"How is it not necessary?" Mrs. Xie shot him a sideways glance, her voice cold. Without giving Mr. Xie a chance to speak, she added, "I think it’s absolutely necessary. Once we put it in writing, certain people will have to watch what they say."
Mr. Xie was rendered speechless. The "certain people" his wife was referring to was, of course, him.
Jie Jingchen patted Jie Jinghun’s shoulder, then turned and walked out of the kitchen.
At the kitchen doorway, Qin Mei, Jie Jingshan, and Shen Qing were hiding outside, eavesdropping. Jie Jingchen was visibly startled by the trio, who stared back at him in awkwardness—especially Shen Qing.
Jie Jingchen nodded at Shen Qing and strode toward his room. Qin Mei hesitated for a moment, then followed him.
"Jie Jingsi," Qin Mei called in a low voice.
"Mm," Jie Jingchen hummed, deliberately slowing his pace to wait for Qin Mei.
Qin Mei followed behind him, unsure of what to ask. The last time they had been given their own space, her mother-in-law had only made a verbal promise, without any formal written agreement.
’Her mother-in-law was about to divide up the entire courtyard. It was a huge property, and Qin Mei had never thought of taking it all for themselves. Besides Jie Jingwei and Jie Jinghun, there were still Jie Jingjue and Jie Jingshan. Jing Qi was a daughter who would marry out eventually, but Jie Jingjue was a son; he had a right to inherit.’
Jie Jingchen went into the room to get a pen and paper. Qin Mei stood outside, leaning against the doorframe, and asked deliberately, "Jie Jingsi, do you think our mom will give away the rooms we’re living in?"
"She won’t," Jie Jingchen replied definitively.
"But what if?" Qin Mei had no desire to do all the work just for someone else to reap the benefits.
"There is no ’what if’," Jie Jingchen answered firmly.
"But let’s say, what if the ’what if’ happens?" Qin Mei insisted stubbornly.
Jie Jingchen came out with the pen and paper. He looked at her deeply, noticing the sweat on her brow. He reached out and gently wiped it away. "If that ’what if’ really happens," he said, "I’ll just call Grandpa and Grandma and tell on her."
The corner of Qin Mei’s eye twitched as she stared at him, speechless. ’This habit of his, telling on people... I fully support it. If telling on someone can solve the problem perfectly, why go through all the trouble of solving it yourself?’
Jie Jingchen returned to the kitchen with the pen and paper for Mrs. Xie to use. He then cleared the dishes from the table, moving them to the stove.
The three rooms of the west house would go to Jie Jingchen and his wife; the three rooms of the east house to Jie Jinghun; the three rooms of the south house to Jie Jingjue. She and Jie Jianguo would live in the north house. The kitchen would be communal. Of course, if the others wanted to build their own kitchens, just as Jie Jingchen and his wife had, she would support that decision and cover the construction costs herself.
Building a kitchen and bathroom for the three rooms of the east house wasn’t practical; the terrain didn’t allow for it unless they could convince the neighbors to move their retaining wall. The north house was also not an option. The south house was viable, but knowing Jie Jingjue’s personality, and given that he wasn’t married, he almost certainly wouldn’t bother building them.
And just like that, Mrs. Xie divided the house. Mr. Xie was deeply displeased. A share had been given to Jing San but not to Jing Er, and he took issue with that.
"Do you agree?" Mrs. Xie asked Jie Jinghun and Jie Jingchen.
"No objections," Jie Jingchen said.
Jie Jinghun, however, remained silent. ’Aunt Qiao divided it like this, making the east house his... He was deeply moved, yet it felt unreal. Given his status, he really didn’t deserve it.’
’In his heart, he had always believed that he would have to move out one day. He had been mentally preparing for it ever since his second brother, Jing Er, moved out. He thought that maybe when Jing Wu got married, Aunt Qiao would find an excuse to make him leave. This courtyard was supposed to be divided between only Jing Si and Jing Wu. He had never dreamed he would get a share, let alone that Aunt Qiao would divide it so fairly.’
"Third Brother." Jie Jingchen nudged Jie Jinghun.
Of course Jie Jinghun understood what Jie Jingchen meant. He gave a self-mocking smile and met Mrs. Xie’s kind gaze, his voice catching. "Aunt Qiao, I don’t deserve this."
Mrs. Xie’s face fell. She shot a cold, piercing glare at Mr. Xie. "Jing Si and Jing Wu are my sons, and you are my son too. They have a right to inherit, and so do you."
Jie Jinghun’s eyes flickered, moved beyond words.
"Sign it, and put your thumbprint on it." Mrs. Xie pushed the written paper in front of Jie Jinghun.
Jie Jingchen acted first. He picked up the pen and wrote his name with flamboyant strokes, then pressed his thumbprint over it. "Third Brother, being indecisive isn’t like you."
Jie Jinghun froze for a second. ’Jing Si had a sharp tongue and often infuriated him to no end, always seeming to set traps for him. But at critical moments, Jie Jingchen would always stand up for him.’
’With a brother like this, what more could he ask for in this life?’
A relieved and blissful smile appeared on Jie Jinghun’s face. No longer hesitating, he picked up the pen and crisply wrote his name, then pressed his thumbprint on it.
Mrs. Xie was satisfied. "When Jing Wu gets back, have him sign it."
"Yan Qiu, you’re being unfair," Mr. Xie accused.