mousepad-d2 Chapter 557: Splitting the Family
Chapter 557: Splitting the Family
"The main reason for asking you here today is that Fengnian and his wife want to split from the family."
After talking about Gu Xiaoxue, Mr. Gu finally revealed the reason for summoning Tong Huaqiong.
In this era, splitting the family is a big deal.
Usually, families don’t split while the parents are still alive.
Back then, Mr. Gu had his reasons for splitting Old Man Gu from the family.
Tong Dajiao resented the in-laws for favoring Gu Youtian, constantly urging Old Man Gu to defy his parents, but Old Man Gu dared not. Tong Dajiao continually stirred up trouble.
Either she quarreled with the in-laws or fought with Gu Youtian and Mrs. Jia.
The constant bickering became unbearable for the entire family. Finally, under the clan’s witness, Mr. Gu separated Old Man Gu and Tong Dajiao.
Mr. Gu had never believed favoring the second branch was the trigger for the split; instead, he blamed everything on the troublemaker Tong Dajiao.
This time, the family split will involve his grandson Gu Fengnian.
Originally, this matter did not concern Tong Huaqiong. It was Mrs. Wei who suggested that Tong Huaqiong should come as a witness.
The proposal to split the family also came from Mrs. Wei.
The day Mr. Gu and the others returned to Qinghe Bay from Pingchuan, Mrs. Wei brought up splitting the family.
Mr. and Mrs. Gu and Gu Youtian and Mrs. Jia both disagreed.
Initially, Gu Fengnian was convinced by Mrs. Wei to split the family, but under Mr. Gu’s reprimand and Mrs. Jia’s tearful persuasion, Gu Fengnian relented.
The idea of splitting the family was dropped.
Mrs. Wei was very disappointed and ignored Gu Fengnian for the three months in Qinghe Bay.
This time, using the Gu Xiaoxue matter as an excuse, Mrs. Wei had a severe fallout with Gu Fengnian, saying the entire family was sacrificing everything for Gu Ruinian, and she couldn’t take such a life anymore.
She threatened that if Gu Fengnian didn’t agree to split the family, she would seek a separation.
Her words were not a threat.
What’s there to fear about separation?
Tong Pandi lived better than any young wife in the village after her separation.
She went south to rely on her parents and opened a small shop, raising the Yao Family. If her brother and sister-in-law did not accept her, she could always remarry with the Yao Family.
Gu Fengnian feared that Mrs. Wei would be heartbroken and really leave him, especially since the situation with Gu Ruinian had left Gu Xiaoxue in a desperate situation. Therefore, Gu Fengnian decided to split and live separately.
Mr. Gu tried both soft and hard approaches, Gu Youtian calculated, and Mrs. Jia cried, made a scene, and even threatened to hang herself, but nothing swayed Gu Fengnian from his decision to split the family.
In the end, Mr. Gu compromised, inviting the clan leader and respected figures from the clan to witness Gu Fengnian’s separation.
This time, the feelings about the family split were completely different from the last.
Last time, when splitting from the first branch, Mr. Gu felt no nostalgia, believing that without the troublemaker Tong Dajiao, their lives could only improve.
But this time, Mr. Gu’s heart was filled with helplessness.
Gu Youtian had been doing business for so many years and was neither accustomed to nor willing to devote himself to farming. After parting ways with the Wu Family, there was no capital to open a shop, and he was unwilling to work as a clerk for others, spending the past two months sulking at home. Gu Ruinian had studied for many years, and with a broken leg, was unable to farm, and Gu Honglian had been pampered since childhood, so she couldn’t be relied upon. Since marrying Gu Youtian, Mrs. Jia had never worked the fields and was not skilled in farming tasks. He and Mrs. Gu could still work the fields, but their age made heavy labor impossible.
Gu Fengnian and Mrs. Wei were both in their prime, and since returning to Qinghe Bay, they worked diligently, with the fieldwork dependent entirely on them and Xiaoxue for the past two months.
Once Gu Fengnian’s family split off, there would be no labor left at home.
Who would provide silver for Gu Ruinian’s future marriage and children?
Despite being angry at Gu Ruinian for plotting against Gu Honglian, Mr. Gu didn’t bear the same grudge as Mrs. Gu. Gu Ruinian was, after all, his grandson and the Gu Family’s descendant, and he was reluctant to give up on Gu Ruinian.
Mrs. Wei sneered inwardly as Mr. Gu opened his mouth, claiming that Gu Fengnian and she wanted to split the family without discussing the division specifics.
This was an attempt to have the clan pressure her and Gu Fengnian to continue working like beasts of burden.
As long as Gu Ruinian was around, her resolve to split the family would never waver.
"Fengnian, your parents and grandparents haven’t split the family, and yet you want to. Isn’t that unreasonable? You’re the eldest; you should be the one to care for your parents. Aren’t you afraid of being criticized if news of your family split gets out? Can you bear the label of being unfilial?" The clan leader spoke up.
Gu Fengnian was tempted to back down, but then he remembered Mr. Su saying that his son had a gift for studying, and Mrs. Wei mentioning that if they didn’t split the family, their son’s potential would be stifled. Upon hearing this, Gu Fengnian’s resolve to split solidified.
Gu Fengnian said, "Clan Leader, Grandpa, splitting the family doesn’t mean I won’t care for my parents. I will still fulfill my filial duties."
The clan leader responded, "If you mean to be filial, then why split the family? The act of splitting the family is already unfilial. I’ve always seen you as an honest and dutiful person. Are you sure someone hasn’t been putting ideas into your head?"
"You also have a son. Think about it: how would you feel if your son wanted to split the family when you’re old? As someone who is both a son and a father, shouldn’t you set a good example for your son? Otherwise, he might follow your lead in the future."
Mrs. Wei couldn’t hold back anymore and interrupted, "Clan Leader, you imply that Fengnian was influenced by someone, just say it was me. Yes, splitting the family is indeed my idea. Since marrying into the Gu Family, I’ve been filial to my husband’s grandparents and parents, bore a son, and used my dowry to support my brother-in-law’s studies. Even if Grandpa were here, he couldn’t find fault with me."
"I married into the Gu Family and accepted I couldn’t enjoy a single day of fortune, but I don’t want to continue living like this. Just now, the clan leader mentioned my son. Precisely because I want the best for my son, I want to split the family. If we don’t, all the money Fengnian and I earn will go to Gu Ruinian, and all the grain we grow will fill Gu Ruinian’s mouth. I’m not so selfless as to support my brother-in-law; I have my own son to raise. As for the clan leader’s question about how I would feel if my son wanted to split the family when he’s older? I would say, if my son is disheartened by my actions or if I failed to raise him well, I, as his mother, will accept whatever comes."
The clan leader speaks comfortably because he is not involved personally.
If the family doesn’t split, Mr. Gu and the others will drain her and Gu Fengnian dry.
Her son is doing well in his studies. She doesn’t expect him to become as successful as Jingzhe; she’d be satisfied if he became a Scholar.
Jingzhe is bound to have a career in public service; it’s likely he will support promising members of the clan.
She hopes her son can align himself with Jingzhe in the future. If she and Gu Fengnian don’t separate, how can she depend on her sister-in-law’s family?
As a mother, Mrs. Wei has her own selfish reasons.
She doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with her selfishness.
This is why she insisted on having Tong Huaqiong as a witness. She wants Tong Huaqiong to see that she is different from Gu Youtian and the others.
At this point, Mr. Gu’s cousin complained, "The eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. You and Fengnian taking care of Ruinian is your duty. Moreover, Ruinian is still young. When he grows up, he’ll surely repay you. You shouldn’t just focus on the present."
Mrs. Wei chuckled and said, "I have in-laws above me; I dare not take responsibility for Ruinian. Rest assured, no matter how successful Ruinian becomes, I’ll bypass his door, even if I’m begging for food."
"Fourth Uncle, you always say your eldest son can’t have a son and your line will end. Why not adopt Ruinian as your grandson? Wouldn’t that solve it?"
This Fourth Uncle was just afraid that if she and Fengnian split off, there would be no one to support Gu Ruinian, and that Mr. Gu might ask the clan for money that would eventually become his obligation.