Yan Qingqing looked at Li Xiang'an and suddenly felt that he had the air of a domineering CEO.
However, Yan Qingqing still glared at him and said, "You are the older brother, don't scare your sister."
Upon hearing this, Li Yueniang whimpered twice and tugged at Yan Qingqing's sleeve, saying, "Mother still cares about me the most."
Yan Qingqing said helplessly, "You know your second brother is always serious, yet you still tease him."
"Watch out, your second sister-in-law will come in and join your second brother in dealing with you."
Upon hearing this, Li Yueniang stuck out her tongue and said, "No way, Second Sister-in-law is a very kind person, it's just..."
Only after Li Yueniang finished speaking did she realize that her mother was trying to trick her into revealing information.
If she were to expose her second brother's dirty secrets, he would skin her alive.
Yan Qingqing felt a pang of regret seeing that Li Yueniang had reacted so quickly.
However, from Li Yueniang's few words, Yan Qingqing could already deduce most of the truth, and estimated that Li Xiang'an had succeeded.
Li Yueniang stomped her feet as she looked at Yan Qingqing. She couldn't stay here any longer; her second brother's eyes looked like he wanted to devour her.
So he made an excuse and ran away.
Seeing this, Yan Qingqing laughed twice, then looked at Li Xiang'an with a teasing gaze.
Li Xiang'an's face suddenly turned red; indeed, nothing could be hidden from his mother.
Yan Qingqing asked, "Xiang An, what do you think of Mu Xi?"
Li Xiang'an didn't expect his mother to ask so bluntly, and stammered, "It's...it's...it's fine."
Little Li Xiangyang, oblivious to the awkwardness, said from below, "Second brother, how come you picked up a stutter after going out for a while?"
"Brother Muxi is really great. I even saw you holding his hand that night."
Yan Qingqing's eyes widened immediately upon hearing this; what an earth-shattering revelation!
When did Li Xiangyang see it? How come she didn't know about it?
Li Xiang'an was also surprised to hear this. How did this little girl know about what happened in the prefectural city?
Li Xiang'an forced himself to remain calm and retorted, "Xiao Qi, don't talk nonsense."
This will ruin Brother Muxi's reputation.
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangyang pouted, climbed off Li Xiang'an's lap, and buried his head in Yan Qingqing's arms. Then, in a childish voice, he said, "Magpie, long tail, forgets its mother after marrying a wife. Mother, my second brother is mean to me."
Seeing Li Xiang'an's embarrassed expression, Yan Qingqing was afraid of angering him.
The child rushed over from the prefectural city; to congratulate me on my promotion, I couldn't make fun of him.
So he lowered his head and explained to Li Xiangyang, "Your second brother isn't that kind of person. He cares about his mother just like you do."
Even if he gets married in the future, he will only take care of his mother together with his wife.
But you shouldn't learn all sorts of random things and then apply them indiscriminately to other people.
"It's a waste that your second brother has always been so good to you."
After hearing this, Li Xiangyang seriously reflected on her words. Yes, her second brother was so good to her, how could she say such a thing about him?
So she ran from Yan Qingqing's arms to Li Xiang'an's arms and whispered her apology, "Second Brother, I'm sorry, Xiao Qi shouldn't have talked nonsense."
How could Li Xiang'an possibly stoop to the level of a mere baby, especially since Li Xiangyang was his most beloved younger sister?
He simply flicked her nose with his hand, telling her not to talk nonsense anymore.
Li Xiang'an had a long and tiring journey back from the prefectural city, and since there was nothing urgent at home, Yan Qingqing told him to go back and rest first.
Young people recover quickly, and the next day Li Xiang'an and Li Yueniang were both full of energy and radiant.
Even Li Xiangbao came to greet Yan Qingqing early the next morning.
Li Xiangbao was almost sixteen years old. He was very tall and dressed in a brocade robe, looking every bit the wealthy young master.
Upon seeing Yan Qingqing, he first bowed to her politely and said, "Greetings, Second Uncle. Congratulations on your promotion, Second Aunt."
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "Good child, get up quickly."
"You must have had a hard time going to the prefectural city. It's only been a few months since I last saw you, and you seem to have grown quite a bit taller. You're really a big kid now."
Li Xiang'an scratched his head and replied, "My mother also said that I've grown a lot taller. It's mainly because I eat and live well with Brother Xiang'an, and I don't have to worry about anything."
Actually, I should have come to pay my respects to my second aunt yesterday, but my mother kept me busy asking all sorts of questions until I was so sleepy I could barely keep my eyes open before she finally let me go to rest.
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "You don't need to be modest. You told Brother An that you are very responsible and that you handled the matter of the cooked food shop all by yourself."
From now on, I will be able to stand on my own.
And as for your mother, since you are her only son, she naturally cares about you more.
Since you're rarely home, please don't find her annoying; spend more time with her when you have free time.
How could Li Xiangbao not understand the principles Yan Qingqing was talking about?
Li Xiangbao simply couldn't bear the fact that her mother kept bringing up the topic of her mother's visits.
Putting aside these mundane family matters, Li Xiangbao took out a box from his pocket and handed it to Yan Qingqing, saying, "I bought this when I was in the prefectural city."
I think it suits my second aunt very well, and I hope she won't mind.
Li Xiangbao was so thoughtful, how could Yan Qingqing possibly dislike it? She would be happy even if Li Xiangbao gave her a brick.
Yan Qingqing immediately opened the box and looked inside; it turned out to be a crystal bracelet.
There are plenty of gold, silver, and jade artifacts these days.
However, crystals are very rare.
Although the crystal bracelet that Li Xiangbao gave him wasn't of particularly high quality, it was still a very precious gift to him.
Yan Qingqing immediately put it on her wrist and showed it to Li Xiangbao, smiling, "It's very pretty, Second Aunt likes it very much."
But what your second aunt appreciates most is your thoughtfulness.
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangbao grinned widely, clearly very happy.
He was genuinely grateful to Yan Qingqing. If Yan Qingqing had given him a long lecture on not being extravagant, he would have thought that she looked down on the gift.
Yan Qingqing chatted with Li Xiangbao for a few more minutes, then told him to go find Li Xiang'an.
Soon it was July 20th.
Yan Qingqing's family held a grand banquet for their guests, which was extremely lively.
All guests who come to offer their congratulations, regardless of rank or social status, and regardless of gender, are seated in groups of eight and are free to eat and drink to their heart's content.
No one needs to look down on anyone else, because they only have one identity today: guests of Lady Mingzhao.
Don't say you look down on the people sitting next to you. They may not be dressed as elegantly as you, but some of them might be relatives of Lady Mingzhao and have the right to freely enter and leave Lady Mingzhao's home.
So everyone put aside their grudges and prejudices and chatted very happily.
With the help of Li Xiang'an and Li Yueniang, Li Xiangping and Yuan Huiniang were much more relaxed.
The banquet didn't end until late at night.
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