Chapter 28: Du Li’s Interrogation

Li Peng cleared his throat once more, assuming the air of a teacher addressing his students.

"After all, the Gao family are our relatives, and our eldest sister is not entirely without fault in this matter..."

"Li, you eldest brother, stop spewing nonsense and talking trash. Gao Jianye solicited a prostitute and even brought the woman home to misbehave, yet you have the gall to say our eldest sister is at fault? Come on, tell me, what did she do wrong? If your wife were to bring another man home one day, would you also have to reflect on your own shortcomings?"

Du Li shrieked in anger, "Watch your filthy mouth! What kind of man would I bring home? Do you even know how to speak like a human?"

"Then ask Li Peng if what he’s saying is human language! Why can’t our eldest sister hold her head high in the Gao household? At the root of it, isn't it because of that two-hundred-yuan bride price from back then? That money went toward your education. Now that you’ve succeeded, not only do you refuse to give her a single cent, but you also blame her? I think it’s your own brain that’s the problem!"

Li Peng was rendered speechless. "Dad, can’t you control the third one?"

Li Mantang remained expressionless. "I think the third one is perfectly right. Your eldest sister has sacrificed enough for this family and for you. If you have something to say, say it quickly. If not, get out."

Li Peng felt deeply that in just a few days, his father had changed. His father used to dote on him above all others, taking pride in him and believing that all the good things in the family naturally belonged to him because he was the university graduate who brought honor to the Li family. But now, his father had been corrupted by Li Qi and no longer valued him as much.

He said, sounding heartbroken, "Auntie Diao came to me; she is willing to offer two thousand yuan as compensation. Dad, two days ago, Li Qi took seventeen hundred from me. That was the savings I’d worked hard for all these years. You need to step in and make him return it to me. With these two amounts, that makes thirty-seven hundred. I figure if you go out and help me borrow another thirteen hundred from relatives and friends to make it five thousand, I can go to the south for training and earn my undergraduate degree! Think about it: once I have that degree, I can be promoted to vice principal. Principal Teng will retire in a few years, and I’ll become the principal of our middle school. If we miss this, who knows when such an opportunity will come again?"

After Li Peng finished, he looked at Li Mantang with eager eyes. Li Mantang fished a rice cracker out of a net bag and popped it into his mouth. *Crunch.*

"This isn't freshly fried; it's gone stale..."

Du Li was speechless. Was this really the time to be analyzing rice crackers? This family was truly ignorant. Once Li Peng became principal, she would have to make sure he stayed far away from these people. She said impatiently, "Dad, we’re at this point now; stop messing around with the third one. He doesn’t know any better, but don’t you? Just agree to it. You two don’t need to stay in the hospital anymore; it’s a waste of money. Check out and go home tomorrow. It’s just a cut on the head—are country people really that fragile? Just smear some yellow dirt on it to stop the bleeding. Li Peng going south for his degree is the most important thing right now, and you need to get busy borrowing that money for him."

Li Mantang was so angry he laughed, and Li Hai’s expression turned sour as well. They had seen shameless people before, but never anyone as shameless as Du Li. Li Qi’s perception of her was completely refreshed; this woman truly made one marvel at the diversity of human nature.

He spoke calmly, "Borrow what money? Didn't that two thousand yuan Mom left behind get taken back to your maternal home? Just get that back, and it’ll be enough."

Du Li flared up at once. "We are talking about the Li family’s business here; what does my family have to do with it? Li Peng is the eldest son of the Li family. He is earning this degree to bring honor to your family. Once he’s principal, won’t you all share in the glory? Such a good opportunity—why don’t you know how to cherish it? It’s a tragedy that Li Peng was born into a family like this."

Li Mantang licked his lips and shook his head. "When the eldest first got into university, I thought the same thing. But after he graduated and entered the school, he didn't help the family at all. Instead, to pay for his wedding, the family fell into a mountain of debt. You insisted on a flashy, extravagant wedding, demanding only the best, and his mother and I had to grit our teeth and borrow over a thousand yuan. We only paid it off slowly after his mother learned a trade and started selling cooked food. If we had relied on my salary, we never would have paid it off in this lifetime. Because of that, when the second one got married, we had no money left, which made the second daughter-in-law feel slighted, and she still doesn’t accept this family even now. Li Peng, the family has spent enough on you over the years. I won’t be going out to borrow money for you again."

Li Mantang’s words left Du Li feeling completely disillusioned with the family. They were nothing but a group of short-sighted, ignorant bumpkins!

She said bitterly, "Dad, since you’ve said so, Li Peng and I accept it. We’ll borrow the remaining thousand-plus yuan ourselves, but don't you dare try to share in the glory once Li Peng becomes principal! From now on, Li Peng has nothing to do with this family. Now, take out Li Peng’s seventeen hundred and go to the police station to sign the letter of reconciliation. Let’s get this over with."

Li Qi looked at Du Li as if she were a fool. "Who said I was going to reconcile with them? They broke into my house and beat my father and me—they might as well have been defecating on our heads. And you want me to reconcile with them? Keep dreaming! Every single man in the Gao family is going to prison!"

Du Li stared at Li Qi in disbelief. She had always thought this brother-in-law was dim-witted and malicious, but she hadn't expected him to be this ignorant.

She remarked sarcastically, "On what grounds are you refusing to issue the reconciliation letter? Do you think this is as simple as you imagine? Can you turn that blockhead of yours? That is the eldest sister’s marital home. If you ruin the Gao family, how will you show your face in the village later, and how will our eldest sister hold her head up in her husband's house?"

"That’s none of your concern. Eldest sister will divorce Gao Jianye; from now on, she will have nothing to do with the Gao family."

"What? Divorce? Has a donkey kicked your head? How dare you suggest the eldest sister get a divorce?"

Du Li felt that Li Qi had lost his mind; he was completely devoid of any human common sense. She turned her head toward Li Mantang. "Dad, say something. I think you two should go to the police station first thing tomorrow morning to sign that letter. If the Gao family changes their mind, it will be too late."

Li Mantang shook his head. "I don’t care what you think. You’re a woman; don’t try to be the master of the Li family. If Li Peng is willing to be controlled by you, that’s his own business. The Gao family came to our door to slap our faces and break our heads, and we’re just supposed to let it go? Gao Jianye goes out to find prostitutes and then tries to drag our eldest daughter through the mud—that’s supposed to be okay too? Impossible! Even if I have to risk my life, I will get justice for my eldest daughter. In this matter, I’m listening to the third one. Whatever he says, goes."

Du Li was on the verge of madness. How could there be such stubborn, thick-headed people in this world who didn't understand what was truly important? Everything in the Li family should be revolving around Li Peng now. Did they not understand what an undergraduate degree was? Did they not know what a principal was?

Her eyes widened like a cow's. "Dad, have you lost your mind? Agreeing with Auntie Diao now is a win-win situation! The Gao family promised they wouldn't pursue this further, and Li Peng could successfully go south to get his degree. Why are you so ignorant and stubborn? How can you not understand such a simple thing? I’ve explained it to you over and over again—why can’t you just listen to me? Why?"