Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Unexpectedly, Liu Sisi had stayed at the clinic to take care of Ms. Xin yesterday, and missed Ms. Wang.

Upon entering the residence, Ms. Wang dragged Ms. Zhao aside. The two whispered to each other for a while before finding Elderly Mr. Di.

“Gaoyuan, what brings you here?”

Elderly Mr. Di squinted his eyes as he looked at the sneaky Ms. Wang.

As a father, he knew his son well. Di Gaoyuan had always been a man of few emotions, and Ms. Wang was cunning and penny pinching. Knowing that they had come here early in the morning, he didn’t believe their intentions were innocent.

“Dad, it’s nothing! Gaoyuan just missed you and wanted to come and see you.”

Di Gaoyuan chuckled awkwardly, his eyes occasionally glancing at Ms. Wang, clearly seeking help.

But Elderly Mr. Di did not pursue the matter further. He picked up his dry pipe and loaded it with tobacco, before fumbling for flint to light it. He then remembered he hadn’t smoked dry tobacco in a long time, so where would flint be? He held the pipe in his hand and looked at Di Gaoyuan.

Di Gaoyuan helped him light the pipe. Under his father’s gaze, Di Gaoyuan felt his scalp tingle and forced a smile before lowering his head in embarrassment.

Ms. Wang, who had been waiting for an opportunity to speak, was delighted when Elderly Mr. Di asked about their reason for being there. She hurried over.

“Father-in-law! There was a huge incident in the city yesterday, involving Third Brother. I don’t know if you’ve heard about it?”

Elderly Mr. Di’s body shuddered ever so slightly before he snorted dismissively.

+”What have I heard?”

He picked up his pipe and took several puffs.

Ms. Wang secretly nudged Di Gaoyuan, but he pretended to be an innocent bystander and remained silent, much to her annoyance!

Elderly Mr. Di indifferently observed their actions and didn’t say anything else.

Left with no choice, Ms. Wang rubbed her hands and began speaking: “Father-in-law! There was a major incident at the governmental office yesterday! Third Brother was arrested. Moreover, everyone who tried to speak up for Third Brother was apprehended one by one by Lord County Magistrate. He even said that whoever speaks on behalf of Third Brother would be treated as an accomplice. This…”

After her lengthy explanation, Elderly Mr. Di was still smoking his pipe calmly, without responding.

Ms. Wang looked at Ms. Zhao, who also waved at her to continue. So, she gritted her teeth and pressed on.

“Father-in-law! According to the imperial court’s decree, government criminals are either exiled thousands of miles away or sent to work in the mines. Both are dead ends! Our Di family has never had a criminal in all the generations that have passed, starting from our ancestors. If we create such a precedent now, won’t our ancestors rise up from their graves to scold us, their descendants?”

Unexpectedly, after suffering many setbacks, it seemed Ms. Wang had become wiser.

Elderly Mr. Di put down his pipe and knocked out the ashes on the ground. His eyelids flickered ever so slightly.

“Even if our ancestors were to scold us, they would scold me, the old man. It’s not your turn to worry about it. Instead of worrying about these unnecessary things, it’s better to go back to the fields and loosen the soil. Spring plowing will begin soon, and we should be preparing for that.”

These were not the words they wanted to hear!

Ms. Wang would not give in!

Despite the cold glances Di Gaoyuan sent her, she stubbornly took two steps forward.

“Father-in-law! I’ll be blunt! Third Brother has committed a serious crime of murder. Now, he has been thrown into the black prison and is about to be sent to Gongzhou City. Government crimes are subject to the clan punishment system. We should expel Third Brother from the Di family while the official sentence has not yet been handed down…”

“Enough!”

Elderly Mr. Di was infuriated and slammed the table, preventing Ms. Wang from continuing.

Ms. Wang, naturally, refused to back down: “Father-in-law, Di Yelei may be your son, but Gaoyuan is also your son! Are you willing to watch our entire family perish because of one son? Moreover, Third Brother had already caused the death of his mother and wife…”

“Enough! I said enough!”

Enraged, Elderly Mr. Di stretched his hand out and flipped the table.

The table crashed to the ground, almost hitting Ms. Wang directly, startling her!

Her face turned pale with fear.

“If you’re afraid of being implicated by my Di family, there’s a simple solution! Gaoyuan, when you get home, write a divorce letter, and you can go back to your Wang family. From then on, you won’t have to worry about my Di family implicating you. Get out!”

Elderly Mr. Di was truly furious!

Not only did he overturn the table, but he also raised his crutch, appearing as if he was about to strike down.

“Dad!”

“Dad! ——”

“Old man…”

Several people cried out in shock at the same time, all rushing forward to stop Elderly Mr. Di. Some were holding onto his crutch, while others were holding onto his arm. At this moment, these three people were quite united.

The scene that Liu Sisi saw when she walked in was just this.

“What’s going on? Dad?”

As Liu Sisi spoke, the entangled group stopped fighting and turned to look at her together.

“Si, Sisi…”

Elderly Mr. Di was somewhat at a loss, finally calming down and slowly lowering his crutch.

Ms. Wang’s eyes rolled around restlessly, and even Di Gaoyuan and Ms. Zhao next to her avoided Liu Sisi’s gaze.

“Dad, has everyone had breakfast? Would you like to have more together?”

Liu Sisi did not ask why, and she did not want to.

Given Ms. Wang’s character, it was clear what had happened when she was nearly hit by the old man with his crutch.

Already exhausted, she had no interest in getting involved with whatever drama Ms. Wang was stirring up!

“Third Sister-in-law, we have all had breakfast. You can have yours.”

In the end, it was Di Gaoyuan who spoke.

Liu Sisi laughed softly and glanced at everyone before faintly scanning them one by one: “Alright then!”

Having said that, she turned and headed to the kitchen.

Ms. Wang, who was standing to one side, became anxious!

“I say, Third Sister-in-law, at a time like this, how can you still have the face to pretend? Don’t you see yourself for what you are? We’re about to be thrown into prison, and yet you still have that arrogant expression on your face. Who are you putting on this act for?”

Liu Sisi’s steps paused, and she couldn’t help but turn to look back. Then, she laughed!

“Who can compare with you? You pretend to be human, but who knows what’s inside?”

“How dare you! You’re calling me a beast?” Ms. Wang was furious.

“Beasts never realize that they’re beasts, especially when they look just like humans.”

Liu Sisi shook her head and continued speaking. Talking to such a beast was just a waste of time, so she turned and entered the kitchen.

“You… Liu Sisi, you come back here!” Ms. Wang finally realized that she was being insulted.

“By the way, since you have no intention of having Ye Lei as your brother, from now on, Ye Lei will no longer have a sister-in-law like you! You better take care of yourself!”

As soon as Liu Sisi left, the people outside stared at each other with wide eyes.