Next, Yan Qingqing briefly explained her plan to Li Sanniu. Li Sanniu slapped his thigh and said, "Second sister-in-law, how did you come up with so many money-making ideas? I wish I had even a tenth of yours."
Yan Qingqing looked at him and laughed, "Stop trying to flatter me, I'm not buying it!"
Li Sanniu said anxiously, "Second Sister-in-law, I'm telling the truth. How can you not believe me? But I'm afraid I won't be able to manage building two workshops all at once."
Yan Qingqing smiled and replied, "It's alright, I've already found you some help. Besides, I'm not busy these days, so I can help out too."
Upon hearing this, Li Sanniu immediately felt much more relaxed. It was perfect to have Yan Qingqing personally overseeing things.
Just as the two were finishing their conversation, Yuan Huiniang came in and said, "Mother, Uncle is here."
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "Please invite him in."
One was her own elder brother, and the other was her own younger brother-in-law. There weren't many formalities, and Yan Qingqing always received them in her own courtyard.
When Li Sanniu saw that Yan Qingqing had a guest, he stood up to go home. Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? My brother isn't an outsider. Besides, he's the helper I invited for you. Are you sure you don't want to see him?"
Li Sanniu assumed that Yan Qingshi had come to see Yan Qingqing about some private matter, and thought it would be better for him to avoid her. He didn't expect that Yan Qingshi, like him, was there to help his second sister-in-law's family build a workshop, so there was no need for him to leave.
Yan Qingshi walked in quickly, his voice preceding her appearance: "Sister, I heard you were looking for me, is there something important?"
Just then, Yan Qingshi strode in. He paused for a moment when he saw Li Sanniu, then smiled and said, "Third Brother is here too."
Li Sanniu quickly stood up and exchanged a few pleasantries with Yan Qingshi, then asked Yan Qingshi to sit down. Yan Qingqing then repeated what she had just said to Li Sanniu to Yan Qingshi.
Yan Qingshi knew perfectly well that his sister was giving him a helping hand, and he certainly couldn't let her down. So he promised, "Little sister, don't worry, I will definitely learn from my third brother and handle this matter perfectly for you." Yan Qingqing liked his straightforwardness.
After the three finished discussing business, Yan Qingqing asked about the situation at home. Yan Qingshi said that everything was fine at home, and the sweet potato and potato seedlings he had brought back had already been planted.
Then, she subtly mentioned the charade that Zhou Shi and Ye Niang had staged back then, hoping Yan Qingqing wouldn't be angry. Yan Qingqing wasn't one to hold grudges, and said that what's past is past, and no one should bring it up again.
Soon it was lunchtime, and Yan Qingqing instructed the kitchen to prepare some hearty dishes so that Li Sanniu and Yan Qingshi could have a drink together. Li Sanniu hadn't dared to drink during this time to avoid suspicion, but now that he was allowed to, he was sure to have a good drink.
After finishing his meal, Li Sanniu left Yan Qingqing's house. Ada offered to take him home, but Li Sanniu refused, saying he could walk those few steps himself.
He had just arrived at his front door when he saw Old Mrs. Li waiting for him there. Instantly, he sobered up considerably.
After being turned away at Yan Qingqing's house some time ago and scolded by Mr. Li, Old Mrs. Li knew that Yan Qingqing was no longer the same as before, so she dared not go to Yan Qingqing again and set her sights on Li Sanniu.
However, Li San Niu had been leaving early and returning late for some time, and she couldn't get into the orchard. Xu Shi was also very stubborn and wouldn't listen to reason.
We finally caught Li Sanniu today, and we can't let him get away so easily.
Old Mrs. Li thought her son was as easy to control as Li Erniu, but unfortunately, she never truly understood Li Sanniu, so her wishful thinking was destined to fail.
Seeing that Li Sanniu reeked of alcohol, Old Lady Li said, "Your parents are barely able to afford food, and you still have the leisure to drink."
Li Sanniu smiled and replied, "Mother, what are you saying? I saw my father smoking the finest tobacco just two days ago, and now he's starving. I still have some coarse rice; I'll go get two jin for you."
After saying that, she was about to go into the house to get it for her, but Old Mrs. Li didn't care about those two catties of coarse rice at all. She said, "Stop right there! I'm not that poor yet. Where did you just drink? Was it at your second sister-in-law's house?"
Li San Niu knew that Old Mrs. Li was impatient, so he looked down at his toes and didn't say anything, which made Old Mrs. Li furious.
But since she needed Li Sanniu's help, she had to patiently say, "I know even if you don't say it. I just saw you come out of her house."
Li Sanniu then looked up at Old Madam Li and said expressionlessly, "Since you've seen it all, why haven't you asked anything yet?"
Grandma Li leaned closer to him and whispered, "Has Madam Yan assigned you new tasks again? We're all family here. I won't even mention your eldest brother, but Xiang Jin and Xiang Yin are your own nephews. You should at least give them a hand."
"I won't make things difficult for you. Just assign them some of the easier tasks you have. It doesn't matter who does the work, and I doubt your second sister-in-law can say anything."
Seeing that Li Sanniu remained silent, Old Mrs. Li resorted to playing the victim card again, saying, "Back when your second brother was alive, our family was so harmonious. Your eldest brother studied, and you two brothers farmed and worked. In particular, your second brother was especially filial to his mother and never disobeyed me."
But ever since he died, Madam Yan has disregarded me, her mother-in-law, and has caused our family to fall apart. Your second brother loved Xiang Jin and Xiang Yin very much when he was alive; if he were alive, he certainly wouldn't have let Madam Yan treat them like this.”
Upon hearing Old Madam Li's words, Li Sanniu was filled with anger and said, "Yes, I have never seen anyone more foolish than my second brother in my entire life."
He was utterly foolish, unable to distinguish right from wrong, or even the closest of kin. He neglected his own wife and children, focusing solely on supporting someone else. It's a good thing he's dead; if he were alive, my second sister-in-law would never have achieved what she has today.
Mother, please stop talking. I am not your second brother, and I will not let you manipulate me at will. Now that my second sister-in-law thinks highly of me and is willing to help me, I will only listen to her for the rest of my life. Even my own father and mother are no match for her.
Call me disobedient or unfilial if you say I am, but if you and Dad really can't make ends meet one day, I won't stand idly by. However, you absolutely cannot try to use me to gain benefits from my second sister-in-law. A person who doesn't have a conscience will be struck by lightning.
So Mother doesn't need to sow discord here.
After saying that, Li Sanniu didn't care about Old Mrs. Li's reaction, shook his hand and went into the house, leaving Old Mrs. Li outside.
Old Mrs. Li was so angry outside that she kept cursing.
Ah Da, who had come along, overheard everything that happened to Li San Niu and went back to tell Yan Qingqing.
Yan Qingqing smiled slightly upon hearing this; she hadn't misjudged Li Sanniu after all. However, the old lady Li's repeated provocations made her think he was easy to bully. She said to A'da, "Go tell the old master to keep an eye on Li Sanniu's family. If he tries to stir up trouble again, don't blame me for being impolite."
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