Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 242: 240: Elderly Mr. Di’s Heart Turned to Ash, Sisi’s Thoughts

“What hill? Look at you, you’re up in age and you still don’t take care of your own health. Sit down and speak, take it easy, don’t rush!”

The Land Officer hurriedly helped Elderly Mr. Di sit at his original seat.

He was genuinely afraid that Mr. Di, shaking as he was, would shake himself into a serious condition. That would be disastrous.

After all, he and Mr. Di had grown up together. They had had many stupid adventures as young men, like stealing bird’s eggs, fishing in the river, running across the hillside from a bear after stealing honey. He really didn’t want to lose another close contemporary.

Elderly Mr. Di firmly gripped Land Officer’s hand and struggled to shake his head: “I… wish… to live… with Third Son …”

Indeed! He finally figured it out. Being old, he feared that nobody would want to keep him.

The person who had shown him warmth and care when he had hit his forehead was Sisi, Third Child’s wife. If he wanted a peaceful old age, the only one he could depend on was Third Son.

“Eh! Di Defu, have you thought it through? This… I’ve never heard of anyone choosing not to live with the eldest or the youngest brother, but instead choosing to live with third brother who left the family long ago! Are you certain of your decision?”

Land Officer was alarmed! He almost jumped off his seat, and couldn’t help but ask a question!

The crowd was also surprised! They were gaping! The drama around the division of the Di family was more exciting than a play. It was indeed full of twists and turns!

Momentarily, everyone’s gaze landed on Liu Sisi.

Liu Sisi paused a moment and then stepped forward. She gently bowed to Mr. Land Officer and said, “Mr. Land Officer, Sisi has a few words. I’m not sure if I should speak.”

“Didn’t you see? Sisi is the female tutor of Eldest Miss of the Gan Family. She is different in her manner of speaking and acting. The rest of the women here should learn from her!”

Land Officer was pleased with Liu Sisi’s words, praising her, guiding her overtly and covertly.

He knew that now the elderly Di was in such a state, he ought to find him a peaceful refuge, but it would certainly be a burden on Third Son Di.

Liu Sisi naturally understood the implication behind the Land Officer’s words. She gave a faint smile, did not press the issue and spoke at her own accord.

“Here’s the thing! Everyone has seen my father-in-law’s illness. Today, Ye Lei, despite being sick, had to go up the mountain for work and is not around currently. Therefore, I would speak on his behalf. Years ago, the third family branch separated from the family. Since this happened before my wedding, I’m not entirely clear of the details. The agreement was that as long as the father is alive, Third Child would give him 700 coppers as retirement salary each year. I just came into this family this year and therefore have no knowledge about the actual turn of events over these years. However, in the current situation… Sisi does have her opinion.”

Sisi paused for a beat, turning to look at her father-in-law.

Elderly Di tightly gripped his crutch, feeling a despair in his heart too profound for words. How he had neglected Third Son over the years and how filial Third Son had been to him was known to everyone present.

Those were the days when he was hale and hearty, unflaggingly carrying loads to and from the hills, doing his labor in the fields; his words carrying weight and authority. Bur now that he was sick, he was unable to go to the hills or the fields. His medical expenses made him an unwanted burden to others.

It was his own doing! He was the one who had been blind to the nature of people; he had no one else to blame!

Those surrounding him also had mixed expressions. What he had considered, they also had!

Sisi did not expect anyone to speak up and continued: “My father-in-law staying with us, in the third family branch’s home, is possible! But, Second Brother and Little Brother must give 700 coppers each year as retirement salary. If there is any serious sickness or a big event, the costs will be shared by all three brothers. Second Brother, Little Brother, what do you think?”

The moment Sisi’s words fell, everyone was whispering to each other, huddled together and talking in hushed tones.

Elderly Di widened his eyes in disbelief. He didn’t expect that Third Child’s wife would be willing to take in him, an old man. He couldn’t hold back his tears and sobbed uncontrollably.

After some time, Ms. Zhao stood up first: “Hold on! Although I’m not Third Son’s biological mother, I did raise him! So, the Third Family Branch, are you saying that you are reneging on your responsibility to take care of me?”

Liu Sisi gave a knowing smile: “Mother! What are you talking about! If father-in-law is supported by the Third Family Branch, regardless of with whom you decide to stay, we will still give 700 coppers as retirement salary each year. How about that?”

Sisi’s words were fair and just!

Everyone present couldn’t help but nod, praising that the words of the female tutor were different.

Di Gao Yuan and Di Ah-Bao naturally did not have anything to say.

“Hold on! How will we divide the Elder’s share of property during the division of the estate?”

Ms. Wang eyed the contracts for house and land Elderly Di had in his hand. This was not a small matter!

“The third family branch separated long ago, so how you divide it now has nothing to do with us. As for the share pertaining to father-in-law… we will listen to Land Officer’s allocation.”

Liu Sisi gave a smile, volleying the ball back onto Mr. Land Officer’s court.

Such an ungrateful task was better left for Mr. Land Officer!

Mr. Land Officer, satisfied with Sisi’s discretion, looked at her appreciatively. Only then did he question Elderly Di on his planned division of property.

Of course, there was a lot of arguments and shouting. It was not until nightfall, in the presence of numerous fellow villagers, that everyone put down their signatures and finalized their respective portions.

An elderly man as he was, Elderly Di didn’t want property, so he had a larger portion of the land– six acres of paddy fields, ten acres of dry fields. After his death, this land would belong to the Third Family Branch. Ms. Zhao was allotted two acres of paddy fields, three acres of dry fields, and a row of four houses. The rest—ten acres of paddy fields and thirty acres of dry land—the two brothers fought incessantly over. One argued for division per person, one for equal division amongst the brothers, but in the end, no matter how they chose to divide, it was of no concern to Sisi.

At present, she was busily packing the bedding for Elderly Di.

Seeing that Elderly Di was determined to leave, only at this moment did Ms. Zhao began to feel the agony of separation, weeping by his side.

“Old man! Old man! Are you abandoning this poor, old woman? You heartless man! You’re so cruel, leaving just like that…”

“Old man, say something! Is this really the end…”

“Old man! This old woman is still alive! But you’re separating now; how am I supposed to live in the future…”

Ms. Zhao kept on weeping and shouting. The crowd around them was silent. No one spoke.

Regretting only now? Where was the ruthlessness earlier, when squabbling over the property? Why didn’t they think of their marital bond then?