Chapter 51.3

Translated by Aviana

Clan Elder Yang was an astute person and could decipher what had happened from Yang laoyezi’s complexion. However, condemning one’s father before the younger generation would be unsightly. After all, this was their family’s matter. Although he was no titular Clan Elder, making sure that the clan’s prestige would not be ruined was all he could do while avoiding the situation to escalate to the point it becomes a ridiculous joke in others’ eyes.

This was precisely why Lin Qingwan and Yang-shi had formulated this plan. It was unlikely for the Clan Elder to control Yang laoyezi and He-shi. The only hope they had pinned on the Clan Elder was to cleanly help them separate from the family without being too harsh on the terms and conditions while doing so.

Truthfully speaking, Lin Qingwan did not desire anything from Yang jia. If they raised too many wishes, it would surely become cacophonous once again, rendering it impossible to extract themselves out of the family cleanly. She was pregnant, and her husband was still recuperating from injury, and right now, it was winter. Where could they possibly go? Mentioning anything else at the moment is highly unrealistic. The priority is to pass this hurdle cleanly. What should be done next could be slowly planned later.

The major issue at the moment, naturally, is to separate from the family.

Patriarch Yang pondered for a while and asked Yang Tiezhu, “Yang Tiezhu, what is your opinion?”

For their clan to be able to such a good young man like Tiezhu, Clan Elder Yang was immensely proud of him. Usually, he did not praise him any less either. Nevertheless, he never expected that such a child would be encumbered by his family and even be kicked out.

Even if Yang-shi had not come to invite him, Clan Elder Yang would have surely not allowed such a thing to happen. If this matter spreads out, outsiders will criticize that Yang jia is dishonest in handling the matters and are harsh on their younger generation.

Farming households are usually honest people, and the thing they dread the most is that other people criticize their family principles and have improper conduct. With these sorts of rumors spreading ablaze, who would dare have dealings with them or send their daughters to their household in the future?

That is why Clan Elder Yang also intended to hear Yang Tiezhu’s take on this matter—whether he wished to stay with the family or he intended to separate from the family.

With the virtue of his age, Clan Elder Yang had experienced many things like this. He was clear that not necessarily everyone would be willing to beg and remain at home foolishly.

However, can’t this He-shi even wait until the child’s injuries are healed before rushing to expel the child. Truly outrageous!

No sooner than He-shi saw Clan Elder Yang ask Yang Tiezhu his opinion, she was unable to sit still anymore.

“What opinion will he even have? Our family’s sole intention is to expel him out of this house!”

Never had the Clan Elder Yang been interrupted in such a way, especially when handling family disputes, and even less so by a woman, causing his old face to flush with rage. To begin with, he never had a favorable opinion on vicious women like He-shi and loathed her to the core. As such, how could his complexion be any good in the given situation?

Clan Elder Yang was apoplectic with rage as he pointed his finger at He-shi and Yang laoyezi.

Yang laoyezi was also infuriated beyond words as he pointed his finger to He-shi’s nose, unable to squeeze a word out. Yang Tieshuan, finding the situation turn far from good, quickly covered his old mother’s mouth.

Today, only because this was a family dispute, He-shi was able to present at the scene. Usually, womenfolk were prohibited from participating in such a major matter, where even the Clan Elder had to step in. Furthermore, because Yang laoyezi had never inhibited her, causing He-shi to run amok. Not even aware of the immensity of the heaven and the earth, even daring to interrupt when Clan Elder is speaking carelessly.

“My opinion is to proceed with separation. A melon forced off its vine won’t taste sweet. My mother had already asked me to get out of here. I——” Yang Tiezhu paused, unaware of how to put it in words. However, everyone on the scene could make out what he meant.

Seeing Yang Teizhu’s difficulty in expressing his words, Yang-shi patted his hand.

She stood up and apologized first to the Clan Elder and The Village Chief before she began speaking: “The two esteemed elders, Clan Elder and Village Chief, my nephew seemed to feel embarrassed to say it aloud. As such, this old lady will speak in lieu of him. Of course, as his gumu, I certainly cannot speak for Yang jia’s matters. But I simply want to explain the situation to everyone here so that you can all make a clear judgment. After all, this is a private matter of this family, and you must not have been clear with the situation——”

姑母 (gūmǔ): father’s sister / paternal aunt (Previously the author had addressed her simply as gu, which is inherently same as gumu.)

Yang-shi took a glance at He-shi before she slowly began telling.

“…This child, Tiezhu was not given much love at home. Moreover, He-shi and I have a bit of grudge among us. This much, I believe all the elders are well aware of. After all, at that time, there was such a huge fight. Who was right, and who was not? This, I will not mention at the moment.” Yang-shi gave a self-deprecatory smile, her expression complicated, “I just wish to address the grievances of my bitter-fated nephew now that this matter has to come to be…”

“…Yang jia’s former and current situation must be clear as a day to the two of you. I will not go as far as to say it was entirely because of my nephew. But at the least, the majority of the credit goes to him…..Besides, who doesn’t say that Yang jia’s Tiezhu is a simple and honest person with good conduct and is capable of making money….. For Yang jia to be able to live in a roof-tiled house currently and have a dozen mu of fields under them, and still be able to provide education for a scholar, who is at all this because of? I believe I do not have to emphasize this point; everyone in the village must be clearly aware of it…..”

亩 (mǔ): classifier for fields/unit of area equal to one-fifteenth of a hectare

Both the Village Chief and Clan Elder Yang kept nodding their heads in acquiescence whilst stroking their beard.

“…Even when the child was already in his early twenties, none of them in the family took the initiative to find a wife for him. In the end, the child couldn’t sit anymore and brought a wife all by himself…. Even then, the family did not pay for marriage expenses. With no other way, the child had to go into the mountains to earn some silver… After great difficulties, the two got married. Yet, they encountered a mishap soon after. As for this mishap, I will not go into details…..”

The more Yang-shi spoke, the more agitated she seemed to be, overwhelmed with indignance. And tears unwittingly trickled down from her cheeks.

“Fine, you are biased to laosi, in all matters, you consider him first, I can’t say anything about it…. However, in order to make money for laosi’s exam, this child went into the mountains to hunt and sustained serious injuries in the process. But has anyone of you taken care of him at that time? Did you?” Yang-shi glared at Yang laoyezi and He-shi with reddened eyes. She had been suppressing these words for long in her heart.

老四 (lǎosì): appellation used to address the fourth child in the family

None of these in the family felt distressed for this child! Fine, so be it, but she feels distressed for him! Today she will make sure that he gets the justice he deserves!

“Only the third branch’s husband and wife were scampering all round to help them. The child was bedridden in the medical center, waiting for his family to pay for the treatment. Yet, in the end, no one turned up! However, even if you could not pay up for the medical expenses, couldn’t you at least have dropped by to see how he was faring…..In the end, Yang Tiezhu’s wife, with no other way out, sold all of her jewelry. When even that wasn’t sufficient, she came to me. Only then was she able to settle the medical bills…..If the medical fees are not paid, then the doctor would not even treat him. This, isn’t this the same as playing the child’s life….”

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