CHAPTER 175: CHAPTER 175: YOU ASKED FOR A REASON, DIDN’T YOU?

Director Sun is both the He Family’s neighbor and a leader at the steel factory, so inviting him to witness the event was most appropriate. The remaining individuals are all respected figures in the community.

Director Sun actually did not want to get involved in these family affairs, but since they respected him enough to invite him, he couldn’t refuse. Nevertheless, since he was here, he needed to speak up: "Old He, have you thought this through?"

He Sanqiang looked around at everyone in the room: "As trees grow, they branch out; as people age, they form their own families. My wife and I are getting older, and we no longer have the energy to manage this big family. By dividing the family, my wife and I can have a peaceful life, and the children can have more freedom and independence."

Director Sun and the few witnessing neighbors saw that He Sanqiang had said this, so they also made some agreeable comments.

He Sanqiang said, "Everyone is aware of our family’s situation. In the courtyard, there are a total of five main rooms. The kitchen and storage rooms are temporary structures. Currently, my wife and I live in one main room, the eldest and the second each have their own, and of the remaining two, one is occupied by Yuejin with a few nephews, while the other was previously occupied by Yanqing, and now is inhabited by two granddaughters.

I, He Sanqiang, may not be very capable, but I want to be fair. With five main rooms, each of my four sons gets one, and the room we live in will be left to the eldest’s family after we are gone."

Just as he said this, the second daughter-in-law, Gao Yumei, protested, "Dad, you just mentioned fairness, how can you divide it like this? Why does Big Brother’s family get an extra room?

And Third, he doesn’t even need a house in the city. The Mechanical Factory clearly has allocated housing for him, so why should he occupy a room here too?"

He Sanqiang glared sharply at his second daughter-in-law, "Are you asking why? Well, because the eldest went out to work and earn for the family from an early age. He only finished elementary school, and all the younger siblings, except for the Third who wasn’t living with us, were supported by his earnings.

And your Big Sister-in-law has borne two sons and a daughter for the He Family. She has shown respect to her in-laws, never picked fights, and has always been considerate of the family. So, what do you say to that?"

He paused for a moment before continuing, "As for Third, yes, he had allotted housing at the Mechanical Factory, but that was earned by his own merit. Although he didn’t grow up with me, he’s still my son, and the one I, He Sanqiang, owe the most.

Had it not been for his sacrifice, the entire family back then might not have survived. He left home at six, returned at seventeen, stayed for less than a year before joining the military, and upon returning home, went directly to the Mechanical Factory. So, what do you say to that?"

He Jian Country saw that the family patriarch was genuinely angry and hurriedly stood up to persuade him, "Dad, don’t you know what kind of person Yumei is? Just ignore her. Just divide it as it should be."

However, in his anger, He Sanqiang redirected his criticism, "Second, back then, the community required every family to send a child to the countryside. You were the only one eligible at home at the time. The eldest already had a job and couldn’t go, Third’s household registration was still with your maternal aunt, hadn’t returned, and the Fourth and Fifth were too young and still in school. You had just graduated high school and were unemployed at home.

Yet every year, the family scrimped and saved to send you supplies, fearing you’d suffer in the countryside. To bring you back to the city sooner, I retired early from my job so you could return and take over. To put it bluntly, of all the children in the family, your branch is the least justified to question why."

This remark was a direct blow to He Jian Country’s pride. It wasn’t that He Sanqiang wanted to embarrass his son, but some things had to be said to prevent his son from being swayed by his wife’s bedside persuasion and causing a rift between brothers.

He Jian Country’s face turned from blue to red in embarrassment, "Dad, it is your son’s lack of filial piety that failed to manage the household affairs well. I understand everything you said, and I feel guilty in my heart."

After saying this, he gave Gao Yumei a forceful nudge, "Apologize."

Gao Yumei wore a heavy face, but she understood she had been too rash. Reluctantly, she said, "Dad, I’m sorry, it was my mistake. I didn’t understand the family’s past situation before making those remarks. Please forgive me."

He Sanqiang wasn’t unreasonable. Whether his daughter-in-law genuinely knew her mistake or was fake apologizing, seeing her soften her stance calmed much of his anger. He took the tea mug handed over by his wife Zhang Guizhi and drank a few sips of water, "As long as you know your mistake, it’s fine. A family shouldn’t be calculative with each other, especially when your branch is the one benefiting most."

With that one sentence, he defined the character of the second branch.

He Jian Country also knew that what his father said was not wrong. Although he went to the countryside, those years the family tightened their belts to send him supplies frequently. His days in the countryside were no worse than those of his family in the city.

Not to mention he even took over his father’s position at work, indeed receiving the greatest benefit, "Dad, don’t be angry. We’ll all listen to you."