Chapter 133: Own Flesh and Blood

While Li Xihua was still arguing with her former mother-in-law, Li Kai had already slipped into the house to help pack. He had been old enough when his eldest sister married to remember exactly what her major dowry items were.

In less than half a day, Li Xihua’s dowry chests, bedding, clothes, and daily necessities were all cleared out and loaded directly onto the ox cart. Then they prepared to leave, even though they were certain to miss lunch back home. Fortunately, the Li family women were thoughtful; they had prepared snacks and water for the cart, which would suffice for a makeshift meal. The Li daughter-in-law had promised a hearty feast for their return, which pleased the two young men who had accompanied them. Ten work points were trivial, but Tang, their sister-in-law, was generous; they knew they wouldn't lose out by helping her.

As Li Xihua left, Qian Darong wept uncontrollably. He was genuinely heartbroken, though there was a hint of performance in his wailing. Since childhood, Qian Darong had taken pride in having a fierce and formidable mother. He had grown up pampered and lazy, yet lived a comfortable life mostly due to his mother’s efforts. It could be said that Old Lady Qian was the primary architect of Qian Darong’s incompetence. He had become accustomed to his mother handling everything; she would smooth over any trouble, and he would always be the one to reap the benefits.

But this time, his calculations had failed. In hindsight, he realized that if his mother hadn't been so foul-mouthed—insulting the Li elders and even hurting Li’s mother—would Li Xihua, who had endured so much hardship, have ever been pushed to the point of divorce? That was what had triggered the uncontrollable chain of events.

What Qian Darong found most baffling was how Li Xihua had discovered his secret medical condition. Throughout their marriage, she had never known, always assuming it was her own fault that they had no children. How had her attitude changed so suddenly? By the time Qian Darong sensed something was wrong, it was already too late, but a seed of suspicion had been planted. He couldn't help but feel that Li Xihua’s sister-in-law, Tang, was terrifyingly capable—almost suspiciously so.

At that moment, Tang, the object of his deep resentment, was feeling quite cheerful. She had expected only to retrieve the dowry, but her second brother had proven himself capable of great things. In a single morning, he had finalized the divorce, meaning her eldest sister would never have to face that grotesque mother-son pair again. It was a wonderful outcome worth celebrating. Tang generously gave Li Kai ten yuan and meat coupons, telling him to stop by the commune to buy meat and anything else that looked good.

Li Xihua was stunned, quickly calculating in her mind how many work points she had earned after a year of backbreaking labor. Her year-end bonus had been exactly twenty-four yuan. Although that money had been held by the Qian matriarch, she remembered the figure clearly. Seeing Tang throw away ten yuan just for meat made her eyes widen in shock.

Tang didn't care about her sister-in-law’s incredulous expression. People’s characters were mostly set in stone and hard to change. She just had to get used to it; besides her sharp tongue, Li Xihua was quite capable, and her merits outweighed her flaws.

Under the guidance of his brother and sister-in-law, Li Kai had become quite resourceful. Despite it being afternoon, he returned with fish, meat, and even wine and other dishes. Being shrewd and calculating, he even returned the five yuan in change to Tang.

Once word got out that Li Xihua had divorced and returned to her parents' home, women like Li Erniang—who always held a grudge against Mother Li—came by to meddle, claiming it was just a lovers' quarrel and urging them to reconcile rather than separate. They told Li Xihua not to act haughty and to return to the Qian household. This touched a raw nerve for Mother Li. Losing her patience, she grabbed a broom and chased the woman out, while Tang stood by, applauding.

Dinner was a grand affair. Mother Li and Li Xihua prepared a table full of dishes, and the main room was filled with guests. Father Li invited Old Man Gu to stay, and sent Li Kai to fetch the brigade leader, the secretary, and the young men who had helped earlier that day. Beyond sharing a meal, they needed the brigade leader’s help. Now that the divorce was official, Li Xihua’s household registration and grain rations needed to be transferred back to the Harvest Brigade under her father’s name. Only then would she truly be back home.

Hearing her father speak, Li Xihua’s eyes welled with tears, and she felt no regret for her decision to divorce. That family had never treated her as a human being; why shouldn't she return to her own kin? The meal was a success, and the transfer of her registration proved to be no issue—in those days, the brigade leaders held significant sway.

After the meal, Father Li saw the guests off and Mother Li cleaned the kitchen, but Li Xihua couldn't stay idle. She carried water, swept the courtyard, and did laundry, even taking apart the bedding to wash at the river the next day. Tang, strolling through the yard, watched her and sighed with satisfaction: having her eldest sister back was truly wonderful. With her capable hands handling everything inside and out, she and her mother-in-law would have much less to do.

From then on, Li Xihua was officially back in the Li family, working in the fields. She was quick and diligent, doing the work of a strong laborer and helping others once she finished her own tasks. With her there, Father Li and Li Kai could work with more peace of mind, and Mother Li was no longer as overworked as before. By rural standards, being able to manage both the home and the fields made Li Xihua an ideal candidate for marriage, and matchmakers soon began to knock.

Li Xihua let her mother reject them all. She hadn't returned to get remarried; living with her parents was just fine. Of course, old habits die hard. While her hands were never still, neither was her mouth. She criticized everyone in the house—poking fun at Li Kai and Li Xiyue’s constant squabbles, scolding the younger ones for their schoolwork, and even nagging her sister-in-law for waking up too late. Mother Li had to constantly remind herself: *She is my own daughter, my own daughter, my own daughter!*

*Oh, heavens, but I really want to give her a good thrashing, what should I do?*