Chapter 8: Just As Expected

As expected.

In his previous life, Dad, Li Mantang, called a bunch of old brothers to back up his eldest daughter.

Li Zhe, who was responsible for calling the eldest and second brothers, naturally didn’t bring anyone—neither the eldest nor the second wanted to get involved.

The eldest brother was prideful, thinking his status exempted him from such trivial matters. Even though his college tuition was paid for by his sister’s lifetime of suffering, he considered it only natural that the family supported him; after all, he was the successful one.

The second brother, aware that their eldest sister was clueless and disheartened, had long since lost interest in meddling.

In the end, Li Zhe himself didn’t show up at the eldest sister’s house.

When old man Li went there with a group of people, naturally both families stuck to their own versions, refusing to give in.

A fight broke out; Dad wanted to beat up the eldest sister’s husband, but the sister held him back fiercely, and instead, the husband dealt Dad several harsh blows.

Li Mantang was depressed for days, swearing never to meddle in his eldest daughter’s troubles again.

Later, when the eldest sister returned home, she felt quite wronged, saying that after all, Gao was the father of the child and the family’s pillar of support, and though scaring him was acceptable, how could anyone lay hands on him? If he got hurt and couldn’t work, she would still have to take care of him...

Li Qi never agreed with the saying that the unfortunate must have some fault.

But when it came to his eldest sister, he felt some people truly deserved the hardships they endured.

Seeing that Li Yu herself had no firm resolve, old man Li gave up and lay back under the quilt.

“If you’re not going to divorce, what’s the point of all this fuss? Do you really think that bastard Gao Jianye can control his own rooster just because you make a scene...”

“Dad, please stop talking and just go to sleep; Junmei is still here,” Li Qi quickly interrupted, then turned to his eldest sister.

“Just come back and stay for a couple of days. When he comes to pick you up, make sure he doesn’t bring anyone back home again.”

“But he can’t be out there either!”

“Then divorce him!”

“How could I divorce him? If I divorce, how will Junmei and I live...”

Old man Li spread the quilt and slipped under it, becoming an emotionless mute.

Li Li stammered, crying and wiping tears.

“Over the years, for him, for this family, how much suffering have I endured? In winter, my hands were cut by the wind with big gashes while washing clothes on the river ice.

He lives at home, eating and drinking without lifting a finger; I never let him do any chores.

When his mother was sick, I didn’t leave the house for half a month to take care of her, not even daring to undress when sleeping.

How can he treat me like this?

*Sniffle sniffle...*”

Li Qi completely ignored Li Li’s whining; if she cried, it wouldn’t end for hours, and the more he responded, the more spirited her sobbing became.

He boiled a kettle of hot water, letting Junmei wash face and feet before bed.

There were two large kang beds in the house; ten or eight people could sleep comfortably.

The eldest sister, seeing no one paid her any mind, sat at the edge of the kang, her eyes vacant, staring at the beams.

This time, she truly suffered a major blow, but as for this matter, if she didn’t want to escape her misery herself, no one else could help.

---

Li Qi had no intention of letting Gao off the hook. After all, he had worked in the mines for three years in his former life and had heard many rumors about Gao. After sorting them out, he already had a plan.

But for now, he would put that aside and first go to school to find his eldest brother and reclaim the two thousand yuan their mother had left behind.

That was his startup capital.

Soup without salt is just water; a man without money is worse than a ghost.

The deepest lesson he learned from his rebirth was: if you can have anything, don’t have illness; if you can have anything, don’t be penniless.

Because in his last life, he had both illness and no money.

Back in a time when everything was just beginning, and every industry was poised to surge, how could he resign himself to being a salted fish?

At that moment, in eldest brother Li Peng’s home, the couple were still awake.

After bandaging wounds inflicted by Tang Chunyan’s scratching, they grimaced in pain.

Du Li said harshly,

“Is the third brother crazy? How dare he say that we should send fifty yuan a month for living expenses at home? If you dare send a single cent, don’t even think about living this life!”

Li Peng had long since been tamed by Du Li, grabbing her hand and swearing,

“I can’t do it. How could I give my dad money? Don’t worry.

Wifey, look at you—you’re even beautiful when you’re angry.

You’re really my flower.”

Du Li couldn’t help but smile. This man was good at coaxing; that’s why they say educated people have many tricks—one little mouth, and they can talk their way through anything.

He was also good at other things.

But soon she turned serious again.

“That deadbeat third brother refuses to donate a kidney, so our twenty thousand yuan is down the drain. What do we do?”

Li Peng shook his head.

“This is a big family matter; he’s just a kid and can’t decide on his own.

Putting aside the money, Uncle Manjiang is a big shot in the city’s finance department. I heard Aunt Manjiang is a big shot in the organization department.

What huge backing is that!

Before, when we tried to curry favor, they didn’t even want to see us and tried to avoid us.

Now, with such an opportunity, they’re coming to us proactively—we can’t let it slip.

If Uncle Manjiang supports me, then forget being a principal, I could become a leader in the education committee.”

Hearing Li Peng say this, Du Li got excited.

“Then I won’t have to be stuck at the chemical factory, washing test tubes and sticking labels every day until my hands are blistered.

Do you think I could get into the city’s industrial department and be a section chief?”

Li Peng nodded repeatedly.

“You’d be wasting your talent as just a section chief. You should be a director.”

Du Li believed him. Suddenly she felt the third brother wasn’t refusing to donate his kidney but was ruining her bright future as a section chief.

So she grew even more impatient.

“What do we do? That deadbeat third brother suddenly has his own ideas.

He used to do whatever you told him.

Tomorrow, you scare him again; if that doesn’t work, I’ll go back to my parents and get a few people to beat him up and make him obey.”

Li Peng waved his hands repeatedly, smiling mysteriously.

“It won’t come to that.

Actually, the third brother’s stir today is a good thing.”

“Are you crazy? Did you hit your head on the doorframe or farted too hard?

He refuses to donate a kidney and that’s a good thing?

I’m telling you, if I can’t be section chief, I swear I’ll never go back to that family. Let those three starve to death!”

People really do laugh when they’re angry, so Du Li sneered.

Li Peng didn’t mind.

“Uncle Manjiang’s two elder brothers died without heirs, so the only branch suitable for kidney donation is our dad’s.

Yesterday, the terms he offered were good, but if we just let it go through, it would be a business deal, and Uncle Manjiang might not remember our favor.

Now it’s different: the third brother’s outburst will definitely make Uncle Manjiang nervous, maybe even come to us begging to persuade him.

Then, when we finally hold the third brother down, not only will we get the twenty thousand yuan, but we can also negotiate other terms.

The most important thing is that we can’t be the ones who start this; it would make Uncle Manjiang think we’re deliberately raising the stakes.

We have to let that idiot third brother make a fuss, putting Uncle Manjiang in a tough spot.

Then we come in as the good guys. You see what I mean?”

Du Li was enlightened.

“You’re really clever. No wonder people say educated people are cunning.

Who else could think of all these twists and turns?”

Li Peng felt like he’d been scolded by his wife but couldn’t quite find the evidence.

So he didn’t bother arguing, having long been used to being scolded over the years.

At this moment, his heart was soaring—once he got the money and bought a diploma down south, with Uncle Manjiang’s connections, he’d definitely get into the education committee.

Afterward, women like Li Xiaona would be everywhere, all throwing themselves at him.

The next day, Li Qi opened his eyes, dazed for a moment.