Chapter 61: A Family Battle, Utter Chaos!

"Sister-in-law, a place like this is hardly somewhere you have the right to speak!"

Though patronized by his sister-in-law, Li Qingyun did not feel angry.

He felt that what she said was entirely reasonable; after all, his purpose in coming to his eldest brother's home was precisely to secure financial support from him! For the sake of personal gain, enduring a few harsh words from others was of no consequence.

However, that person could not be his sister-in-law.

Who did she think she was? She was merely the daughter of a common craftsman, a person of the lowest social stratum. That she had managed to marry his eldest brother was already a stroke of immense good fortune bestowed by their ancestors.

Yet now, she dared to speak ill of the Li family—where on earth did she get such audacity?

With this thought, he ignored his eldest sister-in-law, turned his gaze to Li Qingbao, and said, "Aren't my two nephews also studying?"

"I heard that both of them attend the Songting Academy!" Mentioning the academy, a flicker crossed his eyes. "My eldest brother truly possesses remarkable capability to be able to send both nephews to an academy in the county town!"

"And none other than the finest Songting Academy!"

With that, his tone suddenly shifted: "I only wonder, where did my eldest brother acquire such a sum of silver?"

"The tuition at Songting Academy is hardly inexpensive, and since it is not a government-run institution, the tuition for two nephews must surely amount to at least eight qian of silver per month for each?"

"Factor in living expenses, and each of them would require at least one tael of silver every month!"

Li Qingbao's face turned ashen.

He glanced briefly at the onlookers gathered outside, took a step forward, grabbed the collar of the man's garment, and violently hauled him across the threshold!

"Yunniang, close the door!"

Yunniang acknowledged the order and promptly chased away all the onlookers standing outside!

With a heavy thud, the main gate was shut tight.

Following this, they entered the main parlor.

As Li Qingyun sat inside the room and took in the style of the house, a deep sense of resentment welled up within him. Clearly, he ought to have achieved the same standing as his eldest brother, becoming a resident of the county town himself.

Yet...

Thinking of his lost silver, Li Qingyun casually posed a question: "Eldest brother, you and I sold our land on the very same day. Why did you not rest at home for a single night, but instead departed on that exact day?"

Li Qingbao paused for a moment in the motion of taking his seat, then cast a profound, searching look at Li Qingyun!

If the silver was lost, who else could he blame?

The family home had already been plagued by thieves, yet this fool had stubbornly chosen to stay behind—was that not simply offering an opportunity to others on a silver platter?

"Have you already checked with the second brother's place?" Li Qingbao bypassed the question entirely, raising a different matter instead.

Li Qingyun raised his head and let out a cold laugh. "Eldest brother truly understands this younger sibling of yours well, even knowing that I went to see our second brother."

"Did you find anything?" Ignoring the remark, Li Qingbao asked matter-of-factly.

"Hah!"

Li Qingyun fell silent.

What could he possibly say?

Could he admit that he had found absolutely nothing and ended up getting beaten up for his trouble? That upon stepping outside, he had been threatened by a mob of people and had no choice but to flee to the county town just to hide?

Observing Li Qingyun's reaction, Li Qingbao had already figured out the situation in his mind.

"Then what do you intend to do now?" he asked.

Li Qingyun spread his hands. "What else can I do? The prefectural examination is only a few days away. Aside from conserving my energy and resting, what other choice do I have?"

"Eldest brother, I am your own flesh and blood. I am not asking you to grant me any lavish assistance, but just for these next few days, show some mercy and let your younger brother stay here. Just a few days—once the prefectural examination is over, I will leave!"

Once he attained the status of a scholar, his standing in the township would rise correspondingly. By then, he could carefully look around and see if his parents could help arrange for him to take a concubine!

He was only in his early thirties, possessed striking and extraordinary good looks, and held the scholarly title of a preliminary student; the wealthy squires of the town ought to look upon him favorably.

He did not demand the daughter of a primary wife; even a concubine's daughter would suffice, provided the dowry was appropriate. Her appearance, whether plain or attractive, mattered very little.

Most importantly, he had to produce a son!

Even if a provincial graduate degree was beyond his reach, he had to ensure that his lineage continued; the path of officialdom could not end with him!

"In your dreams!"

Just as Yunniang stepped into the room, she overheard Li Qingyun's shameless declaration.

"Li Qingyun, let me make this clear to you: as long as I draw breath in this household, do not even think about setting foot across this threshold!"

Yunniang felt she had done nothing wrong.

To them, Li Qingyun was nothing more than an outsider. Her own two sons were still studying; why should she allow someone else to disrupt their education?

Li Qingbao frowned slightly.

Naturally, he had no intention of letting the man stay, but his wife's words were far too blunt and prone to stirring up trouble!

Sure enough.

The very next moment.

The voice of Old Mrs. Li rang out: "I'd like to see who dares to make Qingyun leave!"

The old woman stepped out from the inner rooms. Having recuperated for several days, she was finally able to walk on her own once more! Otherwise, the two of them could never have made the journey to Huaiyang County.

"Mother!"

The moment Li Qingyun laid eyes on Old Mrs. Li, a broad smile instantly spread across his face. Though a man of thirty years, he beamed like a young child, causing the corners of Li Qingbao's eyes to twitch involuntarily!

Spoiling a child was truly akin to destroying him!

"Qingyun, why have you come?" Old Mrs. Li gazed at Li Qingyun, her eyes brimming with deep heartache.

At this moment, Li Qingyun looked thoroughly disheveled, resembling nothing so much as a vagrant from the streets. As he drew closer, a sour, stale odor could even be detected on him, clearly indicating that he had been wandering destitute for many days.

At these words, Li Qingyun's eyes involuntarily reddened.

He took a step backward, lifted the hem of his robe, and dropped straight to his knees. "Mother, you must save your son this time! I have reached the end of my road!"

He wept bitterly, tears and snot streaming down his face in a most pitiful display!

"What on earth is the meaning of this!"

Seeing Li Qingyun weeping like an infant, Old Mrs. Li's heart instantly melted into a mess of sympathy. "Whatever is the matter? Where is that wife of yours? Does she not even know to come and look after you!"

Mentioning Cheng Xiuyun immediately stirred Old Mrs. Li's anger. "And you as well—so short-sighted! I told you long ago that our family and the Cheng family were mismatched in social standing, yet you insisted on marrying that woman. Look at you now—see what she has reduced my son to!"

With this scene of maternal devotion and filial piety playing out before her, Yunniang's expression twitched.

At last, she fully understood: that Li Qingyun had turned out the way he was, her dear mother-in-law bore an inescapable responsibility. Fortunately, her own husband possessed a mind of his own and had not ended up like the second brother, toiling away at home like a beast of burden!

Giving Li Qingbao a sharp nudge with her elbow, she conveyed her message through a fierce glare: *If you dare bring Li Qingyun into this house, I will never hear the end of it with you!*

Li Qingbao nodded slightly; he knew well enough without her telling him!

Having placated Yunniang, Li Qingbao stepped forward and forcibly interrupted the sentimental display. "Mother, since the third brother has made such a long journey here, shall we have our meal first and chat while we eat?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

With tear-filled eyes and a stooped posture, Old Mrs. Li took Li Qingyun's hand in hers and led him toward the courtyard!

Yunniang: "..."

Had she not just declared that no outsiders were to stay in the house? Why were they keeping him for a meal anyway?

Yet, there was little she could say at the moment, so she could only turn and head to the kitchen to fetch the food.

Hardly had she finished setting the dishes out when a crisp, cheerful voice rang through the air: "Father, Mother, I'm back!"

Li Baozhu bounded in happily, skipping and hopping without a trace of the rigid decorum expected of a young maiden. She acted much like a young child.

Upon entering, she offered no formal greetings to either Old Mrs. Li or Li Qingyun, simply plopping down unceremoniously at the table.

She even reached out, grabbed a piece of flatbread, and began eating right there in front of everyone.

Li Qingyun: "..."

Was this truly his eldest niece?

Li Baozhu was slightly younger than Li Baozhen, having just passed her fifteenth year! Yet how could she be so utterly devoid of manners?

Her elders were seated right beside her, yet not only did she fail to offer greetings, she didn't even address them before seating herself and immediately digging into the food!

How on earth was his eldest brother educating his daughter?