Chapter 523: Chapter 523: Family Separation
Because Gu Jinli was at home studying medical books today, Zhu Chahua went to the workshop to fry tofu and didn’t follow Gu Jinxiu.
Now it was just the two of them at home, Gu Jinxiu simply said: "Big Sister knows what you want to ask. I’m not a fool, nor am I blind. Of course, I understand."
"But marriage is a major event, which should be arranged by the parents’ command and the matchmaker’s words. I have to follow this rule and can’t just break it for someone, causing trouble for the adults in both families."
Gu Jinli was somewhat surprised: "Big Sister knows about Aunt Luo... aren’t you angry?"
Gu Jinxiu smiled: "Aunt Luo is close with our mother and has watched us grow up. She truly cares for me from the bottom of her heart... Although I don’t know why, she definitely doesn’t look down on me."
Gu Jinli frowned upon hearing this and asked: "Then what does Big Sister mean now? Do you want to marry Brother Luo Wu?"
Gu Jinxiu’s smile remained unchanged: "Big Sister has said before, the matter of marriage should be decided by our parents. If both families agree, Big Sister would naturally be willing. But if the parents of one family do not consent, Big Sister won’t trouble our own family."
She looked down at the embroidery of rice ears she was working on and said: "Brother Luo Wu is very good, if I could marry him, I would live with him well; if not, I will also live my life well."
After hearing this, Gu Jinli was truly startled and felt a bit of heartache; her sister had a thoughtful heart and always lived for their family.
Seeing her dazed, Gu Jinxiu patted her on the forehead with a smile and said: "You don’t need to worry about Big Sister. Those of us who have survived the journey from famine are blessed. No matter whom we marry, our future days will surely not be bad."
After saying these words that weighed on her heart and noticing that the sun had already set, Gu Jinxiu put away her embroidery and said: "Mother and Third Grandma will be back soon, I’ll go cook."
She pointed to the soy sauce jar in the yard and said: "Cover your soy sauce, so the dew doesn’t ruin the flavor."
...
Third Grandpa took a stroll at the edge of the village and finally discussed the matter with several families, also instructing them: "If you want to buy, prepare your Silver Coin. Tomorrow we several families will go to the county together to buy land. Brother Xing said the wealthy families in the county have been eyeing the Zou family’s properties, just waiting for the government office to start selling."
The families listened with interest, most of all Mrs. Chen, but their household was short on money as they had spent quite a bit on Sister Mei’s funeral after losing several months of her dividends.
"Third Uncle, if you have some surplus Silver, could you lend us some to buy a few mu of paddy fields?"
Mrs. Chen did not dare to think about the houses and shops in the county, only wishing to buy some paddy fields close to the town, to plant some precious rice.
Third Grandpa knew their family was very poor recently and nodded in agreement: "Alright, I’ll go home and get some Silver for you later."
Mrs. Chen, seeing how easily she had borrowed Silver, was overjoyed and kept spouting grateful words, then dragged Gu Dewang and Gu Defa over and scolded: "You two blockheads, have you taken root? Hurry over and thank your Third Grandpa. Without his help, do you think you could eat precious rice and greasy meat? You should be glad to have a few beans to eat."
"Thank you, Third Grandpa." Gu Dewang and Gu Defa quickly came over to thank him, but inwardly thought: Although Third Grandpa has helped their family a lot, it was Sister Xiao Yu who enabled them to have meals with meat.
Third Grandpa was very fond of these younger members of the clan. Seeing them filled his heart with joy. After praising the two brothers, he was about to leave when Gu Dafu and Gu Dagui returned from the workshop with Gu Dexing.
Although Sister Mei’s death had pained them, life had to go on. They had already begun to manage the shop, study, and work in the workshop.
Seeing Third Grandpa and hearing about Mrs. Chen’s plan to borrow money to buy the paddy field, Gu Dafu said to Third Grandpa, "Uncle, I want to divide the family. Please help us brothers witness this and let’s divide the household."
Gu Dagui was shocked, "Big brother, why are you bringing this up again? We’re living just fine, why divide the family?"
Sister Mei had passed away not long ago, and big brother had been sick and weak. If they were to divide the family now, big brother and his son would be left alone—how would they live?
Gu Dafu was insistent, "Our parents are no longer with us. We should have divided the household when we first settled down. But you, out of righteousness, worried that Sister Mei, carrying the name of a widow and eldest daughter, might find it difficult to remarry, so we didn’t divide. Now that Sister Mei is gone, it’s time to divide the household. Big brother cannot always burden you and your wife because of his own family."
Besides, him being a widower living with his brother and sister-in-law would look too disgraceful and would invite idle gossip.
"Brother Xing has grown much more sensible recently, and my health is also much improved. The two of us can make it on our own. Let’s proceed with the division. After the division, I will still be your brother, your own flesh and blood. What is there to fear? It’s not like we’re going to stop seeing each other after dividing the household." Gu Dafu argued persistently and even got angry before Gu Dagui finally agreed with tears in his eyes.
Third Grandpa was very pleased: "It’s heartening to see you brothers consider each other. Your parents, with their spirits in heaven, will also be happy."
He added, "You brothers should first take inventory of the household items. After I return from the county tomorrow, I will go to Village Chief He and pick an auspicious day to complete the division properly."
Gu Dafu said, "Uncle, please go ahead and lend the silver to Da Gui’s family as agreed; consider it part of their assets. The paddy field that will be bought tomorrow in the county should also belong to Da Gui’s family."
If they did not divide the household, the paddy field bought with borrowed money would belong to both brothers, and he would have to claim a share later. It would be better to let Da Gui’s family borrow the silver and have the paddy field solely under Da Gui’s name.
Gu Dagui became anxious, "Big brother, it’s hard to buy paddy fields, wouldn’t it be better if..."
"Da Gui, let me finish," Gu Dafu interrupted Gu Dagui’s words and continued, "We also have several tens of taels of debt at home, and that debt will fall on my household’s shoulders. I will take care of it."
The family had fallen into debt because Sister Mei had squandered the family’s dividends, leading them to borrow money to get by.
"Our household’s dividends have been penalized for several months, and that was Sister Mei’s fault. It should be borne by my household. This year’s dividends from the workshop will go to Da Gui’s household as compensation for before."
Gu Dagui became angry and smashed a ceramic pot on the table, distressing Mrs. Chen, "Can’t you speak properly without smashing things? That pot costs thirteen copper cents!"
Thirteen cents is still money, isn’t it?
Mrs. Chen did not want to see Gu Dafu and Gu Dagui cry. She slammed the table and said, "How about this, our family will take the dividends for two more months, and the rest will be split equally between the two households."
She said to Gu Dafu, "Big brother, I know you feel guilty towards our family, but you are Da Gui’s real elder brother, and he has always respected you. If you make such a clear division with him, isn’t that like stabbing him in the heart?"