It was certain that no one in any branch of the family would sleep peacefully tonight.
In the eldest branch's room, after their two children had fallen asleep, Guo Jinfeng said to He Nan, "Do you think your father was serious tonight when he said he wants to divide the family?"
He Nan lay flat on his back, one arm pillowed behind his head. He sighed. "It's probably true. Dad never lies."
Guo Jinfeng's eyes darted around. She turned to face He Nan. "If we really divide the family, how much money will our branch get?"
He Nan glanced at Guo Jinfeng. "Second Brother spent 200 yuan to buy his job, and Third Brother just used 500. Plus, our Ziqing's schooling has cost a fair bit. I doubt there's much money left in the family."
Guo Jinfeng sat up. "But the second and third branches have both spent so much money! How much did Ziqing's schooling even cost? If we don't get anything when the family divides, that's just too unfair."
He Nan frowned. "Mom said it at the dinner table. Second Brother spent money to buy his job, but he's turned over three hundred-some yuan in wages to the family in the past two years. And don't even get me started on Third Brother—he's a capable one. I'm the only one at home. Our branch has always earned less, so it's only right that we get less."
Guo Jinfeng retorted, "On what grounds? Back when Dad bought Second Brother his job, he said that even though you all have different tasks, you're all equal. We might not be factory workers, but we've done our fair share of work in the house and the fields! And Third Brother's wife—forget her dowry, she's been here for days and does nothing but wash the dishes after dinner. Aren't we the ones doing everything else?"
"Alright, alright, I was just saying. Mom and Dad know how hard you work." He Nan patted Guo Jinfeng's leg.
"Tonight, Third Brother offered to have Mom and Dad live with his branch. Why didn't you agree? Third Brother's wife doesn't have kids yet. If Mom and Dad lived with them, they could help out, couldn't they?" Guo Jinfeng said in a low voice.
He Nan stared right at Guo Jinfeng and asked softly, "You don't want Mom and Dad to live with us? I'm the eldest son. It's my duty to have them live with me."
Guo Jinfeng didn't notice He Nan's expression. She just whispered, "Mom has always been the one in charge of this household. I was hoping that after the family divides, we could be the masters of our own little home. Besides, plenty of elderly folks in the village live with their youngest son."
"Have you thought this through? Mom and Dad are only in their early fifties. They still do a lot of work in the fields and around the house. If they live with us, we'd be the ones benefiting."
Guo Jinfeng thought about it and felt He Nan had a point. But if they lived with them, she'd never feel at ease. She'd even have to be sneaky about taking things back to her own family's home.
He Nan rolled over, his back to her, and murmured, "Let's just sleep. The family hasn't been divided yet. It's useless to think about it."
Meanwhile, in the second branch's room, the conversation was just as heated.
The husband and wife were both discussing what Mrs. He had said about Third Brother's earnings.
"Dear, do you think what Mom said is true?"
He Ze curled his lip. "I don't believe it, anyway. How could he earn more than a worker like me? I might just be a temporary worker, but I still make a lot more than a farmer. If I get made permanent, I'll be earning nearly 30 yuan a month. I refuse to believe Third Brother is that capable. Mom probably just said that because she was afraid we'd have a problem with it."
Gao Cuiyun nodded. "I think so too. Mom is just being biased."
She then glanced at their two sleeping children and whispered shyly to He Ze, "Dear... the kids are asleep."
He Ze turned his head to look at the children, then let out a mischievous laugh and pulled Gao Cuiyun under his quilt.
The couple then began their shameless night together.
Two days later, after another examination by the doctor, her brother was finally discharged from the hospital to recuperate at home.
In the morning, He Lang hired an ox-cart and waited specially at the hospital entrance to pick them up.
Even Xue Yue marveled at He Lang's thoughtfulness.
When the ox-cart arrived at Xue's house, they saw that the main gate was tightly locked.
Xue Yue's face instantly darkened. Her father knew yesterday that her brother was being discharged today, but now the Xue family's door was locked, and there was no telling where they had gone.
Xue Yue prepared to kick the gate down.
Xue Xingzhou grabbed her. "Don't be rash. Go get the village chief."
A short while later, the village chief arrived, along with some onlookers who had come to watch the spectacle.
The village chief asked a few questions about Xue Xingzhou's injuries, then his face fell as he looked at the locked gate.
"Girl Yu, are you sure your father knew you were coming back today?"
Xue Yue nodded. "I told him yesterday."
The village chief turned and asked the villagers, "Has anyone seen where the Xue Family went?"
Old Lady Liu said, "I saw Liu Hongxing and Xue Changlin leave with her son first thing this morning. Looked like they were heading to Liu Jiagou."
Liu Jiagou was Liu Hongxing's home village.
The village chief scoffed. "That couple... they're simply despicable."
"Exactly! That stepmother is so vicious. To go back to her family's home knowing Kid Xue was getting out of the hospital... that's just an inhuman thing to do."