Chapter 133
In the moment when emotion overwhelmed reason, no matter how refined and gentle a person usually was, they resembled a madman.
Li Yisheng felt a throbbing pain in his temples. His head felt swollen and ready to split open, and all the blood in his body seemed to rush upward, making it impossible for him to stay calm.
Second Aunt Li seemed to still be talking, but he couldn't make out a single word.
He swept his arm violently across the table, sending the teacups and pastries crashing to the floor. Porcelain shattered, and light brown tea splashed onto Second Aunt Li's skirt, making her shriek in alarm. The sound jolted Li Yisheng back to his senses, and he stood staring blankly at the mess he had created.
He had never lost his composure like this before. When he met Xie Xiaoyu's somewhat stunned and incredulous gaze, Li Yisheng slowly looked down at his own hand. The tea had been scalding hot, and his skin was now red where it had accidentally splashed him, yet at this moment, he could barely feel any pain.
Xie Xiaoyu hurried over: "Brother Sheng, your hand..." Before he could finish, Li Yisheng turned away in embarrassment and ran off.
Xie Xiaoyu lifted his foot to chase after him, but was pulled back by Second Aunt Li: "Yu Ger, he's just a madman, don't go." Her face was full of alarm, seemingly also frightened by Li Yisheng's sudden outburst, and she was still feeling apprehensive.
Li Yisheng had never lost his temper so severely before.
He had never been very close to Second Aunt Li since childhood. Usually, when Second Aunt Li nagged him or spoke harshly, Li Yisheng would endure it and never argued. Today was the first time.
Xie Xiaoyu pulled his hand back, his brow tightly furrowed. He glanced towards the door, Li Yisheng was already gone without a trace. It was late now, and it was unsafe for him to run out like that. Feeling anxious and resentful towards Second Aunt Li, he said: "Auntie, you shouldn't have said those things to Brother Sheng. You went too far."
"I..." Second Aunt Li stammered, "I, I was just talking, it was only a joke."
"Did he laugh then?" Xie Xiaoyu retorted. "If he had laughed, then it could be considered a joke. You said he has no upbringing. In my opinion, that was very rude. Even though you are his aunt, you shouldn't say that. No one makes jokes like that."
Being criticized like this by a junior, Second Aunt Li felt her face couldn't hold up: "Yu Ger, don't forget your own status. You and I are family. Don't always side with outsiders. Just as you said, even if I did speak too harshly, I am still his aunt. What he did was wrong."
Xie Xiaoyu's face darkened: "You and I are not family. Not now, and not in the future."
"What do you mean by that?" Second Aunt Li demanded sharply. She never had much regard for ger in the first place. Back then, if not for Second Uncle Li's persuasion, she wouldn't have agreed to this marriage proposal.
Xie Xiaoyu's father served as a Chief Clerk in the prefectural office and had some face in front of the Prefect. But strictly speaking, the position of Chief Clerk wasn't part of the official imperial bureaucracy. However, working for the prefectural office, eating the state's grain, and receiving silver from the government placed them a step above commoners.
Second Aunt Li had originally planned to wait until Li Yixing passed the Xiucai exam, raising their family's standing, before seeking a daughter-in-law. But Second Uncle Li lacked ability and couldn't earn much silver. The teacher tutoring Li Yixing was hired from another place at a high price, costing hundreds of taels of silver per month.
The Li family wasn't extremely wealthy. After Li Yisheng became unable to take the imperial examinations, the Old Master Li placed all his hopes on Li Yixing, pouring resources overwhelmingly onto him, hoping he would pass the exams with high honors and bring glory to the ancestors. His favoritism knew no bounds, most of the silver earned by the medical hall was used on Second Uncle Li's family.
Li Yisheng's father hadn't particularly minded this arrangement until a few years ago, when he accidentally overheard Second Aunt Li chatting with a neighbor and making jokes at his son's expense. Her words were filled with disdain and scorn.
"I don't know what sin my elder brother committed in his past life to have a son like that in this one. That appearance of his is just comical, truly ridiculous. Have you ever seen eyes as small as soybeans? Every time I see him, I can't help but laugh, he's just so unsightly. Those who are scholars represent the face of the court. Those misshapen melons and cracked dates are only fit to dream. In the future, he'll still have to rely on my Yixing."
[歪瓜裂枣 (wāi guā liè zǎo): lit. misshapen melons and cracked dates; fig. a person or group of people who are unattractive in appearance.]
Li Yisheng's father was furious.
In this life, he had only this one son. Though he had hoped his son would follow his path, Li Yisheng was barred from the examinations, and for such a shallow reason. Witnessing Li Yisheng's despair—how he shut himself in his room for days without speaking—as his father, he felt heartache yet was utterly helpless.
In truth, Li Yisheng was not nearly as unsightly as Second Aunt Li claimed. He could, in fact, be considered somewhat pleasing to the eye, with a perfectly average appearance.
After Old Master Li passed away, Li Yisheng's father divided the family estate, formally separating his household from Second Uncle Li.
He didn't want the original medical hall and started a new one with his wife and Li Yisheng.
A few years prior, when the medical hall business was good, he opened another branch in Yuanzhou.
Second Uncle Li's medical skills were not proficient. The Li family's practice had previously relied entirely on Li Yisheng's father to sustain it. Once he left, the medical hall declined day by day, gradually failing to make ends meet.
Second Uncle Li thought it over and decided to find a marriage for Li Yixing, to help with the financial support.
After careful consideration and comparison of all available options, the Xie family emerged as the most suitable match within their reach, representing the optimal balance of social status and financial means.
Second Aunt Li also knew that without the support of the eldest branch, relying solely on themselves, they had no ability to continue funding their son's studies.
Although she disliked ger, she ultimately agreed for the sake of her child's future, especially since Li Yixing also favored Xie Xiaoyu. Moreover, she resented the eldest branch for what she saw as their ingratitude—insisting on dividing the family and leaving the second branch behind while they prospered. While Li Yisheng’s mother might not have clearly recognized the particular intentions Li Yisheng held toward Xie Xiaoyu, Second Aunt Li perceived them perfectly clearly. And so, partly to retaliate against the eldest branch, she consented to the match.
Yet, never in her wildest thoughts had she imagined that, despite her reluctant acceptance and deliberate efforts to win him over, Xie Xiaoyu would still speak to her in such a manner.
With the noise and arguing outside, Li Yixing pushed the door open and came out, just in time to see Xie Xiaoyu shove Second Aunt Li aside and run out hurriedly.
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