Chapter 193: Chapter 27 Dividing the Family (Part 2)
"Then let’s keep it for our parents in their old age!" Gu Chenglian naturally had no objections either.
"And you, second son?" Mr. Gu looked at the silent Gu Chengyi, worried that the second son might not even care about this bit of familial duty.
He and Mrs. Zhang were staring heatedly at the stack of silver notes, feeling unhappy about having to take less, but they dared not protest!
"We’ll divide it as father says!" Gu Chengyi glanced at the silver notes and replied coolly.
Mr. Gu’s face darkened; the second son was getting greedy. Was he unwilling to give them to their elderly parents? The second son seemed unreliable after all!
Gu Chengyu and the others also expressed that they had no objections, saying that the division was fair!
"As for the house, you can continue living as you originally did. Build a stove in an empty room yourselves. If you don’t want to stay here, then build your own house. After we’re gone, this house will go to the eldest son. He’s the eldest, that’s his rightful share!"
"And for the grain, there’s 500 catties of wheat, 300 catties of rice, and 700 catties of sorghum at home. Spring planting is about to start, so if you are frugal, it should be enough! You’ll divide it according to the number of people, not households, so those with more people won’t suffer from a lack of food!"
Mr. Gu took a puff of his pipe and paused, "As for the bowls and chopsticks, take a set. There’s no spare iron pot or spatula, so you’ll need to buy those yourselves in town! You can take any extra farming tools, but leave anything there’s only one of. Well, that’s about all the things at home, basically everything’s divided. Anyone have anything else to add? Speak up now!"
"Dad! You haven’t mentioned one thing. What about the soap business? This needs to be clarified!" Gu Chengyi was most concerned about this, as it was the fastest business to bring in silver. It could earn a few hundred to a thousand taels of silver a year at least, possibly more with greater output. It really was a goose that laid golden eggs!
"Second son! You know this idea came from Xiao Bao. What do you mean now? Do you want the soap business? Do you want the formula?"
In truth, the formula wasn’t a secret anymore. Everyone in the Gu family was involved in soap making; who couldn’t make it? Even Gu Wan was skilled at it. They just didn’t expect Gu Chengyu to have added essential oils to the soap.
The best two kinds of soap required essential oils. Initially, the old method was used to extract it, but later Gu Chengyu found a small essential oil extraction setup in the space. Though extracting in the space was more convenient, the origin couldn’t be disclosed, so Gu Chengyu didn’t tell anyone.
"Second son! How do you have the face to bring this up? This formula is Xiao Bao’s idea! And you’re still eyeing it? After having divided so much silver and land for you, aren’t you satisfied?" Mrs. Lv glared at Gu Chengyi, wishing she could eat him alive.
Among the two stepsons, the second was the most cunning. Even when combined, the third and fourth sons couldn’t match him. Because of the second son, many issues often arose in the household. Now he had the gall to ask for the soap formula?
"What do you mean then? There’s only one formula, how do you propose it be divided?" Mr. Gu set down his pipe, curious to see how the second son would respond.
"This still depends on father! Our third son wants to get into business, doesn’t this make it an ideal opportunity for him to practice?" Gu Chengyi thought of the third son who didn’t enjoy reading, believing that if this business was in the third son’s hands, their line wouldn’t lack silver in the future.
Gu Chengyu was shocked by this entitled statement. The second brother was usually cunning, but to say something so shameless? The Gu family did not consist only of him.
In reality, Gu Chengyu underestimated human nature. The silver had dazzled their eyes, clouding their judgment. This only illustrated how wealth can tempt the heart!
Mr. Gu looked at Gu Chengyi in shock, "You, you want to take it all for yourself?"
Gu Chengyi was startled by Mr. Gu’s sudden raised voice!
"No! What are you saying? What do you mean by taking it all? I just wanted the third son to help manage it. The younger fifth wants to study; how could he have time to manage this? It’s better to give it to the third son to avoid bothering the younger fifth!" Naturally, Gu Chengyi wouldn’t admit wanting to monopolize the business. He wanted the third son to take over first, then slowly pull it into their branch’s control over time.
But no one there was a fool, and none would trust the silver to be in another’s pocket.
"Dad! Let’s keep making the soap at home! When it’s sold, we can divide the earnings equally, so nobody feels wronged! Mr. Wang is our partner because I studied with Wang Qikai. The third son can take over, but he shouldn’t manage the accounts. I think Er Ya should handle it! Does anyone have any objections?"
"How could Er Ya, a girl, manage the accounts? People would laugh at us for letting a girl run the household!" Gu Chengyi objected again, knowing Er Ya was clever and hard to fool!
"What’s wrong with a girl? Hasn’t she managed it until now without any errors? If we don’t tell, how would outsiders know it’s Er Ya?" Gu Chengyu, seeing that Gu Chengyi wanted their branch to monopolize it, grew displeased too!
"We haven’t even split the house yet! What? You think you’re in charge now? Based on what?" Gu Chengyi sneered.
Gu Chengyi’s face fell. At this moment, he decided to tolerate no longer. After so many years, he had done enough for his mother.
"What do you mean by ’based on what’? Because I came up with the formula. If the second brother speaks like this, then I’ll naturally be blunt too. In all this, have I wronged you, or anyone else?"
"I’ve given my best for the family. Let’s make it clear today, I don’t owe anyone! Sharing things with you all shows sentiment. If I hid it, wouldn’t you have nothing?"
Gu Chengyu looked around at everyone present and continued. He didn’t want to nurture their sense of entitlement!
"Second brother! I don’t know why you dislike me. I believe I’ve treated you and the elder brother equally. Never mind, it’s pointless to say more! Besides, one shouldn’t be too greedy. Other than our parents, nobody will endlessly give or sacrifice."
In truth, Gu Chengyu felt bad as well. After all, they were family.
Hearing these words, Gu Chengyi was stunned. Yes! When did his dislike for the younger fifth start? He couldn’t remember; he only knew that he increasingly resented the younger fifth. Though he didn’t want to admit it, he was envious of Xiao Wu, envying the affection he received from their parents and resenting their father’s favoritism.
Even though he thought this way, he couldn’t voice it, so he lowered his gaze uncomfortably, "What’s that supposed to mean? When did I dislike you? You’re overthinking it!"
Gu Chengyu didn’t want to argue pointlessly either. Anyway, the second brother wouldn’t admit it. The second brother’s dislike for him was merely due to jealousy and fundamentally, not sharing the same mother.