Gu Shao’an sighed. “Sister-in-law, the children are still young and don’t understand. We’ll teach them properly from now on. Today, let Da Bao and Er Bao apologize to Yan’er, and give her some money to buy medicine. How about that?”
Just then, Old Master Gu returned from the fields with Gu Dashan and the men of the household.
Seeing the tense atmosphere at home, Old Master Gu cast a cold glance at Li Xingyue and said, “What’s going on here? This is lawless!”
Thinking back to that day, when this eldest granddaughter-in-law had been so sharp-tongued and disrespectful in front of him, the grandfather still felt a sting of frustration.
He wondered what scene she was causing today.
Li Xingyue let out a cold laugh. “Grandfather, won’t you ask what actually happened first?”
Gu Shao’an furrowed his brows, looking troubled. “Sister-in-law, we genuinely want to resolve this. We’ll give more money—please show some face.”
Before Li Xingyue could reply, little Yan’er spoke up, “Second Uncle, I don’t want money. I just want Da Bao and Er Bao to promise not to bully me again.”
“What’s going on here?” Old Master Gu asked coldly.
Gu Dashan looked on curiously, glancing at Madam Qian.
Madam Qian was already fuming. “It’s just kids playing. That girl accidentally got hurt, and the Li family refuses to let it go, dragging it to our second branch!”
Old Master Gu and Gu Dashan both looked at little Yan’er, dismissing the matter with a glance. To them, a little girl falling wasn’t serious.
Old Master Gu straightened his back, assuming the authority of an elder, and said disdainfully, “Li family, this is your mistake. We are all one family. Children playing—why must you make such a fuss?”
Li Xingyue smiled faintly. “Grandfather, it seems in your heart, only Da Bao and Er Bao are truly your grandchildren. To you, Yan’er must be an outsider, right?”
Old Master Gu’s face flushed with anger. “Li Xingyue, you are lawless! How dare you talk nonsense?”
Li Xingyue sneered. “Isn’t it true? Grandfather, in your heart and eyes, it’s all about the second branch. I even wonder if my father-in-law is really your biological son.”
Old Master Gu was so angry his chest heaved; for a long moment, he couldn’t speak.
Over the years, villagers had gossiped about him openly and secretly, mocking him for favoring others’ children while neglecting his own.
His own son had been obedient but inept. He finally gave him a grandson, only for him to be worthless.
The second son had taken the Gu surname early on and always sought favor. Over the years, Old Master Gu treated him like a true son, as he was dutiful and studied diligently. If he achieved scholarly success, it would also bring honor to the Gu family.
That was why he had favored the second branch—it was all for the family’s reputation.
Seeing Old Master Gu so enraged, Gu Dashan quickly steadied him.
Grandmother Sun exclaimed, “Old man, are you alright?”
Then pretended to cry, “Eldest son, your father and I worked so hard raising you. Now, you’re going to drive us old couple to our graves!”
What a performance!
Li Xingyue scorned her silently. Grandmother Sun relied on status to morally blackmail her father-in-law—and by extension, the whole eldest branch. She was shameless.
Beside her, Gu Wan’er, still young, was unnerved by the outburst and gently tugged at Li Xingyue’s sleeve.
Li Xingyue patted her hand reassuringly.
In her mind, she wished the two old people would just die already. She ignored Grandmother Sun’s cries and looked at Gu Shao’an, speaking calmly. “They say a child’s misbehavior is the father’s fault. Er, you are the father of Da Bao and Er Bao. How do you plan to resolve this?”
Gu Shao’an glanced at the two boys, who stood with their heads lowered, and said, “Fine.”
He then spoke sternly to them. “Da Bao, Er Bao, apologize to Yan’er.”
The boys reluctantly stepped forward, mumbling, “Sorry, Yan’er.”
Li Xingyue was unimpressed. “Just a simple ‘sorry’?”
Gu Shao’an tried to reason with her. “Sister-in-law, Yan’er only has minor injuries. I’ll give one hundred wen for her to buy some ointment.”
Li Xingyue sneered internally. One hundred wen? That was insulting.
She smiled gently, speaking clearly. “A bottle of ordinary ointment costs at least one tael of silver. Yan’er was also frightened and needs a doctor to prescribe seven days of medicine. That would cost at least five hundred wen.”
“Let’s be fair, Er, I’m not greedy—I’ll settle for one and a half taels of silver.”
She smiled warmly, her expression soft.
“What?! One and a half taels! You’re dreaming!” Madam Qian’s face twisted with rage.
Gu Dashan was equally furious. “Li Xingyue, don’t go too far!”
“Too far?” Li Xingyue remained gentle. “Second Uncle, over the years, how much silver have you taken from my father-in-law under the pretense of Gu Shao’an studying to become an official?”
“Now, when it’s your turn to give a little, suddenly you care?”
“You…you…” Gu Dashan was left speechless, fuming.
Li Xingyue snorted coldly and looked at Gu Shao’an. “One and a half taels of silver.”
She rested one hand on her waist, the other on her still-flat belly. “I said silver, so let’s settle this quickly. I have no patience to waste time with you.”
Gu Shao’an gritted his teeth but maintained his composure.
“Fine, wait here,” he said, turning to drag Madam Qian inside.
Madam Qian fumed, cursing under her breath.
“Just a damn little girl, demanding money? She fell down—so what?”“Li Xingyue, you unfilial daughter-in-law! I’ll go complain to the clan elders!”“Sister-in-law is useless—can’t even discipline a daughter-in-law!”
“Mother, stop fussing. Just take the silver first,” Gu Shao’an frowned.
Madam Qian slapped his hand away. “An’er, you’re really giving her silver?”
Gu Shao’an sighed. “Mother, we can’t let Li Xingyue keep causing a scene and make the villagers laugh at us.”
Madam Qian sneered. “What’s there to fear? The official exam is near, and the eldest branch doesn’t even help, yet let the village see how Li Xingyue pressures our second branch.”
Gu Shao’an shook his head. “I’ve said my word. We can’t go back on it.”
Madam Qian gritted her teeth. “But she can’t just demand whatever she wants! Even one hundred wen would have been generous.”
Gu Shao’an sighed. “Fine. If this drags on, we second branch lose face. Let’s just give them the silver.”
For Madam Qian, giving out silver was worse than cutting off her own flesh—but there was nothing she could do. Her son said to give it, and she dared not disobey.
She opened the box to take out the silver, cursing all the while.