Cut off ties

Seeing Old Lady Zhu's back flicker away and hearing her prejudice and anger-filled words, the ever-silent Zhu Changyu took a deep breath. He began to feel that there was no use in enduring any longer. His thin body slowly stretched up, although he had not fully recovered, his eyes were filled with determination.

" Mother ! Listen to me carefully!" Zhu Changyu's voice echoed throughout the area, and everyone's gazes turned to him in shock.

Old Lady Zhu stopped walking and turned back with dissatisfaction.

" What else do you have ? Do you want to make excuses ?"

Zhu Changyu looked straight at his mother, and he spoke in a clear and firm tone.

" I want to separate ! I don't want to be a part of the Zhu family anymore !"

These words shocked both the village headman and the villagers who were watching. Immediately, whispers began to sound.

" Separate houses ? Is he serious ?"

" This is a big deal !"

" But speaking of which, if he were to separate, it would be better than being oppressed by Old Lady Zhu and Zhu Changhai like this."

The village headman standing nearby used a cane to support himself and approached Zhu Changyu, his face full of worry.

" Changyu, do you know that separating from a household is a big deal ? Are you sure you can handle the hardships that come with it ?"

Zhu Changyu nodded, looking at the village chief with a resolute gaze.

" Headman, I didn't make this decision just out of emotion. I've been thinking about it for days. If I'm still in this family, my family will never be able to live in peace."

" You ! You are so ungrateful !" Old Lady Zhu roared in anger. She walked back with an angry look.

" I have kept you alive until today, but you dare to talk about separating families ? How dare you !"

" Mother !" Zhu Changyu replied loudly.

" I know I was born into this family, but in the past, I worked hard for my big family. I never complained. I sacrificed everything for my siblings ! But today, I know that my efforts are no longer valuable in your eyes."

Hearing Zhu Changyu insist on separating the family and severing ties with the Zhu family, Old Madam Zhu almost exploded with anger. She turned her head to face him again, her eyes wide as if they were ablaze, her wrinkled face flushed red from anger.

" Zhu Changyu ! How dare you speak to me like that !" She shouted shrilly, causing everyone in the area to flinch.

" You are ungrateful ! You ungrateful person ! I have kept you alive until today, but you dare to say that you will sever ties with your own family ?"

Old Lady Zhu did not stop. She started to look around to let the onlookers know her anger and dissatisfaction.

" You guys ! This second family has always been our family's troublemaker ! That Lin Ai is just a worthless woman who doesn't know what to do and just cries !"

" What about your children ?" She pointed at Zhu Qingyang and Zhu Qingcheng, who were standing trembling beside Lin Ai.

" They are just useless children who have never done anything useful for the family. They only add to the burden of others !"

Zhu Changyang clenched his fists tightly, while Lin Ai hugged her two sons tightly, avoiding Old Mother Zhu's gaze in fear.

Old Madam Zhu didn't stop there. She turned to Zhu Qing'an, who was standing beside her father with a calm expression, but she had become the next target of his insults.

" As for you ! Zhu Qing'an ! Don't think I can't tell that you're a sly kid, probably doing something sneaky to make a living by yourself !"

" You are just like your father, claiming to love the family, but when you're not behind their backs, you're thinking of betraying them. You're stubborn and stubborn like no one else !" She pointed at Zhu Qing'an and glared at him angrily.

Old Lady Zhu's curses were as long as a kite's tail. The villagers who were watching started to whisper to each other.

" Look, she won't stop."

" Yes ! Instead of trying to listen to reason, she just keeps scolding others."

" Zhu Changyu is really pitiful. His mother doesn't appreciate what he does."

" He's right," one villager whispered.

" He is the hardest working person in the family, but he is being treated like this. Who can stand it ?"

" Yes ! Just think about it. From a young age to an adulthood, he was the one who sent money to the main family. They still extorted money from him," added an old woman.

As Old Lady Zhu continued to curse, Zhu Changyu straightened his back and looked at her with sad but resolute eyes.

" Mother … I know you're not happy, but I have to do this for my family."

These words made her pause for a moment before she shouted back.

" Your family ? What about me and your brother? Aren't they your family anymore ? Did you choose them over me ?"

" I choose a peaceful life for my wife and children," Zhu Changyu said in a clear tone.

" I have done everything for you my whole life, but today, I choose to protect my little family."

" Village Chief, I don't care how we start over," Zhu Changyu continued in a resolute tone.

" I just want my family to live in peace, not to be bullied anymore. I ask you to be my witness today. I want to separate from the family, and I will no longer have anything to do with the Zhu family !"

The village head sighed heavily.

" Since you've made up your mind, I can't disagree with you. But you have to know that separating means being completely self-reliant. Are you ready ?"

" I'm ready," Zhu Changyu replied immediately.

Seeing that Zhu Changyu did not change her mind, Old Lady Zhu waved her hand violently.

" Alright ! Go and die wherever you want !" she shouted fiercely .

" But don't ask me for anything again !"

She turned around and walked back towards the main house with a flushed face. Zhu Changhai hurriedly followed his mother with a displeased look on his face, leaving only the whispers of the villagers who were still standing around watching the event.

Grandma Zhu was about to walk back into the main house with an angry expression when the village head raised his hand and called out loudly.

" Old Lady Zhu, wait a minute ! This matter is not over yet."

His voice was full of determination. An old man with decades of experience in mediation walked towards Old Lady Zhu with a firm stance, using his cane to pound the ground to emphasize his words.

Old Lady Zhu turned around abruptly with a sullen face.

" What now, village chief ! I already let them separate the house. What else do you want me to do ?!"

" According to the village rules, if you want to separate, you must give some of your property to the secondary house to start a new life," the village head said in a calm but firm tone.

" This is not just a tradition, but a fairness for all parties."

These words made Old Lady Zhu almost jump in anger.

" Do I still need to give them more ? They keep causing me trouble. Isn't that enough ?"