Chapter 132 As long as the three of you are alright, your sister-in-law is willing to do anything.
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Li's mother let out a long sigh, a sigh that seemed to weigh a ton down on Li Wangming's shoulders.
He hunched his shoulders, lowered his head, and remained silent. Seeing Li Wangming like this, Li's mother sighed again.
“Alas, Wangming, I have already divorced your elder brother. How can I have the right to interfere in his affairs after his death?”
I know you are sentimental. He is your own elder brother, who has been with you for twenty years. He is the closest relative to you besides your father and mother.
When you were young, he treated you like an elder brother.
He's gone, and you're willing to build a cenotaph for him, that's the right thing to do, why do you need to ask for my opinion?
"Wangming, although we are sister-in-law and brother-in-law, I raised you from a young age, and I once held the title of your elder sister-in-law. Today, I'm taking the liberty of speaking from my heart to you, standing beside your mother."
Large, warm tears dripped onto Li Wangming's clothes. He lowered his head and bit his lip tightly, not wanting to make a sound.
There was only one oil lamp on the kang table, but even the dim light was enough for Li's mother to see the tear stains on Li Wangming's clothes.
Looking at Li Wangming, who didn't even dare to cry loudly, Li's mother felt her heart ache. This was the child she had raised since he was a child!
Seeing Li Wangming like this, how could Li's mother remain uninvolved?
She held back her tears, suppressing the stinging sensation in her nose, and finally straightened her face, calling out to Li Wangming, "Wangming! Look up! Look at me!"
Li Wangming raised his head, his eyes red and his face streaked with tears, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings.
Looking into Li Wangming's eyes, Li's mother said to him word by word, "The grudges between me and your elder brother ended after his death."
He is your elder brother, the father of October and Stone, and this is an unchangeable relationship between you and him.
Sister-in-law is not a narrow-minded person. For the rest of your life, sister-in-law only hopes that you, Shiyue, and Shitou can live peacefully and healthily to a ripe old age.
If I could see you achieve fame and success, get married and have children in the future, I would be even happier.
Whether you want to build a cenotaph for your elder brother or hold future memorial services, it is all appropriate, and you really don't need to worry about my feelings.
He wronged me, and I divorced him. After he passes away, you and Shiyue can find a place to bury your sister-in-law.
From now on, if you have time and remember to visit me, please do so. If you don't have time, your sister-in-law will be watching over you from below.
After saying this, Li's mother breathed a sigh of relief. She took Li Wangming's hand and said, "Wangming, blood ties cannot be broken."
I appreciate it that you considered my feelings and asked after me, but don't worry, I don't care about these things. As long as the three of you are doing well, I'm willing to do anything.
Li Wangming could no longer hold back and burst into tears.
While crying, he wiped his snot and tears onto his sleeves;
Between sobs, he spoke to Li's mother, "Sister-in-law, sob... I... I've lost my mother, my eldest brother, and I can't find my eldest and second sisters either... sob... I only have you all left..."
Sister-in-law, I'm afraid you'll be unhappy, I'm afraid Shiyue will be unhappy. My elder brother has wronged you all; he killed Mother...
Waaah... But I just... I still can't let him go...
He's my older brother!
"Waaah..."
Li Wangming cried like a child, even waking up the sleeping Shi Tou.
Shi Tou sat up halfway, rubbing his eyes as he looked at Li Wangming, who was now in Li's mother's arms, and called out in confusion, "Second Uncle? Why is Second Uncle crying?"
Wearing only a middle-aged garment, Stone Boss got out of bed and sat down next to Li Wangming.
Seeing Li Wangming getting up from his mother's arms with some embarrassment, Shi Tou thought for a while and then reached out his right hand. Before Li Wangming could react, he pulled him into his arms and wrapped his arms around the stunned Li Wangming.
Then Shi Tou imitated how Li's mother comforted him when he was a child, saying, "Second Uncle, don't cry, Shi Tou will hug you."
Stone loves his second uncle, so he gives his second uncle candy.
Uncle, don't cry, don't cry, or you won't get any candy.
Li's mother, who was also moved to tears by Li Wangming, was amused by Shi Tou's actions and burst into laughter, crying and laughing at the same time.
Li Wangming's lips, which were covered in tears and snot, finally curled up in a smile. He was lying peacefully in Shi Tou's arms, letting him hold him.
"Alright, you two, hurry up and get under the covers. If you catch a cold outside, you'll suffer a lot."
Li's mother got off the kang (a heated brick bed), scooped hot water from the bottom of the pot in the kitchen, soaked a cloth in the hot water, and had Li Wangming wipe his face. Then she told the two of them to close their eyes and go to sleep.
However, before leaving, Li's mother said to Li Wangming, "You have to talk to Shiyue about this. Shiyue is a reasonable and understanding child. If you talk to her nicely, she will definitely understand."
After enduring wind and snow all night, the people of Liujiatun finally returned to Liujiatun around noon.
The journey was incredibly difficult, and the cart repeatedly got stuck in hidden pits beneath the snow. It took a lot of effort for everyone to pull the cart carrying the coffin out.
Li Shiyue and Li Qiutian also went down to help. Considering they were from the same village, they had to help out. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to face anyone in the village in the future.
In this kind of place, one must always be mindful of social interactions and interpersonal relationships.
After greeting Li Shiyang at the village entrance and telling the villagers who had finished unloading the coffin to remember to return the cart to their homes, Li Shiyue rode his horse home with Li Qiutian.
After returning to the Li family home, they ate a hot meal and scalded themselves with boiling water until they felt warm from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads. Then, Li Shiyue and Li Qiutian lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and fell asleep immediately, unable to resist their drowsiness.
When Li Shiyue woke up, it was already midnight.
Li's mother and Zheng Meiniang lit oil lamps and brought the food they had prepared in the kitchen to the kang table.
While eating, Li Shiyue recounted the events of the journey to her mother and the others. When Li Shiyue told her that Li Chunli had caught up with Liu Shu's carriage, her mother was genuinely surprised.
"I haven't heard any shouting over there these past two days. Could it be that Qin Tao sent Li Chunli to chase after them?"
"Qin Tao is also heartless. In such cold weather, she was willing to let her own young daughter chase after her."
What if something goes wrong?
Zheng Meiniang commented on this matter, "If it were autumn or summer, I wouldn't be able to bear it!"
Besides, being a maid might provide enough to eat and wear, but it's ultimately a job of serving others; what good can one expect?
Even the best of times can't compare to being law-abiding citizens.
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