Сhаpter 3: Тhеn Оnе Yеar It Is.
How соuld a pеrson be sо uttеrlу dеtеstаble.
Jing Gе tоld him: “It wаs Unсle Li and Аunt Man who invited mе tо staу fоr а whilе. I’ll lеavе—аs sоon as thеу return, I’ll gо immediatelу.”
“…” Li Zhan’s еxpressiоn turned сold. “Gо whеre?”
Jing Ge: “Вack to mу hоmе, аnd I’ll never соmе аgain!”
Staring аt her fоr a momеnt, Li Zhan suddenlу sneerеd: “You’re going tо mаrrу ovеr hеre soonеr or lаtеr anywаy, what аre уоu bеing so fussу about?”
Jing Gе’s lips movеd: “Тhеn I won’t marry—”
Before she соuld finish, Li Zhan sharply сut hеr off, his tone сutting: “Is thаt up to you or me? Blame it on the fact that we’re of different genders. If only you were a man, this engagement could have been passed down!”
The engagement was arranged in their great-grandfather’s generation.
Unfortunately, after it was set, both sides in their grandfather’s generation were men, and in their father’s generation, again, all men—until Li Zhan and Jing Ge’s generation.
Finally, a man and a woman were matched.
It was as if the engagement had to be fulfilled, like completing some kind of cult ritual.
Swallowing her grievances, Jing Ge retorted: “If only you were a woman, I wouldn’t have to be tied to you either!”
Li Zhan’s tone darkened: “Jing Gege…”
For the second time.
That name had appeared twice tonight.
Jing Ge hated it most when people called her Jing Gege!
Being mocked for sharing a name with Jingge Hotpot was bad enough, and then later, when her younger brother Jing Beile was born, her miserable fate was more than just adding insult to injury—it was downright tragic!
Her life, because of this name, felt like being roasted over hot coals.
Classmates bullied her outright: “Here comes the leftover from the Qing dynasty! Greetings, Gege! Salutations, Beile!”
Jing Ge was also very fragile, easily breaking down. She would go home, throw tantrums, and cry to her parents, insisting on changing her name.
Her parents changed it for her.
From Jing Gege to Jing Ge.
They said both her and her brother Beile’s names had their reasons and couldn’t be changed drastically.
The three characters “Jing Gege” were like someone taking a dump on her head.
And Li Zhan had done it twice in one night.
Jing Ge couldn’t take it anymore. She stomped on his foot, then pushed him away with a fierce shove, storming angrily into the living room.
Li Zhan clutched his foot, furious: “Jing Gege!!”
Jing Ge stomped back and gave him another shove, pushing him—standing on one foot—right out the door.
Li Zhan’s face turned livid with rage.
The two of them stood before Li Musi, neither looking at the other.
The auntie cautiously brought a pot of hot water.
Li Musi, expressionless, poured himself a cup: “Sit down.”
Li Zhan didn’t hold back, sprawling into a chair.
Li Musi lifted his eyelids: “Did I say you?”
“…” Li Zhan was incredulous. “Uncle, don’t be biased!”
Li Musi: “You stand.”
The Li family had strict rules; elders were like layers of heaven. Moreover, Li Musi was a serious man. No matter how much of a scoundrel Li Zhan was, he didn’t dare defy him.
The scene changed instantly.
Jing Ge sat, while Li Zhan stood.
“About what happened tonight,” Li Musi looked at them, “who wants to explain?”
Li Zhan sneered: “Didn’t she tattle on the way here?”
Li Musi: “Speak only when I call on you.”
Li Zhan choked.
Li Musi was concise: “Whoever speaks, raise your hand.”
“…”
This wasn’t elementary school.
Jing Ge didn’t raise her hand.
She couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Li Zhan was even less likely. No matter how much he quarreled with Jing Ge, it was a private matter. Once it became public and involved his own uncle, he feared Li Musi would skin him alive.
Seeing no one speak, Li Musi leaned back in his chair: “Zhang Ma, is Li Ying asleep?”
“Not yet.”
“Call her down.”
“Alright.”Li Ying is Li Zhan’s younger sister, ten years old this year and in the fifth grade.
Although the little girl is academically challenged, when it comes to tattling and holding grudges, she is like a walking video recorder—able to recount everything exactly as it happened, word for word.
Moreover, she absolutely loves to stir up trouble.
Li Ying said eagerly, “Sis-in-law… Sis got her paycheck and bought a gift for Uncle, saying she wanted to thank you. My brother saw it and said Sis was trying to seduce you. Sis got really angry… blah blah blah.”
Li Zhan enunciated each word, “It wasn’t as blatant as you’re making it sound!”
Li Ying, “That’s exactly what you meant.”
Li Musi patted her head, “Be good, go upstairs and sleep.”
Li Ying, “I want to see how my brother gets punished.”
Li Musi, “It’s not interesting.”
Li Ying, “Now I want to see even more.”
Li Musi, “Go upstairs.”
“…Oh.”
The little girl stomped off angrily.
Li Zhan’s expression darkened, while Jing Ge remained silent.
After a brief pause, Li Musi spoke, “Where’s the gift?”
Jing Ge hesitated, “I threw it away.”
Li Musi, “How much was your paycheck?”
Jing Ge, “4,600. 4,000 base salary, 600 for perfect attendance.”
She was still in her probationary period, so there were no commissions yet.
Li Musi, “How much did the gift cost?”
Jing Ge, “…4,000.”
She was afraid that something cheap wouldn’t be good enough to give, and wouldn’t show her sincerity.
Li Zhan seemed to snort coldly.
Out of a 4,600 paycheck, she spent 4,000 on Li Musi alone, bought a cake for Li Ying, and… for him and everyone else, nothing at all!
Li Musi lowered his gaze, thinking for a moment, “Have Li Zhan reimburse you.”
“…Why should I!” Li Zhan fumed, “She didn’t buy anything for me!”
Li Musi looked at him, “I won’t accept this gift. She could have returned it, but now, because of your slander, she threw it away. The responsibility lies with you.”
“……”
Li Zhan gritted his teeth.
Fine!
If he has to pay, he’ll pay!
It’s just 4,000 yuan. Who else is like this girl, working hard for a whole month just to earn 4,600!
Li Musi gestured with his chin, “Apologize.”
Li Zhan was incredulous, “I’m already paying for it, and I still have to apologize?”
Li Musi didn’t waste words, “Apologize.”
Li Zhan’s jaw muscles tightened.
“S-o-r-r-y!”
Li Musi frowned, “Bow, and address her properly.”
“……” Li Zhan’s chest heaved, unable to lower his head.
Li Musi remained calm and indifferent, turning his phone over and dialing a number, putting it on speakerphone, “Second Brother, when are you and Second Sister-in-law planning to come back?”
“…What’s wrong?” The man’s voice on the other end paused, “Did the kid cause trouble?”
Li Musi’s cold gaze remained fixed on Li Zhan, “Raising a child is the parents’ responsibility. You can’t just give birth and then dump them on someone else. If others wanted to raise a child, couldn’t they have their own?”
Li Zhan’s father is Li Kaiji, a professor at the university. This time, he went out with his wife for academic research.
A legitimate reason.
Li Kaiji knew his younger brother’s temperament and didn’t even ask, “Do whatever you want. If you beat him to death, it’s on me and your sister-in-law.”
Li Zhan, “…”
Li Musi smiled faintly, “I don’t recommend physical punishment.”
Li Zhan quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Li Musi, “How about cutting off his living expenses for six months instead?”
“……”
“Um… little brother,” Li Kaiji coughed, “He’s only a junior in college, with no source of income. Isn’t six months a bit too long?”
Li Musi sighed, “Second Brother, back then, it should have been me who pursued the humanities.”Yet because Li Kaiji was unwilling to take over the group, it could only fall to him.
It was as if his second brother had snatched away his dream.
“…” Li Kaiji felt a chill run down his spine. “Fine! A year it is!”
Li Musi seized the opportunity: “Then a year it is.”
Li Zhan: “”