CHAPTER 393: CHAPTER 375: SUCH ARRANGEMENT (1)

"Didn’t our family give you any benefits? Are you asking for something in return?"

"What’s this? You think sending over those two worthless ginseng roots is enough to deal with my family? Do you take us for beggars?"

"You... you all have no shame!"

"Your family is the one without shame!"

As they argued, it somehow turned into shoving.

The room was too crowded, and there wasn’t much space to begin with. As the young people from both families started shoving, they naturally affected others.

Someone who didn’t get along with them took the opportunity to strike back, kicking or also pushing.

Very quickly, what started as a conflict between two people turned into a group fight.

The room was in chaos.

Old Mrs. Zhao shouted for it to stop several times, but no one paid her any attention.

Li Yuzhu couldn’t help but frown.

Is this the true face of the Zhao family?

Putting on a show of family feuds to fight over the inheritance after the matriarch fell ill?

Is it because of too much money? Or too many descendants? That causes the family to fight and argue constantly?

"Madam, may this county magistrate speak a word of fairness?" The county magistrate clasped his hands towards Old Mrs. Zhao.

"I invited you, my lord, to serve as a witness. Speak freely," Old Mrs. Zhao said.

"Very well, then this county magistrate will speak." He turned to face everyone, his expression stern as he loudly said, "Everyone listen carefully, from now on, anyone causing trouble will be expelled! Without Old Mrs. Zhao’s permission, no one is allowed to enter the room!"

Not entering the room, what if the inheritance is reduced?

As soon as the county magistrate said this, no one dared to argue anymore, nor did they dare to push anyone.

Everyone stood quietly like chickens.

Old Mrs. Zhao pointed to her pillow and said, "Lai Qing’s family, open this pillow and take out what’s inside, distribute it. This is all I have."

Lai Qing’s family looked sorrowful, "Madam..."

"Distribute it."

"Alright." Lai Qing’s family nodded.

She found another pillow and replaced Old Mrs. Zhao’s pillow.

Old Mrs. Zhao’s children and grandchildren craned their necks to look.

Those standing in the back couldn’t see, and didn’t dare to make a loud fuss as before, fearing they’d be expelled.

After all, those standing in the room would get a share.

Lai Qing’s family opened the pillow and took out a wooden box from a pile of chaff stuffing.

The Zhao family members craned their necks even more.

But, there was a small lock on the little box.

Lai Qing’s family looked at Old Mrs. Zhao again, "Madam, it’s locked."

Old Mrs. Zhao pointed to her neck, "Here."

Lai Qing’s family understood, she untied the collar of Old Mrs. Zhao and took out a red string with a copper key hanging from her clothes.

She unlocked it, revealing neatly arranged envelopes inside the box.

"Lord County Magistrate..." Old Mrs. Zhao took a deep breath, "Please... distribute them."

"Alright, Old Mrs. Zhao." The county magistrate took all the envelopes from the box and began to read them out one by one.

Those whose names were called eagerly came forward to collect their envelopes, and eagerly opened them to look inside.

Li Yuzhu, with her sharp eyes, saw that some envelopes contained thick stacks of silver notes, while others had property deeds and such.

This Old Mrs. Zhao was truly wealthy.

The money just from this matriarch was substantial, and the entire family’s fortune must be even more significant, right?

Various mistresses from each family went over to see how much their sons and husbands received.

Families gathered to quietly discuss, some happy, others angry.

"Lord County Magistrate, please bear witness, no matter how much money each person receives, no one is allowed to be envious of how much others get. Anyone who causes trouble and quarrels with their siblings will have their share confiscated and handed over to the county government," Old Mrs. Zhao took another breath and said, "I... I wrote a note, let them sign it, my lord."

She patted the bed and called out to Lai Qing’s family.

Lai Qing’s family uncovered the bedding, taking out several sheets of paper pressed under it.

The county magistrate took them in hand to look, secretly astonished. The rumor was that Old Mrs. Zhao was muddle-headed, yet she prepared such a thorough distribution of property?

Not only was he surprised, but Sister-in-law Chai and her husband were equally surprised.

They wondered inwardly, could it be that the matriarch was pretending to be muddle-headed?

While others thought so, Li Yuzhu pondered that Old Mrs. Zhao’s brain had visibly shrunk, so being confused was normal. Remembering to distribute the property while muddled?

Or do matriarchs of wealthy families always have a backup plan?

She recalled seeing Old Mrs. Zhao that night, with sharp eyes but muddled actions.

She couldn’t fathom Old Mrs. Zhao’s true intentions anymore.

"Have them all come to sign; no signature, no distribution," Old Mrs. Zhao said. "Also, kindly have Lord County Magistrate write his name."

The County Magistrate said, "Rest assured, madam, as a witness, I must of course sign my name." He then said to the Zhao Family, "Gentlemen, Masters, and Ladies of the Zhao Family, please sign your names?"

The Zhao Family members glanced at each other. To obtain their property smoothly, everyone had no choice but to step forward and sign.

All the Zhao descendants, including the two daughters, signed their names.

The agreement was made in triplicate: one for the Zhao descendants, one retained by the old lady, and one submitted to the County Magistrate for the record.

Old Mrs. Zhao then looked at Li Yuzhu and Sister-in-law Chai, "Since you are here today and the County Magistrate is present, let’s open your letters as well. Take out the contents and let the County Magistrate inspect them and notarize them. This is something I am giving to you, and no one should have any objections! Nor should anyone interfere in your affairs."

Li Yuzhu glanced at Sister-in-law Chai.

Sister-in-law Chai nodded, taking out the letter Zhao Tai sent her a few days ago from her bosom.

Li Yuzhu took hers out as well.

Both opened their envelopes and were stunned by what they saw inside.

Each of their envelopes contained a house deed and land deed.

Additionally, there was a transfer explanation.

Li Yuzhu’s document stated, "Transfer the shop located in a certain area to Li Yuzhu from this day forward," with the signature of Old Mrs. Zhao as Xiang Shuixiang and the transfer date, along with a stamped seal.

Sister-in-law Chai’s envelope also contained a shop’s land deed and house deed, with the content similar to Li Yuzhu’s.

Moreover, the two shops were adjacent to each other.

Old Mrs. Zhao then requested the County Magistrate to sign, apply a handprint, and affix a personal seal on their transfer contracts.

"Read it out loud for everyone," Old Mrs. Zhao said to Li Yuzhu and Sister-in-law Chai.

The two exchanged glances, and Sister-in-law Chai said, "I’ll go first."

The Zhao Family was curious about what the old lady had given them, craning their necks to watch and listen.

When they heard Sister-in-law Chai read, "Xiang Shuixiang transfers a shop in a certain location to Xiang Shiyun," they all became angry and started shouting noisily.

"Did Lord County Magistrate hear who is shouting? Please have their distributed property taken back and the people expelled," Old Mrs. Zhao said calmly.

The gentle command frightened everyone in the room into immediate silence.

They only dared to hold their grievances in their hearts.

Once Sister-in-law Chai finished her reading, it was Li Yuzhu’s turn.

The Zhao Family members in the room only dared to grunt in disapproval, not daring to make a sound.

"Did you hear clearly? I have given these two shops to them," Old Mrs. Zhao said. "From today onwards, those two shops have nothing to do with the Zhao Family."

The Zhao Family members had previously signed a non-opposition agreement and only dared to listen without objecting, "We heard."

"I’m tired, everyone, please leave," Old Mrs. Zhao waved her hand at the crowd.

The roomful of people dispersed in groups, soon leaving the place empty.

Only two maids remained in the old lady’s room, along with a steward nanny from Lai Qing’s family, the invited County Magistrate, and Li Yuzhu and Sister-in-law Chai with their spouses.

The noise once made by the Zhao Family members had cleared entirely.

From sudden noise, the room turned silent enough to hear breathing, making it hard to adjust for a moment.

The two maids secretly rubbed their ears.

Lord County Magistrate glanced outside, where the slow-walking Zhao Family members were whispering a discussion at the courtyard gate.

He turned back, gave a slight sigh, and bowed to Old Mrs. Zhao, saying, "Old Mrs. Zhao, what kind of arrangement is this?"

No one expected that the illustrious Zhao Family in the county would come to the point of dividing family assets.

This division meant that the Zhao Family was no longer one of the top families in the county.

The family’s power relied on concentrated strength.

Li Yuzhu and Sister-in-law Chai with their spouses couldn’t understand Old Mrs. Zhao’s arrangement either.

Old Mrs. Zhao smiled bitterly, "A mother knows her children best. I know them too well; if I’m alive, they dare not fight, but if I die, they would certainly fight till death. Each one thinks they are capable and refuses to concede. Whoever gets the management rights of the Zhao Family would face opposition and schemes from others to disrupt their peace and force them to relinquish the control. Choosing another would yield the same results. Fighting like this benefits other families; it is better to divide the assets, letting them manage their own, so it doesn’t fall to ruin and get taken by outsiders."

The County Magistrate, managing county affairs and dealing with all major families, immediately understood her grievance upon hearing Old Mrs. Zhao’s concerns.

He said, "The old lady is worrying about her descendants’ affairs, but her descendants may not understand the hardships of the old lady."

Old Mrs. Zhao smiled bitterly, "Leave it to fate."

"Mother, mother! You can’t do this!"

"Grandmother, this is unfair!"

"Mother, how can the useless third son manage the bank?"

Outside, the departed Zhao children and grandchildren came shouting and clamoring again, while Old Mrs. Zhao closed her eyes and turned her head away.

A few started shoving and pushed their way into the bedroom.

Rushing in were four sons of Old Mrs. Zhao, along with a grandson from the eldest and third households.

None of the six were convinced, each cursing the other as useless, undeserving of those belongings.