1990, Reborn as a Beachcomber, From Rascal to Brilliant Guy

"Father, this...this isn't quite right, is it?"

Lin Chaosheng was the first to understand Lin Yaoguang's meaning, and a troubled look appeared on his face.

On the surface, Lin Yaoguang's way of dividing the money seems fair, but anyone with a brain can see which is more important: taking one-third of the money and leaving, or receiving a steady stream of dividends from the ship shares.

Isn't this a blatant attempt to buy out Lin Shuisheng's share of the shipping company under the guise of a family division?

Although Chen Xiurong's previous intention was to buy out his and Lin Haisheng's ship shares in one go, and even to owe them money first.

But no matter what, they are the older brothers, and their economic conditions are better than Lin Shuisheng's.

Moreover, the two older brothers giving way to the younger brother and the two older brothers squeezing out the younger brother are two completely opposite things.

If you didn't know better, you'd think it was the two older brothers who were eating in such an unseemly way!

"What's wrong with that? Anyway, Ah Shui doesn't want to work hard every day, going out to sea to fish and earn money. It's good to give him more money so he can do his big business."

Lin Yaoguang raised an eyebrow and curled his lip in disapproval.

"no..."

Just as Lin Chaosheng was about to explain, Li Chanjuan grabbed his arm.

He turned around abruptly and glared at Li Chanjuan.

Li Chanjuan didn't look at him, but simply gestured with her chin towards Lin Haisheng.

"Uncle, you're the eldest brother, you have to give your opinion on this matter first."

Upon hearing this, Lin Haisheng glanced at Li Chanjuan, then at his wife Su Meilan, and finally at Lin Yaoguang and Chen Xiurong. He scratched his head, stammering somewhat.

"Um... I think... I think Ah Chao is right..."

Ah! No, Alan, why are you pinching me?

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly cried out in pain and turned to look at Su Meilan with a puzzled expression.

Su Meilan glared at him, then looked down at her large belly without saying a word.

Despite their usual amiable demeanor, she and Li Chanjuan always helped each other and tolerated each other, whether it was towards their mother-in-law Chen Xiurong or their sister-in-law Ye Wanqing.

Separating the family property was no small matter, especially since that small sampan directly affected their livelihood.

How could they possibly allow that?

How could we possibly give in?

"Alright, you don't need to say anything more. Just divide it the way your dad just said!"

At this moment, Chen Xiurong took a deep breath, sat up straight, and spoke with a serious expression, delivering the final decision.

Upon hearing her words, Lin Chaosheng and Lin Haisheng hesitated, while Li Chanjuan and Su Meilan couldn't help but show a hint of joy on their faces.

Her gaze swept over the two boys and the two brides, her expression darkening slightly, before she spoke:

"However, in the future, whether Ah Shui wants to work on your ship or on the ship at home, you cannot object, and you must give him the highest possible share."

"Furthermore, since you've already divided the boats and gotten the better deal, then the two fish huts by the sea—the one in Qinglan Bay—will be yours, and the one in Dongjiao Bay will be Ah Shui's. Do you have any objections?"

"No, we have no objections, we'll listen to Grandma!"

"Yes, we have no objection. You can divide it however you want, Mom."

Hearing the two brides say this, Chen Xiurong glanced at her two sons, who were somewhat silent, and a hint of loneliness flashed in her eyes.

They say that once a son grows up, he is no longer under his mother's control, and now she is experiencing it firsthand.

"Let's leave it at that for now! After Aqing finishes her postpartum confinement, I'll pick a date and invite Adong, Uncle Jiu, and all your uncles, including your second, third, eldest, and youngest uncles, to come and write down the division agreement so you won't have any disputes later."

Seeing that everything had been agreed upon, Lin Yaoguang relaxed slightly and briefly explained the follow-up arrangements.

As he spoke, he lowered his head, took a puff of his pipe, tapped the corner of the table with the pipe, and his voice deepened.

"And then there are these old houses. Once your mother and I can no longer work, I doubt anyone will be able to live here anymore."

"When the time comes, whoever wants it can give the money to the other two, or you can sell it and split the profits."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chaosheng and Lin Haisheng exchanged a glance, then looked anxiously at Lin Yaoguang.

"Father, are you really not going to live with us anymore?"

"Exactly, we can't all move out and leave you all here, can we?"

"What? You really want your whole family crammed in here?"

Lin Yaoguang was slightly taken aback, looked up at the two boys, and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Seeing this, Chen Xiurong quickly waved her hand and explained what was going on.

"Alright, your little brother isn't as well-off as you guys. He's still in debt, and building a house won't be something he can do in a year or two. You build your houses and move out first; he'll stay here for now."

Lin Chaosheng frowned and looked directly at Chen Xiurong.

"Mom, do you mean Ah Shui should take care of you in your old age?"

"Bullshit! We'd be better off supporting ourselves than having him take care of us in our old age!"

Before Chen Xiurong could answer, Lin Yaoguang shouted something with a look of disgust.

"What are you shouting for? Do you want everyone to hear you?"

Chen Xiurong glared at Lin Yaoguang with a look of dissatisfaction.

"Hmph! If that loser were to take care of me in my old age, I'd probably starve to death!"

Lin Yaoguang pursed his lips, turned his head away, snorted softly, and muttered something under his breath.

"You still dare to talk back!"

Chen Xiurong pinched Lin Yaoguang, making his mouth twitch in pain. He couldn't cry out in front of his son and his new wife, so he had to hold it in.

Fortunately, Chen Xiurong quickly let go and turned to look at the others.

"For now, your father and I don't need you to worry about our retirement. When we can't work anymore, we'll follow the old rules and have the three of you brothers take turns taking care of us, with each family staying for a month at a time."

Or if you want us to live in the same house as your grandmother, you can discuss it beforehand and write it down when the family division agreement is signed.

However, in that case, these houses and the money we've saved will have to be left to that family.

"Alright, then let's discuss it properly when Ah Shui comes back."

Lin Chaosheng and Lin Haisheng exchanged a glance, then nodded in agreement.

At this point, all the issues have been basically clarified.

The only thing missing was that Lin Shuisheng and Ye Wanqing, the couple, weren't there. One was resting in bed with the child in the room, while the other was still adrift on the sea.

By the time Lin Shuisheng rowed his small sampan back to Dongshan Aotou in Qinglan Bay from Houlan Town in the county, it was already past 10 p.m.

By the time he carried the sack back home, it was already 11 p.m.

He had assumed everyone in the family was asleep, but when he got to the front door, he found Lin Yaoguang sitting on the steps, smoking his pipe intermittently with a gloomy expression.