Chapter 142 - 139: Calming Pill
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Li Xiu took his wife and child to visit his in-laws. The three Zhou brothers didn’t go to their own in-laws’ today. They all knew that after this visit, Zhou Lian would be returning to the Capital City, and there was no telling when they would see her again!
The Zhou family’s courtyard was incredibly lively today. There was Zhou Lan’s family of four, Zhou Lian’s family of three, and Zhou Xiang, who was over three months pregnant. All three sisters had come back today. Add to that their eldest brother’s family of six, and the families of their second and third brothers—both of whose wives were also pregnant. Mrs. Zhou was smiling from ear to ear. The family was thriving, and everyone was gathered together!
Li Xiu carefully told the Zhou family about their situation in the Capital City, though of course, he only mentioned trivial matters. Zhou Lian had repeatedly warned him about the old saying, ’A pint of rice is a favor, a bushel of rice is a feud.’ She didn’t want her family, who were content and well-behaved, to change because of outside influences. After all, the human heart is hard to fathom.
This reassured the Zhou family, who no longer had to worry about him being unable to provide for his wife and child. Afterward, he went to the kitchen as usual to cook for his wife and child. The Zhou family was already used to his ways, but Zhou Xiang’s husband was stunned from beginning to end. It wasn’t until they got home and Zhou Xiang explained everything that he gained a new understanding of this brother-in-law. He rubbed his nose, feeling a little inadequate. ’He dotes on his wife so much... I’m afraid I could never be like my second sister’s husband.’
After returning home, the two of them were busy with the preparations for Li Yun’s wedding. In the blink of an eye, the eighth day of the New Year arrived.
On this day, Li Yun got married. The members of the main Li family once again witnessed how protective Li Xiu and Zhou Lian were of their own. Just like her two married sisters, Li Yun also received dowry gifts from her eldest brother and sister-in-law, along with her sister-in-law’s words of advice. As her eldest brother carried her on his back to send her off, Li Yun rested on Li Xiu’s back and said softly, "Big Brother, having you as my brother makes me the happiest person in the world."
Walking step by step toward the door, Li Xiu smiled and said, "Having sisters like you is my good fortune, too. Don’t overthink things. Just live a good life from now on, and your sister-in-law and I will be at ease. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself. If you ever need anything, come find us."
"Sister-in-law already told me. Don’t worry, Big Brother. I can’t let all your and Sister-in-law’s efforts to protect me go to waste." Li Yun’s eyes were red as she sniffled, her voice thick and nasal. ’We’ll always remember everything Big Brother and Sister-in-law have done for us sisters. We can’t help them much right now, so all we can do is wish them happiness and health!’
That evening, Li Xiu and Zhou Lian finished packing the things they were taking back to the Capital City. Zhou Lian took Nuonuo to the room to sleep first, while Li Xiu stayed on the kang to talk a little longer with Grandma Li.
"Grandma, we’re leaving tomorrow. You have to take good care of yourself, or else I’ll worry," Li Xiu said softly to Grandma Li, sitting cross-legged on the kang.
Looking at Li Xiu, who had a sharp, imposing aura even while sitting cross-legged, Grandma Li squinted her eyes and smiled. ’My grandson’s presence grows stronger by the day, and he’s becoming more and more successful.’ She gently patted his hand and said, "Don’t worry. I’m still waiting to see all the great things you’ll accomplish. I’ll definitely take good care of myself."
"That’s good. Don’t worry, Grandma. The younger brothers and sisters from the first and third branches are all good kids. As long as they don’t cause any trouble, I’ll take good care of them. You can rest assured." When people get old, all they worry about are their children and grandchildren. Li Xiu understood what his grandmother was thinking, so he offered her a calming pill.
"Yes, yes, yes. I know you value your relationships, but you must also act within your means. Don’t push yourself too hard. I watched you grow up; I understand you best. You’re a good child—kind, soft-hearted, and loyal. Back then, I was so afraid you’d be wronged, but in the end, you still were. You have to take care of yourself first. Only help others when you have the capacity to do so, understand?" Grandma Li said, wiping her tears. Of her dozen or so grandsons and granddaughters, Li Xiu was always different.
"I know, Grandma. I’m sorry, but I really don’t want to deal with the second branch anymore. Just looking at them makes me feel exhausted. It’s happened time and time again, and I’m just so tired. Grandma, please don’t blame me," Li Xiu said softly, his head lowered. But the desolation in his voice made Grandma Li’s heart ache with pity.
"It’s alright. If you don’t want to deal with them, then don’t. They have hands and feet; they won’t starve themselves!" Grandma Li said, gently stroking Li Xiu’s hair like she did when he was a child. When he was little, he was just like this. Whenever he felt wronged by his mother, he would run to his grandmother’s side, sit with his head down, and not say a word. He would just sit there in silence until she had to leave for some chore.
"When they get old, I’ll provide for them. It’s just that right now, I can’t get over this hurdle in my heart. Grandma, I don’t want to be like this either. But them... no matter what they did to me, I accepted it. They’re my parents, after all. But, Grandma... what about Nuonuo? She’s my only child right now. From the time her mother was pregnant until now, my own mother has never once asked about her. And my father..."
Li Xiu scrubbed his face hard with his hands and said in a hoarse voice, "Let’s not talk about it. Grandma, I just really don’t want to see them. It was me who strongly pushed Nuonuo’s mother to take the university entrance exam. I didn’t want to stay here anymore. There was nothing I could do, so my only choice was to leave. It just so happened that Nuonuo’s mother is smart, so I thought if she got into university, our whole family could leave. That way, we’d have a legitimate reason and wouldn’t tarnish the Li family’s name."
Grandma Li looked at him in shock. "You didn’t want to stay here anymore? Is that why you had Nuonuo’s mother take the exam?" she asked, stunned.
"Grandma, they’re my own parents. I can’t hit them, I can’t scold them, I can’t even speak out against them. And on top of that, I had to worry every day that they’d come and make trouble for my wife and child. My only option was to leave this place. As long as I don’t see them, it’s fine. I never expected Nuonuo’s mother to be so smart that she’d get into the best university right away. I had originally thought I’d find a good excuse to leave in a couple of years," Li Xiu said softly.
"Do you hate them?"
"I don’t hate them. I just don’t want to see them. I want to be far, far away from them, where we can mind our own business and not interfere with each other. Grandma, don’t resent me, and don’t think I’m heartless. I just want my family to live a quiet and peaceful life. To have a loving wife and child, and a few kind relatives who treat us with sincerity... is that too much to ask?"
Gently patting Li Xiu’s shoulder, Grandma Li said in a small voice, "Of course it’s not. You have me. Go and live your life with peace of mind. I’ll take care of everything here! As the grandson who carries the weight of the Li family, you’ve done very well. As for the second branch... let’s just leave it at that. Their hearts have grown crooked, and they can’t be straightened out. If they stay quietly in the countryside, they can’t cause too much trouble. But if they were really let loose, the consequences would be hard to predict!"
"Don’t worry, I’m still hale and hearty. With me watching them, they won’t be able to stir up any major trouble. Besides, you’ll be far away, so just let them be. Out of sight, out of mind. As for your parents, from now on, just do what you did this year. Unless they get so old they can’t work anymore—at that point, you five brothers can support them together. Otherwise, just let them do whatever they want!" Grandma Li said firmly. ’Anyone who dares to harm my grandson will have to get past this old woman first. And if I don’t agree, it doesn’t matter if they’re his own parents!’