Song Hanmei’s face darkened so much it looked like it could drip water.
“At a time like this, you’re still taking Ying Sisi’s side. Are you not afraid she’ll end up living better than you in the future?”
Li Yuwei was at a loss for words.
She couldn’t possibly tell her mother about reincarnation.
Even if she did, her mother wouldn’t believe her.
In order to ensure Ying Sisi could smoothly marry Qin Yanci, she gritted her teeth and said, “Mom, Qin Yanci isn’t what you think he is. Don’t try to arrange marriages blindly. You should go apologize to Sister. After all, she is Dad’s daughter too.”
Song Hanmei was almost driven mad with anger.
Inside the room, Li Junlu was silent for a moment, seemingly choosing his words carefully.
“Sisi, since you came to this family, you’ve never once called Auntie ‘Mom’. She hasn’t held it against you, which shows she is generous and kind.”
“The reason she has you do chores is, first, to train you to be diligent so your in-laws will like you. Second, so you won’t feel like she doesn’t treat you as family. After all, which guest does chores? Only family does.”
Ying Sisi nearly laughed from anger.
So she should be grateful for Song Hanmei’s “training”? Grateful for being treated as family like this?
She didn’t buy it.
“I can’t accept such ‘good treatment’!” she said directly.
Li Junlu sighed, then followed her meaning. “Alright, you don’t have to do chores anymore. Just prepare properly to be the bride.”
Even so, Ying Sisi still felt irritated. But she wasn’t actually planning to leave anyway—after all, she still had a lot of postage stamps to sell.
Where would she sell them in the countryside?
She puffed her cheeks and reluctantly gave a muffled “mm.”
Li Junlu comforted her a bit more, then left, closing the door behind him. As he turned, he met Li Yuwei’s eyes.
“Yuwei, when you’re free, help Sisi with some housework.”
“Dad, I didn’t expect that because I’ve been a bit lazy lately, Sister would get so angry. I’ll apologize to her.”
The more obedient Li Yuwei appeared, the more Ying Sisi seemed unreasonable by comparison.
Li Junlu patted her shoulder lightly. “You’re more considerate.”
Children raised in the countryside really weren’t quite up to standard.
Usually they acted timid and obedient, but in reality they lacked proper manners.
He sighed a little regretfully. “Your mother said Qin Yanci is tall and handsome. Back then I told you to agree to the engagement, but you insisted…”
“Dad, Sister has no education and no job. She needs this marriage more than I do.”
“Good child, you’ve suffered. Doing this for Sisi… I just worry she won’t be grateful.”
“…”
Ying Sisi’s hearing was excellent. Even through the door, and even though they lowered their voices deliberately, she still caught every word.
As expected—this really was a family. Even hypocrisy looked the same.
Still, through this incident, she completely understood Li Yuwei.
She also realized that this marriage had originally been “given” to her by Li Yuwei.
Qin Yanci was outstanding in every way, yet Li Yuwei didn’t want him—she avoided him like a snake or scorpion, while instead favoring a rather rough, unimpressive troublemaker.
That didn’t make sense.
The only possible explanation was that Li Yuwei knew Qin Yanci’s “flaws.”
But Qin Yanci had been in the northwest all along. How could Li Yuwei have had contact with him?
She couldn’t figure it out, so she decided to visit the Qin family the next morning and also ask neighbors about Qin Yanci’s character.
Early the next morning.
Ying Sisi secretly brought some snacks and went to the Qin household in the east district.
She had only been there twice before—once for a meeting arranged by Qin Yanci’s mother, and once for the engagement.
At this moment, the Qin family gate was tightly shut.
She knocked. “A Ci, A Ci.”
After the second call, movement came from inside.
“What are you doing here? Go back!”
She could hear anger hidden in the voice.
Is there no one else in the house?
At that moment, a neighbor aunt peeked out from beside the door to watch.
Ying Sisi glanced at her, then continued knocking, speaking gently and softly:
“A Ci, I came especially to see you. Please open the door first. It’s very cold outside.”