Chapter 172: Liu Family Division

Chapter 172: Liu Family Division

By the time evening came, Wei Pozi went to the Liu family again and finally found Wei Sanniang resting and having a meal in her room.

Despite the turmoil, Wei Sanniang kept her composure, her hair neatly arranged, as she tried to maintain her dignity.

“…Master Liu is much better,” said Wei Sanniang with a worried expression, “but it was only after Old Ji brought people to check the accounts in the treasury that we discovered Big Madam Lin had lent out a thousand taels in usurious loans. She sure has some nerve!”

“A thousand taels?!” Wei Pozi gasped in shock.

Wei Sanniang sighed, “It’s shocking once you look into it. I was frightened when I found out. There are four shops in total at home, and two of them are almost bankrupt because Big Madam Lin kept siphoning money from them to lend out. Now that Yuangong and Big Madam Lin have been arrested, and Master Liu is sick, if it weren’t for Old Ji managing things, the household would be in complete chaos.”

Yuangong was the eldest son from the first wife.

Thinking about the chaos at home, Wei Sanniang felt overwhelmed.

Wei Pozi looked serious.

The problem was, just as Yuanfeng’s marriage was being arranged, something this big happened to the Liu family. She wondered how the Jiang family would react…

As they were talking, a maid came to report that Old Master Liu had woken up.

Wei Sanniang stood up abruptly, “I need to go see him.”

Wei Pozi thought for a moment, “I’m also Old Master Liu’s sister-in-law, not an outsider. I’ll go with you.”

Wei Pozi wanted to support Wei Sanniang, who gratefully took Wei Pozi’s hand, “Second Sister!”

The two sisters went to Old Master Liu’s courtyard.

A number of people were standing in the small courtyard.

Most of the men from the main household had been imprisoned, and the others from the main household were kneeling in front of the door. The second and third households, being the concubine branches, were anxiously standing under the eaves—likely having been kicked out as well.

Wei Sanniang and Wei Pozi walked past the crowd. The calls of “Mother” made Wei Sanniang’s hands sweat.

In all her years with the Liu family, aside from Yuanfeng, this was the first time anyone had genuinely called her “Mother!”

As Wei Sanniang stepped into the room, Old Master Liu was raging and throwing things.

Wei Pozi whispered to Wei Sanniang, “At least he’s still able to throw a fit, which means his health isn’t too bad.”

Wei Sanniang gave a bitter smile.

“Sanniang,” Old Master Liu’s voice was hoarse, “where is that good-for-nothing?”

Wei Sanniang thought for a moment, “Master is asking about Eldest Master? Eldest Master and Big Madam Lin have already been taken away by the authorities.”

Old Master Liu glared with wide eyes, unable to speak for a long while.

Old Master Liu raged for a while but, thankfully, didn’t give Wei Sanniang too much trouble.

Wei Pozi watched coldly from the side, saying nothing.

After Wei Sanniang came out of Old Master Liu's room, Liu Yuanfeng had also returned.

He had taken over two shops that were still solvent, though barely. Only Old Master Liu could authorize withdrawals from the family accounts.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Liu Yuanfeng said, "Luckily, we got there in time. Just now, people from the first household tried to take money from the accounts, saying it was to pay a fine imposed by the officials—one hundred and eighty taels. I didn’t allow it and had them thrown out."

That day, he had reviewed the account books. There was less than one hundred taels of money left in the entire Liu family's accounts.

How could that be enough?

Upon hearing this, Wei Sanniang realized the extent of the Liu family's financial hole. She wasn’t worried about anything else, only about how it might affect Liu Yuanfeng's marriage prospects. "...What are we going to do?"

After all, no matter how large the Liu family's estate was, only a small portion would end up in Yuanfeng's hands.

She was even more worried about the Jiang family...

Liu Yuanfeng comforted her, "Mother, if it doesn't work out, it just means I don’t have the fate with Miss Jiang. We can look again later."

Wei Sanniang hesitated, then sighed.

The next day, Old Master Liu summoned everyone from the first, second, and third households, along with Wei Sanniang and her son.

It was time to divide the family assets.

Naturally, the first household didn’t want this. Now that they were in trouble, dividing the family would mean cutting them off.

The second and third households were also unwilling. The first household had embezzled so much of the family's property, ruining the family. Now, just splitting the family like this would let the first household off too easily.

Only Wei Sanniang and Liu Yuanfeng remained silent.

In fact, they were somewhat delighted.

They had already been planning to split off and live independently. Though not ideal, it was far better than being pulled down by the first household.

Old Master Liu sat propped up in bed, surrounded by cushions, looking utterly exhausted.

His division was simple.

The current residence was considered ancestral property, and each household was already living separately, so they would continue to do so.

There were only eighty taels of silver left in the accounts, and each household would receive twenty taels.

There were four shops in total; the two struggling ones would go to the second and third households, one each. Whether they wanted to revive the shops or sell them and do something else was up to them.

The second and third households were not very happy, but Old Master Liu was clearly in a foul mood and angrily said, "If you don’t want it, just get out!"

The second and third households dared not say anything more.

After all, as secondary households, how much property they received was entirely up to the head of the family's discretion.

The people from the first household looked at Old Master Liu with great expectation.

Old Master Liu closed his eyes and said, "There are still two shops... one on Chengxian Street and one on Huaishui Street. First household, which one do you want?"

Although the decision-makers of the first household were currently in prison, the remaining members didn’t need to think much and hoarsely said, "We want the shop on Chengxian Street!"

The second and third households silently fumed, knowing that the shop on Chengxian Street was the one where Old Master Liu had made his fortune. It was the most profitable shop, and the first household was clearly trying to maximize their gain.

Old Master Liu sneered, then called out, "Yuanfeng."

He asked slowly, "Which one do you want?"

Liu Yuanfeng replied indifferently, "I'll take the one on Huishui Road then."

The shop on Huishui Road was a pen and ink shop, and since he was studying at the moment, he actually preferred a shop like that.

Besides, if the first household were to run the pen and ink shop on Huishui Road, his nephews and nieces would likely go hungry.

Old Master Liu cracked open his eyes and gave Liu Yuanfeng a glance.

After a long while, he said, "Then divide it this way."

The first household breathed a sigh of relief.

The shop on Chengxian Road was the most profitable shop of the Liu family, and just as everyone expected, Old Master still had a soft spot for them.

The second and third branches looked visibly upset.

Old Master Liu didn’t waste any more time on them and continued, "However, the first household has skimmed off a fair bit of money from the family coffers over the years. If you want this most valuable shop, fine, but make up for it by giving Yuanfeng an extra hundred taels of silver."

The first household was taken aback. "Grandfather! But... this..."

Old Master Liu said coldly, "Don't want to? Fine. Then both shops will go to Yuanfeng."

The room went dead silent.