"According to the rules, she is the daughter-in-law of the Gu Family. Since the elder brother has passed away, the management rights should be exercised by your second branch. You should rightfully get a share of the land from the first branch."

The clan leader laid down this reasoning.

This aligned with Mr. Gu’s thoughts.

So Mr. Gu hurriedly sent someone to call Gu Dahuan over.

Gu Dahuan was at home working on the cotton seeds when he heard the call from the old house. He thought something had happened.

"Dahuan, I’ve heard that the fifty acres of land at the foot of the West Mountain have been bought by you?" Mr. Gu asked Gu Dahuan.

Fifty acres of land!

Everyone knew that those fifty acres at the foot of the West Mountain were the best in the village, yet they ended up in the first branch’s pocket.

Seeing Mr. Gu ask about it, Gu Dahuan didn’t hide it; there was nothing to hide, so he nodded.

Mr. Gu then asked, "Under whose name are those fifty acres now?"

Gu Dahuan honestly replied, "In my mother’s name."

Mrs. Gu, directing Xiao Xue to bring in water, clapped her hands and scolded, "That wicked woman! I knew she had ill intentions. She put everything under her own name. It looks like she’s missing a man. Dahuan, you’re working yourself to death for the land, yet she won’t put it under your name. I thought she had changed, but how could it be that easy?"

Mr. Gu was equally displeased. This eldest daughter-in-law was becoming more and more outrageous. Whose family doesn’t put property under the husband’s name? If the husband dies, it should definitely be under the son’s name.

The eldest daughter-in-law’s actions were unconventional.

Mrs. Gu scolded Tong Huaqiong, and Gu Dahuan wasn’t satisfied, saying coldly, "I never knew a mother would willingly cuckold her son, not even in death. Grandma, you shouldn’t say such things. It’s only a laughingstock for outsiders. Also, the fifty acres at the foot of the West Mountain were bought by my mother. Whose name should it be under if not hers?"

"Listen, everyone says you’re dull and honest, yet you’re defending Tong Dajiao with such effort... you ungrateful wretch, don’t you remember how she treated you before..."

Mrs. Gu was so angry that she scolded Gu Dahuan thoroughly, calling him witless and saying he was being oppressed by Tong Huaqiong like a mud man...

"Did you call me here just to ask about the land at the foot of the West Mountain? If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back. I still have work to do."

After all, she was his grandmother. Mrs. Gu scolded Gu Dahuan, but as a grandson, he didn’t argue, just listened and then intended to leave.

Mr. Gu stopped Gu Dahuan and said, "Those fifty acres of land are under your stepmother’s name just to guard against you. Eventually, that land will go to Dashi and Jingzhe. Yet you’re just a blockhead. Someone gives you a bit of sweetness, and you become loyal without fighting for it."

Gu Dahuan thought Mr. Gu was overthinking it and said, "Mother said earlier, the future family property would be equally divided, including for Taohua and Man Er. Grandpa, you don’t need to worry."

"Who are you kidding? Anyone can say pretty words. She’s bound to eventually turn the Gu Family’s assets over to her own family, brothers, and nephews. And you believe she’ll divide it equally among you. Otherwise, why would a daughter from the Tong Family stay at your house after a separation?" Mr. Gu said.

Gu Dahuan said, "My mother has already cut ties with the Tong Family. Pandie is not staying at our house for free. She works for us and earns her living by her own hands."

Mr. Gu was exasperated with Gu Dahuan.

This grandson was just as stubborn as a block of wood; whatever the stepmother said was just how it was.

Gu Ruinian looked down on Gu Dahuan, a farmer who only knows how to farm. If it weren’t for some usefulness, he wouldn’t bother.

All the grandfather’s roundabout words, what were they for? Better to give a harsh blow directly, so he said, "Dahuan brother, grandpa means that as the eldest son of the first branch, you should have control of the family’s assets. After all, the eldest son’s responsibility is greater. Even now, the eldest aunt firmly holds the land and doesn’t trust you as the eldest son. It can be understood since you’re not her biological son. But you can’t let others lead you around by the nose. You have a wife and a son. Sufen is about to give birth to another son for you. You need to think for your children. Before, when we weren’t here, you dared not speak of any grievances. Now that we’re back, we’ll definitely stand by your side. Rest assured, anything you want to fight for, the clan will support you. We certainly won’t let the eldest aunt mistreat you."

Gu Dahuan found it odd; what did his issues have to do with Gu Ruinian?

Since this cousin returned, he hadn’t interacted much, yet he visited his house every few days.

One moment he’s running to the pigpen, the next looking for Gu Jingzhe, stirring up trouble.

Now he’s starting to sow discord between him and his stepmother.

Gu Dahuan frowned and said to Gu Ruinian, "Ruinian, you say the eldest son should hold the family’s assets. Then why did grandpa give the land and silver to the second uncle instead of my father? Don’t say my father wasn’t around; even when he was, the family assets were given to the second uncle. Ruinian, explain that?"

"Dahuan brother, it’s like this... My dad needed silver for business back then, and he promised grandpa that the profits would help the eldest uncle. It’s just that he didn’t live to see it..." Gu Ruinian stammered an explanation.

Gu Ruinian didn’t expect Gu Dahuan to catch the loophole in his words.

The first thing he thought was, "Has this elder cousin been PUA-ed by the eldest aunt to the point of not even fighting for immediate gains?" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

He had hoped to use Gu Dahuan as a breakthrough to cause internal strife in the first branch.

But now it seems this elder cousin really is the blockhead the grandparents talk about.

"Ruinian, you’re young and ignorant, I don’t blame you. I suffered in the past, and neither grandpa nor the clan ever stood up for me. Now my eldest aunt treats me quite well, yet you’re urging grandpa and the clan to stand up for me. Are you trying to split up the family? I don’t want to split the family. I’m content managing the family land and pig farm. You’ve been away for years and don’t know much about my household’s affairs. Don’t just guess based on hearsay. I’m doing quite well."

There was a hint of teaching in Gu Dahuan’s words to Gu Ruinian.

Being lectured by a nominally older cousin who was just a farmer by name, Gu Ruinian felt rather indignant.

It turned out he had underestimated Gu Dahuan.

He thought he was just a simple-minded brute, easy to fall for tricks.

Mr. Gu stepped in to back Gu Ruinian himself, saying, "Dahuan, how can you talk like that? Ruinian is your brother by the same surname. He’s considering things for you. You can’t not recognize the good intentions."

Gu Dahuan clamped his mouth shut and said nothing more.

Originally, Mr. Gu thought that if the first branch’s land was in Gu Dahuan’s name, he might be able to ask Gu Dahuan to part with ten acres for him.

But the land was under the daughter-in-law’s name, which would complicate matters.

Mr. Gu asked again, "Dahuan, I’ve heard that your family’s land has been rented out to other villagers."

Gu Dahuan said, "Yes. There’s too much land for me to farm alone. Kept thirty acres, but the rest is rented out to villagers for land rent each year."

Mr. Gu sighed, wiped his eyes, and said, "Dahuan, now that your second uncle’s family and I have returned, you understand this whole family needs to eat and drink, and survival in the village requires land. Fortunately, Daqiang is willing to return three acres to us first, but it’s not enough for a family of ten. Grandpa asks just one thing: let me rent a few acres from your family’s land. If you’re renting it to others anyway, why not rent it to us? I’ll pay according to the market price."

Gu Dahuan looked troubled.

Mr. Gu said, "Of course, I’m not asking for an immediate answer. Go home and discuss it with your stepmother. Since you said she treats you well now, surely she will give you this face."

Mr. Gu applied moral pressure on Gu Dahuan.