Chapter 69: The 3-Day Disturbance
Early in the morning, right after breakfast, Aunt Li, Aunt Li, Li Bao, and Li Guo all arrived one after another, as if by unspoken agreement. They entered the room to look at the sleeping baby, spoke a few words with Zhou Lian, and then got busy.
Aunt Li and Li Bao were to deliver gifts to the households of Grandpa Li and Grandpa Li, as well as the village chief, the production team leader, and the matchmaker’s family. Aunt Li and Li Guo would deliver to the households of Second Grandpa Li and Third Grandpa Li, plus Li Xiu’s parents. With the plan decided, they went their separate ways.
Watching from the side, Li Xiu couldn’t help but laugh. Aunt Li had taken on the more troublesome households herself—especially his parents’—while letting the other Aunt Li handle all the easygoing families. He figured his mother was bound to say a few unpleasant things.
"Bao’er, do you think we really need to send any to the old family house? I said we shouldn’t, but Grandma and the others disagreed. Now that Aunt Li is heading over, do you think they’ll cause a scene?" Li Xiu whispered idly to Zhou Lian.
Zhou Lian looked at him with contempt. "You really expect the worst, don’t you? Aunt Li is going over today to deliver red eggs for our daughter. Do you think she’d let your mother start a scene? Besides, your mother isn’t that stupid. If she dares to cause trouble today, Grandma and Aunt Li won’t let her off easy."
That mother-in-law of hers was far from stupid. If she were, she wouldn’t have conned Li Xiu into slaving away like a beast of burden to support his brothers in their past life.
"True. She has her moments of shrewdness," Li Xiu said with a resigned smile. ’Ah, my mother... I really don’t know what to make of her. Call her smart, and she’s completely unreliable. Call her stupid, and she sees some things more clearly than anyone else.’
Aunt Li delivered the eggs to each household until only Second Brother Li’s family was left. She led Li Guo and headed over.
In the dead of winter, the whole family was on the kang. As soon as she entered, Aunt Li called out, "Well, Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law, you’re home! I thought you were all out. The Lao family has a new addition, a major event, and not one of you came to see. Turns out the whole family is just holed up on the kang for the winter!"
"Sister-in-law, my eldest son’s wife gave birth? Is it a boy or a girl?" Second Brother Li asked excitedly. It was cold, so he hadn’t been out for the past few days. ’So his eldest’s wife already gave birth!’
"What does it matter if it’s a boy or a girl? Don’t you like girls, Second Brother? I see you treat Li Xin better than your eldest son!" Aunt Li snapped. ’This brother-in-law of mine is really something else. If Li Xiu heard that, he’d be furious. I can tell Li Xiu absolutely adores his daughter.’
"No, Sister-in-law, I was just asking. What day was she born?" Second Brother Li asked in a low voice. ’This sister-in-law has such a fiery temper!’
"She was born the day before yesterday. Why else would I be here today delivering red eggs to you!" Aunt Li knew when to back down. After all, today was a happy occasion for Li Xiu’s daughter, and it wouldn’t look good to cause a real scene.
Seeing an opening, Li Guo stepped forward, placed the red eggs on the kang, and said, "Second Great-uncle, Second Great-aunt, these are the red eggs my older brother prepared. Today is my little niece’s third day."
"So it’s a girl!" Ge Er Ya said softly, but there was an unpleasant undertone to her words.
"What’s wrong with a girl? Second Sister-in-law, are you dissatisfied with your eldest son’s wife?" Aunt Li couldn’t hold back and snapped at Ge Er Ya.
"No, I was just talking," Ge Er Ya said hurriedly. She didn’t dare provoke her sister-in-law today. If Li Xiu and her mother-in-law found out she was displeased, her mother-in-law would definitely not let her off so easily.
"It’s not my place to say, Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law, but even if you play favorites, that newborn baby is your own granddaughter, isn’t she? The red eggs have been delivered, it’s been three days, and it’s one thing if you don’t help out, but this is the eldest granddaughter of the Lao family, and not a single one of you has gone to see her." Aunt Li couldn’t stand it anymore. She had been talking for a while, and not one person had mentioned going to see the baby.
"We didn’t know! Our eldest didn’t come and tell us!" Ge Er Ya argued defensively. ’These red eggs were sent by Grandpa and Grandma. She’d heard about it from the Sun’s house the night before last. She had been waiting for her eldest son to come and beg her and his father to deliver the red eggs for him. Not only did he fail to show, he actually had someone else deliver them to his own parents!’
"Second Sister-in-law, let’s not mince words. Weren’t you just hoping your son would come and beg you? Don’t tell me you didn’t know. That wife from the Sun’s house is as thick as thieves with you. You think she wouldn’t tell you? Who are you trying to fool?" Aunt Li snapped directly at Ge Er Ya. ’What kind of person is she, using this to manipulate her own son? What kind of mother is that!’
"So, should I go take a look now?" Second Brother Li asked in a low voice.
"Go see what? Talk to your son about it. If he asks you to go, then you go. Don’t go looking for trouble with him; he’s incredibly busy right now!" Aunt Li had lost her patience. ’It’s better if none of them go. No point in turning a happy event into a disaster. Besides, my nephew and his wife are already acting as if this part of the family doesn’t exist.’
"Mom, let’s go! We still have things to do!" Li Guo, at her side, couldn’t listen anymore. ’I used to think my second great-aunt was the unreliable one, but now I see my second great-uncle is the worst of all. It’s his own daughter-in-law who had a baby. If he, the grandfather, wanted to go see the child, who would dare stop him? But look at him! Pathetic!’
"Alright, you all just stay here. I have other things to do, so I’m leaving. Every household gets six red eggs, and I’ve brought you yours." After saying this, Aunt Li pulled Li Guo along and left, ignoring the reactions of the people on the kang.
On the way to Li Xiu’s house, Li Guo pouted and said, "Mom, why do I get the feeling that Second Great-uncle is so unreliable? I always thought it was Second Great-aunt who was the problem, but now I realize it’s actually all his fault!"
Aunt Li said bluntly, "You silly boy. No matter the situation, a woman can’t stir up any trouble on her own without a man backing her up!" ’She’d never believe Second Brother Li was some meek, henpecked husband. He was just a selfish bastard.’
"It’s rough that Older Brother got stuck with parents like them!" Li Guo said with a sigh.
Aunt Li smiled. "From now on, you should learn from your older brother. Watch how he handles things, and if you don’t understand something, ask him. Your father and I are getting old and we’re illiterate. There are some things your older brother sees more clearly than anyone."
"I know, Mom."
As they were talking, they arrived at Li Xiu’s house. The moment they entered the courtyard, they again saw Li Xiu washing the baby’s diapers.
Li Guo recounted in great detail everything that had happened at the old house.
Li Xiu didn’t say anything to his aunt and cousin. ’What was there to say? That pair of parents... their actions were entirely predictable.’
A little while later, Aunt Li and Li Bao returned from their errands. They also gave Li Xiu a general account of what had happened so that he would be aware of the situation.
Li Xiu invited them to stay for a meal, but they all declined. Aunt Li took her six red eggs and went home. Then, Aunt Li led Li Guo, who was also holding six red eggs, and headed home as well.
Li Xiu smiled and saw them to the door. After watching them walk into the distance, he turned, closed the main gate, and went back into the room. Seeing a curious Zhou Lian, he grinned, looking unusually happy.
Zhou Lian was baffled. ’What was wrong with her husband now? What had gotten into him!’
"Bao’er, after the tongue-lashing Aunt Li gave my parents today, they won’t be coming around for a while. That’s perfect. I was worried they’d come and bother you, keeping you from having a peaceful postpartum confinement. This is great. When they do decide to show up, I have plenty of ways to deal with them."