Chapter 304 - 189 Part 3
In the main chamber, Qian Manchuan was also persuading Old man Qian, "Father, Mother, let it be. If Third Uncle wants to give something to Auntie Xia, let him do so. It’s fortunate that nothing happened to him this time. If he had been hurt, the third branch of the family would probably hate us to death. If we’re not careful, we might even get a reputation for coveting the relatives’ properties. Even children like Jinwa and Yixiu know that good men do not live off the division of family property, and good women do not wear clothes prepared for marriage. Why must we, grown men, be so fixated on those two shares?"
Old man Qian’s eyes reddened a bit as he said, "I always felt that Sangui was the most sensible and filial of all my sons. I didn’t expect that he would be so defiant over such a trivial matter, and with such a fierce temper. I’m not stopping him from giving Auntie Xia a dowry; I know he is compensating for the hardships she has suffered. But Dessert House belongs to the Qian family. Every year I have to remind our ancestors, saying how our family’s Dessert House and Jinxiu Embroidery Workshop are thriving and growing stronger. What he’s doing—how am I supposed to face our ancestors when I go to their graves? Tell them our family assets have gone to outsiders? If I let him do as he pleases, wouldn’t he eventually give away the huge asset of Jinxiu Embroidery Workshop as well?"
The old man grew more and more distressed, to the point of choking up.
Old woman Qian said with a twist of her mouth, "That won’t do, Jinxiu Embroidery Workshop belongs solely to my Jinwa."
Three days later, Qian Sangui was able to sit up. Although he was still weak, there was no problem in communicating. Qian Yeejin and Qian Yixiu thus told him about their discussed decision, which was to withdraw from the "Old Brother Snack House"—even if it meant suffering a loss, from then on they would draw a clear line with that side. Otherwise, if they kept being entangled, they might even cast their sights on Jinxiu Embroidery Workshop someday.
Qian Sangui said, "That’s what I think as well. Take a loss and break away from the property completely..."
But Qian Sangui’s proposal meant their branch would suffer too much loss, and the siblings Qian Yeejin and Qian Yixiu were clearly reluctant.
Qian Sangui sighed, "Our family doesn’t care about that little bit of money anymore, just give it to them. Consider it my support for my brothers and nephews, and also fulfilling my father’s wish for everyone to live a good life."
The siblings looked at Grandfather Sangui, his face far older than Qian Dagui’s, and his hair much sparser than Old man Qian’s, and could only nod in agreement.
Qian Sangui continued, "I’ve already thought it through. My health is not good, and who knows when I’ll die. While I’m still alive, let’s separate Yixiu’s dowry first to avoid them making a fuss... Keep Guiyuan, Jinxiu Embroidery Workshop, the forty mu of lotus ponds east of Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, and the eighty-two mu of fields for the family; not only as support for the family to continue living, but also for Jinwa’s future. The ten percent stake in partnership with Wuxi Teahouse, Liancourt Workshop, Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, and the forty mu of lotus ponds west of Mountain of Flowers and Fruits will be given to Yixiu as her dowry. Out of the few thousand taels of silver that your grandmother holds, take out five hundred taels for Auntie Xia first. The rest is for household use, so when Yixiu gets married and Jinwa takes a wife, it can also be used." Turning to Qian Yeejin, he added, "Don’t blame me for giving your sister a bit more, but after all, most of this family wealth was earned by your sister."
Qian Yeejin hurriedly made his stance clear, "Grandfather, it’s okay to give my sister more. Jinwa is a boy and can earn his own way in the future."