Free Web NovelChapter 47: Chapter 47: Mr. Li the Second Disciplines His Children
Watching the retreating figures of Li Xiu—one hand supporting his wife, the other his grandmother, as he ushered his aunt and the other women away—Second Brother Li turned to look at the wreckage in the courtyard. Utterly defeated, he squatted down and clutched his head.
’How did things come to this?’ He had vaguely felt that his eldest son had changed, becoming more forceful and decisive, his actions leaving no room for doubt. But he never expected his other children to push their older brother to the breaking point so quickly!
"Husband, what do we do now?" Ge Er Ya asked softly, seeing the despairing, sighing Second Brother Li.
Snapping his head up, Second Brother Li said furiously, "What do we do? You don’t know? You’re the one who raised these little bastards, and you’re asking me!"
Seeing his furious expression, Ge Er Ya didn’t dare say another word. Second Brother Li was usually good-tempered, but his anger, when roused, was terrifying. In all their years together, he had only blown up like this twice. The last time was when Aunt Li had scolded her over Li Xiu’s clothes. He had flown into a rage after he found out about it.
"Dad, why is Big Brother acting like this?" Li Xin, usually doted on for being the only daughter, dared to ask.
"If you had to give all your clothes, your good food, and all the money you earned to your sister-in-law, would you be willing?" Second Brother Li said wearily. ’Fifteen years old and still so clueless about the world.’
"Why should I have to give them to her!" Seeing her father’s expressionless face, Li Xin’s voice trailed off.
"Exactly! Why should you? So what gives you the right to make your big brother do it!"
"How can that be the same? I’m his biological sister!"
Seeing his daughter’s face, still clueless as to what she’d done wrong, Second Brother Li shot a fierce glare at Ge Er Ya. ’This stupid woman has raised our daughter to be as foolish as she is.’
"What if I gave all our family’s money, all our good food and nice clothes, to your aunt? How would you feel about that?" He still had to teach them; they were his children, after all. Second Brother Li suppressed his anger and began to break it down for them, piece by painful piece.
"Why would you give them to my aunt? She..."
"Your aunt is *my* biological sister!"
Hearing Second Brother Li’s resolute words, Li Xin froze. ’That’s right, Auntie is Dad’s biological sister.’ She looked at her mother in confusion. But her mother had always said that everything her big brother had belonged to the family.
Seeing his five children standing there, stunned, Second Brother Li spoke slowly. "Your aunt is my biological sister. Your third uncle is my biological brother. Your grandmother is my own mother. According to your logic, shouldn’t I be giving everything our family has to them?"
"It’s not the same," Li Hua said, still struggling to process it. He just felt it was different, but he couldn’t say how.
"It is the same. The families have already been divided. You’ve all been spoiled rotten. My health is poor, so your big brother took pity on you and shouldered all the responsibility, just so you wouldn’t have to suffer. You’ve just gotten used to it."
Looking at his five bewildered children, Second Brother Li sighed. ’It’s not entirely their fault. It’s my fault, as their father, for not teaching them about responsibility and duty.’
"You’ve gotten used to your big brother’s sacrifices, but have you ever once cared about him? Hua, you’re only three years younger than him. Look at Li Bao, then look at Li Guo. They’re both younger than you. When your big brother was building his house and getting married, look at what they did. You’re his own brother, yet your two cousins cared more about his affairs than you did. How could he not be heartbroken?"
Second Brother Li sighed, lit a cigarette, and took a drag before slowly explaining, "Your big brother has wanted to beat you all for a long time. It was your mother who protected you. He just couldn’t be bothered to deal with you anymore. Today, Hua’s actions completely broke his heart. His wife is pregnant, for crying out loud. Hua, you should be thankful you didn’t actually lay a hand on her. Otherwise, your big brother would have raised all hell."
"Wife, I know you play favorites. I never said anything because I always thought I could die any day. He’s the eldest, so he had to endure being taken advantage of and help his younger siblings. But you’ve gone too far. He’s your flesh and blood too. How can you be so cruel to him?"
Ge Er Ya looked up, then lowered her head and started crying again. Even now, she didn’t understand how things had come to this. ’Weren’t things always fine before? How did he suddenly become like this?’
Seeing her reaction, Second Brother Li knew her deep-seated prejudice was unchangeable. He shook his head. ’Forget it. Let her be. The eldest has plenty of ways to deal with her. But the children... they still need to be set straight, or they’re going to suffer for it sooner or later.’
"Your big brother is a man who values relationships and loyalty. I heard from your grandma that for Li Hua’s marriage, your big brother secretly did a thorough background check on the man. Only after finding nothing wrong did he let your aunt agree to it. And Li Gui’s marriage is to someone from our own village. Your big brother has warned Ge Yulian, both openly and privately, many times. Do you think he’d dare mistreat Li Gui?"
"Your grandma said he’d already picked out a young man from the neighboring village for Li Yun and had even discussed it with your aunt. And you, Xin, you’re his own sister. How could he ever let you be wronged? But now, you’ve worn away all his affection for you. Do you think he’ll still look out for you?"
"Think about that old man who herded cows and taught your big brother. During the chaos a few years ago, nobody dared to touch him, even though he came from an old-style private school and had attended a Western-style academy. Think about it. Was he an ordinary person? That’s the man who taught your big brother."
"After the family was divided, your big brother only had 250 yuan. That house couldn’t have been built for less than 1,000 yuan. The betrothal gifts and bride price for your sister-in-law cost over 1,000 yuan as well. More importantly, have you seen anyone else in the village with those things? You need ration tickets for all of that stuff. Who do you think got those tickets? Is there anyone in the village now who doesn’t feel sorry for your big brother, stuck with such unreliable parents and siblings!"
"Hua, you’re already 20. Your mother is looking everywhere for a matchmaker for you, but no one will agree. Your reputations are ruined! And the third brother is 17. What are you all going to do?"
"Everyone knows our family has money, but no daughter from a good family is willing to marry in. Think about it carefully. If you were in your big brother’s shoes, could you have done what he did? He left with practically nothing, and he doesn’t interfere in this family’s affairs. What right do you have to demand this and that from him?"
"You have to live with a conscience! You can’t just think about what you can get; you have to give back, too. All these years, who made your big brother’s shoes? When Li Hua and Li Gui were little, your grandmother, your aunt, and your third aunt made them. Once Li Hua and Li Gui learned how, they and their sisters made them."
"Your own mother never made a single pair for him. And you, my girl," he said to Li Xin, "your big brother doted on you for nothing. You’ve never made him a pair of shoes, never even stitched him a single insole. Now you see him treating your first uncle’s family and your third uncle’s family better than his own, and you’re unhappy. But what right do you have to be unhappy? What right?"
Li Hua and the others lowered their heads in silence. Second Brother Li continued, "You are his biological brothers and sister, but you don’t treat him well. Why should he treat you well? None of you are little kids anymore. Yong, you’re already 11. Do you understand what Dad is saying?"
Li Yong wiped his tears and nodded. "I understand, Dad. You’re saying if Big Brother is good to me, I have to be good to him, too. What Mom said was wrong, right?"
"Is that what your mother told you?" Second Brother Li asked, shooting a glare at Ge Er Ya, who looked like she was about to argue.
"Mom said that it’s natural for Big Brother to be good to me, and that it’s his duty to support me. That I don’t have to be good to him like that," Li Yong said in a small voice, glancing at Ge Er Ya.
"That’s wrong. He’s not your father or mother. Why should it be his duty to support you? Look at how well your big brother treats Li Bao, Li Guo, and Li Bo. Now, think about what they did when he was building his house."
"Brother Bao and Brother Guo were at the new house every day. The workers went to them if they needed anything! They never went to Second Brother or Third Brother," Li Yong said after a moment’s thought.
"That’s right, they didn’t go to them. Why not? Hua, you tell me. Why didn’t they come to you?" Second Brother Li hadn’t understood this part either.
"They did at first," Li Hua said, his head bowed. "The feng shui master came, and they asked me to go buy cigarettes, but I couldn’t find Big Brother."
"And then?"
"Li Bao went and bought them."
"You were afraid of spending money, afraid your big brother wouldn’t pay you back, weren’t you?" Second Brother Li asked wearily. ’So petty.’
"He’s your own brother! Even if he didn’t pay you back, couldn’t you have spent a few dimes? You couldn’t bear to part with it, so what right do you have to expect your big brother to be good to you, to earn money for you to spend!" Second Brother Li said, rubbing his head. ’I can be selfish too, but I’ve never been like this with my own brother.’
"All of you, think about it carefully. If it’s something you yourselves aren’t willing to do, what right do you have to make your big brother do it? It’s the same for all of you. What gives you the right to demand he do things you wouldn’t? From now on, don’t provoke him again. I don’t want to get involved, and I can’t anyway. Just think about it!"
