The separation of a family is a major event and needs to be witnessed by the patriarch and respected elders.
The patriarch of the Song family is called Song Yaozu. Although he is similar in age to Song Dashan, he is one generation older than Song Dashan. Yan Qing had to call him great grandfather.
This was not the first time that Song Yaozu presided over the separation of families, but it was the first time that the other brothers separated only the fourth brother's room separately.
Song Dashan explained with a smile, "Isn't it because the children are getting older and the house can't be lived in? But our old couple are still alive, so it's not appropriate to separate our families now. We have no choice but to separate into one family first."
Family scandals should not be made public, and Song Dashan would not let the old couple show favoritism to the fourth child by not allowing them to study, so they told the story of the family separation. So that's all I can say.
Song Yaozu was noncommittal to his remarks, but he didn't ask any further questions. He nodded and formally drew up a family separation agreement.
"Your family has a total of fifty acres of land, including ten acres of good farmland and forty acres of inferior farmland. It is divided into five parts, one for you two elders, and one for each of the four sons. The land allocated to the fourth , that’s eight acres of second-grade farmland and two acres of good farmland, do you think it’s right?”
Everyone made no sense and nodded in agreement.
"In addition, Miao's dowry and the personal belongings of your four bedrooms belong to you. However, this house, pots and pans, and other belongings belong to the old couple. After they pass away, the eldest family will inherit them. This is It’s a rule from ancient times, Xiaosi, do you have any objection?”
Song Chi nodded, "This is natural, I have no objection."
"Then there is still the money and the remaining food left in the palace. You can divide it into five parts. After the distribution is completed, we will talk about the filial piety of the fourth house to our parents in the future."
This food is easy to share. It is obvious to everyone how much food there is in the family. Just average one share. But when it comes to public money—
The old lady cleared her throat, "In recent years, the harvest at home has not been good. After paying the taxes, we can barely survive. We haven't saved any money. The only bit of money is the piece of gold that Fu Bao picked up in the yard. , exchanged fifty taels.
Half of these fifty taels were spent just to send Yan Chang to study. The annual repairs and six rites together cost almost six taels of silver, which is eighteen taels in three years. Coupled with pens, inks, paper and inkstones, Yan Chang was already very economical. He used water to write on wooden boards when practicing calligraphy, but over the past few years, he also spent six or seven taels.
The remaining half is five taels for the daily expenses of salt and medical treatment for the whole family. So there was only twenty taels of silver left in the house. Divide it into five parts, then take four taels for the fourth room. "
When the old lady said this, everyone else nodded in agreement. Although the old lady controlled the family's money, everyone knew exactly how much it was.
Miao Guihua sneered, "Only twenty taels? I don't think so! Didn't Fu Bao pick up a ginseng last month and sell it for two hundred taels?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone in the hall was shocked.
Everyone looked at the old lady in shock.
"Mom, is this true?"
Song Li was no less shocked than the others. She looked panicked, pointed at Miao Osmanthus, and hurriedly denied, "You, what are you talking about? How can you have any ginseng!"
However, her guilty look proved that what Miao Guihua said was true.
For a moment, everyone in the first and second bedrooms of the Song family looked eagerly, "Two hundred taels!" No wonder the fourth couple were clamoring to separate the family. It turned out that this was their intention.
The couple only watched from the sidelines and did not express any opinions at all.
"Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, you'll know just by opening my mother's cabinet and taking a look. Since it's public property, we should also have a share in the fourth bedroom, right?" Miao Guihua said with a confident look.
"No, no! No one can open my cabinet! We only have so much money at home, what kind of ginseng? I have never seen it!"
The old lady yelled and refused to admit it.
"Mom, if you don't feel guilty, why don't you let us see it? If you didn't have these two hundred taels, I would kneel down and kowtow to confess your guilt!" Miao Guihua was not to be outdone.
Seeing that a quarrel was about to break out, Song Yaozu's face darkened and he slapped the table, "What a quarrel! Shanzi, tell me, do you have these two hundred taels?"
He stared at Song Dashan seriously. Under his gaze, Song Dashan felt that no thoughts could be hidden from his eyes. I had no choice but to say, "That's what happened."
One sentence made Mrs. Song Li so angry that her vision went dark and she almost fainted.
However, although she usually makes the decision in this family, when it comes to major matters, Song Dashan still has the final say.
So now that Song Dashan has spoken, no matter how unwilling she is, she can only hold her breath and accept this fact.
Song Yaozu didn't care about this. He said businesslikely, "Then let's divide it according to two hundred and twenty taels. Since the family is divided, it must be fair and just, otherwise the children will be resentful and there will definitely be conflicts in the future. Shanzi, what do you say? Woolen cloth?"
Song Dashan nodded repeatedly, "It's all up to the clan uncle to make the decision."
When Song Li heard this, she hurriedly said, "There is no two hundred and twenty taels! The two hundred taels have already been spent forty taels to buy snacks and clothes for Fu Bao, and also gave her some silver jewelry. This is It was her good fortune to pick it up, so it is appropriate to give her flowers. There are only one hundred and eighty taels left in the family. "
Song Li was not willing to give away all the money no matter what, so she found such an excuse. She did spend money on Fu Bao, but it was only four or five taels.
Of course Miao Guihua didn't believe it. She knew that the old lady's money must be more than two hundred and twenty taels. But she knew that one hundred and eighty taels was already the old lady's limit, and she couldn't get any more.
So she smiled and said, "Let it be as much as mother says, and the rest should be regarded as our filial piety to mother."
She was the one who behaved well even though she got a bargain.
Mrs. Song Li was so nauseated that she glared at her with hatred, as if she wanted to eat someone.
But in front of the clan leader and other elders, she could only reluctantly take out thirty-six taels of silver and give it to Miao Guihua.
Miao Guihua was very happy when she got the money, "Oh, I just said that my parents are very fair, how could they be greedy for our share. If our parents are kind and righteous to us, then we will pay more respect to our parents in the future!" If you can’t write two characters of Song in one stroke, you’ll still be one family even if you separate!”
Song Yaozu nodded. Although he didn't think much of this grandnephew's wife, at least the scene was beautiful.
After the money was distributed, they talked about the filial piety that the fourth house would show to Song Dashan and his wife. These are similar to other families in the village and can be accepted by both parties, so they were quickly discussed.
After signing and depositing the money, the family was completely divided.
Song Yaozu and others rejected Song Dashan's invitation to stay with them for dinner, and left directly after finishing the matter.
Only the Song family was left, each with their own thoughts and going back to their respective homes.
Miao Guihua happily counted the silver she received, "Thirty-six taels, this is the first time I have seen so much silver."
Song Chi was so happy that he couldn't see his teeth, "And so much money belongs to our family. It's my wife who can do it, and she can get so much money out of the old lady's hands!"
Miao Guihua said proudly, "That's why I was merciful. I thought we had ginseng dug by pillars, and I was afraid of unintended branches, so I didn't dare to be cruel, for fear of driving the old lady into a panic."
"Now that we have separated and we have money, what should we do next? How about building a house first? We have already separated and we are having trouble like this. Mom will definitely not like us, so it would be better to move out."
Miao Guihua also had this plan, "We can afford a house, but we can't afford it now. We only need thirty-six taels on the surface, and we have to send Zhuzhu to study. If we buy a house now, doesn't it clearly tell them that we have other money? Old What will my wife do if she shares the money with us? So let’s wait a year and a half.”
Song Chi nodded repeatedly, "You are still thoughtful."
Yan Qing interrupted at this time, "Father, mother, why don't we rent a house in the county? The county is so lively. I heard that the teachers there are more knowledgeable and teach better than our teachers in the countryside. And dad Don’t you know how to do carpentry? Isn’t working in the county better than farming at home?”
The words made Song Chi and his wife stunned.
However, they really followed Yan Qing's words and considered the possibility of going to the county seat.
"Yes, we have so much money, we can rent a house in the county. Our family of four doesn't have much to spend. You can find a job, and I can also help others sew, wash, and tie hair. If we rent out these ten acres of land, it will be enough for our family!"
Miao Guihua's eyes were bright. Neither of them were hard-working people. Farming was hard and tiring. It would be great to have the opportunity to stop farming now.
Song Chi was also very moved, "But I'm not good at school, what if I can't find a job?" When he became a carpenter apprentice, Fu Bao was not yet born, and he was still the most favored youngest son in the family. He had a lazy temperament, could not bear hardships, and was not diligent enough, so after two years of studying, he was kicked out by his master and found someone who was diligent, studious, and able to endure hardships.
"What are you afraid of? If you can't do carpentry, you can try other things. And Zhuzi is right, the teachers in the county are better, so we will send Zhuzhu to study in the county. Didn't our parents say that we, Zhuzhu, will definitely not be able to achieve anything famous in our studies? Why don’t we argue and read it out to them?”
Yan Qing nodded quickly, "Mom, I will study hard and study better than my cousin, so that I can give you credit!"
"Oh, daddy's good son is really ambitious, okay! Then let's go to the county seat!"
Four-year-old Yan Shu didn't understand anything yet. Seeing her parents and brothers happy, she also became happy, "Oh, I'm going to the county seat!"