Chapter 1154: Chapter 1154: Engagement
The boys finished their showers and called out in the yard, telling their sister she could go now.
"Sister-in-law, you go first."
"No, you go shower. I’ll wait a bit to help second aunt."
"I should do it."
"You don’t need to, I’m here, I can handle it."
Li Xue didn’t resist, and after showering, she sat on the floor combing her hair.
"Xue, Mom went to find your big brother the other night."
Li Xue paused her actions. "She must have given big brother a hard time again."
"Yes, her new husband got caught because of some issues. She probably approached Dad, but he wouldn’t see her, so she asked your big brother to find a way.
What can the two of us ordinary clerks do?"
"She must be hoping Dad or your uncle can help."
"Yes, but who would want to get involved in this now?"
"Who knows what she’s thinking?"
"Well, what else could it be? Watching Dad live better than she does." Zheng Lihong regretted her words immediately. It’s someone else’s biological mother.
Li Xue glanced at Sister-in-law’s remorseful expression and smiled softly, "Sister-in-law, it’s okay, we’re talking freely here.
I don’t know what she’s thinking, I just know she always wants to make things difficult for others to satisfy herself."
"Right now, I’m actually glad your big brother and I aren’t capable."
"Sister-in-law, my brother definitely wouldn’t like hearing you say that."
"Just speaking the truth. You know, when I heard your big brother talk about Zhibin, saying she didn’t have time to watch him, my heart sank."
"Sister-in-law, that’s just how she is, don’t take it to heart.
Don’t expect her to care about Zhibin much. Actually, I’m rather glad she’s not around the house, otherwise it would be difficult at home too. This is good, she lives her life. If she really has issues in life, then there are the four of us brothers."
"It’s great you can think this through. Better than your big brother; he still wishes your mom would come back.
Honestly, I think Dad would never agree."
Li Xue didn’t respond; this was a matter between parents. It wasn’t that she wasn’t understanding, her own mother, how could she not think about her, not worry?
It’s just that she has her new family, and from childhood, she didn’t gain her favor. The emotional bond wasn’t deep.
"Dad went out for a bit, but he didn’t speak to your mom. Your mom lost control when she saw Aunt Lu leave."
Li Xue understood her mother’s character. That was expected, seeing Dad live well, of course, she felt uneasy.
The aunt and sister-in-law both went silent for a while.
Li Yunqiang was a bit drunk. The children weren’t in the house, so he lost a bit of composure.
"Enough, don’t drink any more, or you’ll feel unwell soon." Li Yunqiao advised his younger brother.
"Big brother, why am I so miserable?"
"What’s so miserable about you?"
"You know, when others get married, no matter what, the man is the priority. But when something goes wrong with me, she doesn’t care at all. When I come home and see her sleep soundly, my heart turns completely cold."
"Old Fourth, since you’ve brought it up today, I have to say something. Isn’t her behavior all because you’ve indulged her for so many years?"
"Is it me? I never let her count on me for her family matters? She doesn’t care about her husband at all.
When second brother goes out, second sister-in-law is never at ease, she’ll always step up front for second brother in case something happens."
Lu Fengzhen felt really upset holding her child nearby.
"Sister-in-law, Dapeng is asleep. I’ll take you guys back inside, let them have their drinks."
Li Yunqiao smiled and nodded, "Go ahead, you should get some rest too."
Li Manjiang also followed them out. This was a matter among elders, he better leave. Now, only the three brothers were left in the room.
"Big brother, I’ve had enough, every time I see her, I feel upset. My heart is uneasy."
"What do you want to do then, can you manage it?"
Li Yunqiang took another sip of his drink. "Right now, everything about her seems wrong, no part is good."
The two older brothers really had no way to advise. This was the path their younger brother chose himself.
In the past, he thought everything was perfect. Now, everything seemed off, people shouldn’t be like this. They shouldn’t be so irresponsible.
Though Li Yunqiang drank quite a lot, his mind was clear. He also knew he’s just grumbling now, none of it works.
"I envy second brother."
Li Yungui smoked on the side. "If you envy me, then live well. Liu Cuilan may not be good, but you can teach her slowly, you’ll be together for decades, do you want to live like this? Don’t you feel tired?"
"Tired, how can I not be? It’s heart-weary.
I thought Xiang Dong was worry-free, but the kid grew out of it.
Shuzhi is even more worrying. What’s he going to do in the future?
The two younger ones don’t show much now, they should be manageable. I’m not hoping for them to be outstanding, at least they can support a household someday." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"You worry too much." Li Yunqiao thought Old Fourth was stuck in a rut now. The kids are still young, they can be taught.
"What’s bothering Shuzhi?"
"He’s got no ambition, the village keeps organizing kids to learn medical skills. It doesn’t mean they have to be doctors in the future, at least know some medical principles, but Shuzhi won’t study properly, even takes the two younger ones out to play.
Too lazy, doesn’t want to do anything. Eventually, when he’s older and needs to start a family, it really will be a problem."
Li Yungui was worried too, watching his nephew with no solution, always looking lazy, just felt like he’s drifting through life.
"Is there anything he likes to do?"
Li Yunqiang shook his head, "He dreams of eating well, doesn’t do anything else. I thought of giving him a formal job, but didn’t dare bring it up.
Still like a kid a few years old, eats at regular times, then goes outside to play, he doesn’t even realize he’s much older than those he’s playing with."
The three brothers worried, nothing seemed to work in guiding him, he didn’t even know how to live. Purely drifting through life.
"Send him to be a soldier."
Li Yunqiang shook his head, though being a soldier was honorable, it was too dangerous, he couldn’t bear letting his son go.
"If you can’t teach him well, let the army teach him."
"Big brother, although he’s not accomplished, being around me, now so dangerous, I’m really worried to send him away."
The two older brothers also didn’t know what to say. They finally understood. The child’s state was caused by Old Fourth himself. Since the father was unwilling, what could others say?
Li Yunqiang drank the last of the alcohol in his bowl, stopped drinking. Big brother and second brother were waiting on him. He had no face to drink any longer.
"Big brother, second brother, I’m going back." In his heart, he thought of what second brother said about teaching slowly. They’d be living together for decades, life couldn’t go on like this, best to go back and talk to Liu Cuilan.