Li Shuping looked at Li Yunshu, who had just come out of the kitchen with a clearly flustered expression, and said,

“This might not be appropriate, right? After all, I’m just a commoner, pretty dirty at that. How could I possibly sit and eat with all of you? And I didn’t even bring a toothbrush or toothpaste—there’s no way I could wash my mouth twice before dinner.”

Pfft—

Madam Gu covered her mouth, barely holding back her laughter.

This girl is just her kind of person.

Gu Zhenyuan, Old Master Li, and Li Boyan were all confused, thinking she was belittling herself.

But when they saw her looking directly at Li Yunshu—and noted the latter’s obviously uncomfortable expression—they more or less guessed what had happened.

It was likely that Li Yunshu had said something condescending, perhaps calling her dirty.

Li Yunshu cursed Li Shuping inwardly: That damned country bumpkin! She even tattled on me in front of Dad and Second Brother!

Old Master Li’s face darkened. “Li Yunshu, what did you say to her?”

“Dad, I didn’t say anything. I just told her to wash her hands twice. She misunderstood,” Li Yunshu quickly defended herself.

Madam Gu interjected, “She already washed thoroughly with soap, and you still told her to wash again—anyone would feel offended.”

Gu Zhenyuan added coldly, “Sister Yunshu, do you wash your hands twice every time? If not, then she didn’t misunderstand anything.”

Li Yunshu: “…”

What business is this of theirs?!

Li Boyan frowned at his adopted sister.

She was usually meticulous, but he didn’t expect her to be the type to look down on others.

Old Master Li stared sternly at Li Yunshu and said,
“You always have so many issues. Anyone would feel insulted by your behavior.”

He was usually tolerant of this adopted daughter and listened to her well-intentioned suggestions for the family.

But when it came to matters of principle, he wouldn’t hesitate to be harsh.

Looking down on others was such a matter.

Li Yunshu bit her lip and lowered her head, feeling both aggrieved and angry.

She was upset that her father had scolded her in front of outsiders, making her—a dignified head of the Beijing Drama Troupe—lose face to a low-class woman.

She also felt wronged; she had only said what she did out of concern for her mother’s health.

If she were truly his biological daughter, he would never have scolded her like this.

From a young age, Li Yunshu had always lived with that comparison.

Old Master Li began,
“Xiao—”

“Li,” Madam Gu reminded him.

He corrected himself: “Comrade Xiao Li, this matter was my daughter’s fault. I apologize on her behalf. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Li Yunshu really wasn’t like the Li family at all.

Just look at Old Master Li—an obvious man of power, yet humble, easy-going, and morally upright.

“Old Master, you’re great,” Li Shuping gave a thumbs up. “I won’t take it to heart.”

“Hahaha…” Old Master Li laughed heartily. “Since it’s all cleared up, stay and have a simple meal with us.”

“I’ll do as you say,” Li Shuping replied.

Old Master Li invited her to sit in the living room and asked Aunt Wang to brew a new pot of tea. He poured her a cup and started chatting about family matters.

Li Yunshu, unable to stand it, carried the dumpling soup upstairs.

“Comrade Xiao Li, how many children do you have?” Old Master Li asked, guessing from her age that she must have kids.

“I had two sons and a daughter, but now only one daughter.”

Hearing this, the expressions of Old Master Li, Madam Gu, and Li Boyan changed—they thought both sons had died.

“Sorry, I brought up something painful,” Old Master Li quickly apologized.

Li Shuping waved her hand, sipping tea. “No need to apologize. It’s not something painful.”

“Losing two sons isn’t painful?” Madam Gu blurted out, then quickly realized it was inappropriate and covered her mouth.

Li Boyan looked at Li Shuping with admiration.

He didn’t know how her sons died, but she was clearly a strong mother.

“They’re not dead. But to me, they might as well be. I disowned them.”

Seeing their curious expressions, she continued,
“I wasn’t good at raising kids. Ended up with two ungrateful brats. After divorcing their father, I left them both behind. I only kept my daughter.”

Understanding dawned. Old Master Li and the others now looked at her with even more sympathy and respect.

They sympathized with her failed marriage and unfilial sons and admired her for having the courage to divorce.

Back then, divorce was still considered shameful—especially for women, even among well-educated and more open-minded circles.

Even when Gu Zhenyuan divorced, the Gu family elders had endured much ridicule. At big gatherings, people always brought it up.

Madam Gu was surprised to hear that Li Shuping was also divorced.
“Some kids are just like their father’s side—no matter how you raise them, it’s useless. No amount of kindness helps.”

Her words comforted Li Shuping.

She had often doubted herself, wondering if she had failed as a mother and that’s why her sons turned out the way they did.

“My son, Gu Zhenyuan, is also divorced. But unlike you, he doesn’t even have kids,” Madam Gu said with slight disdain.

Li Shuping looked at Gu Zhenyuan in shock.

He’s divorced too? And childless?

Maybe he has some… problem?

She restrained herself from glancing downward.

“Actually, not having kids after divorce can be a good thing—easier to remarry, fewer conflicts with a future spouse,” Li Shuping offered.

Madam Gu nodded. “That’s true. Shuping, do you plan to remarry?”

Li Shuping shook her head so hard it could rattle a bell.

She’d spent a whole lifetime serving a man in her past life—she had no desire to do that again.

“I’ve had more than enough of serving a man. I don’t want to find another one to serve. For the rest of my life, I just want to live comfortably, however I like.”

Madam Gu figured she must have been deeply hurt by her husband and sons, so she offered her own opinion:

“Not all men in this world are the same. There are good ones out there. If you ever meet someone who truly cares for you, it’s okay to consider it. Life isn’t the same with just anyone.”

With three men sitting nearby, Li Shuping couldn’t badmouth all men and simply nodded,

“You’re right.”

Dinner at the Li family was lavish: beef, fish, chicken, shrimp, and the dumplings Li Shuping had made.

Old Master Li had specifically asked Aunt Wang to boil two plates of those dumplings.

At the rectangular dining table, Old Master Li sat at the head. On his right were Madam Gu, Gu Zhenyuan, and Li Shuping.

On his left were Li Boyan and Li Yunshu.

Li Yunshu looked across at Li Shuping—a woman from the lowest rungs of society—now sitting at the same table as the Li family.

It made her feel utterly miserable.