Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 108.2

“Brother Song, you know my situation. Everyone around here is probably laughing at me.”

“I’ve worked hard all my life, raising three ungrateful kids, and I just can’t understand…”

He choked up as he continued, “I just can’t understand why money is so hard to earn now. My wife never enjoyed a single day of happiness, and in the end, she was forced to death by our children over money!”

“I don’t consider them my children anymore, but when I went to the town to cancel our household registration, they said the law doesn’t support severing ties…”

His face filled with hatred, “Brother Song, I don’t mean anything by this. I’m just one person. How could I not survive?”

“But I refuse to die! I want to have a steady salary, live well, and let them know that I have money!”

“Tan Tan is great at farming; I’ve seen the things in your fields, and they’re excellent. You’ll expand eventually. Look at my mountain—it’s right next to yours. I’ll leave it to you. As long as I’m alive, you can lease it for however many years you want!”

“When I’m gone, the land goes back to the country, and you can continue leasing it. Our village should always favor its own people.”

“Then, when I’m ready, I’ll take all the money out, burn it all, and bury it with me. I’ll give the village committee ten thousand yuan to arrange a proper ceremony. I’d be content with that!”

He left the rest unsaid, but Song Sancheng and Song Tan exchanged a glance, understanding the potential chaos and regret his actions might cause among his three children.

Was Zhang Wang being extreme?

Yes, he was.

Did it feel satisfying?

Absolutely!

After making a few perfunctory comments like “Don’t be impulsive,” Song Sancheng quickly shifted the conversation, “To be honest, you’re still being too soft-hearted. You should take them to court and make them pay you a monthly allowance! Even if it’s just one or two hundred yuan, make them pay! In ten years, wouldn’t that cover your wife’s medical expenses?”

“If they dare miss a payment, aren’t they all city folk? With jobs and neighborhoods, one shout in the community, and everyone would know!”

The two old men spoke with enthusiasm, their eyes brimming with tears, as if a bright future was just around the corner, with the three unfilial children ready to kneel and repent at any moment…

Song Tan cleared her throat—this couldn’t be taken too far.

She would never have guessed that Zhang Wang, who had a reputation for being so honest, could be pushed to this point, where even an honest person could stir up such a big matter!

As for whether he would soften and be persuaded by his children later on… no one could predict that, not even a deity.

But even if he softened, he likely wouldn’t hand out any more money.

If her father kept talking like this, it would be like encouraging a divorce; in the end, it might please no one.

But Song Tan also realized that an honest person might truly be honest, but that didn’t mean he was foolish. On the contrary, he saw things very clearly.

Take Zhang Wang’s earlier words. Never mind the mountain lease, but when it came to the salary, why wasn’t he going out for a job?

First, he couldn’t bear to leave home and wanted to stay near his late wife.

Second, staying in his hometown meant that the news could spread among the villagers. Two thousand yuan a month might not sound like much, but it was stable!

Song Tan cleared her throat. “Um… Uncle Zhang, destroying currency is against the law. You can’t burn money.”

Seeing Zhang Wang’s briefly lifted spirits deflate again, she quickly added, “But, you could donate it to charity.”