Liu Family
An elderly couple entered through the door; they were Liu's parents.
Liu's father used to be a private tutor. Although he had stopped doing this job a long time ago, he was still very scholarly, with sharp features and a strong, unyielding spirit.
Mother Liu was gentle and kind, with a pair of smiling eyes that made her approachable.
Liu Xu hurriedly stepped forward and helped his parents up when he saw a dark blue figure fly past him and enter the house.
Liu San sat cross-legged on the futon, quickly took a sip of tea, and finally felt refreshed. "Liu Xu, it's been a long time! What a rare guest!"
This statement was rather sarcastic.
Xie Lingxi had already stood up when Liu's parents entered the house, and now that she felt she had taken good care of the two elders, she subconsciously looked over there upon hearing this.
Liu San tilted his head back and finished his tea, then turned and glanced at him with a mocking look: "And this is...?"
Asking a question you already know the answer to.
Xie Lingxi saw that although this person was smiling, his eyes were gleaming with a cold light, even more intense than Wu Gou's silver needles. She sensed something was wrong, but still answered him neither humbly nor arrogantly:
“A-Xu and I have been sworn husband and wife for several months, and it was my fault for not informing my father, mother and brothers in time.”
At this moment, Liu Xu also bowed to her parents and elder brother together, thus fulfilling this sentiment and completing the wish made during the wedding ceremony.
This behavior, though polite and respectful, and not at all unfamiliar, could hardly be described as intimate.
When Liu's father remembered Xie Lingxi's family background, he felt that it was their fault that the groom's parents were missing from the wedding ceremony. Feeling resentful, he did not dare to let her kneel and hurriedly advised, "...Lingxi, Xu'er, you have already bowed, get up quickly."
Xie Lingxi glanced at everyone and then gracefully stood up.
Liu San remained seated on the futon, raising his eyebrows with a half-smile.
As everyone exchanged pleasantries, the bamboo shadows outside the window, bathed in moonlight, cascaded down like flowing water. The flickering light reflected on Xie Lingxi's face, conveying a sense of unbearable hardship.
The room was full of men, all of whom seemed lost in thought, unsure how to get along with this beautiful young lady from an official's family. They all felt as if their mouths and noses were sealed, their hands and legs bound, making them restless and uncomfortable.
Liu Xu and Xie Lingxi's hands, clasped behind their backs, were damp with a light sweat, resembling a pair of wild geese resting on a shallow pond in the autumn night.
After bustling about preparing the bedding, washing, and meals in the inner room, Chen Sanniang finally came out, giving her youngest son a reproachful look, and spoke to Xie Lingxi:
"Child, don't be shy. There are no rules in our family. Xu'er likes you, and we like you too."
Xie Lingxi was used to her mother's dignified and serious demeanor, and she always acted with propriety when interacting with other ladies. This was the first time in her life that she had been held hands so intimately. She was stunned for a moment, and a blush crept across her face: "..."
"Yes, Mother."
The woman before her had a gentle and beautiful face, and spoke in a calm and pleasant manner. She relaxed her tense muscles from the night before and asked, "Mother, where did you come from to return home?"
Chen San Niang said, "Business is not good in Danzhou, which is a thousand miles away, these days."
"Danzhou?"
Xie Lingxi and Liu Xu exchanged a glance, their expressions showing concern: "This place is at the ends of the earth, it's summer all year round, and we have little to eat."
Indeed.
Liu Min loved reading, but as the eldest child in the family, he had to drop out of school to support the Liu family's small business. He knew the secrets of the business very well and replied, "So we managed to make a living by clearing land for farming and setting up a restaurant."
Liu San also added: "Not only that, the area is prone to miasma, and I am skilled in medicine, so my daily earnings are enough to make a living."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xu's brows furrowed even more deeply. "You'd better be careful!"
Liu Sanlang glanced at his serious-looking younger brother with a playful smile, and said nonchalantly, "None of your business."
"..."
In this back and forth, Xie Lingxi had already figured it out.
The hostile demeanor Liu San had just displayed was merely a bluff, or perhaps he was just playing around with Liu Xu. There are many ways for brothers to get along in this world, but these two are an exception.
Seeing the harmonious and joyful atmosphere, with no one paying attention to the little incident caused by the child, Madam Liu rolled her eyes and helped her mother sit down.
He opened his mouth and sighed deeply, "Oh, how wonderful! Si Lang has become a high-ranking official in the capital and has also married a wife. Our Liu family is now truly honored, and our ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke!"
Holding Xie Lingxi's hand, she spoke as if they were sisters-in-law, "Lingxi, you must help your husband a lot. They say a woman follows her husband wherever he goes, and now you're a member of the Liu family..."
This meal was filled with sorrow and lamentation. "...Isn't it unnecessary to distance yourself from us over such a trivial matter?"
Whether the "young master" here refers to Liu Da or Liu Xu is unknown. No matter how Xie Lingxi thought about it, he felt that these words were like a blind man playing the flute—extremely unpleasant to hear.
The moment the woman opened her mouth, Liu Min knew she was up to no good, but she was too slow to cover her sharp tongue.
"What small matter?"
Liu Sanlang, Liu Run, lived up to his name; his mind was as smooth and precise as a water droplet, and he immediately grasped the implication in the words—
"Liu Xu, you've only just arrived, and someone's already trying to cause you trouble?"
"oops!"
Li Qinniang spat a few times, "What are you saying, Third Brother!"
"Children are often overly affectionate and impatient; it's not a mistake that can be held onto forever..."
She embellished the story and told Liu's parents about it, completely omitting Liu Shen's rudeness and unruliness, and portraying Xie Lingxi as a haughty, condescending, and petty wicked woman.
Seeing that Liu Xu was about to speak up for his wife, he even threatened, "Fourth Brother, what are you trying to do? You've wasted all those years of studying, can't you tell who's right and who's wrong?"
"For the sake of your wife, are you really going to talk back to your elder sister-in-law?"
After this barrage of words, everyone in the room fell silent, except for her loud voice, which continued to ring out.
Liu Ne entered at that moment.
Unlike his brothers, he had already set up a shop in Chang'an and was doing very well. Upon hearing the news, he rushed to Jingzhou without stopping.
He was naturally strong and healthy, and after catching his breath, he said in a gruff voice, "Sister-in-law, what are you yelling about? My ears are about to burst."
Liu Lao Er was a dullard, or to put it bluntly, completely unyielding. Li Qin Niang didn't like talking to him, and even if she did, this brute wouldn't listen. So she put her hands on her hips and waved her hands, saying, "It's none of your business, go chop off your pig ears!"
“…Huh.”
Seeing Liu Ne standing there helplessly, Liu Run kindly pulled his second brother to the back so that he could watch the excitement with him.
Father Liu had been silent since the beginning, having heard countless nonsensical words. Now, some people in the room were muttering, while others were speaking in a hurry. He rubbed his temples, picked up the object in his hand, and slammed it on the table: "!"
"Stop arguing!"
His voice was as loud as a bell.
Xie Lingxi looked at her father, who had a serious expression and was now covered in bushy eyebrows and a cold, piercing gaze.
Liu Congzhong was well aware of everyone's thoughts. Li Qinniang's explanation of the matter was because she knew his and the eldest brother's personalities and was using them to "manage" the Liu family's affairs.
He was old, but not pedantic. He didn't have those rigid views on rulers, fathers, or sons. He could only feel slightly awkward about Xie Lingxi's illustrious family background, but now he had put himself in a good position and was taking it all in stride.
Thinking it over, he said solemnly, "Lingxi, you speak."
After saying that, he even smiled slightly.
Xie Lingxi never expected things to escalate to this point. If this were at home, she would have slapped him back long ago. But now, considering the bond of blood, she was in a difficult position.
"Father, you should know that it was Shenlang who kicked me without even asking what happened."
Liu Xu chimed in, "Father, you are wise. Shenlang is really naughty. He was trying to trick Lingxi into going into the river."
"Not only that, he also said that I got this official position because I had the backing of Minister Xie and had to put up with his burly, fierce wife and beggar's smiles."
"..."
The room fell silent; you could hear even the sound of a bird stepping on a leaf.
"this--!"
Liu Congzhong clutched his chest, so angry he could hardly breathe, his very short beard bristling like a cat's.
Liu Xu quickly helped his father sit down and poured him a cup of tea, saying, "Don't be angry, don't be angry."
Unexpectedly, Liu's father slapped away his hand that was stroking his collar and scoffed, "You brat! All you do is make your father angry!"
This action stunned everyone. Li Qinniang thought to herself, "Just as I thought," a smile playing on her lips, and she was about to add fuel to the fire—
She knew that Liu's father felt guilty towards Liu Min.
As the eldest son in his family, Liu Min shouldered heavy responsibilities far beyond his years during a time of hunger and cold, abandoning his studies to take care of his younger brother.
Therefore, nowadays, no matter what happens, Liu's father always intentionally favors Liu's eldest son's family and never scolds them harshly.
She thought for a moment and said, "Father, I don't think Fourth Brother and Sister-in-law meant it. Shen'er is not young anymore. Why don't we take this opportunity to bring Shen Lang to Chang'an to broaden his knowledge?"
When Liu Shen goes to Chang'an, he will definitely need a close companion, so she will certainly go with him.
That's quite a clever plan!
Liu Run had already closed his eyes and ears, but some of his crazy ramblings still escaped his notice. He couldn't bear to listen any longer and retorted without hesitation, "What is your sister-in-law saying?"
"Liu Xu himself doesn't have any children yet. Asking him to take on this troublesome person now is worse than him being dead."
Li Qinniang: "It's not about taking over..."
"Not taking over?"
Liu Run fiddled with the medicine bag containing the silver needles, picked one out, and examined it under the lamp. "So you got a free advantage?"
He paused, then said, "Why should I? You get all the benefits, but what about my future wife and children?"
Xie Lingxi: "..."
"How about I help Third Brother find a shop in Chang'an another day?"
Liu Run was satisfied: "That's fine."
Li Qinniang was furious. She urged Liu Shen to step forward, grab Xie Lingxi's dress, and crumple the fine brocade into several wrinkles.
Xie Lingxi's face darkened, and just as she was about to speak, she saw Liu's father grab the unruly child by the back of his neck and lift him up, scolding, "What are you doing?!"
He took Liu Shen away, and now he finally had a chance to finish what he had been interrupted about: "Xu'er, what did your father teach you? How can you tolerate such slander against your reputations?"
"Those who bully your wife and children are even more despicable! If you don't show some responsibility, are you expecting your wife to face wolves and tigers?"
Liu Xu nodded.
"Yes, Father."
After giving Liu Xu his instructions, Liu's father looked at Xie Lingxi. Xie Lingxi, pleased with himself, took two steps forward.
Listening to the old man who was "upholding justice," he said, "Don't be afraid. In the Liu family, no one dares to bully you."
The matter was clear, and it was late at night. Everyone was exhausted, so they pressed Liu Shen's head down and slammed it to the ground, making him respectfully apologize to his uncle and aunt.
So they went to their respective rooms and went to sleep.
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