Xu Hanren suggested, “Mother, my elder brother and second brother are familiar with the city’s business. They will be busy exchanging and returning goods these days. Why don’t I run errands to find silk?”
Xu Hanyao, who had just seen Xu Hanzhong and Hanren come in together, began to suspect whether the eldest and third brother were now working together. After hearing how they persuaded buyers to agree to exchanges, he became more convinced. He then spoke to test them: “Why should Hanren go to make up for the problems caused by the eldest brother’s poor management of the workshop?”
“
Xu Hanzhong glared fiercely at Hanyao but was speechless, acknowledging that he was indeed at fault.
Yu Yi suddenly stood up and shouted, “Enough! At this point, are you still arguing about whose fault it is?” She stood up too quickly, forgetting her fragile health, and became dizzy.
Xu Hanyao, being closest to her, rushed to support her: “Mother!”
Yu Yi angrily shook off Hanyao’s hand and was about to fall. Hanzhong and Hanren quickly rushed forward to support Yu Yi and help her sit down: “Mother!” “Mother!”
Xu Hanyao saw his mother being supported by Hanzhong and Hanren, feeling both embarrassed and angry.
Yu Yi closed her eyes, waiting for the dizziness to pass. To create a “crisis” that would unite her three sons, she had planned this entire affair. Catching Zhang Quan had exhausted her, and she had been experiencing frequent dizzy spells. She feared she wouldn’t last much longer and needed to complete this task quickly.
She opened her eyes, sat up straight, and stared at Hanyao forcefully: “This is the Xu family, not Hanzhong’s or Hanyao’s family. The current difficulties are the Xu family’s. If you continue with this attitude, the family’s heart will be scattered. I would rather give the Xu family to only one son than agree to divide the family!”
Xu Hanyao looked at his mother in shock: “Mother, are you going to cast me out?
“From the current situation, his mother seemed to favor Hanzhong, saying she would give the family to one son, clearly not him.
