"Alright, stop talking. Arrange a place for us to stay now." By this point, Old Master Li had developed some resentment towards Li Qingrou.
Li Qingrou had initially wanted to defend herself, but her father was severely injured and needed immediate treatment. As for the other detestable people, she had plenty of time to deal with them, especially since they now depended on her.
Recently, Qiushuang and Dongzhi had been in and out frequently, busy with unknown matters. Wu Caiwei, adhering to the principle of inquiring less and focusing on her own affairs, tried her best not to involve them.
Of course, she valued her own life and had hired many guards.
After the Li family fell, the authorities sold off their properties. Wu Caiwei seized the opportunity to buy several shops, renovating them, hiring staff, stocking goods, and opening for business. She was so busy her feet barely touched the ground.
Father Liu and Mother Liu lived a leisurely life, tending to their birds and flowers. Everyone in the mansion treated them with respect, and they could withdraw money from the accounting office as they pleased. Such a life was beyond their wildest dreams.
However, looking at their daughter's busy figure, they wished someone could share her burden so she wouldn't have to work so hard.
Mother Liu was the first to break the silence. During dinner, she tentatively suggested, "There are so many eligible young people in the city. Have you taken a liking to anyone? If you fancy someone, tell your parents, and we'll go and propose on your behalf."
"Marriage is not something to rush. When I meet someone suitable, I will certainly tell you." Wu Caiwei didn't want to settle. This was a lifelong commitment, and the choice of partner had to be made carefully. Right now, she was busy opening shops and earning money; she wasn't in the mood for it, and more importantly, she hadn't met the right person.
"Not all men are like Liu Yixuan. Some are like your father." Mother Liu feared that Wu Caiwei, having been hurt by Liu Yixuan's actions, would believe all men were unreliable and would dismiss them with platitudes.
"I know. Don't worry, I'm not avoiding it, I just haven't met the right person yet." Seeing her parents' anxious expressions, Wu Caiwei felt that marriage should be put on the agenda.
Mother Liu wanted to say more, but Father Liu held her hand and subtly shook his head at her.
While Wu Caiwei was being pressured about marriage, Liu Yixuan's side was in chaos.
Old Master Li doted on Li Qingrou. When she married, he gave her a considerable dowry of shops and land, almost half of the Li family's assets. Their father-daughter bond was genuine.
Therefore, Li Qingrou spared no expense or effort in caring for Old Master Li during his recovery, attending to him meticulously. As for the other three, whom she disliked intensely, she made no effort to provide for them. Not only did she neglect to provide them with clothing, but the meals she sent were often cold.
Madam Li could tolerate Li Qingrou's harsh words, but she couldn't bear to see her son and daughter lacking food and clothing.
She confronted Li Qingrou, "When you married, you took half of the Li family's assets, and I didn't say anything. Now the Li family has been confiscated because of you, and we have nothing. You've turned your back on us? Those are your siblings."
"How much property I took has nothing to do with you. You need to understand that when Father started his business, it was my mother's money that made him successful. Without my mother, you wouldn't have lived a life of luxury all these years," Li Qingrou said smugly, looking at Madam Li. "Besides, what difference does it make if you disagree? Can Father listen to you? My mother only gave birth to me, so who are these brothers and sisters you speak of? You truly know how to flatter yourself."
Madam Li trembled with anger, knowing that arguing with Li Qingrou was futile. She went to Old Master Li's bedside and said, "Master, I've been with you for so many years. If I haven't earned merit, I've at least endured hardship. Now that I'm old, I don't even have clothes to wear, and I'm eating leftovers, cold meals. Forget about me, but Xuan'er and Yu'er are still of the Li family bloodline. If you don't care about me, you must at least care about them."
Madam Li felt a suffocating despair at the thought of spending her remaining days in this mansion.
"I'll have a good talk with Rou'er later." Old Master Li had some understanding of their predicament and knew that Rou'er had always been resistant to Madam Li and her children, ensuring they wouldn't have an easy life.
He doted on Li Qingrou, but Xuan'er and Yu'er were also his children. With nowhere else to go, he had no choice but to negotiate with Rou'er.
After speaking, he ordered a servant to fetch Li Qingrou. Before Li Qingrou even appeared, her voice could be heard. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she exclaimed, "Let's make one thing clear first. If it concerns your own affairs, we can discuss anything. But if it concerns those three, either they move out, or they follow my rules. Honestly, I'd rather they move out and I wouldn't have to see them."
Seeing Old Master Li falter, Madam Li, unwilling to give up, said, "It seems Master no longer cares about our lives. If that's the case, let's divorce. Write me a letter of severance, stating that the two children will follow me and have nothing more to do with your Li family."
"How is this possible? We're both so old. To divorce over such a trivial matter, if you're not afraid of embarrassment, I am. Yu'er is the only male heir of our Li family. How can he possibly follow you?" Old Master Li looked incredulous, unable to believe that these words were coming from the usually submissive Madam Li.
"People are dying, and Master neither helps nor lets us go. Do you expect us to throw ourselves to our deaths in front of you?" As she spoke, she walked towards the inner courtyard. "I'll call Yu'er and Xuan'er over. We'll all die before your bed. It's all because they came from my womb, and from childhood to adulthood, they have never received their father's affection."
Seeing that she was serious, Old Master Li felt uneasy. He did feel some guilt towards Madam Li and their two children. If he hadn't indulged Rou'er so stubbornly, they wouldn't have had to suffer with him. Su Dan Novel Network.
"Rou'er, help your father this once. No matter what, they are still your father's children. Once I recover, I will take them far away and they will never bother you again." Old Master Li pleaded with her.
"You're asking me for favors for others? Are you still the father who always said he loved me? Knowing that I don't get along with them, you still ask me to treat them well. I'll help you this time, but our father-daughter bond will be completely depleted. You're on your own." Li Qingrou looked at Old Master Li with immense disappointment before turning and running off.
Old Master Li reached out, his mouth opening and closing, wanting to say something but uttering nothing. In the end, he could only helplessly lower his hand.
When Old Master Li began to plead, Madam Li stood still, not moving. Her threatening words were merely to scare him.
That afternoon, the housekeeper's attitude towards them changed.
The Li family's misfortune was not yet over; things couldn't possibly remain so peaceful.
Two days later, Mother Liu and Liu Yixuan arrived.
Liu Yixuan wanted to appease Li Qingrou. She hadn't returned home for days, and it seemed she was determined to stay in town. He rushed over, fearing he would lose the duck he had almost cooked.
Mother Liu believed that the property in town belonged to her daughter-in-law, and therefore, to the Liu family. She had heard that the houses in town were large and comfortable. She had never visited them or experienced the life of a wealthy old lady, and how would she boast to the villagers otherwise?
When Qingrou heard that Liu Yixuan and Mother Liu were coming, she wasn't delighted but shocked, wondering what new trouble would arise.