Chapter 15: Ch. 8 Part 1
A sixteen to seventeen years boy with the temperament of a scholar and dressed in scholar’s clothes happily walked to them
" eldest brother, eldest sister-law you’re finally back. I was told you’ve both went to the county when I arrived earlier " Jun Xiangzhi happily said to YanZhi,
" Hm " YanZhi nodded and walked past Xiangzhi leaving Xiangzhi scratching the back of his head awkwardly and Xiao Ling smiling awkwardly, he wasn’t angry that his eldest brother ignored him since he was used to YanZhi’s temperament... he just wished his family will one day become close.
" welcome back fifth brother... I hope you had a safe journey back " Xiao Ling took the initiative to welcome him since YanZhi wasn’t planning to
" thank you sister-law, my journey back was good " Xiangzhi happily said..... Xiao Ling excused himself and went to keep the basket in the kitchen before he went to the well to wash his feet, YanZhi raised his head to look at him when he saw Xiao Ling approaching and looking at him skeptically but he chose to pay no mind to his curiosity. YanZhi had no grudge against the other sons of the Jun family he just didn’t want them to be attached to him too much, that was why he doesn’t show any closeness to them.
They head to the dinner table where everyone was seated and the food was served... Xiao Ling didn’t have any option but to seat with the women as Xiangzhi was home and he took the seat next to YanZhi making the seats at the men side full, but Xiao Ling wasn’t sad since he knew tonight was the last dinner he’ll have with the family which increased his mood as they started to eat.
" eldest how much did you make from selling the preys? shouldn’t you spare some silver for the family? " Du Shi asked and glanced at YanZhi who was eating with no worries of the world
" mother I didn’t make much from the preys I sold, so I can’t spare some silver this time " YanZhi said bluntly but Du Shi, Father Jun, grandma, the second son, his wife and the third son’s wife didn’t want to give up easily since they were all eyeing the money from selling the preys.
" eldest how many silvers did the preys for, you must have sold it for quite a lot silvers can’t you spare a tael or two for the family? " grandma asked
" yes eldest you have to bring money to your family when you make it " father Jun added which made Xiao Ling sneered in his heart but YanZhi had no mind in bothering with them
" father I only sold the preys for three and half taels, I bought some fabrics for both my wife and I remaining two taels... I have to keep that on me for future use since it’s not always that I hit preys in the mountain " Xiao Ling almost laughed hearing YanZhi say that to them
" are you sure it didn’t reach five taels? the preys were many.... " grandma asked suspiciously but YanZhi ignored her " any ways there are still two taels left right, give them to your fifth brother he’s in need of silvers for his studies as a scholar, you’ll also benefit from him when he makes it " grandma instructed
" no, the silver belongs to eldest brother how can he just give them to me.... grandma I can manage. Eldest brother don’t mind me, I’ll get money else where " Xiangzhi said apologetically
" grandma, father, mother... I’ll borrow the silvers from a friend and pay later when the money is in hand " Xiangzhi assured which made both YanZhi and Xiao Ling see him different.... he wasn’t one to convert what belonged to others.
" all of you stay in your seats... I have something to say to everyone here " YanZhi said as everyone was getting ready to get up after finishing the dishes on the table... they all turned their attention on him since YanZhi had never done anything like keeping people seated after dinner. They all became curious at what YanZhi wanted to say which required everyone, but Xiao Ling was rather getting excited
" eldest what is it that you wish to say to us? " father Jun asked
" father I want to ask that you separate me from the family" YanZhi bluntly stated which made everyone except Xiao Ling baffled and shocked
" eldest how could you ask for a separation from your family... ah~ it’s all that broomstar’s idea right!! " grandma stated as she glared angrily at Xiao Ling as if he (XL) had taken something dear from her which made Xiao Ling shrink his neck avoiding her fierce glare
" it was no one’s idea grandma, father promised me that when I returned from my journey. He took the twenty taels of silvers I brought with me in exchange for granting a separation but I just didn’t bring it up now until now " they all turn to father Jun as YanZhi said
" erm, I did promise him back then but I only did that because I thought he was being repulsive... I didn’t know that he meant it when he asked for separation. But eldest this is where your whole family is, how could you separate from us? " father Jun defended and asked but YanZhi wasn’t planning on changing his mind
" father are you planning on going back on your words? " asked YanZhi
" eldest we will be laughed at when others hear that our family is separating.... do you want us to become a joke for the vil.... "
" father I’m not asking you to separate the whole family, I ask that you separate just me and my wife. If father is going back on his words... just return back the twenty taels you took " YanZhi cut him off and said which made some of them scared.
There was only seven taels left out of the twenty taels which they were surviving on until they harvest their fields in autumn so they couldn’t give away the remaining of the money nor could they get all the twenty taels for him, father Jun had to choose between the money or YanZhi and he’d definitely choose the money over YanZhi which will be what the rest also choose.
" father grant him the separation he wants, if he can’t handle himself later and comes back we won’t take him back " the second son said pretending to be annoyed but in real he just didn’t want father Jun to give back the silver to YanZhi.
" don’t speak nonsense second " Du Shi pretended to scold him but in heart she was happy of his follow up which made his wife too happy
" father, since you’ve promised eldest brother you shouldn’t break your promise now, or my colleagues won’t trust me anymore when words get out that our Jun family isn’t trust worthy " Xiangzhi said in favor of YanZhi trying to get his eldest brother a smooth separation
" even if we get separated us five will always be siblings " he added
" father, fifth brother is right... eldest brother will always be our brother even after separation.. right elder brother? " YanZhi nodded to Xiangzhi and Chuntao’s words. Chuntao was a girl so she isn’t allowed to speak when household affairs are being discussed since she’s being trained as a young lady to marry into a well off family... just like her twin she doesn’t convert what doesn’t belong to her and love all her family equally.
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