When he took You Hango to the clan meeting that day, the clan elders unanimously opposed his decision to make Wang the legal wife.
Firstly, Wang was not married in a formal way, and secondly, by making Wang the legal wife, You Hange would become the legitimate son.
According to everyone, it would be fine to give You Hange the status of a concubine's son and give him some of the family property in the future.
If Wang made Wang the legal wife after remarrying, other things would be easy to deal with, as You Miao would still be the eldest son. However, if Wang made Wang the legal wife, then You Hange would become the eldest son, and in this case, You Miao would have to listen to You Hange. It was simply a mess of the rules.
You Dechuan had been a person who disregarded the rules since he was young. He and You Miao were both stubborn and would not change their minds once they made up their minds.
But it was also because of this that You Dechuan made a mistake in violating the rules. Apart from reducing You Miao's position as the eldest son, he had not discussed it with his son. At first, when thinking about the issue of passing on the family line, who was the elder brother and who was the younger brother, wasn't it obvious? But as soon as You Miao came home and stood in front of him, You Dechuan couldn't help but feel a little breathless in front of his son.
You Dechuan had something to hide, so he had no choice but to let this rebellious son scold him with sarcasm and ridicule. However, he was so angry that he pushed You Hange away and stood in the courtyard and scolded him across the wall.
"I sent you to Beijing to study, but you didn't study and spent two thousand taels of silver a year! You never wrote home except to ask for money! Now you are back and don't say a word of filial piety! You still have the nerve to disobey your father and brother at home and fight for the position of the eldest son! Your elder brother and you are born by the same father! You two are both children of the You family! Look at how your elder brother treats you! What about you?!"
You Miao was both ashamed and angry, his face flushed, and he clenched his fists tightly, standing at the foot of the wall.
"Dad... don't be angry." You Hange supported You Dechuan and wanted him to go back to the study. Wang Shi hurried forward, holding a handkerchief, and touched You Dechuan's chest to calm him down.
You Dechuan was so excited that he pointed at the wall with a wooden board and cursed: "Just based on your character! When I die in the future, I will let you take charge of the family. Will your elder brother still have a bite to eat?! This family business will be lost in your hands sooner or later! You have been away from home for three years, and you have learned nothing. You come back home empty-handed, and you dare to talk back to me?! You are a useless person who has not made any progress! Why doesn't God strike you with thunder and kill you!"
Wang said repeatedly: "Okay, okay... Master, calm down, Master, calm down, Miaozi is just stubborn and speaks bluntly... It's all my own son... Master, don't take it to heart..." You
Miao turned around and walked back, wiping tears with his sleeves as he walked. As he walked, he finally choked up. He went into the east wing without thinking. You Dechuan was still cursing fiercely in the study courtyard, but he couldn't hear what he was cursing. You Miao pushed the door in, fell on the bed, and burst into tears.
It was dark. Li Zhifeng and Muqier sat opposite each other in the outer room. You Miao slept for a while. When it was time to light the lamps, Muqier came in and set the table. You Miao looked listless and didn't want to eat. He said, "Let's put it away."
So Muqier and Li Zhifeng ate by themselves. At the second watch, You Hange knocked on the door and said, "You Miao, brother has something to tell you."
Li Zhifeng's voice answered from the outer room: "The young master is asleep."
You Miao did not answer, thinking to himself, "Get lost. "
You Hange left, and You Miao slept until dawn again. When he woke up the next day, he felt his feet were weak and he had no strength at all. When he drank the porridge, he felt bitter in his mouth and astringent in his throat.
Muqier whispered, "Master, don't blame me for being nosy..."
You Miao said, "Go ahead."
Muqier said, "Others have moved in too. No matter what you do, you can't drive away that evil woman and bumpkin... In my opinion, it's better to take a long-term view. If you get angry and get sick, it's just like the saying... pain and joy..."
You Miao: "The pain of loved ones makes the joy of enemies."
You Miao stirred the porridge with chopsticks, stirred up a few strands of ginger in the porridge and put it aside. Muqier stood with his hands down and said anxiously, "Yes, that's what it means..."
You Miao listened expressionlessly. He knew that Muqier couldn't stay any longer. Anyway, he was You Miao's person and hoped that he could take him to Beijing, just like Shiqier, who at least had a wish.
But You Miao had made up his mind not to go to Beijing. You Dechuan asked him to go, but You Miao was unwilling to do as he wished. Why should the family property be left to You Hangge? You Hange did nothing. Since they were all legitimate sons, the property of Biyu Villa should be divided equally. You Miao did not want his father's wealth, but he could not bear the thought of a guy he had never met taking over his father's property.
He would not go to Beijing to be an official. He would not do anything his father asked him to do. Did the old man want to do everything according to his wishes? No way!
You Miao threw his chopsticks and decided to stay at home. He was disgusting as much as he could, and he was disgusting Wang and You Hange.
You Miao had eaten too much breakfast, and he felt weak all over, his head was buzzing, and his feet felt like stepping on cotton. He lay down and went to sleep again. He didn't know how long he slept in a daze. He felt a cold finger touching his forehead. When he opened his eyes, he saw Muqier making a fire and said, "The mountain is foggy and wet, and it always rains in winter."
"You have a fever." Li Zhifeng's voice answered.
Mu Qier came over in surprise. You Miao looked tired and said, "It's okay. I'm not used to the climate and haven't been home for three years. Just lie down for a few days and you'll be fine." You
Miao lay down with his clothes on. Li Zhifeng picked him up, helped him take off his outer robe, and told him to sleep well and cover himself. He also brought the brazier over. You Miao felt a little cold and shrank in the quilt, shivering. Finally, he felt warmer.
Li Zhifeng went out of the outer room and said, "Call the doctor."
Mu Qier said, "We have to go and tell the master quickly. You stay here and I'll go and inform him."
Li Zhifeng waved his hand and pointed to the ground, indicating Mu Qier to stay. He changed his clothes and went through the corridor to the hall.
You Dechuan was very angry last night. He drank two large bowls of liver-fire medicine before he could fall asleep. He woke up before dawn and sat in the hall in a daze. You Hange also got up early and came to pay his respects to his father at dawn. You Dechuan just nodded and said nothing, holding a teacup in a daze.
You Hange also didn't speak, so he sat in the hall.
After Wang came out after washing up, everyone in the room was like wood and didn't speak. The servants served breakfast, and You Hange finally spoke, saying, "Uncle Lin, do me a favor and see if my brother is awake."
The housekeeper gathered his sleeves, half-closed his eyes, and said, "I just came over from over there. The second young master is still asleep."
You Dechuan sneered a few times and said, "Just eat, don't pay attention to that beast." You Dechuan
moved his chopsticks. You Hange glanced at his mother as he held the bowl. Wang said, "We have to assign a few more people to serve Miaozi. I'm afraid Muqi'er can't handle
it alone." "Oh." You Dechuan sighed, put the bowl down heavily, and taught him a lesson, "That kid is very stubborn. You do so much for nothing, and he won't appreciate your kindness. Don't provoke him for no reason. He has a wooden head and can't be persuaded. Hange, I heard that you went there last night. Were you not scolded by him?"
You Hange smiled and said nothing.
Wang said again: "You are the eldest brother, you should take care of your younger brother..."
You Dechuan said: "Don't worry about him in the future, just let him live or die."
Wang said angrily: "What are you talking about, Master?" After saying that, he winked. You Hange ate his porridge and smiled: "Dad is partial to his younger brother, I know that."
You Dechuan chuckled and was about to say something, but Wang laughed first, and You Hange couldn't help laughing. The family of three was happy, and You Dechuan was embarrassed to speak again.
Wang said: "There are only two people following Miaozi, and there is another one, who I don't know where he came from. He has no manners at all. He can be put in the yard to clean up and do some chores, but he is not enough to take care of his daily life and food."
You Dechuan then remembered the servant who followed You Miao yesterday and said: "What was his name? I didn't hear him say it."
Wang said again: "I heard that he was a slave sent by a friend. He committed a crime and killed someone in the past. It sounds scary..."
You Dechuan's face changed immediately.
You Hange didn't know about this, and frowned and said, "Killed someone? Isn't it said that killing someone means paying with one's life?"
You Dechuan said, "How can this be possible! We have to ask him carefully. What if he is a person who doesn't care about his life? It's too much to leave him at home..."