Call Me Daddy

Under the witness of some elders in the village, the Su family simply divided their household.

According to the rules, they should have waited for Su Youwen to return and for all four sons to be present before discussing the division of the family property. However, Li Shi couldn’t wait any longer. She feared that some unforeseen change might occur in the meantime and was eager to finalize the separation agreement immediately.

Li Shi stated that Su Youwen was her son and she could decide on his behalf. Moreover, the elderly couple had already decided to live with their fourth son in the future. They would arrange what should be given to the fourth son, and he wouldn’t have any objections.

Su Youliang and his wife, Xiao Lishi, were reluctant to divide the family because they knew it wasn’t the best time to do so. However, despite being favored by the old lady, the young couple didn’t dare to go against Li Shi’s decision at this time.

At that moment, Su Youliang regretted taking his daughter to town to deliver mushrooms to his Fourth Su a while ago, leaving his daughter at his fourth brother’s house. Now, with both Fu Bao and the fourth brother, who could persuade the old lady, not at home, there was no one to stop the implementation of the family separation.

However, when the actual division took place, there was a small unexpected incident.

While dividing the assets, Li Shi suddenly proposed to first separate the families of the eldest and the second sons and leave the third and fourth sons for later. At this point, her intention was clear; to expel the two sons born to the late wife.

Li Shi didn’t want to easily divide the family for her two sons. As long as the family wasn’t divided, she remained the head of the household, and the two daughters-in-law had to respect her. Once the family was divided, her position as the matriarch would be nominal, and she, who had been strong all her life, couldn’t bear this gap.

Moreover, she worried that once the family was divided, her beloved granddaughter Fu Bao’s good fortune wouldn’t benefit her youngest uncle. Li Shi was still waiting for her youngest son to pass the provincial exams and become a successful scholar, so she could proudly show off in the village.

Su Youliang and Xiao Lishi exchanged a worried glance upon hearing their mother’s words.

If the family had to be divided, they hoped it would be done thoroughly. Otherwise, if only the eldest and second sons were separated while they and the fourth brother were not, wouldn’t the farm work of those two families fall on them?

Additionally, the fourth brother was still studying for the exams. Their parents certainly wouldn’t move to live with the fourth brother before he passed the provincial exams. In that case, the elderly couple would still be living with their family for now.

Without the best workers from the eldest and second families, all the trivial chores at home would inevitably fall on Xiao Lishi. She was naturally lazy and gluttonous, and when that time came, she was bound to have conflicts with her aunt, who was also her mother-in-law. The friendly mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, which had been maintained based on the subjugation of the eldest and second family branches, would inevitably be ruined.

The shrewd couple both realized it. In this division of the family, the ones most affected were surprisingly their third branch.

The Su family had a total of 23 acres of land. Li Shi declared that she and the children’s father were not yet at the age to retire, so during the division of the family property, a portion had to be reserved for them. Their share would be divided among the children after they passed away.

In reality, the portion in their hands would eventually be left to the third and fourth sons, but her reason sounded grand and just. Even though everyone knew there was an issue, they couldn’t stop her from doing so.

Out of the 23 acres, Li Shi took 15. According to her, the land should be divided into five parts. Since Second Su had said he couldn’t have children, meaning he couldn’t continue the Su family lineage, everyone else could get 5 acres, but Second Su could only get 3 acres. Moreover, those had to be the least fertile, shady hillside plots.

This old lady really knew how to hit where it hurt. Descendant succession was a matter highly valued by both families and clans. Although everyone felt sorry for Second Su, his lack of offspring was indeed a significant flaw. If the Su family’s land was given to him, would it go as a dowry with Su Erniang when she got married?

The few clan elders of the Su family present also remained silent.

***

“After the division, once I establish my household, I’ll apply for a female household registration for Er Niang,” Su Aobai decisively interrupted Li Shi.

The Tang Dynasty had a unique system of female household registration, which was closely related to its history. The founding Emperor of the Tang Dynasty established his empire on horseback and had suffered a severe injury to his lower abdomen. Therefore, throughout his life, he had only one daughter.

This founding Emperor was unwilling to adopt a male heir from the same clan. Instead, he defied opposition and established his only daughter as the Crown Princess. This Crown Princess was also very capable. She had followed her father into battle since childhood, excelling in both civil and military skills, comparable to any man.

With the Emperor’s strong support, the Crown Princess used decisive means to eliminate a group of ministers who opposed a female succession, making an example of them. She then personally presided over several imperial examinations, vigorously selecting a group of her own trusted aides and placing them in important positions.

After the founding Emperor passed away, the Crown Princess suppressed a group of restless clan members and quelled the internal unrest at the fastest speed, becoming the first female Emperor in history.

During her reign, the female Emperor revised the laws several times, adding many measures favorable to women.

The reform of the female household system was one of these measures.

According to the law, if a couple had only one daughter and no intention of adopting a son, they could establish a female household for their daughter.

After establishing a female household, the daughter would have full inheritance rights to the family’s property, including land and houses. The woman of a female household could only marry into her property, and any children she bore would take her surname and be entered into her family’s genealogy.

This regulation was similar to those of previous dynasties, but with additional provisions to prevent malicious individuals from marrying for the woman’s property and then using deceitful means to seize it and harm her.

For instance, the woman’s property belonged solely to her and her children. If they died unexpectedly, the property would become state-owned.

This was to prevent husbands from marrying into the family for financial gain and to stop clan members from coveting the female household’s property, killing the woman, and framing her husband.

If the female household head died before her husband, and there were young children, the property had to be reported to the court, and its use would be supervised by both the clan and the court. The husband couldn’t handle the property at will. Once the children came of age, the property would be returned to them, and an inventory would be cross-checked with court and clan records to ensure no fraud had occurred.

During this period, if the children also died, the property would go to the state treasury.

These more comprehensive measures greatly safeguarded the property and personal safety of only daughters. However, regardless of how stringent the laws were, there were always people who would outwardly comply but secretly violate them. Therefore, once a female household was established, special attention had to be given to the daughter’s upbringing, ensuring she didn’t rely entirely on the law and had the ability to protect herself.

Unfortunately, the female Emperor only had three sons. After her, no woman ascended the throne again. Many female official positions established during her reign were subsequently abolished by later Emperors.

Among the measures implemented during her reign to elevate the status of women, only the female household system has been maintained to this day.

“Since second brother has decided to establish a female household, we can’t divide the family property as Mother suggested,” Su Youtian spoke up. If only the least fertile 3 acres were given to the second brother, it would be tantamount to starving him.

“Father, the second brother and I are also your sons. Before Mother passed away, you promised her you would take good care of us,” he continued, looking at Su Kuishan, who remained silent.

Su Youtian’s words had an impact on Su Kuishan, but they also further angered Li Shi.

“I don’t lack grandsons…”

After a long silence, Su Kuishan muttered sullenly.