Chapter 141 - 138: Li Bao Teaches His Wife
Li Bao and his wife returned home. After washing up, the young couple lay on their bed, and Wang Xiaojuan whispered, "Why are Big Brother and Sister-in-law on such terrible terms with Second Uncle’s family? Is it because of Sister-in-law?"
"Don’t talk nonsense!" Li Bao snapped, cutting her off. Wang Xiaojuan jumped, startled. Her husband had never spoken to her like that since they’d married. But Wang Xiaojuan was a clever woman. She didn’t get angry, only asking in a soft, placating voice, "Don’t be mad. Did I say the wrong thing?"
Seeing the timid look on his wife’s face, Li Bao sighed and pulled her into his arms. "I’m not angry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice. You had just married into the family when Sister-in-law tested into university, and Big Brother’s whole family left for the Capital City. These things are family secrets, dirty laundry really, so I never went out of my way to tell you. You don’t understand their actions tonight, so I’ll explain everything. From now on, you just need to remember that they are our true big brother and sister-in-law. Got it?"
When Wang Xiaojuan nodded, Li Bao began to explain, slowly and deliberately. "Ever since they were little, Second Aunt couldn’t stand Big Brother. As for why, nobody ever figured it out, and at this point, nobody can be bothered to. Second Uncle was always in poor health, so Big Brother started herding cattle for the production team at age six. By twelve, he was a full-time laborer, supporting the entire family. He worked like that until he was twenty-two, when Second Aunt—pressured by Grandma and First Aunt—finally found him a match. Big Brother took one look at Sister-in-law and was smitten. It was agreed that they would split the household once he married. But, well, you know how Second Aunt is."
Seeing his wife’s speechless expression, Li Bao chuckled. When they had first married, Second Aunt had been seized by some strange whim and would often drag Li Xin over to talk to her. It got so bad that his wife had to flee to her parents’ house every day just to avoid the two of them. In the end, Grandma couldn’t stand it anymore and gave Second Uncle a talking-to, which finally put a stop to it.
Wang Xiaojuan rolled her eyes at him. Li Bao rubbed his nose and continued, "Big Brother had always been very filial, but that was when he realized there was a real problem with Second Aunt’s attitude. He made the swift decision to split the household. In the end, Big Brother left with only about two hundred yuan, basically forced out with nothing to his name. He and Sister-in-law weren’t even formally engaged yet. Grandma and the others felt he was getting on in years and wanted him to marry as soon as possible. Sister-in-law’s family was honorable and agreed to the match, setting the wedding for the following spring."
"Over one winter, Big Brother went into Daqing Mountain all by himself, built a house, and established this entire household from scratch. At first, the family didn’t know he’d gone into the mountains. They only found out later. Grandma, First Uncle, First Aunt, and our own parents were worried sick. But Big Brother is so stubborn. Once his mind is made up, no one can stop him. Just like that, he built a property unlike any other in our area. When they married in the spring, Second Uncle’s family didn’t lift a finger to help. Grandma, First Aunt, and Mom organized the whole thing with our sisters. During the ceremonial bows, Big Brother didn’t let Sister-in-law bow to Second Uncle and Second Aunt individually. The family elders accepted the bow as a group."
Wang Xiaojuan said in amazement, "Big Brother is incredible!" ’To handle it like that and still maintain a good reputation... my brother-in-law is a true genius.’
"Big Brother had no other choice. You wouldn’t know, but for their wedding, Grandma, First Aunt, and Mom stayed up all night making the festive sweets." Seeing his wife’s eyes widen, he smiled. "Yes, it’s exactly as you imagine. Big Brother is actually very generous. When they split the household, he promised to give a double portion of gift money when Li Hua and the other brothers got married. But while Big Brother was away, Li Hua tried to lay a hand on Sister-in-law, who was pregnant at the time. That’s what shattered things completely."
"He tried to what? A brother-in-law tried to attack his own pregnant sister-in-law?" Wang Xiaojuan cried out in shock. When her husband nodded, she took a long, deep breath to calm herself.
"And he did it in front of Grandma, First Aunt, Second Uncle, and Second Aunt. Luckily, Big Brother got back just in time. From that day on, Big Brother completely gave up on Second Uncle’s family."
Wang Xiaojuan was at a loss for words. ’What a family...’ she thought. "But I thought you said Second Uncle was in poor health? He looks perfectly fine to me!"
"Don’t get me started," Li Bao said with resentment. "When Sister-in-law got pregnant, the county hospital had just gotten some new equipment. Big Brother wanted to take her for a check-up. Seeing that Second Uncle’s cough was getting worse, he brought him along too. For over twenty years, we thought it was consumption. Who knew the doctor would say it wasn’t consumption at all? He just smoked too much! All he had to do was quit smoking and take some medicine to recuperate, and he’d be fine." ’What a mess,’ Li Bao thought. ’It meant Big Brother had worked himself to the bone for all those years for nothing, without so much as a word of thanks.’
"Oh. Then why are you all so afraid of Big Brother?" Wang Xiaojuan asked, her curiosity piqued. She could see clearly that the younger generation of the Li family genuinely loved their eldest brother, but they were also terrified of him.
"When Big Brother was six and herding cattle for the production team, the man in charge, an Uncle Ge, was born a young master. He’d studied in old-fashioned private schools, modern Western-style academies, and had even been on the battlefield with a military troop. Why he came back here to herd cattle is a mystery. But he passed on every bit of his knowledge and skills to Big Brother. Big Brother is a genius, but nobody knew about this. He wanted to teach us other brothers, too, but Second Aunt coddled Li Hua and the others and wouldn’t let him. So, Big Brother just taught me, Li Guo, and Li Bo. You’ve asked me how I know so much, haven’t you? Big Brother taught me everything, step by step!"
Li Bao smiled. "He didn’t just teach us boys; he taught our sisters as well. Big Brother has a quick temper but could never bring himself to discipline the girls. So, we three boys would bear the brunt of it. Especially me. As the oldest, if the two younger ones messed up, I’d be punished right alongside them. We got used to it. With Big Brother... well, he’s family, but when he gets angry, we are truly and genuinely terrified!"
"What all did he teach?"
"Everything. He taught us everything he knew. We aren’t as smart as Big Brother. He says I probably only learned about half of it, and the others learned even less. And see, the moment he heard the college entrance exams were being held again, he forced all the younger ones to study. He said, ’With your thick skulls, what can you do without an education? You’d starve yourselves trying to farm. You’re better off testing into a university and letting the state take care of you, because I can’t.’ " Saying this, Li Bao laughed, feeling a wave of sympathy for his younger siblings. ’Today, they were led right into a trap by Big Brother and Sister-in-law again,’ he thought. ’Good thing I’m a little older, or else...’
"So what exactly does Big Brother know?" Wang Xiaojuan looked at Li Bao, blinking her big eyes at her husband curiously.
"Big Brother studied under him for a good ten years. Apparently, before Uncle Ge passed away, he said that he’d had no children his entire life, but teaching a student like Big Brother meant he could die without any regrets." Li Bao thought for a moment, then whispered to his wife, "All the village elders knew of that Uncle Ge. They said he was a man of incredible elegance and talent—the kind of genius you see only once in a century around here."
"He was that incredible!" Wang Xiaojuan exclaimed.
Li Bao nodded. "From now on, just don’t ask too many questions. Big Brother has already made arrangements for the younger siblings. He and Sister-in-law have also taken care of our two married sisters. Li Yun is getting married on the eighth of the month. Just you watch how Big Brother and Sister-in-law handle it. I guarantee everything will be arranged perfectly. I’m the only one left, but don’t you worry. I’m sure Big Brother has a plan for me in the next year or two. As for the second branch of the family, just keep your distance. Big Brother won’t concern himself with them!"
"Really? But those are his own parents and siblings!" Wang Xiaojuan said, finding it hard to believe.
Li Bao scoffed. "Just you wait and see. I grew up with Big Brother. He’s a man who is both deeply sentimental and utterly ruthless, and he’s fiercely protective of his own. The second branch of the family spends all day dancing on his last nerve. It would be stranger if he *did* get involved with them!"
He thought for a moment, then added with a smile, "If they had just been a little kinder to Sister-in-law, there might have been room to mend things. But it’s a pity. Sister-in-law is Big Brother’s one and only weakness in this life. He’ll do whatever she wants. The second branch offended her down to the bone. The only reason Big Brother doesn’t give them a hard time is out of respect for their shared blood!"