Rebirth Counterattack with Space
Chapter 89: Not Taking Enough Advantage

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Not Taking Enough Advantage

According to custom, people from both branches of the family were supposed to contribute grain and invite witnesses and in-laws to share a meal signifying the division of the family.

However, their witnesses, the Party Secretary of Xie Village, Xie Jianye, and the village head Xie Dahhu, unequivocally refused the strenuous entreaties of the Xie family’s two branches, refusing to stay for a meal at the Xie household no matter what.

In the end, they forcefully took away Uncle Lu from the second branch and his wife without further discussion.

Seeing that the family division meal would not come to pass, the one most discontent was actually Lin Meizhu, the wife of the eldest son.

Her eyes darting, she smiled at Xie Changgen, "Dad, even though we’ve divided the family, we are still kin after all. There might have been some minor disagreements between the two branches, but the bond of blood remains, doesn’t it? Even if the village cadres refuse to stay for a meal with us, we should at least eat this meal that signifies our division. We can’t just disperse without it, right? Why don’t we follow the custom and share this meal together?"

As she spoke, she tugged at Xie Changgen, "Hubby, you should persuade Dad, too. Once we’ve eaten, everyone can forget the past grievances, and we’ll still be able to help each other in the future. We’re still brothers after all."

Xie Changgen hastily nodded, finding his wife’s words reasonable. The family had been divided so swiftly and decisively that he was having trouble adapting. So, without giving it much thought, he sincerely looked at Xie Changgen and also tried to persuade him.

"Dad, Meizhu is right. Let’s all get together tonight and have a good meal. We can also clear the air about any misunderstandings between Mom, Meizhu, and my younger brother’s wife. Surely after the division, the two branches can’t really become enemies, right?"

"Enemies?"

Xie Changgen looked at his eldest son with a sneer, "You and your younger brother have a dispute?"

"Of course not."

"Then what nonsense are you talking about? Just because their women got together and had a fight, with two ganging up on one, you got swayed by your wife and now the two branches are sworn enemies? Are you preparing to disown even your own father and brother?" Xie Changgen raised his voice sternly as he glared at Xie Changgen.

Xie Changgen’s forehead began to sweat, his voice trembling, "No, no, that’s not what I mean... Dad..."

"Good if you don’t mean that."

Xie Changgen’s glare swept past Lin Meizhu, ignored her completely, and finally rested on Tian Xiaoju, full of warning, "Old woman, don’t think just because we’re divided I have no way of dealing with you. Out of consideration for our past marriage, I’ll let this go for one last time. If you dare to pull any tricks behind my back in the future, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

Tian Xiaoju could not help but tremble, holding back her fear she shouted loudly, "You still want to hit people? I’m not afraid of you anymore."

Xie Changgen stared deeply at her for a moment, then turned his head to Xie Changgen,

"We don’t need to eat this family division meal. Now that the witnesses have left, and your brother’s in-laws are not here to eat. There’s no sense in having this meal. With just that bit of grain and money, originally, your brother’s household and mine won’t have enough to last until the autumn harvest. We still have to think about borrowing."

Xie Changgen’s eyes slowly scanned over the eldest son, eldest daughter-in-law, his wife, and the dozen or so people from the Lin Family, his face full of mockery and helplessness.

"If we join together for this meal, I fear the grain that would have lasted for half a month will be gone by tomorrow, and your brother, sister-in-law, and I might have to dig up roots and bark in the mountains to fill our bellies, and we might even end up owing you for the food."

On hearing this, Xie Changgen followed Xie Changgen’s gaze to the Yue Family’s dozen or so people and thought of the grain his own father, brother, and sister-in-law had received. He also remembered the two or three bags of rice hidden under the bed in his room which he had helped to accumulate.

His face flushed red again, and aside from murmuring a few acknowledgments, he tucked his head down and dared not make another peep.

Lin Meizhu also looked toward her maternal family of more than a dozen people, her eyes still filled with extreme unwillingness. They were allowed to eat their fill at noon, wasn’t that because the food was not only from their own share? Eating for free was too good an opportunity to pass up, right?

However, if she couldn’t persuade the second branch to join in for the division-of-property meal tonight, they would truly have to consume their own portion entirely.

Thinking that her maternal family would definitely stay for the meal before leaving, the mere thought of hosting them alone made her feel the pinch.

No, even though her father-in-law had spoken so firmly, she still couldn’t give up without putting in one last effort; she simply couldn`t surrender just yet.

Her eyes darted around for a moment, "Dad, isn’t it a tradition for each household to have their own division-of-property meal? Why do you want to break it now with us? Doesn’t the saying go, ’Without rules, there are no standards’?"

"Eldest son,"

Xie Changgen finally saw the thick skin of his eldest daughter-in-law in a new light, but the more she behaved like this, the less he wanted to acknowledge her. Thus, his gaze toward his eldest son was ice-cold.

"I can’t have a conversation with your wife. From now on, have your wife visit the second branch less often. If there’s really something important, you can come by yourself. Wait until she comes to her senses and sincerely apologizes to your brother and sister-in-law, then it might be better for everyone to resume interactions. It’s otherwise unbearable to even look each other in the face."

Lin Meizhu "..."

Her face turned alternately red and white in an instant, her whole face contorted. For so many years, she had never heard her father-in-law speak to her so rudely; she was so angry she could have bitten through her molars, but facing his contemptuous eyes that seemed to see through everything made her instinctively timid and frightened to continue with her petty schemes.

The onlooking members of the Lin Family stood there as if watching a drama, none of them stepping forward to say anything. Lin Meizhu’s sisters-in-law and younger siblings even showed a fleeting schadenfreude on their faces.

"Understood."

Xie Changgen sadly bowed his head and sighed.

--

For the first meal after the demarcation, Lu Aimei prepared some noodles.

In a big bowl of noodle soup, she added bright green vegetables and a fried egg with a fragrant, golden crust, which looked appetizing when served.

The children each had a tender steamed egg custard drizzled with a little soy sauce; they ate with great relish, sweet and delightful, giggling as they ate.

Lu Aimei, watching her children eat joyfully, felt a sudden sense of fulfillment. Having the power to manage her own household and to give her children eggs whenever she wished was truly an exceptional feeling.

Holding his bowl of noodles and looking at the fried egg in it, Xie Changgen sighed, "Second son’s wife, wouldn’t it have been better to save this egg for Dabao and Xiaobao to have in an egg custard? What does it matter what we ourselves eat?"