abcnovels
Chapter 283
Chapter 283
Chapter 283
Madam Su tightly wrinkled her handkerchief and could only sit back down again resentfully.
The clan head, on the other hand, showed a pensive look on his face as he slowly stroked his beard without saying a word.
Seeing this, Qin Zening’s eyes flashed as he proposed to the head, “Uncle grandfather, although my brother and sister and I have separated from the marquis, we still have to rely on the clan to take care of us in the future, so on behalf of my brother and sister, I will give the two hundred acres of land we have been allocated to the clan as a sacrificial field*, and the income from it will be used to take care of the widows, the childless elderly, and the poor children who are interested in learning.”
(*an independent property established for the purpose of worshipping ancestors.)
Before the clan head could respond, the clan elders were already moved by Qin Zening’s words.
Two hundred acres of land was not a small amount, compared to the Qin Family’s current sacrifice land which was only over an acre.
The Qin family was a large clan, and among them was the marquis family who had been living a good life, with a title, and was somewhat favored by the imperial family but not all branches of the family had such glory. Some other side branches only have elderly and children living in straitened circumstances, but if they were given two hundred acres of sacrificial land it would be a great benefit to the clan.
The more they thought about it, the more of the clan elders thought it was a good idea, and some couldn’t wait to reply to the head clan, “Clan head, since the marquis thought it was appropriate, of course, we will listen to him.”
Qin Zhun: “!!!”
He almost jumped up, thinking everyone had gone crazy today.
Anyone with eyes could tell that he didn’t do it voluntarily, and was only forced by Gu Zezhi, okay!
However, his throat seemed to be choked, disabling him from talking a word causing his heart to feel like it was being crushed by something, and the pain was killing him.
Old Madam Qin also didn’t pay attention to Qin Zhun’s strange behavior at all, as she nodded agreeing with the elders. Sighing, she said, “Ning’er is ought to have more.”
In her heart, the eldest house was pitiful with no father and mother, and the title that originally belonged to the eldest house was inherited by the second son instead. And now that the three siblings have to be driven out of the family, they should have more share.
After all, it was her own decision to give the title to the second son…
Thinking about it, Old Madam Qin sighed as she twirled the bead in her hand and said, “Today, I would like to ask the clan head and several clan elders to witness that I will share 70% of my dowry with the eldest house, which will be used as the dowry for Xiao Jiu, and her two brothers.”
Saying this, Old Madam Qin looked at Qin Jiu feeling guilty, regretful, and compassionate. This child, Xiao Jiu had suffered for more than ten years outside but she wasn’t able to give her attention after she came back, so much that Madam Su neglected her. Because of this she must at least makes up to the child by doing this, the dowry of a young miss must be richer so she wouldn’t be underestimated after marrying into her husband’s family!
“……” Qin Zhun felt another piece of flesh and blood being plucked out of his heart, and it took almost all of his strength not to lose his temper.
According to the rules of Daqi, a mother’s dowry was reserved for her children.
Now that Old Madam Qin actually wanted to give 70% of her dowry to the eldest house while he only gets 30%, did his mother forget that he was the son who inherit the family business and provide for her until the end of her life?!
Gu Zezhi looked around the crowd with a smile and said with a solemn nod: “The marquis fu has been mismanaged these years, which has led to the great loss of the marquis’s estate. And it was only reasonable that the eldest house now gets more of the share which can be regarded as compensation.”
“Since everyone has agreed, let’s ask the marquis to divide the family.”
“……” the corners of Qin Zhun’s mouth twitched as he roared inwardly: talk to yourself! Who agreed to it!!
However, no matter how much he roared and complain, in the end, he did not dare to say anything and nodded his head with difficulty.
Hence, the clan head and elders gathered again and began to settle accounts, and redistributed the family properties. The eldest how has now a thousand acres of fertile land in Jiangnan, three large and small mansions in the capital, and ten manor villas in the suburbs of the capital, namely Jizhou, Yuzhou, and other more places, they also got more than a dozen of shops and so on.
Listening to every word that comes out from the clan head’s mouth felt like a knife cutting into Qin Zhun’s heart, every cut was so painful that he had difficulty in breathing.
Seventy percent of the “existing” property of the marquis’s residence was immediately divided, and this also killed Qin Zhun and Madam Su in half.
Madam Su’s complexion was changing from blue to white, almost without blood as she quickly calculated in her mind: this time, after separating the family, the eldest house got more of the shops, cash, and land. The remaining 30% were mostly fields and farms which don’t profit that fast. With this in thought, she fears that the marquis family’s expenditure would be a problem and sooner or later they may need to sell the property to maintain their daily expenses.
Originally, Old Madam Qin had ample dowry they could just talk to her to make adjustments and helped them but now that she also gave most of her dowry to the eldest house how and what would they talk about?!
In a short while, the deed of family separation was written according to this, and handed over to the clan head and Old Madam Qin.
Qin Zening signed on behalf of the eldest house and pressed his fingerprints, and Qin Zhun naturally represented the Second House.
Qin Zhun’s eyes turned red and his right hand visibly trembled seeing the details of the deed on how the eldest house took everything from him.
Finally, as soon as he clenched his teeth, he pressed his fingerprint on it, sealing the deed.
The dust finally settles.
Seeing this, the clan head and clan elders breathed a sigh of relief.
And since this was a marquis house, the deed of separation must also be sent to the capital to be sealed and kept on file, with this in thought the clan head made sure to personally send someone.
Finally, the family division was over. Gu Zezhi didn’t stay for long, he got up and cup his hands as he said goodbye, “Old Madam Qin, Marquis, I still have to report back to the emperor in the palace so I will take my leave first.”
Qin Zhun didn’t bother paying attention to Gu Zezhi at all, while Old Madam Qin looked at her future grandson-in-law, smiling amicably, and asked Gu Zezhi to come visit them another day before she said to Qin Jiu, “Jiu’er, you see Zezhi off.”
Even if Old Madam Qin didn’t say this, Qin Jiu would naturally send Gu Zezhi off so she immediately got up and agreed.
Meanwhile, Qin Zening looked back and forth between Gu Zezhi and Qin Jiu with a subtle expression on his face and suddenly said. “A’yu I have trouble walking right now, so you have to accompany third sister to send off Third Master Gu”
Since Qin Zening couldn’t walk on his own right now, he could only let his younger brother watched out for Gu Zezhi.
Qin Zeyu: “???”
Right now, Qin Zeyu didn’t dare to play any tricks in front of his elder brother and sister at all, he could only obediently answer whatever his elder brother says, and accompany Qin Jiu to send Gu Zezhi out.
***