Chapter 176: The Smiling Tiger

When Li Ba saw that she was silent, he smiled at Li Na and said, “Xiao Na, come sit down. Don’t mind your mother, she’s always like that.”

Li Na, fuming, sat down and said, “Dad, Mom’s behavior is getting worse and worse. Why don’t you try to discipline her?”

Upon hearing Li Na talk about her like that, Li’s mother angrily retorted, “You ungrateful girl! How can you speak about your mother that way?”

Seeing that the two were about to argue, Father Li quickly stepped in to diffuse the tension. “You always speak so harshly and then turn around to blame the girl. That’s enough, let’s stop this now!”

Li Ma muttered angrily, “I’m doing this for your own good, you ungrateful girl. You don’t know what’s good for you.”

After some grumbling, she opened the small package, revealing two wolf pelts. Shocked, she stepped back and exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, what is this?”

Li Na glanced at the pelts, initially wanting to say they were a gift from Xu Yang’s parents, but she quickly reconsidered, remembering how unreliable her mother could be.

“Those are wolf pelts. Xiao Ning sent them for you and Dad,” Li Na explained. “She said it’s really cold here and suggested you both make fur vests to wear.”

Father Li, equally surprised, examined the pelts and remarked, “These are really valuable. Your little sister-in-law is quite something, managing to get wolf pelts!”

“Her husband hunted them in the mountains,” Li Na continued, “he killed eight wolves in one go.”

“My goodness, eight wolves at once? He’s that skilled?” Li’s mother asked in astonishment.

“He sure is,” Li Na replied. “Xu Yang said his brother-in-law became a battalion commander at the age of twenty-three. Dad, have you heard of Lu Xiaotang from the Nanshi Military District?”

Li’s father was startled and asked, “What did you say? Could it be that Lu Xiaotang is Xu Yang’s brother-in-law?”

“Yes, it’s him! Xu Yang said you should know of him.”

“Of course, I’ve heard of him! He’s quite remarkable—both brave and strategic. The higher-ups have personally commended him, and several military districts have been competing to recruit him.”

“The military district in the capital has issued countless transfer orders for him, but the commander of the Nanshi Military District is quite cunning and refuses to let him go,” Li Na’s father said.

Li’s mother, still confused, asked, “Old Li, do you know Xu Yang’s brother-in-law?”

Li’s father glanced at her and said, “I’ve heard of him. Now hurry and take those things to the kitchen and make some food for Xiao Na and Xu Yang.”

Only then did Li’s mother remember that her daughter and son-in-law hadn’t eaten yet. She grabbed the things and headed to the kitchen.

Once she was out of sight, Li Ba asked, “Xiao Na, how was your trip over there? Are Xu Yang’s younger brother and sister doing well?”

“They’re all doing quite well. The younger brother and sister are both hardworking and capable, and they keep the house very tidy,” Li Na replied.

Her father glanced at her and directly asked, “How are they as people? Are they easy to get along with?”

Li Na thought for a moment before saying, “Xiao Ning is smart and perceptive. She speaks and acts in a way that feels genuine and comforting, and she takes care of everything thoroughly.

Xiao An, although young, is very composed.

The youngest brother is only eight, but he’s sharp and witty. He’s quite charming, and I heard he’s very popular in the village. Both adults and children like him.”

“Wasn’t his youngest brother sent to the countryside with their parents? How come he’s there now?” Li Na’s father asked, surprised.

Li Na walked to the doorway and peeked into the kitchen, where her mother was busy cooking. Lowering her voice, she said, “Dad, Xu Yang’s parents and his younger siblings are in the same village for their countryside relocation, but the villagers don’t know. They only meet in secret.”

Li’s father, surprised, responded, “It seems your in-laws are not ordinary people!”

Li Na nodded in agreement. “Of course. Xiao Ning, Xiao An, and Xiao Mo are all very smart and deeply loyal to each other. The four of them have a great bond.”

Li’s father glanced at his carefree daughter and sighed but said nothing.

“Dad, please don’t tell Mom about my in-laws’ situation, okay? If you do, I’ll be really upset,” Li Na reminded him, still a bit anxious.

Li’s father…

Just as Li’s mother was about to start cooking, Li Na’s second sister-in-law, Chen Yanling, arrived with her child in her arms.

Before she even entered, her cheerful voice rang out, “Mom, your eldest grandson has come to see you!”

Hearing her voice, Li Na thought to herself, She sure came quickly. I just got here and haven’t even had a chance to sit down, and here she is, already coming to take advantage.

Hurriedly, she grabbed the two wolf pelts, along with the red sugar and dried meat, and moved them to her parents’ room. If her second sister-in-law saw those things, she would surely find a way to take them home.

Her second sister-in-law was like a “smiling tiger”—she always seemed friendly and easygoing on the surface, but beneath that facade, she was incredibly shrewd, thick-skinned, and constantly on the lookout for ways to take advantage of others.

I really don’t know what my second brother was thinking when he married someone like her, Li Na thought with frustration.

Just as Li Na finished stashing the items, Chen Yanling entered, holding her child. Upon seeing Li Na, she smiled warmly and said, “Oh, little sister! You’re back from your in-laws? Dandan, come on, greet your aunt and ask her what goodies she brought back for you.”

Li Na took Dandan into her arms and replied, “Second sister-in-law, you know the situation at Xu Yang’s family. It’s not like you’re unaware of it.”

His younger brother and sister are there working in the countryside just to earn enough points for their food. What good things could they possibly bring back for us?

Besides, Dandan isn’t even a year old yet. What can he eat?

I did bring back some dried wild vegetables and mushrooms. If you don’t mind, I can give you some to take home later.

Chen Yanling felt quite disdainful internally but maintained a cheerful facade as she replied, “Little sister, what are you saying? Why would we dislike it? I heard that there are plenty of game in the mountains over in the Northeast. Didn’t your brother-in-law go hunting and bring some back?”

Li Na’s expression turned serious as she responded, “Second sister-in-law, what are you talking about? The game in the mountains belongs to the collective. We can’t just go hunting there whenever we want.”

At that moment, Li Na’s father, who had been reading the newspaper, glanced up at her, startling Chen Yanling.

She quickly added, “Little sister, I didn’t mean it that way! You know how your sister-in-law can be; she really deserves a good slap.”

Saying this, she pretended to lightly pat her own face as if in punishment.

Li Na found her antics quite off-putting, but since she was her sister-in-law and out of respect for her second brother, she felt she couldn’t let things get too awkward between them.

Li Na smiled and said, “Second sister-in-law, although we can’t take advantage of the collective resources, we can always buy things!

My sister-in-law specifically went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some wild chickens for me to bring back for you to try. You can take one back when you leave and make soup for Dandan.”

Upon hearing about the wild chickens, Chen Yanling’s smile became noticeably more genuine.

Just then, Li’s mother came out of the kitchen, carrying a bowl of noodles.

Li Na noticed that there was a fried egg on top of the noodles and felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She quickly ran outside to dry heave.

Seeing her like this, Li Na’s mother anxiously asked, “Xiao Na, what’s wrong?”

Standing nearby, Chen Yanling chuckled and said, “Mom, do you think our little sister might be pregnant?”

Li Na’s mother realized what was going on and wanted to ask more questions. However, seeing her husband still sitting there, she pulled Li Na into the other room to talk.

After counting the days, they concluded that Li Na was indeed pregnant. Li Na’s mother happily said, “Xiao Na, let’s go to the hospital for a check-up!”

Li Na quickly pulled her back and said, “Mom, it’s already so late today. Let’s go tomorrow instead.”

Her mother considered this and agreed, realizing that by the time they got to the hospital, it would be closed.

Noticing the items laid out nearby, she understood that her daughter was wary of her second sister-in-law. She didn’t think much of this daughter-in-law either; she was too superficial.

Li Na noticed her mother’s gaze and said, “Mom, put away those two wolf pelts so she doesn’t see them. When it gets cold, you can turn them into fur vests, one for you and one for Dad.”