Chapter 78: Aftermath
’As a man who has been on the battlefield, how can I not protect my own nephew? More importantly, he is the pillar of the Li family’s future, our greatest hope. I can see it clearly now—Li Xiu is the very embodiment of what my old squad leader, the one who taught me to read in the army, used to say: "A dragon stranded in shallow waters is mocked by shrimp; a tiger on flat plains is bullied by dogs. But one day, when the dragon finds water, it will overturn rivers and seas. And one day, when the tiger returns to the mountains, it will stain half the sky with blood." Besides, with a mind as sharp as Li Xiu’s, he is far from being stranded or bullied.’
Seeing the gratified look in his mother’s eyes, Eldest Li smiled and said, "Mom, when I was in the army, my old squad leader told me a few lines: ’A dragon stranded in shallow waters is mocked by shrimp; a tiger on flat plains is bullied by dogs. But one day, when the dragon finds water, it will overturn rivers and seas. And one day, when the tiger returns to the mountains, it will stain half the sky with blood.’ What do you think of those words?"
Hearing this, Grandma Li smiled. It was true. In terms of intelligence, cunning, and devotion, her dozen or so grandchildren combined couldn’t hold a candle to Li Xiu. ’This is just how things are for now,’ she reflected. ’In a few more years, a small place like Shanqian Village won’t be able to hold him. I just wonder if I’ll live long enough to see that day.’
"You all have your own sons and daughters and have established your own families. Our Li family is split into three households. Your father passed away when Third Brother Li was just a little boy. That was before the Liberation. Times were so hard, but we pulled through. Now, life is getting better and better. You must understand that you are blood brothers—your bond is unbreakable. In the grandchildren’s generation, with a pillar like Li Xiu, the Li family will be secure for three generations."
She looked at Second Brother Li and continued, "I’m not worried about the first and third families. The second family produced one Li Xiu, but the other five children were all raised poorly. Second Brother, I’m old now, and I can’t manage things anymore. You two, as a family, need to stop digging your own grave. If you do that, Li Xiu won’t be so heartless as to wash his hands of you completely. That’s all I can say. Whether you listen or not is for you to decide."
When his mother said no more, Second Brother Li grew flustered. ’I really don’t want my eldest son to drift away from me,’ he thought, ’but now he can’t even stand the sight of me.’
Looking at her younger brother-in-law, Aunt Li couldn’t hold back any longer. She spoke bluntly, "Second Brother, I honestly don’t know what you’re thinking. You’ve forced such a capable and dutiful son into this position. Put yourselves in his shoes for a moment. If you were Li Xiu, what would you do? Don’t even think about trying to salvage anything now, because there’s nothing left for you to salvage. The best thing you can do right now is to do nothing at all. That’s what Li Xiu needs most from you."
She then turned to Ge Er Ya and said, "Second Sister-in-law, no matter how much you play favorites, Li Xiu is still the son you bore. If you want your other children to do well, then you need to do nothing. Stop doing things that test Li Xiu’s limits. He won’t just stand by and watch his own siblings get involved with the wrong people without a word of warning. However, knowing his temperament, he’ll tell you directly, but he won’t interfere with what you decide to do about it."
Aunt Li glanced at Ge Er Ya and continued, "You’re not like me and Third Aunt. If something comes up, Li Xiu will tell me and his Third Aunt directly: ’This isn’t right, don’t do it.’ Even if things don’t turn out well later, we wouldn’t blame him. But you two are different. Li Xiu won’t tell you whether something is right or wrong. He will only tell you the truth of the matter. What you choose to do after that—he will never tell you."
Hearing his sister-in-law’s words, Second Brother Li was filled with a bitter feeling. ’My own eldest son... being so guarded against his own mother and father!’
"Alright, it’s the New Year. Everyone, go on and do what you need to do! I’ve said my piece, both what should and shouldn’t be said. Second Brother, you go home and think it over carefully. I’m your mother; I would never harm you. Alright, everyone go on home now!" Grandma Li didn’t want to say any more. In a little while, many of the younger relatives would be coming to give their New Year’s greetings, and it wouldn’t look right for everyone to be gathered here like this.
Seeing her mother-in-law shooing them away, the Third Aunt stood up and said, "Alright then, Mother. We’ll head back first. We’re expecting people at our house soon, too." Seeing her mother-in-law nod, she pulled Third Brother Li along and left.
"Well, Mom, we’ll head back first too," Second Brother Li said haltingly.
Grandma Li simply waved them away. Seeing that his mother didn’t ask them to stay, Second Brother Li left with a pained expression, pulling Ge Er Ya along with him.
Looking at her eldest son and daughter-in-law, Grandma Li sighed and said, "If Second Brother doesn’t change, then don’t you two bother with him anymore. No matter how brilliant Zhuge Liang was, he still couldn’t save Liu A Dou’s Shu Han kingdom."
Eldest Li and Aunt Li exchanged a glance and remained silent. ’What could they possibly say? There was nothing they could do about Second Brother Li’s family. When people are determined to ruin themselves, what can others do? You can’t even help someone if they don’t give you a reason to.’
Around noon, Li Xiu went home to prepare a meal for Zhou Lian. Seeing his wife and daughter lying on the heated bed, his heart warmed. He smiled happily at their smiling faces, hugged his daughter, and heated up their meal. After lunch, he would have to go out again to continue the New Year’s visits.
When Li Hua, his three brothers, and Li Xin returned home, they found their parents sitting glumly. The stove was cold, and no food had been made. "Dad, Mom, what’s wrong?" Li Hua asked, confused.
Second Brother Li looked up at the four children before him. His mother’s words echoed in his mind, and he sighed. "You’re back. Where’s your older brother?" ’Of course, I know he went back to his own home,’ he thought. ’He didn’t even come over last year before he was married. There’s no way he’d come this year, now that he has a wife and daughter.’
"Older Brother went home," Li Yong said in surprise. "Dad, what’s with you? He has his own house now. Of course he went home."
"Xiao Wu, you went on New Year’s visits with your older brother today. Did he say anything?" Ge Er Ya asked her youngest son.
"No, Older Brother didn’t say a word to us all day," Li Yong said dejectedly, his head lowered. ’Older Brother used to dote on me, but now he won’t even talk to me.’
Second Brother Li and Ge Er Ya exchanged a look. Ge Er Ya pressed him, "Your older brother didn’t say a single word all morning?"
"No, I mean he just didn’t talk to *us*," Li Yong said glumly.
It was only then that Ge Er Ya realized the gravity of the situation. Her eldest son was really going to cut ties with his own siblings. Flustered, she said to Second Brother Li, "What do we do now? Is our eldest really serious this time?"
Second Brother Li glanced at her, took out his tobacco pouch with a trembling hand, lit his pipe, and took a long drag. He spoke slowly, "I told you, but you wouldn’t listen. Today, you heard what Mother and Sister-in-law said. You’re asking me what to do? Right now, I don’t know what to do either."
"Dad, Mom, what’s wrong with you two? Older Brother is fine, why are you asking about him?" Li Yi asked softly, sensing that something was wrong with his parents.
"What do you all think of your older brother? Last time, I told you to think about it yourselves. Did you?" Second Brother Li asked, looking at the five children before him with a sense of helplessness.
"My older brother is great, but he’s better to Li Guo than he is to me. Li Guo told me everything. He skipped school because he didn’t want to go, and Older Brother gave him a beating—dragged him right in front of Third Uncle and Third Aunt to do it. It was only later, after Brother Bao talked to him, that he realized Older Brother was doing it for his own good. He wants Li Guo to get into a university! But my older brother doesn’t care about me at all," Li Yi said, his voice laced with disappointment. He had skipped school with Li Guo, but his older brother hadn’t even asked him about it.
"I know. Older Brother already discussed it with Eldest Uncle and Third Uncle. He wants Sister Cui, Fifth Sister, and Li Bo from Eldest Uncle’s family, and Sister He, Brother Guo, and Sister Miao from Third Uncle’s family to all stay in school until they at least graduate from junior high. But Older Brother never told Dad any of this," Li Yong said directly.
"I heard from our sisters that Older Brother helped pick the family for Li Yun to marry into, and he’s looked into a match for Li Fen, too. He’s investigated them thoroughly. Also, Li Gui is getting married in the spring. And I heard from Li He that Older Brother has had to knock some sense into Ge Yulian several times."