"Brother and sister-in-law, let's make things clear before you leave. Who is actually taking advantage of whom? Zi Fu is my own flesh and blood, born from my body, raised by me for ten months in the womb until today. Was it easy for me? Can I bear to give him to someone else? Moreover, as you can see our family's current situation, I'm not unable to raise a son. Do I still need to take advantage of you and rely on your... whatever 'clouds'? To be blunt, what kind of rain can your clouds bring down? What do you have that's worth me taking advantage of? Is my life now much better than yours? If we hadn't separated the family property, I'd still be as poor as before. Who knows how you would have manipulated and bullied me?" Shen Shi shouted.

  "Shut up, everyone. Sit down and let's talk this through. The more we talk, the uglier it gets. What's with all the scheming and plotting? I was the one who brought up the topic of inheritance, no one knew about it beforehand. If you have any opinions, direct them at me. Since we've started discussing this, let's get everything out in the open today." The old man looked around at everyone after he finished speaking.

  Zi Qing's heart was anxious as soon as she heard the news. In the past year, she had truly regarded herself as a member of this family and had integrated into their blood ties and kinship. Moreover, since her arrival, Zi Fu had always taken special care of her, washing her hair, dressing her, coaxing her when she was in a bad mood, and holding her when she cried. She really couldn't bear the thought of him leaving. Zi Qing walked up to Zi Fu and tightly grasped his hand, gazing at him with tears welling up in her eyes.

  The old man said to Zeng Ruiqing: "You don't agree with Zi Fu, is that someone else's child? That is your brother's child, what's the difference with your own?"

  "It's not like I gave birth to them myself, how can you not tell the difference? I'm still under thirty years old, who says I won't be able to give birth in the future? Others have given birth at fifty!" Zhou cried.

  The old man turned his head to Shen and said, "The child hasn't been given to outsiders, you can see that every day. Such things have happened before, do you want your elder brother's family to be extinct?"

  "Who says our family line will definitely end? I didn't say that, I said we need to take Zi Ping's mother to see a doctor, can't you just give us some time? I don't agree with adopting an heir, at least not now." Zeng Ruiqing said.

  Seeing Zeng Ruiqing and Zhou's strong opposition, Shen's heart felt slightly relieved. She looked at Zeng Ruixiang, who had not made a sound the whole time, but it was clear that he was also very angry. However, with filial piety being paramount, he could not refute them, and according to custom, it should be so.

  The old man asked for Zifu's opinion again. Zifu pursed his lips tightly, with tears in his eyes, and finally said a sentence after a long time: "I have a father and mother."

  Shen's family heard this and hugged their children, Zi Fu, Zi Lu, Zi Qing, and Zi Shou, crying together in a heap.

  The old man sighed and finally agreed to a ten-year deadline. If Ruiqing still didn't have a son after ten years, he would have to take in a concubine or adopt one. He said, "Ruiqing, your father is doing this for your own good. Now that you're bringing up the child, it's as if you've raised him yourself. After a long time, they'll become like family. You know how exceptional the child is, and if you weren't the eldest son, I wouldn't have given him to you. In the future, when you're old, he won't neglect you. Why can't you understand your father's kindness?"

  "There are still many biological children who don't want their parents, let alone adopted ones. Isn't the example of your aunt's family enough? You and your mother forced us to sign a letter because of this, you can't have forgotten? Besides, even if Zi Fu is so big now, no matter how excellent or outstanding he is, he is still someone else's child, and it's impossible to make him feel like one of our own." Zeng Ruiqing's words were still piercing.

  Zeng Ruiqing finished speaking and took his wife and child to leave, Zi Ping still said foolishly: "I haven't taken a bath yet, wait for me to finish washing before leaving." Zhou Shi exerted her strength to pull her out the door, and Zi Ping stumbled out.

  After this, everyone was in no mood to talk, so the old man had to take Tian and his family back home. Autumn Jade still muttered: "Last time I didn't wash properly, this time I still can't wash."

  Zi Qing and Zi Rong saw them off, and still heard Tian Shi complaining to the old master: "Today was fine, but you had to bring this up. I was going to take advantage of everyone's good mood today to tell Rui Xiang to get that Nanmu screen for Er Ya as a dowry, but you stirred things up and they got angry like that. How can I mention it now? What a pity."

  Zi Qing thought that her mother-in-law was really big-hearted, no wonder Zhou Shi said that she only had three daughters in her eyes. At this time, she didn't worry about the two sons of her own family turning against each other, but instead was still calculating the things of her son's family.

  "Girl, don't ask for more, your second brother and sister-in-law have given you quite a bit already. Really, look around our neighborhood, how many families can afford to spend six taels of silver on a daughter-in-law? Your second brother and sister-in-law have been very generous to the family over the years, especially your second brother, he doesn't have any selfish motives, every single tael of silver is given to you, unlike your eldest brother who still has some reservations." After Xia Yu finished speaking, the old man immediately criticized Tian Shi for not being as sensible as his daughter.

  Ziying also thinks that the second aunt is more reasonable and thicker. Unlike Tian Shi and Zhou Shi, when it comes to Zhou Shi, Ziying sympathizes with her on one hand and feels that she speaks too sharply on the other. The relationship between the two families was not close to begin with, and now even superficial harmony may be difficult to maintain.

  Back in the house, Zi Qing saw her mother still wiping away tears, while Zeng Rui Xiang was explaining to Shen Shi that under these circumstances, he really had no right to speak. If he didn't agree, it would hurt his brotherly feelings, and besides, customs were like this; if he disagreed, he would be criticized behind his back.

  It is indeed true that there are two families with a son each. Moreover, Zeng Rui Xiang's side has four sons, and it doesn't make sense for none of them to inherit.

  "Let's not talk about the distant ones, but just mention the fourth sister. Her family had no sons, and wasn't it the case that San Niang's third son, Ruiyu, was adopted by them? Fourth Father passed away early on, and also brought a bunch of famine with him, so Fourth Mother's family is very poor. Since Ruiyu was adopted, he could only live in Fourth Mother's household, and had no share of the property in San Niang's household. San Niang pitied her own son, but was powerless to do anything about it. She couldn't take care of the fields and land, so she could only secretly give him some silver money. This was also limited. But since our family hired Ruiyu, at the very least, Ruiyu had a bit more financial freedom, and could buy clothes for the children. Otherwise, how could San Niang praise you in front of others? She said that you are someone who remembers old times, and knows how to take care of your own people." Zeng Ruixiang explained patiently.

  Shen's family sighed and didn't say anything else. Shen's family had always remembered the kindness of their several paternal uncles, who helped a lot with building houses without asking for a single copper coin. So before the new year, Shen's family went to give each of the sons in San Ba Ba's house a basket of sweet potatoes and told them how to plant and harvest them, and how high the yield would be. Shen's family also specially gave San Ba Ba and San Tang Di a piece of cloth. San Ba Ba was overjoyed and kept praising Shen's family for being kind, understanding the poor and respecting the elderly, and cherishing old relationships.

  When Zi Qing saw that her mother's mood was slightly better, she pulled Zi Lu to boil water for everyone to take a bath. Zi Qing knew that after crying, taking a hot bath would make them feel much more relaxed. After washing up, everyone moved back to the east room. Today is New Year's Eve and they need to stay up late, so Zi Xi couldn't hold on and went to bed first, followed by Zi Shou, then Zi Qing also became drowsy and didn't know what everyone was saying, she crawled to the west room and fell asleep. Since her father came back, Zi Qing insisted on going back to the west room to sleep, fortunately this bed is big enough, it's just right for four little rascals like them.