Chapter 258 - 250: The Ultimate Goal Is to Split the Family

Chapter 258: Chapter 250: The Ultimate Goal Is to Split the Family

Ms. Zhang said, "So, we absolutely cannot get involved. We have to make it clear we have nothing to do with it, lest our whole family gets dragged down if something really goes wrong."

Erzhu said, "But if we don’t go, we won’t get any of the potatoes they dig up. What will we eat then?"

Ms. Zhang shot him a glare and poked Bai Erzhu on the head. "You’ve got such a big head, can’t you use it to think? What’s inside? Mush?"

Bai Erzhu didn’t understand what his wife meant. He scratched his head and said, "If you have something to say, just say it. How am I supposed to know what you’re scheming?"

Bai Zhenzhu, who had been silent for a long while, spoke up. "Dad, you still don’t get it? Let them dig up the potatoes. If there’s trouble, they’ll be the ones to face it. If there’s no trouble, and the food is brought into the Bai family home, then naturally we’ll get our share."

Bai Erzhu frowned. "But... but will they agree?"

Ms. Zhang snorted. "Won’t agree? All the better. I’d be thrilled if they refused. I’ve been wanting to split the family anyway, and this is the perfect opportunity! Besides, it’s not like the first branch hasn’t been lazy before, enjoying the fruits of our labor. What, they’d begrudge us a few potatoes? Fine! Then we split the family and go our separate ways."

Bai Erzhu finally understood. ’In the end, his wife’s ultimate goal was to split the family. The potatoes were just an excuse. She had calculated that a stingy person like Liu would never agree.’

Seeing her husband’s silence, Ms. Zhang pressed on. "Bai Erzhu, do you have a brain or not? Just look at the first branch’s family! Are you really still attached to them? Your older sister-in-law has always been greedy and lazy, and loves to order people around. Your older brother looks big and burly, but he saves his strength. He has it, but won’t use it, which is no different than having none at all. Most importantly, Da Bao needs a marriage arranged, and that costs money, right? Xiao Feng needs tuition for school every year, and taking the Scholar exam later will cost a fortune, won’t it? Where is all that money going to come from? Isn’t it all going to come out of the old lady’s money box? You know how little she has. Once everything is paid for those two, will there be anything left? What will happen to Fugui then? What about Zhenzhu’s dowry? If we don’t take our share now before it’s all spent, when will we ever get the chance?"

Bai Erzhu was thoroughly shaken by his wife’s scolding, nodding repeatedly. "Right, right, you’re absolutely right. Why didn’t I think of that before?"

Ms. Zhang shot him another glare. "With that pig brain of yours, what could you possibly think of?"

Bai Zhenzhu finally let out a breath of relief. ’We’re splitting the family. This is great. This is absolutely wonderful.’

’Once the family is split, once she has drawn a clear line between herself and Grandma and her Aunt, she can go make peace with Bai Zhi. Through Bai Zhi, she can get close to Hu Feng. And once she’s close to him, she’s confident she can get his attention.’

That night, Bai Dazhu took Bai Dabao to Bai Zhi’s field to dig for potatoes.

The heavens were cooperative. It was the thirteenth of the lunar month, and the moon was nearly full, save for a small sliver.

The night was like a lantern hanging over their heads. While it wasn’t as bright as day, they had no trouble seeing.

"Dad, I’m scared—" Da Bao clutched the corner of Bai Dazhu’s shirt, his eyes darting about in a panic.

This was the first time he had ever been out at night. Villagers rarely left their homes after dark. Never mind the night; even during the day, there were often stories of people being bitten by venomous snakes in the fields. Some had even seen deadly beasts roaming about.