Xu Er Ya cried.

This time she was truly crying out of deep sorrow. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Her gold was gone.

Yes, Xu Er Ya had just checked in the spiritual spring space, and the gold was missing; it was now in the hands of the Old Madam.

She didn’t understand how the gold that was kept in the spiritual spring space could end up in a mouse hole, and even be found by the Old Madam.

Now she was just overwhelmed with sadness.

She not only lost the gold, but also her reputation, and was blamed by the entire family; things were likely to get even worse in the future.

Her wish to divide the family had come true, but not in the way she had envisioned.

Xu Er Ya had planned it well, Xu Zhiyong broke his leg, then the Xu family was in an uproar about dividing the property, she was just about to fan the flames, and Xu Zhiyong’s family would be turned out with nothing.

By then, she would bring out the gold to help the family get by, and, furthermore, she would vigorously spread that the Xu family was cold-hearted and intolerant towards the second branch of the family.

When that time came, she would be the one to profit both on the inside and out.

But now?

Anning’s series of dramatic actions turned her into somebody abandoned by everyone, while Anning profited both internally and externally.

Divide the family?

Xu Er Ya didn’t want to divide the family anymore.

The gold was with the Old Madam, she didn’t have a cent on her, and having caused such a scene, the second branch of the family would surely be turned out with nothing; by then, how could she possibly take care of the entire family? She would likely struggle to even support herself.

But the Old Madam was truly furious.

The patriarch was also fuming with rage.

The patriarch had already gone to find the clan elders when the Old Madam shouted about dividing the family, and dividing the property was now a certainty.

Mrs. Feng was panicking, Xu Zhiyong was both angry and panicked, and Xu Er Ya, after being beaten, couldn’t get up, lying in bed in a state of anxiety.

And it was at this time that Anning replaced the gold in the Old Madam’s hands with silver.

The Old Madam understood Anning’s idea.

Gold was too eye-catching; it was better to switch it for silver for the sake of the Xu family’s reputation.

When the clan elders arrived, the Old Madam was sitting at the entrance of the west chamber room, crying.

"I can’t live like this, how did I raise a granddaughter with such a wicked heart, my poor son, married to a wife who squanders wealth, and now such a daughter has been raised, what will become of us in the future?"

Her cries were loud, and the neighbors who heard the commotion all came to console her.

A few aunts and older women tried to comfort the Old Madam: "Don’t cry anymore, what’s done is done, you can’t be heartbroken anymore, what if you damage your health?"

"That’s right, your Eldest Son’s Wife is so good, you should think more about the main branch for their sake, if something happens to you, who will protect them?"

The Old Madam couldn’t heed other consolations, but as soon as she heard about protecting the main branch, she immediately got up.

"Yes, I can’t be angry anymore, I need to consider more for the Eldest Son’s Wife, oh, you don’t know, the Eldest Son’s Wife is just too naive; how can someone be so genuine? She has always taken the Eldest’s words to heart, these past years, her filial piety towards us old folks has been impeccable, even when the second son broke his leg, she was both financially and physically supportive, but now..."

The Old Madam started to wipe her tears again as she spoke.

As she cried, the aunts and older women who knew the Xu family’s situation also cursed a few times in agreement.

Mrs. Feng and Xu Er Ya’s reputations were completely ruined.

After all, no family could tolerate a daughter-in-law whose heart still lay with her parents’ home, transferring all her husband’s silver there, nor could they accept a daughter who held money tightly but watched her own father suffer.

The clan elders didn’t hesitate to speak directly to the old master about separating the family.

With the matter brought to light, no one had the face to persuade the second branch against the separation. How could they not split? Should they let the second branch bring disaster upon the whole family?

As for how to divide the family, that was still up to the old master to decide.

Xu Zhiyong was carried out of the house.

He was deeply ashamed, feeling like he could no longer face his parents.

When asked how he wished to divide the family, Xu Zhiyong muttered silently, "I’ll follow whatever my parents decide."

He also said, "This matter is due to our Xu Er Ya’s fault. I’m also mortified, but she is my daughter, and I cannot just abandon her. However, I can’t let her drag the whole family down. It’s better to split. It’s just that these past days have been hard on my elder sister-in-law, and all these troubles are my fault."

With such words, Anning’s reputation naturally improved even further.

Usually, women shouldn’t meddle in affairs of family division.

Yet Anning still boldly stepped forward, "Uncles, may I say a word?"

Thanks to the good reputation that Anning had built up, the clan elders were quite tolerant of her.

"Speak."

Anning gave a slight laugh, "My second brother’s leg is broken. The future medical expenses are unknown, and Gousheng in the second branch is still young and can’t support a household or earn money. If the family splits, I’m afraid there won’t be funds to treat my second brother’s leg. I was thinking, I won’t meddle in other affairs, but to ease our parents’ hearts, I can help buy the medicine for my second brother. However, the money can’t go to the second branch. I’ll have father deliver the medicine. Is that acceptable?"

The clan elders immediately praised her greatly.

While some felt that Anning was playing too nice, they still appreciated her kindness and thought of interacting with her more in the future.

This is the way of the world now.

If Anning had stood by indifferently and let the second branch be driven out, even though everyone would believe it was justified, when the second branch struggled to get by, there would still be those who pitied them, feeling that the eldest branch and the old master and Old Madam were too heartless and unforgiving.

"Did you hear that?"

Old Madam slapped Mrs. Feng a few times, "+You’ve done such despicable things, yet your elder sister-in-law still worries about you, afraid that you won’t manage. She’s even taken care of the medicine expenses for your second brother. Your elder sister-in-law is kind-hearted, but what about you? You always act aggrieved, as if your elder sister-in-law is mercilessly bullying you. You gossip behind our backs, saying I’m harsh, and your elder sister-in-law is cruel. Pah, I think there’s no one more cruel than you."

Mrs. Feng was slapped but didn’t dare to wipe it away. She hung her head and silently shed tears.

But a trace of hatred flashed in her eyes.

She hated that Anning exposed Xu Er Ya, bringing out the hidden silver, causing her and Xu Er Ya to miss out on something good.

Had it not been for Anning, they might have had money after the division, and then, she could have used it to help her own family.

But Anning spoiled such a good opportunity.

The Xu family’s separation was rather smooth.

The old master didn’t really make the second branch leave with nothing.

He gave the second branch several taels of silver and a few acres of land. As for a house, there truly was none.

In the old master’s words, the second branch had already caused enough trouble, leaving the family with little money to spare, truly incapacitating them from setting up another household for them. First, the second branch could rent an unoccupied house in the village. Later, when capable, they could build their own house.

Even so, the clan elders still praised the old master for his kindness.

Originally, the family was divided amicably, and the second branch was soon to move out.

But at that moment, Xu Daya kneeled with a plop in front of Grandma and Anning.

"Grandma, Aunt, I don’t want to leave. I want to stay to take care of you. With the third uncle gone and father too, grandparents getting old, and Aunt having to care for younger brothers and sisters, Aunt can’t do housework because she earns money from embroidery. Grandma is aged and can’t manage these tasks. It’s not good to be without someone at home. I’m young, but I can cook, clean, and help look after my younger siblings..."

Xu Daya sobbed while saying, "Grandma, I’m ashamed of the disgraceful act my second sister committed, but I truly can’t rest easy about you all. The kindness Aunt has shown our family, I have no way to repay, except to stay and work harder in return."