Volume One, Chapter 19: Never Enough Taking Advantage

Tang Old Man smiled wryly.

“Didn’t you just hear what your mother said?”

“What did she say?”

Tang Third Son looked puzzled; he really hadn’t heard. He had been anxious when leaving and had fallen near the courtyard gate, only feeling the sharp pain and gritting his teeth. Besides, his mother was quite old, her voice weak and not loud enough to carry so far. It was only natural he hadn’t heard.

“Your mother and sister-in-law are scheming to marry little Guan Guan off to your sister-in-law’s useless eldest nephew, who has tuberculosis, to bring him good luck!”

“What?!” Tang Third Son was shocked, his eyes nearly popping out. He turned, staring incredulously at his own mother. “Mother? Is what Second Brother said... really true?”

“Pfft!”

“Your sister-in-law’s eldest nephew is generous. If Guan Guan marries him, they’ll get a bicycle, a watch, a sewing machine, plus a radio!”

“With those three wheels and one sound, your two nephews will be able to marry wives next year!”

At that time, the “three wheels and one sound” was truly valuable—things hard to buy even with money. The “three wheels” referred to a bicycle, a watch, and a sewing machine, while the “one sound” was a radio.

These were prized possessions even city folks struggled to acquire when marrying off their daughters. For Tang Guan Guan, a secondhand bride, to be traded for such items was something to be grateful for.

Old Lady Sun Guijuan felt no guilt, speaking confidently.

Tang Third Son’s eyes grew wider and wider.

His mother was not senile—

Damn it!

This was a black-hearted scheme!

“Second Brother! I support you in splitting the family!”

“Right now, split it immediately!”

He couldn’t stand staying in this den of wolves for another moment.

Selling a granddaughter to help a grandson marry? Who dared even imagine such a thing?

Tang Third Son shouted with full force, furious and even a bit defiant.

Tang Guan Guan couldn’t help but glance at this newly met uncle more than once.

She found this uncle’s temper matched hers!

Tang Old Man was stunned upon hearing his mother and sister-in-law’s plan, but his heart didn’t ache as much. The last straw never truly breaks the camel’s back; rather, it was the repeated disappointments that had gradually chilled his heart.

After too much disappointment, he no longer expected much from his parents and eldest brother’s family.

“Then let’s talk about how to split the family! We still have patients to care for at the clinic, it’s urgent!” Tang Old Man had already decided to split the family.

Tang Guan Guan felt it was her turn to step forward.

Men! They were never good at figuring out the details!

“What do you mean, how to split?”

Xu Lanzhi raised her eyebrows, nearly twisting her mouth into a frown.

“You go to your courtyard, I stay in ours. Seal the small gate between us. From now on, each eats and spends their own. Isn’t that how you split a family?”

“Heh—”

“Aunt, you’re using others’ fire to cook your own meals—never satisfied with taking advantage, right?”

The crowd began to murmur again, their chatter growing louder.

Tang Guan Guan frowned, unable to hear clearly and uninterested in the noise.

Suddenly, Xu Lanzhi seemed to remember something, slapping her thigh and exclaiming loudly.

“Right, splitting a family doesn’t work that way. We can’t support all the mouths in the house. The parents belong to us, and Tang Third Son belongs to you!”

As soon as she said this, Tang Third Son nearly exploded with anger. He grabbed his cane, ready to strike.

“Xu Lanzhi, what rotten idea is that?! Why should Second Brother’s family support me?”

Seeing the cane swing toward her, Xu Lanzhi’s face turned pale. She quickly stepped back, barely avoiding the blow.

Tang Dali had been silent all this time; seeing his wife about to be hit, he stepped forward.

“Third Brother, she is your elder sister-in-law. You can’t hit her.”

“If you keep this up, I won’t recognize you as my brother!”

Tang Third Son was crippled, having languished inside the house for years with a weak body. Swinging the cane took all his strength.

Panting, he said, “Who, who the hell needs your recognition?”

“Tang Dali, you’re really something. Now you’re not pretending to be mute anymore!”

Turning to Tang Old Man, he said seriously, “Second Brother, rest assured, I won’t let you support me. You have no obligation!”

Before Tang Old Man could reply, Tang Guan Guan spoke first, surprising everyone.

“I agree to take Uncle into our home!”

Exclamations erupted from the wall and gate.

“What? Tang Old Man’s second daughter agrees to support the crippled uncle? Is she crazy?”

“Oh dear, it looks like life will only get harder for Tang Old Man’s family!”

Hearing the villagers’ gossip, Tang Third Son blushed with embarrassment.

“Niece, uncle lives alone and can manage. Really don’t need your support! Don’t take it upon yourself.”

At that moment, Tang Third Son felt a sudden pang of regret and frustration.

What was the use of being crippled?

At worst, he could set up a stall by the roadside repairing shoes and pots.

He could still make a living.

Why had he sunk into despair and waited for death all these years?

And caused trouble for Second Brother’s family!

Tang Guan Guan smiled, unconcerned.

She agreed because this uncle was a sensible man, and his temper suited her.

Just now, he was willing to spend all his money to save Lu Hang; for that alone, she was willing to welcome him into her home.

“Uncle, don’t underestimate a girl; when we say something, we mean it!”

Hearing this, Tang Third Son stopped hesitating and smiled broadly.

“Alright! Then here’s the money. Uncle will live with your family from now on!”

He took the sixty-nine yuan and seventy cents that Tang Old Man had pushed back earlier and stuffed it all into Tang Guan Guan’s hand.

Startled, she didn’t hesitate to slip it into her pocket.

If she hadn’t accepted the money, Uncle wouldn’t have felt comfortable moving in with them.

So she took it without any qualms.

Tang Third Son saw her accept the money and was pleased.

That’s how it should be!

A family that’s too polite is unnatural.

He felt Tang Guan Guan treated him as one of their own.

But this move infuriated Xu Lanzhi and Sun Guijuan.

Their lips nearly bit through.

They were deeply frustrated.

Especially Xu Lanzhi, who nearly beat her chest in despair.

How could she have forgotten that uncle still had that money?!

They had argued themselves into confusion.

She shouldn’t have sent uncle to Tang Old Man’s house so hastily. If they didn’t want to support a cripple, they should have at least taken the money first before sending him away!

At this time, even the most malicious villagers couldn’t hide their expressions.

Tang Guan Guan clearly saw the frustration on Xu Lanzhi’s face and curled her lips.

Turning to the doorway, she called out, “Neighbors, can someone please help me fetch the village party secretary? This family split is a big matter—it needs a leader to come oversee it!”

No sooner had she spoken than a young man in his twenties with a side-parted hairstyle jumped out from the crowd.

“I’ll go get him!” he said, then dashed off.

After about ten minutes, the village party secretary was led over.

The secretary of Shitou Village was a middle-aged man with a square face, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, looking every bit like a leader.

Only he was carrying a hoe.

“Are you really going to split?”

“Yes!” Tang Old Man, Tang Guan Guan, and Tang Third Son answered in unison.

Shi Zhien nodded, set down the hoe, and said, “Then split it!”

Over the years, especially since Tang Old Man and his wife had found their second daughter again, the ill treatment the Tang family endured had reached his ears.

His youngest son even overheard the eldest brother’s family scheming over the bride price for Tang Old Man’s daughter.

At the time, he suppressed the matter to avoid family strife.

Now that they had come to splitting the family, there was no reason to hold back.

Splitting might be for the best.