Old Madam Guo didn't care much about such a shabby thatched hut. What truly mattered to her was driving the three "troublesome" people out. They didn't believe that anyone could turn a broken thatched hut into wealth or fortune—eventually, they would starve, and the house would remain theirs anyway.
With this in mind, Old Madam Guo firmly made a decision, "Alright, it's your own fault for being unfilial and unreasonable. Don't blame me for this! Old man, we'll go see the clan leader first thing tomorrow morning!"
Aunt Chen stood by, anxious and helpless. She had tried to argue against Li Xiangli's stubborn actions but couldn't sway her. Now, she could only stamp her foot in frustration.
The villagers murmured and speculated, debating whether Li Xiangli was being willful and reckless. Some questioned why she would go so far to push herself toward ruin when it wasn't necessary.
Li Xiangli sneered coldly to herself. "Receive a bit of hardship? Old Madam Guo has been scheming against our family every single day. These ancient people always think that a woman must perish when separated from her husband, that they cannot strive independently. I'll show them that I can!"
Thankfully, the ordeal seemed to have come to an end, and the villagers began to disperse. The sky was growing darker, and Guo's family didn't bother to pay much attention to Li Xiangli anymore. With the decision on the removal already made, they turned their attention to other matters, putting on cold faces as they returned to their homes for dinner.
Wei-shi, who didn't get what she wanted, felt happy at her sister-in-law's misfortune. Smirking maliciously, she spat, "Hungry enough to die, you little wretch!" She turned her hips and strutted off toward her home.
Li Xiangli squatted down and looked at her two children. "Do you trust me, children?" she asked.
If this had been before, Xiaozhu and Le'er would have been terrified. However, this time, seeing their mother's calm and steady expression gave them an inexplicable sense of security. They knew that people said their mother was reckless and unreasonable, but they also knew she had never harmed them.
Both children nodded earnestly. "I trust you, Mother! Guo's family is full of bad people. Mother always suffers at their hands, and we don't need to beg them."
Li Xiangli touched the children's heads and smiled. "Let's make dinner, then."
The two children cheered. "Alright!"
Aunt Chen was initially convinced that Li Xiangli was only pretending to be strong in front of others. However, to her surprise, neither Li Xiangli nor her children looked sad. They didn't seem broken, as though being expelled from their clan wasn't a death sentence but instead a blessing in disguise.
Aunt Chen looked at her, uncertainty clouding her thoughts. Li Xiangli could see her doubts and smiled as she said, "Don't worry, Aunt Chen. I'm not reckless or impulsive. I have my own plans, and I won't make senseless decisions. Being separated from them might actually be a good thing. I can stand on my own two feet if necessary."
Aunt Chen had never heard Li Xiangli speak so composedly before. Seeing her in such calm resolve gave her a measure of trust. Before she could dwell further on it, Li Xiangli had already begun preparing dinner, not wanting to wait until darkness made things more difficult.
"Do you want to stay and eat with us, Aunt Chen?" Li Xiangli asked.
Aunt Chen shook her head vigorously. "No, no! You've got enough to worry about. I have dinner waiting for me at home with my son's wife. I'll head home right away."
Li Xiangli thought about her situation and saw that keeping guests wasn't practical at the moment. She didn't press the issue but said warmly, "Take care on your way home. Xiaozhu, Le'er, say goodbye to Aunt Chen."
The two children chimed, "Goodbye, Aunt Chen!"
Aunt Chen had no grandchildren, a fact known throughout the village. Whether due to her son's circumstances or other reasons, she had never managed to have children. This had become somewhat of a laughing point in the village, and some villagers suggested her son remarry to continue the family line. But with the family's financial struggles, this was not a viable option.
Aunt Chen often brought food for the children during her visits, noting how obedient and adorable Xiaozhu and Le'er were. She often lamented that if only she had grandchildren like them, her life would have been different.
Li Xiangli led her two children into the house. "What did you eat at lunch? Were you hungry?"
Le'er nodded, "Brother made wild vegetables for lunch. I wasn't full at all."
Li Xiangli smiled warmly, "Don't worry. Mother will make something good for you to eat—until you're full!"
Xiaozhu was already bustling with energy in the yard, gathering firewood and lighting a fire quickly. Li Xiangli's heart ached as she looked at him. Poor children from poor families often had to grow up too fast. Her little Xiaozhu was practically half an adult already, and while it gave her some pride, it also broke her heart.
"Not corn porridge tonight?" Le'er asked, looking at the cornmeal and white rice. Her mouth was watering.
"First, let's make some tasty flatbreads, then we'll make porridge later. You haven't eaten all day, and just having porridge isn't enough for dinner."
Le'er cheered, "Yay! I love flatbreads!"
Li Xiangli worked quickly, combining cornmeal and rice flour into a dough. She prepared wild vegetables that the children had picked earlier, mixing them with seasonings to make filling for the flatbreads. Then, she formed the dough into small round pancakes and placed them on the oiled iron pot.
The oil was almost running out, but she managed to coat the flatbreads before covering them with the pot's lid. She then began rinsing rice to prepare a pot of corn porridge to accompany their meal.
When everything was ready, she placed the flatbreads on a plate and served them to Xiaozhu and Le'er. The smell alone had them salivating, and they eagerly accepted their bowls.
Le'er couldn't wait. She took a big sip of porridge right away and burned her mouth slightly. Li Xiangli quickly handed her a cup of cold water. "Why the rush? No one's taking your share. You need to eat carefully, okay?"
Le'er stubbornly grinned., "It's not hot! I love this so much, Mother!"
Li Xiangli chuckled, watching her children devour their meal, "Don't you like cornmeal flatbreads?" she asked.
Xiaozhu waved his hand eagerly, "We love them! We really, really love them! These are the best things ever!"
They ate with joy, savoring every bite, happy that for once, they had a warm meal to fill their stomachs.
Disclaimer:
I am not the original author of this work. This is a translated version of the original text, shared for reading and reference purposes only. All rights to the original content belong to the original author. I do not claim ownership of the original work or its characters. This translation is intended solely for informational and entertainment purposes.