Chapter 30: Not a Penny Given, Li Qingyun Plans to Sell the Land!

The decision to split the family was proposed by Old Man Li, who also took charge of partitioning the fields. As for the household's silver and grain, Old Man Li had the final say. He decreed that half of the coarse grain should go to the second son's family, while the remaining refined rice and white flour were to be divided between the eldest and third sons. His reasoning was that since the second son's family had so many mouths to feed, the refined rice and flour would not amount to much for each individual anyway. Survival was the priority, so he insisted on giving half of the coarse grain to Li Feng, with iron pots and other sundries divided by headcount.

Li Feng did not object. He had a spatial dimension, so he could simply collect everything later. Once the miscellaneous items were settled, only the bulk of the silver remained.

Old Man Li made the final call. "The eldest and the third have used a lot of the family's silver over the years, leaving us with little savings. Moreover, both your mother and I are injured and currently owe Doctor Li 900 wen. The three of you brothers should cover this debt!"

"Father, I have already paid 345 wen; I have nothing more!" Li Feng immediately retorted. "If it comes to this, my family truly won't be able to survive. Father, perhaps we shouldn't separate after all. I will work harder in the fields and continue to be as filial to you and Mother as I have always been!"

Old Man Li silently pleaded for mercy. "Then the eldest and the third will pay half each!" he continued.

"Fine!" Li Qingbao agreed without hesitation. Since his parents would be living with him, any money he paid would eventually return to his own pockets. A few hundred wen was a price he was willing to pay.

"Mother!" Li Qingyun was incensed, staring fixedly at Madam Li.

Madam Li coughed, casting a glance at the third son. *What is this fool fussing about right now?* The priority was to get the second son's family out; other matters could be addressed later. Having dealt with his mother many times, the third son understood the signal. It seemed his parents' primary goal was indeed to drive the second son's family away. As for himself and his eldest brother, they could settle their own accounts later.

Everyone noticed the silent exchange of glances between them, except for Li Feng, who acted as though none of it concerned him, letting the elders decide everything. He appeared aggrieved and pitiful. The two clan elders looked at Li Feng and his flock of children, sighing silently.

*So be it. Let them separate.* With five sons and some land, the second son's family shouldn't starve. They could eventually allocate a bit more clan land for them to farm, and once the older boys were married, things would surely improve.

"Have you thought this through?" The Third Grand-Uncle leaned on his cane and looked at Li Dashan. "Once the family is divided, the second son's family will be strangers to yours. Are you certain?"

"We have decided. We ask the elders to draw up the separation agreement, with the village head and the local magistrate as witnesses," Li Dashan replied. "From this day on, the second son and we are two separate families. Once we have the document, we will trouble the magistrate to help update the household registry."

The village head and the magistrate nodded; it was their duty. With the formalities arranged, the document was drafted in four copies. Each of the three brothers took one, and one was to be filed at the county office—a prerequisite for the new household registry.

The moment he received the agreement, Li Feng’s lips curled into a faint smile. Behind him, his children lowered their heads, their shoulders shaking as if they were crying. Only the older boys knew they were merely struggling to contain their laughter. They were finally escaping the sea of misery. Their father was mighty!

Li Feng signed and pressed his thumbprint on the document. After swapping for the finalized copies, he let out a long, heavy breath. *It’s done! Finally, we are separated!*

Old Man Li also breathed a sigh of relief. With the "menace" gone, they could finally enjoy their remaining years in peace. He looked at his second and third sons. "Do not forget the annual grain and silver. Since it is only April, send this year's grain by the start of winter! Eldest, you are to provide for our old age, so this house remains yours. Second, Third, if you have no objections, go to the cellar and kitchen, take your things, and be on your way!"

No sooner had he spoken than the third son turned to the village head and the magistrate. "Uncle Village Head, Magistrate, I wish to sell my share of the land. Please assist me!"

The crowd was stunned. *What a piece of work Li Qingyun is.* The ink on the separation agreement hadn't even dried, and he was already looking to sell his land? This was the lifeblood of a farming family; it was easy to sell, but buying back would not be so simple.

"You want to sell your land?" The village head, also a member of the Li clan, frowned. Did this boy know what he was doing? With land, one always had a fallback, even if he were a scholar. Without it, he would have no retreat. Was he gambling everything on a single throw?

Li Qingyun bowed helplessly. "My household is not like my second brother's; I have no grown sons to work the fields, and without manpower..."

"You could lease it to others in the village. That way, you would receive grain every year, enough to cover taxes," the village head suggested.

Li Qingyun shook his head. "Uncle, my mind is made up. Please grant this request!"

The village head sighed. Seeing that Li Dashan offered no objection, he could only nod. "Very well. I will consult with the villagers. If someone wants to buy, I will process the paperwork with the magistrate."

"Thank you, Uncle!" Li Qingyun had his own plans. Keeping the land was useless; he couldn't manage it or send someone to oversee it. Better to sell it for a hundred taels of silver. With that, he could buy a house in town for forty or fifty taels and use the rest to lease a storefront. He had already inquired—the rent was four and a half taels a year, or 375 wen a month. It was manageable. He would set up a shop for his wife to run while he focused on his studies to secure a prestigious position.

The village head turned to Li Qingbao and Li Feng. "Do you intend to sell as well?"

Li Qingbao shook his head, "I am in no hurry."

Li Feng also spoke up, "Uncle, our family relies on the land to survive. We won't be selling!"

"Very well," the village head nodded. "Since everything is settled, let us take advantage of the daylight. Second and Third, divide your belongings and move out!"

Li Feng took his children to the cellar and quickly filled several sacks with grain. He wasn't greedy; he only took his rightful half. The third son also organized his belongings according to the agreement.

The villagers looked on with pity at the miserable-looking Li Feng. The village head even offered him a house at the edge of the village, near the old spirit medium's residence. "It is a quiet spot, though secluded, and the property is quite large. You can make it livable with a little effort. Hurry and move out before it gets dark!" He patted Li Feng on the shoulder and called for the young men of the village to help.

The group departed the Li courtyard, each carrying a few items. Before they left, Madam Li, still suspicious, searched everyone thoroughly—even though Li Feng hadn't stepped foot in the main room once—to ensure nothing had been stolen before finally letting them go.