Such a family, if they don't want them, then so be it. They hadn't been driven out of the village anyway. Even if those people wanted to, they lacked the power. This village wasn't theirs to command.
He grinned and laughed along, his resolve to leave the clan strengthening. "After we finish moving, I'll find the village chief and the clan elder to get this done quickly."
Zhao Jiaqi nodded, strongly agreeing with this.
There wasn't much to move, just a few clothes and two quilts for each person, along with various odds and ends.
News of their family being driven from the old house to live in a thatched hut quickly spread through the village. Some came to watch the spectacle, some gossiped, and others felt sympathy for their plight.
As it happened, upon hearing the news, a few families dropped by.
Wang Zhaodi from next door barged in, her face contorted, muttering curses. "Fan Zhang, that old bastard, may he die a horrible death! You're too obedient, letting him tell you to move, and you just move."
Zhao Jiaqi knew Sister-in-law Wang cared about them. She smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, the house isn't ours, and we wouldn't feel secure living there. Rather than wait for them to come and drive us out again, it's better to move now and avoid gossip."
Wang Zhaodi went to help her, her expression softening slightly, but her mouth remained sharp. "I see it now. You just want to preserve your dignity. What family divides their property like your old house? Their favoritism is so extreme it goes all the way to their heels."
"You wait and see. I'll go to other villages and 'praise' them. I'll let everyone in the nearby villages know what kind of person Fan Zhang is."
Pang Saozi, who had just entered, immediately chimed in upon hearing Wang Zhaodi's words, "Isn't he just an old fool? What good could he be!"
Wang Zhaodi was amused and playfully chided Pang Saozi, "You're so glib. Don't just talk, help your sister-in-law with the work. It'll go faster."
Zhao Jiaqi, not knowing the newcomer, also called her Pang Saozi, following Wang Zhaodi's lead. Soon, two elder women arrived in the yard.
With more people, the work went quickly. In just over an hour, everything was moved. Over at the thatched hut, the village chief was leading the young, strong lads of the village in repairing the roof.
"Repairing" meant patching up holes in the roof and reinforcing the fence and gate in the yard.
Fortunately, the thatched hut had been left by an old bachelor, so it had a stove and a privy. Otherwise, going to the toilet would have been an open-air affair, and a gust of wind would surely leave one's backside cold.
Just as they finished tidying up, the village chief came in from outside and found Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao. He said, "Let's go to Fan Zhang's place and finalize the deed for the family division."
"I want to leave the clan!" Fan Zehao stated plainly.
The village chief was taken aback. He was very surprised. They had agreed this afternoon to finalize the division deed, so why had his disposition changed so suddenly?
He cast a suspicious glance at Zhao Jiaqi. "Niece-in-law, do you know about this?"
"I do. I also agree to leave the clan, and it's not like we're initiating it. It was Fan... his grandfather who said it. This way, we'll have no more ties with them, my mother-in-law might live a few more years, and we won't have to live in constant fear."
Li Wencai sighed. Since this family felt the same way, he would grant their wish.
The old house was brightly lit.
In the main hall, Fan Fu sat on a chair, rubbing his aching leg, and said indignantly, "I don't know where that brat got such strength. My leg is probably ruined. Father, this matter cannot just be let go!"
At that moment, Fan Zhang clutched his mouth. Two of his front teeth had been knocked out, and he spoke with a lisp. How could he possibly manage his affairs right now?