Breaking Ties

After expressing gratitude to Li Sanlang and Li Qilang, Cai Jiancheng couldn't stop worrying about his son's injuries and left Zhuang Yutang's tent.

As soon as he left, Li Sanlang asked Zhuang Yutang for the documents to change their household registration.

Zhuang Yutang gave him the documents and suddenly asked, "Are you fully recovered now?"

Li Sanlang hesitated for a moment, then quickly covered his ribs and said, "Not completely healed yet." Unfortunately, his acting skills were not as good as Li Qilang's, and he couldn't show much pain on his face, so his credibility wasn't very high.

Zhuang Yutang smiled and didn't expose him, saying, "I see you're full of vigour, and it's hard to tell that you suffered serious injuries before."

He paused for a moment.

"It's been only a month since you were injured, and you broke three ribs. Yet, you managed to venture deep into the rear of Northern Yan and carry your father back. Your recovery ability truly astonishes me."

Li Sanlang forced a smile and replied, "I have a sturdy constitution."

Zhuang Yutang nodded in agreement and glanced at the two brothers who were taller than their peers. "The three of you indeed have robust bodies. Even well-fed families might not be able to raise such strong individuals. What do you eat to have such physiques?"

Li Sanlang's heart skipped a beat. If even well-fed families couldn't raise such robust individuals, what was General Zhuang suspecting about them, especially considering they were from a military household that lacked proper nutrition?

Just then, Li Qilang chimed in proudly, "We eat meat every day!"

Zhuang Yutang, amused, asked, "Where do you get the meat from?"

Li Qilang raised his chin, saying, "We hunt for it ourselves. Because we have meat every day, we grow strong."

Zhuang Yutang continued with a smile, "You hunt for it yourselves? There aren't many animals in the Gobi Desert. Where do you go hunting? Do you go alone?"

Li Qilang responded, "We go hunting right in the Gobi Desert. There are many rabbit nests, and I'm not alone; I go with my sister."

Realizing what he had just said, Li Qilang quickly corrected himself, "I mean, I go with my second sister. My fifth sister is delicate and can't lift anything heavy, so she stays home and learns weaving."

Zhuang Yutang teased, "Isn't it the other way around? Your second sister stays home and weaves?"

Li Qilang tried to prove he was right, "No, I didn't say it wrong. Just think about it. My second sister is the eldest, so she has the responsibility to take care of her younger siblings. As a man, I should contribute and not shy away from it. But my fifth sister is a girl, so she should enjoy life at home."

Zhuang Yutang chuckled, "Your sibling bond is indeed strong, but aren't you a bit biased? Your second sister is also a girl; shouldn't she enjoy life too?"

Li Qilang hesitated for a moment, then said, "She should, but previously, it was because I was still young that she had to help. Now that I've grown up, she should enjoy life. Yes, once my father and brother return home, she won't have to do anything."

Zhuang Yutang looked at the crafty Li Qilang and said, "The jade pendant from the Governor is a valuable item that represents the favours the Cai family owes you. Such favours are best used in crucial situations."

Li Sanlang thanked him, and Zhuang Yutang dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

As soon as they left, Xu Chengkun walked in and asked, "General, do you think they have a problem?"

Zhuang Yutang shook his head and said, "No problem, just curious. Li Sanlang's injuries healed too quickly. Do you remember what several of Zhao's old men said when he was injured?"

"Broken ribs and internal bleeding would require him to stay in bed for at least two to three months. But look at Li Sanlang now; does he seem like someone who suffered serious injuries just a month ago?"

Xu Chengkun was puzzled, "Indeed, it's strange. What could be the reason?"

Zhuang Yutang squinted his eyes and said, "They must know an exceptional doctor."

Xu Chengkun suggested, "Then why don't you directly ask them? Li Changsen and Li Sanlang have both been in the military camp and know the grim situation of soldiers' injuries. Perhaps they might convince the skilled doctor to come over."

Zhuang Yutang interrupted, "Can't you see that both of them are avoiding the topic and diverting attention? The Li family seems to be quite lucky."

Quick healing was just one part of his concern; he was even more surprised by the sturdy physique of the Li family. As the Zhuang family's specially nurtured children, they had undergone various rigorous body-strengthening treatments, which included medicinal baths.

However, compared to Li Changsen, who came from a military family, Li Sanlang couldn't match his explosive power and endurance.

As for Li Sanlang and Li Qilang, their bodies were still growing and strengthening due to their young age. With time, they could become top-notch experts.

Thinking about Li Sanlang's determined departure, anger appeared on Zhuang Yutang's face. He said, "In the future, you oversee promotions and demotions among the soldiers. We can't allow such incompetent individuals to fill the ranks."

Li Changsen woke up on the third day. On the day of his awakening, Li Sanlang informed Zhuang Yutang and took Li Changsen and Li Qilang back home.

Once they were back home, Li Changsen rested for two days and regained some strength. He immediately asked Li Sanlang to take the documents to change their household registration and find their father.

Their household registration was in their father's possession, and they needed him to change it.

"Dad, let's divide the family this time!"

Li Changsen looked at his eager youngest daughter, patted her head, and said, "Let's change the household registration first; we can discuss other matters later."

Li Wu'ya was not satisfied with this answer, and her displeasure showed on her face.

Li Sanlang quickly pulled her to the side and said, "It's right that Dad isn't discussing dividing the family now."

Li Wu'ya looked puzzled and asked, "Why?"

Li Sanlang explained, "Military families have military fields, and regular civilian families need to either cultivate their land or buy it with money."

As soon as she heard this, Li Wu'ya understood immediately.

Once the household registration was changed, they would certainly lose all their military fields.

Without the land, how could the large Li family survive?

In recent years, thanks to Li Changsen's support, the Li family managed to get by. But if they proposed dividing the family at this time, and without the military fields, the Li family would lose their means of sustenance, and they would undoubtedly be reluctant to change their household registration.

"I didn't consider that. Brother, I'll go with you. If they dare not agree, I'll fight them."

Seeing the fierce Li Wu'ya, Li Sanlang restrained her raised fist, "You said you wanted to be a refined lady. Ladies shouldn't be so quick to resort to violence unless it's necessary, otherwise, even if we're right, we'll appear in the wrong."

"Don't worry, I'll handle it. I'll take him to Xining City to change our household registration today."

Seeing Li Sanlang full of confidence, Li Wu'ya stopped talking and smiled, "Then I'll wait for good news from my brother."

Li Sanlang glanced at her, and with the documents in hand, he went to the Li family.

As he left, Li Wu'ya, followed by Li Qilang, secretly followed him.

The Li family's courtyard was no longer as grand as it used to be. Despite having many members in the second and third branches, without the main branch, they couldn't afford to build decent houses.

After the Li family's courtyard was destroyed, they managed to rebuild three houses with the help of their neighbours.

Li's Dad and Li's Mom lived in one of the houses, which was relatively spacious. However, the seven or eight people from the second and third branches squeezed into one house, making it very crowded.

Especially Li Danglang, Li Erlang, and Li Daya. They were not young anymore, yet they still lived with their parents and younger siblings, which was often inconvenient.

Li Sanlang looked at the dilapidated Li family courtyard, and his expression was somewhat complicated.

Despite mostly unhappy times in this courtyard, he was born and raised here, so he had some feelings for the place.

Li Sanlang looked at the documents in his hand and then clutched his chest, walking slowly, with a painful and laborious expression, into the Li family courtyard.

Seeing him like this, Li Qilang beside him sneered, "Your acting skills are terrible; I should have gone instead!"

Li Wu'ya, who knew how her brother planned to persuade Li's Dad, smiled and said, "You going wouldn't make much of a difference. Brother is the eldest son, and both Dad and Brother are severely injured. If they don't change the household registration, the outpost will undoubtedly come to conscript us again."

"You're only ten years old. Even if they want you to go, the outpost won't take you. So, it will have to be someone from the second or third branch."

"Think about it; with Dad and Mom's favouritism towards the second and third branches, are they willing to let them go and die?"

Indeed, they would be sent to their deaths.

With his dad and brother's injuries, not to mention their martial skills, even they ended up severely injured and on the verge of death. What more could be expected of the other members of the Li family?

Most military households sent to the battlefield rarely returned alive. In recent years, many families in Tianling Tun had lost loved ones, and some had even become extinct, leading to a gloomy atmosphere throughout the military camp.

The only reason they had become an exception was that Li Wu'ya was their secret weapon.

"Dad risked his life to get this opportunity to change our household registration, and you're hesitating?"

In the room, Li Sanlang sat weakly on a stool, breathing slowly and heavily, looking as if he could barely catch his breath.

Li Dad looked at Li Sanlang, his brows knitted in a knot. Changing from a military family to a civilian family was an enormous opportunity that others couldn't even dream of, but at this moment, he was truly hesitant.

If it weren't for the estrangement with the eldest son's family, he would have agreed without hesitation.

But now that they had cut ties with the eldest son's family and changed their military household registration, they would lose their military fields. How would their family survive? Could the eldest son still support them?

Li Sanlang sensed Li Dad's hesitation and didn't say much else. He just said, "With my current condition and Dad's, we won't be able to go to the battlefield again. If we don't change the household registration, other family members might have to go to the outpost."

Upon hearing this, the people from the second and third branches became anxious, looking pleadingly at Li Dad and Li Mom.

Li Mom was also anxious. She couldn't bear to see her sons and grandsons die, but she also knew that without the military fields, their lives would be very difficult.

"Sanlang, go back and tell your dad that changing the household registration is acceptable, but he must promise to give me and your grandpa 500 coins every month. Otherwise, we'll continue to be military households."

Seeing this desperate expression on their faces, Li Wu'ya, who had been eavesdropping with her spiritual power, burst out laughing. She found Li Mom's shamelessness truly astounding.

Five hundred coins might not sound like much, but her mom only earned two to three hundred coins a month from her job at the post station!

Now, this shameless woman wanted to take two people's entire monthly income, essentially making her parents support the whole Li family!

Li Sanlang didn't bother responding to Li Mom and just looked at Li Dad, "Grandpa, what do you say? If you're unwilling, I'll sell this document to someone else. I'm sure many people would be willing to buy it. As for our family, the situation is tense at Dieling Pass. We can recruit more people later."

Li Dad became anxious upon hearing this, "Sanlang, this document was obtained at great risk by your dad. How could you sell it to someone else?"

Li Sanlang weakly retorted, "Isn't it because grandma is unwilling to change?"

Li Dad fell silent for a moment, "Becoming civilians means we will lose our fields. Your grandma is also worried about our livelihood." He then glanced at Li Sanlang.

"You're the eldest son of the Li family. Although we had some disagreements in the past, they're all in the past. Why don't you all move back and live with us?"

Li Sanlang glanced at the cramped house, "I'm afraid we can't fit."

Li Dad looked uncomfortable. Deep down, he really didn't want to admit that without the main branch, the Li family couldn't make a living.

But that was the reality.

Li Dad looked at his second and third sons, disappointed by the difference between them and the eldest son's family, "Ahem~"

Li Sanlang suddenly had a severe coughing fit. "Grandpa, I can't stay outside for too long. If you're unwilling to change the household registration, then I'll leave."

"Wait!"

Li Dad called out to Li Sanlang. He knew that the eldest son's family also wanted to change their household registration. After considering it for a moment, he said, "300 coins. Your family will give us 300 coins as monthly filial support, and I'll immediately go with you to Xining City."

Li Sanlang looked at him calmly, "Filial support?"

Li Dad nodded, "Yes, we won't ask you to move back in with us, but since your dad is the eldest son, giving us filial support is his duty."

Then, worried that they might go back on their word, he added, "If you agree, then come with me to report to Tun Zhang."

A faint smile appeared on Li Sanlang's face, "Grandpa, my dad is your son. Don't you have any trust in him? Or is it that you never really considered him your son, which is why you're so suspicious of him?"

After saying that, without giving Li Dad a chance to respond, he walked out of the room.

"Let's go to Tun Zhang's house!"

"Sister, do we really have to give them 300 coins every month?"

Li Qilang's face was red with anger, and he felt a deep pain in his heart.

Three hundred coins were a lot of money. They could buy so much meat with that!

Li Wu'ya smiled and said, "Didn't you hear what brother said to Tun Zhang? It's the eldest son of the Li family giving filial support to their parents." She then snorted, "But our dad isn't the eldest son, so we naturally don't need to provide them with elderly support!"

Li Qilang exclaimed in realization.

Li Wu'ya's lips curved with coldness, "Since we're dividing, let's divide completely. Earlier, I was just thinking about dividing the family, but now it seems we need to sever our ties completely!"