Lu Ye looked at Lu Hua and suddenly felt that this little girl had grown up, able to ponder such profound questions.
Lu Yun walked up to the eight-year-old Lu Baolai, his expression stern, and asked him, "Will you still bully me and Lu Yu with the other children in the future?"
Lu Baolai was hungry and thirsty. Seeing the rosy faces of Lu Yun and Lu Yu as they ate, and thinking that their family had food and water, he whispered, "I will never bully you again. I… I'll be your little follower."
"Then… do you mean it?" Lu Yun asked uncertainly.
Lu Baolai nodded dully, "I mean it."
The eldest branch's wife, Madam Xu, quickly pushed the nine-year-old Lu Xiaosi in front of Lu Hua. Lu Xiaosi was the most unremarkable child. She called out "Sister Xiaohua" to Lu Hua and then fell silent.
"Mhm," Lu Hua responded, her voice choked.
Lu Ye moved his Adam's apple. It was truly difficult for him to make a decision. His parents had told him that their deceased grandfather had been very good to them, and without him, his mother might have died long ago.
For Grandpa's sake, he might concede. But as soon as he thought of the vicious faces of Old Madam Chen and the first and third branches, he could not bear it.
At this moment, Bai Sheng actually walked over, took his hand, and looked at him with gentle eyes, "Husband, give them a chance to reform."
Lu Ye was somewhat surprised, and everyone outside was greatly astonished. Lu Xing and Lu Dahai were filled with excitement.
"Then everything will be as my wife arranges," Lu Ye found it difficult to make a choice. Hearing Bai Sheng say this, his heart suddenly felt relieved, and the suffocating feeling vanished instantly.
Bai Sheng turned to face Old Madam Chen's entire family and said loudly, "However, I have one condition: everyone in your family must participate in labor."
The eldest branch's wife's face lit up with joy, "Yes, no problem." Her mother-in-law had been idle for years, doing nothing, relying on the younger generation to serve her. If her mother-in-law also had to work, she would be overjoyed.
Madam Yao was also very happy, her thoughts similar to Madam Xu's.
Bai Sheng looked at Old Madam Chen and said sternly, "I mean everyone, including Old Madam Chen and the children. Furthermore, what work is done each day will be arranged by us. There will be no objections, and no shirking. Otherwise, the entire family will be dismissed. To prevent anyone from causing trouble again, going back on their word, or distorting the truth, we will sign an agreement."
"Alright, I agree with what my niece-in-law said," Madam Xu declared loudly. She had long wanted to get rid of Old Madam Chen. If Old Madam Chen refused, she would seize the opportunity to separate the family.
Whenever there was anything good in the house, Old Madam Chen kept it all for herself. Why should she?
The others also nodded one after another, their faces showing excitement. This way, their entire family could survive.
Old Madam Chen's expression turned cold, but she said, "I am an old woman, with so many years behind me. I can't do much work. If I accidentally get injured, it will also implicate you. With so many sons and grandsons, if you expect this old woman to work, and others see it, they will say my sons and grandsons are unfilial."
The people from the first and third branches had various expressions upon hearing this.
Bai Sheng let out a cold snort, "You don't have to work, but then all of you must leave here immediately. Red Tree Slope cannot tolerate people who do not work and only eat food."
Madam Xu gritted her teeth, "If Mother is unwilling to work, our eldest branch will separate, and we will split off on our own." She had suffered enough over the years. For her family, she had to make a choice.
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Chen was so enraged that her eyeballs almost bulged out. She pointed at Madam Xu and said, "Good, you Madam Xu, your fox tail has finally been revealed! You want to split the family? If you dare to split the family, I will have your eldest son divorce you!"
Madam Xu was no longer afraid of her and smiled sarcastically, "Madam, take a look at the current situation. Your entire family is starving, and you are unwilling to work together. You are only fifty years old, and you always eat the best food at home, and you are the one who does no work. Your body is well-maintained, there's nothing you can't do! You're just used to being bossy. You don't have to work, but if it affects our eldest branch, I will separate immediately. If you want your son to divorce me, that's fine too. I'll take Lu Yang, Lu Xing, and Xiaosi and live separately!"
"You wish! Lu Yang and Lu Xing belong to my Lu family!" Old Madam Chen was so angry she jumped up and down.
Madam Yao from the third branch also glanced at Old Madam Chen secretly and said with a nervous smile, "Mother, if you are unwilling to work, our third branch will also separate."
Lu Dahe glared at Madam Yao, and Madam Yao glared back defiantly. Now, if her mother-in-law affected her and her two children's survival, she would separate. If her husband affected her and her children's survival, she would divorce him! In any case, after these hungry and thirsty days, she had finally figured out many things.
"You… you all have really rebelled!" Old Madam Chen pointed at one, then at another, her face twitching with anger, beating her chest and stomping her feet.
Lu Dahe said, "Mother, it's finally fortunate that your nephew's wife has given us a way to live. Don't make trouble anymore. At worst, your son will help you work later."
Madam Xu kicked Lu Dahai in anger.
Bai Sheng said expressionlessly, "Each person's work must be done by themselves. If someone helps, their workload will double."
Old Madam Chen glanced at Bai Sheng secretly. She knew that this wretched servant was targeting her, but she had no choice. If she didn't agree, both daughters-in-law would be clamoring to separate, and then there would be no one to support her.
She gritted her back teeth and said, "Fine, we'll do as you say."
Bai Sheng had Du Min write an agreement, clearly stating her demands. Old Madam Chen's entire family pressed their thumbprints.
Today, Old Madam Chen's family could be assigned some work. Otherwise, looking at their hungry and thirsty state, they would hardly last until tomorrow.
After sending the family away, Lu Ye hugged Bai Sheng, his heart filled with concern, "My dear, you've worked hard. These rotten people and rotten affairs always come to bother you."
Bai Sheng smiled, "I just moved my lips, what's so hard about that? It's you who must feel terrible inside, right?"
Lu Ye's gaze shifted slightly as he stroked Bai Sheng's head, "Nothing escapes your eyes."
Bai Sheng pulled Lu Ye to sit by the table in the main hall, "Husband, I know you are conflicted. You don't want to see Old Madam Chen's face, and you only want Lu Xing and your eldest brother to come and work. After all, out of that family, only those two are sincere towards our family. But, think about it, those people are their family after all, and that cannot be changed. If only those two come to work, their daily wages would have to support a whole family. Wouldn't that be letting Lu Xing and your eldest brother become the beasts of burden for the entire family? And others would reap the benefits."
Lu Ye was slightly stunned, "My dear, you are very right. I had overlooked this point."
Bai Sheng pinched his chin and chided, "You are letting hatred cloud your mind. You only think about repelling Old Madam Chen and the others from a distance, which would be a slap in the face. But sometimes, the best form of torment is to grant their wishes. People like Old Madam Chen should be disciplined through labor, through reform through labor, rather than letting her rely on her age and boss around her descendants to support her. Moreover, once she doesn't work properly, Madam Xu and Madam Yao will jump out. This way, it will create divisions within them. Over time, they will tear each other apart and destroy themselves. Husband, just wait and see."