Chapter 39 Ke'er Wants

A weak sigh came from behind, and Lady He, the wife of the Marquis, beckoned Song Yi over.

He held her hand, a hint of relief in his eyes.

Her eldest daughter-in-law was finally no longer just a crybaby like before. Although she cried terribly today, it didn't stop her words from making Li Yongfeng feel uncomfortable.

"Eldest daughter-in-law, you did very well today. You used to be too soft-hearted, which is why..."

Recalling past unpleasantness, Madam He pursed her lips and swallowed back the blame that was on the tip of her tongue.

Well, the eldest son's wife has finally shown some change, so we should praise her.

"No matter how much others want to help you, you have to stand on your own two feet first, and then you will be just like you are today."

Song Yi looked completely bewildered.

She now realizes that she used to be too weak-willed, but...

"If I talk back to my father-in-law, will my mother-in-law think I'm unfilial?"

A mocking smile appeared on He's pale face.

"Remember this: it's not wrong to be filial to your elders, but the elders must be worthy of your respect."

"Your father-in-law is not worthy."

Song Yi was dumbfounded.

My mother-in-law was so blunt.

Afraid of frightening her timid eldest daughter-in-law, Madam He patted her hand again.

"Silly child, the relationship between husband and wife is the most complicated in the world. Not everyone is as loving as you and your eldest son."

Between your father-in-law and me, there has long been no affection left between us... Never mind, let's not talk about these things anymore. Just remember what I said.

Song Yi nodded blankly, a warm feeling rising in her heart.

My mother-in-law said all these things because she wanted what was best for me.

"I've written it down."

Then she remembered something else and quickly took out the silver notes she had brought back that day from her bosom.

The shop made a profit of 10,000 taels of silver. In addition, my stepmother and Song Hui gave me another 4,000 taels. After paying a fine of 5,000 taels, I had 9,000 taels left.

Song Yi took out a thousand taels of silver notes and another five hundred taels, and stuffed them into He Shi's hand.

"This thousand taels is my mother-in-law's private savings. My husband told me that he was unfilial and had caused trouble for the family, so he would never dare to touch my mother-in-law's private savings."

In addition, this five hundred taels is a gift from your daughter-in-law.

The He family refused to accept it.

“You’ve never managed a household before, so don’t spend money recklessly just because you have some. Once the eldest son loses his salary, there will be many places where money will be needed.”

Song Yi insisted on giving.

"Your health has always been poor. Try seeing a different doctor for a new prescription to help you recover."

Unable to refuse, Madam He finally accepted only her own 1,000 taels, while Song Yi insisted on returning the 500 taels.

"My body is useless; it's been a chronic illness for years, and no doctor can help it."

Li Nanke listened quietly from the side, his eyes darting around.

Since she could remember, her grandmother had been frail, but she was never as pale and dull-eyed as she is now.

It seems that she has been bedridden ever since her grandmother's cat, which she had raised for many years, died.

It's as if all the energy and spirit have been drained away, and living is just about getting through the days.

Could it be related to my grandfather?

"What's our little Ke'er thinking about? Why isn't she saying anything? Usually, she's always chattering away and loves talking to her grandmother."

Seeing that Li Nanke had her head down and wasn't saying anything, Madam He assumed that she was frightened by what had just happened, and affectionately reached out to pinch her breasts.

Li Nanke snapped out of her daze and snuggled closer to Madam He.

Looking up at her smooth, rosy little face, she said, "Isn't my face soft and smooth to pinch? Grandma will pinch it for you again."

Mrs. He was amused and reached out to gently pinch her little nose.

"Who would praise their own face like that? Don't they know shame?"

Li Nanke wrinkled his nose.

"Because it's the truth, why be shy?"

"Oh, Grandma, you don't understand. People should praise themselves. Like me, I praise myself every day: My face is the softest and smoothest in the world."

"Don't you think my face is soft and smooth?"

"Grandmother should also keep praising herself and telling herself that she is the healthiest person in the world. Mother should tell herself that she doesn't like to cry and that she is the most useful person."

Then Grandma's health will improve, and Mom will cry less and less.

Li Nanke shook his little head and spoke in a very serious manner.

Both He Shi and Song Yi were amused.

Unable to resist pinching her little face again, Madam He said, "Alright, no need to coax your grandmother anymore. Tell me, what do you want?"

Li Nanke smiled and swayed He Shi's arm.

"Grandma, I want to eat braised chicken in a bucket, and I also want to eat braised carp with noodles. The dragon beard noodles on top are so crispy and crunchy. Oh my, my mouth is watering!"

As she spoke, her little face scrunched up as she leaned against Mrs. He's arm.

"Second Aunt said the family is out of money, and your beloved little Ke'er has been eating only vegetables and tofu for two days. Grandmother, look, isn't my face turning green?"

"I'm at the age where I'm growing, and if I only eat vegetables, I won't grow tall. Grandma, Ke'er wants to eat meat."

She pointed to her face and leaned forward again.

Madam He was heartbroken. "Eat, whatever Ke'er wants to eat, we'll eat."

He took out the silver note that Song Yi had just given him and gave it to his trusted confidante, Mother Sun.

"Quietly send someone to the street to buy a carp, a chicken, and two pounds of pork ribs to make soup. We'll cook it in the small kitchen in our yard."

"I knew my grandmother loved me the most."

Li Nanke smiled and tiptoed to kiss He Shi.

whee.

Ke'er wants it, and Ke'er gets it.

In her dream, she and her mother depended on each other for survival on the road to exile, enduring hunger and thirst. When they arrived at the place of exile, her mother hanged herself.

She was eventually sold into a brothel.

The madam forced her to learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; if she didn't do well, she would be beaten and starved.

She often went hungry, so she didn't grow very tall.

Li Nanke shuddered as he recalled the scene in his dream.

Now that she doesn't have to have her house confiscated or be exiled, she should try to eat lots of meat and grow tall.

Only the grandmother's courtyard in the entire Hou Mansion had a small kitchen; the meals in the other courtyards were all prepared by the main kitchen and delivered there.

Grandma Sun was very efficient and quickly prepared braised carp with noodles, stewed chicken, and a pot of pork rib soup.

With the addition of two vegetable dishes from the main kitchen, it made a perfect four dishes and one soup.

After eating only vegetables for two days, Li Nanke was now happily munching on the chicken wing that He Shi had torn for her.

Song Yi hesitated.

"Should we send some to the two children from the second wife's side? If the second sister-in-law finds out that we're eating alone behind closed doors, won't she think that her mother-in-law is being biased?"

Madam He snorted coldly, then composed herself and began to instruct Song Yi.

"Your second son's wife usually dotes on her two children like they're the apples of her eye. Do you really think she'd be willing to let them go hungry?"

Seeing Song Yi's blank expression, he explained the reasoning to her in detail.

"Even if the family has no money, there are still vegetables and fruits sent from the farm. How did we end up eating only vegetables and tofu?"

Besides, the family has never had much money in their accounts, but we're not exactly broke either. Why didn't the second son's wife suggest cutting expenses earlier or later, but now of all times, does she want the whole family to tighten their belts?

"She's afraid you'll take money from the family account to save the eldest son, and she's also afraid you'll ask her to lend her money."

"Given your personality, seeing the situation at home, you immediately backed down and were too embarrassed to ask her for money, right?"

"On the surface, everyone eats the same thing, but behind closed doors, she will definitely send her maid to secretly go to the street to buy delicious food."

If you don't believe me, you can send someone to secretly check on the second wife's family. Right now, the three of them are definitely hiding in their room eating alone.