Free Web NovelChapter 289: Chapter 289: The Confidence From Her Own Daughter
During her recovery, Li Wan had gradually gotten to know the Li family. However, after her mind cleared and she learned the whole story of what had happened all those years ago, her feelings toward them became complicated.
She understood that the Jiacheng Li Family had orchestrated what happened back then, and that even her biological Li family had been kept in the dark. Once they learned the truth, the Li family had acted decisively, sending Li Aiguo and Li Yuan to prison. But after nearly forty years with almost no contact, and with her childhood experience of being neglected by the Jiacheng Li Family, she didn’t have any particular expectations for parents or siblings.
So, when the Li family arrived, Li Wan simply greeted them politely and showed them into the living room.
Mrs. Li looked at Li Wan with great emotion. She had been waiting for the day Li Wan would fully recover and officially reunite with them. But now, seeing the strange and distant look in Li Wan’s eyes, her heart ached. She looked at Li Wan cautiously and said, "Xiao Wan, I’m your mother. Do you remember?"
Li Wan nodded. "I remember you all visiting me during my recovery. It’s just..."
That unfinished sentence made Mr. Li’s and Mrs. Li’s hearts leap into their throats. They watched Li Wan nervously, terrified she might say something they couldn’t bear to hear. Ever since learning of Li Wan’s suffering over the years, their greatest wish was for her to officially rejoin the family so they could all be together again.
The visitors to Xiluo Alley this time were Mr. and Mrs. Li, along with Shang Yuqi and Li Huan. Hearing the hesitation, Li Huan quickly chimed in, "Auntie, Grandpa and Grandma really hope you’ll come back to the family."
Li Wan pursed her lips. "I... I haven’t made up my mind yet."
Su Qing went to the kitchen to bring some snacks and fruit to the living room. Li Huan followed her, whispering, "Su Qing, do you think your mom will accept my grandparents? I’m feeling so anxious."
"This is for the adults to decide. We should just stay out of it." Su Qing had no intention of getting involved.
"Oh, Su Qing, don’t you want to be sisters with me?" Li Huan looked at Su Qing with pleading, puppy-dog eyes, a hint of hurt in them. ’A sister! A sweet, precious little sister! I’ve never had a sister of my own. Now that I finally have one, why doesn’t she seem more excited? Is my charm not working on her?’
"Aren’t we already?" Su Qing shot Li Huan a look.
"Of course we are, but I want to take it a step further! It would be so great to be a real family," Li Huan said quickly.
"That’s up to my mom." Su Qing’s stance was clear: she would follow her mother’s lead in everything.
"Oh." Li Huan pouted. She looked toward Li Wan in the living room and prayed inwardly, ’Auntie, my one and only biological auntie, you have to come through for me! Whether or not I get a sister I can show off to everyone is all up to you!’
The Li family knew Li Wan had only just been discharged from the hospital and had suffered a great deal. Thinking they had plenty of time, they didn’t press the matter of the reunion. They weren’t even able to give her the red envelope they had prepared. Instead, they just kept urging her to get more rest, left behind the snacks, fruit, and health supplements they had brought, and then departed reluctantly.
After the Li family left, Li Wan sighed softly, her face a mask of conflict. Su Qing couldn’t bear to watch any longer. "Mom," she asked, "you’re struggling with whether or not to officially reunite with them, aren’t you?"
"I am." Li Wan had nothing to hide from her daughter. "It’s just... we haven’t seen each other in so many years. All this sudden talk of a reunion... it makes me feel so uncertain. Everything seems fine now, but I know they live in a completely different world from us. I’ve never been part of a social circle like that. What if I make a fool of myself? Not only would it reflect poorly on you, but I might even end up being despised. If it really came to that, I’m sure I’d regret it."
Hearing this, Su Qing understood. It wasn’t just the long separation or the childhood trauma she associated with family; Li Wan was also worried she wouldn’t fit into the Li family’s social circle. To put it bluntly, the Li family moved in the most elite circles in all of Hua Country. Li Wan, on the other hand, had always been an ordinary person and had never experienced anything like it. It was a completely foreign world to her, so of course she was worried.
In short, Li Wan felt deeply insecure.
Su Qing thought for a moment before speaking. "Mom, I wasn’t going to get involved in this. I’ll support whatever you decide. Whether you reunite with them or not, our lives won’t change. But I want to say, you have no reason to sell yourself short. Your identity is your identity. Whether you acknowledge them or not, you can’t change the fact that you’re their blood. Besides, you went to the countryside to help with rural development. That’s an incredibly noble thing to do, something to be very proud of."
Li Wan couldn’t help but smile at that. "Qingqing, you’ve really grown up. Now you’re the one comforting me."
"I’m just stating the facts," Su Qing said with a laugh. "And besides, we’re not short on money. In addition to this courtyard house in Beijing, I’ve bought other properties too. We’re a wealthy family in our own right now."
With that, Su Qing went and retrieved two thousand yuan, placing the bills in Li Wan’s hand. "Mom, take this. Buy whatever you want."
Li Wan was stunned by her daughter’s words. ’So she bought more than one courtyard house?’ She looked down at the two thousand yuan, and her hands began to tremble. She had never seen so much money in her entire life. Even back when she left Lihua Village, the majority of her life savings that she had left for Su Qing amounted to only two or three hundred yuan.
"Mom, what I’m trying to say is that regardless of whether you reunite with the Li family, we can live on our own. We can live *very well*, just as well as anyone else. So, you only need to think about this from an emotional standpoint. Everything else is irrelevant. Even if you do join their family and there’s friction down the line, we have our own way out. We can still live a good life. We don’t have to walk on eggshells around anyone or live at their mercy."
Tears welled in Li Wan’s eyes as she nodded at Su Qing. She understood. This was the confidence, the foundation, that her daughter was giving her. ’What have I ever done to deserve such a wonderful daughter!’
