A century of poverty

Chapter 8 Dividing the Family

After Third Master closed the oil mill and returned home, the couple felt like they had a bone stuck in their throats every day looking at Second Madam. They tried all sorts of methods, but Second Madam just wouldn't leave.

It seemed impossible to drive the mother and her two children away, so the two of them came up with a wicked plan.

The day before the Cold Food Festival, the whole family set the table for dinner. The third grandmother and second daughter had just sat down when she picked up her bowl, put it down again, and muttered to herself, "I'm not eating anymore, my stomach hurts." Then she stood up.

The third grandmother spoke up, saying to the older woman, "Those who dislike it will die of disgust, and those who love it will be driven mad by the wind. Go die somewhere else and stop taking up space here!" She kicked her second daughter's stool away.

Grandma Er advised, "Why scold the child on such a holiday? Come and eat."

"I'm scolding my child, why are you responding!" Grandma San shouted.

Second Madam argued, "I meant well."

"You should have left long ago, why are you still lingering here?" Third Grandma continued to shout.

The old man said, "Third son, keep an eye on your wife."

"Is she wrong? Are we supposed to support them for the rest of our lives?" Third Master shouted.

The old man was speechless.

"Who needs your support? I have a son, and we're all shareholders. I'm working hard too; if you want to kick me out, don't point your droopy beard at me."

"Let's see how you manage to eat your share! Let's split up the family! Let's see how you manage to set up a doorway!" Third Master shouted.

"Without us, you wouldn't even be able to drink rice porridge!" Third Grandma shouted.

Every word the couple said struck her heart, and the second grandmother could no longer speak, only cry.

Xiaodie dragged her mother back to her room, and the three of them cried again...

The name "hutong" (alleyway) is quite apt; just outside the wall lies the village road, making it a thoroughfare. Every word of this family's argument reached the ears of passersby.

The people idling on the temple platform had something to talk about. Old Ba from Beiyuanzi was a lively fellow who often squatted on the platform when he had nothing to do. Zhang Yikun, the village head, lived on the west side of the road and also liked to come and join the fun. There were also several other men, young and old, from the village. Old Ba faced Zhang Yikun: "You're in trouble again. The alleyway's in an uproar today. They're not far from dividing the family property. Just you wait, they'll be coming for you in a few days."

An old man nearby leaned forward and said, "The third son's family is really despicable. How dare they bully an orphan and a widow like that?"

Everyone was discussing it, each offering their own opinion.

The Third Master and his wife had devised a plan to divide the spoils, which seemed reasonable on the surface but was actually against their conscience. They even left the Second Madam speechless.

Zhang Litian invited Zhao Zhuangtuo's brother-in-law to discuss the division of the family property in the old master's house. They divided the family property into four shares: one share for the old master, one share for the fourth master, one share for the second mistress and her two children, and one share for the third master's family.

They divided the flat land, good land, and large plots of land among the old master and the fourth master.

The remaining sloping land, remote land, and barren land were divided equally among the second grandmother.

The dining table, ebony chopsticks, and large Franz Collection porcelain bowls—all the decent tableware—were distributed to the old master and the fourth master. Household items, farm tools, plow handles, baskets, winnowing trays, and utensils were also distributed to the old master and the fourth master.

Each of them received two clay basins, several broken bowls and teacups with handles and clamps, and each received one and a half liters and one square dou.

The large poplar tree in Beidadaogou and the vegetable garden in Beiyuan belong to everyone and are not to be divided. This is only written on paper.

Upon hearing this, the old man exclaimed, "Won't this make life difficult for that mother and her three children? How will they manage?"

Third Master said, "What does it matter what she does? What if she can't make a living and leaves? What if she takes the money you gave her with her?"

The old man remained silent and simply agreed to Third Master's request.

"There is one thing, when I and the fourth son pass away, and your second sister-in-law is still alive, you should try to settle things for her." The old man stared at his son-in-law and the third son and said.

"Okay, okay." The son-in-law and the third son nodded repeatedly.

Having made his decision, Third Master got up and went to find Zhang Yikun, the head of the household.

Third Grandmother came to Second Grandmother's room: "Second Sister-in-law, our father wants to see you. He has something to discuss with you."

The son-in-law called his second sister-in-law over, and stood up to greet her.

A little while later, Zhang Litian arrived with Zhang Yikun.

In the old man's east room, there was a cabinet opposite the door, and a chair on each side.

Zhang Yikun was in his thirties, of medium height, slightly plump, and dressed in a Zhongshan suit. He had tanned skin and a round face that always wore a smile.

The family politely invited him to sit in the seat of honor, with the old man in a long gown sitting beside him on his right.

Sitting to the lower right is the son-in-law, Zhao Si, wearing a long robe with a thick outer garment, white skin, and a parted hairstyle. Below him sits the Third Master, wearing a light blue jacket and dark blue trousers, looking very energetic.

Second Grandma sat leaning forward on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed) to the left. She wore a black knee-length overcoat, black trousers, and leggings. Next to her, Third Grandma wore a purple overcoat and light blue loose-legged trousers, looking very energetic.

Even though Fourth Master was dressed in his usual attire and had difficulty walking, he leaned forward on the kang (a heated brick bed) and listened attentively to this important family meeting.

The family that Mr. Zhang Zhenru created and painstakingly maintained was about to fall apart. This was something he didn't want to see. He hoped that when he turned eighteen, he could take over the family business and then divide the family property. At that time, no matter how they lived in the future, he would be able to do justice to his second son who died young.

There's still a lingering worry about the eldest son who hasn't returned home yet...

Right now, the third son's family is itching to take over their brothers' share and give it all to them, but if they try to stop them, they don't know what the future holds. Indeed, they are the only family with all the rights and obligations, and they won't be able to stop if things aren't done their way.

The Third Master and his wife had long ago conspired with Zhao Zhuangtuo's son-in-law to prepare for today's scene.

The son-in-law began by saying, "A big tree inevitably branches out. Today, let's talk about dividing the family property. We'll each eat our own food and leave each other alone. Does Second Sister-in-law have any objections?"

Grandma Er shook her head, at a loss. She was too preoccupied with her grief to think about how to divide the family property, especially with the elderly relatives.

"Okay, Second Sister-in-law has no objections," and then she explained the plan they had agreed upon beforehand.

Second Grandma listened and asked, "Are you done? What about the business deal in Changli?"

Third Master chimed in, "Still bringing up that business? How can you close down a business if it's profitable? They almost abandoned me there and I never came back. I'm not even talking to you anymore, even if it doesn't work out!"

This division of the family property was unusual and happened suddenly, and the second grandmother was at a loss for words.

"Alright, it's settled then! Yikun, the document is written, so put your handprint on it right here. Tomorrow, while Yikun is here, we'll also put the boundary stone on the land." The son-in-law presided over the division of the family property.

"Let's make this clear in front of the officials: the old man is so old, and his four brothers are all disabled. These two will have to live with my third brother and be taken care of by him. Their family property will also go with them," announced Zhao Si, the son-in-law.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the dozens of large poplar trees in Beidadaogou and the vegetable garden in Beiyuanzi were neither separated nor announced; they were simply written on paper.

Second Grandma was illiterate and had a lot to say but couldn't express it, so she just followed along and pressed her fingerprint on the document. She put the bowls, chopsticks, and half a liter of rice she had been given into a square container and took it back.