Volume One, Chapter Eight: Majestic and Unyielding—I'm Going to Split the Family!

Luo’s chest heaved violently.

Those bloodshot eyes were fixed unwaveringly on Old Madam Chen, who was approaching step by step.

“These twenty taels of silver—my son Pingchuan sold himself for this, to save Pingyu!”

Her voice suddenly soared, piercing the tense air. “You want this money?”

A grim, anguished smile twisted at her lips, a glint of desperate madness flickering in her eyes.

“Fine!”

“But we must split the family!”

The word “split” exploded through the Chen family courtyard like a thunderclap, leaving everyone’s minds ringing in shock.

Chen Zhonghe’s face turned ashen in an instant. He hurriedly stepped forward, reaching out to grab Luo’s arm.

“Wife, what are you saying? Don’t speak such nonsense!” His voice was laced with panic and helplessness.

In these times, to demand the division of the family while one’s parents still lived was a grave act of rebellion; it would leave one open to the harshest public scorn.

Luo shook off his hand fiercely. Tears streamed down her face, but her voice only grew sharper.

“Nonsense, am I?”

“Today we sell our son; tomorrow, must we sell our daughter too?”

“How can we go on living in this household?”

“If we don’t split the family, the four of us will be devoured alive sooner or later by these wolves!”

Chen Zhonghe opened his mouth, but his throat felt clogged with cotton; not a single word came out. He knew she spoke the truth, but he could only stand by, feeble, too afraid to offend either side.

“Outrageous! Utterly outrageous!” Old Master Chen quaked with fury, his cane pounding the ground with a dull thud.

Pointing his trembling finger at Chen Zhonghe, he unleashed a torrent of abuse.

“You unfilial son! Look at the kind of woman you’ve married! Are you trying to turn the heavens upside down?”

Old Madam Chen was beside herself, stamping her feet in rage. She jabbed her finger at Luo’s nose, her shrill curses echoing in the yard.

“You troublemaker! You wretch! Just you wait, I’ll have Zhonghe divorce you, you shrew!”

Harsh though these words sounded, she dared utter them only in anger. Deep down, she knew her second son, Chen Zhonghe, though taciturn, loved his wife dearly; if she truly forced a divorce, who knew what he might do?

The eldest brother’s wife watched the chaos with relish, her voice dripping with mockery.

“Oh my, Second Sister-in-law, do you think a few harsh words will help you wriggle out of providing the money for the exams? That won’t do—your elder brother’s future is at stake!”

From the third branch, Wang covered her mouth with a handkerchief, letting out a shrill, poisonous laugh.

“Indeed, Second Sister-in-law. Dividing the family isn’t a game. If you really leave, how will your family survive? Or is this just a ploy to pressure Mother and Father, hoping to pocket the twenty taels for yourselves?”

Chen Zhongwen, fanning himself, put on an air of grave disappointment.

“Second Sister-in-law, we’re family. Can’t we talk things out? Why go as far as to split the family? If word gets out, won’t people laugh at our Chen family for being divided?”

One after another, these voices implied Luo was only bluffing, angling to keep the money for herself.

The air seemed to solidify. Every eye in the courtyard was fixed on Luo, waiting to see how she would end this scene.

Behind her, little Pingchuan’s fists were clenched tight. He felt nothing but disgust for these people. Mother was right—this family should have been divided long ago! In his heart, he silently cheered for her.

Luo gave a cold laugh, staring at these ugly, greedy faces before her. Each word she spoke rang out, icy and clear.

“I am not threatening anyone!”

“Nor am I trying to shirk the money!”

“The twenty taels—every coin will be handed over!”

“But once the money is given, we split the family!”

Her voice grew even more determined and unyielding.

“The land and possessions of the household—we second branch will take none of it!”

“We will leave with nothing!”

This declaration stunned everyone far more than even the demand to split the family.

No claim on the family property? Leave empty-handed?

Those in the courtyard wondered if their ears had deceived them. In these times, without land or assets, what difference was there from beggars? Had Luo truly gone mad?

The eldest brother’s wife’s mouth gaped open and hung there for a long while. She muttered, “Mad… truly mad…”

Even Wang put away her mocking grin, her brows furrowing. Luo didn’t seem to be joking. They couldn’t figure out what she was up to.

Chen Zhongwen frowned. He cared little about the family splitting—only about getting his hands on those twenty taels. As long as the money was secured, the rest didn’t concern him.

At this, Chen Zhongwu attempted to play the peacemaker, urging everyone, especially Luo, to calm down and not do anything rash. Dividing the family was no trivial matter.

Only Chen Zhonghe was truly anxious, clutching Luo’s arm in panic.

“Wife, without any property, how will our family of three survive?”

Yet in Pingchuan’s heart, everything had become clear. His mother was burning the bridges behind her, seeking rebirth through desperation. As long as they escaped this den of wolves, with his advice and his parents’ hard work, how could they ever starve? He silently gave his mother a thumbs up. It was a masterful move!

“Nonsense!” Old Master Chen finally snapped out of his shock, his face dark as iron. His cane struck the ground once more with force.

“So long as these old bones remain, this household will never be divided!”

His voice carried an undeniable authority, his gaze sweeping over Luo and Chen Zhonghe like a blade.

Luo stared back, unyielding and unmoved.

The two of them stood locked in standoff, neither willing to back down.

Old Master Chen saw the stubbornness and resolve in Luo’s eyes. In all his years, he’d never met a woman so desperate. When driven to the brink, who knew what she might do?

Besides, the scandal of dividing the family would reflect poorly on his eldest son’s reputation, especially as he pursued his studies. If the family did split, who would till the land? The eldest was a scholar, unused to physical labor; working the fields would make him a laughingstock. The third son could farm, but he was a carpenter and lived by his craft—he was no match for the second son’s skill in the fields.

Weighing the pros and cons, Old Master Chen’s tone softened a little.

“Second branch, I know you bear a grudge,” he sighed. “Pingchuan has indeed suffered.”

He paused, then continued, “Since Pingchuan has already brought back the money for Zhongwen’s examination, let’s consider it the second branch’s contribution. Next time, if the eldest needs funds again, it will be the third branch’s turn to provide. You, second branch, need no longer bear the burden.”

At these words, the faces of Chen Zhongwu and Wang from the third branch fell instantly, as if they’d swallowed a bitter pill. Wang opened her mouth to protest, but Chen Zhongwu gave her a discreet tug, and she could only close her mouth, simmering with resentment.

Old Master Chen turned to Luo. “Does this satisfy you?”

Luo bit her lip, saying nothing. It was not the result she had wished for, but at least she had won a respite for her family. The old couple and the eldest branch had their money and would not trouble them for the time being. The burden for the next time had shifted to the third branch, a concession of sorts.

Seeing her acquiescence, Old Master Chen shook his head, hands clasped behind his back, and returned to the main house without a glance backward.

Old Madam Chen shot Luo a venomous glare and followed after him.

The couple from the eldest branch exchanged a look. The money was secured; there was no need to get involved further. Best to leave well enough alone.

Only Wang from the third branch shook with rage, glaring at Luo, wanting to curse but not daring to. In the end, she could only stamp her foot and drag Chen Zhongwu away in a huff.

When only Pingchuan’s family remained in the courtyard, Luo’s taut body finally relaxed. She slumped against the doorframe, her gaze vacant.

She had not won this battle, but neither had she lost.

Yet the idea of splitting the family had taken firm root in her heart. The humiliation and fury of this day were seared into her memory.

She would save money. She would redeem her son as soon as she could.

Then, she would take her husband and children and leave this cold, cruel home forever.