Casting Nets to Catch a Husband

Chapter 139: Mother and Son

Qian Shi felt both empty and flustered inside.

She had accurately gauged the feelings of Lu Xun and Lu Chengxiao but did not anticipate that Madam Lu, whom she had only met twice, would be such a shrewd and aggressive character.

Li Zhongjue’s words hurt Qian Shi’s heart, making her feel heavy-hearted and and her legs weak. However, she refused to lose face in front of her children. She sat down on an armchair, clutching a handkerchief to conceal her momentary nervousness.

But this nervousness was fleeting. Qian Shi’s initial impulse had indeed led to her current predicament, yet she had a prepared response, just in case. Unfortunately, her plan did not account for this scenario, and having to defend herself now was the worst outcome, leaving her at a disadvantage.

Given the situation, she had to win back her son’s loyalty. At the very least, when Li Cunyi returned, she couldn’t let her younger son undermine her.

She looked at Li Zhongjue and asked, “Do you think I did wrong?”

Li Zhongjue clenched his teeth, thinking to himself, “Could this really be the right course of action?” He lowered his head and replied, “A child should not speak of a parent’s faults. Your son dares not judge.”

Qian Shi laughed angrily, “You say you don’t dare, yet you dare a lot!”

Qian Shi and Li Yunbi had been waiting for Li Zhongjue to come back for dinner. But now, it was clear there would be no dinner. Qian Shi turned to Li Yunbi and said, “Go back to your own courtyard.”

Having heard their exchange, Li Yunbi was unwilling to leave. However, after the incident in May, she had been too ashamed to hold her head high and did not dare act as freely as before in front of Qian Shi. She glanced pitifully at Li Zhongjue, but seeing that her second brother did not look at her, she could only lower her head and leave.

Qian Shi kept a stern face, watching Li Yunbi leave the main courtyard before turning to Li Zhongjue. “I don’t know what message Madam Lu’s eldest son conveyed to you, but Zhongjue, I don’t think it’s appropriate for our families to continue associating given the current situation. What’s wrong with distancing ourselves? For the sake of your sister, even if your father returns, I will still stand by my decision.”

“I have no regrets. As a mother, my first concern is my daughter’s feelings. The same applies to you. As her elder brother, your primary concern should be your sister’s feelings, not those of outsiders.”

“Outsiders?” Li Zhongjue looked at his mother as if he didn’t recognize her.

Qian Shi lifted her chin slightly. “Compared to your sister, they are outsiders. You should understand the difference in closeness.”

“Closeness.” Li Zhongjue nodded. “Naturally, blood relatives are closer, but Mother, where do you place Father in this? I am Yunbi’s brother, but I am also Father’s son.”

“Even if you disregard the fact that Chengxiao saved Father’s life, let’s consider the incident in May. You want to distance ourselves from the Lu family. Do you think after Yunbi did what she did, the Lu family wouldn’t want to distance themselves from us?”

“Why would Uncle Lu still come to deliver festival gifts? Mother, have you thought about that?”

Qian Shi clutched her handkerchief and said nothing.

Li Zhongjue continued, “Because Chengxiao values relationships and didn’t mention anything to his family. Mother, including Brother Chengzong, when he came to deliver the message today, he showed no knowledge of the May incident. Do you still believe your actions were justified and dignified?”

Qian Shi’s jaw tightened, and her expression grew tense.

Li Zhongjue didn’t need her to speak. He had countless words rushing out, unable to stop once he started.

“I’ve met Chengxiao’s fiancée, and Yunbi has too. Chengxiao cares for her deeply. In May, she was in Yuanzhou. Mother, Chengxiao showed his stance early on, and he won’t come to our house easily in the future. You feel for Yunbi, but doesn’t Chengxiao feel for his fiancée? Seeing our family would irritate Miss Liu every time, and seeing Yunbi would disgust her every time!”

“Li Zhongjue!” Qian Shi, unable to bear it, slammed the table and stood up. “Yunbi is your sister! How can you speak of her like that?”

Mother and son stood facing each other. Qian Shi glared at Li Zhongjue, her hand gripping the handkerchief trembling, her final words squeezed out through gritted teeth.

Li Zhongjue closed his eyes briefly, knowing his words were harsh. He lowered his gaze, calming himself before speaking again. “I misspoke. What I meant was, Chengxiao maintained a superficial relationship for our dignity. Mother, no one is clinging to us. Why did you rush to make things so humiliating for our family?”

It felt like being accused of doing something foolish.

These words truly wounded Qian Shi’s pride, erasing her thoughts of winning back her son. She sneered, “You hold the Lu family in such high regard. Yes, they are noble and refined, while your mother’s methods are despicable and unworthy?”

“You don’t know how many interests are involved. You don’t realize that continued association with the Lu family relies on your uncle’s support. Now that we’ve broken ties, it’s because there’s no benefit left. Li Zhongjue, don’t talk to me about gratitude. Without your uncle’s help, the Lu family would still be running a small fabric shop in town! Any debts have been repaid!”

“Mother.” Li Zhongjue was incredulous. “How could you say such things?”

Qian Shi was stung by Li Zhongjue’s reaction. She clenched her fists tightly, feeling a throbbing pain at her temples. She stared at him, her body unconsciously leaning forward. “Li Zhongjue, I don’t have your lofty ideals. I’m just a mother who can’t stand seeing my child suffer—that’s my reason.”

Li Zhongjue’s eyes reddened slightly. “Mother, you’re being unreasonable.”

“Whether I’m unreasonable or not, you must remember, you came from my womb. Yunbi is your sister, so don’t take sides unfairly. Your surname is Li, not Lu.”

Using filial piety to press her point, Li Zhongjue stared at Qian Shi for a while, said nothing, and turned to head towards Li Cunyi’s study.

Qian Shi watched his retreating figure, angered, and took a few steps forward before clutching the doorframe, her heart aching.

Neither mother nor son knew that just outside the courtyard wall, by the moon gate window, Li Yunbi was standing, having lost all her strength. She clutched her chest and collapsed into the flower bed’s muddy soil.

She didn’t know if her white dress would get dirty. Her ears were buzzing with Li Zhongjue’s harsh scoldings.

— You want to distance ourselves from the Lu family. Do you think the Lu family doesn’t want to distance themselves after what Yunbi did?

— You feel for Yunbi, but doesn’t Chengxiao feel for his fiancée? Every time our family sees Miss Liu, it irritates her. Every time Yunbi sees her, it disgusts her!

— Every time she sees Yunbi, it disgusts her!

— Every time she sees Yunbi, it disgusts her!

Li Yunbi covered her ears, but she couldn’t block out the repeated accusations echoing in her mind. She cried and trembled, almost crawling as she clung to the flowers and plants to stand up, stumbling back to her own courtyard.

~

At the same time, outside the Li family residence, a carriage approached in the night. The sound of hooves and wheels on the ground stopped right in front of the Li family gate.

The gatekeeper heard the commotion and came out of his small room. By the light of the lantern at the door and the two gas lamps hanging from the carriage, he saw two familiar figures stepping down from the carriage, dressed in fine silk robes.

When the two turned around, the gatekeeper recognized them, joyfully slapped his thigh, and hurried out to greet them. “Master, Young Master, it’s you who have returned!”

Li Cunyi turned his head and smiled at the gatekeeper. “Yougen, it’s me. I sent a letter ahead saying we’d arrive around now. Is everything well at home?”

Li Yougen grinned from ear to ear. “Yes, yes, everything is well at home. Madam and the Second Young Master were expecting you at the end of the month. This is much earlier than expected.”

Li Zhongqi took out two bundles from the carriage and, seeing Li Yougen, smiled and called out, “Uncle Yougen. My father heard that Chengxiao is getting married and was so happy that we hurried back.”

Li Yougen, having served the Li family for many years, naturally knew who Lu Chengxiao was. Hearing this, he remembered what Madam had instructed earlier and felt a pang of worry.

However, being a servant, he naturally followed his master’s orders. Li Cunyi was reasonable and wouldn’t take out his anger on a servant even if he wanted to blame someone. This thought put Li Yougen somewhat at ease, and he masked his emotions, smiling as he reached out to take the bundles from Li Zhongqi. “Young Master, let this old servant carry the bundles.”

Li Zhongqi smiled and thanked him, then turned back to the carriage to take out another bundle, which he carried on his back. He paid the carriage driver, and the three of them entered the Li family residence.

As they walked inside, Li Yougen said, “Master, Young Master, please walk slowly. I will go ahead and inform Madam and the Second Young Master.”

He was about to hurry ahead when Li Cunyi stopped him, smiling. “No rush, we’ve already arrived. There’s no need to hurry these last few steps.”

Li Cunyi was always kind to his servants, and Li Yougen was happy to have a few more words with the family head. Hearing Li Cunyi say there was no rush, he gladly walked with them towards the main courtyard, asking if they had eaten dinner yet.

When Li Zhongjue came out with a letter he had found in Li Cunyi’s study, Qian Shi was still standing by the door, clutching her chest. Meanwhile, Li Cunyi, Li Zhongqi, and Li Yougen were just a few steps away from the main courtyard entrance.

“Mother, Father and I are back!” Li Zhongqi called out before he arrived.

Qian Shi was startled, her face turning pale.

Li Zhongjue, who had been walking quickly, ignoring his mother’s sharp gaze, also stopped in his tracks. Then, he was overjoyed. “Father!”

He quickly ran a few steps forward. “Father, you are back!”

As soon as Li Cunyi entered the gate, he saw Li Zhongjue’s excited expression and quick steps to greet him. He also saw Qian Shi standing by the doorframe and thought she had rushed out upon hearing the noise. Pleased, he looked Li Zhongjue up and down and smiled. “Good boy, I haven’t seen you for a few months, and you’ve lost weight.”

But Li Zhongjue couldn’t smile. After the initial joy, his expression turned serious again. “Father, there has been an issue at home. Please come to the study; I have something important to discuss.”

Li Cunyi was taken aback, and Li Zhongqi looked puzzled. Only Li Yougen, though unaware of the specifics, felt a twinge of anxiety.

Li Cunyi smiled. “What’s the matter? Why so serious? What could be so urgent? Is there a problem with the farm or the shop?”

Li Zhongjue shook his head. “Neither, Father. Please come to the study.”

Seeing his seriousness, Li Cunyi’s expression also grew serious, and he nodded.

“Zhongjue!” Qian Shi’s voice was nearly shrill.

Li Cunyi and Li Zhongqi both looked at her, while Li Zhongjue stood with his head bowed, not looking at his mother.

Under the stares of her husband and eldest son, Qian Shi tightened her grip on the doorframe, trying to relax her face. She softened her tone. “You’ve had a long journey. Whatever it is, it can wait a moment. Put down your luggage, wash up, and have something to eat first.”

Li Cunyi was indeed hungry. They had hurried back, and today, seeing they were near home, he had only eaten two pieces of bread in the carriage to avoid missing the time to enter the city.

He looked at Li Zhongjue.

But Li Zhongjue insisted. “Father, the matter is urgent. Please come to the study first.”

Hearing him insist three times, Li Cunyi knew it was probably something serious and nodded. “Alright, let’s go.”

Qian Shi’s teeth chattered with anxiety, partly from Li Zhongjue’s anger.

Seeing father and son walk five or six steps away, Qian Shi couldn’t hold it any longer. This was not how she had planned it—completely different. She hurried a few steps forward. “Li Zhongjue.”

Using his full name, her tone no longer as firm as before, carried a trace of barely noticeable pleading and weakness.

Li Zhongjue lowered his eyes, his throat working, but said nothing.

Li Zhongqi was still confused, while Li Cunyi, having been married to Qian Shi for twenty years, sensed something subtle. He looked at Qian Shi, then at Li Zhongjue. This time, without waiting for Li Zhongjue to speak, Li Cunyi said, “Let’s go inside.”

Father and son entered the study together, the door closing with a creak. Qian Shi collapsed onto the corridor bench.

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