Chapter 305: Dividing the Family Property

Chapter 305: Chapter 305: Dividing the Family Property

Jiang Moli then looked at the three brothers, Lu Defa, Lu Deqiang, and Lu Dehong. "Uncles, I’m sure each of your families has its own difficulties, but that’s no excuse for not supporting your elders. Anyway, there are two options. Either you pay to send Grandma to a nursing home, or you put in the effort and take turns caring for her. Make your choice. The minority defers to the majority."

After hearing her words, the brothers looked at each other.

Sending Zhu Huanghua to a nursing home was undoubtedly the easiest solution, but no one wanted to be the first to suggest it.

The idea of raising children to provide for one’s old age was a deeply ingrained concept for people of this era. Sending an elder to a nursing home was tantamount to being unfilial and would easily lead to gossip.

"I’m not going to a nursing home!"

Zhu Huanghua’s grating voice shattered the silence.

Although she was old, her mind was still sharp.

’Living with my own sons, I can use my old age to my advantage. But in a nursing home, strangers won’t care if I live or die.’

Jiang Moli sneered, "Then it’s the second option. Each family will take turns caring for Grandma for three months. Uncles, do you want to go by seniority, or draw lots?"

Zeng Xiulan immediately said, "My family needs some time to find a place and move out. I think we should go in order from youngest to oldest. Mom can stay at Deyao’s house first."

This proposal was unanimously approved by the families of Lu Defa, Lu Deqiang, and Lu Dehong.

The minority defers to the majority.

Jiang Moli had no objections either. She immediately got a pen and paper, wrote up an agreement, and had the brothers sign and press their thumbprints one by one to avoid any future squabbling over the matter.

With Zhu Huanghua’s care settled, everyone moved on to discussing the division of the family assets.

Mr. Lu had been disabled in the line of duty. In addition to providing for his food, clothing, housing, and transportation, his work unit also gave him a monthly pension.

The old couple were both frugal people, and with the filial contributions from the younger generation, they had managed to save up a sum of money.

The passbook showed over seven thousand yuan in cash, several stacks of various coupons, a pile of medicinal herbs and nutritional supplements, about ten pieces of gold and silver jewelry, and a three-room ancestral home in the countryside.

Mr. Lu came from a humble background, and Zhu Huanghua was a bona fide country woman. The couple’s assets were all slowly accumulated after Mr. Lu retired, so they weren’t particularly substantial.

The eldest, Lu Deping, proposed, "Let’s just divide everything into five equal shares. Each family takes one, and Mom’s future expenses will come out of these."

The fifth son, Lu Dehong, said, "This is the nest egg Mom and Dad saved up their whole lives. Now that Dad is gone, it should rightly go to Mom for her security."

These words were extremely pleasing to Zhu Huanghua’s ears.

’Among my sons, the fifth is the most filial, wholeheartedly thinking of his dear old mother. Not like those other good-for-nothings who only want to carve up my money!’

"No!"

Jiang Moli’s sharp objection drew everyone’s eyes to her.

Lu Dehong glared at her. "You’re just a granddaughter-in-law! It’s not your place to speak on matters of the family inheritance!"

Jiang Moli retorted, "I have a mouth, and if I have an opinion, I’ll voice it. Everyone knows that Grandma favors you the most, Uncle Five. If the assets stay in her hands, who knows when you’ll coax them away from her. Your whole family would be living it up with that money, while we have to pay out of our own pockets to support her. On what grounds?"

Jiang Moli’s words had voiced what the other brothers were all thinking.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t see what the fifth brother was plotting; they just felt it would be inappropriate to expose him out of brotherly courtesy.

A moment ago, they all wished Jiang Moli would shut up, but now they were hoping she would say more.

Having his scheme exposed in public, Lu Dehong seethed with hatred for Jiang Moli.

Ruining someone’s financial prospects is like murdering their parents. The entire family of the fifth branch now regarded Jiang Moli with disgust and hatred.

One for all and all for one—if the money really landed in the fifth branch’s hands, they would all get a piece of the pie.

[Disdain Value +9, 90,000 Yuan credited.]

"It’s my money! I’ll give it to whoever I want! It’s not for an outsider like you to butt in!"

Furious, Zhu Huanghua snatched up her cane and tried to jab Jiang Moli with it.

With quick reflexes, Lu Cheng caught the cane and pulled it away with a tug. "Grandma, this cane is too heavy. Let me hold it for you."

Zhu Huanghua huffed and puffed, but she could only glare helplessly.

Jiang Moli laid it all out. "Grandma, are you saying you want to give all of your and Grandpa’s money to Uncle Five? Is that what you mean? Since all the uncles are here, you might as well give us a straight answer. That way, we don’t have to waste any more time."

Zhu Huanghua’s lips trembled.

It was true she favored her fifth son, but if she really gave him all the money, she would inevitably hurt the feelings of her eldest, third, and fourth sons. After that, she was afraid none of them would care if she lived or died.

"You all figure it out! I’m washing my hands of it!" she snapped, backing down.

Jiang Moli picked up where she left off. "Actually, Uncle Five’s suggestion is also viable. It’s best for the assets to remain in Grandma’s hands."

Lu Dehong’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. ’You could have just agreed earlier!?’

The other brothers were also confused by Jiang Moli, not understanding what she was up to.

"The passbook stays with Grandma, serving as her pension fund. However, since she’s getting on in years and isn’t always clear-headed, the passbook will be held for safekeeping by whichever family is currently caring for her. Grandma’s monthly expenses will come from this pension fund. Every expenditure will be recorded in a ledger, so it will be clear at a glance how much was spent each month and how much is left in the account."

This proposal was unanimously approved by the brothers.

It was fair and impartial, and no one was at a disadvantage.

As they had agreed, Zhu Huanghua would first go to live at Lu Deyao’s house.

After sorting through Mr. Lu’s belongings and packing a suitcase for Zhu Huanghua, Lu Deyao took her back to Rongcheng.

With a large family of about twenty people, taking the train was inconvenient, so Lu Deyao chartered a minibus.

From the moment she got on the bus, Zhu Huanghua started making trouble.

One moment she was complaining of dizziness and feeling unwell, the next she wanted to get off the bus to relieve herself, and then she was shouting that she was hungry and demanding someone buy her a steamed bun, throwing everyone into chaos.

A trip that should have taken just over two hours ended up taking more than five.

It was already 8 p.m. by the time they got back to Rongcheng.

The large family was tired and hungry, so Lu Deyao took them straight to a restaurant, where they took up two tables.

After the waiter recited the menu, Lu Deyao said fawningly to Zhu Huanghua, "Mom, you order first. Get whatever you like."

Zhu Huanghua glared at An Hui and Jiang Moli with a long, dour face and cursed, "A bunch of lazy wives! With such greedy mouths, all you know is how to spend money eating out! I’m not eating! I’m not hungry!"

Zhu Huanghua’s outburst instantly made the atmosphere at the table awkward.

Jiang Moli said directly, "Not hungry? If you’re not hungry, then why don’t you go for a stroll outside?"

Lu Cheng understood in a flash. He stood up, helped Zhu Huanghua to her feet, and started walking. "Come on, Grandma. I’ll help you go out for some fresh air."

"Let go of me! I’m not going."

Zhu Huanghua was small and frail with age. Her resistance against Lu Cheng was like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot; she was quickly led out of the restaurant.

The whole family: "..."

’They can do that!?’

With Zhu Huanghua gone, the atmosphere became much more harmonious, and everyone ordered their favorite dishes.

Lu Deyao ordered a camphor tea duck.

The duck was cut and served on two plates, one for each table.

At Lu Deyao’s table, he picked up a duck leg with his chopsticks and placed it directly in Jiang Moli’s bowl. "Moli, you worked hard today. Eat up."

No one in the family was jealous of Lu Deyao’s display of favoritism.

Even Lu Tingting, who always liked to compete with Jiang Moli, just watched silently without a word.

Jiang Moli had been an absolute powerhouse today, not only defending the interests of their sixth branch but also putting the old lady in her place.

The entire family was now sincerely impressed with Jiang Moli, their sister-in-law and aunt.