I'm dressed up as the timid eldest daughter, and the whole family has to listen to me!

Seeing his mother sitting on the ground wailing, Su Hanzhang felt a tangled mess of emotions. He was about to reach out to help Granny Liu to her feet, but when he met Su Banxia's sharp gaze, he abruptly withdrew his hand.

Su Hanzhang clenched his fists, glanced at his wife whose head was swollen from being hit by Granny Liu, Su Mo who was peering out the window, and Su Shiyan who was peeking out the door of the second room with hopeful eyes. At this moment, he couldn't care less about anything else.

After his near-dive into the river last night, he realized that in critical moments, only his wife and children were truly worried. Moreover, he had been prioritizing the greater good for many years, and now he was tired and didn't want to care about anything else.

Seeing that Su Hanzhang had withdrawn his hand, Su Banxia was quite satisfied. It seemed that this cheap father wasn't entirely hopeless. So she stepped forward and blocked Su Hanzhang's path, coldly glancing at Granny Liu.

“If you don’t agree to the division of labor, then we’ll quit. My parents are both hardworking. We’ll move to the county town and find my dad and brother some work as porters at the dock.”

As she spoke, Su Banxia paused and observed Granny Liu's expression.

"Oh right, I also need to find my mother a job washing clothes for people, and then send my little sister to a wealthy family to be a maid."

Su Banxia, ​​with her hands behind her back, slowly circled around Granny Liu.

"As for me, I take on embroidery work at home, so my family and I can live well. Naturally, I don't need to stay in Sujia Village and support your whole family of parasites!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mo, who was peering out the window, couldn't help but pout.

"Why don't you go and be a maid yourself? Why did you arrange for me to be a maid!"

Su Hanzhang, peering through the crack in the door, looked at Su Mo and smiled:

"Little sister, I heard from Meihua that she's living a very comfortable life as a maid in a wealthy family. Her food, clothing, and daily necessities are much better than in the village, and she doesn't have to work in the fields. She's living a very comfortable life!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mo swallowed hard and then stubbornly replied:

"Then I won't become a maid. If I'm going to do something, I'll become a lady!"

Su Shiyan shook his head helplessly.

"Okay, okay, you're going to be the lady!"

At this moment, Granny Liu, who was sitting in the courtyard, saw that crying was useless, so she stopped crying and sat on the ground, carefully pondering what Su Banxia had just said. She was shocked.

No, I absolutely cannot let the second wife's family abandon me and go to live in the county town. If what Su Banxia just said is true, wouldn't they really live a good life in the county town?

The second branch of the family is living a carefree life, but if it were just the two old folks, myself and my husband, left in Sujia Village, they would probably starve to death by the first and third branches of the family!

Thinking this, Granny Liu got up and dusted herself off.

"Banxia, ​​what are you saying? Our Su family's roots are in Sujia Village. How can we leave home to go to the county town? Besides, you two won't know anyone in the county town. How can your father and I not worry about you at home?"

As she spoke, Granny Liu stepped forward, pushed Su Banxia aside, and grabbed Su Hanzhang's hand.

"Hanzhang, I know you've sacrificed a lot for this family over the years. I need to discuss the matter you just mentioned with your father. You don't need to get out of bed today because you're not feeling well. You can go to work as usual tomorrow. We'll talk about it again once your father and I have reached a decision."

Seeing that his mother had finally recognized the sacrifices made by the second branch of the family over the years, Su Hanzhang was deeply moved. He was about to nod in agreement when Su Banxia stopped him.

"Grandma, there's no room for discussion. I'll give you and Grandpa one day. If you still can't make up your mind by tomorrow, we'll move to the county town!"

Granny Liu glared fiercely at Su Banxia and said impatiently:

"You're always getting involved in everything. What are you doing, a little kid like you, always meddling in adults' affairs!"

Upon hearing Su Banxia's words, Wang Guihua couldn't hide her worry. The second branch of the family didn't have a single copper coin; walking to the county town wasn't out of the question.

But if we arrive in the county town without any money or a place to stay, won't the whole family have to become beggars?

Su Banxia grabbed Su Hanzhang and Wang Guihua, one in each hand, and pulled them into the house.

"Grandma, I'm telling you this now. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. Just wait and see what our second branch of the family does tomorrow!"

After saying that, Su Banxia led the two into the house and then closed the door behind her.

Upon seeing this, Su Shiyan immediately grabbed Su Banxia's hand and said excitedly:

"Big sister, you were really amazing just now! You dared to talk to Grandma like that. You didn't see it, her face turned as purple with anger!"

Su Banxia smiled and waved her hand, then sat down, poured herself a glass of water, and drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing this, Wang Guihua quickly sat down next to Su Banxia and asked with a worried expression:

"Banxia, ​​is everything you just said true?"

Su Banxia nodded.

"Banxia, ​​to be honest, our second branch of the family doesn't have a single copper coin left. If we really go to the county town, I'm afraid we won't survive..."

Su Banxia smiled at Wang Guihua, who looked worried.

"Mother, have I let you and my elder brother go hungry these past few days?"

Wang Guihua and Su Shiyan exchanged a glance, then shook their heads.

"That's settled then. As long as we don't starve, we can survive. Don't worry, my grandma won't let us go easily. Even if she really doesn't agree to the division of labor and lets us go, I still have a way to support our whole family!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mo quickly interjected:

"I'm making this clear beforehand, I'm not going to be a maid!"

Su Banxia smiled helplessly after hearing this.

"Okay, you can be whatever you want, I won't stop you."

Everyone in the room burst into laughter upon hearing this. It seemed like the second branch of the family hadn't laughed so heartily in a long time.

While some are laughing, others are worrying. Right now, Granny Liu and Old Man Su are sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) discussing their next move.

"Why did the second son suddenly change gender?"

Granny Liu carefully inspected the nearly finished shoe sole while letting out a sigh through her nose.

"What else could have happened? I don't think that whole family has been normal since they were struck by lightning!"

Old Su picked up his pipe and took a puff, then glanced at the new shoe sole in Granny Liu's hand.

“I think these shoes are almost finished. Why don’t we give them to the second son and have a good talk with him? The eldest and third sons never help with the farm work during the busy season. How can we get them to help now?”

Upon hearing this, Granny Liu glared at Old Man Su, then reluctantly touched the sole of the shoe in her hand.

"These new shoes are for the fourth brother. The second brother has a wife, so he can't go without shoes. The fourth brother will be on holiday in a few days, and he'll want to wear new shoes when he comes home. He's a student in the county, after all, and he can't skimp on food and clothing!"