Wang Baoguo was furious this time, and seeing the irresponsible behavior of the Xu family, he completely understood Xu Zifan's desire to sever ties. As soon as he finished work in the afternoon, he called a few strong young men and young women to clean up an uninhabited house and help Xu Zifan move.
Xu Zifan had very few belongings: a quilt, a set of clothes, pots and pans, and that was it.
Who moves with only this much stuff? This person just rolled up a bundle and carried it all away, is that what you call moving?
Seven or eight young men came to help, and seeing this, they specifically asked, "Uncle Xu, do you want to move that wooden box and table out of the house?"
Those two items were quite old, clearly used for thirty or forty years, but there was nothing else in the house that could be moved.
Xu Zifan waved his hand, "If we're going to break up, let's do it cleanly. Just one set of clothes to change into, and one quilt and one mattress from your maternal family are enough. Let's go."
Hearing this, everyone felt sorry for him, but also relieved. Grandpa Xu can hunt, so what's there to worry about in the future? Even if it's a bit dangerous, it's better than being with these ungrateful people.
Except for Xu Shengnan, all the members of the Xu family came out, their faces extremely grim. Xu Aijun grabbed Xu Zifan and cried, "Dad, I know I did wrong before, I really know I was wrong. Don't go, come with me, I'll take care of you, Dad, don't go."
Xu Dawei immediately stepped forward and said, "Dad, I always thought you were just saying things in anger, so I didn't dare to come near you. Actually, Zhang Wen and I had already discussed having you come live with us. Zhang Wen and I are teachers, and our salaries are decent. Dad, please don't leave, just come live with me."
"Dad, Dad, come live with me. I'm the eldest son, please don't leave." Xu Dajun didn't know how to say anything else, but he genuinely wanted Xu Zifan to stay and be his pillar of support.
Xu Zifan stood with his hands behind his back, looked at them, and sighed, "It's too late. That's enough. You guys just need to take good care of your wives and children from now on. Don't worry about me. I won't stay with you. I'm leaving."
The three Xu brothers discussed it with their wives for an entire afternoon and finally understood that they shouldn't let the old man really move out, otherwise what would they become?
Actually, they never thought the old man would really leave. They thought he was just being difficult and only wanted to give him some money as a gift each month once he recovered. Who knew that things would happen so quickly and that the old man would cut off all ties with them?
No matter what they said, it was useless. With the right timing, location, and people, Xu Zifan had already gained the support of the entire village and left the Xu family.
Seeing the disdainful looks in everyone's eyes as they left, the Xu family felt a lump in their throat, as if they had a weight on their chest, making it hard to breathe! Their reputation was ruined; they would never be able to stand up straight again!
Xu Aiguo kicked over a stool in a fit of rage. Seeing Xu Dajun's bloodshot eyes and Xu Dawei's furrowed brows, he sneered, "Alright, what are you pretending for now? If you really wanted to be filial, why didn't you do it earlier?"
Xu Dawei scolded, "Third brother, calm down. Aren't you the same?"
Xu Aiguo said righteously, "I'm the youngest, so taking care of Dad in his old age has nothing to do with me. Who knew you two older brothers would let Dad pass away? One is the eldest son, and the other has a high salary, yet you don't think about being filial. Now you have the nerve to talk about me? You've ruined me!"
Xu Dawei, a teacher, was always respected, so how could he stand this? He immediately shoved Xu Aiguo, saying, "You're so glib and smooth-talking. You never give the good stuff to Dad. Isn't it you who drove him away? I've always given him 70% of my salary and all the good stuff."
Xu Aiguo pushed it back forcefully, "Bullshit! Who doesn't know that you two are the most cunning? You used us as pawns while hiding in the back and not saying a word. Aren't you the ones who benefited the most? In the end, you won't even lend us money to save our lives. Don't you have a conscience?"
The two brothers got into a fight, punching and kicking each other without holding back. As the eldest brother, Xu Dajun naturally stepped in to break them up and tell them to shut up, but the two turned their anger on him instead.
"It's all your fault for not controlling your daughter. That brat is causing trouble every day, and now look what's happened. She's dragged us all down with her. She deserves to be beaten to death. Let's see if she'll still dare to act up. If you can't bring yourself to do it, I'll teach her a lesson for you!" Xu Aiguo pushed them aside and went straight to Xu Shengnan's door, kicking the wooden door open with a sudden thud.
Xu Shengnan screamed and shouted angrily, "Get out! How dare you barge into your niece's room?! Who do you think you are?!"
"Pah! You brat, I don't believe no one can control you. You're so scheming all the time. A few years ago, you would have been dragged to a struggle session!" Xu Aiguo certainly wouldn't hit his niece, but the way he pointed at Xu Shengnan's nose scared her so much that she screamed repeatedly, and all the children cried.
Liu Xia ran into the room, protecting Xu Shengnan and crying as she told Xu Aiguo to leave. Xu Aiguo picked up a stool and started smashing things around the room. The mirror shattered, the table broke, and the windows and doors were smashed. He only stopped when the stool was completely destroyed.
He breathlessly declared, "It's all your family's fault, you troublemaker! My family will never have anything to do with you again!"
Xu Aiguo stormed back to his room, and only then did Xu Dawei release his grip on Xu Dajun's hand, saying coldly, "Brother, you can't control your daughter; she's always causing trouble. Let's cut ties. I'm afraid of being dragged into this mess."
Xu Dajun watched helplessly as his two younger brothers closed the door, and seeing the mess in Xu Shengnan's room, he squatted down on the ground, covering his head.
How did it end up like this?
Liu Xia cried incessantly, both from fear and helplessness; she had absolutely no idea what to do.
Xu Shengnan was utterly disappointed in them. A father couldn't even stop his uncle from breaking into her room and smashing her things, and a mother who only knew how to cry—what else could she do?
They're all saying they're desperately trying to hold her back. These two are just bizarre. This whole group of relatives are the worst kind of people!
She kicked the two men out of the room and drank a bowl of spiritual spring water to calm down. She had a golden finger and wasn't afraid, but it strengthened her determination to get married as soon as possible. She was sure she would have a way to take charge of the household then. What did it matter if her reputation was ruined? In this era, getting married was very simple!
In the noisy courtyard of the Xu family, there was only one person in a very good mood who did not get involved in these matters at all, and that was Xu Xiuzhen.
She hid in her room, calculating how much Xu Zifan's room was worth, and what excuse she could use to pull strings in the county to buy a job.
She thought she was too smart, keeping a low profile so that no bad reputation would affect her. Anyway, she was going to marry out of the country, so taking care of her in old age was none of her business. Xu Zifan had already distanced himself from her, so no matter what she did, no one would say anything harsh about her. She was quite pleased with herself.
The fight at the Xu family's house was so loud that the children's cries were deafening, attracting a lot of attention from the neighbors. But everyone said they deserved it, and no one believed they were truly remorseful. Wasn't this just mutual recrimination and a lack of self-reflection?
In just a few days, the three Xu brothers became the most despised family in the village.
Xu Zifan's new home is a dilapidated farmhouse with one bedroom, one kitchen, and a small storage shed in the yard that has long since collapsed. So it's basically a 50-square-meter one-bedroom apartment with a small yard.
This house was built by an old man who lost his son and was now all alone. It was too small for the village, and no one else could live there. It was also quite remote, a distance from all the other houses. So after the old man passed away, the house remained empty for almost ten years.
Xu Zifan was quite satisfied. Anyway, he had plenty of space to be comfortable. All he needed in the village was a proper house.
He took out the remaining snake, chopped it up, and gave a piece to each of the people who had helped him. He said with a smile, "Thank you all for today. My cooking skills aren't great, so I won't treat you to a hot pot meal. Take this little something back with your elders and children; you might need my help again in the future."
No one could refuse, but at Wang Baoguo's suggestion, they all accepted the gifts. Wang Baoguo meant well, saying, "Uncle Xu is a good person, it's just that it's not easy for him to live alone. Everyone should help him out in the future, we're all from the same brigade, we're like family."
Everyone happily took the meat and promised to help if needed before dispersing.
Over the next few days, Xu Zifan began his leisurely farm life. He repaired the fence and yard, laid a thick layer of dry grass on the roof, paved a path with gravel between the door and the gate, and even caught five pheasants to keep in the yard. The rural and pastoral feeling was immediately apparent. It was very interesting and very clean, without any of the messiness of other people's homes.
When Wang Baoguo came to find Xu Zifan again, he didn't even recognize the scene in the yard through the fence. Was this the same dilapidated house? Why did it look so comfortable now?
Shao Hua told Xu Zifan that someone had arrived. Xu Zifan came out and said with a smile, "The captain is here? Come in and sit down."
Wang Baoguo walked in, looked at the stone path under his feet, and then at the dry grass on the roof. He was dumbfounded. "Uncle Xu, did you do all of this by yourself?"
Xu Zifan nodded. "I'm in pretty good shape. Maybe it's because I've been going into the mountains a lot lately, walking around and doing a lot of physical exertion, but I actually feel a bit better. So I was thinking of tidying up the house. What do you think? Is it alright?"
Wang Baoguo slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "This is not just okay, it's fantastic! Uncle Xu, you're really capable and have a good plan. If I gave this to any other man, even if I laid out the materials here, he wouldn't know how to decorate his house. This looks so comfortable, much better than my house."
Xu Zifan said with a laugh, "Captain, your house is a brick house with tiles. How can my mud house compare to yours?"
"Oh dear, my house is a mess, and the chickens and ducks I raise smell terrible. No matter how I clean it, it's no use."
"There's nothing we can do about it. You have a lot of family members and a lot of stuff. You don't have the energy to tidy up after working every day. Isn't that the case for every family?"
Wang Baoguo agreed. Who else has the energy to tidy up the yard when they have nothing to do all day? Besides, Xu Zifan has very few things, so it's really clean and tidy.
He walked around the house and yard, then gave a thumbs up. "Uncle Xu, you're amazing! But next time there's physical work to be done, just call my son. Don't do it yourself, or you'll hurt your back again."
Xu Zifan chuckled and said, "Okay, whatever you say. Is there something the captain needs today?"
Wang Baoguo, remembering something important, nodded and said, "Yes, there is something I wanted to tell you. Your youngest daughter, Xu Xiuzhen, sold your house. She asked me for a certificate; it seems she's going to look for a job in the county."
And then there's Xu Shengnan. She came to see me today and paid back the money she owed. She's been going to the county a lot these past few days, and I don't know what she's been doing or how she got the money. They won't let us ask. I just thought I'd tell you so you'd be aware of the situation.