bestfiction Chapter 38 The Mule Cart Dispute
Chapter 38 The Mule Cart Dispute
The Wen family didn't hire anyone to help. Each mule carried four sacks of grain, and the rest were piled on Wen Zisong's cart. The luggage was given to Yang, Zhang, and Hua.
Wen Yunhai and Wen Yunjiang helped Wen Zisong push the cart, Wen Yunqing carried the one-year-old Wen Yunyu on her back, and the other three older children were responsible for leading the mule.
Wen Dashan, Wen Zibai, and Wen Zihua walked at the very back of the group, the three of them working together to carry the mule cart along the way.
The villagers of Dawancun and Lijiacun walked from night until dawn before finally stepping onto the main road after traversing the narrow path. Yang Lizheng led the group to an open space by the roadside, struck a gong, and shouted loudly, "Rest here!"
Then Yang Lei arranged for someone to stand guard. Yang Lizheng collapsed on the ground without any regard for his image. After walking all night, his old arms and legs were completely broken.
Wen Dashan and his two sons carried the mule cart to their resting place.
"Wow, Uncle Dashan, you've been carrying the mule cart all the way here!"
"Oh, why didn't I think of asking someone to carry the mule cart onto the main road!"
……
Hearing the villagers' murmurs, Old Lady Wen forced herself to sit up and shouted, "Second son, bring the mule cart over!"
The mule cart was left behind by Wen Yuxia and her brother. Wen Dayan couldn't bear to throw it away, so he asked Wen Zibai and his brother to help carry it on their journey. Now that his mother had picked it up, he naturally objected: "Mom, the mule cart belongs to Daya."
"Whether the mule cart belongs to Da Ya or you, it belongs to my son's family. If I want to borrow it, no one who dares to refuse is considered unfilial," Old Lady Wen said aggressively as she strode over.
Without the slightest hesitation, Wen Dashan said directly, "We've separated the family."
"Second brother, our parents are getting old. They should use the mule cart. Quickly bring the mule cart over," Wen Zhihua ordered, adopting the airs of the eldest brother.
Wen Dashan said expressionlessly, "Brother, if you've forgotten what's written on the family division document, I can remind you."
Back then, in order to prevent Wen Dashan from benefiting from his family's success, Wen Zhihua instigated the biased old man and old woman to separate the family property, and it was all clearly written down in black and white.
The family property was divided into three parts: one for Mr. and Mrs. Wen, and one for Wen Zhihua and Wen Dashan. Mr. and Mrs. Wen would live with Wen Zhihua, and after their passing, their share would belong to Wen Zhihua.
The education of Wen Zhihua and his son cost the family a considerable amount of money. All expenses related to the elderly couple's life, from birth to death, were borne by Wen Zhihua alone, without Wen Dashan's involvement.
Furthermore, there was a note stating that after Wen Zhihua and Wen Dashan separated their assets, they were not allowed to ask the other party for money or property for any reason.
Since Old Lady Wen was with her eldest son, Wen Zhihua, she shouldn't have asked Wen Dashan for a carriage, and Wen Zhihua had no right to criticize Wen Dashan.
Wen Zhihua blushed. He hadn't expected his second brother, who used to be so eloquent, to become so talkative. He said awkwardly, "Second brother, even if we've separated the family, you can't disown our parents!"
"We've been separated for so many years, and when I go to see my parents, have you ever let me in the door even once? Have my parents ever let me in the door even once?" Wen Dashan's eyes were red with anger.
After the family split up, he went to Wen Zhihua's house to see his parents, but unfortunately, Wen Zhihua always refused to let him in with various excuses. Now he still has the nerve to say that he doesn't recognize his parents.
Granny Li was a neighbor of the Wen family, and she knew everything about them. She couldn't help but blurt out a few words:
"Brother Dashan is a good man. When he was young, he worked hard to support his elder brother and nephew's education. After his elder brother passed the imperial examination and his nephew passed the preliminary examination, they agreed to divide the family property so as not to hold his elder brother back..."
Now, because of the mule cart, this dignified scholar is being branded as unfilial. Alas, it's hard to be a person, and even harder to be a good one.
All eyes were on Wen Zhihua. The people of Lijia Village didn't know about the Wen family, but the villagers of Dawan Village did.
So everyone spoke in hushed tones, and the villagers of Dawan Village explained in detail to the villagers of Lijia Village. Afterwards, everyone looked at Old Master Wen, Old Mrs. Wen, and Wen Zhihua with disdain.
"It's rare to see biological parents so harsh on their own son,"
"Even if you favor your eldest son, you wouldn't treat your youngest son like this!"
"We agreed that both sides should live in peace, so why should we take the other party's mule cart?"
"Scholars are the most shameless. My aunt's brother-in-law is a scholar. He lives in the academy most of the time and only comes back to the village when he needs money..."
……
At this moment, the villagers forgot the hardship of their journey through the night, and they forgot the pursuit of the madmen behind them. One by one, they transformed into advocates of justice.
Grandpa Wen and Grandma Wen were getting on in years, and the villagers dared not criticize them, fearing that if they upset them, they would have to pay for their medicine.
They criticized Wen Zhihua without any restraint, and Wen Zhihua wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.
Yang Lizheng and Village Chief Ding stood behind the crowd for a while. Yang Lizheng sighed and said, "Old Ding, it's your turn to step in."
If it weren't for the fact that they had to travel in the afternoon, Yang Lizheng wouldn't have bothered with this matter at all. Wen Zhihua, this kind of scholar who exploits his brothers, deserves to be condemned.
When Wen Zhihua passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, apart from having his father-in-law's land registered under his name, no one in Dawan Village, from the village head down to the villagers, received this privilege, including his own brother Wen Dashan.
To be honest, Village Chief Ding had no intention of helping him out of the predicament. He shook his head helplessly and shouted, "Everyone, disperse! Everyone, you've been walking all night, go back and rest!"
The villagers dispersed in twos and threes. Village Chief Ding said with a puzzled look, "The family division document clearly states that Uncle Wen, Aunt Wen, and Scholar Wen had no right to interfere in the affairs of the Dashan family. The document was even stamped with the official seal at the yamen. Have you all forgotten that?"
“Old woman, the eldest and second sons separated a long time ago. We’ve been living with the eldest son, have you forgotten? How can you ask Dashan for anything? Eldest son, hurry up and help your mother back.”
The old woman, easily swayed, asked her second son for a mule cart. He turned a blind eye, thinking that if he got it, he could also benefit from riding in it.
Unfortunately, that ungrateful second son has no regard for his father or his mother.
Furthermore, the eldest son, a scholar, publicly argued with the second son, losing face as a scholar and giving the villagers an opportunity to expose the Wen family's shortcomings.
The more Old Master Wen thought about it, the angrier he became, his face growing darker and darker. He even found fault with his eldest daughter-in-law and grandson. He said gruffly, "Jiang, go dig up some wild vegetables. Zicai, go gather firewood."
"Grandpa, isn't it always my second brother who goes to gather firewood?" Wen Zicai said unhappily.
His hands are for writing, how can they be used for rough work like gathering firewood? Has the old man gone senile?
Jiang said with some surprise, "The second son and his wife have been gathering firewood and digging wild vegetables to make food all along the way. I was only responsible for taking care of Pei'er. Father, have you forgotten?"
Jiang and Wen Zicai's attitude that all the housework should be done by Wen Zifeng and his wife reminded Old Master Wen of the hardworking and selfless Wen Dashan from back then.
At the time, the elderly couple also took it for granted that all the housework should be done by Wen Dashan, and that all the money should be given to Wen Zhihua.
Old Master Wen's heart suddenly ached. Over the years, he had neglected his second son for the sake of his eldest son, which had led to his second son becoming completely estranged from him.