Chapter 35: Only Ninety-Five? Li Junsheng: Don't You Dare Leave

Wang Xiuhua was infuriated by Sun Gui’s remark that she was an outsider, and immediately began quarreling with him.
“I’m an outsider? At least the children I gave birth to have the surname Li. You’re just a son-in-law—what right do you have to speak here?”
Seeing that the two were about to escalate their argument, Li Junsheng frowned, intervened, and scolded them. “Both of you, quiet down! How the money is divided is for me to decide!”
It was clear that both Wang Xiuhua and Sun Gui were dissatisfied, but since they needed Li Junsheng to distribute the money, neither dared to challenge him directly now.
Sun Gui, putting on a false air of sincerity, turned to Li Junsheng. “Dad, it’s just that my sister-in-law’s words are chilling. Chun Ya married me, but she’s still your daughter. A son-in-law counts for half a son!”
Determined to get a larger share, Sun Gui was willing to say anything that might help his case.
Li Junsheng ignored him and, turning to Wang Xiuhua with a stern expression, said in a cold voice, “I said we’ll split it evenly, and that’s final. Two hundred seventy-five each—if you think that’s too little, then don’t take it. That’ll settle it—I won’t give you anything.”
At these words, Li Guojun’s heart tightened. He quickly pulled Wang Xiuhua back into her seat, putting on a smile for Li Junsheng. “Dad, don’t be upset, we’re not saying two hundred seventy-five isn’t enough.”
“Xiuhua just wants to look out for the children, so she made a suggestion. But of course it’s up to you to decide.”
“If you insist on an even split, that’s fine with me!”
Wang Xiuhua looked at Li Guojun in surprise, not expecting him to compromise with Li Junsheng so easily.
“Are you out of your mind? If we can get a bigger share, why not take it?” she whispered to him. Li Guojun said nothing, only signaling with his eyes for her to drop it.
The situation was clear: their father was determined to handle matters his way and wouldn’t tolerate interference.
The strained relationship between his parents was proof enough.
Moreover, with Li Junsheng now out of work, Li Guojun figured that if they didn’t take the money now, they might never get it from him in the future.
Better to take what they could now and not push their luck.
Li Guojun was secretly relieved that Li Junsheng hadn’t counted the one hundred eighty yuan he and the second brother had already asked for. That alone was a favor from the old man.
If not for that one hundred eighty, Li Junsheng would have insisted on an even split, and Li Guojun would never have agreed!
With that money, he was still getting more than the others—so he felt it was acceptable, if only just.
“Just let Dad divide it as he wants,” he whispered.

Knowing he’d gotten the better end of the deal, Li Guojun quietly urged Wang Xiuhua not to make trouble and risk spoiling things.
If the old man said he wouldn’t give them money, Li Guojun believed he really wouldn’t get a cent.
He was no longer as timid as he’d once been—he’d grown sharper, too.
“Dad, we have no objections. We agree to an even split. Can you give us our two hundred seventy-five now?”
Li Guojun directly asked Li Junsheng for the money, eager to pocket it as soon as possible.
Seeing Li Guojun’s impatience for the money, Li Junsheng sneered inwardly. How could he not see through his calculations?
Did he really think he’d forgotten about the previous one hundred eighty?
No need for the eldest to refuse—Li Junsheng had ways to make sure he didn’t get a penny more than he deserved.
“Wait, I’ll get your money,” Li Junsheng said.
He spat lightly between his right thumb and forefinger, then counted out ninety-five yuan from the eleven hundred and handed it to Li Guojun.
At first, Li Guojun was pleased, but when he saw it was only ninety-five, his face fell. Forcing a smile, he said, “Dad, this isn’t two hundred seventy-five. It’s not enough!”
“It’s not short. You already got one hundred eighty from Guohua, which counts toward your share. Two hundred seventy-five minus one hundred eighty is ninety-five, isn’t it?”
Li Junsheng pushed the money toward Li Guojun again. Li Guojun’s face darkened—he didn’t want to take the ninety-five at all.
Meanwhile, he quickly did the math in his head: if Dad withheld one hundred eighty from him, didn’t that mean the second, third, and fourth brothers would each get sixty more?
How could that be? In the end, only he would get less—just two hundred seventy-five, while the other three would have over three hundred each!
Second Brother Li Guohua and Ji Xiaocui didn’t immediately realize they’d be getting more; they were just surprised that Li Junsheng was standing up for them.
Though they hadn’t said anything, they still resented Li Guojun for insisting on the one hundred eighty without regard for Xiaowei’s life or death.
Now that Li Junsheng was making things right for them, Li Guohua felt much better.
“Dad, did Big Brother really ask Second Brother for one hundred eighty?”
Li Chun Ya asked in surprise—she hadn’t known anything about the money between Li Guojun and Li Guohua.

When Xiaowei fell ill and needed money for the hospital, Li Guohua had first turned to Li Xiaoyu, but she only had two yuan left; the rest had all gone to Ma Yulian.
Li Guohua, knowing Li Chun Ya’s situation at her in-laws’ house wasn’t easy, hadn’t asked her for help.
So Li Chun Ya had no idea what had happened between Li Guojun and Li Guohua.
Li Junsheng didn’t cover for Li Guojun, telling Li Chun Ya everything he’d done.
Li Chun Ya was astonished and felt helpless—she hadn’t expected her eldest brother to be so indifferent to his nephew’s fate.
“Dad, don’t make excuses. Second Brother didn’t spend all that money on Xiaowei’s treatment. I was right to ask him for the extra back. But you can’t shortchange me because of that!”
“You’re clearly favoring Second Brother. You say the division is even, but it’s not fair at all. You have over eleven hundred in hand, but you only give me ninety-five!”
“So with the extra money, are you giving each of them sixty more? Only I get two hundred seventy-five—well, I won’t take the ninety-five. I want my two hundred seventy-five, and that one hundred eighty shouldn’t count.”
Li Guojun was furious, and Wang Xiuhua was equally angry—the two nearly flipped the table in their rage.
Sun Gui, off to the side, was both gloating and excited, rubbing his hands in anticipation.
If he could get more than three hundred yuan, that would be wonderful!
Confronted with Li Guojun’s calculations, Li Junsheng merely replied, “That extra one hundred eighty—can’t I keep a little for my old age? I said two hundred seventy-five each—no more, no less.”
Wang Xiuhua immediately objected, “I don’t agree. If you want money for your old age, wait until you’ve divided the main sum, then everyone can give you a little as a token. Otherwise, all your old-age money comes from us—that’s not fair!”
Wang Xiuhua wanted to outsmart Li Junsheng: get the money first, then use moral pressure on the others later.
Let the others give Li Junsheng a little extra for his old age, and when he had enough, she and Li Guojun could easily get away with giving nothing.
But Li Junsheng’s face was cold as ice—he saw through her schemes and had no intention of being lenient just because she was a woman.
“Once I’ve divided all the money, would you and the eldest really give me anything? I know exactly what you’re both like. Stop scheming—you get ninety-five, and if you don’t want it, get out. You’re done here.”