Chapter 341 Human Heart
During dinner, Li San Niang specially held Lu Zhu'er and sang "Happy Birthday," and even had the four little ones sing along with her, which made Lu Zhu'er extremely happy.
"I thought it was going to be a song, but it turns out it's just a single sentence repeated upside down."
Li's mother looked at Qin Niangzi sitting beside her speechlessly, but Qin Niangzi replied with a smile: "I think it's very novel and interesting. Third Sister is singing in different tones, which should all be blessings for Dewdrop."
As for what Li Ersao had said before, Li Sanniang had long forgotten about it.
But just because Li San Niang forgot doesn't mean everyone else forgot.
Late at night, Brother Li, who had just poured hot water for his feet into the house, saw Sister-in-law Li wearing a coat and twisting thread in front of the lamp.
"Stop doing it, you'll hurt your eyes."
As Brother Li spoke, he noticed that Sister-in-law Li had made an undergarment for herself.
Heeding the advice, Sister-in-law Li put down her work, put away her needlework, and got into bed.
After the two of them lay down, Sister-in-law Li told Brother Li what Third Sister Li had said to Mother Li about the day her birth mother suffered, and she explained the reason behind it.
"Lan Niang (Li Ersao) is just jealous of the gold bracelet that San Niang bought for Lu Zhu'er. Lan Niang is the same. She used to get so much silver from San Niang. How come she can be so scheming about something that is only twenty taels of silver?"
Sister-in-law Li couldn't understand it, thinking that this was probably the difference between people.
Li Da Xiong didn't want to comment on his brother's wife's words and actions, so he simply said, "Third Sister probably didn't argue with her, right?"
"How could Third Sister really argue with her?"
Even if it weren't for her second brother, she had to think about the little fifth child that Lan Niang was holding in her arms.
However, Third Sister must have been angry, otherwise she wouldn't have spoken to her mother like that directly in front of Lan Niang.
Brother Li stretched out his long arm and pulled Sister-in-law Li into his arms. "Alright, let's leave it at that."
We won't be together for many more years.
I've already made plans for Dalang; he'll join the army next year. Xiao Er wants to take the recently popular imperial examination; who knows, he might actually become an official someday.
"If you're willing, we can live with Xiao Er then."
Upon hearing this, Sister-in-law Li lifted her head from Brother Li's embrace and said, "How could that possibly work?"
As the eldest son, it's our duty to support our parents; how could we abandon them?
Brother Li gently pressed Sister-in-law Li back into bed, murmuring, "Alas, plans never keep up with changes..."
...
After coaxing Lu Zhu'er to sleep, Li San Niang looked at the box on the table with a helpless expression.
This was given to her by Li's mother after dinner. It was sent by someone from the Wang family (the family of Wang Ziheng, Luzhu'er's father) this morning.
Inside the box was a piece of pale yellow cloth suitable for a young girl to wear, plus ten taels of silver.
When Li San Niang was washing Lu Zhu'er's feet earlier, she took it out and showed it to her, saying, "This was sent by your father to congratulate you on your birthday."
"I'll have this garment made into a spring shirt for you later; I'll save the money for you to spend later."
Dewdrop had long forgotten about Aye, who had been virtually invisible in her life.
After all, Wang Ziheng's cousin's baby should be due soon.
When Wang Ziheng disregarded Li Sanniang and Luzhu'er and slept with his maternal cousin during their marriage, he had already betrayed them. He had no affection left for his wife, let alone his father.
As for the child who went from being an illegitimate child to a legitimate child, although he is said to be innocent, isn't the most innocent one the Dewdrop?
Since their divorce, Wang Dalang had only taken Wang Ziheng to the Li family's house twice. The second time, he even frightened Luzhu'er, and Li Dalang kicked them out.
From then on, Wang Ziheng never came again, except for one time when Li San Niang brought Lu Zhu'er back to the Wang family during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Nearly four months have passed since then, and we'll probably see each other again on New Year's Day.
Today's birthday gift for Dewdrop was probably arranged by Wang Dalang and then sent to the Li family. Wang Dalang is probably the only one in the Wang family who is still smart.
After hesitating for a while, Li San Niang finally felt relieved.
Although Lu Zhu'er did not have her biological father by her side, she was never short of father figures in her life, whether it was Li Erxiong, Li's father, or Li Sanlang who would play with her after school.
Furthermore, on the other hand, there's really no need for Prince Heng, who is so heartless, self-centered, and emotionally unstable, to be a part of Dewdrop's life.
Having figured this out, Li San Niang put the box in the cabinet and went to sleep, cuddling her precious treasure.
At this moment, the only place in the Li family where the lights were still on was the courtyard where Li Erxiong was.
After hesitating for a long time, Li Ersao finally told Li Erxiong what Li Sanniang had said that evening.
"...Erlang, I...I just said it casually. Besides, who doesn't have children so they can enjoy their retirement in the future?"
Seeing that her second brother Li did not object, Li Ersao became even more confident. "I believe what Third Sister said."
But that's only because Lu Zhu'er is a young girl. If Third Sister were to give birth to a young man, she would surely have the same thoughts as me.
Wasn't it because of Xiao Si's lifespan that we decided to have Xiao Wu?
Besides, I was just saying that. Dewdrop is only three years old, how could she be wearing a gold bracelet?
Third Sister, I only said that little bit, and it was even about teaching Dewdrop to be filial to her, and she still got angry?
At this point, Li Ersao became even angrier. After adjusting the clothes she was wearing, she looked at Li Erxiong, who was only showing her side profile, and said, "After I said those words, San Niang didn't even glance at me. She just talked to my mother and sister-in-law."
I'm her second sister-in-law!
She doesn't care about my feelings, but how can you, as her second brother, not care about hers?
And what happened?
From evening until after dinner, Third Aunt didn't say a single word to me!
Is this how she treated me, her second sister-in-law?
Erlang, tell me, she…
"Enough!"
Li Erxiong's angry shout silenced Li Ersao's words, and Xiao Wulang, who had been fast asleep beside him, groaned uneasily at the commotion.
Li Ersao, who was initially frightened, regained her confidence after seeing Xiao Wulang's appearance. "Erlang, what are you doing?"
"Let's talk this out calmly! You're scaring the child with all that noise!"
Li Ersao tucked the blanket around Xiao Wulang, patted him gently a few times, and watched him fall asleep again before turning to look at Li Erxiong.
Brother Li Er let out a long sigh of relief when he saw that Xiao Wulang had fallen asleep again.
Li Erxiong sat down by the bed, took Li Ersao's hand, sighed again, and thought of what Li's mother had told him before. He was once again certain that he would have to take care of Xiaowulang's upbringing himself.
"Lan Niang, are you blaming me for being incompetent?"
Are you dissatisfied with marrying me, having children with me, and living an ordinary life?
"You...don't want to live with me anymore?"
Li Ersao was terrified!
Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she grabbed Li Erxiong's hands with both of them, choking back tears as she said, "How could this be?"
Erlang, marrying you is like falling into a paradise, how could I possibly think it's not good?
Why are you asking me this?
I……"
Brother Li broke free from Sister-in-law Li's hand, turned his back, and although he lowered his voice, he could still be heard speaking very clearly in the quiet night: "Then why did you try to sow discord between me and Third Sister?"
Third Sister's personality was cultivated by her parents from a young age.
The fact that she didn't argue with you directly is already giving me, her older brother, face.
Third Sister is talented. As I said, just treat her as the third daughter in the family. Why are you criticizing her for buying a gold bracelet for Dewdrop?
Do you think I'm not capable of buying it for Xiao Wu?
If you want it, you can buy it with money when you are five years old.
"All the money in the house is in your hands, why are you jealous that Third Sister bought a bracelet for Dewdrop?"
As he spoke, Li Erxiong, feeling too angry, turned his head again and said, "As for Luzhu'er, whether she is a young lady or a young man, she is San Niang's darling."
If Third Sister is willing to spend money, that's her own business. Third Sister has the ability to support Dewdrop's expenses, just like how her father and mother were able to provide her with a good life back then.
Even though Lu Zhu'er is only three years old, she didn't cost you a single copper coin. Is this the kind of thing an aunt should say?
Lan Niang, are you going to make the same mistake again and again?
"Why don't we just live our own lives properly?"
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