Chapter 14: The He Family's Separation

Afterward, Sun Chunlan gave birth to three more sons in succession, much to the delight of the elderly He couple, who wished they could set off fireworks throughout the entire clan to announce the joyful news. Bearing four sons in one go elevated the He family from barely holding their heads high to becoming the envy of all. Sun Chunlan, a humble farmer’s daughter, had officially secured her place within the He household.

One matter that earned the He family’s quiet admiration of her virtue was the matter of dividing the family estate.

He Dalang and his wife had been married for many years without a child, nearly losing all hope. At this point, the matriarch of the He family advised He Dasa to pretend to adopt Sun Chunlan’s fourth son, spending day and night with the child in the hope that this would help bring a son of their own.

Sure enough, a year later, He Dasa became pregnant. After a difficult ten-month pregnancy, she gave birth to He Wulang.

He Dalang, his parents, and the matriarch were naturally overjoyed; their greatest worry was finally lifted. Both brothers in the He family now had heirs.

However, not long after, an accidental incident sparked a major family quarrel.

With a son of her own, He Dasa’s confidence grew. No longer timid and hesitant, a simple argument escalated into a fierce fight. What began as a dispute between husband and wife soon involved their parents, and eventually dragged He Erlang into the fray.

Unaware at first, Sun Chunlan only later understood that He Dasa resented the large number of children in the second branch of the family, believed her husband lacked ability, and thought the household depended entirely on her eldest brother-in-law. Yet, He Dalang’s parents were biased, doting on their eldest grandson while showing little affection toward the firstborn’s legitimate heir.

They insinuated that because the second branch had many sons, they would receive a larger share of the inheritance, though all the wealth had been earned by the first branch.

In other words, they feared the second branch, with its numerous sons and the eldest grandson, combined with the in-laws’ favoritism, would claim an unfair portion of the family estate.

The hardworking first branch was essentially making sacrifices to benefit the second.

He Dalang’s parents were furious upon hearing this, nearly fainting from anger, while the matriarch hurled harsh insults at the eldest daughter-in-law, calling her sharp-tongued and uncultured.

Although family scandals were usually kept private, this dispute spread far and wide, stirring even the scholar father of He Dasa’s family and the clan elders.

Knowing she was in the wrong but unwilling to accept that the second branch would inherit more, He Dasa buried her head in the sand and sent her parents and relatives to argue on her behalf.

Unsurprisingly, He Dasa suffered a complete defeat. No outsider had the right to meddle in the He family’s affairs.

Relations between He Dalang’s parents and He Dasa’s family nearly broke down.

When the clan and He Dalang’s parents finally retreated with victory, He Erlang and Sun Chunlan stepped forward.

Sun Chunlan urged He Erlang to speak, and he earnestly addressed the elders, grandmother, father, mother, and the scholar: “Esteemed clan elders, grandmother, father, mother, and respected scholar, you are right. Since childhood, my eldest brother has managed the family business alongside father. The prosperity we enjoy today owes everything to father and my eldest brother.

“As for me, I have always been aimless, lacking business acumen, and have done little. Honestly, I have contributed nothing to the family business.”

He Erlang cupped his hands and said to He Dalang, “Eldest brother, I have wronged you. The family business rightfully belongs to you, and the profits are yours. You have cared for me since we were young, looked out for me, and whenever I needed money, you gave it without hesitation. Please do not listen to outsiders. I have the utmost respect for you; you are my elder brother and will always be so.”

These words deeply moved the taciturn He Dalang, who wept openly.

The quarrel over dividing the estate, which had erupted like a bomb, ultimately unfolded into a story of brotherly harmony and mutual respect.

Whenever the He clan divided estates, the example of He Dalang and He Erlang was cited as a model.

“If everyone behaved like He Erlang, understanding when to advance and retreat, and appreciating kindness, the He clan would have far fewer disputes.”

He Dalang’s parents transformed from failing to educate their children to teaching them well, and clan members quietly sought advice on how to nurture brotherly love and harmonious relations.

He Dalang’s father gained great prestige within the clan.

The family business was fully handed over to He Dalang, while He Erlang received over a hundred acres of farmland, two courtyards, a storefront, and a considerable sum of money. The family divided assets without splitting households, continuing to live together. After He Dalang’s parents passed on, they would divide again.

Later, He Dalang’s parents learned that He Erlang’s words had been taught by Sun Chunlan. When they asked why she had encouraged him to accept so little, she replied confidently, “Father, Mother, you know He Erlang better than I do. He is not suited for business. Even if he had a share, he would ruin it sooner or later. Besides, the business was built by Eldest Brother and Father; it is most fitting for Father to entrust it to Eldest Brother.”

Her calm and composed manner left He Dalang’s parents uncertain whether to feel pleased or troubled.

Glancing at He Erlang, indeed, he was not cut out for business. Usually, he just looked over the accounts at the shop and did little else. If he were not the young master, he would have been fired long ago.

Still, they held a higher opinion of his wife, admiring her breadth of mind and character — qualities rare even among men.

To willingly give up the largest family fortune was remarkable. Ah, a farmer’s woman had raised a daughter more refined than those educated by scholars.

Thereafter, Sun Chunlan urged He Erlang to learn culinary arts and opened a dessert shop.

The business flourished and expanded, eventually opening a branch in the eastern city where the nobility resided.

Life grew prosperous and vibrant, and Sun Chunlan’s reputation within the He clan grew, eventually surpassing He Dasa in favor and influence.

Sun Da Gu, having married into the city, made the village proud, but she did something even more admired.

Having firmly established herself in the He family, Sun Chunlan’s reputation for virtue, intelligence, and practicality spread throughout the clan. Consequently, more women sought her friendship, and no one looked down on her humble village origins. After all, such generosity and magnanimity were rare even among city girls.

Gradually, some in the clan desired a daughter-in-law like Sun Da Gu.

The family of He Wenshu, closely connected with the matriarch and not yet beyond the mourning period, specifically approached Sun Chunlan. They asked outright whether there was a suitable girl in Sun’s village — someone with a temperament similar to hers, reasonably attractive, and most importantly, with a large family.

Sun Chunlan was taken aback. The Wenshu family? How to put it—

Their offspring were fewer even than He Erlang’s before marriage. It was as if they were cursed; every woman married into the family bore only one son, though daughters were more numerous, but those daughters were married elsewhere.

Furthermore, the Wenshu family had a peculiar trait: the grandfather, father, and grandson were all thin and frail, seeming as if a gust of wind could topple them. Such a lineage was not favored by the girls.

However, the Wenshu family was more closely tied to the capital branch of the He family, enjoying greater protection. The grandfather worked as a clerk in the city government office; the father likewise. He Liyang, still unmarried, also served as an assistant clerk.

In terms of status, they ranked higher than the He family.

He Wenshu owned a large three-courtyard mansion, hundreds of acres of farmland, and reportedly even a small manor.

Servants attended to their every need, and though He Liyang was not handsome, his family’s wealth made him a desirable match, and the family was confident of finding a suitable bride.

Sun Chunlan asked incredulously, “Aunt, are you joking?”

How could one find a village girl? Being a village girl herself, she bore no disdain for such origins, but the difference in social standing was real, and marrying into the He family was extraordinarily fortunate.

The Wenshu family was frank: they valued Sun Chunlan’s character and believed that girls from the Sun family could not be much worse. They also prized her reputed fertility.

For the Wenshu family, finding a bride of equal standing was ideal. Even if the son-in-law could be elevated, Liyang could scarcely bear the burden due to poor health and could only serve as a clerk for life.

Thus, for the family, producing heirs was the paramount task.

Sun Chunlan asked whether this was her aunt’s personal opinion or the family’s.

The Wenshu family replied that it was a family consensus: all agreed to seek a fertile girl, regardless of village origins, for the children would bear the He family name, not that of the village.

Later, Sun Chunlan introduced Yuniang, the village chief’s daughter, to He Liyang. The two took a liking to each other, and the following year, she bore a healthy grandson.

Thus, the girls of Sun’s village gained renown within the He clan.

Meanwhile, the village watched as Sun Chunlan helped the village girls marry into the city.

Whenever Sun Chunlan returned home, it caused a sensation. If she favored a girl from a family and took her to the city to become a lady of the household, that family’s peasants could rise to become landowners.

Look at the family of Sun Bomin and the village chief’s family—riding the momentum of the He family’s favor, their lives steadily improved.