Although they said they had separated their households, they were still in the same village, just one at the beginning and the other at the end. The house at the end of the village was naturally given to Li Mantian. When it was given to him, it was just a somewhat dilapidated thatched hut. It was only because Li's family had managed the household well for many years and Li Mantian was capable and hardworking that they were able to move into an earthen house, complete with a decent courtyard wall and a clean and tidy yard.
Li Mantian led his family to the door he had walked through countless times. Looking at the desolate courtyard, which seemed devoid of human life, he felt sad and puzzled at the same time. How could someone make their good life increasingly unsatisfactory?
At this moment, a thin figure walked out from inside. His slightly hunched back and the traces of gray hair made Li Mantian ask in disbelief, "Big Brother?"
Li Mandi turned his head sharply, blinked, and seemed unable to believe that Li Mantian had suddenly appeared in front of him: "You... how did you get here?"
Li Mantian frowned. What kind of talk was this? "I'm here for the New Year. Even if we've separated the family, I'm still my mother's son, and I have to wish her a Happy New Year!"
Upon hearing this, Li Mandi not only didn't welcome them in, but instead blocked them at the door, even closing it behind him as if afraid they would be discovered by the people inside: "Mantian, listen to your brother, don't come. Mother has gone mad! Besides, Mother is going to sell your daughter, how dare you come? Aren't you afraid she'll sell her while she's here these next few days?"
Li Mantian frowned even more: "What do you mean, brother? What happened to Mother? Why are you still selling people? Wasn't the wild game I sent over a few days ago enough for her to eat?"
He sent almost half of it over; if this were an ordinary family, it would be enough to eat for a year!
Li Mandi gave a bitter laugh, squatted down by the door with utter helplessness, and clutched his head in anguish, saying, "My youngest son... I couldn't keep him. Mother heard somewhere that it's because there are too many daughters in the family, and they have to sell a few to support their grandson, so she sold my eldest daughter and second daughter... they sold them all!"
Li Mantian closed his eyes, struggling to process what he had just heard, then turned and placed Ye Shuang in Li Shi's arms: "You take the child and go back first, I'll go in and take a look."
Unexpectedly, Li Shi held Ye Shuang tightly with one hand, but grabbed Li Mantian with the other, looking at him very seriously and saying, "We are family. No matter what happens, I will protect my child."
Today is New Year's Eve. If I just carry Ye Shuang home like this, who knows what nasty things the villagers will say if they see me. Besides, some things are better faced directly and resolved once and for all.
Seeing how determined Li was, Li Mantian could only nod. He led Li Wenyi ahead, while Li carried Ye Shuang behind, and they walked straight into the main room.
It wasn't even noon yet, and the main room was fairly bright. However, the room, which used to have a lot of things, now only had a dilapidated wooden table and two wooden chairs left.
The old lady sat upright in one of the chairs, seemingly lost in thought. Hearing the noise, she looked up, and after recognizing who it was, she sneered and said in a sarcastic tone, "Oh, isn't this my highly capable second son and his unfilial daughter-in-law?"
Li Mantian smiled apologetically and sat down next to the old lady: "Mother, what are you saying? Today is the New Year, we can't do these things. Li Shi and I have brought our grandchildren to celebrate the New Year with you!"
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