Chapter 54: Splitting the Family

The atmosphere at the scene dropped to freezing point once again. Everyone remained silent, as if enveloped by an icy chill. Madame Su still maintained her overbearing and unreasonable posture, inspiring a natural sense of disgust in everyone present. The village chief was so furious that his mustache twitched, unable to calm the rage burning within his heart.

Luo Yunhe frowned and walked up to the village chief, her gaze falling upon the land deed. She carefully observed the handwriting and patterns on the paper, yet she felt entirely bewildered as to the exact location indicated by the deed.

"Village Chief, may I ask where the exact location of this plot of land is?" Luo Yunhe asked softly, attempting to get an answer from him.

The village chief shook his head helplessly. He knew all too well that while this location was quite large, the condition of the houses there was utterly appalling and completely uninhabitable. He worried that Luo Yunhe might make a reckless decision out of temporary impulse.

"My child, do not be deceived by the numbers on the surface. The houses in that place are simply unfit for human habitation. You must consider this carefully and not do anything foolish!" the village chief kindly warned.

Luo Yunhe smiled faintly to show her understanding, but she insisted on finding out the precise whereabouts of the land.

"Village Chief, I merely wish to know where this location is. Everything else can be discussed later," she said firmly.

Sighing, the village chief finally revealed the specific location: "It is right in front of those four mu of land. In other words, if you head south from the barren land you currently own, you will see a river. The land on the opposite bank of that river belongs to you. At the very end of those four mu lies an open space surrounded by some dilapidated thatched cottages. That is the place."

Upon hearing this, Luo Yunhe quickly recalled the scenery of that area in her mind. Indeed, she remembered seeing a few thatched cottages near the wasteland previously.

That location was quite spacious and very close to a water source. If they lived there, it wouldn't be too far from the village either. In the future, if she wanted to set up a winery there, wouldn't it be much easier given the ample space?

Luo Yunhe quickly walked over to Su Jingxuan and subconsciously shared all her thoughts with him, seeking his consent.

Initially, Su Jingxuan had also been unwilling to take that piece of residential land. However, upon hearing Luo Yunhe's explanation and her future plans, he hesitated.

"But... nothing can live in a place like that. What if it rains?"

"Husband, do you trust me?"

Looking into her resolute eyes, Su Jingxuan fell silent, for he could see steadfastness and hope for the future shining within her gaze.

"Alright, I trust you!"

Seeing that he trusted her as always, Luo Yunhe curved her lips into a gentle smile, reached out, and tightly clasped her hand with his.

***

Su Jingxuan felt the calluses on her palm, and his eyes darkened slightly with a quiet weight.

Yet, he ultimately spoke up before anyone else could.

"Village Chief, since my parents are so insistent, then give us that plot with the abandoned thatched cottages."

"Jingxuan, you've lost your mind! How could anyone possibly live in those broken thatched cottages?"

Enduring the sharp pain shooting through his body, Su Jingxuan managed to squeeze out a faint smile. "Village Chief, I believe that as long as the two of us work hard, housing will never be an issue!"

Seeing how firmly convinced the young couple was, it was clear they were determined to take that patch of abandoned thatched huts.

"Village Chief, since they want it, just give it to them! What are you still hesitating for?"

"That's right, Grandpa Village Chief, don't always lean toward favoring them. This is what they asked for themselves; we didn't force them!"

Hesitating, the village chief looked at Su Jingxuan, who showed no intention of changing his mind. With a helpless sigh, the chief finally nodded.

"Fine!" He quickly drafted a new land deed, stamped it with his official seal, and prepared two identical copies.

"The housing land deed requires an official seal from the county yamen. Once it is stamped, I will bring the deed to you!"

Seeing that the housing and land had been successfully divided, the only remaining matters were the thirty taels of silver and the twenty piculs of grain. The village chief handed the thirty taels of silver directly to Su Jingxuan, followed by the arrangement for the twenty piculs of grain.

"Village Chief, we will transport the twenty piculs of grain tomorrow," Su Jingxuan said.

"Very well! Tomorrow, I will ask some people from the village to help you out!"

"Thank you, Village Chief!"

Drawing another deep sigh, the village chief packed up his things simply and departed.

As the village chief left, Madame Su's vicious gaze once again locked onto the couple.

***

Luo Yunhe refused to back down either, glaring right back at her with a fierce look. However, her features were so extraordinarily beautiful that even when she tried to glare with hostility, she simply looked like an adorable, fiercely-pouting kitten!

"What are you glaring at? Since the family has already split, take your things and get out immediately!" Madame Su drove them away without a shred of human decency.

"Sister-in-law, even though the family has been divided, there's no need to be so heartless. Can't you at least wait until tomorrow?"

"That's right, Jingxuan's leg is already in this state, at least let them move tomorrow!"

"Madame Su, if you drive things to such a ruthless extreme, you'll live to regret it. Besides, it's already so dark outside. To make people move right now—do you even have a conscience? His leg became like this because of you in the first place, stop tormenting people today!"

The surrounding villagers chimed in one after another. Under the weight of their words, Madame Su's face flushed a deep, furious red.

"What business of yours is this family's affairs? You're like dogs meddling in a rat's business, poking your noses in and pointing fingers here..."

"Hah, go ahead and be fierce! Retribution will find you sooner or later!"

Hearing the noisy commotion outside, the expressions of the rest of the Su family members weren't looking too good either, for Third Sister-in-law's words were indeed far too excessive.

"Third Brother, this was originally your family business. We only came because we thought you were in the right, but we never expected you to act with such cruelty.

At the very least, he is your eldest son, and now that he has been reduced to this state, you still want to drive him out in the middle of the night. If word gets out, it will ruin the good reputation of our Su family.

Think carefully about what you ought to do!" With those words, Eldest Brother Su led the Su family members away in a grand, imposing departure.

Madame Su was still standing there hurling curses when Su Shan finally stopped her. "Enough arguing! With so many people around, if you aren't ashamed of losing face, I certainly am!

Since the family has already split, let them move tomorrow!" Having said that, Su Shan cast one deep, lingering look at Su Jingxuan and Luo Yunhe before turning to leave as well.

At that moment, Su Ruyi, Su Jingxing, and Zhang Lingling suddenly remembered that their entire house had been smashed to pieces, leaving not a single spot to even set foot in for the night.