Wang Chunhua frowned and stepped towards her nephew. Xiao Gang shivered in fear and resentfully glanced at Li Mingwei, before turning to his aunt, trying to smile ingratiatingly.
"What did your auntie just say? That we're out of money at home?"
Granny had instructed that this should not be spoken about. Xiao Gang gritted his teeth and stammered, "I don't know. It's what auntie said, not me."
Wang Chunhua twisted his ear viciously. "Are you sure you don't know?"
"Ow, that hurts! Dear aunt, my own flesh and blood, go easy on me!"
He was in an impossible situation now. Telling would anger his granny and mother. Not telling would anger his aunt. Why should a child like him suffer for adult matters?
Feeling her grip on his ear grow heavier, Xiao Gang cried, "Auntie, ask my mom instead. She'd beat me to death if I told you!"
"I'll beat you to death right now if you don't tell me!"
Though Xiao Gang knew his aunt wouldn't actually beat him to death, her sinister expression still frightened him. He swallowed and confessed.
It was nothing major. Last year, while gathering firewood in the mountains, Wang's Father took a bad fall which left him bedridden for nearly the whole winter. All their money went towards treating his injuries, leaving little for daily expenses. They hadn't bought much meat in the lead up to New Year, which is why the children were craving it so badly.
They didn't want to tell Wang Chunhua, firstly to avoid worrying her, and secondly to stop her from giving the family money. Dong Shan made his living through blood and sweat alone. Dong Lei was still studying. They were worried...
Xiao Gang recounted haltingly. Wang Chunhua was already fuming. So that was why her father kept massaging his legs when speaking to her today!
How dare they keep this from her? Outrageous!
She stormed off to the main house, face black as thunder.
Soon after, yelling erupted from the main house. Xiao Gang unhappily eyed Li Mingwei, "You just had to tell auntie. Now they're fighting because of you."
With her temper, things would surely escalate. Everyone was in for a scolding.
Li Mingwei pouted. She had only wanted to help, thinking it was a problem that could be easily solved with money. She hadn't expected sister Wang Chunhua to react so strongly.
"It's my fault, but was it right for all of you to hide this from her?"
"Grandpa and granny hid it for auntie's own good!"
"But she could have helped out had she known about this earlier. Keeping it from her probably made her feel worse."
People saw things differently. Her intentions were good, but that didn't mean others would accept them.
Li Mingwei poked the brat in front of her, "You and your siblings are still growing. How could you not eat meat for so long? That's not how saving should be done. You all should have discussed this together. Who knows, there might have been a better solution."
Xiao Gang scoffed. "What solution? Making cousin Dong Xiu buy us meat? I'd rather starve!"
Li Mingwei glanced at him. This kid was quite staunch.
She ruffled Xiao Gang's hair but he shook her off, still angry. Seeing it was useless to rile him up further, Li Mingwei sat by the doorframe, unsure of what to do next.
Just then, Dong Shan emerged from the main house. His gaze swept the yard before settling on Li Mingwei. He beckoned her over.
Li Mingwei bounced up to him. "What's wrong?"
Dong Shan stepped aside, signalling for her to enter. "Your sister's looking for you."
The people inside wore solemn expressions. Li Mingwei didn't dare venture further than the door. Clutching the frame, she called out, "Sis, you wanted me?"
Wang Chunhua wiped her tears and nodded for Li Mingwei to enter. She took out a small pouch from her clothes. "Sis didn't bring much money today. Do you have any on you? Lend it to me first, I'll pay you back after I leave."
Wang's Mother quickly stopped her. "No need, no need. Your father's recovered already. What do you need money for?"
Wang Chunhua ignored her mother, eyes fixed on Li Mingwei. Li Mingwei removed the sachet from her waist and fished out a small silver ingot from within, passing it to Wang Chunhua.
The Wangs gaped in shock. Even Wang Chunhua paused briefly, recognising it as the silver from the embroidery workshop.
"You brought so much money out for just two days?"
"Sis, didn't you ask me to bring valuables along?"
While it was no golden hairpin, the ingot was still rather valuable. Wang Chunhua put away her pouch and handed the silver to her mother instead. "Mother, take this two taels of silver and buy something nice for the children, and get father's health back in order."
Clutching the money, Wang's Mother turned to look at Wang's Father. He took a long drag of his pipe and nodded. "Our daughter gave it to you. Keep it."
That daughter's temperament meant there was no other way. The yelling from before had left his ears ringing.
Only then did Wang's Mother smile at Wang Chunhua, tucking the money into her clothes.
Standing outside, Xiao Gang gaped at Li Mingwei in astonishment. "Auntie, where did you get so much money?"
The others were curious too, gazing over in askance. Li Mingwei smiled. "Your auntie earned it."
"How?" Xiao Gang hugged her arm, shaking it repeatedly. "Teach me, I want to earn money too!"
Wang Chunhua came over to pull him away. "Don't bother your auntie. She's tired. She earned it through embroidery. Do you want to learn that?"
Xiao Gang had no such inclination. That was a girl's pursuit. No way would he pick it up.
"That's right." A thought struck Wang Chunhua and she ordered Dong Shan, "My sister made handkerchiefs for all the girls in the family yesterday. Those were gifts from her so she should hand them out herself. I kept them, go take them out."
Yesterday, Li Mingwei had specifically asked for numbers, making one handkerchief for each female from Wang's Mother down to the youngest girl.
Mrs. Wang instructed her son to call out all the girls. After Dong Shan retrieved the handkerchiefs, they each picked out a design they liked, leaving the rest for the older women.
The girls were delighted. These were much finer than their regular kerchiefs!
Wang's Mother held hers, the coarse skin of her hands gliding over the smooth fabric and vibrant crimson flowers. Joyfully she praised, "If not teaching, how do you know embroidery too?"
Li Mingwei lowered her gaze. "I'm not teaching. Just helping the students practice writing. The embroidery workshop also calls me over sometimes when they're busy."
"Not a word my daughter said about you was wrong. A true capable person!" Wang's Mother commended.
Outside, Xiao Gang let out an aggrieved huff. Why only the girls? Weren't he and his brothers people too? Auntie was clearly playing favourites!
