mother-in-law had issues with her, she never spoke ill of her in public. Qian Qiner's situation was different. The Qians were nothing in front of the Zhengs; her father was just a cook who made banquets. The eldest and second sisters-in-law often whispered behind her back, mocking her as a daughter from a poor family and belittling her father for doing women's work around the stove, implying he was good for nothing. However, with her son, she had proven herself in the Zheng family, silencing their taunts about her inability to bear a son. Now, they could only criticize her humble background.

Not only did her father come empty-handed this time, but he also brought both her sisters-in-law and nephew. She knew their personalities all too well and had repeatedly warned her father to bring only her elder and second brothers, leaving everyone else behind. Yet, they all came. Her eldest sister-in-law didn't even bother to greet anyone properly, instead rushing to the table with Qian Chuanzi to grab food. With people all around, their actions were like a slap in the face. Her sister-in-law and nephew ridiculed her while her father-in-law wore a stern expression. Her mother-in-law welcomed their family with sarcastic remarks in front of everyone, as if they had come to freeload at the feast.

In the midst of the feast, the matriarch nearly broke her teeth from clenching them in anger.

Everyone was laughing - relatives, friends, fellow villagers, the elder brother, his wife, and their daughter. They all watched as the elder sister-in-law and nephew made fools of themselves. Standing there, the arrogance she had once held due to giving birth to a son instantly vanished. Her face flushed red with embarrassment as everyone ridiculed her, whispering behind her back about how the second daughter-in-law's family was unsophisticated.

The matriarch, away from the crowd, jokingly criticized the family for coming to freeload. Qin'er felt her cheeks burn with shame. Eventually, she couldn't bear it anymore and pulled her father aside to cry and complain. Her beloved father, as always, comforted and explained, assuring her that he had bought good wine, but it was accidentally broken. He promised that the next day, he would go to town to buy more wine and fine cloth to restore their family's dignity and prevent her from being embarrassed in front of the Zhengs.

Her father, true to his word, left before dawn, only telling his two sons to control their wives and children so they wouldn't disgrace the family during the feast. He said he was going to town to buy something and would be back soon.

But her father never returned. He never would again. How could Qin'er not regret her actions? When she heard the villagers say that her father had been beaten half to death in town, she was devastated. However, she was even more terrified that people would find out that she had begged her father to go to town, leading to his fate. She dared not let anyone know that she was responsible for her father's death; otherwise, they would all accuse her of being an ungrateful child.

She didn't dare go to town, nor did she dare return to her parents' home. She didn't even get to see her father one last time!

"Daddy!!" Qin'er, overcome with sorrow, rushed forward, grabbed the chef's signboard, and hugged it while sobbing uncontrollably. At this moment, she finally showed the grief of losing her father, but it was too late. She never got to say goodbye to Chef Qian.

Zhao SuFen sat in her chair, watching her weep uncontrollably, almost to the point of fainting. She couldn't muster any thoughts about the situation. Let the father and daughter sort out their issues in the afterlife, she thought. Whether Chef Qian regretted his trip to town or if Qin'er would live the rest of her life in guilt and pain, none of it mattered to Zhao SuFen. Exhausted, she took advantage of her son-in-law's support and took the initiative to suggest a division of property: "With your father gone, I won't beat around the bush. Let's not pretend for appearances. I know you brothers can't tolerate me, and I'm not willing to continue living under the same roof. But I gave birth to Dogzi, who carries the Qian name and is your blood brother. I can't just walk away with nothing. Whatever belongs to Dogzi, I won't let it go."

The mention of dividing the property seemed like a soothing balm. Both Qian Dalang and Qian Erlang, who were previously groaning on the ground, regained their composure. Each, helped by their respective wives, sat on chairs, one holding their abdomen and the other rubbing their back, both unable to straighten up from the pain.

The Wang family's two uncles exchanged glances and said, "Dividing the family is a significant matter. We should call in the clan elders."

"Alright, you go call your relatives, and I'll call mine." Without waiting for his mother-in-law to respond, Wei Dahu made a move to head outside. "My clan isn't small either, so let's see who can gather more people."

Before Uncle Wang could interject, Qian Dalang and Qian Erlang's faces paled in fear. They quickly reached out to stop him, "Why involve the clan in our family matters? Just notify us when the division is done." They had seen Old Wei before - he was a towering figure, and they dared not imagine how many people Wei Dahu might bring. They wouldn't be able to handle even him alone, let alone if he called for reinforcements. They were afraid they would end up with nothing.

Now, they regretted not stepping in when Taohua was being courted. If she hadn't married the hunter, how could today's situation have arisen?

Just as Cook Qian worried about his stepdaughter's well-being and her marriage being manipulated by her new mother, Zhao SuFen shared similar concerns for her own daughter. She feared that her daughter's life might be ruined by someone else's control, just as hers had been. Both Qian Qiner and Taohua's marriages had been orchestrated by their respective parents.

Qian Qiner married into a seemingly prosperous family but ended up entangled in sordid affairs. Taohua, on the other hand, wed a poverty-stricken hunter's family. Everyone assumed she would suffer greatly, eating bark for survival. Yet, her daily meals consisted of rice and pork.

However, the Qian family was unaware of these details and continued to argue over the division of property. Zhao SuFen proposed that she and Dogzi should separate from the family and live independently, leaving the old house to the brothers. Their family owned eighteen acres of land, which ideally should be divided per person. Dogzi would certainly get his share, but she didn't want it. She didn't want the fields or the land; she only wanted the silver and grain, with a larger portion of the grain.

"I only want this year's harvest and the household silver. Dogzi and I will move out, and we need money for our basic needs. So, I also want a significant portion of the household silver."

Her decision to not divide the land astonished the Qian brothers and the two Wang uncles. For rural folk, what mattered most? First, the ancestral home, and second, the land - the former was their roots, and the latter their livelihood. Only with land could they cultivate food; without food, they would starve, and starvation meant death! Had she lost her mind to not want the land in the division?

Qian Erlang was overjoyed. He and his wife worked tirelessly on the farm day and night, while his elder brother learned a trade with their father. He was the one most attached to the land. He had anticipated his stepmother making extravagant demands, considering she had the hunter as her support. The hunter had a fierce temperament, and Qian Erlang had resolved that even if it meant being killed by the hunter, he would not agree if she asked for seven or eight acres of land.

But now, what was she saying? She didn't want the fields; she only wanted the grain and silver produced this year. This was simply too good to be true!

Worried that his elder brother might object due to his illness, Qian Erlang kept signaling to him. If she wanted the grain, let her have it. It was like a hen and its eggs – she could take the eggs but not the hen. As long as they had the fields and the weather cooperated, their family could produce such an abundant harvest every year. Yet, she only wanted this year's new grain. This was the best news they'd had in a while!

Qian Dalang, however, was far from pleased. If one were to say that the grain in the house was the result of Qian Erlang's hard work for a year, then the silver was earned by Qian Dalang learning the trade from his father and making banquet tables. Why should she get the lion's share just by talking?

"No way! I disagree!" Qian Dalang suppressed the pain in his abdomen and loudly protested.

"Alright, if you disagree, then we'll divide everything equally. I won't consider whether you've had sons or how many mouths each of you has to feed. I'll only consider how many sons your father had, and split accordingly! We have eighteen acres of land, which will be divided among the three of you – six acres each. No matter if they're fertile or dry fields, it'll be decided by lottery. Whatever you get is your luck, and you can't blame others!" Zhao Sufen looked at her two stepsons. "The silver will also be split evenly. This household will be divided into three, and each of you will have your own kitchen! Live separately!"

What? Divide the land equally? That brat Qian Gouzi would get six acres? Qian Erlang immediately blew his top and opposed, "No way, I disagree. How can Dogzi farm when he's still so young? And you're old – how can you manage six acres? I agree with the first proposal." He then tugged at his elder brother, pulling the reluctant Qian Dalang aside to discuss the pros and cons. At present, the grain wasn't the main issue; it was the land. The family land couldn't end up in the hands of his stepmother and half-brother. Dogzi was still young; if anything happened to him, the land would fall into the hands of the stepmother. A fertile field could fetch ten taels of silver; did they even have twenty taels in total? If she wanted to divide it, let her. Although she would get the larger share, it wouldn't all be hers. They, as brothers, would also receive a portion.

The land was the most important asset, and she didn't even want the old house. How could his elder brother oppose such a great deal? Had he become muddled from holding the cooking spoon too often and being surrounded by kitchen smoke?

He needed to snap him out of it.

Uncle Wang and Uncle Wang also thought this proposal was fair; their nephews were getting the better end of the bargain. She only wanted the grain and silver, not the house or any livestock. They raised pigs and poultry, which were also sources of income! For his elder nephew to oppose this, did that hunter hit his stomach instead of his head?

Unfortunately, their plan didn't go as smoothly as they hoped. Zhao Sufen was jolted back to reality when Taohua tugged on her sleeve. Right, she had been confused too. She had personally nurtured the fattening pigs and poultry; how could she let them benefit from her labor for free?

"Moreover, our household pigs and fowl—Second Sister-in-law gathers the pig grass, I cook the swill, and I feed the animals. The same goes for the chickens and ducks. Eldest Sister-in-law never attends to any household matters and hasn't fed the poultry even once. Therefore, these responsibilities should be shared between my family and Second Brother's," Zhao SuFen explained.

Upon hearing this, Qian Erlang grew even happier.

However, Qian Dalang was far from pleased. Before he could voice his objection, his wife, Sun Shi, stepped forward, her shrill voice echoing like a broken gong, "Why should it be split between your two families? Our son also catches insects to feed the chickens. We demand a share of both the chickens and pigs!"

It seemed that she was already referring to them as 'your family' and 'my family' even before the separation.

"Since you mention that your son feeds the chickens with insects, fine. He has called me 'Mother' for several years, regardless of whether it's formal or not. I acknowledge that. You can have a share of the chickens, but not the pigs. You don't even bother to cook the swill; how can you claim a share of the pigs? You have no right!" Zhao SuFen didn't want to argue further. Instead, she turned to the Wang family uncles and said, "As elders and their own uncles, I trust that you won't harm them. Perhaps their minds aren't clear at the moment. Please help to reason with them. Since everyone is present today, including our daughters and sons-in-law, we might as well settle the matter now."

"Indeed, what our relative says makes sense," Uncle Wang Er replied respectfully. He and his younger brother each pulled one of their nephews aside to discuss the matter privately.

Zhao SuFen's proposed division, whether viewed by outsiders or by her in-laws, was impeccable. The significance of the land was self-evident, and by giving up the largest asset, she pleased both Uncle Wang and Qian Erlang. They were more than willing to provide her with grain and a substantial portion of the silver. Even the chickens, ducks, and pigs would be divided, but nothing could surpass the value of the land.

By choosing to take the eggs and letting go of the breeding hens, she had seized a rare opportunity.

They had to agree; there was no other choice.

Inside the house, they were in deep discussion, while Taohua waited anxiously outside. She was not as composed as her mother; she knew that now, nothing was more crucial than grain. If war broke out in the future, just like the previous decades, officials would go around conscripting able-bodied men. No matter how many fields your family owned, it would be of no use if all the men were taken away.

No matter how fertile the land, one must have the life to tend to it.

"Author's Note"

I'll fix any errors later, but I didn't want you all to wait. Posting it now.