The Cui woman is the Wang family's daughter-in-law, yet she actually abused the Wang family's descendants—this is no small matter. Charles Carter was so furious he shouted and yelled, wanting to discipline and even hit someone. At the very least, she should have waited until he got back; this was clearly bullying. He told his wife to head home slowly, borrowed a donkey himself, and hurried back to the house.

“Hmph, even if she’s my second sister-in-law, it’s not her place to discipline the Wang family’s children! Andrew, don’t be afraid, your father will stand up for you!”

Although he’d been away for some days and Andrew Carter had plenty of complaints about his cheap old man, the concern was genuine, and Andrew Carter felt a warm glow in his heart.

“Dad…” he called softly, “let’s just forget it, Heaven has already punished her.”

“What did you say?” Charles Carter was completely confused.

Andrew Carter briefly explained what had happened, focusing on how Second Uncle had been tricked and suddenly owed a hundred strings of cash. Charles Carter was stunned. It was just like the saying: the quiet ones are the most dangerous! Second Brother was always gentle and refined, spouting classical phrases, highly educated, smart—none of the brothers thought much of anyone but him.

How could someone so shrewd have gotten into such a huge mess!

“A hundred strings of cash—how are we supposed to pay that back?” Charles Carter felt dizzy. While he was still in shock, someone suddenly knocked on the door—it was the eldest uncle.

“So you’re back, Fourth. Grandma wants you to come over and discuss things.”

“Oh.” Charles Carter nodded, then turned to Andrew Carter and said, “You stay here for now, we’ll talk later.”

Henry Carter suddenly said, “Let Andrew come too, this kid is clever!”

……

After just a day or so, the Wang family’s old matriarch had clearly aged a lot. She was leaning against the bed, completely drained, a towel on her head, and her voice was weak.

“So Fourth is back!”

Seeing his grandmother like this, Charles Carter felt terrible and forced himself to hold back his grief. “Grandma, are you alright?”

“Sigh, I won’t die.”

The old lady sighed, “Is everyone here? Second has made a huge mistake, borrowed a hundred strings of cash. If we don’t pay it back quickly, the lenders won’t let him off.”

Edward Carter nodded like a pecking chicken, “Grandma is right, you can’t just ignore your grandson, you’re watching me fall into the fire pit!”

“Sigh, we’re all one family, we’ll bear it together! First, gather all my dowry, and the eldest and Fourth should also think of something. No matter what, we have to help Second. As for Second… from now on, you and Richard will farm the land together, work hard, and earn this money back!”

Ah!

Edward Carter’s head buzzed—wasn’t this the end for him?

“Grandma, I can’t stop studying! All these years, I’ve suffered so much, but if I can just get into the state academy, after a few years of hard study, maybe I can bring honor to the family…”

“Shut up!” The old lady’s sharp gaze was even keener than a knife. “Do as I say!”

……

After leaving the old lady’s room, they hadn’t gone far when the eldest uncle caught up, muttering, “What is this? Grandma is still counting on her dowry? Those things are decades old, they’re worthless now. Even if there’s something good, Cui has already taken it—she’s taken plenty from our family for her own relatives these past years. If you ask me, this time we have to sell land.”

“Has it really come to that?” Charles Carter stopped in fright. “Big Brother, selling land is easy, but buying it back is hard.”

“Who doesn’t know that! Second has really ruined our family this time!” Henry Carter said bitterly. “Fourth, there’s only one way, but it depends on whether you’re willing.”

“Please tell me, Big Brother.”

“Split the family!”

“Split the family?” Charles Carter cried out in shock.

“That’s right. Add up all the land and property, and let Second bear the debt. At least we’ll get our share of the land and property.” Henry Carter said confidently.

“Big Brother, splitting the family isn’t right! Not to mention people will laugh at us, there’s also Mother and Grandma—their health isn’t good. If anything happens, we’ll all be unfilial sons.”

“Fourth, what do you mean ‘we’? It’s Second who caused all this trouble, he can’t drag everyone down. Do you want to pay his debt? Think it over!”

With that, the eldest uncle hurried off.

Back in his room, Charles Carter was filled with mixed emotions.

Split the family? He’d never even dreamed of it. The Wang family was the envy of all, four generations under one roof! So many descendants—could it really all fall apart over a hundred strings of cash? He just couldn’t accept it. But this time, Second Brother had really gone too far. If they didn’t split, and bore the debt together, maybe all the other branches would be crushed.

Looking at the lively children, Charles Carter really couldn’t bear to see them suffer.

What should he do?

“Maybe it’s not that bad,” Andrew Carter said softly.

“What, you have an idea?” his father asked in surprise.

“Mm. Second Uncle owes a hundred strings, of which sixty are from past years’ loans. The real problem is the forty strings he lost gambling on dog fights. If we can pay off those forty first, and negotiate about the remaining sixty, maybe there’s a way.”