Chapter 106: Today We Must Separate

"Since everyone is back, go light a stick of incense for your father later and tell him that our Xue family has finally produced an eighth-rank official. From now on, you two brothers must support each other; the Xue family is destined to prosper."

Resolving the dispute in a few short sentences, a smile appeared on the wrinkled face of Madam Li. The others also managed to squeeze out polite smiles.

"Grandmother..." Just as the others were forcing their smiles, Xue Rui appeared to have something on his mind.

Madam Li’s smile faded, and she asked in confusion, "What is it? What do you want to say?"

"It’s like this: the imperial court has detailed regulations regarding the size of an official’s residence. It cannot be too grand, nor can it bring disgrace to the official's status. The side courtyard we were living in is far too humble. If Father continues to live there, it will inevitably invite gossip once word gets out," Xue Rui said with a troubled expression.

The side courtyard occupied by the second branch was originally a small, independent house with only three main rooms. Years ago, to register Xue Yuanhao as a practitioner of the occult, Xue Rui’s grandfather had negotiated with a neighbor to purchase this property to establish Xue Yuanhao's household registration. Now that Xue Yuanhao had become a formal eighth-rank official, continuing to live in such a dilapidated courtyard was indeed beneath his dignity. Xue Rui bringing it up now was a pressing issue that truly needed resolution.

Madam Li fell into deep thought. The side courtyard was indeed modest. The main Xue family residence was a three-courtyard compound with dozens of rooms, while the side courtyard, even with the added lean-to and kitchen, totaled only five rooms. Before Xue Yuanhao became an official, it was suitable, but she now agreed that it would be a disgrace to his new status.

She had always pinned her hopes for the family’s glory on her eldest son, often neglecting the second. But now, Xue Yuanhao had ascended to an eighth-rank position in one leap, with the potential for further promotion. This was a great blessing for the Xue family. No matter how frugal she was, she couldn't allow the second branch to continue suffering, or she wouldn't be able to answer to anyone.

Madam Li looked at her second son and asked, "Hao'er, you tell me, what should be done?"

"This... these are major family matters; I dare not speak out of turn. I will follow Mother’s arrangements," Xue Yuanhao replied. Having no ideas of his own and seeing his son remain silent, he simply kicked the ball back.

Madam Li pondered and said, "Why not tear down the side courtyard and build a new house? The vegetable plot behind it is ours anyway. What do you all think?"

Although she asked everyone, all eyes turned toward Madam Zhao. Only then did Madam Zhao realize what the second branch was up to, and she felt quite irritated. However, since the old lady had spoken, she couldn't refuse and had to bite the bullet. "Building a new house is no problem, but Mother, how many rooms do you think we should build?"

"What would an old woman like me know? The menfolk should worry about that. Hao'er, you tell us, what kind should we build?" Madam Li asked again.

At this moment, Xue Rui stepped forward to speak for his father: "Grandmother, my father’s rank is the same as his teacher's. I’ve checked before; the Hu family’s residence is like ours, with three courtyards and thirty to forty rooms in total. Why not build it to that scale?"

The people in the room were stunned. When the main Xue residence was built, the main structure alone cost over five hundred taels of silver, and subsequent expansions had cost even more—likely totaling over a thousand taels. The Hu residence was even larger than the Xue family's. To build a new three-courtyard mansion would likely cost no less than fifteen hundred taels. While the Xue family wasn't poor, coming up with such a sum was impossible; even three or five hundred taels would be a major blow to their finances. Seeing Xue Rui speak so grandiosely, everyone assumed he was ignorant of the market.

"What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?" Sensing the atmosphere had turned strange, Xue Rui scratched his head and asked.

Xue Yuanhao pulled his son back and snapped, "When elders are talking, why are you interrupting? Step aside."

"Our family certainly cannot afford a three-courtyard residence. How about building a two-courtyard one? I estimate a dozen or so rooms would be enough. I imagine there are many officials in the capital living in two-courtyard houses," Madam Li said, settling the matter to prevent the second branch from bringing up the three-courtyard idea again.

"A two-courtyard house is quite enough. With front and back yards separated, it’s convenient for arranging servants," Xue Yuanhao agreed. For an official's residence, a minimum of two courtyards was required; otherwise, having the master and servants living in the same yard would be a laughingstock.

Having been neglected by his mother all his life, Xue Yuanhao dared not hope for more after achieving this outcome. Beside him, Madam Zhao’s expression was grim. Although the three-courtyard house had been downgraded to two, the cost was only reduced by a fraction. Building it would still cost at least five or six hundred taels. Her heart bled at the thought of such an expenditure for the second branch.

Seeing her eldest daughter-in-law’s unsightly face, Madam Li also felt a headache coming on. She might not manage the daily affairs, but she wasn't blind; she knew how much the second branch had suffered. Now that her second son was an official, he had more standing. If they didn't provide some compensation, the second branch wouldn't easily let go of their grievances, which was detrimental to family harmony. At this juncture, Madam Li couldn't keep favoring the first branch and asked Madam Zhao directly: "You’ve been managing the household all these years. How much silver is in the accounts? Is it enough for a two-courtyard house?"

Madam Zhao had already been calculating. Hearing her mother-in-law, she replied with a troubled look: "Mother, a two-courtyard house will cost no less than five hundred taels, and there are only two hundred taels of cash in the accounts right now..."

"After saving for so many years, there isn't even five hundred taels?" Madam Li exclaimed. Since her husband’s passing, she had focused on Buddhism and entrusted the power to Madam Zhao, rarely checking the accounts. She had previously thought that the income from the family's hundred-plus acres of farmland would have been enough to build such a house, but Madam Zhao’s answer was a bucket of cold water.

Seeing her mother-in-law frown, Madam Zhao quickly explained: "Mother, you know that household expenses have been increasing. Also, Yan'er’s father spends quite a bit on books and stationery, social engagements with classmates, and greasing palms for exams. The money flows out like water. The two hundred taels left are what I’ve managed to save through strict budgeting."

Madam Liu chimed in with a sarcastic tone: "The eldest sister-in-law manages the family funds. Who knows if she's been embezzling money for her own gain?"

"Don't you dare slander my reputation! The accounts are written clearly. Would you like me to show them to you?" Madam Zhao’s expression changed, and she rushed to defend her integrity.

"Ha! You barely know a few characters; you think you can keep accounts? I want to see if there are any problems with these books!" Madam Liu was not to be outdone and truly intended to audit the family accounts.

"Enough!" Madam Li said angrily. "What kind of behavior is this? We’ve been arguing for years; can’t you let me have some peace?"

The two daughters-in-law fell silent. If there wasn't enough money, they couldn't build the house, and the compensation for the second branch would fail, leaving the grievances unresolved. Madam Li felt another headache brewing.

At this moment, Xue Rui, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, spoke up again. Seeing him stand, all eyes turned to him. Xue Rui said earnestly, "Grandmother, I have a somewhat immature idea. I wonder what you think?"

Of the two grandsons, the eldest, Xue Yan, was fair and plump and followed the orthodox path of the imperial examinations, so he was much loved by Madam Li. Xue Rui, however, was thin and mischievous, and not being very close to his grandmother, her affection for him was vastly different. Seeing him speak again, Madam Li frowned and said: "Speak if you have something to say; nobody is stopping you."

"It’s like this: since we can't afford a new house yet, and it’s not right for my father to stay in the side courtyard, why don't we switch with the eldest uncle? Move into the main residence for a while, and once we’ve saved enough to build the new house, we’ll move back. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

"Don't even think about it!" Before her mother-in-law could speak, Madam Zhao shrieked.

In the Xue residence, Madam Li occupied the main rooms. One of the connecting west wing rooms had been converted into a shrine, while the remaining two were occupied by Xue Yan and a small storage room. The east wing was, naturally, the residence of the eldest uncle, Xue Yuanbai, and his wife. For Madam Zhao, the idea of moving to the humble side courtyard was not just a matter of living conditions, but of face. For the first branch, which had dominated the household for so long, to move to the side courtyard while the second branch took over the main house was a slap in the face.

Madam Li naturally did not approve of Xue Rui’s terrible idea either. The eldest branch was the legitimate heir, and while the second son was an official, he could not be allowed to overshadow the first branch; it made no sense legally. Furthermore, her eldest son was still pursuing a career in the imperial examinations and had a brighter future than the second son, so she had to protect him.

Madam Liu, however, was quite intrigued by the proposal; she would have loved to see her sister-in-law forced into the side courtyard. Unfortunately, her husband glared hard at their son, clearly disapproving.

This suggestion made Madam Zhao furious. She had previously wanted to make some concessions to stabilize the second branch, but Xue Rui’s outrageous demand made it clear that this was a vicious scheme concocted by Xue Yuanhao and his wife to suppress her family and seize the Xue estate using his official status. Driven to the wall, Madam Zhao ignored her mother-in-law’s feelings and said angrily: "I’ve been patient, but you keep pushing! Since it’s come to this, let’s lay everything out on the table!"

Hearing that her sister-in-law wanted to show her hand, Madam Liu retorted, "And what do you intend to do?"

Madam Zhao glared at Xue Rui and sneered: "Don't forget, when the younger brother registered as a practitioner of the occult, he severed ties with the Xue family. We are already two separate families!"

"So what? The tax exemption quota under Rui'er’s father has been used by the eldest nephew all this time. You and Mother both said we were one family and that 'charity begins at home.' Why are you denying it now?" Madam Liu retorted.

"You probably don't know this, but before Father-in-law passed away, he had already mentioned to Mother that he wanted to split the family property between our two branches. He just died suddenly before he could invite elders to witness it. You’ve brought up dividing the family many times before, but Mother, fearing we would grow distant, always disagreed. Since it has come to this, let Mother decide to divide the family as Father-in-law wished, to satisfy your desires!" Madam Zhao sneered.

Hearing this, Xue Yuanhao and Madam Liu looked at their son. They finally realized that Xue Rui’s outrageous suggestions were all aimed at forcing Madam Zhao to propose the division of the family. He had actually succeeded.

However, Xue Rui jumped up and firmly opposed it: "No, the family cannot be divided! Over the years, not only has the eldest uncle spent from the public funds, but the cousin has spent plenty too. Take the day I was beaten, for instance; my cousin had over ten taels of silver on him, planning to go to the Juchun Brothel to see Little Taohong. If that large sum didn't come from the eldest aunt, did he earn it himself?"

Xue Rui’s uncle, Xue Yuanbai, had studied since childhood but made little progress, only passing the entry-level exams a few years ago. He did not engage in production, and his study and social expenses were all paid from the family coffers. Cousin Xue Yan was no better. Ever since he started frequenting brothels, he spent nights there often. The income from the hundred-plus acres of farmland was largely spent on his indulgences. The second branch, meanwhile, rarely enjoyed the benefits of the Xue estate; the gifts they received during festivals were mostly leftovers the first branch didn't want. If they divided the family now, the second branch would suffer a huge loss.

Madam Zhao’s face turned pale. Xue Yan had confessed everything to her after Xue Rui was beaten. She couldn't refute that she had given him the money to visit a brothel. In truth, she kept a mental ledger. The family had at least seven or eight hundred taels in savings. Her husband’s study expenses were unavoidable, but he was henpecked and didn't dare visit brothels, so fifty or sixty taels a year sufficed. But her son was a true spendthrift. He was addicted to brothels and would throw tantrums if she didn't give him money, sometimes even stealing family heirlooms to sell. Over the past few years, Xue Yan’s brothel expenses alone were over three or four hundred taels, which was the main reason why only two hundred taels remained in the coffers.

Hearing Xue Rui expose all of this, Madam Li looked at her eldest daughter-in-law and asked: "Is what Rui'er says true?"

Madam Zhao stammered: "This... Yan'er is older now, and he hasn't taken a wife yet; it’s normal to visit those places."

Hearing this tone, Madam Li knew that Xue Rui’s words were likely true. She had found it strange that when her husband passed, there were over two hundred taels in the treasury, and the estate had an annual income of at least a hundred taels, yet the savings had never grown. Madam Zhao had always complained that studying cost a fortune. She had insisted that they never skimp on Xue Yuanbai’s expenses to ensure his path to officialdom. Only now did Madam Li realize that the gold-swallowing beast wasn't her son, but her legitimate eldest grandson, who loved frequenting brothels!