Chapter 81: Sons Like Donkeys, Daughters Like Pigs
"An untaught son is no better than a donkey, and an untaught daughter is no better than a pig. I don’t know what you’re thinking as a father, but I’ve already split from the family and am living on my own. Whatever happens at the old house now, good or bad, has nothing to do with me. The words are harsh, but the point stands. You can figure it out yourself. I still need to pay New Year’s visits to some of the family elders, so I’m leaving," Li Xiu said bluntly.
Glancing at his siblings, Li Xiu turned and headed out, saying casually, "If you want to come along for the New Year’s visits, then let’s go."
The siblings exchanged uncertain glances, then instinctively followed Li Xiu out the door. After all, going on New Year’s visits had become an annual tradition. Li Xiu always led the children from the family’s three branches, and without their eldest brother showing the way, they wouldn’t even know whose house was whose.
Watching the children all troop out, Second Brother Li said dejectedly to Ge Er Ya, "Are you satisfied now? Fine." Without even stopping to eat, he turned and walked out.
He needed to seriously think about what his eldest son had said. ’An untaught son is no better than a donkey, and an untaught daughter is no better than a pig.’ Li Xiu’s words had stabbed him right in the heart. ’Doesn’t a man live his whole life for his children? I wronged Li Xiu back then for the sake of the younger ones, but look where it’s gotten us. The eldest hates us, and the younger ones resent us. Whose fault is it, really?’
’It’s my fault. As the head of the household, I failed to guide my wife and failed to raise my children properly. Instead, I just kept sacrificing my eldest. It seemed like it was for the younger kids, but the truth was plain to see: my own selfishness and cowardice caused all of this.’
’My third brother was right—father and son estranged, brothers turning on each other... this is my punishment. This morning, even my own mother gave up on me. She must be completely disappointed. My older brother, who always defended me, didn’t say a single word on my behalf. He must be disappointed, too, by how we treated Li Xiu.’
’Even my eldest sister-in-law, who’s always so cheerful and welcoming, glared at me furiously. And my third sister-in-law’s face was full of scorn. It’s time I understood just how terribly wrong I’ve been. I can ignore what others think, but my own mother and brother have always been on my side.’
Ge Er Ya stared at the empty room, feeling lost. Faced with the accusations from her husband and her third son, she couldn’t understand why. ’All I did was dislike my eldest son. Why is everyone blaming me? Everything I did was for their own good. They’re acting like I’ve committed murder or something.’ Since she couldn’t figure it out, she decided not to think about it anymore. ’So what if I can’t stand my eldest son?’ With that thought, Ge Er Ya, ever thick-skinned, went to prepare herself a meal.
Li Xiu had no idea what transpired at the old house after he left. Even if he had known, he would have just shrugged it off. He had made his final effort; whether or not they appreciated it was no longer his concern.
The cousins from the first and third family branches noticed something was off with Li Hua and his siblings, but since their eldest brother, Li Xiu, was acting no different than usual, they didn’t think much of it.
By the time they finished their New Year’s visits, it was nearly dark, and everyone went their separate ways home.
As Li Xiu reached his front door, he saw smoke curling from the chimney. He hurried inside and, just as he’d expected, found his wife tending the fire by the stove.
"Bao’er, what are you doing out of bed? You still haven’t fully recovered. Don’t catch a chill. Quick, get back to bed," Li Xiu said worriedly, looking at his wife by the stove.
Rolling her eyes at him, Zhou Lian said gently, "It’s not as serious as you make it sound. Both rooms are so warm, how could I possibly catch a chill? Besides, I only sat here to get the fire going for a bit. It’s nothing, don’t worry."
The young couple shared a cozy dinner. After they put their daughter to sleep, Li Xiu washed up and climbed into the warm bed, pulling his wife into his arms. With his daughter sleeping soundly beside him and his wife held close, Li Xiu smiled.
"What’s with you? What are you smiling about all of a sudden?" Zhou Lian asked, puzzled.
"Bao’er, you have no idea. I went over to the old house this afternoon after lunch and walked into quite a show," Li Xiu said, recounting it casually like some funny story to amuse his wife.
"What happened?" Zhou Lian asked in surprise. ’It must have been my mother-in-law, stirring up trouble again. Can’t she give it a rest for even one day? It’s the first day of the New Year!’
"The second I got to the old house, I saw Li Man laying into Li Hua and my parents. He was really giving them an earful."
"Why?" Zhou Lian asked, her curiosity piqued. ’This didn’t happen in my past life. Li Man and Li Hua used to be thick as thieves, so why are they fighting during the New Year? In my last life, Li Man married a girl from our village and lived a perfectly good life.’
"I don’t know. And who cares? Let them do what they want. It’s got nothing to do with us whether they have a falling out or not," Li Xiu whispered. He hadn’t slept at all last night during the New Year’s Eve vigil and was getting sleepy.
"Well, if you don’t know, don’t worry about it. Let’s get some sleep. I’m tired too," Zhou Lian said, her heart aching a little as she looked at his exhausted, drowsy face.
Li Xiu pulled his wife closer, mumbled something in agreement, and fell asleep moments later.
Watching Li Xiu sleep, Zhou Lian lost the desire to dwell on such messy affairs. ’Li Xiu is right. Let them be. Whether they have a falling out or not has nothing to do with us.’
When her children and husband came home that evening looking for dinner, Ge Er Ya didn’t say another word. ’I truly can’t stand that eldest son of mine. Things are just fine like this.’
After dinner, as the family sat around on the kang, Li Man suddenly spoke up. "Mom, Dad, let’s split the family. Or you can just split me off on my own, like Big Brother."
Ge Er Ya pointed at him, her voice rising to a shriek. "Li Man, whose idea was this? Was it your brother’s?"
Li Man gave her a scornful look. "You’ve already turned all of us brothers against one another, why would Big Brother want to have anything to do with me? Mom, you’re overthinking things. As far as he’s concerned, anything to do with this house is just a headache. He’s not stupid enough to get involved."
"If it wasn’t your brother, then why would you want to split from the family? You’re not even married yet!" Ge Er Ya said angrily, ignoring Li Man’s sarcasm. ’How could we possibly split the family? I’ll only let them split after all four sons are married.’
"You kicked Big Brother out before he was married, so why can’t I leave?!" Li Man shouted. ’If I don’t split from the family, I’ll never be able to get married. This family will drag me down until there’s nothing left. I’m not as magnanimous or as capable as my brother, but I can’t go on living like this!’
"No! I refuse!" Ge Er Ya rejected him flatly.
"Are you even my real mother? You just want me to be a bachelor for life, don’t you! You’ll be happy then, when I can’t find a wife!" Li Man yelled.
"Li Man, how can you say such things? Mom is only thinking of your own good. You’re still so young, how would you manage on your own?" Ge Er Ya said through tears. ’What’s gotten into him? Why is he so dead set on leaving?’
"Li Man, you tell me the truth. Who is this girl you like? Is she the one putting you up to this?!" Ge Er Ya demanded, wiping her tears away as her expression turned vicious.
"So you can go and curse her out? This has nothing to do with her! I want to leave because of you! I’ve had enough of having a mother like you! You deliberately pretended not to hear what Big Brother said today: ’An untaught son is no better than a donkey, and an untaught daughter is no better than a pig.’ Don’t you get it? You and Dad have ruined us! I just want to live a decent life, is that so wrong? Mom, are you determined to raise us to be donkeys? Am I not your real son? Do you really want me to be a stupid donkey so badly?" Li Man yelled in frustration.