Over the past several days, whenever Jian Ru had come to the main house, he had noticed something. The place where Madam Li lived was actually not as comfortable as the room he shared with Li Jintong.
It wasn’t poor by any means, but neither was it particularly luxurious. For a family of their means, it was surprisingly modest.
Also, ever since marrying into the family, Jian Ru had cooked for himself. Some ingredients were delivered from the main kitchen by the kitchen servants, while others he sent Xiao Ning into town to buy.
Because he was caring for the Second Young Master, the meals were generally light and easy to digest, but they were still far better than what Jian Ru had eaten when living alone.
By ordinary standards, they ate quite well.
He had heard his sister-in-law, Li Qinglan, mention that everyone else ate from the main kitchen, as Madam Li did not allow individual households to cook separately. She personally decided the menu, even regulating how many times meat could be served each month.
So whatever was prepared was what everyone ate. Only during festivals or birthdays could extra dishes be made. Another rule was that nobody was allowed to waste food, so everyone should take only what they could finish. If Madam Li caught anyone leaving leftovers, they would be scolded and punished.
As they entered the courtyard, Li Jinhe, the Third Young Lady, came out to greet them. She had kind features and a beautiful face, but perhaps because her husband had died young and she had spent so many years as a widow, there was a lingering melancholy hidden in her eyes even when she smiled.
It naturally stirred sympathy in those who saw her.
On the night of the wedding, she had been the first to greet Jian Ru with a smile and a nod when he entered the house, and he had formed a very favorable impression of her.
Li Jintong and Jian Ru both greeted her, shouting, “Third Sister!”
Li Jinhe patted her younger brother’s shoulder, then took Jian Ru lightly by the arm and guided him inside, saying, “Go on. Everyone’s waiting for you.”
The couple entered the room, and Aunt Jin immediately took charge, leading them first to the main kitchen to pay respects to the Kitchen God. Both husbands knelt and kowtowed three times in prayer to the Kitchen God, asking him to protect the household and bless the family’s prosperity.
Afterward, Aunt Jin brought them into the inner room. According to custom, they first knelt before Madam Li and served her tea. Ordinarily, this would have been the moment Jian Ru formally changed the way he addressed his mother-in-law. But their situation was unusual, for he had already been calling her “Mother” for many days. The ceremonial red envelope, however, still had to be given.
As soon as Jian Ru was helped to his feet, a heavy red packet was pressed into his hands, and his cheeks immediately flushed with delight. After that came serving tea and paying respects to the elder siblings and their spouses.
Jian Ru greeted each person in turn.
Li Qinglan gave him a bolt of fine silk, suitable for making handkerchiefs or undergarments, while Li Jinhui and her husband gifted an expensive ginseng root prized for restoring health.
Even Li Jinrong, the aloof Second Young Miss of the Li family, gave him a treasured set of medical texts.
Xiao Ning carried all of those gifts back for him. As for Li Jinhe, she presented a translucent jade bracelet and personally slipped it onto Jian Ru’s empty wrist.
Watching her children together, Madam Li still felt a trace of regret that Jian Ru was somewhat ugly, but regardless, the family had gained a new member. Her youngest son was finally married, and she could now face her late husband without shame. That thought made her genuinely happy.
Besides, perhaps she had simply grown used to Jian Ru. Or perhaps he annoyed her so frequently that she no longer had the energy to stare at his face, ah…
Either way, the more she saw him, the more pleasing he looked.
However, Li Jinhui’s two children were seeing their scar-faced little uncle’s husband for the very first time, and both couldn’t help staring. Li Qiaozhi was old enough to know better and at least tried to be discreet, but the youngest, Li Xianyu, had no such restraint.
His chubby little legs carried him closer and closer until he was practically pressed against Jian Ru. Tilting up his round face, he stared openly. Seeing this, Li Jintong frowned, saying, “Li Xianyu, where are your manners? Don’t stare at people like that.”
The boy was somewhat afraid of his youngest uncle and immediately hid behind his father. Yet not long afterward, once he noticed Li Jintong wasn’t watching him anymore, he scampered back out. In a voice loud enough to shake the room, he pointed at Jian Ru and shouted, “Little Uncle-in-Law, you’re ugly!”
The moment those words left his mouth, everyone stopped talking, and the room fell into a frightening silence. Even Madam Li nearly sprayed out a mouthful of tea, and Li Jintong’s face darkened at once.
Zhao Pin hurried over, grabbed the boy, and scolded him, nagging, “What are you saying?! Apologize to your Little Uncle-in-Law right now!”
But Li Xianyu had been spoiled all his life, so why would he listen now? Twisting in his father’s grip, he shouted, “I’m not apologizing! He is ugly! He’s as ugly as a ghost!”
Unable to control his son, Zhao Pin shot a pleading look toward Li Jinhui, who set down her teacup and said casually, “Children say foolish things. I’ll educate him when we get home.”
At that, Li Jintong stepped forward, about to speak, but Jian Ru secretly tugged on his sleeve to stop him. Smiling, he said, “He’s just a child. Why bother arguing with him?”
Li Jinhui smiled as well, looking completely at ease. Then she watched as her youngest brother’s newly married husband strode up to Li Xianyu. Standing over the boy, Jian Ru planted one hand on his hip and pointed dramatically at him with the other. In a loud voice, he declared: “Li Xianyu, why are you so fat? You’re as fat as a pig!”
Someone let out a snort of laughter before hastily suppressing it, but the moment Li Xianyu heard that, he froze. His eyes, squeezed into narrow slits by his chubby cheeks, blinked in disbelief. Then he opened his mouth wide and burst into tears.
“Waaah!”
He liked eating and had grown quite plump, but he absolutely hated anyone commenting on his weight. Even Madam Li wasn’t allowed to call him fat, so this was the first time anyone had said it to his face so bluntly.
But Li Jinhui could no longer keep her composure, and her face flushed red with anger. She stood up, shot Jian Ru a glare, grabbed her son by the hand, and stormed out, slamming the door behind her with a loud bang.
As for poor Zhao Pin, he looked back and forth helplessly. Not daring to leave without a word, he first bowed to Madam Li, then departed with his daughter in tow.
Once their branch of the family was gone, the room immediately became much quieter. Madam Li wore an exasperated expression and waved a hand, dismissing everyone.
“Enough. We’ve been at this all morning, and everyone’s tired. Jintong, go back and rest. Jinfeng, go with him and check his pulse again.”
The two brothers acknowledged her instructions in turn. But as the Second Young Master prepared to leave, his eyes kept drifting toward Jian Ru.
Madam Li noticed and waved him off impatiently, coaxing, “Go on, go on. That husband of yours isn’t the sort anyone can bully.”
Truthfully, Jian Ru felt a little uneasy, but he wasn’t afraid of anyone else. The only thing he feared was Li Jintong being angry with him. Seeing that the other man showed no sign of displeasure, he relaxed.
Smiling at him, he said, “I’ll be back soon,” and only then did Li Jintong leave together with Li Jinfeng.
The sight left Madam Li feeling oddly sour.
With the two men gone, only the women remained, and everyone gathered around the table. Granny Wang came in carrying several plates of pastries and sunflower seeds.
Li Qinglan made a round with the teapot, pouring hot tea for everyone. Jian Ru also got up on his own initiative and fetched a cushion for Madam Li, tucking it behind her back.
A moment ago, Madam Li had still felt somewhat put out. But seeing that Jian Ru remembered her back pain, the last traces of irritation quickly melted away.
Li Jinrong still hadn’t put down her book, and she slowly sipped tea while reading. Li Jinhe also took out an unfinished embroidered handkerchief and continued stitching. After pouring tea, Li Qinglan leaned over to look, praising, “Third Sister, your lotus pattern is beautifully embroidered! The colors are lovely too.”
“It’s not as good as yours,” Li Jinhe smiled. “I can never get the stems quite right.”
Li Qinglan sat beside her, took the embroidery frame, and began helping her examine it. Jian Ru, having nothing to do, occupied himself by eating pastries, when Madam Li asked, “How has Jintong been these past couple of days? Is he eating and sleeping well?”
At that, Jian Ru answered in meticulous detail. When it came to her youngest son, Madam Li never grew impatient, no matter how much information she was given, so they were still chatting when the door opened again.
Li Jinhui had returned.
In her hands was a basin full of freshly boiled corn on the cob, steam rising from it. As soon as she entered, she began handing one out to everyone, and Jian Ru received one as well.
There wasn’t the slightest sign of the unpleasantness from earlier.
Breakfast had been served earlier than usual that morning, so Madam Li had instructed the kitchen to boil an extra pot of corn for anyone who got hungry later. Still thinking about her youngest son, she asked, “Did you send some to Jintong and them?”
“Don’t worry,” Li Jinhui smiled openly. “Nobody’s been forgotten. Granny Wang wrapped theirs in quilts to keep them warm and delivered them already. Xiao Ning got one too.”
Only then did Madam Li begin eating hers with peace of mind.
Holding his corn cob, Jian Ru kept sneaking glances at Li Jinhui’s face. Madam Li noticed and lowered her voice, saying, “Your eldest sister is just like that. She takes after me. She doesn’t hold grudges. Her temper comes quickly and leaves just as quickly.”
Jian Ru thought for a moment, then he scooted closer and leaned toward the old lady’s ear. Curious, Madam Li leaned in as well, wondering what her youngest son-in-law wanted to say.
Jian Ru glanced at the corn in his hand, then at Li Jinhui’s smiling face. In an extremely secretive whisper, he asked: “Your eldest daughter didn’t spit on my corn, did she?”
Madam Li stared at him, completely speechless. A moment later, she recovered. Half laughing and half exasperated, she smacked the back of Jian Ru’s head, shouting,
“Just eat your damn corn!”
T.N: If you like his novel, you can read up to chapter 23 on my Patreon, with new updates coming every week!
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