Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1508: Chapter 1609: Dividing the Family_1

Bai Ruozhu’s heart skipped a beat, ”Raised you for over thirty years,” why didn’t he say born and raised? She felt a throbbing pain in her temples. What on earth was going on? Why did it all seem like a mess?

She discreetly glanced at Jiang Yichun and saw his eyes were dark and gloomy, as if he had come to the same conclusion as her.

”Father, what are you talking about? What exactly is happening here?” Jiang Xuexiang was also shocked and hastened to support Elder Jiang Ge and asked him.

Unfortunately, Elder Jiang Ge’s mind was not clear, as if he was talking nonsense. When asked for clarification, he fell silent again.

Bai Ruozhu hurried forward to check his pulse, and soon furrowed her brows as she asked Jiang Xuexiang, ”Uncle, has Grandpa been like this often lately? And becoming more forgetful? Even talking to himself?”

”That’s right,” Jiang Xuexiang said after some thought.

”He has a mild case of senility. He’s getting forgetful with age. You mustn’t let him go out alone. He might not be able to find his way home,” Bai Ruozhu warned. It wasn’t that she sympathized with Elder Jiang Ge; it was that things were still unclear, and she didn’t want anything to happen to him.

After withdrawing her hand, Bai Ruozhu gave Jiang Xuexiang several more instructions, but unexpectedly, the silent Elder Jiang Ge suddenly looked at Jiang Yichun with a crying tone, ”Yichun, you’re finally here. You’re my eldest grandson.”

Bai Ruozhu’s heart tightened. What did Elder Jiang Ge’s words imply? Was Achun his eldest grandson, and their earlier assumption a misunderstanding? After all, the elder’s mind was muddled, and he was often incoherent; perhaps it wasn’t what they thought it meant.

Jiang Yichun’s facial muscles were tense, and his cheeks were slightly puffed out, showing that he was clenching his jaw tightly.

He was unaccustomed to scenes like this, and even less to Elder Jiang Ge in such a state. Wasn’t the old man supposed to glare at him and then snort coldly, ignoring him or telling him to keep his distance?

Jiang Yichun didn’t know why his heart skipped a beat. Elder Jiang Ge’s abnormal behavior made him think of ”a returning light before death.” He knew he shouldn’t feel sympathy for that old man, but he couldn’t help feeling distressed.

Ten years ago, up until he was twelve, there was a harmonious household. Even though Grandpa was very strict with them and often scolded his father for not being serious about his work, he indeed truly cared for him.

He sighed. After all, the old man had cared for him for twelve years.

Elder Jiang Ge reached out to Jiang Yichun and suddenly started to cry. His wrinkled face was streaked with tears, and his runny nose made him look exceptionally wretched but also particularly pitiful.

The decrepit elder had made mistakes, but at this time, who could be completely without compassion?

Jiang Yichun walked over step by step, his movements heavy as if his legs were bound by chains weighing thousands of pounds, and his face also showed pain. He hesitated, wondering if moving forward would be a betrayal to his deceased father.

”Yichun, do you think Grandpa was wrong? Should I not have doubted your dad? Was it me who caused his death?” Elder Jiang Ge asked while crying, but his blurred eyes lacked focus, indicating his mind was still clouded; otherwise, would he have admitted his mistake when lucid?

The words ”Was it me who caused his death?” pierced Jiang Yichun’s heart. His body shook, and his face grew cold.

”Yes,” he said unapologetically, then reached out and slowly pried Elder Jiang Ge’s hand from his own.

”Yichun...” Jiang Xuexiang’s heart softened, and tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.

Bai Ruozhu’s lips moved, but she ultimately remained silent. She could understand Achun; it was clear he was already struggling a lot on the inside.

”I am the foolish one. I’ve managed this family into a mess. I should have died long ago, so as not to have harmed my sons and grandsons,” Elder Jiang Ge wept bitterly. Suddenly, he turned to Jiang Xuexiang, ”Let’s divide the family today. Better to separate from them sooner rather than later. I’ve harmed enough people already; I can’t keep harming you and Yihong and the others.”

”Dad, the most important thing is for you to get better. Let’s not talk about splitting the family just yet,” Jiang Xuexiang pleaded through his tears.

”It has to be divided, this time for sure,” Elder Jiang Ge insisted as he rambled on about how he had wronged Jiang Xuerui. Bai Ruozhu gave Jiang Xuexiang a look and whispered, ”Boss, just divide it. It will be easier for you to take care of him after that.”

At that moment, Madame Jiang, along with Jiang Zhihe and Jiang Yihong, hurried over. Bai Ruozhu quietly informed them of the old master’s orders. Madame Jiang couldn’t hide her delight, ”Did the old master really say that? That’s wonderful!”

”What’s so wonderful about it? It’s not supposed to be a separation; they were never part of your family in the first place!” Bai Ruozhu snorted coldly.

”Well, it doesn’t matter. As long as we can separate from them, even if it means giving away money, it’s all the same to me,” Madame Jiang said, pursing her lips dismissively. ”After all, there’s not much wealth in the house.”

Elder Jiang Ge cried for a while before drying his tears and calling the household steward to summon Jiang Xuebin and Dou Ning’s families to announce the division of the family.

Soon, everyone was called together, but the two families had almost turned out in full force. Were they trying to gain an advantage in numbers?

Bai Ruozhu looked at them with disdain, noticing Jiang Xuebin’s wife pretentiously saying something about hearing that the old master was ill and that everyone was worried and had come over.

”Let’s not waste words. Before I die, let’s divide the family today,” Elder Jiang Ge said with a hoarse voice, but his eyes seemed clearer.

”What’s gotten into you, old master? You’re still sturdy. Why talk of dying? Don’t speak of yourself like that!” Jiang Xuebin shouted, deflecting the topic as if he had not heard anything about dividing the property.

Elder Jiang Ge raised an arm to stop him from continuing, propping himself up in bed a bit and saying, ”Stop the nonsense. We’re dividing now. Xuebin and Dou Ning are technically not my descendants, and by rights, the division doesn’t concern you, but considering your difficult lives, I’m giving your two families a share, one for the Boss and one for Yichun from the second branch. The Boss, being the eldest son, will inherit the mansion. Move out in three days—return to your hometowns if you must or find your own livelihoods.”

”How can this be right? Old master, although we’re not your biological children, we’ve treated you as a real father all these years. With so many mouths to feed, giving us only half a share—that chills our hearts!” Jiang Xuebin protested.

Dou Ning chimed in, ”Exactly, we’re all alone in the Capital. Driving us out, isn’t that like watching us starve in the streets?”

Unfortunately, this time the old master was unmoved. He said with a stern face, ”Everyone has their own fate. I’m nearly gone and can’t care for you any longer. You’re not young anymore; it’s time to manage your own households and live your own lives.”

Jiang Xuebin and Dou Ning’s families hadn’t expected Elder Jiang Ge to be so resolute this time. Madam Dou suddenly screamed at Bai Ruozhu, pointing at her and accusing, ”It must be you who fed the old master love potions; it must be you! Otherwise, he would never have been so heartless and ruthless towards us!”