Just as the new home had been barely arranged, an ox cart carrying Li Erzhu came wobbling toward them.
As soon as the cart stopped, Li Dazhu and Li Sanzhu helped carry Li Erzhu down and settled him inside the stone house.
Li Suisui quickly stepped forward to support the somewhat haggard Wang Xiulian. “Mother, your complexion looks bad. Let me help you inside to sit and rest.”
Wang Xiulian forced a smile. “Suisui, don’t worry. Mother is fine.”
When Lin Guiying overheard this, it sparked another round of scolding.
“It’s bad enough that you couldn’t take good care of your husband. If you don’t take care of the child in your belly too, I won’t let you off!”
Zhang Chun’e stepped forward worriedly. “Second sister-in-law, your complexion really doesn’t look good. Listen to Mother and go rest inside. She’s just concerned about you.”
Wang Xiulian looked embarrassed. “Alright, I’ll listen to Mother. Thank you, Mother and Sister-in-law, for today. Erzhu and I will work hard to repay the money we owe you.”
“We’re family. Money is a small matter. What matters is that Second Brother recovers quickly.”
Zhang Chun’e truly was an open and generous person. Just listen to how dignified her words were—flawless, and they warmed people’s hearts.
Even Li Suisui, a modern-minded person, admired her.
“Hmph. During this time, you must take good care of your Second Uncle. As for repaying the money, we’ll talk about it after Erzhu recovers.”
Li Erzhu’s injury had cost a total of twenty taels of silver.
Ten taels came from selling the fishing boat. Five taels came from Old Man Li and Lin Guiying. Two taels were borrowed from Li Dazhu and Zhang Chun’e. Together with their family’s own three taels, they managed to gather the twenty taels.
After all this, not only had they lost everything, they were also left with a debt of seven taels of silver.
But it was alright. As long as the person was still alive, there was always a chance to start over.
“Hmm? Why do I hear crying?” Li Suisui looked into the distance and saw Li Niannian walking over, sobbing softly.
Feeling sorry for her younger sister, she hurried over and took her hand. “Niannian, what’s wrong?”
“Big Sister, I’m sad. Grandpa, Uncle, and Third Uncle all said it was my fault Father got hurt. They said I’m a jinx.”
“What happened exactly?”
“That crazy horse was originally going to trample me. Father got trampled because he was trying to save me.”
“And because of that, they called you a jinx?”
“Yes… sob…”
“Alright, stop crying. Don’t listen to them. Our Niannian is not a jinx.”
“But Father really got hurt because of me.”
“If Father was stepped on by the crazy horse, he only broke his leg. But if it had stepped on you, you might have lost your life.
I think if it happened again, Father would still save you without hesitation. Niannian, Father doesn’t think you’re a jinx. Why listen to outsiders?”
“But Grandpa and the others aren’t outsiders.”
“That’s right. They’re family too.
But compared to Father, they’re not as close.
I think we only need to care about what our parents think of us, because they are the closest people to us.
Alright, stop crying. Wipe your tears. Grandma and the others are here. If they see you crying, they’ll scold you again.”
Though Li Niannian only half understood, she still nodded.
“Okay… I won’t cry.”
“Come, go inside with me to see Father.”
When Li Suisui entered the stone house, Lin Guiying was talking to Li Erzhu.
Seeing Li Suisui enter, Lin Guiying quickly wiped her eyes. She had obviously been crying.
“I’ll leave first and come back later. Don’t worry about things at home. I’ll have your elder brother and third brother help out.”
“Grandma, we’ll see you off!”
“No need. Just take care of your father.”
Still, as a younger generation member, she felt she had to walk her out, so she hurried after her.
Once Lin Guiying left, the members of the eldest and second branches of the Li family left as well.
Only Old Man Li remained. He stayed behind to talk with Li Erzhu for a while before leaving.
Finally, it was Li Suisui’s turn to visit him. “Father, are you okay?”
Although Li Erzhu’s face was pale with illness, he still tried to pull out a gentle smile when he saw Li Suisui.
“Suisui, come here. Let Father check if you still have a fever.”
Li Suisui’s nose stung. Even though Li Erzhu was injured like this, he was still worrying about her.
“Father, I’m already better. But you must be in a lot of pain, right?”
“Yes, it hurt a lot at first. But it doesn’t hurt anymore now.”
Li Suisui took out the egg Li Yueyue had given her from her sleeve. “Father, this is the egg Sister Yueyue gave me. You eat it.”
“Since it was given to you by your cousin, you should keep it for yourself. Father doesn’t need it.”
“But I want Father to eat it. You’re injured and need nutrition.”
“Our Suisui was sick too. You need nutrition as well.”
“Father…” Li Suisui’s eyes filled with tears. This fatherly love felt heavy and overwhelming.
“You silly girl, why are you crying?”
“I’m touched. Father treats me so well.”
“Silly child. You’re my daughter. If I don’t treat you well, who would I treat well?”
“You have to treat me well too,” Li Niannian said softly as she peeked her head from behind the doorway.
“Hahaha, Niannian is also my daughter. Of course I’ll treat you well. Niannian, come in. Were you frightened today?”
“Yes… I was. Father bled so much. I was so scared that I cried… sob…”
“Niannian, don’t be afraid. Father is fine now.”
“But I’m still scared.”
“Good Niannian, Big Sister will give you this egg to eat. If you eat it, you won’t be scared anymore, okay?”
Li Niannian hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. “I won’t eat it. I’m not injured or sick. I don’t need the egg. Save it for Father, Mother, and Big Sister.”
“Sigh… looks like I can’t give away this egg today.”
Just then, Li Suisui saw Wang Xiulian walk in.
“Alright, since none of you want it, I’ll give it to Mother. Mother is pregnant with a little brother and needs more nutritious food.”
Wang Xiulian helped smooth the loose hair on Li Suisui’s forehead. “Our Suisui is becoming more sensible, just like a little adult. But Mother won’t eat the egg either. Drinking fish soup is enough for me.”
“Why does nobody want it?”
Truthfully, Li Suisui really wanted the egg, but she felt embarrassed to keep it for herself.
In the end, she thought of a compromise. She divided the small egg into four portions so that everyone could have a taste.