In the end, Song Lili's hope turned into a pipe dream.
Zhang Qingguo and Lin Xue got into an argument.
Even with her loud voice, Song Lili didn't need to listen carefully to hear what they were arguing about.
"Lin Xue, what do you mean? Are you saying that I deliberately didn't help you?" Zhang Qingguo's angry voice boomed.
"Am I... wrong?" Lin Xue's voice was softer and muffled, and Song Lili didn't hear it clearly.
"Is that how you think of me? Do you think I, Zhang Qingguo, am that kind of person? Is that how you think of me?"
Lin Xue's words seemed to make Zhang Qingguo even angrier, and also a little bit...sad?
"You've been married to me, Zhang Qingguo, for so many years, and this is how you think of me?" Zhang Qingguo asked again, showing how shocked and disappointed he was by Lin Xue's words.
"In your heart, is that the kind of person I am?" Zhang Qingguo asked weakly at the end.
Song Lili didn't hear Lin Xue's reply, nor did she hear any other sounds.
Outside, silence seemed to fall.
"Auntie, did my parents have a fight?" Xiao Zhe, who was playing with Xiao Hui on the kang (a heated brick bed), suddenly looked up and asked.
Song Lili was speechless. How was she supposed to answer that?
Lying? But the child heard Zhang Qingguo's words just now.
To tell the truth? It's not appropriate for Xiao Zhe to know.
In the end, she could only downplay the issue, saying, "We didn't argue, we just probably raised our voices a little."
“Your uncle and aunt came over just now and said some things that upset your dad. He’s angry, so he’s speaking loudly.”
She... she probably wasn't lying, right?
She was telling the truth, but only part of the truth.
Xiao Zhe thought about it and realized that... it really might be possible.
Speaking of her uncle, she couldn't help but complain to Song Lili about the time she went back to her mother's home with her.
"My aunt is so mean. She always says strange things that make me uncomfortable."
"And my maternal grandmother, I don't like her either. She even said she wanted my uncle to help my dad, but I think she just wants my dad to help my uncle, right?"
Song Lili smiled; the child had actually guessed correctly.
But she couldn't say that.
"This is an adult matter, you kids don't need to worry about it. You guys play, don't worry."
"Your parents will be fine in a bit. Go see them after dinner, and they'll be back together."
With children at home, I hope these two can restrain themselves and not cause a scene right under the children's noses.
"Really? Xiao Zhe doesn't quite believe it."
He's almost ten years old now, so he knows a little bit about things.
I still have doubts.
"Of course, when have you ever seen your parents angry?" she retorted.
Zhang Qingguo and Lin Xue got married. Although their relationship wasn't exactly passionate, they were still very loving.
We've really never argued much. Even if we have a verbal disagreement, we make up in no time.
Song Lili's question really hit the nail on the head.
Xiao Zhe thought about it, and realized that he really didn't remember ever having done it before.
Now that he felt relieved, he stopped paying attention to what was happening outside and continued playing with Xiaohui on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Xiao Chen, on the other hand, glanced at Song Lili, then at Xiao Zhe, and continued reading with her head down.
Song Lili suddenly smiled. This child, this child, how can he... know everything?
Never mind, it's good that you know what's going on.
Song Lili didn't go out, nor did she let the children go out. She didn't care what was happening outside.
She doesn't get involved in other people's marital affairs.
When it was time for dinner, I took the children to the kitchen to help, so they wouldn't bother the other three adults in the family.
After a busy hour, I finally made dinner that the kids loved, and then I clapped my hands in celebration.
"Alright, go and call your grandpa, uncles, and aunts out for dinner. Go on."
By now, you should have sorted out your emotions, right?
Reconciliation? Song Lili didn't think so.
From the shouts Zhang Qingguo uttered, it was clear that the conflict between the two was not so easy to resolve this time.
Hopefully, everything will be alright.
Dinner was also a somber affair. Everyone's faces were calm, but the usual ease was gone, and the atmosphere was heavy.
The children were affected and dared not play around. They obediently finished their meals and went back to their rooms to sleep.
Out of the corner of her eye, Song Lili glanced at the faces of Zhang Shengtian and Zhang Qingguo and noticed... a dark undercurrent beneath their calm exteriors.
I know in my heart that this conflict is still unresolved.
I reckon this is how the atmosphere at home will be for the next few days.
Song Lili was right; for the next few days, until New Year's Eve, the atmosphere at home remained the same.
Children are perceptive and can sense things.
These past few days, I haven't dared to go near Zhang Shengtian and the other two, so I've just followed Song Lili around her.
Song Lili was happy to take care of the children, leading them in cleaning, putting up couplets, and cooking delicious food.
She didn't bother the other three. She prepared things for the New Year by herself.
The situation changed on New Year's Eve when it was time to eat dumplings.
"Sister-in-law, is there anything I can help with?" Lin Xue asked Song Lili as she entered the kitchen.
"Hmm?" Song Lili was taken aback for a moment when she heard the voice, then smiled and said, "Then you can help me make dumplings. I'm kneading the dough right now."
"Okay, I'll go wash my hands."
With Lin Xue's help, Song Lili was much faster, and in less than an hour, she had made enough dumplings for her family of eight or nine.
"Alright, that's all for you now. You can go out and play." Song Lili dismissed the children who were still gathered in the kitchen.
I don't know what they were thinking, that they were so interested in making dumplings and even kept experimenting with it.
I just wanted to make a pretty, beautiful dumpling.
It was a strange reason, a strange idea, a strange thought process.
Song Lili let them have their way; children need to be allowed to roam freely like this.
Upon hearing this, the children immediately ran out, probably thinking of something fun.
"Let's wait a bit, it's still early, we'll cook the dumplings later."
Song Lili glanced at the sky and said something to Lin Xue, who was standing beside her.
Lin Xue seemed a little absent-minded, and after listening, she just grunted in response, making Song Lili wonder if she had even heard what she said.
Seeing Lin Xue's expression, Song Lili didn't say anything more and continued tidying up the stove in silence.
Lin Xue didn't say anything either. After a long while, perhaps she came to her senses, and then she turned her eyes and found Song Lili's figure.
"Sister-in-law, do you think I really did something wrong?" Lin Xue's voice was soft, it was hard to tell if she was asking someone or just talking to herself.
Song Lili heard it, but pretended not to. She didn't want to answer the question, nor was she willing to.
Was I wrong?
Song Lili didn't know that she wasn't Lin Xue and couldn't empathize with her. She also didn't know what to say.
Therefore, she couldn't give Lin Xue an answer, an answer she hoped to receive.
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