Chapter 29: The Untouchable Taboo

ru were also diligent and kind, helping to tidy up the house. They even washed the kang beds and dried them in the sun.But the old soldiers didn't have wives, and their bedding inevitably got a little...Jixiang and Jia'an, two mischievous boys, talked about chopping wood during the day and ended up with mud all over their mouths, making everyone at home laugh.

"Hee hee!" Jiayin was lying on Lao Tai Li's lap, giggling along with her brother.

Grandma Li gently rubbed her granddaughter's cheek and looked at Li Jiaren, who was sipping his porridge gracefully. She made up her mind.

I plan to send the children to study in the county town.

As soon as these words were spoken, the dinner table fell silent.

Everyone looked at Old Li in astonishment, not understanding why she said that.

Although things are better now and we don't starve anymore, studying is still very expensive. It's just too much of a burden for the Li family!

Wu Cuiflower was the first to refuse.

"Mother! How much silver does it take to study Where is our family going to get that much money If you insist on sending them to school, we won't be able to make ends meet!"

She was about to jump up and shout, afraid that if she provided for her children's education, she would have to go hungry herself.

"Reading is a good thing, what are you complaining about, second sister-in-law"

Zhao Yuru couldn't stand to see Wu Cuifang's appearance, she couldn't help but say something.

"Good deeds You three households should pay for the good deeds How much money is left in the house altogether It's all gone to the children's education. We'll be eating the north wind!"

Wu Cuiflower didn't know how much wealth the old woman had, but buying a courtyard and land was just one hundred taels. She guessed it wasn't much.

"Alright, all of you shut up!" Old Li glared at Wu Cuiflower with a dark face, silencing her with a single sentence.

"I'm only sending Jaren to study."

"Huh" Wu Cuifang was stunned. It turned out she was only sending her son to school!

She glanced at her eldest son, wishing she could take back the words she had just spoken. She smiled awkwardly twice, feeling embarrassed.

"Mother... mother makes the decisions."

No one knew what to say to her, but their eyes were far from friendly.

Wu Cuifang quickly lowered her head to eat the porridge, not daring to say another word.

Li Jiarren was even more ashamed for his own mother. He put down his bowl and chopsticks, saying...

"Milk, our family just settled here. There are many places to spend money, I'm not in a hurry to study. Let's wait until next year when the harvest comes."

Sun Tzu was so well-behaved, which made Old Lady Li very pleased. But she had already made up her mind, and there was no changing it.

"If our family truly wants to put down roots here, this isn't enough for the time being. Helping the villagers with small tasks or furnishing a household are just short-term solutions. If we want the Li family to prosper for generations to come, we still need descendants who study."

Li Laotai glanced at everyone, and seeing them all nod, she continued.

"Isn't there a saying like this A family without a scholar can't produce officials. Even if they don't become a Xiucai or a Juren, just passing the Tongsheng exam, outsiders will have to think twice before bullying the Li family."

Grandma thinks you're smart enough to study. Go to school! We can afford it.

Jiaren indeed loves to read. Whenever he's free, he'll definitely find something with words to read, or just take a stick and write on the ground.

Not only did the old lady Li see this, but the entire Li family witnessed it as well.

Li Laosan and Li Si both chimed in, "Yes, we can definitely afford to support Jiaren going to school. We'll earn the money."

"Milk, Uncle San, Uncle Si..."

Jia Ren's eyes welled up with tears. He took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed to the elders.

"I will study hard and bring honor to our family!"

"Good child!" This was the first time Li Laotai showed a hint of a smile.

When Wu Cuiflower saw that her son was determined to study, she beamed with pride. Grabbing his hand, she said,

"My son is the most obedient, he'll definitely study hard. As long as we don't end up like your uncle, reading ourselves to oblivion... Ouch!"

Before Wu Cuiflower could finish her sentence, Li Laoer quickly pinched her arm hard. The pain brought tears to her eyes.

When she was about to scold Li Lao Er, she finally realized belatedly that Li Laotai's face was as dark as ink...

Wu Cuifang suddenly remembered the taboos in her house and was immediately flustered.

Before she could even remedy the situation, Old Madam Li made a loud crash as her rice porridge bowl shattered. The scalding porridge splattered everywhere.

There was a lump that landed right on Jia Yin's exposed arm, making her shiver in pain.

But Lao Tai Li's emotions were obviously off, Jia Yin endured and kept quiet.

"You heartless jerk!"

Li Lao'er, afraid that Li Laotai would be even angrier seeing Wu Cuiflower, directly grabbed her arm and dragged her back to the wing room for a scolding.

While the two sons were still outside, Li Lao'er couldn't beat his bruised and swollen daughter-in-law, so he found a washboard and made Wu Cuiflower kneel with half a basin of water.

Wu Cuifang's face contorted in pain as she listened to her husband's scolding. Her knees felt like countless ants were crawling all over them.

In less than half an hour, she burst into tears and begged for mercy in a low voice.

"Second brother, I know I was wrong. I won't talk nonsense anymore."

Li Lao Er simply ignored her, "When will your mother be happy again, and then you can get up."

Wu Cuiflower burst into tears and struggled to get up, but Li Laoer raised his ruler, and she could only kneel down obediently.

I thought my son would come to plead for me, but no one came to see me all night...

Everyone listened to the scolding coming from the private room, carefully watching Li Laotai's face, not daring to lift their bowls again.

Jia Yin twisted her little head, looking this way and that. Seeing the curious looks on everyone's faces in her home, she became even more curious about the reason behind it all.

It turns out her never-seen uncle is taboo, you can't even mention him

Jia Yin desperately wanted to know her great-uncle's story, but she couldn't speak. She could only raise her hand to touch Li Lao Tai's face and coo softly at her.

Lao Li couldn't eat her meal, so she took her granddaughter back to the house, leaving all the other people at the table like frightened quails.

Grandma Li had just put her granddaughter down on the kang when she saw a patch of redness on her granddaughter's little arm.

She hurried over to take a look and felt a warm spot of porridge on her sleeve. She immediately understood that her granddaughter had been scalded.

Just now, the child didn't cry at all. Could it be that she scared him

Li Laotai's heart was filled with regret and heartache. How could she have forgotten her granddaughter in her arms just now What was she thinking, dropping the porridge bowl!

She hurriedly picked up her granddaughter, held up her little arm, and kissed and blew on it.

"Funiua, are you hurt It's all my fault. Grandma shouldn't have gotten angry. Did I scare you, Funiua..."

Jiayin, of course, couldn't say she was hurt. She couldn't put it into words, so she could only giggle and respond, hoping the old woman would feel less guilty.

Seeing her granddaughter with wide eyes, he reached out to touch her face as if to comfort her.

Li Laotai's heart ached even more, and finally, she directly held her granddaughter and burst into tears.

Jia Yin was held upright in Lao Tai Li's arms, her head resting on her shoulder. She could truly feel the trembling of her grandmother's body.

Hearing the stifled sobs again, her heart ached too.

Grandma has always been the pillar of the Li family. As the head of the household, she makes decisions and speaks with decisiveness and strength.

Throughout the arduous journey of fleeing, carrying a group of over ten people, I never shed a tear, no matter how difficult it became.

But she's crying so sadly right now...

She tried hard to rub her little face against grandma's, and she even wanted to reach out and wipe away her tears.

It's a pity that the little hand isn't very obedient yet, and in the end it turned into a slap in the face...

Since that day, Wu Cuifang was beaten by Li Laer and limped for more than ten days. She didn't dare to talk too much at home anymore.

For fear that Old Lady Li might be displeased and prevent her son from going to school.

On this day, Li Laosi went up the mountain to hunt early in the morning.

But by noon, he hadn't returned. Li Laotai was worried something had happened, so she asked her second son to go out and greet him.

As soon as Lao Er arrived at the hospital gate, he was startled. A bloody man burst in from outside, carrying a goat on his shoulder!

He was just about to call out, but upon closer inspection, he realized that this person was actually Li Laosi!

"Qiusheng You... how did you get like this Are you hurt"

Li Lao'er didn't know whether to look at Li Laosi or the idiot for a moment.swaggered through the market.Young masterLi Laosi pulled the still-stunned Second Brother and the villagers, quickly hiding behind a wonton stall."Second brother, I saw that incompetent fool, General...