A box full of medicinal herbs had caught the attention of everyone in the Li family. Now, the Eldest Son's family clearly intended to claim that box of herbs for themselves, and this really irked Old Madam Li.
Adding to her frustration was the fact that yesterday, Li Wuya had fought with Li Changlin. Not only did Jin Yue'e not scold Li Wuya, she didn't even come to apologize to Li Changlin. This further fueled Old Madam Li's anger.
During breakfast that morning, Old Madam Li had a visibly long face, clearly showing her displeasure.
In the current societal environment, in most families, the elderly were the decision-makers. Moreover, with the Great Chu Empire emphasizing filial piety as a way to govern, the power of the elderly within the family was undoubtedly immense. The sons and grandsons of the household had to obey the elderly's decisions.
In the Li family, Old Master Li was the head of the household and dealt with external matters. Old Madam Li was responsible for everything inside the house, including the distribution of food and resources, household chores, and financial matters.
Now that she was unhappy, everyone in the family had to tread carefully.
However, the Eldest Son's family simply ignored this and helped themselves without hesitation.
Li Wuya glanced at Old Madam Li, once again lamenting how unintelligent she seemed. Regardless of the situation, one needed to analyze things in context and consider the circumstances.
While it was fine for the elderly to lead and make decisions, there were prerequisites. The elderly needed to either have the ability to support the entire family, ensuring no one suffered from poverty, or they needed to command respect through their wisdom and reputation. Unfortunately, Old Madam Li had neither of these qualities, and she was biased as well. Under these circumstances, how could she expect to be the ultimate authority in the family?
Seeing that Jin Yue'e and her four siblings were treating her like air, Old Madam Li's anger grew even more. She immediately declared, "Eldest Daughter-in-law, I manage everything in this house. Bring me that box of herbs you brought back after breakfast."
As soon as she said that, everyone in the Li family turned their attention towards her.
Medicinal herbs were precious commodities and a box that large would undoubtedly fetch a good price. An unappeased expression crossed Jin Yue'e's face, and she straightforwardly retorted, "Mother, those herbs are for the head of the household."
"In recent years, due to constant warfare on the border, whenever the head of the household returns, he carries injuries with him. That box of herbs was obtained by Sanlang and Wuya at the risk of facing punishment. I won't give them to anyone else," Jin Yue'e stated.
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Li slammed her hand on the table and glared at Jin Yue'e with an intimidating expression, "You think I can't control you as the mother-in-law, huh? Look at yourself! Do you still have the appearance of a dutiful daughter-in-law?"
Li Changlin chimed in immediately, "Exactly, Eldest Sister-in-law. Defying the mother-in-law, you're showing great disrespect! Other family members followed suit, voicing their agreement.
Li Wuya grew somewhat annoyed with the greedy members of the Li family. They were accustomed to taking and believed that everything the Eldest Son's family possessed was rightfully theirs. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Li Sanlang stand up.
Li Sanlang didn't look at Old Madam Li, nor did he pay any attention to the rest of the family. Instead, he locked eyes directly with Old Master Li and asked, "Father, am I still your son?"
Old Master Li's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly responded, his voice tinged with unease, "What nonsense are you talking, child? Of course, you're still my son."
Li Sanlang continued, "If that's the case, Mother has already said that those herbs are meant for you. Why are you still insisting on taking them?"
Li Erya mumbled in agreement, "Where have you heard of parents seeing their injured child and still trying to take the medicine that could save their life?"
This remark embarrassed Old Master Li. He turned to Old Madam Li and sighed, "You can't even let us eat in peace. Those herbs are for Eldest Son to use. You're not allowed to ask Eldest Daughter-in-law for them again."
Old Madam Li's lips twitched, and she glared at Li Sanlang. Astonishingly, she didn't mention the herbs again.
Li Wuya looked at her and found it rather peculiar. While it was true that Old Madam Li always followed Old Master Li's decisions on external matters, she was never one to easily back down on household affairs.
A box of medicinal herbs was undoubtedly a substantial fortune for the Li family. Yet, Old Madam Li had conceded so easily? It didn't match her usual behaviour.
And so, the farce came to an end.
"Brother, you're really something!"
After breakfast, Li Wuya raised her thumb at Li Sanlang.
Li Sanlang chuckled, "In the end, Father's word carries the most weight in the family."
Li Wuya clicked her tongue, "Father is just a figurehead. If you hadn't stood up just now, I'm sure Father wouldn't have stopped Mother."
Li Sanlang's expression darkened slightly, and he fell silent for a moment, "Father still cares about his reputation."
Li Wuya smiled, "Yeah, Father cares about his reputation. If Mother dares to grab things from the Eldest Son's family again, we'll just go directly to Father. If he doesn't intervene, I'll make sure the entire military village knows about it."
Li Sanlang listened and ruffled Li Wuya's head, "Family matters should be kept private. If it can be resolved behind closed doors, that's the best solution. If Grandfather and Grandmother lose face, we'll be criticized as well."
Li Wuya shook her head in disagreement, "As long as we achieve our goal, let them say what they want. It won't make us lose anything. I couldn't care less."
Li Erya walked over, "You might not care now, but when you grow up, you will. Which girl doesn't care about her reputation?"
Li Wuya shrugged, unwilling to sacrifice herself for the sake of mere reputation.
Li Erya's expression turned a bit sour. She was still upset about the incident at the dining table, "I just don't understand why Grandmother is so displeased with us. Isn't Father still her son?"
Li Wuya responded, "Sister, there's no need to get angry because of Grandmother. It's not worth getting worked up over."
Truthfully, Li Wuya didn't take Old Madam Li seriously. Well, to be precise, apart from the Eldest Son's family, she didn't regard the rest of the Li family members highly.
Old Madam Li's tactics to control the Eldest Son's family were limited to three methods: withholding their meals, assigning them more household chores, and spreading rumours of their filial disobedience throughout the military village.
In the past, when the family's food depended on the military fields, and Old Madam Li controlled the harvests, she could still control the Eldest Son's family by withholding their meals. However, since her father became a minor official, he started receiving a monthly salary that could be used for household expenses. This made it impossible for Old Madam Li to restrict the Eldest Son's family's food.
This was because her father handed his salary directly to her mother for safekeeping.
As for assigning more household chores, her mother wasn't one to hold back. If she noticed the Eldest Son's family doing more work, she would demand the same from the Second Son's and Third Son's families. If Old Madam Li disagreed, her mother wouldn't hesitate to throw a tantrum.
When it came to spreading rumours of the Eldest Son's family's filial disobedience throughout the military village, if Old Madam Li could do it, why couldn't they?
After Li Wuya learned how to speak, she would bring Li Qilang with her whenever she saw Old Madam Li secretly giving things to the Second Son's and Third Son's families. She would then tell anyone she met that Old Madam Li was favouring those families.
Over the past three or four years, Old Madam Li's partiality and mistreatment of the Eldest Son's family had become widely known throughout the military village.
Furthermore, Li Changsen joined the army at the age of thirteen, taking his father's place. A person who had served in the army for over twenty years to fulfil his father's duty wasn't someone others would readily call unfilial.
The same principle applied: without the means and ability to control others, Old Madam Li couldn't stir up much trouble. At most, she could be intimidating in words.
Li Qilang chimed in, "Sister if we had known, we should have asked for money. After all, money can be hidden, and Grandmother wouldn't know."
Li Wuya chuckled, "Qilang, the value of the medicinal herbs is much higher than money. For us, money is just currency for buying things, but medicinal herbs are truly valuable resources."
"In prosperous and stable areas, money is easy to carry, so it's a good choice. But here on the border, not only are medicinal herbs expensive, but they're also scarce. We don't have access to sources, so naturally, we need the herbs."
Li Sanlang looked at Li Wuya in surprise, "Little sister, where did you learn all this?"
Li Wuya responded, "I heard it from the village teacher, Fan Xiucai." To divert the conversation away from this topic, she quickly changed the subject, "I wonder if those guarding officers from Dieling Pass have left yet?"
Li Erya shook her head, "Not yet. I saw Guzi from the relay station when I went to collect firewood earlier. He said that those officers plan to stay at the relay station for two days until the new station master arrives."
At this, Li Sanlang's expression changed, "New station master? Does that mean Grandfather's position is being replaced?"
Li Erya nodded, "It seems so. Guzi was quite unhappy today." She looked worried, "If the station master changes, will Mother lose her position?"
Li Sanlang fell silent for a moment, "I heard that there's a hidden passage beneath the relay station that leads outside the pass. General Zhuang will surely send more capable people to guard the station."
Li Wuya frowned, "I hope they don't seal off the hidden passage. I've hidden something there."
She had stored the blood ginseng and blood lingzhi she got from Humuji in there, fearing they would be confiscated if she took them out.
Li Sanlang said, "I'll go check at the relay station later."
"I want to come with you." Li Wuya quickly added.