Pack up your things

Zhu Changyu reached out to take the jade, his eyes filled with confusion, sadness, exhaustion, and gratitude. He stared at the jade for a moment before softly muttering , "This is the only thing that connects me to my biological parents …"

He carefully tucked the jade into his bosom, his heart beating faster with worry that it might be stolen again. He clutched his bosom tightly as he stood up straight, his once weak eyes now gleaming with determination.

When the village headman started talking about the agreement to share the rice fields and some savings with the second family, Grandma Juri immediately shouted back.

" No way ! That farmland, Changhai and I worked hard to get it ! As for the savings, I saved it with my own sweat and toil ! They didn't help at all, why should I share it with them ?!"

Her shout caused the villagers to whisper about Old Lady Zhu's stinginess and cruelty. A man shouted.

" Hasn't the second family always worked hard to support the whole family ? You guys just eat and spend their money !"

This remark sparked the long-standing dissatisfaction of the villagers, and dozens of people shouted curses at the same time.

" Old Mother Zhu, you have taken advantage of your daughter-in-law and granddaughter for too long !"

" No one does it like you. They are all in the same family, but they are taking advantage of each other !"

" Giving them a piece of land won't bother you !"

Old Lady Zhu turned to glare at the villagers.

" Don't order me around ! This is my family's business, it has nothing to do with you !" But the cursing voices rang out again.

" Quiet !" the village chief shouted loudly, slamming his cane on the ground. His voice temporarily silenced the courtyard. He turned to Old Lady Zhu with a resolute look in his eyes.

" Old Lady Zhu, you can't not share anything ! If you don't agree, I will have my assistants report it to the authorities. Do you want to escalate this matter ?"

Old Lady Zhu heard this and her face turned red with anger. However, because the situation was so pressing that she had almost no other choice, she could only clench her teeth and mutter softly.

" Alright ! I'll just give you a little bit !"

Old Lady Zhu stood there with her fists clenched so tightly that the veins on the back of her hands were bulging, her face filled with extreme dissatisfaction. She looked at the small plot of land at the foot of the mountain that had been designated to be divided among the secondary families by the village headman's order, and gritted her teeth and spoke in a cold, harsh voice.

" I will divide the land at the foot of the mountain between two groups ! But I have nothing else to give them. They already have land. How they want to support themselves is their business !"

The village head frowned deeply when he heard this. His expression was solemn, but he still maintained his patience. He said firmly.

" These two mu of land is enough to start a business, but I have one more order. Everything in the secondary house must belong to them. You are not allowed to use anything from the secondary house in the main house !"

The village head's words made Old Lady Zhu almost jump up and scold him, but under the pressure of the gazes of the villagers who were watching, she could only grit her teeth and surrender in silence. However, her heart was filled with resentment. She thought of the valuables that the secondary family had collected, especially the pots and pans and tools that she had once eyed for the main family.

Zhu Changyu stood nearby, listening to every word as Old Lady Zhu tried to avoid giving him anything more. His eyes were filled with pain, but he chose to remain silent and calmly accept what he had received.

When the village head confirmed that everything in the secondary house would belong to his family, Zhu Changyu nodded slightly. He glanced at Lin Ai and his children who were standing behind him. They looked at him with hope and encouragement.

Old Madam Zhu turned her head and walked back into the main house in frustration. Her expression was like someone who wanted to explode but was forced to swallow her dissatisfaction. The sound of the wooden door closing was like she was venting her anger. She ordered Zhu Changhai to go and inspect the secondary house before they packed up and moved out. However, the village head quickly gave a loud order, "Don't even think about touching anything in the secondary house again !" This made Zhu Changhai pause, not daring to follow Old Madam Zhu's orders.

After the village head checked the division of assets, he was about to go back and write a separation contract and sever ties, but Zhu Changyu walked over with a polite attitude and spoke firmly.

" Village headman, I have one more request."

The village head looked at him with suspicion.

" Come on, if it makes sense, I will help you."

Zhu Changyu took a deep breath before continuing.

" I want to change my family's surname to Lin, so that everyone will know that we are completely independent from the Zhu family."

These words made the villagers who were still watching stunned for a moment. The village head himself showed a slightly surprised expression, but when he saw Zhu Changyu's resolute gaze, he nodded.

" If that's what you want, I'll take care of it. I'll write a document certifying the change of surname and bring it along with the separation contract tomorrow."

Zhu Changyu smiled faintly and said thank you.

" Thank you, village headman. I want my children and grandchildren to start over without having to deal with the suffering of the past."

After hearing about the surname change, many villagers began to talk with each other, understanding the pain that the Rong family had endured for many years. Many people began to look at Old Lady Zhu with different eyes, some shook their heads and said softly,

" No wonder he wants to sever ties with the Zhu family."

Old Madam Zhu, who was standing in the main house, was peeking out of the window. Her expression was still furious, but she could do nothing more than clench her teeth until her jaw was tense. Meanwhile, Zhu Changyu and the people in the secondary house started packing up their things in the house with calm faces and determination towards the new future that awaited them.

When the village head left with justice served, Zhu Changyu nodded at Lin Ai and all the children immediately started moving. They rushed into the house without hesitation to pack up the remaining things. Lin Ai took out a wicker basket lined with torn cloth and began putting in old plates, bowls, and teacups. She worked quietly, but her eyes were filled with determination.

The eldest daughter, Zhu Qing'an, helped take out the family's old clothes from a wooden chest. She quickly folded them and put them into a prepared cloth sack. Her two younger brothers, Zhu Qingcheng and Zhu Qingyang, were helping to pull out an old, worn-out cart hidden behind the house. Although they looked exhausted, the two children were working enthusiastically.

Zhu Changyu walked around the house and checked the things. He took out small things that had sentimental value, such as the wooden beads he carved himself for his eldest son's birthday and an old scarf that his wife had knitted for him when he was young. He put them into a small cloth bag that he always carried with him.

" Is everything packed ?" he asked Lin Ai who was carrying a sack of clothes. Lin Ai nodded.

" There are only pots and pans left in the kitchen. I'll go get them right away," she said as she hurried towards the kitchen.

Zhu Changyu looked around the house that used to be his family's home. Although it was a small, dilapidated house, it was filled with memories. He sighed softly before telling himself, "Hold on a little longer. We still have tomorrow."

After packing up almost all of her belongings onto the cart, Lin Ai returned with the rice pot that she had been cooking with for many years. Zhu Qingcheng and Zhu Qingyang helped tie the things on the cart tightly. They turned to ask their father with innocent voices.