Chapter 3: Letting Go and Dividing the Family Estate
The Zhao Residence.
In the kitchen, Zhao Mang was preparing food for his sister Qin Zhenzhen, whom he hadn’t seen for many days.
He had brought back some meat from the market, and as he looked at it, familiar scenes played through his mind.
Zhao Mang thought of his sister-in-law, recalling all the care she had once given him.
He glanced at Qin Zhenzhen, who stood nearby, staring blankly at him as he cooked.
In his heart, Zhao Mang resolutely decided that tonight he would deal with the disaster that was Zhang Mo.
Composing himself, Zhao Mang began cooking with earnest focus.
“Oh! Mang, you’ve really struck it rich! This mutton is worth dozens of wen per jin, and you’re sneaking off to eat it yourself?”
“Don’t you consider how much hardship the whole family has endured for you?”
“Isn’t this just selfishness?”
The voice came unexpectedly from Aunt Li, who had appeared at the doorway.
She quickly stepped forward, attempting to snatch the mutton from Zhao Mang’s hands.
Zhao Mang sidestepped easily, evading Aunt Li’s grasp, and chided her bluntly.
“Aunt Li, your words are too unreasonable.”
“This mutton is a reward I earned with my life on the battlefield.”
“During our migration, it was my father and family’s struggle that secured the survival of our entire clan.”
“So how is it that in your mouth, Aunt Li, this turns into selfishness?”
Zhao Mang swiftly wrapped the modest piece of mutton in cloth.
He continued calmly, “Big brother is in the city now, mingling with many noble families. Why then doesn’t he help shoulder the family’s burdens?”
Realizing she was cornered, Aunt Li's expression faltered.
She took a step back, tilting her head proudly.
“Of course! Our eldest son has returned from the city today with many exotic foods we’ve never seen.”
“I only wanted to think of you all. The house is prepared with a full table for the entire clan to enjoy a reunion meal.”
“I don’t know who’s so ungrateful as to think ill of good intentions.”
“Well, I won’t nag. Hurry and come eat; the clan elder won’t wait forever.”
With that, Aunt Li, her waist thick and strong like a bucket, strode out of the courtyard.
From time to time, she glanced back covertly at the mutton in Zhao Mang’s hands.
Zhao Mang thought to himself that family gatherings were rare among the clan anyway.
This would be the perfect opportunity to inform the clan elder about the reasons for the family’s split.
He would not align himself with these vampire-like relatives; his future official career would surely be smoother for it.
With that in mind, Zhao Mang carefully hid the mutton in a concealed spot.
Taking Qin Zhenzhen’s hand gently, he said softly, “Sister, you’ll have to bear with me a little for now.”
Qin Zhenzhen’s gaze never left Zhao Mang, and in a soft voice she replied, “It’s alright~ it’s alright~”
Zhao Mang smiled with relief and tousled her hair affectionately.
——
At Uncle Zhao You’s house,
Everyone sat around a somewhat worn long table,
waiting for the clan elder to speak.
The Zhao clan elder now was only the great-grandfather.
Most of the time, the household of Uncle Zhao You supported him, so the clan’s voice was mainly led by Uncle Zhao You’s family.
The old Zhao lord sat hunched at the head of the table.
His hoarse voice slowly filled the room.
“Our Zhao family has never been wealthy. Since Fourth Brother sacrificed himself to protect the clan during the migration,”
“no one in the family has held official rank. Now our eldest grandson studies with promise—he is the Zhao family’s hope for the future.”
“The clan must, naturally, offer some support.”
Having spoken, the old Zhao lord fell silent.
He sat quietly at the table’s head, eyes closed in rest.
The others all wore troubled expressions; no one responded.
After a moment, a voice broke the silence.
“Here it is! We specially picked a big one today, so everyone can taste something fresh.”
A burly figure entered carrying a large basin of steaming chicken.
He set it heavily on the table, near the old Zhao lord’s side.
Close to the elder sat Uncle Zhao You and Second Uncle.
Their children sat further down.
Zhao Mang and Qin Zhenzhen occupied the very end of the table.
At the sight of the chicken, everyone’s eyes lit up.
Several children, still young, even salivated.
Family banquets were rare—sometimes less than twice a year—so they longed for these occasions.
Even the old Zhao lord, eyes closed in rest, twitched his nose and opened his eyes to look at the chicken.
The chicken had been chopped into countless small pieces, mixed with plentiful cabbage and pig’s teeth bones, leaving only two chicken legs whole.
One was snatched by Aunt Li into the old Zhao lord’s bowl, the other into her eldest son’s bowl.
Everyone watched this action closely.
“The only ones contributing much in this family are the elder lord and eldest son. It’s not unreasonable for them to have a chicken leg each.”
Aunt Li then produced a small plate of pastries from behind her back.
“Look, these are from the city, brought back by the eldest son. In the past, only high officials and nobles could enjoy such delights.”
“This shows how much our eldest son thinks of us all—unlike some people who go off to fight bandits and return forgetting their own names.”
She then rolled her eyes toward Zhao Mang, mockery clear on her face.
The expressions beneath the table varied, reflecting different thoughts.
Second Aunt Xiao was the first to praise Aunt Li, making her beam with pride.
She reached out to take some chicken from the plate.
Seeing this, others quickly showed their loyalty, their hands aiming for the chicken as well.
At the head of the table, the old Zhao lord slowly began to pick up his chopsticks.
Zhao Mang, without much emotion, also reached for some chicken.
Qin Zhenzhen, who hadn’t tasted chicken for quite some time, was given a bit to try.
But just as Zhao Mang moved his hand, Aunt Li interrupted him.
“I just asked you to contribute your piece of mutton, and you refused. Now you want to eat our chicken? Truly shameless.”
Hearing this, Zhao Mang withdrew his hand.
He returned to his seat and served Qin Zhenzhen some vegetarian dishes.
She was never picky—more accurately, she ate whatever Zhao Mang offered.
She’d always been like this since he found her, as if part of her memory was lost.
Though the household was modest, the family ate together in relative harmony.
About half an hour later,
seeing that everyone had eaten their fill, Aunt Li took the initiative to start a conversation.
“Our eldest son makes a living outside and has earned his friend’s praise. He wants to secure a position managing a library.”
“He still lacks five taels of silver. As a family, we should help each other. Why not chip in a bit? Once eldest son secures his position in the city, he’ll be able to help each of you find work.”
She cast her gaze first toward Zhao Mang.
But Zhao Mang looked inwardly detached, as if the matter did not concern him.
Qin Zhenzhen remained quietly by his side, saying little.
Before Aunt Li could ask Zhao Mang for money,
Second Aunt Xiao jumped up indignantly.
“Always asking for money! You bring back some pastries from the city’s tavern and now want five taels from us?”
“The whole family revolves around your son. Since his so-called studies began, he’s been sucking the family dry.”
“Years have passed, yet we’ve seen no results from his studies.”
“You’re too much.”
Aunt Li grew angry.
“Our family has contributed so much effort! Didn’t Mang’s family share a good amount of silver at the last wedding gift?”
“My son is trying to secure a position in the city. It’s not like he won’t help you all later. Why is your family so selfish?”
“You’re unwilling to give silver, yet you eat chicken with such gusto.”
The men from both households remained silent, watching the women quarrel.
Finally, the old Zhao lord could endure no longer and spoke up.
“All right, all right, we’re one family. It’s just a few taels. Everyone pitch in. Once eldest grandson’s position is stable, there will be many benefits.”
“Keep your eyes on the long term.”
At these words, Zhao Mang immediately thought of his sister-in-law and sister.
He bluntly cursed with a smile:
“Family? If I don’t make it back this time, I’m afraid I won’t have a home to return to.”
“Do you still even understand what ‘family’ means?”
“A bunch of parasitic vermin.”
After venting, Zhao Mang bowed to the old Zhao lord and declared:
“Elder, if you want to be fair, then let’s be clear today.”
“I want to split the family!”