Chapter 167: What Does Old Master Liu Mean by This?

Chapter 167: What Does Old Master Liu Mean by This?

What Liu Yuanfeng and Yu Sanbao considered a minor incident eventually reached Old Master Liu.

Upon hearing the news, Wei Sanniang, who had been cooking in the kitchen, quickly wiped her hands and hurried to the front courtyard.

Old Master Liu was nearly seventy, which was considered a good age for longevity.

His hair was gray, but his spirit was still strong. Sitting in his armchair, he rubbed the tiger head carved on the armrest while listening to the eldest granddaughter-in-law of the main branch, who held the fifth granddaughter Liu Xiaer and was speaking at length.

"Grandfather, it's not that your granddaughter-in-law is stirring up trouble. Our Xiaer was hurt in the fall and was trying to bear it silently. I don't know which meddlesome person mentioned this to you; otherwise, we wouldn't have said a word in front of you..."

The eldest granddaughter-in-law, Xiao Lin, spoke half-truthfully.

Liu Yuanfeng, standing nearby, felt a twitch in his forehead but endured it in silence.

If someone from the main branch hadn't deliberately badmouthed them in front of his father, how would his father have known?

Liu Yuanfeng had suffered too many such hidden losses at the hands of the main branch.

He also knew that his father always felt the original Madam had passed away too early, leaving her children from the main branch motherless and suffering.

His father always showed favoritism towards the main branch.

Liu Yuanfeng lowered his eyes, saying nothing.

But Old Master Liu took the initiative to ask Wei Sanniang, who had just arrived, "Sanniang, this guest is from your natal family. What is your opinion?"

Wei Sanniang looked up at Old Master Liu.

She replied somewhat dryly, "...Master, I have nothing to say."

Old Master Liu then asked Wei Pozi, who had come with Wei Sanniang, "You are from Sanniang's natal family. What do you think?"

Wei Pozi vaguely sensed that Old Master Liu wasn't asking about how to handle the children's issue but rather about the relationship between the two family branches.

Wei Pozi pondered how to respond when Xingxing suddenly spoke out in confusion:

"Why are you asking us for our opinion?"

Xingxing looked confusedly at Ju Geer, then at Old Master Liu, "The one who made the mistake should admit it, right? She started by grabbing things and pushing Xingxing first; when we fell, Ju Geer was at the bottom, and none of us were hurt. Old grandfather asks what we think—does that mean we shouldn't distinguish right from wrong?"

The innocent words of the child made Old Master Liu open his eyes a bit wider.

There was a moment of silence in the room.

Madam Da Lin, the wife of the eldest branch of the Liu family, had just seen off her guests and was hurrying over when she heard this.

She frowned disapprovingly and glanced at Wei Sanniang.

She assumed that for a three or four-year-old child to say such things, Wei Sanniang must have taught her.

Just as Madam Da Lin opened her mouth to call out "Father," Old Master Liu closed his eyes and suddenly said, "I'm tired. Everyone, return to your own courtyard."

Madam Da Lin and her daughter-in-law Xiao Lin were both seething with anger.

Liu Xiaer, feeling wronged, called out "Mother" and nestled into Madam Da Lin's arms.

In front of Old Master Liu, her father-in-law, Madam Da Lin couldn't very well be too caustic towards Wei Sanniang and the others.

Enduring in silence, Madam Da Lin led her daughter by the hand, with her daughter-in-law, Madam Xiao Lin, following behind, and left the main courtyard first.

Wei Sanniang and the others also left quickly.

Old Master Liu watched them go from behind and couldn't help but ask the long-time attendant by his side, who had served him for many years, "...Do they really not want to stay here with me for a little longer?"

The attendant thought to himself, why is Young Master Bai and his mother reacting this way? Master, aren't you asking something you already know the answer to?

But he knew better than to say that. Instead, he advised, "The children have grown up. Who wants to stay by their parents' side all the time? It's like how a cat is with a mouse, isn't it?"

Old Master Liu snorted unhappily.

"They also say that Yuanfeng is just like me. Like in what way..." Old Master Liu muttered.

"Now that you mention it, I do recall something..." the attendant slowly said, "Do you remember when you were younger, there was one time when we went hunting and got some furs? You were excited and wanted to make a pair of boots for your parents. But then the old lady said that since your elder brother was often away on business, the furs should be given to him instead. You just stood there with your eyes downcast, pressed lips, not saying a word. You didn't say it was good, nor did you say it was bad... Later, when the old lady had no choice but to tell you to go back to your room, you left quickly, as if something was chasing you... Isn't that just like Fourth Young Master?"

This seemed to stir Old Master Liu's long and foggy memories.

He narrowed his eyes and remained silent for a long time.

……

Xingxing was a bit uneasy. After leaving the main courtyard, she quietly asked Wei Pozi, "Grandmother, did I say something wrong?"

Wei Pozi gave her an encouraging smile, "No, Xingxing, you spoke very well. What's important is to distinguish between right and wrong."

In a place like Old Master Liu's, where he blindly favored the main branch, who cared about right or wrong?

Ever since leaving the main courtyard, Liu Yuanfeng had been feeling dejected.

Returning to the rear courtyard, to the courtyard he and his mother shared, Liu Yuanfeng said dejectedly, "My father has always been unfairly partial. It’s because of me that Ju Geer and Xingxing are suffering unfairly."

Yu Sanbao said, "Cousin, don't say that! We've done nothing wrong in this matter. We have a clear conscience!"

Liu Yuanfeng chuckled self-mockingly, "Actually, this time it's not too bad. If it were usual, my biased father might even ask me, 'If you had bought a set of toys for Xiaer, would she have had to fight with others over them? In the end, it's because you didn't think things through properly'..."

Wei Sanniang laughed at Liu Yuanfeng's imitation of Old Master Liu, but then her heart ached.

She was timid and useless, causing her son to suffer even in his own father's household.

"Forget it... Once Yuanfeng marries a wife, we should move out and live independently..." Wei Sanniang made up her mind, "There's a small courtyard on the outskirts of the Liu family's property. It's old, but it's still livable. When the time comes, I'll take Yuanfeng and his wife to live there."

Hearing this, the young Liu Yuanfeng perked up, "Great! I've long since been tired of living with my elder brother and the others! It's so stifling and suffocating!"

Wei Pozi thought this was indeed a good idea.

But the problem returned.

Her son Yuanfeng's marriage...

That was going to be quite a headache!

After the meal, Wei Pozi and Wei Sanniang had a private conversation. Wei Pozi asked Wei Sanniang if she had any prospective families in mind for Yuanfeng's marriage. Since she was there for the New Year festivities, she could help inquire.

Wei Sanniang brightened and mentioned three or four families.

"These families seem quite good..." Wei Sanniang elaborated to Wei Pozi, "Although they are rather poor, they are all girls from respectable families. If I take Yuanfeng and we split off separately, our lives will probably be rather hard too, so we need to find a daughter-in-law who can endure the hardship..."

The two were engrossed in their conversation when something arrived from Old Master Liu.

It was an envelope with several sheets of paper inside, each bearing some writing.

Fortunately, Yu Sanbao could read, so he took it and examined it. It contained details about several families and their daughters' situations.

Once he had finished reading, Wei Sanniang was similarly stunned.

What does the old master intend by this?