Wealthy Beauty in the 60s
Chapter 108 - 107: Outbreak (Monthly Tickets 265+)

Chapter 108: Chapter 107: Outbreak (Monthly Tickets 265+)

Old Man Xia and Mrs. Xia had not explicitly stated that the ancestral home should be left to the eldest son, but having the eldest live with them clearly implied as much. Furthermore, they had privately conveyed this intention to the second and third sons as well. Thus, Xia Baoguo and Xia Weiguo, after getting married, directly applied for housing from their work units and had no objections to the eldest inheriting the ancestral home.

The concept of the eldest son inheriting the ancestral home had been passed down throughout history. Although it was now a new society, Old Man Xia and Mrs. Xia still favored the eldest son in their hearts. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have allowed only the eldest son’s family to live with them.

Xia Jianguo had also applied for a room at the factory, but that room became a place for his family to work and rest.

The Xia Family’s small courtyard was not large, about a hundred square meters, with four rooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a shower room. The small side plots were used to grow some vegetables for eating.

In the past, when Grandpa Xia and Grandma Xia were alive, they occupied one room, Mrs. Xia and Old Man Xia had another, the three sons shared one, and the three daughters another.

Now, of the four rooms, the two elders slept in one, Xia Jianguo and Zhao Xiaolan in another, Xia Xiang in another, and Xia Fei and Xia Yan shared another. Since Xia Fei was not there, naturally, the room was claimed solely by Xia Yan.

Therefore, with the families of Xia Baoguo and Xia Weiguo present, Xia Baoguo’s family of four and Xia Weiguo’s family of eight implied that their rooms would be taken.

At the moment, both Xia Xiang and Xia Yan had darkened faces. Xia Jianguo and Zhao Xiaolan were somewhat better off, feeling somewhat guilty when facing Old Man Xia and Mrs. Xia. Even if they were dissatisfied with the second and third families staying over, it was just about enduring one night.

But Xia Xiang exploded right away, "Grandma, where are uncle two and uncle three going to sleep tonight? We have no room left, they can’t possibly sleep in my room. I will never allow it."

"I don’t want that either," Xia Yan followed suit, her gaze sweeping over Xia Wei, Xia Xiao, as well as Xia Jing, Xia Hong, and Xia Lin, her expression also dark.

"You all can sleep anywhere. Since you all dislike this home and only came back after being well-fed at your other homes for the New Year feast, after the New Year, your family should just move out. Your grandma and I can live here by ourselves," Old Man Xia declared.

Normally, Old Man Xia and Mrs. Xia might still consider the feelings of the main family, but the main family had clearly disregarded the elders, and today the elders were angry with the main family’s behavior, not caring whether they agreed or not.

"Grandpa, this is our home. How can you just drive us out? The old house belongs to my dad. Are you planning to give the courtyard to uncle two or uncle three?" Xia Xiang’s face was stony.

Xia Jianguo and Zhao Xiaolan were shocked, and Xia Yan was outright furious.

"What do you mean ’your home’? I’m not dead yet. My house, I’ll give to whoever I want. Even if I give it away, you’ll have to accept it. We elders will live here by ourselves. Since all of you are grown and have your own families and houses, just move out."

Old Man Xia was truly furious now, looking at the eldest son’s family with great irritation. He only wanted to drive them away, out of sight, out of mind.

"We don’t need it. In the future, even if you beg me, I won’t live here. Don’t expect me to take care of you in your old age," Xia Xiang declared, turning on his heel and leaving.

That was too much. Even Xia Baoguo and Xia Weiguo, upon hearing Xia Xiang’s words, wanted to discipline their nephew, but he had already slammed the door and left.

Xia Yan also left with a displeased face, saying before she went, "My maternal grandparents can’t wait for us to live at their place. I’m going to live with my maternal grandparents. I’m not coming back."

"Xiangzi, Yanzi," Zhao Xiaolan called anxiously after her departing children.

"Mom, Dad," Xia Jianguo said with a heavy face, "I’m sorry."

"There’s no need to apologize; anyway, you have a dormitory to share, so just move out after the New Year," Mrs. Xia said, increasingly disappointed with her eldest son’s family.

"Jianguo, what should we do? Xiangzi and Yanzi have gone to my parents’ house," Zhao Xiaolan entered and said.

With a slap, Xia Jianguo’s hand struck Zhao Xiaolan’s face. He had been bottling up his anger all night, having eaten an uneasy meal at his in-law’s house.

Now, looking into his parents’ calm yet disappointed eyes, and facing the condemning stares from his two younger brothers, Xia Jianguo was also filled with self-reproach.

"Xia Jianguo, you hit me," Zhao Xiaolan covered her face in disbelief. Although they had had their share of conflicts and disputes as a couple, it always ended with Xia Jianguo compromising.

But now, Xia Jianguo had actually raised his hand to strike her. Zhao Xiaolan’s tears fell pitter-patter, silently conveying her grievances.

"Jianguo, what are you doing? There’s no teaching your wife a lesson in front of everyone," Mrs. Xia could not stand to watch. Although she didn’t like her daughter-in-law Zhao Xiaolan, she still understood the principle of admonishing sons in public and instructing wives in private.

It was too much to hit his wife in front of his younger brothers and sisters-in-law and all the younger members of the family.

"Xia Jianguo, we’re getting a divorce, I can’t take this anymore," Zhao Xiaolan covered her face and ran outside, obviously heading back to her parents’ home.

Xia Jianguo slumped to the ground, utterly dejected. On one side were his parents, and on the other his wife and children; Xia Jianguo knew his wife and children had gone too far, but it was too late to change.

"Oh my, what sins have I committed to deserve this? Even the New Year can’t be spent in peace," Mrs. Xia couldn’t help but tear up.

Xia Xiao sighed inwardly, every family has its own difficult scripture to chant.

"Big brother, let’s go outside and talk," Xia Baoguo said.

"Let’s go, big brother, let’s talk outside," Xia Weiguo also said. The siblings had always been close since childhood, but after each started their own family, they weren’t as close as before, though the affection was still there.

Zhao Xiaolan, their eldest sister-in-law, seemed quite nice when she married into the family. But ever since the Zhao family had no grandchildren, Zhao Xiaolan often took her children back to her parents’, which everyone had thought nothing of since Xia Xiang and Xia Yan were also the Zhao family’s grandchildren. But now the Zhao family was clearly overstepping, inviting the grandchildren over for a meal during the New Year without even informing the Xia family.

And Zhao Xiaolan’s usual behavior was also annoying, always scheming over the little things from her husband’s family, a trait that was quite displeasing.

The three Xia brothers stepped outside, while Wang Jinying and Li Wenjuan went to make up the beds for the night. Xia Jing, Xia Hong, Xia Lin, and Xia Hua stayed with the elderly, while Xia Xiao, Xia Chunrong, and a few others followed Xia Kang and Xia Wei to chat in the yard.

"Kang, make sure you don’t end up with someone like that when you find a wife," Xia Wei told Xia Kang.

Kang made a face, "I definitely won’t."

Xia Xiao smiled and looked at Xia Chunrong, "Big brother, you can start considering it, but first take your time to see, and don’t rush to get married before you’re twenty-three or twenty-four."

Xia Xiao recalled last year’s remarks from Mrs. Dong, but couldn’t remember clearly now. At that time, she was just a minor staff member in a branch office, and during the year-end celebration, she was off in a corner and too far away to see what Mrs. Dong was like.