Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Liu Sisi quickly helped the clan leader stand and guided him back to his chair to sit down.

The clan leader was filled with joy: “The Liu Family has not many talents, but there are plenty of scholars. As of now, we have four individuals who have passed the examinations for Cultivated Talent, and even more have become qualified students…It’s rare for grandniece to be willing to do these things for the Liu Family. On behalf of the Liu Family, I want to express our gratitude to you!” He made several formal bows towards Liu Sisi, and the clan elder at his side also had a delighted expression.

Liu Sisi quickly returned the bow and hurriedly said: “Lord Clan Leader, please don’t overly humble yourself before me. However, I must speak a harsh truth before we proceed. My husband has said that the academy will certainly want to recruit teachers, and will conduct a preliminary assessment. Moreover, the admission of students also requires examination.”

“Ah, of course, when the time comes, whatever the rules of the academy are, we, the Liu Family, will follow them accordingly. Yours truly understands these things, I do!” The clan leader nodded repeatedly.

Liu Sisi also relaxed. It was good that he agreed, and when the time came, if the examination was not passed, she wouldn’t be blamed for turning her face.

“However, I can arrange for the Liu Family to have several candidate spots, even the student quota, I can allocate a portion to the Liu Family. But, I also have a condition!”

The clan leader and the clan elder glanced at each other, and simultaneously asked, “What is the condition?”

…

Meanwhile, in the kitchen of the Liu Family, Liu Zhi’er was busy in front of the stove with Da Mao helping Ms. Yao.

There was a lot of leftover soup and other foods from lunch. Ms. Yao quickly stir-fried a few small dishes and steamed a little more rice— after all, the maids and women-servants who came with Liu Sisi also had to eat.

“Zhi’er, Sisi seems to have changed a lot recently. What happened?”

For Ms. Yao, Sisi was only married away a little over a year ago, just like the blink of an eye, how could she have changed so much?

“What happened? Mom, you are just filtering it out.”

Liu Zhi’er, having a moment to look up at Ms. Yao, said, “After all, she is a phoenix. Even if you pluck her feathers and put her among chickens, a phoenix is still a phoenix. Can the inherent pride in her be the same as ours?”

“This… can it be so?” Ms. Yao murmured.

However, a grand and unparalleled figure rose in her mind, who, with a turn and a smile, was so breathtakingly graceful and pure!

And standing beside her, she felt like green leaves by the side of a red flower, merely serving as a contrast!

“Mom, don’t treat her like the Sisi from the past anymore! Especially with big brother, it’d be best if you could advise him not to deliberately provoke Sisi. Sisi doesn’t owe him anything. On the contrary, what he owes Sisi cannot be repaid. If things continue like this, not even the Heavenly King will be able to protect him!”

Liu Zhi’er gave a solemn warning!

She knew that her father valued her big brother more than anyone else in the family!

But if he really upset her little sister, she felt that this time it probably wouldn’t end up so smoothly!

Meanwhile, Liu Xuer also came back to her senses from her memories: “When I first brought her home, she was very small, covered in blood, and staring at me with wide, bewildered eyes… I didn’t expect this!”

The topic was too heavy, causing everyone to fall silent.

When the rice was cooked, everyone brought the cooked dishes to the table.

The reason the dinner was served so early was to facilitate Liu Sisi and others leaving to return home. The mountain road was so long, it would take quite some time to travel.

The clan leader invited Liu Sisi to sit in the main seat, but she declined and chose to sit at the head of the left side instead. This was once the seat of Liu Baihan! Seeing Liu Baihan’s face immediately darken, she inexplicably felt extremely pleased!

There were eight people at this main table. The main seats were occupied by Liu Quan and the clan leader, while Liu Sisi sat at the head on the left side, and the two elders of the clan sat at the head on the right side. Liu Baihan was about to let Ms. Jia sit down at the foot of the table, but Liu Sisi stopped him abruptly!

“Hold on! Today is a rare gathering of us sisters, let Eldest Sister and Second Sister sit at the foot of the table!” Liu Sisi said with a mischievous grin.

Liu Baihan stared deeply at Liu Sisi, then turned his gaze to the seat next to her: “That’s fine! Our siblings haven’t had a good talk for a while, why not…”

“Mom! You’re finally here! Come over quickly, Sisi has reserved a space for you next to me!”

Liu Sisi interrupted what Liu Baihan was about to say and waved at Ms. Yao, who had just come out with a bowl of soup. She laughed, her eyes curving with warmth: “My mother and I haven’t had a good chat for a long time. We should take advantage of this rare reunion to catch up.”

Liu Baihan’s face instantly darkened at her words!

Liu Sisi stood up and helped Ms. Yao to sit down next to her.

“Sisi, this…this isn’t good, right? I… I…”

Ms. Yao glanced at the faces of the clan leader and Liu Quan above, then at the expressions of Liu Baihan and Ms. Jia beside her, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Ms. Jia’s eyes flickered, and she couldn’t help but sneer in her heart!

Such lowly things could never be elevated, even if she, Ms. Yao, wore a dragon robe, she could not become a crown prince! The more she tried, the more ridiculous she seemed! Did she even think about sitting at the table to eat? Ridiculous!

“Little Sister! Mom has been used to eating in the kitchen all these years, so it’s natural for her to feel uncomfortable sitting here suddenly, why don’t…”

Watching Ms. Yao shrinking and trembling under Ms. Jia’s gaze, the smile on Liu Sisi’s face gradually faded.

“Eldest Sister-in-law, do you admit she is your mother-in-law? Have you been delegating your mother-in-law to eat in the kitchen while you sit proudly at the table for meals?”

Her words were sharp and revealed a clear truth.

These words instantly changed the expressions of everyone present!

Even Ms. Jia herself was taken aback, quickly retorting: “What are you talking about, Little Sister? I, I as Eldest Sister-in-law, also eat like this, don’t I?”

“I, Liu Sisi, am not silly nor blind to the way our meals have been conducted in the past!”

Liu Sisi gently patted Ms. Yao’s hand, picked up her chopsticks first, and put a large piece of food into the bowl in front of Ms. Yao: “Mother, this is braised pork feet, your favorite dish. Eat it quickly!”

Ms. Yao was like a frightened bird at this moment! Seeing Liu Sisi picking up food for her, she immediately stood up in a hurry.

“Sisi, Sisi, I… In the past, it was my own choice not to eat at the table…This really has nothing to do with your Eldest Sister-in-law…” Ms. Yao’s eyes were full of pleading.

It was this plea that ignited a spark of anger in Liu Sisi’s heart! However, when she saw the look in Ms. Yao’s eyes, she sat back down and stopped talking.

This sudden change in her demeanor made everyone uneasy.

In the end, it was the clan leader who spoke: “Ms. Yao, as Si Er is rarely home, you should sit down and eat.”

Only then did Ms. Yao breathe a sigh of relief, she stood up, thanked everyone, and finally sat down.