Chapter 7: Separation of Families (Part 2)

  "Besides, your daughter Xiaohua, a young lady from a good family, I shouldn't say anything, but as an elder and the head of our village, I think it's necessary for me to speak up. After all, this concerns the reputation of the girls in our Linjia Village. A girl from a good family should have the demeanor and upbringing of a girl from a good family. Have you ever seen any other girl interrupting when elders are talking? Or scolding her own nephew and niece as bastards? And daring to interfere with family matters? This is unthinkable in any other family, let alone ours. Not to mention that our fellow villagers are all watching, even if she loses face, it's not just about her, but also about the reputation of Linjia Village."

  The village chief spoke seriously to Lao Lin and Xiaohua, who was about to interrupt but was pulled back by Liu Erniang and pushed into the main room of Lao Lintai's house. Xiaohua still stomped her foot on the ground in anger.

  "It's no wonder, it's no wonder... can't even get married at 19..."

  "Isn't that right? Which family would dare to marry a girl like this back home, and treat their own nephews and nieces like this, let alone someone else's?"

  "Unless it's someone who doesn't want to live a good life, otherwise I'd rather die than marry such a wife..."

  The villagers surrounding the scene were getting louder and louder in their opinions, Lin Lao heard this and became a bit anxious. He was still thinking about his daughter marrying into a rich family, if her reputation got ruined, it would be bad. So he quickly changed the subject, "Village chief, you said that we should divide the property among Da Tou's three siblings and Er Lang, but these three kids don't know how to farm, even if they were given land, it would still go to waste. This house has been their home all along, if Er Lang gets married and has children, he will definitely want to take it back. So they can only move out, I agree with the division of property, but neither the fields nor the house can be given to them."

  "This..." Logically speaking, the house and land should be divided equally among the family members. However, Old Lin's words also made some sense. Not giving them the land might be acceptable, but not giving them the house? Wouldn't that mean these three children would have to sleep outdoors? What if they were kidnapped by human traffickers?! The village chief thought for a moment and then turned his gaze towards Seventh Uncle.

  It's clear that Seventh Uncle also thought of the same problem, and he was also very conflicted in his heart. However, what he thought was different from the village head. Since they were going to split up, it would be best if Big Sister San and her two siblings didn't live with Old Man Lin's family. Otherwise, the village head and Seventh Uncle wouldn't be able to keep an eye on them every day. What if the three children were secretly sold? But if they had land, the villagers could work together to build a thatched hut for the three children to live in first. Once Big Leg recovered, he could help with some sewing and mending, and then go up the mountain to pick some mountain goods to exchange for money in town. Maybe they could still have a good life.

  "We three siblings don't want anything anymore. From now on, we are no longer the grandchildren of your Lin family, and my mother is no longer a daughter-in-law of your Lin family. Grandfather, this is the last time I will call you grandfather. I think you also agree with my younger sister's opinion, but you didn't have the nerve to say it out loud because of the village head and Seventh Uncle. Now that you don't want to give us land or a house, if that's how it is, then today I'm going to make a bold statement in front of the village head and Seventh Uncle: please help my father Lin Dalang divorce my mother, and write a disownment letter with us three siblings. From now on, we will go our separate ways and not bother each other. I don't want my mother to be scolded by your Lin family after she's gone, and I also don't want any of us three siblings to get hurt again. This broken leg is enough to repay the kindness of my father Lin Dalang for taking my mother in back then. Although I'm only nine years old, I understand things. If we weren't forced into a corner, I would have lived a good life and taken care of my younger brother and sister. But now that your Lin family has treated us three siblings like this, our hearts are as dead as ashes. From now on, we will no longer expect any familial love from our elders, so please, village head and Seventh Uncle, preside over the disownment ceremony."

  The village chief, Seventh Uncle, and Old Man Lin, as well as the villagers who were watching, were all stunned by Lin Chun's calm and expressionless words. Old Man Lin was overjoyed and quickly reacted, his face even showing a hint of urgency, as if he couldn't wait to divorce his son and drive Da Zhu and her three siblings out of the house. "Since you say so, Big Sister, I don't have any opinions either, let's just do it your way!" Old Man Lin still put on an air of nonchalance, showing a 'whatever you want' attitude, which made the village chief and Seventh Uncle look at him with disdain for a while.

  Dashan was standing on one side, feeling a bit anxious. Originally, the village head had decided to divide the family property among the brothers, and Dashan had breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that if they had divided the property earlier, perhaps his brother's wife would not have died. However, now that they could finally divide the property, at least the three children would be able to live more freely and wouldn't have to worry about this or that. They would also be able to help each other out with their own family matters without worrying about gossip. But now, Dahu wanted to cut off all ties, which was a big deal. Although dividing the property was also a big deal, it seemed insignificant compared to cutting off ties. Moreover, if they cut off ties, in the future, the three children would not have any elders to turn to when they got married, which was also not good.

  "Big Ya, think carefully, once you break off the relationship, your siblings will no longer have any elder relatives in the future, and your mother is already gone. If you get divorced, your reputation will also be affected!" The village chief and Seventh Uncle looked at Big Ya and the others very seriously, and the children were also intimidated. They didn't even have anything to divide up when they split the household, and now they want to cut off all ties.

  "We've made up our minds!" The three siblings chimed in unison, even the normally timid Er Ya shouted out loud, her tone filled with a hint of joy.

  "Village chief, we've thought it through. My siblings and I have no parents, and the elders at home either want to sell me or break my legs, and they don't even give us food to eat. We don't need such elders. Although I'm still young, I understand things clearly. My mother worked hard in Lin's household, but her illnesses were never treated, which is why she passed away. Now that she's dead, people are slandering her, it's unbearable for me, and I don't want my mother to be restless underground. Once Lin's household gives us a divorce letter, when my siblings and I grow up, we'll move our mother's grave out of the Lin family village cemetery, so that our mother can be with us forever. Please, Village Chief and Seventh Uncle, find someone who can read and write to come and help us cut ties with Lin's household as soon as possible, so that my siblings and I can finally have peace of mind. If Lin or Liu still dares to bully us in the future, I'll go to the county to file a complaint!"

  "Big Ya, you..." Da Shan and Village Head were about to persuade him, but Lin Chun interrupted their words.

  "Please, Village Chief and Seventh Uncle, do justice for us three siblings." Lin Chun pulled Da Tou and Er Ya to kneel in front of the Village Chief and Seventh Uncle.

  Inside the house, Lin Lao Tai and Lin Xiao Hua both let out a sigh of relief. It's good that they've broken off the relationship, nothing needs to be given anymore, this is for the best. They're still considered siblings after all, so it's good that they understand. Lin Lao Tou was secretly delighted in his heart, but on the surface he maintained an air of not caring, as if he had nothing to do with the matter, looking very innocent, making people want to go up and punch him.