Chapter 98 Ancient World: Stepmother (15)
"Hey, Changqing, Huanxi, come in and sit down."
Li Fusheng personally went to the door to greet the guests. Behind him, Li Qingyue and her brother also looked over and were slightly taken aback.
Changqing's skin was still very dark, but he was a little taller than before and much more robust. Li Huanxi, on the other hand, had a bit more fat on her face, which showed that she had been eating very well lately.
Zhao Lianhua peeked out from the kitchen, saw Changqing and the other person, and forced a smile.
"The food will be ready soon, please have a seat."
Changqing didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly without even glancing at Li Qingyue and his sister next to him. Li Huanxi naturally followed suit.
Li Qingyue's face was grim.
This attitude is infuriating. Even if we consider age, he is the eldest brother in the family. Shouldn't they take the initiative to greet him? Do they expect him to speak first?
Li Xiangling snorted, wanting to say something, but was glared at by her father and swallowed her words.
Soon, the dishes were served.
Changqing Jindao remained seated, showing no intention of standing up to help serve the rice. Instead, Li Fusheng asked Li Xiangling to serve rice to everyone, which infuriated her.
Bang!
A full bowl of white rice was placed heavily in front of Changqing.
Changqing didn't stand on ceremony at all; before anyone else even sat down at the table, he picked up his chopsticks and started eating.
A plate of boiled fish, a plate of cured meat, and the rest were side dishes. In the past, this was a treat only given during the New Year. Changqing took a bite with his chopsticks and half a fish was in his bowl. And he didn't stop there; he put the remaining half directly into his sister's bowl.
"This fish is a bit small, but the taste is not bad."
He even smacked his lips as he commented.
Everyone else was stunned.
Is this a reincarnation of a starving ghost? And what a lack of manners! The elders haven't even touched their chopsticks yet, and they're already putting the hardest dish into the bowl?
Li Xiangling is the most impatient.
He immediately slammed his chopsticks on the table and said, "Are you a reincarnated starving ghost? It's just one fish, and you're messing with it all?"
Changqing stood up abruptly.
"Little sister, let's go. This isn't our home. We're not welcome here after all."
Li Huanxi almost couldn't hold back her laughter. She nodded and was about to get up when Li Fusheng quickly stopped her.
"How could we not welcome you! Sit down, sit down! We're all family, there's no need for so many formalities."
Changqing immediately sat down and began to eat heartily.
Beside her, Li Xiangling could only glare angrily.
When Zhao Lianhua brought out the last dish, Changqing had almost finished the half-eaten fish in his bowl.
She had just sat down and picked up her bowl and chopsticks when Changqing spoke.
"Mom, could you get me a bowl? I want to serve some food to take back to my dad. He said a few days ago that he wanted to eat your cooking."
Clang.
The bowl in Zhao Lianhua's hand fell to the ground.
Li Fusheng and the others also had drastic changes in expression.
"Mom, can I get a bowl?" Changqing asked, picking up a piece of cured meat with his chopsticks.
"Ah, this..."
Zhao Lianhua's heart pounded like a drum. How should she answer? To be honest, she was genuinely afraid that her deceased husband would taste her cooking, start reminiscing, and then come looking for her.
They turned to Li Fusheng for help.
Li Fusheng never expected this to happen. He was stunned for a long time, stammering and unable to speak.
"Never mind, Mom, now that you've remarried, you're no longer family. I'll go back and explain to Dad."
Changqing picked up another piece of meat with his chopsticks.
"Okay, okay, remember to explain to your dad that my cooking wasn't that great either..."
Zhao Lianhua quickly replied.
However, just as she changed the bowl and was about to eat again, Changqing spoke up once more.
"Oh, right, my dad has another question. He said he originally wanted to send me to school, and the rent from those lands was almost enough for my early education, so why didn't I ever go to school?"
"ah?"
The Li family was stunned, and Zhao Lianhua was speechless for a long time.
After finally managing to stammer and get through it, Changqing still had something to convey on behalf of his father...
This completely ruined the family's appetite.
After an unknown amount of time, Changqing finally seemed to have finished asking all the questions on behalf of his deceased father. Zhao Lianhua was terrified, sweat beading on her forehead, and Li Fusheng was also filled with astonishment and doubt.
By this time, Changqing had finished eating, and he stood up and wiped his mouth.
"Uncle Fusheng, Mom, we're full. Thank you for your hospitality. I'll tell Dad the truth when I get back."
Then, he calmly walked out with his younger sister.
After the two figures disappeared outside the door, Li Fusheng slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Oh dear, what was I supposed to say when I called them over for dinner?"
"Honey, I think we should just forget about it."
Zhao Lianhua was the first to back down; she was genuinely feeling guilty. Who would have thought that her deceased ex-husband could still be in charge?
Li Fusheng stared coldly at the plate of cured meat and fish on the table, which had already been eaten, and felt extremely terrible.
Li Qingyue and her brother dared not speak.
When the father, who is in charge of the household, arrives, it is naturally his turn to take charge.
"I, I'll go to school tomorrow." Li Qingyue stood up. During this time, he had been staying home to help out his father because he was on corvée labor. Now that his father was back, he naturally had to go to school.
Li Fusheng glanced at his son and nodded.
Li Xiangling quickly raised her hand as well.
"I, I also want to go to town to continue learning embroidery."
"Don't go." Li Fusheng's words immediately changed Li Xiangling's expression.
"Father! I haven't finished learning yet. I can earn money as an embroiderer in the future..." she immediately became anxious.
Li Fusheng snorted irritably.
“A daughter is meant to get married, what’s the use of learning those things? We’re already too busy to manage everything at home, don’t you know that? Your mother and I will take care of the work in the fields, from now on, you’ll be in charge of all the household chores!”
They're all such a worry; their families are broke, yet they show no sense of crisis whatsoever.
Li Fu was furious.
The son's education and imperial examinations were naturally important, but the daughter's was less so. In the past, the family had enough people to work and money to spare, so he didn't mind learning something. Now, it's clearly not going to work out. He wants to learn embroidery? Don't even think about it.
Li Fusheng had a keen understanding of the situation.
It's definitely impossible to rely on Changqing right now, so we have to increase income and reduce expenses at home. How to reduce expenses? Naturally, we'll start by cutting back on our daughter.
If it weren't for the shortage of manpower at home, he wouldn't mind finding a husband for his daughter and receiving some dowry.
Li Xiangling burst into tears.
"Brother, brother, please beg Dad for me! I want to learn embroidery. I don't know how to do any housework, and I'm afraid of snakes!"
Li Qingyue opened his mouth as if to say something, but when he met his father's stern gaze, he shut up again.
In any case, my life hasn't been greatly affected, so why make a fuss?
Zhao Lianhua stepped forward.
"Xiangling, the housework isn't tiring. Huanxi used to be able to do it all by herself."
"Get out of here! It's all your fault, you bitch!" Li Xiangling was not comforted at all. She reached out and shoved her violently, then covered her face and ran back to her room.
Li Qingyue also quickly returned to her room.
In the living room, only Li Fusheng, looking distressed, and Zhao Lianhua, with red eyes and a heart full of grievances, remained.
Zhao Lianhua hadn't yet recovered from the word "bitch".
In the past, although Fusheng's two children had never called her "Mom" and were rather distant from her, they had never cursed at her like this, let alone pushed her.
Li Fusheng also let out a long sigh.
He originally wanted to make some more plans, but when Changqing mentioned studying, he felt a chill run down his spine.
He carefully recalled that the boy seemed to have changed since he started performing corvée labor. It was probably because his father, Li Fuguan, had given him some pointers. Although he still felt somewhat unwilling, he dared not make any rash moves at this moment.
"Let's take it one step at a time. Maybe they'll come begging again when they're having a hard time."
He comforted himself with this thought.
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