Waste of plates. What were the family afraid of? Did they raise their kids right or were they all lazy layabouts?
Inquiring minds want to know why such a rigid policy was needed.
Like I said, that family was VERY well to do so breaking a plate now and then wouldn’t hurt them. They had been, and still are, a local power even after the other family powers have lost their influence. They have constantly had a family member on the county board of commissioners and have always worked for the community instead of themselves. In fact one is now the main roadblock to a garbage recycling center being opened in a residential/farming area.
Afaik none of the family has ever been in legal trouble and none have ever been nonproductive. Afaik it is simply a family tradition that was started many generations ago and the family has seen fit to continue.
In other words, it wasn’t broke so they didn’t fix it.
What better way to send a strong message to the younger kids that they had better have their act together when it comes their time?