Chapter 177 Family Division

The next morning.

Ji Bo had people bring in the head of the Cheng family. The man was dejected, seemingly resigned to his fate. After being confined for a night, the silence had allowed him to calm down, but fear began to set in as he didn't know what they would do to him. His mind was somewhat muddled, and he was still trembling.

The result was that he was forced into a chair and bound again for the division of the family. Ji Bo also called out the two concubines. Although they were meant to follow the head of the Cheng family, they were still needed to witness the proceedings.

Madam You and Madam Lin had also been awake all night, their minds consumed by what the future held. While it was true that the head of the Cheng family being in charge would benefit their children more, they had never imagined that Cheng Hao would choose to divide the family! Family divisions had always been initiated by the head of the household; who had ever heard of a junior proposing it? This was utterly preposterous!

They could not fathom that the usually gentle and polite legitimate son would do such a thing. Now, they feared he might harm them and dared not speak, only clutching their equally frightened children tightly. These three illegitimate children were also bewildered. They studied diligently every day, so how had their home suddenly turned upside down?

Never mind the illegitimate branches. Unexpectedly, Madam Cheng also forced herself to appear, her face alarmingly pale, yet she persisted. Her expression was rather strange, with a hint of a smile that was quite frightening. No one knew how long she had waited for this day. Seeing the head of the Cheng family looking like a frightened quail, she longed to laugh aloud, but her physical condition prevented it. Now, she could only cough a few times, but her heart was filled with relief.

Jiang Xiyue stood beside her aunt, her face a mask of silence and confusion. She hadn't expected that he would face his own father without a hint of fear, even appearing at ease. This was also beyond her expectations. When Jiang Xiyue saw Cheng Hao's cold eyes, she shivered, realizing belatedly that he was not as simple a person as she thought. Fortunately, she hadn't completely angered him, or she didn't know what would have happened.

Ji Bo, seeing that everyone was present, began to announce the division of the family. In fact, among so many people, only Cheng Hao's side was splitting off. The rest would continue to live with the head of the Cheng family. A son had no reason to support his father's wives and children; this was a natural course of action. As for Cheng Hao's side, arrangements had been made the previous night.

Once Cheng Hao came of age, everything he earned would be his own. Therefore, both workshops belonged to him. The front courtyard would naturally be left to him. After the Jin family moved out, the head of the Cheng family and his household could temporarily reside there, though he was also free to move elsewhere if he wished. As for the possessions of the head of the Cheng family, apart from the few items that belonged to Cheng Hao's mother, he had no interest in anything else and did not take anything from him.

As for the carriages, except for the few that could not be modified and were left for them, the rest were compensated with a portion of the silver. Thus, the matter was settled. The head of the Cheng family, whether he had come to his senses or for some other reason, likely fearing for his life, no longer caused trouble and did as he was told. The household slaves, having lost their registered household status, were to be kept by Cheng Hao, and he did not object. He also appeared to have suffered a severe illness. Finally, he was supported by his two concubines and left, acting quite stubbornly as they departed.

Upon hearing this news, Cheng Hao said, "Don't bother with them. Let them leave."

Su Miaomiao then instructed her subordinates, "Be extra cautious in the coming days. Beware of strangers, and ensure that entry and exit are strictly controlled." Their own people were reliable, but they were concerned that the head of the Cheng family might cause trouble later, so it was necessary to take precautions.

Ji Bo quickly agreed. In fact, everyone was quite happy. From now on, there were no more worries! Previously, they had always been anxious with the head of the Cheng family above them, living in constant fear and trepidation. They were even more afraid of Madam Cheng causing them trouble. Now, all those worries were gone.

Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi were overjoyed, exclaiming, "Great! We no longer have to worry about our masters eloping and leaving us behind!" This made Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao laugh, telling them to stop talking. Ji Bo also felt happy. Although it was a little unaccustomed, he was genuinely happy for the couple from the bottom of his heart. They had finally seen the light of day!

Madam Cai and Madam Xi also took the time to come over and say, "Everyone has discussed it. Our benefactors are celebrating a joyous occasion today, and they all want to congratulate the benefactors. We will have a good meal together at noon to celebrate properly!" Laifu and Jiawang also chimed in, "This is a good occasion to ward off bad luck!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Cai and Madam Xi also laughed and mentioned to the young couple the upcoming weddings of Cheng Dazhuang and Cheng Dali. "Both sides have agreed. We are just waiting for a good date to hold the ceremonies." Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao were also quite surprised, but it was indeed a welcome surprise.

"Alright, then let everyone make arrangements. This is the first happy event for our side, isn't it? We must celebrate it properly. If you need anything, tell Ji Bo to use the communal funds. Don't let them spend their own money; save it for their future. Life is long ahead, so save some for later!" Su Miaomiao was very generous, especially towards her own people. She also knew that Cheng Dazhuang and his brother had it tough and were honest people with little money. The expenses for having children later would be considerable. She and Cheng Hao were not lacking in money now, and they could afford to hold a celebration.

Madam Cai was ecstatic upon hearing this, covering her mouth and giggling. "That would be wonderful! We don't need to spend too much; it's just for the festive atmosphere. Everyone wants to join in the celebration. Each person will add a bit of joy, and there will still be plenty of money left!" Madam Xi became even more enthusiastic, saying with a smile, "It will definitely be a lively affair!" Cheng Hao told everyone to proceed as they wished and not to be shy. Su Miaomiao said the same. Everyone agreed, and that night, Cheng Dazhuang and his brother even came to express their gratitude.

Everything seemed to be proceeding smoothly. However, the young couple had a premonition that it wouldn't be that simple. The head of the Cheng family was not the generous type; he was very petty and would surely return to cause trouble. They instructed their subordinates to remain vigilant and not to let their guard down.

As expected, within a few days, rumors about the young couple began to spread. Most of them depicted them as filial rebels who had bullied their father and forcefully seized the family inheritance, even driving their relatives out of the house. And so on and so forth! Ji Bo and the others were furious. The people who worked for the young couple's workshops, knowing the truth, were even more indignant on their behalf. They all defended the couple. However, gossip is a fearsome weapon. The malicious rumors spread faster than their clarifications. Soon, their business began to be affected.

Compared to the others, Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao were not worried. Instead, they felt that it had indeed come! They knew that the head of the Cheng family would not let them off easily and would surely cause trouble. Seeing that they had resorted to spreading rumors, they were not afraid!

That night, everyone was extremely worried and specifically came to help the young couple brainstorm solutions. However, Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao comforted them instead, telling them not to worry.

"Look at their rumors; they are utterly baseless. If we truly tally what we divided, they actually received the larger portion. They even deliberately confused the issue, claiming that the workshops were opened by the head of the Cheng family." Exaggerations often lose credibility and cannot stand scrutiny. "Anyone who has done business with us knows that we were solely responsible for both workshops. When we were toiling and traveling, where was he?"

Therefore, Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao were not worried at all. Even if public opinion currently favored the other side, their counterattack would soon spread. The confidence of the young couple stemmed from their customers. Most people enjoyed their pastries, and the five major families, concerned about their own interests, would naturally send people to negotiate. Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao explained briefly, and the other party expressed understanding. Immediately, people from the five major families came forward to help clarify the situation. The head of the Cheng family looked like a clown. Many gossips, through various clues, unearthed the reason why the young couple had fallen out with their father. Upon learning the truth, the head of the Cheng family was mocked by everyone and left in disgrace.

Even long after he left, people occasionally brought up the matter to joke about it. "This just goes to show, if the father is incompetent, even the son can overthrow him!" "This is truly hilarious! I say, the head of the Cheng family cannot blame anyone but himself. Who told him he was incompetent? He even wanted his son to become a live-in son-in-law, which is enough to make people laugh their heads off, utterly ridiculous!" "However, speaking of which, although the head of the Cheng family was incompetent, his legitimate son is truly remarkable! So young, yet so bold, truly amazing!"

While many people mocked the head of the Cheng family, there were also many who praised Cheng Hao. However, some people argued that Cheng Hao, as a son, had gone too far. He was too ruthless, abandoning his own family. What else would he not dare to do? Of course, for every person who said this, there was a group of people who refuted their statements. "You all have too much time on your hands! You criticize them for being heartless and not caring about their own family, but who told his father not to act like a decent person?" "Exactly. To let his own son, his legitimate son, become someone's live-in son-in-law. If this father had any regard for his son, he wouldn't have done such a thing! Wouldn't he be ashamed to say this to his son's face?" "That's right. If my father treated me like that, I would also turn my back on him!"

"They say the eldest young master Cheng has no heart, but I don't think so. I only know that our neighbors work in his workshop, and not only do they receive good pay, but the food is also excellent, and he treats them kindly. My neighbors are always praising how good it is over there! If they weren't short-handed, I would definitely go there too! He treats people very well!" "Oh, what are you listening to? Just based on the fact that this young man said he only acknowledges one wife, he's not a heartless person! Tell me, how many of you men can be devoted to only one wife?" "Exactly, exactly. Which of you men, once they have money, doesn't have multiple wives and concubines! Based on this, none of you have the right to say that young master Cheng is heartless!"

In the end, there were many rumors. However, business slowly recovered and became even more popular than before. Regardless of the outside commentary, their lives continued as normal. Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao had not expected that the head of the Cheng family would leave before them. They had thought they would leave first, with the head of the Cheng family remaining behind. But now, they had parted ways earlier, with them staying and the others leaving. However, it was for the best. Everyone could finally relax and focus on managing their businesses.

But life continued as usual. The harsh weather could not be changed. Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao were also in the process of concluding their affairs, preparing to sell the two workshops. Moreover, the unrest within the city had gradually increased. It was no longer as stable. The five major families were also showing signs of discord, causing further panic. Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao eventually announced to their subordinates that they might be leaving soon. They had also inquired about a place not too far from here with a stable climate and no drought. It was also conveniently located near the route to a neighboring country, making it suitable for their journey.

The route had been decided. Therefore, their departure was set. Originally, everyone had planned to follow the young couple wherever they went. Thus, it was not unexpected. Moreover, there were too many people in the city. They also felt uneasy and decided to follow them. Some people from Shanao Village also hesitated before choosing to follow the main group. So, except for the absence of the head of the Cheng family and his household, everyone else proceeded as usual.

Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao set their departure date after the weddings of Cheng Dazhuang and his brother, so that the two brothers could successfully complete their ceremonies before they left. The brothers were immensely grateful. Madam Cai and Madam Xi were also working hard to prepare for the weddings. Su Miaomiao even helped with the makeup for the brides. The brothers were marrying local girls from Shanao Village, so they could all leave together without any worries. The wedding day was also exceptionally lively, with a dazzling display of festive red everywhere. Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao also woke up early to help. The children were incredibly excited. The brothers' weddings were set for the same day, doubling the joy.

While Cheng Hao was busy with Cheng Dazhuang and his brother helping with the wedding procession, Su Miaomiao was in the backyard helping the brides. With just a few touches, she could make the brides look stunning, to everyone's amazement! Cheng Xiaohua's eyes were full of admiration as she looked at Su Miaomiao and then suddenly pouted, "Sister-in-law! When I get married in the future, you must do my makeup!" Little Niuniu also exclaimed in wonder. Madam Cai and Madam Xi were even more shocked, looking from side to side. "Heavens, how beautiful! You have this skill too? It's like magic!"

The two brides, who had never worn makeup before, looked at everyone's reactions with great joy. They quickly thanked Su Miaomiao and gave her red envelopes. This was the custom there, and Su Miaomiao accepted them without hesitation, tucking them into her embrace. Smiling, she said, "I can only say that my skills are not bad! I haven't regressed! As long as you like it!" Her cheerful demeanor was incredibly endearing. Everyone burst into laughter.

Madam Cai and Madam Xi, seeing that time was getting short, quickly urged everyone to prepare. "Quick, quick, block the door well. The groom will be here soon!" "Yes, yes, block it well, you sisters must guard it carefully!" Upon hearing this, everyone immediately began to prepare with cheerful laughter.