Chapter 40

Li Xiangdong hurriedly said, “Xiao Chan, tell me about the city! I haven’t been to the city for six months!”

“The city?” Li Yuechan’s eyes shifted, and she began to excitedly recount her story of bravely fighting off a thief.

Meanwhile, not far away, Li Meili stared at Li Yuechan, her mind in turmoil.

How could she have forgotten about this cousin?

In her previous life, she had heard that this cousin had been in a fight, got her head smashed, and then died!

How could she be so full of life now? Was something wrong?

Li Yuechan also noticed that Li Meili was looking at her strangely, so she walked over and asked, “Meili, what’s wrong?”

Li Meili looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before her and shook her head. It just didn’t seem quite right in her memory.

In her previous life, had she been this fair? Had she been this beautiful? Now she seemed to be glowing, outshining all of them.

She forced a smile and said, “No… I’m fine. I’m going to help my mom with the cooking.” Then, she hurried to the kitchen.

Li Yuechan watched her retreating figure curiously, feeling suspicious. What was up with her?

But then again, it wasn’t her business. Not everyone can be adored like a stack of money.

After the meal, Liu Xinghua pulled Li Yuechan into a room and proudly said, “Xiao Chan, look at this room! I sweep it every day, so clean!”

Li Yuechan raised her hand and touched the space. It was indeed spotless, so she smiled and nodded, “Mm, not bad! Thank you, Aunt.”

“It’s nothing, don’t mention it. Let me make your bed first.”

Saying that, she opened a nearby cabinet and took out a quilt and mattress, setting them on the bed.

“Xiao Chan, get some rest. Aunt will leave now!”

Li Yuechan grinned, “Thanks, Aunt!”

After Liu Xinghua left, Li Yuechan closed the door and couldn’t help but think, Doesn’t she know that Mom gives Aunt a yuan every month to help with the cleaning? She thinks Aunt is so good to them!

The room was only about ten square meters, with a large bed and a small bed, separated by a curtain. There was also a wardrobe, and that was about it.

Every year when she came back for the New Year, she and her mom would sleep on the big bed, while her dad slept on the small one, just making do for a couple of days.

But they all liked things clean, so every month, her mom would give Aunt a yuan to help clean the house.

That added up to 12 yuan in a year, which was a decent amount of income in the countryside.

Li Yuechan lay on the soft quilt, and before long, she fell asleep.

In another room, Liu Xinghua was complaining to Li Jianjun, “Last time, Third Brother’s wife promised me that when Xiao Chan came back, she would bring clothes for Meili. Now your mom has kept them for herself! I don’t care, go get the clothes back!”

“Ai, Mom must have her reasons, why are you in such a hurry?”

“What reason? Xiao Chan’s clothes are only good enough for Meili to alter and wear, the two from the second family can’t wear them. She probably wants to give them to your sister’s oldest daughter. Your sister’s been married for over ten years, and your mom still occasionally helps her out. I haven’t said anything about that, but now she’s even keeping Meili’s clothes for herself!”

“Meili is almost fourteen now, it’s time for her to find a marriage. Look at what she’s wearing, all of Meixia’s old clothes.”

“You know Xiao Chan’s clothes, there’s not a single patch on them, all good material!”

“I don’t care. Third Brother’s wife promised me, you go get them now. Do you hear me?”

“Alright, alright, I know!”

“Hurry up, hurry up, or you’ll be late for work this afternoon!”

Li Yuechan, still in a daze from her nap, heard a loud commotion coming from outside.

She turned over, but the noise only grew louder. After thinking for a moment, she jumped up, glanced at the door, and quickly slipped into her space, taking the bed along with her.

She continued to sleep soundly. She was exhausted after yesterday, so why shouldn’t she get some rest?

When Li Yuechan woke up, it was already three in the afternoon.

She stretched lazily, walked out of the space, opened the door, and rubbed her eyes. She rubbed them again, blinking in disbelief.

Oh my, she’d only taken a short nap—how did her aunt become like this?

Li Yuechan tiptoed over and cautiously asked, “Aunt, what happened to you?”

Beside her, Li Meili spoke sharply, “Cousin, didn’t you hear? There was such a big incident at home at noon, and you didn’t know? Now you’re pretending to be kind!”

Li Yuechan opened her mouth, genuinely unaware of what had happened, and quickly explained, “Aunt, I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately, and the doctor prescribed me some sleep aids. I really didn’t know what happened.”

Liu Xinghua wiped away her tears and said, “Xiao Chan, it’s not your fault. It’s your grandmother. She’s just so biased! I’ve been working like a mule in this family, and I’ve even given birth to two grandsons for her, but she still looks down on me. Just because of a piece of clothing, she scolded me!”

Li Yuechan looked at her aunt’s face, which was bruised with purple and blue marks. This old woman was ruthless!

Although her aunt could be a bit snobbish, she was usually very efficient at doing chores.

Li Meili shot Li Yuechan an annoyed look and complained, “It’s all your fault, with your few shabby clothes. Don’t bring them back next time! I don’t want to wear your old clothes. Every time you bring them back, the whole house ends up in a big fight. Why do you bring them back? Do you want to see us miserable?”

Li Yuechan pointed at herself, raising an eyebrow, “Oh, am I doing something bad with good intentions?”

As soon as Liu Xinghua heard this, she quickly pinched Li Meili’s ear and scolded, “You little brat, what nonsense are you talking about? If your Third Aunt didn’t send clothes every year, what would you wear? The clothes of the two girls from the second family are falling apart with patches all over them. Do you expect them to wear those? Your grandmother never even gives you a yard of cloth for new clothes, and you ungrateful child still dare to scold Xiao Chan?”

Saying this, she grabbed a nearby stick and pretended to chase after Li Meili.

Li Meili screamed in fear, sprinting out of the yard.

Li Yuechan stood frozen, dumbfounded. Things had escalated so quickly—she was too restrained back in the city.

Li Meili ran off far in anger, and Liu Xinghua didn’t chase her, instead yelling after her, “You ungrateful brat! Don’t you dare come back!”

Liu Xinghua looked at Li Yuechan with an awkward smile. “Xiao Chan, Meili’s still young. Don’t hold it against her, okay?”