Li Baomei was stunned, her eyes full of confusion.
Hadn’t Mom already agreed?
Then why was Li Baoqing still unhappy?
Qian Feng and Qian Mianmian exchanged a glance, not knowing what to say.
Li Baoqing lived such a comfortable life—they couldn’t understand what she was making a fuss about.
If Auntie were their mother, they’d be burning incense to their ancestors in gratitude.
“Alright, it’s late. Everyone go to sleep.”
Liu Meiling said that, but she couldn’t fall asleep. After thinking for a moment, she slapped her thigh. “You haven’t eaten, right? I’ll cook for you!”
Li Baomei quickly grabbed her. “Mom, we already ate. Third brother made porridge, and Mianmian stir-fried some cabbage.”
Qian Mianmian nodded and got off the kang, returning from the kitchen with a bowl of steamed egg custard. “Auntie, I didn’t know when you’d wake up, so I made this for you.”
Liu Meiling froze for a moment, unsure how to describe the feeling. In her previous life, not a single child had ever taken care of her like this.
Even when she was sick, she had endured it alone, forcing herself to take medicine.
Something in her heart softened. She smiled faintly, her nose tingling, took the bowl, and finished it in a few bites. “It’s good.”
Just then, Li Mingliang returned, bringing a chill with him. He stormed in and threw an envelope at Liu Meiling.
“Two thousand. That makes it up. I don’t owe you anything for all these years!
Tomorrow, go find that person and get the job back for Xiangru.”
Two thousand yuan was enough to buy a job outright.
Liu Meiling frowned, not understanding why Qin Xiangru would make such a losing deal.
But money delivered to your door—why refuse? Liu Meiling tucked it into her clothes without counting. The previous money was already in the bank; with this, she now had 8,800 yuan.
“The eldest is getting married. Just letting you know—you handle the arrangements. The Zhan family wants a 1,000 yuan bride price, a Phoenix-brand bicycle, and a sewing machine.
I’ve given you all my wages for the past decade. You won’t ignore family matters, will you?”
Li Mingliang had it all planned out—but to his surprise, Liu Meiling didn’t even lift her eyelids. She blatantly lied:
“What money? I don’t know anything.”
“The two thousand I just gave you! Everyone here saw it! You still want to deny it? Liu Meiling, have you no shame?!”
“Oh?”
“So what?”
Liu Meiling looked up lazily, her gaze sweeping across the room with quiet threat. “Who saw it?”
Baomei lowered her head. “I didn’t see anything.”
Qian Feng and Qian Mianmian looked everywhere but at him. Xiao Yuncheng grinned broadly and, under Li Mingliang’s hopeful gaze, said:
“You shameless old man, coming here to scam my mom?
What money?
What did it look like?
Who can prove it was yours?”
“You… you all…”
Li Mingliang trembled with rage. He had calculated everything—once the eldest’s wedding was done, the two thousand would be gone.
The money was already handed over.
But he hadn’t expected Liu Meiling to deny it outright!
And that money came from Xiangru!
If the job was gone, the wedding undone, and the money lost—what would Xiangru think of him?
Thinking of the consequences, Li Mingliang panicked. He lunged forward, grabbing Liu Meiling’s clothes, trying to snatch the money back.
Liu Meiling kicked him away and grabbed a pillow, smashing it into his face.
“Damn you, Li Mingliang, you’ve really got nerve!
What are you trying to do?
You want to hit me?
I’ve suffered with you for over twenty years, and now you want to hit me?!”
Caught off guard, Li Mingliang saw stars. “Shrew! Shrew!
I’m divorcing you!”
This life was unbearable!
At that shout, Li Baoguo, Li Baohuai, and Li Baojia all rushed out.
“What? Divorce?”
Li Baoguo’s eyes widened as he hurried into the east room. “Dad! You can’t lose your mind like this!”
His mom had been a bit temperamental these days, sure—but divorce? That was no small matter!
If the leaders found out his parents were divorcing at their age, how humiliating would that be?
“Dad, what are you doing? Why provoke Mom for no reason? Every family lives like this—why are you the one talking about divorce?”
Li Baohuai grumbled. Earlier that afternoon, he had seen his father and Aunt Qin being affectionate.
Before, he hadn’t thought much of it—but now, the more he thought, the more shocked he became.
Could it be… his mom’s recent behavior was because Dad was having an affair with Aunt Qin?
The thought made his heart tilt toward his mother.
His mom had raised five children all these years. His dad contributed nothing—and now he was cheating, being intimate with a cousin right in front of her. What woman could endure that?
Li Baojia stayed silent. After all these years, it was their mother who raised them—whether they had a father or not made little difference.
Li Mingliang was so angry he nearly vomited blood. “You ungrateful brats! Didn’t you see your father almost beaten to death? Help me up!”
Looking closer, his freshly bandaged wound had started bleeding again.
This frightened Baomei, who quickly grabbed Liu Meiling’s arm. “Mom, calm down, calm down!”
“Yeah, Mom, don’t argue with Dad!”
“Get up, the floor’s cold!”
After much persuasion, they finally helped Liu Meiling up.
Dizzy, Li Mingliang struggled to his feet, clutching the doorframe. “Divorce! Divorce! I can’t live like this another day!”
Li Baoguo objected immediately. “Dad, I’m about to get married and you’re talking about divorce? What will people say about my wife?”
Li Baohuai added fuel to the fire. “If you hadn’t provoked Mom, none of this would’ve happened! Why did you even come here?”
Li Mingliang felt faint, almost lifeless. He couldn’t believe these words were coming from his own sons.
He glared at Li Baoguo. “Who do you think I’m doing this for? It’s all for you!
I just gave her 2,000 yuan—she’s denying it now! That money is for your wedding!”
Li Baoguo’s heart warmed. His dad really had money—Mom hadn’t lied!
He looked at Liu Meiling expectantly. “Mom…”
Liu Meiling pursed her lips. “What money? I didn’t see anything.
Son, in all these years, when has your father ever paid for the family? You can’t just believe whatever he says. Ask everyone here—who saw it?”
Li Baoguo looked at Baomei. She shook her head. “I didn’t see anything!”
She really hadn’t seen anything! Truly!
She definitely didn’t see Mom tuck the envelope into her pocket!
Qian Feng and Qian Mianmian also shook their heads. The light in Li Baoguo’s eyes faded instantly.
“Dad, how could you do this? Didn’t you say you’d give it?”
Li Mingliang was heartbroken. He gave it—he really did!
“Pfft—”
He spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed, unable to hold on any longer.
He gave it.
He really gave it!
Seeing this, Liu Meiling felt an indescribable satisfaction.
Refreshing.
In her previous life, she had also said that her husband never gave money—but what did Li Baoguo say back then?
He said:
“Mom, stop pretending. Doesn’t Dad hand over his salary to you every month on time?
Did you waste it?
Not to criticize, but if you can’t manage money, then don’t…
No wonder Dad doesn’t even want to look at you…”