Chapter 255

Old Pei took out the savings he had just withdrawn and placed them on the table. "This is what I've saved up over the years, a total of over 7,000 yuan. The house goes to my third son, and there's no share of this money for him. You two families can split this money. Even at the highest price, the house is only worth around 3,000 yuan. The passbook has more than the value of the house, so consider it compensation for you. Pei Yong, you don't have any objections, do you?"

In the end, Old Pei still felt sorry for Pei Yong, knowing that if he only counted a value of 3,000 yuan, Wang Yue definitely wouldn't let it go easily.

This way, the other two families wouldn't lose out either. In fact, with houses of their own already, they were actually making money.

"I have no objections," according to Pei Jing's original thinking, even if Old Pei didn't give him a penny, he wouldn't have any complaints.

How much the older generation had was due to their own abilities, and who they wished to give it to was their choice. What he despised most was sponging off others.

"That's good if there are no objections." Old Pei split up the money and handed it to them. "You can all go back now too. I have no other demands of you, just live your lives well, that's all. I'm still healthy now and have people looking after me. I'll live with my third son from now on. I don't have much life left, so I'll leave what's left of the money to him. If I live longer, then you can split it up again after I die."

They were very practical words, but sounded sorrowful.

Although Old Pei was retired, he still got subsidies every month and was supported by the state. The money he had saved up over time was not a small sum.

Pei Yong closed his eyes, knowing that what his father just said was mainly meant for him to hear.

He didn't understand either, his position wasn't low and his allowances were not meager. What was the point of causing such family discord over these things?

He was the first to take the money from the table. His sturdy little forearm trembled slightly.

The sound of his knee hitting the floor was very real. When he got up again, he still didn't say a word and left directly.

Old Pei waved his hand, as if he had been drained of strength too.

Pei Sheng and Pei Jing didn't dare speak until they were in the yard. Zhi Xia came out from the room and said, "Just before Eldest Brother went in earlier, I saw him talking to Sister-in-Law in the yard. He didn't seem to be doing too well, it looked like...he had a headache." Especially after Che Nyan ran over to interrupt Wang Yue's nagging, he was clearly much more relaxed. Together with his upright military uniform, it really made one's heart ache.

Although this had nothing to do with Zhi Xia, since she had seen it, she still ought to remind them, just in case.

But she had said what she should, whether they would take it to heart was a matter between the brothers.

"A headache? Zhi Xia, are you sure you didn't see wrongly?" Pei Sheng wasn't doubting her, just that he had never heard Pei Yong complain of headaches before.

Indeed, after so many years, that big brother of his, who used to sometimes conceal nothing from him, was like a different person - he had lost his former cheerfulness and had instead become gloomy and irritable.

Pei Sheng and Pei Yong were not too far apart in age. Having grown up together and fought on the battlefield side by side, their relationship was naturally very close. Not waiting for Zhi Xia’s reply, he couldn’t restrain his impatience and made to leave, "No, I have to go see. I’ll take him to get checked out at the hospital, what if there really is some medical issue!"

Pei Jing stopped him, "Second brother, going to the hospital can wait till another day. It’s not very appropriate for you to go over right now."

In case the two of them started arguing again, it would be awkward whether others saw it or not.

On the contrary, with them not around, Wang Yue would be somewhat more restrained.

Pei Sheng thought about it and realized he was right, so he said he would go tomorrow instead and hurried off.

Pei JianGuo cycled away anxiously, his mind full of what Wang Yue had said: "In the government, his nice-sounding title is Secretary, but bluntly put, he's just an errand boy. He himself lacks capability too, relying on him to get a share of the house isn't realistic."

He didn't understand either why his mother was always so critical and disdainful of him.

He couldn't compare with his uncle, couldn't compare with the An brothers, and even An Zhiang who was once seen as a petty hooligan had now joined the army, while Liu Jun had entered the police force.

They had all relied on their own ability, the only one whose secretary job relied on his elders pulling strings was him.

When he was little and came home proud of his third placing in exams, the first thing she said was, "Your uncle and An Zhiqing used to be tied first placers, what's there to be arrogant about coming third?"

When grandpa and dad wanted him to go to the army toughen up, she said what good would the army do, all that sun and wind, exhausting labor, enduring years of hardship with no guarantee of making something of himself. With his constitution since young, unable to endure the slightest hardship, if he went to the army he wouldn't last three days.

No matter what he did, he was always useless in her eyes.

When young he didn't understand why his parents were always fighting, but after growing up he seemed to be able to comprehend why his father was always reluctant to return home.

Even he himself was increasingly disinclined to head home.

The more he thought about it, the more indignant he felt, pedaling faster and faster.

At the street corner, a cry rang out as Pei Jianguo crashed to the ground in confusion. ... When Pei Yong returned home, Wang Yue deliberately waited for him.

Seeing him come in, she quickly went up to ask him, "How did it go? How did father divide things?"

Pei Yong handed her the money he was holding without a word. Wang Yue took it and her expression instantly darkened.

"Didn't I say I wanted the house? Pei Yong, why don't you listen to a word I say? What's the use dividing up money? Can this money buy back the house?" Though Wang Yue complained with her mouth, her hands nimbly counted the money.

She counted money very swiftly, clearly very familiar with it.

Listening to the flipping sounds, Pei Yong silently waited.

Wang Yue finished counting, 3500 yuan. Though it exceeded the value of the house, she still felt it was somewhat regrettable.

She looked at the perpetually silent Pei Yong, knowing he was sulking again, and scoffed, "I'll set this money aside. When the child grows up there'll be more places to spend money. You holding on to it is useless. If there's any real need in future, then come ask me for it."

Pei Yong didn't reject her since he originally brought the money back for her.

Old Pei's grieved face was still imprinted in his mind, and it emboldened Pei Yong. "Wang Yue, tormenting each other for so many years is enough. Consider me owing you, I'll leave the family money and house to you. Let's get a divorce."

Wang Yue's hand clutching the money froze, stunned for ages before she regained her senses.

"Pei Yong, can you say that in good conscience to me? To my parents and elder brother? To answer for all those years..." The old stories brought up again did make him feel he owed her once, but now, he only wished he was the one dead back then.

No matter how she scolded or cried, eventually she stopped, "Don't I know you detest me, your heart is still on that woman, but I'm your wife! I gave birth to your children!"

"You can disagree to the divorce, but I won't be coming back in future." Pei Yong was utterly calm from start to finish. He had played out this scenario countless times in his head already, including the scratch marks Wang Yue left on his face, all within expectation. "As you wished, the family property is divided. Father and brothers two and three don't owe you anything, neither do they owe me anything. If your heart is unresigned, go make trouble at my place instead. Or rather, I can return this life to your Wang family, how about it?"

He knew his words were heartless. He had sincerely wanted to spend his whole life with her once, but he really overestimated his endurance.

Wang Yue had always thought it was because he couldn't forget his first love, yet she didn't know they came together for the Revolution then, not for some petty romance.

Long before deciding to marry Wang Yue, things had already been made clear between them, and both buried that affection deep in their hearts.

It was Wang Yue who kept clinging on and forced the other party away with rumors, eventually causing her death on the road and leaving Pei Yong with lifelong guilt.

Wang Yue was shocked by Pei Yong's threats. She froze for a long time before she came to her senses.

"I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon to stay at my father's place. If the children want to see me they can come over. You think things through clearly and give me an answer, or if you have any conditions they can be raised too." Pei Yong laughed derisively and left.