Chapter 197 Misunderstanding

Brother Li put away the nine-section whip and wrapped it back around his waist. "I think those two courtyard houses are quite suitable. I'll take you to see them tomorrow."

"Second Brother, where is the tenement building?" Li Banxia asked.

Li Erge frowned and looked at her. "What have you taken a fancy to? That chemical plant is located between the Fourth and Fifth Ring Roads. It feels like it won't be developed for decades. There aren't enough houses in the city center to live in, so who would want to go there?"

That place is indeed a bit remote.

Li Banxia frowned regretfully and said to her second brother, "I've been quite busy lately and I'm afraid I won't have time to look for a house. Second brother, I'll introduce someone to you later, and you can go together. If you find a suitable one, you can settle down. Like I said, tenement buildings are cheaper, so you can buy a couple more to prepare for Zeqi and his two siblings."

Li Erge said okay, "I'll wait for your news."

Li Sange listened quietly to the siblings' conversation, a smile on his face the whole time. When Li Banxia mentioned Li Erge's three children, his eyes flickered, and he closed his eyes and sighed softly.

Li Banxia placed her hand on his shoulder and patted it gently twice.

Brother Li tensed up for a moment, then looked up and smiled at her.

When Li's father returned, dinner was already prepared.

Steamed fish, stewed vegetables, twice-cooked pork with garlic sprouts, stir-fried sausage with green peppers, and several cold dishes, including dried tofu, water celery and peanuts, boiled edamame and peanuts, and a serving of mung bean jelly topped with garlic sauce.

A large pot of hot and sour soup, and a basket of white steamed buns with crispy bits from the pot, filled the entire table.

When Li's mother saw Li's father, she glared at him and gave him a cold look.

Mr. Li asked curiously, "What's wrong with your mother? Who upset her?"

Li Banxia briefly explained the situation of the woman's visit to the house. Li's father frowned instantly. "That shouldn't be the case. I've met Old Qiu's wife before. She's a very kind person and speaks very gently. She doesn't seem like the kind of person who would do such a thing."

As he spoke, his expression suddenly turned strange as he looked at Li Banxia and Li's mother.

"Where would he get a daughter? The couple only had one son who died on the battlefield years ago. They lived with their granddaughter, let alone a daughter-in-law."

Li's mother and Li Banxia exchanged a glance, both full of questions.

"So what's going on here?"

"I'll call and ask later; there might be some misunderstanding."

Mr. Li said, "Let's eat first. After we finish eating, I'll have my second son take Xiaxia to school, and I'll call Lao Qiu."

The family chatted over dinner, and Li Banxia mentioned the engagement of her third son. "The wedding date is probably set for next spring. His mother-in-law wants the girl to spend another Spring Festival at home, saying that once she gets married, she can't spend the New Year at her parents' home anymore, and it will affect the luck of her brothers and such."

"nonsense."

Li's mother picked up some fish meat with her chopsticks, removing the bones, and gave it to Li Banxia, ​​saying, "That was back when we were poor and didn't have much to eat. We didn't want our daughter to bring her husband and grandson back to our parents' house to freeload. We were afraid that if they ate everything, our son and grandson would go hungry. It's such an old story, and people still believe in this?"

Li Banxia smiled and said thank you, Mom.

Li's mother then asked Li Banxia, ​​"Why don't you bring a few children back for the New Year this year? I'll have your father redecorate your room."

"Mom, I'm over forty, my eldest son is about to become a father, and I'm already a grandmother. How can I possibly go back to my parents' home for the New Year?"

Li Banxia was both amused and exasperated. "Besides, with families all coming along, there's not enough room in the house."

Mother Li frowned and looked at Father Li, his second brother Li, and his third brother Li.

The two brothers exchanged a glance and immediately said, "Let's build two more rooms. Isn't the backyard empty?"

Mr. Li smiled and nodded, saying yes.

Li Ersao's expression was somewhat unnatural, and she forced a smile.

Although she didn't say anything, it was clear that her interest had waned.

Li Banxia smiled and said, "Let's not. Yao Yao is due to give birth next month. The baby is too small, and it's too cold to travel back and forth in winter."

Seeing Li's second sister-in-law's reaction, Li's mother sighed softly and nodded in agreement with Li Banxia's words.

Once the topic was over, the family started talking about other things.

After finishing her meal, it was already late, and seeing that she was about to miss the last bus, Li Banxia didn't linger any longer. She told her family and pushed her cart to leave.

Li Erge pushed the cart out and took her to the bus stop.

Mr. Li went to make a phone call.

At the station, Li Erge propped the bicycle up with one leg and told Li Banxia not to be angry with her sister-in-law, "Your sister-in-law's family also doesn't want their daughter to come home for the New Year. Your sister-in-law thought that if it wasn't possible on New Year's Eve, it should be possible on the eve of the Lunar New Year, but who knew..."

He sighed, "Her parents urged her to leave as soon as she finished breakfast. After lunch, they didn't even bother to cook, but instead helped your second sister-in-law pack her things and pushed her out of the house. Her sister-in-law was cursing and saying that she had affected her family's fortune, which was why her family was so poor. When your second sister-in-law looked at her parents, they also waved her away, telling her to go back to her parents' home on the second day of the Lunar New Year. At that time, your second sister-in-law and I had only been married for less than two years. Your second sister-in-law cried all the way back, and her eyes were swollen..."

"Second brother, why haven't I heard you mention this before?"

Li Erge scoffed, "I didn't say this out of the blue. Why am I saying this? Your sister-in-law is unhappy because of her family, not because you went back to your family home. I'm just afraid you'll misunderstand and it will affect your relationship as sisters-in-law."

Li Banxia smiled.

He said, "Alright, I know. I won't misunderstand my sister-in-law. You've helped me with money and effort all these years, and she's never complained. She really cares about me in private. If I get angry with her over such a small thing, then I'd be too difficult to get along with. Ah, the car's here. Second brother, you can go back now. I'm going back too."

"That's good."

Brother Li smiled and watched her get into the car before turning the car around and heading back.

When Mr. Li called to ask for Lao Qiu, the person on the other end told him to wait a moment. However, a woman answered the phone and immediately asked for his address. Mr. Li glanced at the receiver and said, "Who are you? I'm looking for Lao Qiu. Let Lao Qiu answer the phone."

"Weren't you looking for YueSo? Old Qiu asked me to answer the phone. He said to give me the address and I should go there myself..."

The woman's voice sounded familiar, and after a moment's thought, Li's father remembered.

"I remember now, you're the one who answered my call this morning. You let Lao Qiu answer the phone, but I was looking for Lao Qiu's wife. Who are you?!"

"Smack!"

The call was hung up.

Hearing the busy tone coming from the other end, Mr. Li dialed back, but the phone remained busy.

Mr. Li frowned, hung up the phone and didn't dial again. He planned to go to Old Qiu's house tomorrow to find out the truth.

The next day, after breakfast, Li's father rode his bicycle to find someone.

Old Qiu was quite surprised to see him. "Old Li, what brings you here? We haven't seen each other for years, have we? It's amazing you could find this place, haha..."

Old Qiu, a cheerful man, led Li's father into the house for tea.

When Li's father explained his purpose, Old Qiu was immediately stunned.

"What call? I didn't answer it. My wife's job doesn't end until the 23rd of this month, and she hasn't come back yet, so it's impossible for her to go for a trial period."

"Who went then?"