Only Mother Cheng Ying remained silent. Yang Zhi felt she had no standing to compete with the old woman for care, concluding she would just have to be more filial in the future.
In Cheng Ying’s view, her own mother simply wasn't adept at navigating social niceties. A good heart sometimes led to an even sharper tongue.
The old woman stroked Yingzi’s head. “Though my eldest son is gone, his household must not dissolve. I will stay with Yingzi.”
Then she looked at her eldest son, turned toward the second son’s wife, and continued, “Forget about the eldest. As for the second household, don’t entertain any sweet notions. If I live with you, tending to your children and cooking your meals, if I grow old, will you bury me alive because you’ll have children to support?”
Those words were truly cutting. Although the second auntie harbored petty grievances and small calculations, she hadn't descended to that level.
The old woman had clearly developed a hatred for her daughter-in-law.
Hearing this, the eldest uncle’s face flushed; wasn't she implicitly scolding him as well?
Grandma Cheng Ying announced, “It will be this way then. Old brother, I apologize for taking up your time. Watch as I divide the household possessions.”
Cheng Ying dared not look at anyone, sensing that the old woman was deeply hurt, particularly by her actions.
However, throughout the entire affair, her own stepfather had not made an appearance. To split a household—such a major event—and yet he remained absent. It showed just how little standing he held.
Cheng Ying achieved her goal and stopped complaining about her headache. She watched her own grandmother take out the small ladle used for scooping porridge dregs.
She found four sacks and began dividing the meager portions, one ladleful after another.
Cheng Ying could see from the corner of her eye that her grandmother’s hands were trembling slightly.
If regret was concerned, Cheng Ying felt none, but guilt was profoundly present.
Which elderly person doesn't cherish being surrounded by children and grandchildren? Because of her, the old woman was forced to divide the family. This debt weighed heavily.
The Captain, Cheng Shan, had been watching his grandmother divide the property the entire time. In this era, the Captain’s presence alone served as sufficient witness; his word carried more weight than official seals.
After the old woman finished distributing the porridge dregs, each family received barely twenty catties.
To say it was enough to eat would be a lie, but that was the reality for every household.
The old woman asked, “Eldest brother, do you think this arrangement is satisfactory?”
The Captain replied, “Old sister, your balance is fair.”
The old woman turned to her sons and daughters-in-law. “Do any of you have objections?”
The eldest uncle kept his head down and remained silent. The eldest auntie said, “We defer to Mother’s wishes.”
The second uncle was an honest man; Cheng Ying hadn't heard him speak more than a few words these past few days.
The second auntie, however, stepped forward. “Mother, why is the third branch receiving the same amount as us? Their family only has one person earning work points.”
The old woman lifted her face and glanced at her second daughter-in-law. “Even if you hadn't brought it up, I would have needed to say something. Don’t think the third branch has been taking advantage of you all these years. The third branch has gone out to earn work points every single day without fail. Although she is a woman and earns less, when the third branch originally had only Yingzi and herself, they earned less and ate less. Second daughter-in-law, you know full well how much your nearly grown son has eaten compared to Yingzi.”
The old woman finished speaking and fixed the second auntie with her rather imposing, sharp triangular eyes.
The second auntie’s face turned a deep purple, and she fell silent.
The old woman continued, “Yingzi’s mother has some skills; you all know this, and you, old brother, are aware too. Even though we are neighbors, favors have never been lacking. When others sought help from the third branch, they inevitably left something behind. That has been quite a subsidy for the household. If we tally it up, this division actually puts the third branch at a loss.”
Cheng Ying felt the grip of her own mother’s hand tighten painfully.
Perhaps her mother never knew that this old woman, whom she always scolded for not guarding their assets, actually kept such a clear account and could speak up decisively on her behalf when necessary.
The second auntie’s expression, along with the eldest uncle’s, was extremely grim.
The old woman sighed. “Whether it’s a loss or a gain, let this matter rest. Don't let it cause discord between you brothers. After all, the third daughter-in-law, being a widow, couldn't hold up the household alone; you brothers have provided care for them over the years.”
This was the truth. Even the Captain, Cheng Shan, nodded in agreement. “Old sister’s eyes miss nothing.”
Her own mother's demeanor had calmed considerably. “For so many years, I have been deeply indebted to the eldest uncle and the second uncle for looking after my daughter and me. I am not at a loss.”
The youngest looked at the second auntie beside him with undisguised contempt.
His own mother spoke so straightforwardly; clearly, she was not the same sort as the second auntie.
Of course, the second auntie was the same sort as Cheng Ying. Cheng Ying wasn't sure who she was supposed to despise.
The old woman stood up. “Very well, it is settled. The bowls and chopsticks are on the stove; take them yourselves. Eldest daughter-in-law, go divide the vegetables in the cellar.”
The eldest uncle stood up, his mouth dry. As the eldest, he managed, “Mother, let’s eat one last meal together before we go.”
The old woman waved her hand, not even looking at her eldest son. “Each family manages its own affairs. No need. It only causes anger to look at you.”
In Cheng Ying’s estimation, this was the old woman speaking politely. If the second auntie had said that, the old woman would have cursed her, calling her a hypocrite who tried to look virtuous while behaving shamefully.
The Captain stood up then. “If none of you brothers have further objections, press your fingerprints here. It will serve as proof moving forward.”
Cheng Ying watched as her eldest uncle, second uncle, and her own mother stepped forward one by one to press their red fingerprints onto a yellowed little book.
Finally, the grandmother also pressed her print.
The grandmother said, “Old brother, thank you for your trouble. When I’m free one day, I’ll invite you for a drink.”
Captain Cheng Shan replied, “It’s nothing. We are neighbors; this is my duty. As long as everyone agrees it’s fair, that’s what matters.”
He then turned to the younger generation standing nearby. “I have two more words for the two of you brothers; listen closely. Though the family is divided, you are still family, closer than strangers.”
The second uncle affirmed, “That is true.”
The Captain continued, “You have divided what is due, but there is one more thing. Old sister is getting older. She can still earn seven points now, but that might not be the case in the future. How do you plan to divide this?”
Cheng Ying thought, the old woman was still earning work points during the recent division; the Captain was pointing out what would happen when she could no longer work.
The second uncle stepped forward but was pulled back by the second auntie.
The eldest uncle said, “Mother, come live with me. Your son will care for you and see you off.”
The old woman did not respond. Her own mother stepped forward one pace. “If Mother finds me acceptable, she can come live with me and Yingzi. I will care for her in her old age.”
Truthfully, the old woman should have gone with the eldest son.
But she worried about the youngest son’s household. If she didn't stay there to keep order, would it still be her deceased son’s home? Would anyone remember her own youngest son? She feared that in the future, even her granddaughter wouldn't know she had a biological father.
The old woman said, “I’ll stay with Yingzi and her mother. Who knows what the future holds?”
This revealed the uncertainty in the old woman’s heart.
The Captain intervened. “Let me suggest something. Sons are raised the same way. The responsibility for care falls on you all. How about this: Old sister lives with the third branch. You two brothers will provide Old sister with her grain allowance every year.”
The eldest uncle remained silent. In those times, grain allowance was life itself. Since his own mother could still earn points, how much she would actually eat would depend entirely on the third household’s willingness.
The second auntie voiced her objection immediately. “Who knows how much Mother will eat? Wouldn't that just benefit the third branch?”
The old woman sighed, looking at her eldest son. She wasn't surprised by what the second daughter-in-law said.
But she hadn't expected the eldest son to be the same. The old woman felt truly heartbroken. Utterly disheartened.
These were sons she had raised through dirt and struggle.
Cheng Ying’s mother stepped in. “Mother, come live with me. I will care for you and see you off. We don't need the eldest uncle or the second uncle. Captain, if you are still worried, we can sign a document and press a seal. If I ever mistreat Mother, you can report me.”
The word ‘report’ in the countryside meant involving legal trouble, a very serious matter.
It could be said that Cheng Ying’s mother had offered the highest guarantee possible.
The old woman replied, “No need. What is due will be done, regardless. What is not due will not be done, regardless.”
The Captain looked at his old sister and understood why she insisted on staying with the youngest son. Had she gone with the eldest, none of these issues would have arisen.
“Although Old sister speaks righteously, a formal agreement is still necessary so the brothers have a reference point later.” The Captain reopened the small notebook and swiftly penned a few lines.
He read aloud to the brothers, “Old sister, listen to this, is it acceptable? Yang Zhi willingly undertakes the duty of supporting her mother-in-law and seeing her off. From now on, the affairs of Old sister will have no bearing on these two brothers.”
This was local vernacular, plainly put, easy to understand.
The old woman’s eyes grew slightly red. How could dividing a household reveal that sons were no longer sons?
The Captain added, “This is just how it’s stated verbally. But you brothers must visit Old sister during festivals and holidays.”
The eldest uncle’s face was etched with lines. “That is natural.”
The old woman looked at her eldest son; her heart truly ached. After holding back for a long time, only this single phrase emerged.
With a long sigh, she patted her granddaughter. In the future, only this one granddaughter would remain.
The old woman retrieved a small bag from the very bottom of the cabinet, unwrapping layer after layer. “There is over thirty yuan here, saved up over the years. Divide it.”
The second auntie’s eyes reddened upon seeing the money.
Perhaps she hadn't seen this much cash put together in many years.
Cheng Ying had never seen such a large bundle of thirty yuan either.
It was all so scattered, even containing small coins worth one fen.
The old woman gave ten yuan to the eldest son, ten yuan to the second son, and ten yuan to Cheng Ying’s mother. The remaining change, less than seven yuan, she put back into her own keeping. “That’s it. If there are no objections, you can disperse now.”
Captain Cheng Shan looked at the household savings. “It happens to be near the end of the year. Don’t say you received nothing of the family assets. Next year’s total work points, converted to grain or cash, won't be a small sum. Old sister managed the finances well to save this legacy for you. Many households have already borrowed against their work points for this year.”
Eldest Uncle Cheng and Second Uncle Cheng replied, “Mother managed well, saving this legacy for us. We brothers understand.”
The old woman took a deep breath, her back straightening considerably. “Old brother, with your affirmation, Old sister feels much clearer in heart.”
The Captain stated, “What needs to be said to the children must be made clear. It wasn't easy for Old sister to raise this group of children to this point.”
The old woman nodded, saddened that her own children had brought her such disappointment.
The family was completely divided.
The eldest uncle stood up, leading his wife and children. “Mother, once we settle things, I will come to take you over for a couple of days.”
This was mere courtesy. Cheng Ying felt it was hard enough for her honest eldest uncle to manage even such a perfunctory statement.