Li Xixi had cut her own coat to pieces leaving hers as the only one of its kind. Li Chuxin shared their room and now pulled both garments from the wardrobe her own badly mended one and Xixi’s bright flawless one.
Seeing them she remembered how people had said she looked better in the matching coat because of her fairer skin and stronger build. Xixi had grown unhappy so Chuxin had hidden hers away never wishing to cause hurt. The next morning she found Xixi’s coat shredded while hers remained whole. Xixi wept bitterly and everyone looked at Chuxin as though she were the villain.
They accused her of jealousy and spite. She had tried offering her coat to make things right only for her second brother to strike her in the stomach knocking her unconscious. When she woke the coat had been given to Xixi and she was branded the jealous destroyer. No matter how she protested her eldest brother claimed to believe her yet deep down he had already decided she was guilty. Her second brother apologized but his eyes told another story. She had spent two full days sewing the tattered pieces back together herself.
She held both coats out. “This mended one is mine stitched back together a hundred times. This bright whole one belongs to Second Sister. Aunt Zhang was the rider wearing this coat the day of the accident?”
Li Jianhan saw the countless stitches across the red fabric and remembered clearly their mother had sent both coats from Sijiucheng. “Chuxin why do you parade this before us? You cut it up yourself. Do you think I cannot see that? You were jealous of how she looked in it so you destroyed hers.” He was convinced she was wicked and unrepentant.
Li Jianyong agreed his hand still throbbing painfully. “Xixi cried for days. She wept because she failed to guide you properly. I struck you then hoping you would see the error of your ways. Later seeing you well I thought better of it.”
Li Xixi gripped her hands tight watching the coats nearly forgetting the incident. She felt smug and confident her brothers would stand by her as always. “Sister has always coveted my things. It is natural she would wear what is mine. I do not begrudge her.” Her words made her sound generous and kind while Chuxin appeared selfish and troublesome.
With tears welling she said gently. “I would do anything for you Sister but I cannot take the blame. It would not help you truly.”
Li Chuxin was unmoved. “You have not changed. You still try shifting everything onto me.” She handed the flawless coat to the witness. “Aunt Zhang is this what you saw?”
Li Xixi lowered her head biting her lip. “I want to help truly I do. But who will look after Father and earn tuition for Elder Brother? I have secured a position for Father. Who will manage these things if I go?” She remembered how in her past life Chuxin had gone to prison so she could take the job and leave for Sijiucheng ensuring the family prospered. This time would be no different.
Li Jianhan spoke with deep feeling. “Xixi you sacrifice so much for us. You deserve better. I will not let you suffer in her place.”
Li Jianyong glared fiercely. “I will not let her wicked plot succeed.”
Li Weiguo looked at his adopted daughter with gratitude. “You have such a good heart. Positions are precious and hard to come by yet you would give yours away without a second thought.”