Call Me Daddy

Because Su Kuishan didn’t lack grandsons, he didn’t need a granddaughter to continue the family line.

However, others didn’t see it that way. If Second Su established a female household for his daughter, it would truly continue his branch of the family line. What did Su Kuishan’s other grandsons have to do with Second Su?

But Su Kuishan still didn’t want to offend his domineering wife. Su Youtian’s words hadn’t achieved the desired effect.

The most selfish person present was actually the seemingly docile old man, who was strictly controlled by his wife.

Despite Second Su’s willingness to establish a female household, both Su Kuishan and Li Shi were only willing to give him 3 acres of poor land. This biased and harsh behavior completely elevated the sympathy of those present towards Su Youniu and his parents to its peak.

Everyone silently vowed to keep an eye on Second Su in the future, ensuring he wouldn’t feel compelled to dutifully honor the old couple anymore.

Besides the crucial land, there was also silver and the house to divide.

The green brick and gray tile house where the Su family currently lived would belong to the old couple and would be divided after their passing. The eldest and second brothers could temporarily live in the current rooms but had to move out within 2 years.

Additionally, they would have to set up separate kitchens to avoid conflicts during meal preparations.

In other words, the house wouldn’t be theirs.

As for the silver, according to Li Shi, the family’s money had long been spent on Fourth Su’s education and on treating Second Su’s leg. There was barely 10 taels left. Generously, she offered 3 taels to the eldest branch, 2 taels to the second branch, and, along with some pots and pans, this marked the end of the family separation.

As for large livestock like pigs and cows, the meat from pigs would be divided when they were slaughtered at the end of the year, and the cow would be used by the families in turns.

So, while it seemed like the family was divided, the actual control still laid in Li Shi’s hands.

Such a division agreement was extremely unfair. No one believed that Li Shi had only 10 taels of silver. If there was so little money, would she have spent 20 taels on treating Second Su’s leg?

But Li Shi insisted that there was only that amount. They couldn’t exactly storm into her room and search through her belongings.

Building even a few ordinary adobe houses now cost more than 5 taels, not to mention the cost of hiring a carpenter to make furniture. To build a house and move out, it would definitely cost no less than 10 taels. With Li Shi giving so little silver and demanding the eldest and second branches move out within 2 years, it was practically forcing them to leave empty-handed.

This division agreement showcased Li Shi’s harshness and cruelty and revealed the grievances the eldest and second branches had suffered in this family.

The most criticized person, besides Li Shi, was the nearly silent Su Kuishan.

In the past, when villagers gossiped, they mostly cursed Li Shi, the wicked stepmother. Now, everyone realized that Su Kuishan, the man who had little presence before, was the truly callous one.

The eldest and second sons of the Su family were indeed pitiable for having such a father.

Su Youtian’s wife, Zhang Shi, kept pulling at his sleeve, signaling that he shouldn’t agree to this division. But after deeply looking at his father, who was squatting on the ground with his head lowered and silent, Su Youtian pressed his fingerprint on the division agreement.

Su Aobai did the same.

***

“Uncle Village Chief, Aunt, can I rent your old house at the foot of the mountain?”

When the crowd had not yet dispersed, Su Aobai stopped the village chief and his wife.

“You want to rent that house?”

The house Su Aobai mentioned was left by the village chief’s uncle, who had no descendants. It had been unoccupied for many years, but it was still relatively intact and could be made livable with a bit of tidying up.

“Oh, if you want to live there, go ahead. I won’t charge you,” Wang Ma was generous. The house at the foot of the mountain was in a remote area and had been vacant for a long time. Feeling guilty for her part in almost leaving Second Su homeless, she couldn’t possibly charge him rent for a small, desolate courtyard.

Moreover, houses in the countryside couldn’t fetch much rent anyway.

“I must pay the rent.”

With that, Su Aobai took out 100 copper coins from the small amount of silver he had just received.

“Consider this my way of accepting your and the village chief’s favor. Let’s set this as the rent for the next 6 months.”

Wang Ma refused to accept the money, but Su Aobai insisted on a reasonable rental price. Given the house’s dilapidated state and remote location, the amount was fair.

“Er Niang, go pack our things. We’re moving today.”

Su Aobai handed the string of copper coins to the village chief and then looked at his daughter.

They didn’t care to live in the grand and spacious old house of the Su family anymore. From today onwards, he and his daughter would move out of this old house.

“Huh? Oh! Dad, I’ll pack our things right away!”

Su Erniang nearly jumped for joy. Her thin, dark face lit up with unprecedented excitement.

Hadn’t it been agreed that they could stay in the old house for 2 years? Why were they moving out now?

Everyone was puzzled, but seeing Second Su’s clenched fists and his trembling body, they understood.

This child had been deeply hurt. He couldn’t stay in this home for even a single day longer.

“Since we’re all here, let’s help Second Su move his things to that small house. The women can help tidy up the house for him and his daughter, while the men can check if the roof has any leaks or if the walls let in any drafts. Let’s fix everything so they can settle in properly today,” the village chief suggested after taking a deep look at Second Su and accepting the hundred copper coins he handed over.

It seemed that Second Su wasn’t as dull as people thought. He was organized and articulate. Maybe being deeply hurt had triggered a change in him.

The village chief didn’t believe that Second Su, with his limping leg and lack of offspring, was destined to a life of hopelessness. He noticed the determination in Second Su’s eyes and felt that this man might not be as incapable as everyone assumed.

Since that was the case, why not help Second Su? Offering help in a time of need was far more valuable than adding to someone’s prosperity.

The village chief’s proposal was met with unanimous support. Led by Wang Ma, several women diligently and attentively helped pack the food, pots, pans, clothes, and blankets that were given to Second Su. A group of people escorted Second Su and his daughter, bustling and lively, away from the Su family home.

“Husband?” Zhang Shi quietly tugged at her husband’s sleeve.

Su Youtian looked at his brother’s departing figure and then at Li Shi, who was trembling with anger and being ignored by the villagers.

He lowered his eyes, deep in thought.

Should I also follow second younger brother’s example and move out as soon as possible?

Although Li Shi had allowed them to stay for 2 years, she would certainly not let them live peacefully during that time. She would undoubtedly find ways to force them to leave voluntarily.

They weren’t like Second Su; they had some private property. With a little help from Zhang’s family, they could easily build three rooms.

Su Youtian had come to understand what kind of person the old man was. Staying in this house any longer would not bring any benefits. Given this, why waste time and subject himself to more suffering?

With hat decision, Su Youtian pulled his wife and children back to their room. In front of Li Shi, he closed the doors and windows. He needed to discuss this matter thoroughly with his wife.

“Humph!”

Now, only Li Shi and a few others remained in the courtyard. As she looked at the now-empty yard, she felt both angry and relieved.

She was furious at the villagers for supporting Eldest Su and Second Su, but she was pleased that no one would be around to annoy her anymore. She had finally secured the lion’s share of the family property for her son.

Now, she just had to wait for her beloved youngest son to pass the imperial examination. She was confident that when that time came, those villagers who considered themselves morally superior would not dare offend her, a scholar’s mother.

She looked forward to the day when those people would bow their heads and apologize to her.

***

The abandoned house owned by the village chief was located at the foot of the mountain. Both the front and back yards were overgrown with weeds, and many sturdy wild grasses had forced open cracks in the walls.

This house could be barely habitable with some repairs, but for safety, it would be best to tear it down and rebuild.

Su Aobai, leaning on his crutch, stood in the yard. Amidst the lush, vibrant trees and shrubs, he practiced his cultivation techniques and felt a more abundant and powerful spiritual energy than he had in the old house.

His earlier assumption had been correct; this was indeed a great place for cultivation.

Su Erniang diligently worked alongside the other women from the village to clean up the overgrown yard. After a long day of hard work, the yard looked completely transformed. With the addition of the furniture they had brought, it truly began to feel like a home.

This was the small home that belonged to her and her father, a place for them to start their new life.

Su Erniang felt like one of those birds soaring in the sky, free and joyful.