Qin Bogang had his own concerns. Even though he had already moved out, he knew his third brother wasn’t dependable. As long as his second brother was at home, he could rest easy about their parents.

After all, his second brother and sister-in-law were both diligent and hard-working. No matter what, they would never let their parents suffer.

’So why, out of the blue, were they talking about dividing the family?’

Mr. Qin’s face was cold. Beside him, Qin Jiqun said with a cigarette dangling from his lips, "It’s just Second Brother kicking up a fuss. I wonder who put him up to it."

Qin Zhonghui said coolly, "What do you mean by that, Third Brother?"

"I didn’t say a thing."

Qin Bogang noticed the cloth wrapped around his second brother’s hand. He asked, "Second Brother, what happened to your hand?"

Qin Zhonghui calmly explained that he had injured his hand and needed one thousand yuan to see a doctor.

Qin Bogang understood everything now.

’So that was it. Their father was unwilling to part with the one thousand yuan, which hurt his second brother’s feelings and led him to demand they divide the family.’

Qin Bogang decided to resolve the conflict. He said, "Second Brother, why didn’t you come to me when you went to the county town for treatment? I know some people who could have given you a proper examination. Maybe it wouldn’t have cost so much money."

"Mm." Qin Zhonghui neither nodded nor refused. In his eyes, this was no longer about the one thousand yuan.

His heart had grown cold.

Qin Bogang grew anxious, but no matter what he said, the others had their minds set on dividing the family. In the end, they even summoned the head of the main branch of the Qin clan.

In terms of seniority, the clan head was from Mr. Qin’s uncle’s generation. Though over eighty, he looked even more energetic than Mr. Qin himself.

The clan head cleared his throat. "If you’ve all decided to divide the family," he said, "then tell me how you plan to do it. I’m just here to act as a witness."

Things weren’t like the old days. His title as clan head didn’t carry much weight anymore, but he could still serve as an official witness.

Mr. Qin laid out all the family’s properties and land, listing them one by one. A portion had been given to the eldest son’s family long ago, so it was crossed off the list.

Finally, Mr. Qin said, "The family currently has eight thousand yuan in savings. If the second son’s family splits off, they can only take one thousand yuan."

Qin Jiao frowned.

’That was incredibly unfair.’

But Qin Zhonghui and Su Yun said nothing. They had expected this.

Aside from the land they were entitled to under their household registration, they knew they wouldn’t receive much in cash.

Then Mr. Qin continued, "The family has three houses in total. By rights, each of the three brothers gets one. This one, where I’m currently living, will be considered the eldest’s. The tile-roofed house in the front will be the third’s. As for the second’s family, they’ll get that earthen house on the east side of the village."

That earthen house was no longer habitable; it was drafty and falling apart.

So while the division of assets seemed reasonable on the surface, it was utterly devoid of fairness!

At this, Qin Zhonghui finally spoke. "I agree to these terms. But since we’re doing it this way, I contributed five thousand yuan when the big tile-roofed house in the front yard was built. You should pay that back to me now."

Qin Jiqun’s eyes instantly went wide. "Second Brother, how can you do this! This is blatant opportunism! Where am I supposed to get five thousand yuan for you! Dad, will you look at him!"

Mr. Qin’s face was cold. "Second Son, what is the meaning of this?"

Qin Zhonghui’s expression was filled with sorrow.

He said, "Out of all that money, you’re only giving me one thousand yuan. But have you all forgotten how much money I’ve given you over the years, every single time I came home from a job?"

Beside him, Su Yun added, "Three thousand eight hundred in total."

Mr. Qin’s face darkened.

Qin Zhonghui continued, "When I left the children in your care, I thought you would look after them well. But both children are sallow and emaciated, and Xiao Shi was constantly bullied. One year, she was pushed into the river by Xiao Tao and almost died..."