"What?!" Xu Ruantang sat up abruptly, her voice rising as she looked at Xu Hanli.
Her reaction was probably too strong, as the two people next to her were startled.
Xu Hanli looked even more guilty, "Sister-in-law, this is indeed my fault, back then..."
Xu Ruantang's mind was buzzing, and she didn't hear anything else Xu Hanli said.
Li Shuhe was also surprised to hear this for the first time. "Wait a minute, I remember everyone saying that the scar on his hand was from when he saved Tang Wan when he was thirteen?"
Xu Hanli glanced at Li Shuhe and said, "You people are all just eating and doing nothing productive, just spreading rumors."
Old Chen suffers because he doesn't care about anything, which is why he's always being slandered by people like you.
Li Shuhe scratched her head. "That's what everyone in the compound is saying. He didn't say a word, so people naturally assumed he agreed."
Xu Hanli sighed softly, "If he doesn't say anything, you think he's admitting it. If he goes to the people spreading rumors, you say he's using violence to solve problems."
Li Shuhe was truly shocked and stood up abruptly. "So he attacked those people's homes because of rumors?"
At the time, everyone thought it was because of Tang Wan; a man standing up for a woman led people to overthink things.
"Otherwise what? Do you really think Chen Ji is the kind of person who would steal his brother's wife? You guys are truly blind and ignorant."
It was only after Xu Hanli was saved by Chen Ji that he began to stick to Chen Ji every day and gradually discovered the different things about Chen Ji.
The two were talking so fast that they didn't realize that Xu Ruantang was still sitting next to them, lost in thought.
They exchanged a glance, and Li Shuhe glared at Xu Hanli before quickly comforting Xu Ruantang, "Ruantang, Xu Hanli is right, it's all just rumors, just rumors."
"Yes, sister-in-law!" Xu Hanli practically swore to the heavens, "Sister-in-law, you know Old Chen's character better than we do. I've never seen him care about anyone else like this, except for you! We've grown up together and I've never seen him like this before!"
The three of them were chatting idly when suddenly Xiao Bao's crying became earth-shattering.
Xu Ruantang turned around and saw Qiu Liang holding Xiao Bao, looking like he dared not move. He looked incredibly funny.
The three of them rushed over, and Xu Ruantang asked, "Bao, what's wrong?"
Xiao Bao was sobbing uncontrollably. As soon as Qiu Liang put her on the cot, Xiao Bao crawled toward Xu Ruantang.
"Mama... Mama..."
She quickly crawled to Xu Ruantang's side and tried to climb up her legs.
Xu Hanli grabbed Xiaobao and said, "Bao, your mother's arm is still injured. Come here, let Uncle Hanli hold you."
Qiu Liang looked apologetic. "Maybe it's because I look scary that I frightened her."
It was rare to see such a bewildered expression on Qiu Liang's face. Ma Lijuan smiled gently, "Qiu Liang, I'm thirsty."
Qiu Liang then took the water bottle and went to Ma Lijuan's side.
"She was playing happily with Xiao Qiu just a moment ago, but as soon as she turned her head, she started crying." The old lady smiled kindly. "Look how clever she is. Her little head is still secretly turning around. She glances at Xiao Qiu, and her expression changes again."
As expected.
When Xiao Bao looked at Xu Hanli, he remained calm, but as soon as he turned his head and saw Qiu Liang, he immediately pouted and looked like he was about to cry.
Even though Xu Hanli was holding her with his back to Qiu Liang, she still awkwardly turned her head to look at him, and then she was scared.
"You're so clumsy and playful!" Xu Ruantang wiped her little face clean and gently scratched Xiaobao's nose.
"Grandma, I borrowed a camera." Li Shuyang walked over, holding up a rather large film camera. "Shall we take a picture together?"
Someone always had to hold the camera, so in the end Xu Hanli and Li Shuyang took turns.
Li Shuhe took over the camera that Li Shuyang had borrowed and took several photos of Xu Ruantang and Xiaobao together.
Xu Ruantang didn't stand on ceremony. She sat on the cot with Xiaobao, constantly guiding Xiaobao to look in the direction of the camera, and smiled happily.
The wind blew her hair, her bright and clear doe eyes curved slightly, and her small face was radiant and beautiful.
Li Shuyang couldn't help but glance at him a couple more times, but realizing he had been somewhat impolite, he quickly looked away.
After Li Shuhe finished fiddling with the camera, she returned it to Li Shuyang and told him to print out a few more photos.
Xu Ruantang was preoccupied with Liang Xuemei's matter, and found an opportunity to go to her alone. She was still painting diligently.
"Snow Plum".
Liang Xuemei turned her head and saw Xu Ruantang smiling: "Sister-in-law, what's wrong?"
She heard Li Shuyang and the others call Xu Ruantang "sister-in-law," so she just followed suit.
Xu Ruantang asked, "Does Li Shuyang know about the time I helped you with your drawing at the market?"
Liang Xuemei nodded quickly, "I know, my senior brother and teacher were not far away at the time. They just thought I had too many problems and needed to be treated, so I didn't come out. I'm so grateful for your help, sister-in-law!"
Liang Xuemei recounted the events of that day as if spilling beans.
The more Xu Ruantang listened, the heavier her heart became.
After thinking about it carefully, it seems that Li Shuyang never said anything after he found out, and even gave her a picture album.
"Sister-in-law, what are you talking about?"
After Li Shuyang put down his camera, he saw Xu Ruantang and Liang Xuemei chatting in the distance. He thought they were discussing painting, so he came over.
He clearly remembered that Xu Ruantang was a very skilled painter.
Completely oblivious to the awkward atmosphere, Liang Xuemei said directly, "We're talking about the time when my senior brother and teacher refused to help someone in distress!"
Li Shuyang's expression changed.
He never intended to expose Xu Ruantang's ability to draw, since she had refused to admit it last time, probably to avoid suspicion.
"It's been so long, and you're still holding a grudge?" Li Shuyang changed the subject. "Let me see how your painting is coming along."
Li Shuyang offered some suggestions for revising Liang Xuemei's painting, then turned to Xu Ruantang, "Sister-in-law, why don't you go take a look at my painting?"
"No, I can't compare to you. I just study and scribble on my own."
Xu Ruantang tried her best to smooth things over. She had just calmed down and thought about it, and realized that she hadn't said much that day either.
In art, talent is more important than hard work; there are many self-taught artists in history.
Her skill level is so low that she's only passable.
Before they went to class, their class's artwork was criticized by the teacher every day, with even elementary school students drawing better than them.
Seeing that she wasn't angry, Li Shuyang breathed a sigh of relief and said in a slightly raised tone, "Our dean said that art has no boundaries. Does that mean you look down on communicating with me?"
Xu Ruantang frowned. Before she could speak, two living people suddenly appeared in front of her.
"Let's talk about what we're discussing, together."
"Yes, and me too."
Xu Hanli and Li Shuhe were like two monkeys, jumping around everywhere.
Before long, a crowd gathered around Li Shuyang's hand-drawn portrait.
The old lady came over and pointed at the man in the picture, asking, "Xiao Li, why did you draw a man with long hair? They don't allow long braids anymore!"
The godmother nodded, "Yes, long braids are feudal ideas, they're not good."
Li Shuyang was speechless.
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