The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 558 Enjoying Life Without Doing Any Work
"Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom. Today we're here to have everyone witness the division of the family property, not to discuss whether or not we should divide it."

Wei stood up, gracefully bowed to the elders, and then steered the conversation back on track.

“Even if Fengnian and I separate, it doesn’t mean we’ll abandon our grandparents and parents. Please, Grandpa and Father, make the decision and let’s divide the family property today,” said Madam Wei.

Grandma Gu wiped away her tears.

Jia stared at Wei through gritted teeth.

Gu Youtian had an indifferent attitude.

Grandpa Gu sighed, waved his hand weakly, and said, "Alright, let's divide the family property."

Gu Fengnian looked up, and Wei smiled.

Gu Ruinian clenched his fist.

He was as glorious in his clan when he first returned to Qinghewan from the south, and now he is in a miserable state.

Why did the eldest brother and sister-in-law want to separate the family property? To put it bluntly, it was because they were afraid he would be a burden.
When he passed the imperial examination, his elder brother and sister-in-law said, "Second brother, you should focus on your studies. You don't need to worry about money. When you graduate, the whole family will benefit."

Now that he has failed the imperial examination and had his leg tendons severed, he shows his true, ugly side.

He could understand why Wei turned against him, after all, his sister-in-law was not related to him by blood.

What angered him was that Gu Fengnian, instigated by the Wei family, also wanted to sever ties with him.

He even thought that once he turned his life around, he would make amends to his elder brother, find him a gentle and kind wife, and support his nephew Yaojia.

What a load of rubbish about brotherhood; it's all about self-interest.

He misjudged Gu Fengnian.

The sound of Old Master Gu distributing his property drifted through the room.

"As you all know, since returning to Qinghewan, the family has had no money, only a few rooms and a few acres of land, and some debts," said Old Master Gu. "Now the family has five acres of land, two acres of which will be given to you, two rooms in the west wing of the house will be given to you, and fifty catties of grain will be given to you. The family owes the clan twenty taels of silver in debt, and you will bear this part of the debt."

Madam Wei quickly agreed, "Alright, we'll do it the way Master divided it."

Wei's idea was to divide the family property first.

She and Feng Nian are young and capable. If they leave this big family, they will surely have a better life after a few years of hardship.

The twenty taels of debt is now a burden for them. She can weave and embroider. She heard that her aunt is going to open a weaving workshop in the village. She doesn't associate with the old folks, so her aunt will probably be willing for her to work in the embroidery workshop.

As long as she stays down-to-earth, her aunt will eventually change her opinion of her.

As for Gu Fengnian, he can rent land in the village, and the men in his family are quite good at farm work.

Old Master Gu originally gave the twenty taels of silver to Gu Fengnian, thinking that Wei would make a fuss and then the family would not be able to divide the property.

Unexpectedly, the Wei family was willing to bear the cost of money in order to separate from the family.

That's enough, I can't keep it.

It would be better to separate gracefully. That way, the couple might remember their kindness and perhaps come to their senses and continue to help their family in the future.

Grandpa Gu asked Gu Jingzhe to draft the documents for the division of the family property.

After Gu Jingzhe drafted the document, he read it aloud on the spot. Neither party had any objections, and they signed the document with their seals in the presence of the clan.

Suddenly, Jia burst into tears.

The youngest son is ruined, the eldest son has separated from the family, the youngest daughter has changed, and everyone is trying to stab her in the heart.

She used to be so glamorous, the most favored daughter-in-law in the Gu family. Other daughters-in-law weren't even worthy of carrying her shoes. Now, even Tong Dajiao, whom she looked down upon, could speak for herself in the clan and come to laugh at her. Especially seeing Gu Jingzhe standing next to Tong Dajiao, looking so smug and self-satisfied, made her even more upset.

Jia's crying made the rest of the clan quite embarrassed.

Grandma Gu didn't give Jia a kind look and scolded her again in front of the clan members.

Jia could foresee her fate. In the past, she could vent the anger she suffered from Old Madam Gu on her daughter-in-law. Now that her eldest son had moved out and was living on his own, how could she still act like a mother-in-law?

Just as the villagers were about to stand up and go home, Gu Xiaoxue suddenly spoke up.

She asked if she could live with her older brother and sister-in-law since they had moved out and were living separately.

Gu Xiaoxue's words can be described as extremely disrespectful.

How can an unmarried girl live with her older brother and sister-in-law while both her parents are still alive?

"How dare you! You think you're so great?" Old Mrs. Gu shouted angrily.

Jia looked bewildered and asked, "Xiaoxue, why do you want to live with your brother and sister-in-law? Don't you want your parents and your second brother anymore?"

Jia didn't understand. The family had already stopped pursuing the matter of Gu Xiaoxue poisoning Gu Ruinian, so why wasn't she grateful and instead took advantage of the situation, refusing to stay at home?
"You can only leave this house if I die."

When Gu Fengnian's family separated from Gu Youtian, he was unperturbed, but he was furious when Gu Xiaoxue wanted to go with her brother and sister-in-law.

Gu Youtian felt that no matter how the family divided, Gu Fengnian was still his son, and it was impossible for him not to support him in his old age.

Gu Xiaoxue is different. If this door is opened for her to live with her brother and sister-in-law, who will decide her marriage in the future?
Grandpa Gu glared at Gu Youtian and said to Gu Xiaoxue, "Xiaoxue, you're a young woman living with your brother and sister-in-law. Who knows what people will say about you? You've already ruined your reputation by poisoning someone, and now if you leave this house, people will say you're unfilial. You'll eventually get married, and if your reputation is completely ruined, who will want you?"

Gu Xiaoxue said coldly, "At worst, I'll become a nun."

Grandpa Gu was furious. He had originally intended to patiently teach Gu Xiaoxue a lesson, but he couldn't help but shout angrily, "How can you be so disobedient? You can't go anywhere except at home!"

Gu Xiaoxue looked up and said, "Grandpa, I can stay at home, but you have to agree to my conditions. I want to be like my second brother, not have to work in the fields, not have to do laundry or cook. I want everything my second brother has. I want to eat well, dress well, and sleep in as late as I want. If I can't be like my second brother, then I'll be like my aunt. In short, if you want me to stay, you have to let me enjoy myself every day without having to do any work before I agree."

These words caused a heart attack in both Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu, as well as Gu Youtian and Madam Jia.

Especially for Jia Shi, now that her eldest son's family has moved out, she'll be counting on Gu Xiaoxue to do all the housework from now on.

How can Gu Xiaoxue just give up now?
Tong Huaqiong applauded Gu Xiaoxue in her heart; this girl had really stood up for herself.

Indeed, she had to subdue Old Master Gu and the others, otherwise she wouldn't be able to work peacefully in Tong Huaqiong's weaving workshop.

"You still want to compare yourself to your second brother? What do you have to compare with him, you little brat? Are you good at studying or good at becoming an official?" Jia roared at Gu Xiaoxue.

Gu Xiaoxue chuckled and said, "Mother, you still expect your second brother to study hard, become an official, and earn you a title? Open your eyes and look at him, he's already a useless son. Even if his legs weren't crippled, he'd still be a good-for-nothing son. He can't farm, he can't do housework, he's ambitious but his fate is as thin as paper, I really can't compare to him."

Jia was furious when she heard this.

Gu Ruinian stood in the shadows, quietly watching Gu Xiaoxue.

He couldn't understand why his adopted sister had suddenly changed like this, not only poisoning him but also trying to leave home.

He doesn't believe that a person's temperament can change drastically in a short period of time.

In his previous life, his older sisters continued to give to him for over twenty years.

Whether he wanted money or his life, his sisters would never hesitate.

He couldn't believe that Gu Xiaoxue, as an ancient village girl, could undergo such a drastic transformation.

What went wrong?