Chapter 75: The Bottom Line
“Big Brother, Sister A Nan!”
Li Wenliang’s son Azhuang and Li Wenhua’s son A Qiang rushed out of the kitchen one after another, greeting Li Xuedong and Li Xiaonan first.
“You’re back, wash your faces and have some tea, it’ll be ready soon!” Li Shikuan’s wife, Old Aunt Tang, poked her head out from the kitchen and called out with a smile.
“There are no outsiders today, it’s just our family having a meal.” Li Shikuan pushed Li Xuedong and Li Xiaonan into the main hall.
Li Shikuan’s eldest son, Li Wenliang, was busy in Pingjiang City. His wife, Sister-in-law Guo, and daughter Ai Ye, as well as his second son’s family, were all busy with their shop business in Linhai Town. At this moment, only Li Shikuan and his wife, their grandson Azhuang, and their nephew Li Wenhua’s family of four were at home.
Li Wenhua put down the wheelbarrow and followed into the main hall. Seeing Li Xiaonan sitting steadily next to Li Xuedong, he was so angry he swallowed hard.
Alas, this little girl is spoiled by her brother and sister!
Li Wenhua’s wife, Sister-in-law Fan, came first, followed by their daughter Cui Ye. Each carried two dishes and placed them on the table.
“Cui Ye said you like to eat strip-shaped rice cakes, these were specially made for you by your great-grandmother. Try your great-grandmother’s cooking.” Li Shikuan leaned forward and handed the strip-shaped rice cakes to Li Xiaonan.
“Cui Ye said that the strip-shaped rice cakes made by Great-Grandma are the best strip-shaped rice cakes.” Li Xiaonan took the dish, reached out to hold Cui Ye’s hand, and handed the dish over, “Have you eaten them?”
“I have, I ate them as soon as they came out of the pot.” Cui Ye smiled with pursed lips, broke free from Li Xiaonan’s hand, and ran out.
She especially, especially liked Sister A Nan.
“Cui Ye is a year younger than you!” Li Wenhua pointed at Cui Ye’s retreating back and glared at Li Xiaonan, saying it with hidden meaning.
“One year and two months.” Li Xiaonan replied with a smile, picked up a strip-shaped rice cake, took a bite, and held the dish up to Li Wenhua, “Does Third Uncle like strip-shaped rice cakes?”
“Third Uncle thinks I’m lazy, greedy and lazy.” Li Xiaonan looked at Li Shikuan and said with a smile.
Li Xuedong was holding the teapot, pouring tea for Li Shikuan, and then for Li Xiaonan.
Li Wenhua pointed at the teapot and said with a glare, “Did I say something wrong? Look! Your brother is pouring you tea, look how lazy you are!”
Li Shikuan laughed heartily and said to Li Xuedong, “When your Eldest Uncle came back last time, he was chatting with me and said that your Eldest Sister and Second Sister are busy with the preserved egg business from dawn till dusk. After your Third Sister gets married, who will cook and do laundry for you two? Your Eldest Uncle was worried sick.”
“Can’t A Nan do laundry and cooking? How old is she!” Li Wenhua pointed at Li Xiaonan.
His Eldest Uncle also doted on this little girl, he could see that, but he really couldn’t stand it. He hated lazy and greedy people the most!
“After your Eldest Uncle left, I started thinking about this matter.” Li Shikuan ignored Li Wenhua and only spoke to Li Xiaonan and Li Xuedong. “There is a Great Aunt in the Man Family Branch, also of the Xue generation. She married ten years ago but didn’t conceive. Two years ago, her in-laws sent her back. Her mother was still alive then. Early last year, her mother passed away, alas.”
Li Shikuan sighed.
“She is neat and efficient, observant, and very good at cooking. I thought, why not let her go to Pingjiang City to manage your household affairs.”
“Eldest Sister only discusses such matters with Second Sister, I don’t have a say.” Li Xiaonan said honestly.
Li Xuedong quickly nodded. He was not as good as A Nan. He had almost no say in household matters.
“When your Eldest Sister returns, we will discuss it again.” Li Shikuan said with a smile.
Li Wenhua snorted in anger.
Alas, how can one spoil a child like this? What does his Eldest Uncle want to do?
Sister-in-law Fan and Cui Ye brought dishes back and forth, filling the table. The whole family sat around the round table and had a lively meal.
After the meal, Li Shikuan sent Li Wenhua away and sat with Li Xuedong and Li Xiaonan, drinking tea and talking.
“Tomorrow noon, the Feng Sheng Two Branches will have a welcome feast for you.”
Li Shikuan lowered his voice and got straight to the point.
“Regarding the case in early August, Li Wencai was brought back after ten days in the cangue. The next day, Li Wengang took several people to Xiao Li Village and beat Li Wencai severely.”
Li Xuedong’s eyes widened, “Wasn’t it decided to make Third Uncle kneel in the ancestral hall?”
“Yes, that was the clan’s decision. Li Wengang said: This beating is for the Feng Sheng Two Branches to discipline their unworthy descendants. Each branch disciplines its own descendants, and it’s not for the clan to interfere.”
Li Xiaonan held her teacup with both hands, listening in silence.
“Li Wencai died three or four days later. The Feng Sheng Two Branches did not allow Li Wencai to be buried in the ancestral grave.”
Li Shikuan paused, looked at Li Xuedong, whose face had turned slightly pale, and then at Li Xiaonan, who was looking down at her teacup, and said vaguely, “Li Wencai’s eldest son’s family sold their land and went to live with his wife’s uncle. The second son’s family also left. The third son’s wife returned to her maiden home.”
“Li Wencai’s elder brother, Li Wenxi, has been ill. Last month, Li Wengang also fell ill, so I went to visit.”
“The Feng Sheng Two Branches are prosperous in population. A big tree has withered branches, but we cannot abandon the tree because of withered branches. So I told Li Wengang that when you return, we will all have a meal together.”
Li Shikuan paused, looked at Li Xuedong. Li Xuedong met Li Shikuan’s gaze and subconsciously looked at Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan met Li Xuedong’s gaze and tilted her chin towards Li Shikuan, “We don’t understand this matter, we have to listen to Tang Weng Weng.”
Li Shikuan laughed, “The descendants of the Feng Sheng Two Branches are not bad, it’s just that the leaders were not chosen well. I have observed them coldly for more than half a year. Li Wenqing of the Feng Family Branch and Li Wen’an of the Sheng Family Branch are good in character and intelligent. At tomorrow’s welcome feast, Scholar Gong should talk to them more and observe them carefully.”
“I understand, Weng Weng, don’t worry.” Li Xuedong nodded quickly.
Through the past half year of experience and Hong Zhenye’s constant guidance, he could now accurately grasp the meaning of Tang Weng Weng’s words: at tomorrow’s welcome feast, he had to actively support Li Wenqing and Li Wen’an, to build their prestige and momentum as they took over the Feng Sheng Two Branches.
“Tomorrow’s welcome feast?” Li Shikuan looked at Li Xiaonan.
“I’m not going.” Li Xiaonan quickly shook her head.
Li Shikuan smiled and nodded.
The next morning, Li Xuedong accompanied Li Shikuan to pay respects to several elderly and respected elders of high seniority in the clan. Old Aunt Tang took Li Xiaonan and Cui Ye to the house not far from the ancestral hall, and directed Sister-in-law Fan and several capable wives from the clan to clean and tidy up.
By evening, the house was clean and tidy inside and out. Li Xiaonan and Cui Ye were chatting and walking back from the new house to Li Shikuan’s house when, in the distance, over a dozen horses galloped into the town.
The horse at the very front reared up, and a hoarse voice called out, “Brother, may I ask…”
“A Wu!” Li Xiaonan immediately waved her arm and shouted.
“Thank you, Brother!”
A Wu threw down a sentence, jumped off the horse, and rushed to Li Xiaonan in a few steps.
“Are you here to find me? How did you know I was here?” Li Xiaonan looked A Wu up and down.
“I went to Cai Lian Lane first, then to your shop. Your Third Sister said you were back.” A Wu stood with his hands on his hips, a smile on his face.
Wang Yuting handed the two horses to the brothers who had followed them, telling them to wait outside the town. He walked over a few steps and said with a smile, “We were delivering goods to Pingjiang City, so we stopped by. We left in too much of a hurry last time without saying goodbye.”
“I knew you left. This is my cousin, Cui Ye.” Li Xiaonan pulled Cui Ye, who was hiding behind her, and introduced her.
“Huh, how did you know we left? Did you go to the wharf to look for us?” A Wu asked curiously.
“I didn’t go to the wharf, I even know where you went, and also…” Li Xiaonan drew out her words, then suddenly changed the subject, “I’m so envious of you!”
“Envious of me?” A Wu pointed at his nose and widened his eyes.
“Not envious of you, but envious that you have a wife.” Li Xiaonan raised her hand and patted Wang Yuting.
Cui Ye burst out laughing.
Wang Yuting blinked and pulled Li Xiaonan, “Come here.”
Pulling Li Xiaonan a few steps away, Wang Yuting whispered to Li Xiaonan, “Did the Young Lord tell you? Did he tell you everything?”
“He didn’t tell me everything, just a little bit.”
Wang Yuting breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest, “That’s good.”
“Her surname is Wu, right? Wu Pianxian?”
Before Wang Yuting could finish speaking, he suddenly choked, stretching his neck.
She even knew about Wu Pianxian. The whole story was out, and she said it was just a little bit?
“I said it must be the young lady who spoke up for us, but A Wu said it was impossible.” Wang Yuting rubbed his face hard.
“I didn’t say anything, he said A Wu has good kung fu.” Li Xiaonan said with a smile.
“Thank you, young lady. I hope you will look after us in the future. A Wu has had a hard time.” Wang Yuting glanced at A Wu.
“As long as I can!” Li Xiaonan said seriously and solemnly, “I like you two!”
Wang Yuting raised his eyebrows and looked at Li Xiaonan. After a moment, he chuckled.
