"So, Mom, you have to listen to your daughter. Don't worry about what Grandpa and Grandma Chen do, and don't worry about their attitude towards my dad..."
"As for their attitude towards our family, all you need to know is that they are my father's biological parents. Just follow my father's example, fulfill your filial duties, and don't worry about anything else."
Song Lan spoke calmly and softly with a smile, "My eldest brother, second brother, and younger brother, including myself, are all your and my father's children. We are still in the process of growing up."
But in the future, we will make you and Dad the envy of others, and they will all praise you and Dad for raising such children.
This isn't Song Lan making empty promises to Li Jumei. In the original story, where neither Song Jiaojiao nor the world she came to existed, the three brothers—Song Qingbin, Song Qinghui, and Song Guoqing—were all highly successful in their respective fields.
Therefore, what Song Lan said to Li Jumei at this moment could be described as completely justified.
"All you do is try to make your mother happy."
Upon hearing this, Li Jumei was happy, but she didn't take it entirely seriously. She continued knitting and said, "But after you coaxed me like that, I am genuinely quite pleased."
"Mom, I wasn't lying to you!"
Song Lan defended herself.
Li Jumei waved one hand casually: "Alright, I listened to what you just said. It's just about not focusing on your Chen family's money. Don't worry, I am a little jealous that your Chen family's grandparents helped that guy with the 1001 yuan dowry."
But she's not so easily offended that she'd argue with your dad over such a small matter, or give your grandparents the cold shoulder.
"Mom, do you know?"
Song Lan's eyebrows curved like crescent moons, and her voice drew Li Jumei's attention: "What?"
"When I first met you, Mom, after returning to the village, I could tell that you were a very understanding person. I felt so lucky to have such a mother!"
After hearing Song Lan's words, Li Jumei was taken aback at first, then glared at Song Lan uncomfortably and said, "I remember the first time we met, it wasn't a pleasant scene for you."
Well, Li Jumei is actually quite happy right now.
Many people in the village said behind her back that she was a shrew, but her beloved daughter said that she was reasonable. It seems that only her own family members truly understand her.
Otherwise, how could her daughter possibly be so understanding and reasonable towards her?
After all, her daughter was born not long ago, and then she was separated from her for nearly twenty years due to unforeseen circumstances. As a mother, she had never personally raised her daughter, but what her daughter said earlier was the truth.
Because she could tell that her daughter wasn't saying that intentionally to make her happy.
In fact, Li Jumei was not a shrew who made a scene.
Every time she gets into an argument or a physical fight, it's because the other person is jealous of her family's life, jealous that she has a good man, and is always looking for trouble, always wanting to run into her trap.
If she doesn't do something, wouldn't she become a coward?
She was treated like clay, someone who could be molded and reshaped at will?!
"It's just that you, Mom, got into an argument and a fight with someone!"
Song Lan said casually, and upon hearing this, Li Jumei stopped knitting again. She asked, "Don't you think there are quite a few people in the village who say behind your mother's back that I'm a shrew?"
"Why would I think you're a shrew, Mom? Let's not go back to the past. Just the first time I came back to the village and saw you, if it weren't for Aunt Zhu next door saying hurtful things to you, and even getting more and more outrageous, would you have hit her, Mom?"
"I'm not some crazy person who just wants to fight with anyone."
"That settles it then, Mom. You must have been so angry that you couldn't take it anymore, which is why you had no choice but to hit Aunt Zhu. What does that tell you?"
"Don't keep your mother in suspense!"
"The one who starts the fight is the one who loses."
Song Lan uttered these words softly, but Li Jumei didn't quite understand them. Song Lan then explained in detail: "The meaning of these words is very simple. It means that the person who infringes on the interests of others first deserves to be morally criticized. Even if they end up with a very bad result, it is what they deserve."
Speaking of which, the full name of "the one who starts a fight is despicable" is "the one who starts a fight is despicable, and you can die without complaint."
To put it simply, it's exactly what Song Lan meant.
"As expected of my daughter, just like your mother, she's not the type to suffer losses easily."
Li Jumei had a big smile on her face.
"Some losses are worth accepting, but some are absolutely unacceptable!"
Song Lan said very seriously, "Otherwise, the other party will think that you are easy to manipulate and will take advantage of you."
That makes sense.
Li Jumei nodded in deep agreement. She said, "You should be able to tell that among our family members, your father is mild-mannered, your eldest brother is quiet, and your second brother is eloquent and fearless. But what I fear most is that he will cause trouble outside and our family will have trouble dealing with it."
As for Guoqing, she looks alright at home, but when she goes out, she's like a shy little girl.
"With a family like this, if your mother weren't tough enough in the village, who knows how badly our family would be bullied."
After a pause, Li Jumei continued, "There are many people with the surname Song in our village, but your father, your eldest uncle, and your third uncle settled in the village with your grandparents to escape war and famine. Over the years, your grandmother and your deceased grandfather relied on their good relationships with others..."
This allowed the family to establish themselves in the village. Your father was intelligent; although he only attended a private school for a short time, he learned a great deal and was later elected by the village to be the accountant.
Without these foundations, your uncle's family, your third uncle's family, and even our family, would likely face considerable ostracism in the village.
Song Lan: "Mom, I understand what you're saying, it's xenophobia!"
Li Jumei: "That's right, it's xenophobia, especially among the gossipy women in the village. They like to gather together and talk nonsense when they have nothing to do. If I'm not assertive, any of my family members who suffer in the village will suffocate!"
"Mom, you are the pillar of our family. If you hadn't stood up for us, the rest of us would have either suffocated or been filled with resentment."
Song Lan gave Li Jumei a thumbs up.
"What nonsense are you talking about?!"
Li Jumei glanced at Song Lan with a smile and said, "I just don't want anyone to take advantage of our family."
"Yes, yes, Mom, whatever you say is right!"
Song Lan gave it another thumbs up.
"loquacious!"
Li Jumei smiled but shook her head helplessly.
Song Lan touched her nose and said with a smile, "Mom, I don't talk much, but when I do open my mouth, I always tell the truth."
Before Li Jumei could speak, Song Lan changed the subject: "By the way, Mom, weren't there two couples getting married that day? Wouldn't that cause a time conflict for those attending the banquets?"
"The other person's banquet was at noon, while Zhao Zhiqing's banquet was held before sunset. Zhao Zhiqing and his wife almost got into a fight over this."
Thinking back to how Song Jiaojiao had disregarded the presence of the commune members and educated youth who were supposed to be having their wedding banquet at her and Zhao Yuzhou's new home, all because she couldn't hold the banquet at noon...
Not only did she give Zhao Yuzhou the cold shoulder throughout the banquet, but she also started cursing at her own husband right before the banquet was about to end.
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