Fang Chengyu's words were not pleasant, and Fang Yuxiu's words were not very pleasant either. Fang Yunxiao gave up thinking about the authenticity of the sibling's feelings and how it became like this.
"I'll listen to you all," she said, looking at Fang Chengyu, "I'll do whatever you say."
She then looked at Fang Yuxiu.
"Whatever you say, I'll do."
Listening to him and listening to her, it sounded like she wasn't saying anything at all.
Fang Chengyu smiled, and Fang Yuxiu nodded.
"Big sister's share is mine," she said to Fang Chengyu decisively, then turned her gaze to Fang Jinxiu.
"I'm not joining you," Fang Jinxiu also said decisively.
Fang Yuxiu pouted.
"I don't want to be with you either. You're not as obedient as big sister," she said.
Fang Chengyu laughed.
"Then it's settled," he said, clapping his hands together as if to perform a ritual.
This was a custom in their business dealings, a mutual salute to express gratitude and confirm the agreement.
Fang Yuxiu hurriedly raised her hand to stop him.
"Don't do it, it's only settled that we chose to divide the inheritance, but we haven't started talking about how to divide it," she said.
Fang Chengyu laughed.
"No need to make it complicated," he said, "Anyway, I'm the one who decides it all."
Fang Yuxiu raised her hand and tapped him on the shoulder.
"You brat, isn't that too bullying?" she said, "If you keep this up, as your sister, I'm going to bully you back."
Fang Chengyu laughed and wrapped his arm around hers.
"Second sister wouldn't bear to bully me," he said, laughing.
In the blink of an eye, they were close siblings again, and Fang Yunxiao's expression was momentarily rigid. Then she sighed softly, completely unable to keep up. Whatever you say goes.
"There's no time like the present; let's go back now and tell Grandmother and Mother, and then we'll be busy for a while," Fang Chengyu said.
Dividing the inheritance, especially the money business, was not a simple matter, with so many accounts to manage.
Fang Yuxiu nodded, smiled, and called for the coach and horses.
"Jinxiu, you'll have to enter the family now, otherwise don't say we're bullying you," she said, turning back to Fang Jinxiu, "I won't be lenient with you in dividing the inheritance."
Fang Jinxiu smiled.
"Rest assured, I won't let you bully me," she said.
Watching the siblings laugh and walk over, the guards quickly brought the coach and horses with a smile. The atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful, completely unaware that the siblings were about to divide the family's properties.
Fang Yuxiu looked at the scene and felt like she was dreaming. How did something fake become real? She hoped that the next time they talked about dividing the inheritance, Old Lady Fang wouldn't lose her composure like last time.
However, she also knew it was impossible. Last time, it was the sisters who proposed it, and Old Lady Fang, still doubtful, wasn't particularly frightened. But if Fang Chengyu brought it up, that would be different.
"Will Grandmother agree?"
Watching Fang Chengyu walk towards Old Lady Fang's residence, Fang Yunxiao murmured.
Fang Chengyu asked them to wait while he went to speak with Old Lady Fang first.
"That's not my concern; I'm worried he might persuade Grandmother to be harsh with us," Fang Yuxiu said.
Fang Yunxiao laughed helplessly and shook her head.
"You really think that, huh?" she said, then smiled wryly, looking at the composed expressions of Fang Yuxiu and Fang Jinxiu, "You smart ones, can you tell me what this is all for? How did it come to this?"
Fang Yunxiao murmured an "Oh."
"Whatever it's for, since he dares to say it, I dare to do it," she said casually.
Fang Yunxiao looked at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled, her previously obvious worry instantly dissipating, her somewhat unsettled heart now calmed.
No matter what it's for, at least the siblings still have the same heart. Since that's the case, she doesn't have to worry. Let it be.
The young ones were too lazy to think, but that didn't mean the elders wouldn't. Hearing Fang Chengyu's words, although Old Lady Fang didn't faint with shock, her expression was one of disbelief.
"Chengyu, do you know what dividing the family means?" she asked.
Fang Chengyu nodded.
"It means this residence will be divided into four, means the once interconnected paths will be blocked, means this entire residence will no longer have just one main gate, and in the future, not all of this will necessarily be under the name Fang," he said.
Old Lady Fang looked at him.
"Others are like trees gathered to form a forest, able to resist the wind and sand, ensuring generations of thriving prosperity. But you want to cut down trees and destroy the forest. You don't even have brothers, only these few sisters, and you're giving them up too?" she asked, "Don't say it's for fairness. You, I, and even they understand that even without dividing, the inheritance wouldn't shortchange them."
"Grandmother, precisely because they are daughters, I want to divide the family," Fang Chengyu said, "If they were brothers, they should be driven away like great-grandfather did, getting nothing and certainly not mutual support, only surely turning into enemies."
Old Lady Fang's complexion changed for a moment. Before she could speak, Fang Chengyu knelt in front of her, reaching out to hold her knees.
"Grandmother, our Fang Family has never been about thriving prosperity to withstand adversity, but for solitary safety, to prevent when disaster falls, it won't implicate others, turning the clan over," he continued.
Old Lady Fang looked at the young man's clear and calm face with a bemused smile.
"You child, how did you get so smart to think of this?" she said, "I only fully understood this recently."
Fang Chengyu smiled.
"That's because Grandmother knows things I don't. Because you know too much, you think less," he said, "While I don't know, so I think more daringly."
This probably is the meaning of "lost in the game," because she knew the origins of Fang Family's reliance, so she was in awe and trust, therefore wouldn't and didn't dare to question. But Fang Chengyu didn't know, so he dared to think clearly from an outsider's perspective.
Old Lady Fang spoke with a sense of reflection.
"Suddenly, I feel living longer has truly been a blessing for Fang Family," she said, "Otherwise, if I told you what I know, wouldn't Fang Family stay trapped forever?"
Fang Chengyu's eyes curved in a smile.
"No way," he said, "There's gongzhu."
Upon hearing this name, Old Lady Fang's previously smiling face turned grim, and suddenly raised her hand to slap Fang Chengyu hard.
The young man was caught off guard, and a handprint immediately appeared on his jade-like face, changing color from white to blue to red, conspicuously visible.
Blood trickled from his mouth, dropping onto his pristine white collar like plum blossom dots.
"I know it's hard to balance loyalty and filial duty, but you're too heartless to your sisters," Old Lady Fang said hoarsely, "I've always avoided saying, even thinking about it. You came crawling back from the gates of hell, growing healthier and more capable, but sometimes you seem frighteningly possessed by Evil Spirit under your lovely exterior."
Fang Chengyu wiped the blood from his lips.
"Grandmother, you're overthinking it," he said, with a bitter smile.
Old Lady Fang reached out to caress his face.
"Am I overthinking?" she said, raising her eyebrows, "Let me ask you, if Yunxiao, Yuxiu and Jun Zhenzhen were captured, and you could only save one group, who would you save?"
"Save elder sister and second sister," Fang Chengyu answered without hesitation.