Stepping out of the gate, Aunt Li shook her head. Her youngest brother-in-law's family was done for. They had pushed away their only son capable of heading the household until he wanted nothing to do with them.
Everyone knew that Li Xiu was a man who valued his relationships. For them to push him to the point of leaving with nothing just to split the family meant he must have been truly heartbroken.
'Oh well, perhaps it's for the best that he's estranged. Otherwise, they would have dragged him down sooner or later. My own son is still young, and it's hard to tell how he'll turn out, but with a loyal, righteous, sensible, and sharp older cousin looking out for him, I imagine he'll be just fine.'
'I've been married into the Li family for over twenty years. My husband is one of three brothers. He was a soldier, a veteran of the battlefield, and he's shrewd and far-sighted.'
'The second brother-in-law is selfish and cowardly, while the third is honest and good-natured.'
'There are seventeen boys and girls in the next generation. Li Xiu is the eldest, the main grandson responsible for carrying on the family line. He has sixteen younger siblings and cousins, and he's looked after every one of them.'
'People's feelings are always mutual,' she thought, remembering a chat she'd had with her mother-in-law over the New Year.
Grandma Li had said, "My eldest grandson, Li Xiu, is loyal, fiercely protective, magnanimous, and always repays kindness. But he also holds a grudge. It's not a petty thing, but if you cross his line—once you've crossed it and truly angered him—he will pay you back a hundred, even a thousand times over."
At the time, she had just smiled and asked her mother-in-law where his line was.
Grandma Li smiled and replied, "It wasn't so obvious before. But now? His wife and his future children are his line. You never met your father-in-law, but Li Xiu is his spitting image. Your husband and his two brothers, and your sister-in-law—none of the four are like him. Li Xiu used to be too indulgent with his parents and siblings. I warned him, but it never sank in. Ever since his marriage was arranged, he's become extremely purposeful in everything he does. It's only the second son's family who are too short-sighted and clueless to see it. They're still in the dark.''
''A while back, he brought three huge sacks and stored them under my bed. They were filled with books, all for his future children. You just wait and see, that boy is sharp. A couple of days ago, I went to his new house and found him organizing things. All he was organizing were books. I can't read, but I'd guess there were five or six hundred of them. And look at the layout of his new place—three rooms on the west side. One bedroom on the east end, one on the west, and the one in the middle? That's a study for his children. Don't forget, people can go to university now. Judging by the rooms he's prepared, he doesn't plan on having many kids. He's planning for just two.''
''Then look at what he's prepared for his wife. Let's not even talk about all the food in the kitchen. Just look at their bedroom. The furniture is all made of fine wood. And don't you tell anyone, but that little vanity box I had you secretly put away when you got married? The one my own grandmother left me? It's made of zitan sandalwood. Back in the day, only princesses or the daughters of first-rank officials could use something like that. Well, the vanity table Li Xiu had made for his wife is also zitan sandalwood.''
''Don't think for a second he's ignorant. That boy studied under Ge Da, the cowherd, for six years. Ge Da was the young master of a landlord's family. He attended a private traditional school and a modern Western-style one, and he left to join the cause early on. But his class background was a problem. He's a smart man, though. When he sensed things were turning sour, he came back to the village. His standards are too high, so he never thought much of the village girls and never married. But Li Xiu caught his eye. Just think about it, if Li Xiu were a simpleton, would Ge Da have taught him? Li Xiu was only six at the time, yet he managed to keep it a secret until now. If he hadn't decided to reveal it himself, would any of us have ever known? He used that precious wood to build a vanity for his wife. And the money he earned from his trips into the mountains? He bought her a watch and a sewing machine. He claimed he traded some meat for the gold bracelets, but with how sharp he is, do you really think all he got was a single pair of bracelets? That wife of his is his entire world!''
''Li Hua and the other girls have always been close to their big brother. Don't you meddle in their affairs. In the future, when it's time to arrange marriages for Li Hua and the others, let him vet the prospects first. He has a sharp eye for people. His wife may look soft and kind, but you'll see, she's very resolute. Have Li Bo spend more time learning from his big brother. Li Bo is still young; he might even become a university student one day. Setting the girls aside, Li Bao and Li Guo are already older, so that just leaves Li Bo. Those boys from the second son's family have offended Li Xiu deeply. He won't be lifting a finger to help them in the future. That boy of ours is far-sighted. By lifting up Li Bo, he's ensuring his own children will have a reliable ally later on. You're the eldest daughter-in-law of the Li family; you need to look at the bigger picture. Aside from the second son's children, they're all good kids. Only when the siblings and cousins have strong bonds can they truly support one another!''
Thinking back on that conversation, Aunt Li smiled to herself. 'Grandma Li always said Li Xiu had a sharp eye for people, but hers is the sharpest of all.'
She glanced at the pearl flower in Zhou Lian's hair and understood everything. 'So much for a dowry—this entire outfit must have cost a fortune. The new red padded jacket, the black padded trousers, the pigskin-lined cotton shoes… no wonder Grandma Li said Li Xiu treats his wife like his entire world!'
Soon they arrived at Uncle Li's house, where his whole family was waiting. Tea was already brewed and set out on the kang, along with platters of sunflower seeds and apples.
Li Xiu grinned as he helped his wife sit on the kang. After a few minutes of small talk, Third Aunt hopped right off the kang to join Aunt Li in escorting the couple as they made their rounds.
Some of the clan elders liked to throw their weight around, and as the wife of the eldest son, there were things Aunt Li couldn't say. But Third Aunt was the wife of the youngest son, and ever since marrying into the Li family, she'd been famous for being frank and fiery.
In the past, some people couldn't stand her and would whisper in front of Grandma Li about how she was "too fiery," but Grandma Li would shut them down immediately. "I'm the one who spoils her. Is it any of your business!"
And so, Third Aunt was spoiled by her mother-in-law, doted on by her husband, and protected by her eldest sister-in-law. None of the old gossips in the village dared to mess with her.
Later, when her sons and nephews grew up, it became even worse. Li Bao, Li Guo, and Li Xiu were all cut from the same cloth—fiercely protective of their own. No one dared to mess with her then. After all, if you crossed her, your own children would pay the price. The boys would be so intimidated by Li Xiu and his friends they wouldn't dare leave their homes, and the girls would be bullied by Li Hua and Li Gui until they were crying their eyes out. If you went to complain to the elders, you'd find out in the end that your own child was the one in the wrong. So eventually, nobody bothered her, not even the clan elders. The kids in the family were all close, but none were as tight-knit as Li Bao, Li Guo, and Li Xiu!
Seeing Third Aunt spring into action, everyone chuckled. She was their ultimate weapon.
"Ma, my sister-in-law is just making her introductions today, not picking a fight!" Li Gui laughed so hard she was crying. Honestly, her mother. As fiery as she was, her protective streak was just like her big brother's. No wonder she doted on him the most!
"What does a little brat like you know? Your sister-in-law is a new bride; she has to mind her reputation. Your big brother can't get involved in the women's squabbles, and your aunt can't be overbearing. But me? I have no shame! I'll keep them in line. Let's see who dares to start any trouble! Come on, Sister-in-law, let's go."
'Li Xiu handled things so impeccably that no one could find fault,' Third Aunt thought. 'But some people just have an itch to stir up trouble. They don't dare provoke him, but they might try to put his wife in her place. As long as they don't go too far, Li Xiu can't say anything right then and there. And even though he can get even later, knowing how much he dotes on his wife, he'd be eaten up with frustration in the meantime.'
'Of all the kids in the Li family, Li Xiu was the one she was fondest of. His temperament suited hers.'
'When it was time for me to marry, my own mother worried about my quick temper and chose Third Brother Li because he was so honest. But really, I married into the family for my mother-in-law. At the time, my eldest brother-in-law had been married for two years with no children, while the second already had Li Xiu. Just from watching how my mother-in-law handled things, I knew she was a reasonable woman.'
'And I was right. I haven't been wronged a single day since I married. My husband is honest and dotes on me, my mother-in-law spoils me and never criticizes, and even my eldest sister-in-law looks out for me. Later, when the kids grew up, Li Xiu led the whole pack of them, and they were all fiercely protective.'
'I remember one year, when Li Xiu was only eleven, the village gossips were muttering behind my back, saying my husband was too honest and was afraid of his wife. Li Xiu shut them down right to their faces.'
"My Third Aunt is filial to her grandmother, dotes on her children and nephews, respects her eldest sister-in-law, and protects her husband. Where would she find the time to gossip with you!"
'Afterward, he even rounded up the younger kids and gave those women's children a proper thrashing. I was so delighted. I may have a quick temper, but I'm smart. Why else would I have dared to marry into the poor Li family when no one else wanted the 'too honest' Third Brother Li? A man who is good and hardworking is bound to succeed.'
'And I was right. My life has been the most comfortable since I married. Why else would they be so jealous and gossip about me? But I was still protected by my nephew-in-law. It just drives them mad. They didn't want to marry him then, and now they're green with envy seeing how well I live. Well, I'm going to keep living well! I'll have people protecting me even when I'm old!'
They made their rounds, and sure enough, two or three of the families tried to pull rank and put Zhou Lian in her place. A pity for them—before they could even get the words out, Third Aunt had already shut them down.
Things like, "Our grand-niece-in-law is a wonderful girl, with a hefty dowry and an honest heart. We elders have to protect her. We can't let any outsiders bully her!"
And, "Oh, my! She's the wife of the primary grandson, so our whole family treasures her. It's good that she's young! She has her grandmother-in-law, her aunt-in-law, and me to teach her. Don't worry, with the three of us women protecting her, I'd like to see anyone dare lay a hand on her! She has a whole troop of brothers- and sisters-in-law. Anyone who dares to reach out a claw, we'll chop it right off!"
"My second sister-in-law? Oh, she's busy! She's got four boys and a daughter to look after. But my eldest sister-in-law and I are free. You think the two of us can't protect one little niece-in-law?"
Oh, Third Aunt, have you forgotten you have three daughters and two sons yourself? And Aunt Li has five daughters and a son! Everyone's plenty busy. After all, Li Hua and Li Gui are of marriageable age, and it's about time for Li Bao to start looking for a match, too!