The words were on the tip of her tongue, but Li Youran suddenly felt a little reluctant, after all, no one had ever said such affectionate words to her before.
"Young master, something terrible has happened! Master and Madam have set off for the Zhao residence."
Just then, Liu San arrived at full speed.
"You Ran, if you don't say anything, that means you agree."
Before leaving, Liu Zhiyuan shouted loudly at Li Youran. By the time Li Youran reacted, Liu Zhiyuan had already left.
"What a tragedy..."
Li Youran blamed herself for being too soft-hearted and should have decisively rejected Liu Zhiyuan. But she couldn't bring herself to say those harsh words; after all, she had such deep feelings for him, how could she remain unmoved?
He went up the mountain alone to pray for blessings and then donated incense. By the time he got home, it was already dark, and his family was busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner for the next day.
"Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve, so why are people setting off firecrackers today?"
As Li Niangzi was cleaning the fish, she looked up at the sky.
Most small households are reluctant to set off fireworks and firecrackers, only doing so on New Year's Eve.
"Our family is doing much better this year than in previous years, so why don't we buy some more fireworks and firecrackers to have a lively New Year?"
Li Youran entered the room just in time to hear what Li Niangzi was saying, and then smiled and said.
"Why set off those things? People say that fools set off firecrackers, but smart people just listen to the noise."
Li Erzhu tapped his pipe and looked at Niu Niu beside him.
"I'd rather use that money to buy flowers for my granddaughter to wear."
This year, the Li family's living conditions are much better than in previous years, so they have everything they need, including chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Even the little girl has several more flowers in her hair than last year.
“Let’s keep things separate. We’ll set off fireworks and firecrackers, and we’ll buy flowers for Niu Niu.” Zhao Lanzhi said while busying herself, “Let’s have a lively New Year this year.”
After a year of hard work, it's rare to have a few days off. The family is very tacit in avoiding talking about unhappy things and preparing for the Lunar New Year in a lively atmosphere.
"Aunt Liu is cleaning fish."
During the Lunar New Year, every household keeps their doors wide open, and neighbors passing by will greet them from time to time.
"Aunt Wang looks so happy, is there something good happening?"
Liu Niangzi wiped her hands haphazardly on her apron and got up to respond.
"Wang Dachui's family slaughtered a pig today, saying it was to thank the neighbors for selling it to everyone at a low price. I just went and got two jin, it was really cheap, only half the price outside."
As she spoke, Aunt Wang raised the piece of pork in her hand high.
"Aunt Wang, is this a hemangioma on a pig?"
What kind of tumor?
Aunt Wang looked in the direction Li Youran pointed and saw a blood clot on the cut surface of the pork.
"Damn it, this is a pig infected with swine fever! Wang Dachui is truly heartless; how dare he sell pork like this!"
As she spoke, Aunt Wang picked up the piece of pork with blood clots and ran away.
"Mother, did I talk too much?"
Li Youran felt that her reactions had been too slow these past few days; she only realized that Aunt Wang had disappeared without a trace.
“Even if we don’t say anything, Aunt Wang will find out when she gets home,” Zhao Lanzhi comforted her.
Their relationship with the Wang family was quite awkward, and it was inappropriate for them to interfere in many matters.
Although Li Youran was not afraid of trouble, she did not want to cause trouble either. After all, it was disgusting that he would jump around and curse all the time.
Aunt Wang took the piece of pork to confront Wang Dachui, but accidentally mentioned Li Youran, which angered the Wang family.
"That adulterous harlot, even after being divorced and sent home, won't stop causing trouble. She's clearly envious of my daughter's good life and is doing some shameful things behind my back."
Madam Wang clapped her hands, jumped up and down, and spoke in a vulgar and offensive manner.
"I'm calling you Aunt Wang because you're my elder, so don't be ungrateful."
Zhao Lanzhi stood at the gate with a rolling pin in her hand, one hand on her hip, the other pointing at Wang Niangzi.
"Do you think our Li family is immune to all reason, that we can just curse and run wild as we please? Today I'll show you just how high the sky is and how thick the earth is!"
Wang Niangzi only cursed fiercely, but that was just for the sake of verbal sparring. If they were to actually fight, how could her old bones possibly be a match for Zhao Lanzhi?
"Help! Murder! Help!"
Every household had their doors wide open, and soon neighbors gathered around.
"The daughter was divorced and brought home, and the son couldn't even keep his wife. What a miserable family!"
Seeing that there were onlookers, Madam Wang thought that even if Zhao Lanzhi had hit her, there would be witnesses. So she was no longer afraid and started cursing again.
"Old Wang's family, you've turned your heart upside down, selling diseased pork to your neighbors. How dare you come here and curse others?"
"So what if my daughter married a scholar? I won't get a single penny from your family. You heartless bastards, you tricked me into buying diseased pork. What bad luck during the New Year!"
Madam Wang originally thought that even if everyone knew that her pigs were infected with plague, they wouldn't dare to do anything, after all, her daughter had married a scholar, a family that ordinary people couldn't afford to offend.
She had overestimated her importance; everyone fawned over her family simply to get benefits from her. But instead of getting any benefits, they were tricked into buying pigs that had contracted disease, and that made everyone angry.
Those who were initially timid and hesitant to confront the Wang family joined in the cursing after seeing the Wang family incite public outrage.
"Serves you right for being greedy!"
Madam Wang spat a mouthful of sticky phlegm at the crowd and said.
"Wait until my son-in-law passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar, then you'll all be in for a world of hurt!" she said before fleeing in a disheveled state.
"Girl, don't take what that old woman Wang said to heart. If you really act like her, you'll just get really angry."
Seeing that Li Youran hadn't spoken and looked rather unwell, Zhao Lanzhi offered her words of comfort.
"Second sister-in-law, thank you," Li Youran said to Zhao Lanzhi, her eyes red-rimmed.
Actually, even if Zhao Lanzhi hadn't intervened, Li Youran could have dealt with Granny Wang. However, being protected by Zhao Lanzhi and standing up for her deeply moved Li Youran.
"We're all family, no need to be so polite. You can't cry during the New Year, you're a grown man, aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
Zhao Lanzhi was at a loss with Li Youran. She embarrassedly brushed a stray hair behind her ear, then picked up a rolling pin and went back to the kitchen.
Li Youran grinned foolishly as she watched Zhao Lanzhi's retreating figure, thinking that in the new year, she must lead her whole family to prosperity and change their social status, so that their door would no longer be a place where anyone could insult others.
"Father and Mother, you know I already have a girl I love, so why did you go to the Zhao family to get engaged behind my back!"
Liu Zhiyuan frowned and spoke in a low voice.
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