Chapter 14: Separation of the Family

Gu Zhuo looked at Xie Ning and asked, “How many people’s meals did you cook today?”

Xie Ning was caught off guard by the question. It took her a moment to realize what was meant, and she quickly replied, “Three people’s meals!” But her tone was off, unmistakably tinged with excitement.

There were four adults present, yet she had only cooked for three.

The intention behind the sisters-in-law’s words was not concealed in the slightest.

Since he was a child, Xie Chong had never suffered such humiliation. Covering his face, he rushed into his own room.

Chen Xinwan couldn’t hold back any longer. “You two have gone too far! You won’t even let Chongzi eat? What, is this family split up or something?”

“Is this family not already split?” Gu Zhuo suddenly interjected. “Mother, have you forgotten that Xie Lin already divided the family?”

At these words, not only Chen Xinwan but even Xie Ning was stunned.

When Gu Zhuo married into the family, Xie Ning was only twelve and truly didn’t know about these things.

At this moment, Gu Zhuo was especially thankful for Xie Lin’s insistence back then.

The day after she married in, Xie Lin had proposed dividing the family, which had left Gu Zhuo shocked. In those days, rural villages believed strongly in strength in numbers, and because of various policies, dividing a family brought more harm than good. Most households lived together as extended families.

The Xie family wasn’t large to begin with—the late Xie father was an only son, and even after Xie Lin married, there were only five people in the family. Moreover, Xie Lin, one of the five, was rarely home, his household registration still with the army.

By all accounts, there was no need to split the family.

Even the brigade leader had been summoned, along with the party secretary, the old village chief, and the production team leaders to witness the commotion. Yet under such pressure, Xie Lin had persisted and divided the household.

He had said, “My mother can’t distinguish right from wrong. If we don’t split up, with her as mother-in-law, Zhuo will only suffer. I’m away from home most of the year; it’s already hard enough for Zhuo to manage the family for me. There’s no reason for her to endure any more grievances.”

Thanks to Chen Xinwan’s poor reputation and Gu Zhuo’s good name, the villagers sided with Xie Lin at once.

And so, the family was separated.

Although Gu Zhuo was soft-hearted and disliked trouble, and the family was technically divided, the Xie family still lived together, shared food, and spent the money Xie Lin sent home. Of course, Gu Zhuo was in charge of the household.

Given the official split, Chen Xinwan didn’t dare object.

But as time passed, she gradually forgot about it.

Now, recalling it, she felt as if the sky was falling. She realized that, strictly speaking, the house they lived in belonged to her elder son’s family. Their original home wasn’t here. This house was built on land her eldest son applied for as an adult. After he became engaged to Qixiu, he began sending money, and Qixiu oversaw the construction bit by bit.

As for the things inside... Lin didn’t want to keep the old furniture; everything was newly bought.

“Qixiu…” Chen Xinwan burst into tears. “You can’t treat Chongzi and me like this. We’ve been mother- and daughter-in-law for three years, and I’ve never wronged you. Even if Chongzi was at fault this time, he didn’t do it on purpose. Please, be the bigger person and forgive him just this once?”

Gu Zhuo didn’t dispute her claim of never having wronged her, only replied calmly, “I can’t possibly forgive someone who almost killed Yinyin. Of course, if you’re willing to part ways with Xie Chong, I have no objection to you staying.”

But she knew that was impossible.

Sure enough, Chen Xinwan looked as though the sky had caved in. She had always doted on Xie Chong, and besides, he was her only son. There was no way she would abandon him. If she did, how could she expect him to care for her in old age?

Gu Zhuo didn’t want to discuss the matter further. “Let’s eat.”

The meal left Chen Xinwan sitting in a daze, full of fear at the prospect of being driven out.

She wasn’t the only one; even Xie Ning was uneasy. Though she was close to her sister-in-law, by rights, with the family divided, she should be with her mother.

After dinner, Chen Xinwan hurried off to consult her confidant, while Gu Zhuo entered the kitchen, where Xie Ning was washing dishes.

“After the family split, Ning, you’ll live with me. I’ll support you through school.”

She had seen the young girl’s anxiety long ago.

Xie Ning’s eyes lit up, but she hesitated. “High school tuition is expensive.” The nearest high school was in the city, so attendance meant boarding. Each term cost three yuan for tuition and one for boarding, plus she’d have to bring her own grain rations. She could only return home during winter and summer breaks and the busy farming season. Otherwise, she’d be a burden. In the past, with her eldest brother’s wages and allowances sent home, her sister-in-law had no problem covering the cost. But now, that income was gone, and her sister-in-law still had to provide for Yinyin…

Deep down, she wanted to stay with her sister-in-law, but she didn’t want to burden them.

Gu Zhuo smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I have enough to send you to school.”

This wasn’t an empty boast. While Xie Lin’s military salary and allowances were substantial, Gu Zhuo’s own earnings in the countryside were no less, though that money couldn’t be shown openly. Had she been less cautious, her savings would have already surpassed four digits.

What’s more, now she had her special space.

She wanted to keep the girl partly out of genuine affection and partly for help with Yinyin. Though Xie Ning would soon be in high school, she’d be back by this time next year.

She also planned to bring Xie Lin home from the army; an extra pair of hands at home would be no bad thing.

Xie Ning hesitated, but in the end, she didn’t refuse.

She truly didn’t want to live under the same roof as Xie Chong. If not for her sister-in-law, these past years would never have been so peaceful.

Despite Xie Chong’s gentle appearance—he wasn’t the type to hit or scold—he was very skilled at getting their mother to make trouble for her.

Not to mention, if she wasn’t with her sister-in-law, their mother would surely make her wash Xie Chong’s underwear.

She refused!

After washing the dishes and tidying up, Xie Ning said, “Sister-in-law, while the water’s still hot, you’d better go wipe yourself down in your room. I’ll give Yinyin her bath in the kitchen.” There was a small room next to the kitchen, serving as the family’s bathhouse, which Xie Lin himself had built during his leave.

Gu Zhuo nodded.

When she finished, Xie Ning had already bathed both Yinyin and herself. As she poured out the water, she said, “It’s still early. I’ll take Yinyin out for a walk. Sister-in-law, take your medicine and get some sleep. I’ll have Yinyin sleep with me tonight. Don’t worry, I’ve gotten rid of the lice on my head.”

She’d found time during the day to use herbal tincture to kill the lice, so she could make such a suggestion.

Gu Zhuo hesitated, then nodded in agreement.

Tonight, she wanted to spend some time alone to study her special space.