Li Fengmei spat several times.

What misfortune? Talking about accidents near New Year’s was too unlucky!

But Liu Yong suddenly felt relieved and, following Xiaolan’s advice continued:

“You married me, so you’re part of the Liu family. Isn’t Taotao your son? I’m not comfortable giving shares to your family, and I don’t want to – I’m just stingy. But if you want some ‘security,’ I have an idea. Listen and see if it works.”

Li Fengmei wanted to argue but feared waking their child.

Liu Yong’s attitude and tone tonight didn’t seem confrontational.

“Go ahead, let’s see what brilliant idea you have!”

Li Fengmei spoke through gritted teeth.

“We’re husband and wife. Creating the company wasn’t just my doing. This company belongs to both of us. I just thought you weren’t interested in managing it, that you’d prefer running a clothing store – it’s easier and you could watch our son… Now I see I thought too simply. So I’ve decided to transfer half of Yuan Hui’s shares to you. That clothing store doesn’t make much money – you can let others manage it or close it. After New Year’s, you’ll come to work at the company and manage the finances. When you handle the finances, won’t you see clearly how much the company makes and how? With control of the money, you won’t have unnecessary worries!”

The Li family was ridiculous.

They tried to drive a wedge between husband and wife, making his wife suspicious.

When Li Fengmei tried to test him, Liu Yong was nearly driven mad with anger.

Li Fengmei hadn’t expected Liu Yong to say such things.

People at that time didn’t have the concept of joint marital property.

The 1980 Marriage Law not only added family planning content and reset the legal marriage age for young men and women but also introduced the concept of joint marital property. During marriage, wages, bonuses, and income from production and business operations all belonged to both spouses jointly.

Liu Yong didn’t understand this law, and neither did Li Fengmei.

Even without Li Fengmei’s shares, Yuan Hui was still jointly owned by the couple.

But even understanding this, what difference would it make? Legal provisions were one thing, but how many people followed them? Usually, the spouse earning more had a say in how family money was spent. In case of divorce, it depended on whether the higher-earning spouse had a conscience and was willing to give anything!

This wasn’t just true in 1987 – even in 2017 it remained the same. Only some disadvantaged parties knew to fight for their interests; there were always ways around the law.

Though Liu Yong didn’t know about the Marriage Law’s provisions, he never considered Yuan Hui’s earnings, or Yuan Hui itself, as solely his. It was like raising a pig in the countryside – would you draw a line down the middle and say half belongs to each spouse?

That pig would be family property, regardless of who took care of it.

The company was the same – it belonged to both of them.

Liu Yong thought he understood this, and assumed Li Fengmei thought the same way.

However, after Xia Xiaolan’s reminder, Liu Yong wondered if Fengmei knew this.

The company belonged to both of them anyway, transferring shares wouldn’t change that fact… It might seem redundant, but Liu Yong accepted it. He told Li Fengmei his decision while watching her expression.

Li Fengmei was completely stunned.

“Transfer half the company shares to me and let me work there?”

“Yes, let you manage the money!”

It was too much information – Li Fengmei thought Liu Yong was being sarcastic.

No, maybe it was drunk talk.

But though Liu Yong reeked of alcohol, his eyes were clear.

“Really?”

Liu Yong rolled his eyes, “I’ll handle it tomorrow.”

Li Fengmei didn’t feel overwhelming joy, but rather mixed emotions.

She wanted to ask Liu Yong: giving her half the company shares and letting her manage accounts – wasn’t he afraid she’d secretly help her family?

What if she really transferred some shares to her family… Just mentioning it last time had made Liu Yong react so strongly, unhappy for days.

Now suddenly a 180-degree turn in attitude.

Li Fengmei couldn’t understand it and suspected Liu Yong was testing her in return.

But when Liu Yong started the process the next day, Li Fengmei became anxious.

What timing was this, splitting the company in half, each spouse managing half? She didn’t even know how to manage a company!

The Li family was ecstatic.

Confirming this news was true, they came to congratulate Li Fengmei, implying that her getting half the shares was partly thanks to them.

For the first time, Li Fengmei looked at her family and felt utterly estranged.

Inexplicably, she understood Liu Yong’s feelings. When she had tested Liu Yong about giving shares to her family, had his expression shown the same sense of estrangement?

“What shares? If you want to work, work. If not, go find jobs elsewhere!”

Li Fengmei exploded in anger!

Liu Yong had given her half the company – that was trust.

She would protect this half for Liu Yong and Liu Zitao. No one would drive a wedge in her family!

Liu Yong hadn’t said anything and no longer needed to offend the Li family. Instead, Li Fengmei took a firm stance. It was year-end, and Yuan Hui needed to pay workers. Though Li Fengmei hadn’t directly taken over accounts yet, she could understand the payroll.

Seven or eight Li family members worked at Yuan Hui, all with good salaries.

But after inquiring about their work performance, Li Fengmei, blood rushing to her head, only kept two who performed adequately and expelled all other Li family members from the company.

“Don’t come back after New Year’s!”

Not come back?

Must be joking.

The Li family didn’t believe it.

Soon they realized Li Fengmei was serious and panicked, begging her for mercy. Li Fengmei went home to care for her child. Jinsha Chi’s security was strict – if she didn’t want to see anyone, no Li family member could get in.

With no choice and unable to stay in Shenzhen for New Year’s, they couldn’t even stay in company dormitories anymore.

Originally several families relied on Yuan Hui for income. Now that Li Fengmei only kept the eldest brother’s family, the Li family went to argue with Big Brother Li about fairness.

What fairness?

Helping others seek fairness might endanger his own family.

Liu Yong gave Li Fengmei authority to handle it, and Li Fengmei pushed the matter to Li’s eldest brother.

Finally, they all targeted Big Brother Li – why could his family stay while they were driven out?

What could the eldest brother do?

Without Liu Yong, none of them could find easy, high-paying jobs. Big Brother Li could only protect his own family’s interests; he couldn’t plead for others. Previously, the Li family had united to brainwash and provoke Li Fengmei. Now the alliance was divided, and no one dared bother Li Fengmei. The remaining Big Brother Li’s family had to cling tightly to Li Fengmei’s support, or they’d face expulsion too.

Liu Yong watched it all without interfering or speaking up.

Things developed much as Xiaolan had predicted. Liu Yong called Xia Xiaolan:

“I never thought it would be resolved so simply.”