Li Langyue returned to her room and had her maid redo her makeup and hair before heading to the main hall. She paused when she saw her Auntie nearby.
The Auntie understood and did not follow Li Langyue, instead going outside after Li Langyue left.
Li Mingwei heard the servants announce that her mother had arrived. She immediately slipped away from her grandfather and knelt in the middle of the main hall, pretending to look sorrowful with her head bowed.
Li Langyue was used to her daughter's antics and let out a soft snort. She walked over and sat down next to her husband Li Yi, taking a sip of tea. "Well, well, why are you kneeling? Weren't you quite capable when you ran away from home?"
Li Mingwei scratched her fingernails, pretending not to hear.
Receiving no response, Li Langyue glanced at the two children being held by her father and husband, then lifted the lid of the teacup beside her and slammed it back down with a loud smack.
"Li Mingwei, don't tell me you gave birth to these two children all by yourself."
Li Mingwei shuddered, not daring to look up. "No, no I didn't."
"Well then, where is he?" Li Langyue mocked. "You dare commit the act but not take responsibility?"
"He was going to come, but I told him not to."
"He was going to come? He dares to show up? Who gave him the audacity to come after what he did?"
Li Mingwei pursed her lips. "So do you want him to come or not?"
Li Langyue slammed her fist on the table. "Come then! Let him come! When he does, I'll have him bound and sent to the officials!"
She would have him sentenced to 180 years!
"It's no use sending him away!" Li Mingwei caught her mother's meaning and scoffed. "We're already married."
"You..." Li Langyue hurled the teacup beside her, splashing Li Mingwei's skirt with tea. Li Mingwei brushed off the leaves and shifted back, remaining kneeled.
"Well, well, you've grown quite bold!" Li Langyue gritted her teeth, pointing at Li Mingwei. "Married, where are the matchmakers? The marriage documents? I didn't see any, so I don't acknowledge it!"
Li Mingwei muttered softly, "You may not have seen it, but I did. It's at home. I'll bring it next time. We have everything required, even if you don't accept it. The children just won't call you grandmother in the future."
"Li Mingwei!"
Li Langyue glared at her husband Zhang Dezhi, who was still comforting the children. "Zhang Dezhi! Aren't you going to discipline your daughter?"
Zhang Dezhi didn't want the fire to spread to him so soon. He sighed and reprimanded Li Mingwei, "How dare you speak to your mother like that!"
Li Mingwei obediently lowered her head. "I was wrong."
"Don't let it happen again!"
"I understand, it won't happen again."
Zhang Dezhi nodded slightly, satisfied. "You acknowledge your mistakes, so you're still a good child."
Seeing that he had finished speaking, Li Langyue stared at him in disbelief. Was that it? They were treating this place like a stage!
She was so furious she could hardly breathe. She turned to Li Yi, "Father~"
"Langyue!" Li Yi looked back at her, his brow furrowed. "Mingwei has been gone for over three years. Haven't you figured it out yet?"
If it weren't for her temperament, the child wouldn't have been too scared to come back. She had to manage everything, losing her temper and wanting to punish at the slightest disagreement. Even rabbits would bite when pushed to desperation!
"Do you want her to leave for another three years? Or maybe just wait until I die before coming back, is that better?"
"Father~"
Li Yi slammed the table. "Enough! She's the child I raised. If there are any faults, it's because I didn't teach her well enough. Don't take it out on me!"
Naturally, Li Langyue didn't dare.
She leaned back in her chair, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She grabbed a vase from the small table and smashed it on the floor, her tone tinged with sadness. "So in this family, I'm the only villain, is that it?"
Ah Xiu was startled and rushed over, pulling Li Mingwei up and picking shards of the vase off her clothes. She cupped Li Mingwei's face, checking for injuries. "Miss, your face isn't hurt, is it?"
It wouldn't be good if she had scars on her face.
"No~" Li Mingwei was startled, her body still trembling slightly. Ah Xiu hurriedly shielded her, the Madam was truly hateful.
Li Yi took two deep breaths, about to flare up when the child in his arms started wailing. Li Mingwei hurried over and took the child, gently patting its back.
"Miss, watch your step!" Ah Xiu avoided the shards on the floor, glancing at the child. "What's wrong with the young Miss? She must have gotten scared."
Li Mingwei nodded. The noise must have woken and frightened the child. She turned to see Liu Simo not crying, but staring at her mother with round eyes. He didn't seem scared, so she just carried Liu Panpan to the inner room.
Li Yi heard the child's cries from inside continue unabated. He scolded, "The children are still young. Why are you causing such a scene in front of them? You've frightened them."
"Langyue~" Li Yi spoke earnestly. "You can't expect Mingwei to be just like you. You're very accomplished, I know. But I think Mingwei is good too. Don't always pressure her. As long as she returns safely, it's alright however she is!"
Li Langyue opened her mouth, but caught Zhang Dezhi's displeased gaze and swallowed her words. She turned to look at the child in his arms who was staring at her intently.
The more she looked, the more familiar the child seemed. Unable to resist, she stood up, grasped the child's chin, and tilted his little head from side to side for inspection.
Surely this child wasn't surnamed Liu?
She asked in a low voice, "What's your name?"
"Xiao Bing."
Li Langyue heard clearly but had doubts. "What did you say your name was?"
"Xiao Bing."
"Li Mingwei!" Li Langyue raged again. "What kind of name did you give this child!"
"Come out, don't pretend you can't hear me!"
Li Mingwei trembled as she peeked out from behind the screen, handing the child to Ah Xiu. "Si Mo, Si Mo. Xiao Bing is just a nickname."
"Even a nickname is unacceptable!" Li Langyue stared her down with certainty in her tone. "Liu Simo?"
Li Mingwei gulped. It's over, Liu Yizhu has been exposed so quickly. When has he ever met her mother? Why didn't he tell her?
Seeing her reaction, Li Langyue understood. She glanced inside. "Then what about that one?"
"Liu... Liu Panpan."
A son and a daughter, how fitting.
Li Langyue smiled. "I think Li Simo and Li Panpan sound better. What do you think?"
Li Mingwei's face fell. She shook her head firmly. "I don't think so."
Mother and daughter silently faced off. Li Langyue was surprised to see her suddenly become so stubborn. But the next second, Li Mingwei blinked, tears streaming down her face.
She averted her gaze from her mother, hugging the child from her father's arms. "Xiao Bing, let's go home."
"Mother~"
Xiao Bing snuggled into her embrace, not understanding why she was crying. He reached out and touched her cheek, causing Li Mingwei to cry even harder.
She called out to Ah Xiu, who hurried over carrying the other child, standing beside her. "Miss, what's wrong?"
"Let's go."
"Ah?" Ah Xiu looked at the unpleasant expressions on everyone's faces, hesitating. Leave now?
If they left now, it might be difficult to return. Li Mingwei didn't have any money on her, and her brother-in-law was so poor. If they left just like that, how would they eat or get by in the future?
"That's enough." Zhang Dezhi spoke calmly. "I think Liu Simo and Liu Panpan are both good names."
His voice softened as he addressed Li Mingwei, "You've only just returned after so long. Why don't you stay and spend more time with your grandfather before leaving?"
Li Mingwei glanced at her silent mother with some grievance. Staying with her father was indeed the right decision. When her father was angry, even her mother didn't dare provoke him.
