freenovelworld Chapter 54 We're all human, why differentiate between 3, 6, and 9 classes?
Chapter 54 We're all human, why differentiate between 3, 6, and 9 classes?
Mr. Shen's eyes widened in anger, and he immediately flew into a rage.
"You bastard, I'm your father, why shouldn't I care? Just because we've separated the family doesn't mean I can't control you anymore!"
"As long as I'm still your father, you should listen to me for the rest of your life!"
Originally, he had planned carefully before coming here, intending to discuss things thoroughly with his eldest son.
Let the eldest son and his wife work hard to help them harvest the crops from the sixteen mu of land; there won't be any problems for them!
However, when they arrived at the fields, there were only four acres of dry land. The eldest son's family had worked for several days but only managed to complete a small portion of it, and they even said that since they had separated, it was not his responsibility to take care of it.
He was so angry and frustrated that he couldn't care less about anything else!
Seeing her father-in-law lashing out at her husband, Liu, suppressing her fear, spoke up in defense of him.
"Dad, Qingchuan didn't mean that. You know he's not good with words, so please don't be angry."
Old Mr. Shen turned his head and glared at Liu, angrily rebuking her, "I'm not deaf or confused, you have no right to speak here!"
He scoffed inwardly. If it weren't for his daughter-in-law Liu's instigation, why would his obedient eldest son suddenly want to separate the family?
He underestimated his honest and dutiful eldest daughter-in-law; he never expected her to be such a tough nut to crack!
Sun was pleased with herself and immediately smiled and tried to smooth things over.
"Qingchuan, Feng'er, your father has this bad temper. Don't take it to heart. This isn't the first year we've separated the family. During the harvest season, your father was worried about you and came to see how much you've done."
However, there are only four acres of dry land in total. In previous years, the two of you could finish it in two days. This time it's been too slow."
Liu felt a chill in her heart, thinking to herself that her mother-in-law really had a silver tongue, able to utter sweet words without batting an eye, but had never done a single decent thing.
In recent years, the elderly couple have treated them like mules every day, never thinking of helping them. The father-in-law even condoned the mother-in-law and several younger brothers to ostracize the eldest son's family.
Since the family separated, her father-in-law has never visited her home. This time, he came directly to the fields. Doesn't that mean he has something on his mind?
Liu straightened her back and said, "Qingchuan rested at home for three months and finally recovered his ribs. He was busy with the overturning project a few days ago and got tired. It's the same if he works slowly on the four acres of dry land. If the old injury relapses and causes a chronic disease, he'll suffer the consequences himself."
Shen Qingchuan nodded and said, "Yes, it's all thanks to Fengniang. If it weren't for her, these four acres of crops would have been lost in the fields. No one thought to help us harvest them!"
Mr. Shen's eyebrows twitched, somewhat incredulous.
Are the couple implying that their family doesn't support their eldest son?
The eldest son and daughter-in-law, who are usually so quiet, actually said such things?
Is there something wrong with his ears?
Regardless of what the eldest son and his wife think, since he has already brought his wife here, they must agree!
He said impatiently, "Alright, alright, it's been four months already. Not only are your ribs healed, but your leg bones are fully healed too. You two hurry up and finish this quickly so you can go help harvest the crops in Liangtian tomorrow."
Shen Xiaotang, holding her younger sister's hand and carrying a small bamboo basket, walked over and overheard the shameless words her grandfather uttered.
Those two old bastards are incredibly lazy. They fathered four crippled sons who have the heart of a young master but not the life of one!
The crops are ripe, but there's no rush to bring them home. Since you don't want to work, just let them ripen and fall into the field.
It would be best if there were a few more thieves with dirty hands to steal from.
It would be best to steal them all!
We guarantee a thorough revision in one go!
She shouted, "My parents won't go."
Mr. Shen and Mrs. Sun both turned to look at their two granddaughters who had suddenly appeared, somewhat puzzled.
Sun asked in confusion, "Why don't you go?"
Why not go?
Because I don't want to work for you for free, because I don't want to continue to be your slave, because I don't want to work myself to death to support you poor lords, ladies and gentlemen!
A bunch of ungrateful bastards, they still have the nerve to ask.
At such an advanced age, how can you not have any self-awareness?
Shen Xiaotang grinned and said, word by word, "Because the family has separated, your family has second uncle and second aunt, third uncle and third aunt, and fourth uncle. Your youngest uncle is not young either. Including you and grandpa, there are eight adults. Each person can work on two acres of land, which will be finished in two days. Why would my parents need to go?"
“Our family has four mu of dry land. My parents can each work on two mu, so why can’t they? We’re all human, why should we be divided into different classes?”
Upon hearing this, Madam Sun became furious.
She knew it; that wretched girl could never say anything nice.
If she had known, she shouldn't have asked!
"You can't say that. The provincial examination is in a few months. Your uncles are busy preparing for the exam. How can we let them work in the fields and delay them? What if they fail the exam because of this little bit of work?"
"Whether we've separated or not, we're still a family. We've always done it this way. Why are we making such a big deal out of it this year? Aren't you afraid your parents will be labeled as unfilial if word gets out?"
"And it's not about making your parents do all the work, it's about helping everyone else do it together."
Shen Xiaotang sneered inwardly. "I'm not afraid of being infamous for eating the offspring of a child. It's not illegal for my parents not to work like slaves for me. So what if word gets out?"
Moreover, given their family's nature, going to the fields is just for show; who is really helping whom?
She immediately replied, "Helping out is not out of the question, but we can have two mu of grain from the harvest, otherwise forget it!"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Shen and Mrs. Sun were so angry that they roared at the top of their lungs.
"You brat, what kind of pipe dream are you having? There are only about ten acres in total, and they're going to give you two more acres. Why don't you just rob them..."
The elderly couple took turns roaring, but Shen Xiaotang was not to be outdone. She spoke bluntly and quickly, exposing their lies in front of everyone.
Xiaoyu, who was already timid, was so frightened that she burst into tears. Liu hugged her daughter and covered her ears to comfort her.
When the villagers in the surrounding fields heard the argument going on in Old Man Shen's field, they immediately put down what they were doing and gathered around to watch the spectacle.
Seeing that things were not going well, Sun squatted down on the ground, slapped her thighs and cried with snot and tears streaming down her face, complaining that her stepson and daughter-in-law were unfilial.
Mr. Shen squatted to the side, sighing in frustration.
Shen Xiaotang curled her lips into a cold smile.
Two shameless old men, devoid of conscience, went so far as to ruin their son and daughter-in-law's reputations in order to control and force them to do chores for them.
Lacking in virtue, are they not afraid of retribution?
Shen Xiaotang secretly pinched her thigh, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes. She wiped away her tears and cried uncontrollably.
"Grandpa, Grandma, don't be angry. Your father and mother will finish the work in the fields quickly. Don't worry, even if it were 20 mu in previous years, your father and mother would finish it all without you having to lift a finger in the fields."
Upon hearing this, the villagers who had gathered around immediately erupted in uproar!
Dog Egg exclaimed in surprise, "My God, I'd only ever heard about it before, but it's all true! Old Shen's twenty acres of land were all done by the eldest son and his wife!"
"Who can argue with that? There are several brothers in the family, why can't they bear to let the other sons go to work in the fields, and only keep using one of them like he's not human?"
"Isn't it all because of the stepmother? The biological father became the stepfather. Otherwise, why would the son of the stepmother be allowed to study while the son of the first wife is forced to work himself to death?"
"What a terrible thing..."
"Pah! That's so unfair!"
"..."
The villagers watching all chimed in, pointing and whispering about Mr. and Mrs. Shen.
The old couple felt a sudden, overwhelming sense of despair; it was as if the sky had fallen!