The Li family's morning was particularly sound. After waking up, Zhao Xiaofang and her two daughters each received a toothbrush.
The mother and daughters, in their novelty, followed Li Min in learning to brush their teeth, then went with Li Min to the back of the house to use a clean toilet they had heard of but never seen.
Upon returning, they were forced to wash their hands twice with soap before entering the kitchen to help with the cooking.
Setting aside the mother and daughters' astonishment in the kitchen, let's talk about the meal.
Zhao Xiaofang was served a bowl of brown sugar millet porridge.
The rest of the Li family, including Damai and Xiaomai, had white sugar millet porridge.
The staple food was fluffy white flour steamed buns, served with stir-fried tomatoes and eggs and stewed green beans.
Like figures in a dream, the mother and daughters dared not pick up their chopsticks, fearing it was all a dream.
The knocking on the door startled them from their dream. The mother and daughters didn't turn to look outside, but instead looked at Tian Jing.
Tian Jing kicked Li Min, who was already gnawing on a white bun, and said, "Go open the door."
Her again? Well, if you don't count elders or guests, she was the youngest.
"Eldest cousin?" Li Min's exclamation startled everyone in the main hall.
Zhao Xiaofang, her eyes wide with surprise, rose to greet her husband, then suddenly paused. She was supposed to be in the east room, lying weakly in bed.
Damai and Xiaomai also stood up. Were they going to be taken back? They hadn't even tasted such a lavish breakfast.
"Sit down, sit down," Tian Jing beckoned Damai and Xiaomai to sit.
She waved at the woman frozen by the east doorway, "Go lie down."
Although Li Min's exclamation was partly to give a heads-up, she was genuinely surprised. "Eldest cousin, how, how did you become like this?"
"Minmin," Li Rongguo forced a smile, "How is your eldest cousin-in-law?"
"Hmph, not dead yet."
Mentioning her eldest cousin-in-law, Li Min became angry. Her elder sister-in-law had used her eldest cousin-in-law's example to scold her severely, saying that women must have their own thoughts and souls.
Although she didn't understand, she had to pretend to, otherwise her elder sister-in-law would nag endlessly. Her elder sister-in-law was good in every way, except for her tendency to spout grand theories she couldn't comprehend.
Minmin's tone was unpleasant, but Li Rongguo was happy. His wife was still alive. As long as she was there, no matter what her condition, he would protect her.
"Can I come in?"
"No."
Li Min looked at the two large bundles on Li Rongguo's back. What was he doing?
"Minmin," Li Zhengguo called from the main hall, "Tell eldest cousin to come in."
"But..."
Li Min hesitated for only a moment before letting Li Rongguo in. This house was managed by the elder sister-in-law, but her eldest brother's word also counted, right?
After eldest cousin came in, she slammed the door shut and bolted it.
Li Zhengguo was also startled by Li Rongguo's appearance, but seeing that he seemed much more relaxed, he figured he must have come to terms with things and let go.
"Eldest cousin, put your things down first, wash your hands, and eat. We can talk after the meal."
"No, no, Zhengguo, I've come to pick up Damai, Xiaomai, and their mother."
Damai and Xiaomai's hearts sank.
Tian Jing stared at the two bundles on Li Rongguo's back, as well as his graying temples and the fresh bloodstain on his forehead. "Eldest cousin-in-law is not to be moved for now."
"Then, then I'll take Damai first. Once I've made arrangements outside, I'll come back for her and Xiaomai, alright?"
"Go out? Where to?" Li Zhengguo asked.
"Anywhere. As long as it's away from here."
"You escaped?"
"No, I begged my father, and my father let me out."
"Then why are you leaving? It's hard to leave your homeland. Although the memories in Kusan might all be bad for you, have you thought about your household registration, your future prospects, your food, lodging, and transportation?"
How could Li Rongguo not have thought about what his cousin had said? "Zhengguo, if I don't leave, when my mother wins the argument with my father, we'll have to go back again. This is probably the only chance."
Li Zhengguo disagreed, "If you go out without a plan, not to mention whether Damai and Xiaomai's bodies can withstand it, eldest cousin-in-law's body cannot hold on either."
"But..."
"No 'buts'. Stay."
Tian Jing waved her hand, stopping Li Rongguo from saying more. "As long as you insist on leaving that family, no one can do anything to you. This is a new society. Even parents cannot force their children or confine their freedom."
"As long as you speak of freedom and the oppression you've endured, and threaten her by saying you'll report her to the women's director for oppressing her daughter-in-law and granddaughters, she won't dare to do anything to you."
"Even if eldest cousin-in-law recovers, as long as there's a witness, even just Doctor Yang as a witness, it'll be enough trouble for her."
"I, I didn't intend to..."
"I'm not asking you to get her thrown in jail! I'm just telling you to threaten her, so you don't have to fear her anymore. You've moved out, right? Then properly divide the household and the land for building a house."
"My vegetable shed needs manpower. Come help. Food and lodging will be provided. Once your house is built and the wasteland is cleared, you can go back and cultivate your own land."
Li Zhengguo secretly held Tian Jing's hand under the table. His Tingtian truly understood him and was kind-hearted.
"I, I..."
"Okay, okay!" Damai excitedly interrupted her father. "Hearing Auntie Tang say this, I feel like there's hope ahead. We'll definitely live well. Thank you, Auntie Tang and Uncle Tang, for giving us a transition period. We've troubled Great Aunt and Aunt Minmin."
Damai pulled her sister, took a few steps back, and bowed to the Li family.
Tian Jing smiled. She had taken a liking to Damai's straightforwardness.
"Damai, Xiaomai, we accept your thanks. But during this transitional period in the future, don't be so formal with us. For the chores at home, do what you can. If you can't, let Aunt Minmin do them. Your Aunt Tang doesn't keep idlers, but she doesn't mistreat people either."
"Thank you, Aunt Tang," Damai said, pulling her sister back to the dining table and pushing a bowl of rice towards her sister. "Xiaomai, eat. This rice contains happiness and hope."
"Mmm," Xiaomai nodded with great force.
"Look at you, you're not as straightforward as Damai," Li Zhengguo said to the stunned Li Rongguo. "Go wash your hands and eat. You still need to take that bowl of brown sugar millet porridge to the east room to feed eldest cousin-in-law."
"Ah, okay."
As soon as Li Rongguo heard that his wife could eat, all his worries disappeared. He dropped the bundles from his shoulders and went to wash his hands.
Damai, not reassured, went over to teach her father how to wash his hands with soap and asked him to bend down so she could personally wipe the blood from his forehead.
Tears streamed down Li Rongguo's face. "Damai, Father is sorry to you."
Damai used to hate her father for being too weak and not taking them seriously. However, seeing her father's hair, after some internal struggle, she decided to forgive him.
"Father, it's not too late to try now. As long as our family can be together, nothing else matters."
Tian Jing squeezed Li Zhengguo's hand firmly. Damai was indeed magnanimous.
Li Zhengguo smiled dotingly at her. His Tingtian was so lovely, always willing to help those he wanted to support.
Just yesterday, she had avenged his mother, retorted fiercely to his aunt, and put his aunt in a position where she couldn't vent her anger.
Heh, when eldest cousin wanted to settle down, there would surely be arguments, and his Tingtian could go and avenge his mother again.
Li Rongguo and his daughter sat down at the dining table. Li Min busied herself serving porridge and handing steamed buns to her eldest cousin.
Li Rongguo was at a loss. Their family never ate such food, even during the New Year.
Li Zhengguo understood his eldest cousin's tension. "Eat. As long as you work hard, your family will also have such food as a daily meal in the future."