Chapter Thirty: Dividing the Household

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I am like a nuclear weapon: you may never need to use me, but you cannot afford not to have me.

Zhao Wei had been invoking my name and throwing my weight around every day. Why should he be the only one allowed to do so?

“My mother is living perfectly well here with me. Why should she go with you?” Zhao Wei demanded angrily.

“I’m her son too. Why shouldn’t I support her?” Zhao Zheng replied coldly. “Do you mean to keep Mother all to yourself? Do you want me to be branded an unfilial son?”

Zhao Wei was stunned.

The old woman’s gaze softened somewhat as she looked at Zhao Zheng. “Third Son, Mother knows you’ve always been filial. I’m doing quite well here with your eldest brother.”

“That won’t do. We’re all her sons, so I have a duty to support her too.” Zhao Zheng said, “Mother, come home with me. As long as I have food to eat, I promise you won’t go hungry!”

Just then, a voice came from outside.

“Why are they quarreling again?”

A moment later, the fourth Zhao brother, Zhao Yi, arrived with his family. He first greeted the old woman, then Zhao Wei, and finally turned displeased eyes on Zhao Zheng.

“Third Brother, what are you shouting about so early in the morning? Do you think you’re the only one with a loud voice?”

“You don’t know what happened,” Zhao Wei said, parroting the accusations. “Third Brother wants money, insulted your sister-in-law, and even threatened to hack me to pieces.”

“Well, Third Brother, look at you—quite the man now.” Zhao Yi gave a cold laugh. “An ax is meant for chopping firewood, not for chopping up your brothers.”

The family all snickered.

How could they not know exactly what sort of man Zhao Zheng was?

“An ax is good for chopping wood, but it can also deal with ungrateful wolves.” Zhao Zheng took the ax in his hand and said calmly, “It’s just as well that you’ve all come. Today, the three of us brothers will settle everything clearly in front of Mother.”

“Settle what?” Zhao Yi asked.

“I came here today for one thing.” Zhao Zheng said, “I want Eldest Brother to return the compensation money paid for my son. Then I’ll take Mother home to live with me.”

“I’ll accept all the expense of supporting Mother, no matter how much it costs. But I cannot let Eldest Brother use my money to support her on my behalf. If word gets out, people will say that I, Zhao Zheng, am unfilial. Even if I had eight mouths, I could never explain myself!”

Zhao Yi and his family were all stunned.

Had Third Brother lost his mind?

The eldest brother had already spent the money on taking a wife. What could he possibly return?

Besides, he had shared some of it with their family as well.

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Zhao Wei’s face darkened. “Now I understand. You want to divide the household, don’t you?”

Zhao Zheng nodded firmly. “If that’s how you want to put it, then you’re right.”

“You’ll get no money. You can forget about it.”

If Zhao Zheng had not been holding an ax, Zhao Wei would have attacked him already.

“Fine, then don’t give me the money. But we’re still dividing the household. Consider the compensation payment Mother’s support money. We need to write down exactly how many years it will cover. Whatever share I provide, you and Fourth Brother must provide the same. The money must be placed in Mother’s hands.” Zhao Zheng said.

Zhao Yi leapt up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “Where am I supposed to get ten ounces of silver? Stop spouting nonsense!”

Zhao Wei’s expression was equally ugly. “Third Brother, we’re brothers. Do you really have to make this so unpleasant?”

“When you tricked me out of my son’s compensation money, did you remember that I was your brother?”

“When you beat me until my scalp was covered in blood, did you remember that I was your brother?”

“When the Wang family came to my door and extorted me, did you remember that I was your brother?”

“And now you want to say this to me? Do you really think I’m a fool?”

Zhao Wei said sternly, “Third Brother, think carefully. What will you do when you grow old? Who will support you then?”

“We agreed long ago that Big Treasure and Little Treasure would take care of you…”

“That’s right, Third Son. Big Treasure and Little Treasure are old enough to marry now. Your daughters, Zhao Di and Xiao’e, are just right for them. They can marry one another, and with the families joined, they certainly won’t abandon you in the future.” The old woman spoke with blatant favoritism.

“No wonder you called me here.” Zhao Zheng gave a series of cold laughs. “You cheated me out of my son’s compensation money, profited from his death, and now you want to take my daughters-in-law with nothing but empty promises? Are you even human?”

“Third Uncle, don’t you understand that good fortune should stay within the family?” Zhao Dabao hurriedly said. “If I marry your daughter, I’ll certainly support you in your old age.”

“Enough. I’m going to fetch the village elders. Today, either you return my money, or Mother comes home with me. Anyone who dares stop me from being filial will be cut down.”

With that, Zhao Zheng stormed out of the Zhao household.

Zhao Wei and Zhao Yi exchanged uneasy looks.

The old woman’s face was also grim. “Did you have to make such a scene and turn us into a laughingstock?”

“Dabao, go stop your third uncle!”

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“Grandmother, Third Uncle has an ax. What if he loses his temper and chops me?” Zhao Dabao muttered sullenly.

“Let him go and call them. Do you think I’m afraid of a few village elders?” Zhao Wei said darkly. “Once the household is divided, no one will help him. Let’s see how he manages to survive!”

This time, Zhao Zheng went to the Xu family and explained why he had come. He gave Xu Youde one pound of millet.

“Uncle, our own grain jar is nearly empty too. Please be understanding.”

Seeing that it was only half as much as last time, Xu Youde did not get angry. Including the two pounds Zhao Zheng had given him earlier, Zhao Zheng had already handed over three pounds of millet. He had also given a pound each to Old Wang and Old Wu, bringing the total to five pounds.

He had practically emptied the household’s grain stores.

“Listen to you. If I don’t help you, who will?” Xu Youde tossed the grain to his wife. This time, he did not call for Xu Dashan. “Let’s go.”

A single pound of millet was hardly worth troubling Xu Dashan over.

Zhao Zheng then sought out the other two village elders and gave each of them half a pound of millet.

After repeating what he had told Xu Youde, he received a nod from both old men.

Before long, word spread that the Zhao family was dividing their household, and villagers began gathering to watch the spectacle.

When Zhao Zheng arrived with the three village elders, Zhao Wei’s expression grew even darker.

Yet he dared not make a scene in front of them. He brought out stools, poured tea, and attended to them obsequiously.

The villagers crowded around the gate to watch.

Xu Youde took a sip of tea and sat at the head of the room with the solemn air of a respected elder.

“Old Sister, you know why your third son invited the three of us here. Your son is willing to take you into his home and support you. I have to say, your old friends and I are quite envious.”

The old woman shook her head. “He can barely support himself. What could he possibly use to support me?”

She openly mocked her own son as useless in front of everyone. It was clear how deeply she despised Zhao Zheng.

The bystanders snickered.

Zhao Wei sneered. “That’s exactly what I said. But he just keeps pushing his luck. Uncle Youde, don’t listen to his nonsense!”

Zhao Yi added, “My third brother lost his son and is overcome with grief, so he’s making trouble for the two of us. His sons died in battle; it wasn’t the two of us who killed them. Why should he keep harassing us?”

Xu Youde glanced at Zhao Zheng, then said, “That isn’t how you should put it. Supporting one’s mother is only right and proper. You refuse to divide the household, yet you also refuse to let him support her. Aren’t you forcing him to become an unfilial son?”

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