Chapter 111 I chose the latter

Li Songlan pouted, tears streaming down her face, "Brother..."

"Don't call me! Go back to the hotel now and pack your things. I'll take you to the train station. Don't come back until Dad is completely recovered!"

Li Yuanhua clenched her fists, suppressing her rising anger.

But he couldn't hold back any longer and yelled at his sister, "You want to kill Dad!"

"I don't!"

Li Songlan shook her head like a rattle-drum, her eyes filled with fear, and she burst into tears, "Brother, I didn't! I just wanted to have both Dad and Mom at the same time. I never thought of hurting Dad. Brother, you have to believe me..."

Li Yuanhua looked at her younger sister, whom she had doted on since childhood, and hardened her heart.

Grabbing his sister's wrist, he pulled her out of the hospital. "Let's go."

"Brother, I'm not leaving..."

Li Songlan struggled several times but couldn't break free from Li Yuanhua's grip. She could only cry pitifully, "Brother, I was wrong, I won't say it again, please don't let me go, okay? Brother..."

Li Songlan cried uncontrollably, but Li Yuanhua refused to budge and insisted on putting her on the train back to school.

Only after watching the train leave did he return to the hospital, utterly dejected.

Mr. Li patted him, sighed, and said nothing. When Mrs. Li tried to say something, Mr. Li shook his head and stopped her.

When Li Erge learned of the news from Li Banxia's phone call in the afternoon, he bought a ticket for the next available train back to Shanghai. After getting off the train, he went straight to the hospital.

Seeing that Li Sange had regained consciousness and recognized people, the brother and sister breathed a sigh of relief, their eyes instantly turning red.

"Second brother, little sister..."

Brother Li tried to force a funny smile, but the slightest movement of his lips triggered a nerve, causing his head to throb with pain, making him grimace.

Li Erge glared at him and said, "Be quiet for a while."

"Third Brother, it's so good to see you're alright." Li Banxia walked up to him, looked at him, and wanted to smile, but didn't.

Brother Li nodded, "I'm fine now..."

Brother Li and his wife had an urgent mission and couldn't come in time. They agreed that he would go back when Brother Li returned to the capital and visit Su Lao Er on the way.

Two weeks later, after reviewing the examination reports, the doctors determined that they could be transferred back to Beijing to recuperate.

"Come here every two months to check on the recovery progress, so we can intervene promptly if any problems arise..."

The family thanked them and returned to Beijing from Shanghai.

Upon receiving the news, Brother Li rushed from the military to the hospital in Beijing.

"Why is my older brother back again? The doctor said I'm fine..."

Brother Li was leaning against the headboard. Although his face was still a little pale, his spirits were obviously much better.

"Yes, you're alright now."

When Brother Li saw his younger brother's condition, a smile appeared in his eyes. "We owe Yuanzhi a huge favor for this."

"Yes, I'll remember. I'll definitely pay you back later." Brother Li smiled as well.

Li Banxia nodded in agreement.

In the hospital ward, the siblings were all laughing.

Mr. Li, with his arm around Mrs. Li's shoulder and carrying a thermos, stood at the door of the ward, looking at his children. They exchanged glances and smiled.

That's all they ever wanted in their lives.

I do not seek great wealth or high status, but only wish for my children to be safe and healthy.

Li Erge urged his parents to go home and rest, while he, being in good health, stayed at the hospital to keep watch over them.

When Li Yuanhua returned to Beijing, she was chased back to school by her third brother, Li San.

When Li Yuanhua was mentioned, Brother Li glanced at his parents.

"Let us talk to you. You can go about your business if you have something to do."

Brother Li nodded and said okay. He would go to the courtyard to find Su Lao Er. Li Banxia was also going back anyway, so she hitched a ride with Brother Li.

On the way, Li Banxia told him about how she and her second brother Li were reselling government bonds.

"...You've been to almost the entire surrounding area?"

Brother Li glanced at her sideways. "You made a lot of money?"

"yes."

Li Banxia's eyes were full of laughter as she glanced at the back seat and said, "The 13,000 yuan you and your sister-in-law gave me has multiplied many times over. It will definitely surprise you. I didn't save the money. Your and your sister-in-law's professions are special, and I was worried that if we deposited too much money at once, it would attract unwanted attention, so..."

"Okay, I got it. I'll do it later..."

As Brother Li was speaking, he casually glanced at the back seat through the rearview mirror, but when he saw the bulging bag, he suddenly realized that it contained the 13,000 yuan they had earned in this buying and selling business, and he immediately became unsettled.

"...How many are there in here?"

There's no way 13,000 could be packed into such a big bag, right?

Li Banxia laughed, “On average, my second brother and I can make a round trip every three days. We exchange the money for coupons, and then sell each one for almost 30 more. Thirteen thousand can buy 148 coupons, which is an extra four thousand per trip. Four thousand plus thirteen thousand equals seventeen thousand, and seventeen thousand can buy 193 coupons. The second trip is five thousand two, and five thousand two plus seventeen thousand equals twenty thousand two, and twenty thousand two can buy… money makes money, big brother, you do the math…”

Brother Li was stunned, staring at Li Banxia in disbelief, "Money... can be made like this?"

"yes."

Li Banxia smiled, seeing her eldest brother's reaction reminded her of herself and her second brother, and she couldn't help but laugh out loud twice.

Thinking of Li Erge, Li Banxia paused for a moment and called out "Big Brother".

"Hmm?" Brother Li breathed a sigh of relief.

"The person who buys back coupons at high prices in Shanghai was discovered by my second brother at the bank. So we calculated each coupon to the highest price of 115. Anything exceeding that went to my second brother. Firstly, it was to pay for his connections, and secondly, it wasn't safe for me to carry so much money alone, so my second brother also acted as a protector..."

Li Banxia glanced at her brother Li and said, "Remember to explain this to your sister-in-law."

"Okay, I've got it."

Brother Li nodded and asked about the places they had gone and what people and events they had encountered...

The brother and sister chatted and laughed all the way. When they were almost at the auto parts factory's residential area, Brother Li casually asked, "Did you and Su Youfu get divorced?"

Li Banxia paused, and the smile in her eyes vanished instantly, as if splashed with water.

She gave a faint "hmm," and said, "We're divorced."

"Divorced?!"

Brother Li turned to look at her, his brows furrowed in disbelief. "Really divorced?"

"Yes, it's true. I just got the divorce certificate the day my third brother had the accident, and I didn't even have time to tell you the good news..."

As he spoke, he smiled at Brother Li and joked, "We're having a double celebration now."

Brother Li frowned even more deeply, looking at Li Banxia's empty eyes with heartache.

"Could you... tell your brother the reason for your divorce?"

Li Banxia suppressed her laughter and sighed, saying, "I thought he was a good man, but he turned out to be a scumbag. Between suffering to death and cutting off my tail to survive, I chose the latter."

Although the words were simple, the amount of information they conveyed made Brother Li's heart sink to the bottom instantly.

He knows his younger sister's personality best.

She would never have said such a thing if Su Youfu hadn't gone too far.

"...It's better that we're divorced."

Li Banxia nodded, "Big brother, don't tell Mom and Dad about my divorce from Su Youfu for now. Let me clean up the new rented house, settle in, and wait until Third Brother is feeling better before telling them. I don't want Mom and Dad to worry about both Third Brother and me at the same time."

"Brother, how did you know I was divorced? I haven't had a chance to tell anyone yet."