"First, I want to live separately. I don't want a single thing from Edward Walker's family, as long as I can live apart!" Mrs. Bennett didn't dare look at her mother-in-law, lying on the bed staring at the ceiling, finally voicing the words she'd held in for two years: "Second, he has to swear a vicious oath: after we separate, he's not allowed to give any money to his family. If he does, may his son be born without an anus!"

At these words, the whole room fell silent. The old lady's hand, hidden in her sleeve, was clenched so tightly it creaked, but she still gave no response.

"Uh," Mrs. Bennett's brother felt her words were too inappropriate and hurried to smooth things over: "What my sister means is, to live separately but not split the family property. Each will spend their own money. This is good—since you can't get along, just live your own lives, and everyone will have peace of mind." He paused, then looked guiltily at Edward Walker's mother and said, "Isn't that right, Aunt Wang?"

Chapter 0003: A Sudden Turn

The reason Mrs. Bennett's momentum immediately weakened after she mentioned separation was because, in this era, the law forbids dividing the family property while the parents are still alive! Otherwise, the children could go to jail! Every month, the authorities would announce this at the public notice pavilion—even a three-year-old knew it.

That's why Mrs. Bennett so 'generously' said she didn't want anything from Edward Walker's family; and why she deliberately avoided saying "split the family," instead using "live separately" as a substitute—she was just deceiving herself!

But such matters were only pursued if someone reported them. There were plenty of brothers who couldn't get along and lived separately, and not all of them were orphans. As long as no one filed a lawsuit over dividing the family, the authorities wouldn't interfere—unless someone wanted to cause trouble for you.

If Mrs. Bennett wanted to succeed without future trouble, she had to get her mother-in-law's consent and have her issue a "living separately but not splitting the family" certificate before she dared to break away.

Everyone looked at the old lady. She pulled out her whitened hand, smoothed the hair on her forehead, and, neither hurried nor flustered, calmly looked at Edward Walker.

After glancing at her son, she turned to the Hou family and said, "I've long had enough of this greedy, lazy, black-hearted, and vicious woman..." The Hou family was about to explode, but then she changed her tone: "You just want a document for living separately but not splitting the family, right? As long as Edward Walker agrees, I'll provide it!"

The Hou family was instantly overjoyed, turning to Edward Walker and urging in unison, "What are you waiting for? Agree already!" In their experience, a pushover like Edward Walker, who never dared say no in his life, would never dare object.

"Don't..." Edward Walker pleaded pitifully with Mrs. Bennett, "The second child is still sick, the younger sister is still little, and mother isn't in good health—how could we manage? If we separate now, people will point fingers at us."

"You don't need to worry." The old lady sneered, "I've survived even harder days. Without the butcher, can I not eat pork with hair on it?!"

"Mother..." After more than twenty years as mother and son, how could Edward Walker not hear the sarcasm in her words? He became even more afraid to relent.

"Mother has already said so, what are you hesitating for?" Mrs. Bennett couldn't keep up the act any longer. She leapt up from the bed, her spindle-shaped head held high: "You've spent everything you had treating the second child for half a year, and now that he's finally awake, you've done your duty as an elder brother! Who among the neighbors could say anything about you?" After appealing to his emotions, she tempted him with benefits: "Edward Walker, haven't you always dreamed of being the boss? After we separate, I'll bring out my dowry and help you open a papermaking workshop, so you can finally taste what it's like to be the boss!"

"Yes, and you don't need to worry about a place to live." The brother-in-law, knowing his sister's intentions, chimed in: "The two-courtyard house I have in the county is empty. You can move in today! There's even an old maid there, so you'll have someone to take care of your meals and clothes. Isn't that a thousand times better than working yourself to the bone here?!"

"Father always doted on your wife. As long as you agree to move, the money your family owes ours will be written off." The younger brother-in-law added, "If you don't believe me, I can write you a promissory note!"

But since it wasn't his money that was lent out, what use was his promissory note? These empty promises that even ghosts wouldn't believe—only a blockhead like Edward Walker would fall for them... So thought the Hou siblings.

Sure enough, after hearing the third point, Edward Walker's face showed deep struggle. He bit his lip tightly, not knowing what to say.

"Edward Walker, if you don't agree, I'll go to the authorities!" Mrs. Bennett knew he was the worst at making decisions, so she had to use her trump card to scare him: "You heard what my brother said just now. I'm injured—if I go to the authorities, you'll be arrested!"

Edward Walker was struck as if by lightning, and the old lady's face changed dramatically. She shot to her feet, pointing at Mrs. Bennett and shouting, "Fine, I'll go with you! I'll expose all the shameful things you've done over the years and make you stink for ten miles around!"

With her mother-in-law raging, Mrs. Bennett shrank her neck in fear, but having come this far, how could she give up? She turned her head with effort, refusing to look at the old lady and staring only at Edward Walker: "Try me if you don't believe it!"

Edward Walker still bit his lip, looking constipated, and said nothing.

"Edward Walker, stop dawdling and answer already." The Hou brothers urged impatiently—they still had a banquet to attend that night and didn't have time to waste here. The younger brother-in-law, annoyed, looked up and saw little Yinling peeking in from outside the door. He blurted out, "What are you looking at? Get back inside!"

Yinling was still young and shivered in fright.

The younger brother-in-law turned back, about to scold Edward Walker a few more times, when suddenly a roar ten times louder than his own rang out: "Shut up!"