Grandpa Su cleared his throat and began.
"In our cellar, there's still a box of treasures. You brothers all know about it. Seeing that the situation has improved these past two years, I plan to dig out this box. Do you agree?"
When the box of treasures was found, Grandpa Su and Grandma Su hadn't kept it from their sons and daughters-in-law, only warned them never to speak of it.
Then, the box was hidden in the cellar.
Several years passed in the blink of an eye. The eldest son and his brothers lived increasingly better lives, and they forgot about the large sum of treasure still in the house.
"Dad, our lives are getting better and better. Why don't we just leave that box where it is!"
Although taking out the box would instantly make their lives much easier, there were also risks. The situation had improved in the past two years, but policies could change unexpectedly. What then?
As for the younger generation of the Su family, although surprised, none of them spoke.
Matters like this were for the elders to discuss.
"Your mother and I are getting older. Our family had a division of property before, and now each family's income is calculated separately. It's better to clarify some things in advance," Grandpa Su said.
Grandpa Su knew well that no one would want to move back to the old house. The house in the county town was still empty, but Little Sweet had said not to sell it.
In the capital, apart from Yiming Pavilion, all other industries belonged to the children themselves and had nothing to do with the two elders. The only thing that could be divided was the treasure unexpectedly found in the old house.
The Su brothers and their wives remained silent, watching Grandpa Su quietly.
Grandpa Su said, "The box of treasure in the old house was discovered by Little Sweet. But Little Sweet said she couldn't keep it all to herself. Your mother and I plan to give one-third to Little Sweet, and the remaining two-thirds will be divided equally into four shares. You brothers, the three of you, and Man Xiu will all have a portion."
After he finished speaking, he looked directly at his sons and daughters-in-law.
His sons were not the type to be petty, but if their daughter was also to receive property, it was possible they might harbor some resentment.
"Dad, Mom, you should keep a portion for yourselves too," said the eldest son.
How could they all take a share and leave nothing for the elders?
"When your mother and I came to the capital, we brought two pieces with us. We originally thought that if life was difficult in the capital, we would exchange them for money to live on. Who knew that once we arrived in the capital, life would get better day by day."
Hearing his father say this, the eldest son stopped trying to persuade him.
"Third son, this box, in a way, should belong to your branch of the family. But since we hadn't divided the property at the time, you'll have to bear a little loss!" Grandpa Su said to the third son and his wife.
The third son quickly replied, "Dad, what's there to say? Our family's life is good now. We don't worry about food or clothing. We're opening shops and buying houses. What's there for me to feel at a loss about?"
Hearing the third son's answer, Grandpa Su felt much relieved. He then asked Su Xiaotian.
"Good girl, what do you think? Do you have any objections to this matter?"
"Grandpa, Grandma, I have no objections. That money originally belonged to our entire family. But why do you want to take the box out now?"
In this era, gold wasn't really very valuable. If it were kept for a few more years, its price would rise.
But Su Xiaotian couldn't say this directly!
"Let's take it out. It will be distributed to each of your families. You can decide whether to continue saving it or exchange it for money. Little Sweet, your share is just enough to subsidize starting the factory. Don't always rely on loans. What if you can't repay them?" Grandpa Su advised Su Xiaotian earnestly.
Su Xiaotian then understood that her grandfather had this idea because she was planning to take out loans to start a factory.
She felt a pang of sadness. The elders had always thought of their children throughout their lives.
"Grandpa, Grandma, taking out loans to start a factory is like borrowing a chicken to lay eggs. It's actually quite convenient and good."
"What borrowing a chicken to lay eggs? We should only eat as much as we can hold in our bowls!" Grandpa Su said. "Listen to Grandpa, sell the gold and use the money to start the factory."
Although Su Xiaotian had already decided to earn money through loans, Grandpa Su's words were genuinely for her benefit. She couldn't be ungrateful, so she agreed.
"Little Sweet, is your share enough? You can have our share too," the third son quickly said.
Their father was thinking of their daughter, so how could he not think of his own daughter?
"Dad, it's enough, it's enough. Keep your share for the brothers!" Su Xiaotian quickly said.
She was already getting one-third of it, so she didn't need to divide the family's property anymore.
"Little Sweet, don't be stubborn. You can use my and your second dad's share too!" Qi Liangying said, uncharacteristically generous.
The second son looked at his wife with disbelief.
His wife had changed a lot recently. Why was she becoming more sensible?
Su Xiaotian quickly waved her hands, "Second Dad, Second Mom, you also need to save for the four brothers. If you keep them for a few more years, they will truly be treasures."
The eldest son and his wife said that if Little Sweet didn't want them, they would keep them. If Little Sweet needed them, they would also take them out.
The elders were very satisfied with their sons and daughters-in-law's concern for Su Xiaotian.
Liang Xiu suddenly remembered, "I remember when I went back to my maiden home that year, Little Sweet saw two large stones on the road and insisted they were treasures. She was determined to bring them home and even put them in the corner of the wall."
Everyone laughed when this was mentioned.
"It's not just those two large stones. When Little Sweet was young, she brought home quite a few strange stones and the like. They're all still kept."
Su Xiaotian also smiled as she listened.
Those were indeed treasures, but she couldn't explain it now.
Those were jade, and there were treasures hidden within.
During those years at home, relying on the "Heart of Flora" skill, she had collected almost all the treasures in the vicinity.
Jade was not valuable now, but in a few years, its price would skyrocket.
Su Xiaotian suddenly felt that her current efforts to make money were meaningless. She could simply lie down and wait to win!
"Those are all my treasures. Let's keep them well. With no one in our family now, won't they be easily taken away by someone?" Su Xiaotian thought of those treasures and felt a bit worried.
"That can't happen. Knowing which ones you liked, your eldest aunt and I put all those treasures you piled in the corner into the main hall before we left."
Although they always felt those things were worthless, because Little Sweet liked them, the couple also paid attention.
Before leaving, they had carefully helped Su Xiaotian pack them all up.
However, at this moment, the couple didn't know how valuable the pile of broken stones they had unintentionally moved to the main hall would become one day!
Su Xiaotian quickly thanked the eldest son and his wife with a smile.
When Su Shouwen and Li Linlin arrived, the matter had already been discussed.
Grandpa Su did not repeat himself. The division of property was a matter for the adults and had nothing to do with the children.
As for how the eldest branch would distribute their share, that was their business, and he, the old man, would not interfere!