This house is even more spacious than Xie Xiao's. Su Shi wasn't inside; she was planting something in the back.
She held a hoe and hoeed away, while two children played in the mud beside her.
Upon seeing them arrive, they quickly gathered behind their grandmother, peeking out with only their eyes visible.
Su was somewhat surprised, but her expression quickly returned to its previous indifference. "You want to see me about something?"
The tone was quite distant.
Xie Xiao said, "Mother, this is Li Ruo, the wife I'm going to marry."
Madam Su looked Li Ru up and down, noticing that Li Ru was also looking her up. Standing gracefully with her back straight, she said calmly, "The wedding date is set for the twenty-fifth?"
Xie Xiao had already told her before he left for Beishan, but she didn't say anything at the time.
Li Ruo presented her gift, saying, "It's just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it."
Mrs. Su glanced at it, took it, and handed it to her eight-year-old grandson. "Thank you very much. I still have some work to finish, so I won't keep you any longer."
Xie Xiao pursed his lips. "Okay, then you get busy."
Li Ruoxin thought that this was the easiest version of meeting the parents in history.
Since the other party was so indifferent, she didn't need to be so friendly. She glanced at Xie Xiao and happily followed him. But then the old woman said from behind, "Miss Li is very different from before."
Li Ruo paused, "Does Auntie know me?"
Xie Xiao suddenly tightened his grip on her hand.
Su looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze that sent shivers down her spine.
Madam Su said, "Don't you remember? My husband was a 10th rank officer in your father's army. You used to call him Uncle Xie."
"What!"
This was truly a bolt from the blue.
Li Ruo was so shocked she almost collapsed.
"Mother!" Xie Xiao's eyes snapped open.
Su looked at Li Ru with suspicion, or rather, mockery. "Young lady, you are really forgetful. After my husband died in battle, General Li personally delivered compensation money to our family, and you came too. It must have been when you were ten years old."
Li Ruo was utterly shocked. Xie Xiao's expression was a little awkward, and his eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of mist. "That's all in the past. What's there to say? Let's go."
Li Ruo didn't move, looking at Su Shi: "Ignore him, please continue."
Madam Su smiled and said, "Later, you often came to our house to compete in archery and fight with Xie Xiao. You even said that Xie Xiao had lost his father, but he would have a wife, and you wanted to marry him. But when you turned thirteen, you suddenly stopped coming. Xie Xiao and I went to look for you, but you wouldn't see us. You told the servants who we were, that we were poor relatives who wanted to curry favor with the general's mansion, and gave the servants five taels of silver to get rid of us. We heard everything outside, and Xie Xiao turned around and left."
Li Ruo's heart clenched suddenly, her head spinning as if struck by lightning. Then she abruptly looked at Xie Xiao. She—oh, the original owner of this body had actually done such a despicable thing!
She searched through the original owner's memories and seemed to have a vague recollection of it. Because General Li had helped many families of fallen soldiers, a young man from one of the families even said he wanted to see her. At that time, she was infatuated with Song Zhijing and was unwilling to see him, so she casually dismissed him.
Unexpectedly, the young man whom the original owner casually dismissed was Xie Xiao.
Thunder rumbled everywhere! Thunder rumbled everywhere!
She was almost afraid to look at Xie Xiao.
His handsome face was a mix of black and red, embarrassed and awkward, a riot of colors and moods, hard to describe.
"They're gone."
He tried to shake off her hand, but Li Ruo wouldn't let him.
Madam Su sneered, "You think we came here to beg? We left without taking any money. Later, we heard that you got engaged to a young master from the Song family, and you chased after him every day. You even fulfilled the Emperor's promise to Song Zhijing after your father and brother died in battle. You were truly devoted to him. Now that Song Zhijing is dead, you've dragged my son into this mess. I really want to know how much sincerity you have."
“I—” Li Ruo grabbed his fidgeting hand and glared at him, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
"What are you talking about? It's been so long, who would remember?" He looked away.
Li Ruo: I don't believe you for a second.
Madam Su said, "Miss Li said she didn't want him, but she married him just like that. Is it because she really likes him, or because he is the leader of a village and can protect you in this chaotic world of natural disasters?"
Li Ruo's gaze fell on the woman's somewhat aggressive face.
Even though this woman disliked Xie Xiao, she probably still hoped that someone would genuinely treat her well, right?
In the past, she would have left long ago, but now that she knows the inside story, her heart is filled with a heavy feeling.
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember what you’re talking about from when I was little. But don’t worry, the Li Ruo after she turned thirteen was blinded by greed and was knocked unconscious for half a year by the Xu family. When she woke up, she suddenly realized that she was a completely different person.”
Su stared at her without moving.
Li Ruo straightened her back slightly: "Of course, your son is very capable, with people to eat, wear, and live in, but I am not lacking either. I don't need to covet his things. My Ziyang Peak has just as many people and resources as Black Wind Stronghold. What I value is him as a person."
These words were spoken to Su Shi, and also to Xie Xiao.
The arrogant Xie tightened his grip on her hand and finally glanced at her.
Li Ruo's gaze at this moment was unusually affectionate.
The corner of his mouth curled up slightly, he snorted, turned his head away, and left her with a stubborn and undeniable profile.
Madam Su, however, seemed unconvinced. "What you're saying sounds nice, young lady. You're encouraging him to rebel and fight for your empire, but in the end, isn't it all for the sake of wealth and glory?"
Therefore, in her eyes, she was a fickle and opportunistic woman.
Li Ruo smiled.
“You can say that, who doesn’t want wealth and glory? But everything is about going with the flow. If you don’t want to be swallowed up by the flood, you have to be the one in control. You don’t want your son to be a bandit for the rest of his life, do you? Besides, if he didn’t do those things, you, your son and grandson, and the people on the mountain would all be dead long ago.”
"But under the guise of providing relief, you plunder their wealth and land, leaving them destitute. How are you any different from real robbers?"
Li Ruoxin thought to herself, "This Su woman is quite interesting." She couldn't help but take a second look at her, and her gaze brightened a bit.
“I dare not say that this is the right thing to do. When the flood recedes and we have truly succeeded, I will distribute the land to the people to cultivate, but the ownership will not necessarily be in their hands. It will be a completely new model. If you are still alive, you will definitely see it.”
A tremor appeared in Madam Su's eyes, and her previous aggressive demeanor had vanished by more than half. "That sounds nice, then this old woman will wait and see."
Li Ruo said, "Auntie, please do as you please. Xie Xiao and I have something to discuss."
After saying that, he pulled the person away.
Xie Xiao tried to break free of her hand several times but couldn't.
Why didn't you tell me?
"Don't I have any pride?"
"I never imagined that your father and my family had such a connection. No wonder you secretly sent us things before."
"Can we please stop talking about it?"
Li Ruo, however, was not about to let him off easily. "When did you become a bandit? Was it after Song Zhijing and I got engaged?"
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