Chapter 130 Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival has finally arrived.
Yesterday, while chatting with Li's mother and the others, I learned that Li San Niang woke up very early late at night. She turned over, hugged Lu Zhu'er, and felt extremely uncomfortable. She really didn't want to go to Wang Er Lang's house at all.
Li San Niang herself felt that since she returned to the Li family with Lu Zhu'er nearly three months ago after the divorce, Wang Erlang's unreliable behavior and his failure to visit Lu Zhu'er had not caused Lu Zhu'er to lack the participation of her father, a male figure, in her growth process, resulting in Lu Zhu'er's lack of love.
After all, Wang Erlang's two previous visits to the Li family had left a very bad impression on Lu Zhu'er, and Li San Niang was always worried that it would leave a psychological shadow on the young Lu Zhu'er.
Moreover, there are too many men in the Li family, from Father Li, eldest brother Li, second brother Li to the four little ones, there are men of all ages, and everyone loves Luzhu very much.
From Li San Niang's perspective, the absence of her biological father, especially Wang Erlang, a father of questionable character who did not love Lu Zhu'er at all, was a great thing for Lu Zhu'er's growth.
After all, it would be better for the child's father to die than for the child to grow up with such a father.
However, Li San Niang also understood why the government forced divorced women who had brought their daughters home to reunite with their paternal relatives at least four times a year.
First, the woman is also the father's bloodline. Although she does not have the significance of carrying on the family line at this time, there is indeed a real blood connection.
Secondly, the child's father and mother divorced, but that was just a divorce; neither of them died.
Therefore, children born from previous collaborations should naturally continue to be raised together. Giving money is one thing, but at least four family reunions a year are also necessary so that they can recognize each other and not be strangers when they are away from home.
Third, as long as the child does not change his surname, he will inherit the surname from his father's side. In any case, at this time, clans with the same surname will mostly stick together for survival. No one can guarantee that things will not go wrong in the future. If they encounter natural disasters or man-made calamities, and the child who still has his father's surname loses the protection of his mother's clan, his father's clan will naturally stand up to protect the child.
Even so, Li San Niang was still very reluctant to take Lu Zhu'er to Wang Er Lang's house to eat their Mid-Autumn Festival reunion dinner.
Especially since Wang Erlang has now remarried, and his new wife is pregnant with a child who is a half-sibling of Lu Zhu'er.
Before she was three years old, Wang Erlang had never been a part of her life. From her father, Li, to the four little ones, every relative of hers surnamed Li filled the void left by her absent father.
But as time went by, the growing Dewdrop still had to face her father and his new family.
Shaking off the jumbled thoughts in her head, Li San Niang gently called Lu Zhu'er to get up. The two of them played a tickling game on the bed for a while before getting off.
Dewdrop, with a rosy complexion, wore a light pink dress and had her hair styled into two little buns with ribbons by Li San Niang. She was incredibly cute.
After dawdling for a while, it was almost the end of the 9-11 PM when Li's mother urged Li San Niang to hurry up.
Li San Niang reluctantly squatted down and said to Lu Zhu'er, "Lu Zhu'er, your mother, your uncle, and your elder brother are taking you to your father's house for the Mid-Autumn Festival reunion dinner."
Dewdrop stared with her bright, large eyes, clearly asking, "Who is Father? What kind of family reunion dinner are we having?"
You can't explain this to a child who is not even three years old, but you still have to say what needs to be said.
Originally, Li Erxiong also wanted to go along. His exact words were, "Eldest brother is not good at speaking politely. If we go to the Wang family, he might get angry and overturn the table with Third Sister."
Finally, Li's mother made the decision that, in addition to Li's eldest brother, Li's eldest son would also go, so the two of them would accompany Li's third sister and Lu Zhu'er. This would ensure their safety and allow Li's eldest son and grandson to act as a mediator, trying to prevent Li's eldest brother and Li's third sister from overturning the Wang family's table.
Just before leaving, Li Erlang whispered to Li Sanlang, "Grandma made a mistake. Eldest brother is indeed reasonable when he's away from home, but when it comes to family matters, especially our little darling Luzhu, I'm afraid he'll be the first to overturn the table."
They carried the gift box and placed it on the donkey cart that was already parked in front of the Li family's house.
Hey, this driver is someone I know.
The old man was the one who brought the dark-skinned man and the feverish, unconscious young girl that night.
The next day, the young girl's fever subsided, and after eating a bowl of salty porridge at the Li family's house, the old driver took her home.
The Li family didn't ask for money. Judging from the dark-skinned man's clothes, he must have worked as a laborer in a shop. His clothes were not clean and had patches. In particular, the little girl was clearly only ten years old, but she looked like she was seven or eight years old due to malnutrition.
In the end, the Li family not only refused to accept the money, but also gave them several doses of medicine, telling them to take them home, cook them, and take them to consolidate their health.
The dark-skinned man was the type who didn't like owing favors, but for the sake of his little girl, he blushed and accepted the favor.
He simply said to Li Erxiong with unwavering certainty, "Doctor Li, if you ever need my help in the future, just let me know."
There's one more thing. Actually, it's time for Fang Chengxian to come to the Li family for a medicinal bath today.
But Fang Chengxian had previously sent a servant to say that the Fang family was having a banquet that day and he couldn't come, asking if it would be alright to postpone it for a day.
Mr. Li replied that it was feasible.
It was more than half an hour later when the donkey cart finally arrived at Chongye Ward.
This time, both Wang Dalang and Wang Erlang were waiting at the door, which was much better than the last time when Brother Li and Sister-in-law Li entered but didn't see Wang Erlang.
The group exchanged greetings and Li Sanniang squatted down to teach Luzhu'er to call Wang Erlang "father".
Dewdrop was well-behaved; she called out when asked without any hesitation.
I guess Lu Zhu'er probably thought Wang Erlang was just as unfamiliar as Zhou Dalang, the eldest son of Master Zhou next door to the Li family.
Naturally, when asked to call Wang Dalang "Uncle," Luzhu'er obediently did so.
It must be tough on Dewdrop, who has only recently started to speak clearly.
Wang Dalang had a smile on his face, looking very friendly. Although Wang Erlang also had a smile on his face, Li Sanniang had a preconceived notion that Wang Erlang's smile was fake and that he had no good intentions.
When everyone arrived at the main hall, they finally met Granny Wang, who was waiting there, and Wang Erlang's newlywed cousin, who was wearing a bright red dress with gold and silver jewelry and a smug look on her face.
After exchanging greetings, they all sat down. The maidservant served tea, and then Wang Erlang's new wife said, "Oh dear, why only tea? Bohe, bring some more tea snacks."
After saying that, she touched her belly with one hand and wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, looking at Li San Niang with an embarrassed expression, and said, "Now that I'm in my second month of pregnancy, I feel nauseous if I don't eat something."
Before Li San Niang could react to her cousin's behavior, Granny Wang, who was sitting at the head of the table, hurriedly turned to her cousin and said, "My grandson is hungry! I told you, are you eating cat food every day? No wonder my grandson is starving. Bo He, bring more of him," Granny Wang continued after glancing at the dewdrop, "and bring some that is easy to digest for her to eat."
Lu Zhu'er naturally didn't know that "she" referred to herself. Lu Zhu'er sat obediently in Li San Niang's arms, just staring at other people's furniture with wide eyes.
Thus, Li San Niang became too lazy to pay attention to her cousin's provocations. After all, it was pointless. She would rather finish the pleasantries, have a meal, and then hurry home with a return gift.
Mr. and Mrs. Li said that once Li San Niang and the others returned, the whole family would go to the West Market together.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com