novelraw Chapter 598 - 593: Deadlock
Chapter 598 - 593: Deadlock
Fang Pingying glanced at everyone present and said, "The matter of Uncle Dashan’s hospitalization isn’t over yet. He was in good health but someone harmed him and he nearly lost his life. I think we can’t just let this go. Shouldn’t we have the Police Station come over to investigate? Once this matter is investigated clearly, then we can discuss who will take care of whom."
Zhou Yunmei only wanted to threaten Luo Dashan and Luo Zhiyong into compromising, but Fang Pingying seriously doubted that she couldn’t handle Zhou Yunmei.
She believed that both Zhou Yunmei and Xu He would be extremely sensitive at the mention of the Police Station.
Sure enough, both Zhou Yunmei’s faces paled when they heard about involving the cops for the poisoning.
Especially Zhou Yunmei, her face turned from white to gray, then from gray to black, and finally, she pointed at Fang Pingying with a shaking finger and cursed angrily, "You...Fang Pingying, you’re heartless and too cruel."
Fang Pingying sneered, "Are you any less cruel? You even harm the person by your side."
"You..."
Luo Zhiyong had actually considered pursuing the matter of the poisoning, but Luo Dashan had stopped him, and considering it was a family matter, involving the Police Station may not clarify things and could end up being a public embarrassment.
He understood Fang Pingying’s intent—to scare Zhou Yunmei and quickly resolve the division of the family assets.
Therefore, before Zhou Yunmei finished speaking, he interrupted her, "Think it over for yourself. We can either settle family matters amicably or, as Pingying suggested, let the Police Station personnel come over to investigate my father’s illness. By then, we won’t need to worry about these things anymore. Someone else will deal with you."
His implication was clear—if the Police Station got involved, Zhou Yunmei and her group might be arrested immediately.
After Luo Zhiyong’s words, not only Zhou Yunmei became afraid, but Xu He also feared the inquiry because she was the mastermind.
People like Xu He always weigh their gains and losses in everything they do. She wouldn’t risk herself just to agree with Zhou Yunmei.
She immediately pulled Zhou Yunmei aside and whispered, "Mom, let’s just divide the property. You can stay with me and Zhiming, we’ll take good care of you. Let dad stay with him, don’t escalate things."
In fact, the only reason Xu He had agreed to take care of Luo Dashan was to cooperate with Zhou Yunmei.
She knew that Zhou Yunmei cared most about Luo Zhiming, even if Luo Zhiyong was taking care of her, she would definitely secretly give support to Luo Zhiming.
Actually, if she must take care of someone, she would preferably take care of Zhou Yunmei.
Now that Luo Dashan could no longer work and doctors said he needs attentive care, where should she get the time and money to care for such a person? She’d be more inclined to send him away.
But Zhou Yunmei was different; she was smart and could work, managing everything inside and outside the house, and even had some money in hand.
Zhou Yunmei now feared the words ’Police Station’ tremendously. She really worried that if she disagreed, Fang Pingying and others could initiate an inquiry into the poisoning, and then she might end up imprisoned at the Police Station.
Coupled with what Xu He said, she agreed too.
Thus, she glared angrily at Fang Pingying and then said to Luo Zhiyong, "Since you are so keen on taking care of your dad, you do it. I will stay with Zhiming."
She paused, glanced at Luo Dashan, and said, "Just one thing, whatever happens to your dad, whether he lives or dies, don’t come looking for us again. We have nothing to do with it."
Zhou Yunmei’s remark chilled the already disheartened Luo Dashan even more; any softness he initially felt completely vanished.
Luo Dashan looked at Zhou Yunmei and said coldly, "Don’t worry. After the division, even if I, Luo Dashan, die, I won’t die at your doorstep, Zhou Yunmei."
"Dad, don’t be angry, staying with us is all the same." Luo Zhiyong, concerned about Luo Dashan’s health, reassured him, then said to Zhou Yunmei and the others, "Alright, let’s settle it this way. I’ll call the village chief and some elder members of the family here, and we’ll clarify these matters."
As Luo Zhiyong was about to leave, Xu He whispered something to Zhou Yunmei, leading to Zhou Yunmei calling out to Luo Zhiyong, "Wait, since we are dividing the family, let’s first discuss how this house should be divided."
Before Luo Zhiyong could respond, Xu He immediately said, "Don’t pretend this house is only yours. Whether it’s us as a couple or the two of you brothers, the house belongs equally to everyone."
Luo Zhiyong gave a slight smile; initially, he hadn’t even considered the matter of the house, planning to take Luo Dashan to the city after the division, leaving the house to them.
However, the way Zhou Yunmei and Xu He were so anxious about the house, Luo Zhiyong was hesitant to just give it to them so easily.
He thought for a moment and said, "We don’t want the house. Have someone appraise it, and you can pay us for the other half."
Upon hearing that she had to pay money, Xu He instantly refused, "You wish, I don’t have the money."
Luo Zhiyong frowned, looked at Luo Dashan, and Luo Dashan whispered a plan, "Zhiyong, I still want to live in our house. Since they’re unwilling to pay, why don’t we offer them some money to let us have the house?"
Luo Dashan knew the house in the countryside wasn’t worth much. It wasn’t a new house either; half of it was worth only tens of dollars.
While Luo Zhiyong and Luo Dashan were discussing, Zhou Yunmei and Xu He were listening carefully. Hearing Luo Dashan’s suggestion, Xu He immediately said, "How much..."
But before Xu He could finish, Zhou Yunmei interrupted her, "No, I’m used to living here. I won’t move. Just like this, the house should be divided equally. Whether you stay or not, I definitely won’t pay extra."
Zhou Yunmei knew Luo Zhiyong’s intentions well; aware that given Luo Dashan’s poor health, Luo Zhiyong would never leave him alone at home. If Luo Dashan was taken to the city by Luo Zhiyong, the house would still end up being theirs.
Besides, for an old house like theirs, if it really came to valuation, it wouldn’t fetch any significant amount. The village has plenty of land, and anyone wanting to build would just need to speak to the village head. No one would care much for an old house.
Having reached this point, the discussion about the house became deadlocked, unclear on how to proceed. If they had to live together again, let alone Luo Dashan agreeing, even Luo Zhiyong and others wouldn’t allow it.
Living together, there would be no real division—nothing would change from before.
While they were arguing, Fang Pingying walked around the yard. The Luo family’s house was similar to a quadrangle courtyard; in the center was the family kitchen and a large room where family members usually ate and chatted.
The large room was flanked by two smaller rooms on each side. If they really had to split, it was not too difficult to divide the large room from the middle into two halves.