Chapter 98 - 96: Li Xiu Teases His Brother-in-law
Li Xiu’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. He smiled and said, "Is something this small really worth worrying about?"
"Not really," Zhou Lian said, her face clouded with frustration. "I just feel upset. That ginseng isn’t some common cabbage. Everyone knows how precious it is. It’s easy enough for them to just ask, but you risked your life to get that for me, to help me recover. How could they have the nerve to ask for it!"
Li Xiu gently caressed her face. "It’s all sorted out now, isn’t it?" he said softly. "Don’t be upset. It’s not worth it. Besides, they definitely didn’t ask for it directly. They probably just hinted at it to Mom and Dad. And Mom and Dad didn’t want to refuse them outright, so they used today as an opportunity to let you explain things clearly. Now it’s over."
"I know, it just irks me," Zhou Lian said coquettishly, nuzzling against his hand and basking in the gentle affection he showered upon her.
Seeing his wife’s rare coquettishness, Li Xiu chuckled happily. "Don’t worry," he said gently. "I’m here for you."
After a moment, he said, "Bao’er, let’s go out. They’ll be looking for us soon."
Holding his daughter in one arm and his wife in the other, he had just stepped out the door when he ran into Second Brother Zhou, who had come looking for them.
Seeing them, Second Brother Zhou’s eyelid twitched. ’We’re at my parents’ house, can’t you two restrain yourselves a little?!’
Li Xiu didn’t even need to look to know what his goofy brother-in-law was imagining. He said directly, "My wife was hungry, so she had a little something to eat in the room."
Only then did the goofy Second Brother Zhou remember that his sister was still nursing. He paid no mind to Li Xiu’s tone and said with a grin, "A lot of relatives have come. Dad wants me to introduce you."
Li Xiu looked down at Zhou Lian and said, "Bao’er, go see if Mom needs any help. I’ll hold Nuonuo."
After watching Zhou Lian nod and head toward the kitchen, he turned back to his second brother-in-law. "Let’s go, Second Brother."
Second Brother Zhou’s mouth twitched as he looked at Li Xiu holding his daughter. He knew better than to say anything. ’I’m speechless at how much he dotes on his wife, even if she is my own sister.’
He was introduced to a gaggle of aunts and uncles. Seeing Li Xiu holding a baby, no one was tactless enough to ask too many questions. That is, until they came to a grand-aunt. The old woman asked in a rather loud voice, "Where’s her mother? How can you let a grown man hold the baby? It’s improper."
Second Brother Zhou saw the shift in Li Xiu’s demeanor and was just about to explain...
"My wife is helping my mother-in-law. How could she have time to hold the baby?" Li Xiu said with a smile, but a careful listener could detect the coldness in his voice. "Everyone is very busy today. I can’t help with anything else, so I can only look after the child."
The people around them watched this scene with great interest. They had all heard that Zhou Kun’s unremarkable second daughter had married a good man, but it was only hearsay, as few had actually met him. Entertainment was scarce in those days, and the human penchant for watching drama is timeless.
"Even so, we can’t have a grown man looking after a baby! What about her other aunts? Let them watch her. A man holding a baby... what kind of sight is that!" the Zhou family’s grand-aunt said imperiously.
Second Brother Zhou watched Li Xiu’s eyes narrow, his own mouth twitching. He didn’t say a word. ’This grand-aunt is the late Grandpa Zhou’s only half-sister. Every time she visits her nephew’s home, she finds fault with absolutely everything. The Zhou family always lets her have her way, not wanting to disrespect an elder, after all, she only visits a few times a year. But today... today she’s going to lose face. My brother-in-law is not a patient man.’
"Listen to yourself. How can we just palm our own child off on someone else? Her own mother and father are right here. How could we let an outsider raise her? As you said, that would be truly improper. How could someone have a child and not raise it!" Li Xiu said with a bright smile. ’This old hag loves to meddle. In my last life, she even made my wife cry!’
Second Brother Zhou lowered his head, trying his hardest not to laugh out loud. ’Damn, you don’t hit someone in the face! My brother-in-law must know that our grand-aunt dumped her own daughter on her sister-in-law right after birth. He must have said that on purpose. Knowing him, it was definitely on purpose!’
The Zhou family’s grand-aunt stared at Li Xiu with sharp eyes. "It’s a girl, isn’t it? Let me have a look. Let me see this ’precious’ girl."
Li Xiu’s aura turned sharp. With a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he said, "She is a precious girl. All the girls of our Li family are incredibly precious! Our family matriarch said that my daughter is the eldest granddaughter of the main line, a true treasure. Before we left today, she even said that if I don’t look after her precious darling properly, if I let some irrelevant person disturb her, I’ll be punished by family law when I get back! You’re such a kind person, I’m sure you wouldn’t force someone to do something against their will, would you?"
Every one of Li Xiu’s sentences was laced with venom, every word a thorn. Second Brother Zhou no longer dared to just watch the show. Li Xiu’s tongue was as sharp as Zhuge Liang’s. If he angered the old woman into a health crisis, it would be a disaster. After all, the grand-aunt was getting on in years.
"Grand-aunt, the banquet is starting soon. Please rest for a bit. My father asked me to take my brother-in-law to meet some other relatives, so we’ll be on our way." With that, he grabbed Li Xiu and dragged him away.
Once they reached the main gate, Second Brother Zhou couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. Li Xiu shot him a contemptuous look and looked down at his daughter, who had been woken up by her uncle’s laughter.
"I say, brother-in-law, how did you know that our grand-aunt had her sister-in-law raise her daughter right after she was born?" Second Brother Zhou asked, baffled. "That’s an old story from years ago. You’re incredibly resourceful!"
Li Xiu gently rocked his daughter. "You don’t happen to know that your grand-aunt married into the same village as my mother’s side of the family, do you?" he said with a hint of disdain.
Second Brother Zhou stared blankly at Li Xiu and asked dumbly, "So?" ’Does that have anything to do with it? Last time, when Third Brother was caught peeking at his wife, Li Xiu said Third Brother’s father-in-law’s family and his own aunt’s family were from the same village. This time, with our grand-aunt abandoning her daughter, he says she married into the same village as his maternal aunt’s family. Is there some necessary connection here? Besides, how am I supposed to know where Li Xiu’s maternal aunt’s family is from?’
In truth, there was no necessary connection. Who else but Li Xiu had lived a whole extra life? He couldn’t very well say he knew it from his past life. "So, because the whole affair was so outrageous, people there treat it like a funny story. I have relatives in that village, so naturally, I heard about it. Is that so strange?" Li Xiu said nonchalantly. ’This second brother-in-law of mine is really not the sharpest tool in the shed.’
Second Brother Zhou didn’t speak, just trudged on ahead. ’I knew this guy was trouble. Listening to gossip? Does he specialize in listening to gossip about our Zhou family?’
"Where are you taking me? My daughter will be looking for her mother soon," Li Xiu muttered, watching his sullen, silent brother-in-law.
"To the bridal chamber! Your other brother-in-law is getting married, aren’t you going to take a look?" Second Brother Zhou shot back. ’What does he mean, his daughter is looking for her mother? What does a two-month-old know! It’s him who can’t be away from his wife. He’s like a dog with a bone, has to drag it everywhere he goes! Ugh, no, my sister is not a bone!’
"What’s so interesting about a wedding? It’s not like I’ve never been married," Li Xiu said, following behind Second Brother Zhou while simultaneously teasing his little daughter and his brother-in-law.
Second Brother Zhou couldn’t be bothered with this rascal. He walked the few steps to the new house’s door, then turned back to Li Xiu with a mischievous grin. "You accompanied your third brother to escort the bride today, so remember to take some drinks for him later!"
"Hold on, Second Brother, do you still remember I’m your brother-in-law?" Li Xiu looked at him as if he were an idiot. ’If I get drunk, won’t it be your sister who has to take care of me? Is this brother-in-law of mine a complete moron?’
"How could I forget that? What does that have to do with you taking drinks for your third brother?"
The eldest Zhou brother, who had been standing at the door and heard everything, smacked his foolish younger brother on the head. "Are you an idiot?" he snapped. "Did you leave your brain at home? If you get our brother-in-law drunk, our niece is still so little, and our sister will have to suffer, taking care of the baby and then the big baby. Have you grown a brain yet?!"