Making a scene was useless. With Xia Dajun, Old Mrs. Xia didn’t even need to make a scene – she just had to ask for something, and if Xia Dajun could do it, she wouldn’t need to ask twice. Why? Because Xia Dajun was filial, to the point of foolish devotion.

Xia Changzheng and Xia Hongbing each had their selfish interests. When even sons had reservations about their mother, how could they expect daughters-in-law to eagerly indulge their mother-in-law?

Previously, they had been respectful and accommodating, hoping Old Mrs. Xia would help gather the family’s money to support the eldest branch. Now that their workhorse Xia Dajun had run away, did they expect Xia Hongbing to be as foolish as him? With nothing left to squeeze from the Xia family, Zhang Cui feared them trying to take advantage and having already fallen out, why should she show any respect to her mother-in-law?

The worst outcome would be divorce, and even then, Zhang Cui wouldn’t lose much. She had taken her son back to her parents’ home, held the savings, and had her skills.

However, since Xia Ziyu opposed her divorcing Xia Changzheng, Zhang Cui habitually followed her daughter’s wishes and agreed to “peace talks.”

Zhang Cui knew Xia Ziyu meant what she said – if they didn’t follow her wishes, their daughter would truly cut ties with her hometown family. What was the point of working so hard to support a university student? Xia Ziyu was Zhang Cui’s pride, smart and ambitious, with a bright future ahead. Zhang Cui couldn’t bear to lose her university-educated daughter who brought her such glory.

But negotiations were negotiations – this time they needed to settle the Xia family once and for all.

Zhang Cui was particularly confident, with many relatives from her maiden family present. They set up tables in the Xia family courtyard to sort everything out face-to-face.

Old Mrs. Xia was difficult to deal with, and Zhang’s family hadn’t been so confident before. Now, seeing Old Mrs. Xia’s gloomy face, they all felt satisfied.

“In-law, look at how long Changzheng’s couple has been fighting, even closing down their profitable business, now just watching others make money… Sigh, not everyone can run a private business, don’t you agree, in-law?”

Old Mrs. Xia snorted, “Your good daughter kept the family’s money for herself before the household divided, never bringing any back. If the shop doesn’t open, so be it!”

Zhang Cui’s mother wouldn’t back down: “What era are we in now? Family division is old-fashioned – even the state has allocated land to individuals. In-law, do you think we’re still in the commune eating from the same pot? Whether the shop opens or not is between Changzheng and his wife. This old woman will make it clear today – if the Xia family won’t divide, then we’ll do as our Zhang Cui wants and handle the divorce procedures with Changzheng soon. You know how it goes, in-law – didn’t Ziyu’s Second Uncle divorce first?”

Divorce was shameful – if Zhang Cui had mentioned divorce before, her maiden family wouldn’t have let her. But now things had escalated, and her family thought divorce might be good. Without divorce, Zhang Cui would earn money for the Xia family; after divorce, her earnings would benefit her maiden family.

Why would her maiden family object to their capable daughter divorcing? Everything was about benefits – money could solve most prejudices. A bad reputation might sound unpleasant, but was a reputation as useful as unity?

Family division?

Old Mrs. Xia wanted to curse loudly, and Zhang Cui’s mother was waiting for exactly that. The harsher the curses, the more resolved Zhang Cui would become.

Xia Changzheng panicked, knowing that letting Old Mrs. Xia negotiate would only cause another fight.

“Mother, what do you say? We’ll do whatever you want!”

This “Mother” was addressed to Xia Ziyu’s maternal grandmother. Xia Changzheng had previously called his mother-in-law “Aunt,” showing the double standard between sons-in-law and daughters-in-law – daughters-in-law had to call their mothers-in-law “Mother,” while many sons-in-law still called their parents-in-law “Uncle” and “Aunt.” Zhang Cui’s status in the Xia family hadn’t been particularly high before; before Xia Ziyu showed her exceptional academic talent, Old Mrs. Xia had been harsh to all three daughters-in-law.

She had been harshest to Liu Fen. Zhang Cui wasn’t her favorite daughter-in-law – that was Wang Jingui, who despite being lazy and greedy, had given birth to two sons!

Xia Changzheng hadn’t particularly valued his wife either – all the Xia family members were the same. What was wrong with calling his mother-in-law “Aunt”? Xia Dajun didn’t even visit his wife’s family.

Times had changed – now he properly called his mother-in-law “Mother,” much to Old Mrs. Xia’s anger.

Xia Hongbing and Wang Jingui exchanged glances. If Zhang Cui was determined to divide the family and Old Mrs. Xia was forced to agree, they couldn’t stop it. Old Mrs. Xia had controlled the family through filial piety, but now Xia Changzheng and Zhang Cui were defying her – could she curse them to death or strangle them?

Zhang Cui’s mother didn’t mince words, making family division the first condition.

First, since Xia Changzheng and Zhang Cui rarely ate or lived at home, there was no reason for them to manage the whole family’s meals. Everyone would handle their own money and pay their grain taxes and fees.

Second, Old Mrs. Xia couldn’t live with the couple in town as it would affect their business. The couple would support her in her old age, providing monthly payments while she lived with her Third Son Xia Hongbing.

“Twenty yuan monthly for in-law, plus twenty jin of rice and five jin of oil – even retired urban residents don’t get such treatment!”

Twenty yuan to get rid of Old Mrs. Xia?

Old Mrs. Xia darkly scanned the crowd, “Does Ziyu know about this?”

“Ziyu is studying in Beijing – why involve her? Ziyu just wanted her parents not to divorce, otherwise, would we be here at the Xia house today?”

Monthly payments of twenty yuan, twenty jin of rice, and five jin of oil – compared to other villages, these elderly support terms were quite good. In rural areas, when families were divided, providing grain and oil on time was already decent. Unless completely bedridden, even those in their seventies or eighties who could move had to work, not just someone of Old Mrs. Xia’s age. They tried to do some work themselves to reduce the burden on their children and grandchildren.

Old Mrs. Xia had suffered in her youth but now wanted to enjoy early retirement benefits.

Twenty yuan monthly – just over two hundred a year!

What could that amount to? Previously, everyone had to give her their money, and although most went to support Xia Ziyu, Old Mrs. Xia was reluctant to give up her control over the family finances. Just before the New Year, Xia Dajun had given her more than two hundred yuan from his temporary work.

The difference was too great for Old Mrs. Xia to accept.

The conditions were negotiated gradually, finally raising the monthly payment to thirty yuan. Zhang Cui agreed to pay a year in advance. “When Hongxia marries, as her eldest aunt, I’ll give five hundred yuan for her dowry, not a cent more – otherwise, we can just end everything!”

Zhang Cui despised Xia Hongxia – why would she willingly provide a dowry? This money was a benefit for Xia Hongbing and Wang Jingui. Agree to divide the family and get five hundred yuan; disagree and get nothing, with the Liang family continuing to fight until Zhang Cui divorces.

Wang Jingui’s eyes darted about as Xia Hongbing calculated silently.

With Old Mrs. Xia living with them, the monthly money and grain would benefit Xia Hongbing’s household – even if Old Mrs. Xia held the money, wouldn’t she have to let Xia Hongbing use it?

A year would be 360 yuan, plus the dowry Zhang Cui mentioned, and the value of the grain and oil – dividing the family would bring nearly a thousand yuan in benefits. Might as well divide – they couldn’t gain more advantages even if they fought until their heads split open.

“If Sister-in-law insists on dividing the family, I have nothing to say. But Mother is getting old – who will pay for medical expenses if she gets sick?”

Zhang Cui slammed the table, “I’ll be responsible for those costs!”

Sickness? If only the King of Hell would take this old woman away sooner – Zhang Cui felt she would willingly pay for a good coffin and arrange a lively funeral!