Since it was a family meal, Li Baojia guessed that she should be leaving now.
Li Baojia wanted to get out of there after she saluted them, but she was stopped by Nanny Lin, who had just come from Huang Ru'er's place. She said to Li Baojia, "Miss, Madam asked you to go to have the meal together. The master said there had not been a family reunion for a long time, so he asked you to the meal as well."
What?
Li Baojia did not want that. She would rather eat something from her own small kitchen. She ate whatever she wanted and didn't have to say polite words to deal with those people.
But now that her father had asked her to go to that meal, she had to go.
Li Mingxuan beside her said, "Well, let's go."
Li Baojia nodded. "Alright."
When they arrived, they found that Huang Ru'er and Qin Ke had already sat down. Li Wangde hadn't come yet. Li Li was hunched over the table beside them and saying, "Mom, where is daddy? I am starving!"
Qin Ke glared at him and said, "Get up quickly! Do you remember what I taught you? Behave! Your father is busy every day, so you should be considerate."
Huang Ru'er had no expression. She sneered at Qin Ke's words inside. If Qin Ke were so strict, Li Li would not be like this.
Li Li was only seven or eight years old. He was so glib. He was only interested in those beautiful maids' flowers.
Qin Ke used to say that Li Mingxuan did not grow up with her and was not close to her. Now Li Li had always been with her, but he turned out to be a bad kid.
Li Li pouted his mouth and started nudging the table.
When Huang Ru'er saw Li Baojia coming, she smiled and said, "Baojia, you are here. Come and sit beside me."
Li Baojia sat down right next to Huang Ru'er. Qin Ke was also glad to see Li Mingxuan coming. Li Li looked at his brother and said, "Brother, you are back. Did you bring me a gift?"
Li Mingxuan's holiday was one day earlier than usual. Naturally, he did not have much preparation. He scratched his head slightly in embarrassment and said, "Lili, I was in a hurry to come back this time. I'll buy a present for you at the Lantern Festival."
Li Li was spoiled at home. He got unhappy, so he replied, "Mingxuan, did you spend all your time buying a gift for Li Baojia, so you didn't buy anything for me?"
Qin Ke patted Li Li's hand and said, "What are you talking about, Lili? Your brother was in a hurry to come back. Didn't he say he would buy you one at the Lantern Festival to make it up for you? Don't make a scene."
Huang Ru'er sneered. "It's time to discipline him. It's rude of him to call his sister directly by her name when he sees her sister, right?"
Li Baojia did not say anything. She had seen this scene many times from childhood to adulthood. It was like an endless drama. Each time it would be the same scene.
Li Li stood up from the stool and said, "I don't care! I want the gift today! Don't think I don't know that you just bought a present for Li Baojia!"
"Mom! He would rather buy a present for Li Baojia than for me! Obviously, I am his biological brother, right?"
After hearing this, Qin Ke looked at Li Mingxuan suspiciously, but she still pulled Li Li and said, "Your brother didn't buy anything. Sit down quickly."
Li Mingxuan felt helpless.
At the same time, he was also a little upset. At home, as an elder brother, he could only feel himself being an elder brother when facing Li Baojia. Li Li had no respect for him.
Qin Ke loved Li Li very much and spoiled him. She never disciplined him in the face of his wanton behavior but let Li Mingxuan tolerate his younger brother.
Li Wangde had another son in his late fifties, so he naturally loved Li Li more. Although Li Wangde did not spoil Li Li as much as Qin Ke, he never scolded Li Li.
Li Wangde was strict with Li Mingxuan. He always said that Li Mingxuan was the eldest son of the family. The family's burden would be placed on Li Mingxuan's shoulders in the future. But Li Mingxuan always thought about what else would happen after he became the head of the family.
Now Li Mingxuan could not control Li Li. And he did not want to teach Li Li. He still did not want to take care of Li Li in the future.
Li Li said angrily, "Ask him to take out the thing in his sleeve. He must have bought something for Li Baojia."
He had already seen a long cylindrical bulge on Li Mingxuan's sleeve, which meant that Li Mingxuan must have hidden something.
Li Li thought he was Li Mingxuan's biological brother. Last time Li Li asked Li Mingxuan to buy crickets for him, but Li Mingxuan didn't. He only bought things for Li Baojia. This time, Li Li wanted his mother to teach Li Mingxuan a lesson.
Qin Ke did not know what she should do now. She turned to Li Mingxuan and said, "Mingxuan, well, your brother is very noisy now. How about you just show him what is inside your sleeve? After that, he will be quiet."
Qin Ke was doing this again. Qin Ke always preferred Li Li.
Li Mingxuan suddenly felt dizzy. He reached his hand into his sleeve. If it were an ordinary thing, it would be okay.
As the family's eldest son, Li Mingxuan did not get the respect he deserved. His brother could even fool around in Li Mingxuan's study at will, but Li Mingxuan could not say anything to complain.
Qin Ke saw that he was still reluctant to take the thing out of his sleeve, and she felt that Li Li might be right. Then she said to Li Mingxuan, "What are you doing? Why don't you show your brother the thing inside your sleeve? Is that hard for you?"
"Did you really buy something for Li Baojia but not for your brother? How can you do that?"
Li Mingxuan took out the thing in his sleeve. It was a long wooden box with a lotus design carved on it. It looked very exquisite.
Qin Ke took it and opened it. Inside it was a delicate pearl head ornament, which was pink and blue. The color was trendy recently, and it looked precious.
This seemed to be a present for the Lantern Festival.
Qin Ke looked up and said, "Is this for some girl?"
Li Mingxuan closed his eyes and took back the box. He then said, "Mom, I'm not feeling well today, so I cannot have lunch with you. I'll go to read my book first."
He turned around and walked away. Qin Ke said behind him, "You can't date those girls outside. I won't agree. Do you hear me?"
Li Baojia only looked at these things with cold eyes.
Qin Ke looked shrewd, but she was only good at pleasing men. She was extremely bad at disciplining her sons.
She always thought that she did not bring up Li Mingxuan. When Li Mingxuan was young, he was with his grandma. Later, he followed Li Wangde. Li Mingde had never talked about that. Li Mingxuan's grandma had never liked Qin Ke. Therefore, Qin Ke thought Li Mingxuan's grandma had also made Li Mingxuan dislike his own mother.
Qin Ke had a suspicious frame of mind. She also felt that her son did not obey her and was close to Li Baojia. She thought that that son was unreliable. Li Li, who she raised on her own, seemed to be more reliable in her opinion. Therefore, she preferred Li Li more obviously.
However, she didn't know that the more she was like this, the further she would push Li Mingxuan away. After all, who could stand a mother who had always been eccentric and suspicious?
Huang Ru'er was very happy at that time. She was watching the show. As long as Qin Ke was upset, she would be satisfied.
Qin Ke turned around, glared at Li Li, and said, "You are such a troublemaker."
Li Li obviously knew that he had made a mistake. This time, he sat quietly in his chair.
Li Wangde came slowly from the door and met Li Mingxuan, who was going out.
Li Mingxuan saluted him, "Father."
Li Wangde said, "What's the matter? I already heard your guys talking from outside."
Qin Ke hurriedly said, "Well, nothing's wrong. Lili was just kidding with his brother, making him angry."
Qin Ke turned around and said, "Lili, apologize to your brother now."
Then she lifted him and pushed him forward, "Hurry up."
Li Wangde laughed, flicked Li Li's forehead affectionately, and said, "Your brother just came home. And now you are driving him away? That's so impolite of you."
Then Li Wangde turned to Li Mingxuan and said, "Don't be angry at a kid. Come and eat. Your younger brother is still young. It's normal that he is naughty. You should have some patience and tolerance. Don't be so petty."