Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Shattered
Old Yuan did not go out because, after all, at his age, there was no one in Beishan Village who was his elder.
However, some families from Beishan Village came by to pay their New Year’s respects to Old Yuan and Mrs. Zeng.
After all, Yuan Bao and Yuan Shoucheng, when playing with the village kids, brought them a lot of treats.
Such simple interactions among neighbors were as straightforward as that.
Late in the morning, Mrs. Zeng led her daughters-in-law in preparing the meal.
The lunch on the first day of the New Year, according to the Yuan Family’s tradition, was to be eaten together.
Given that the family would go their separate ways after the New Year, Mrs. Zeng put a lot of thought into this lunch, with plenty of chicken, duck, fish, and meat, enough to fill everyone up.
As for the staple food, it was still dumplings.
On horseback, dumplings; off horseback, noodles!
This meal was also to bid farewell to Yuan Wangdi and Yuan Laidi.
After all, these two brothers had to report back to the military by tomorrow.
Once Yuan Wangdi and Yuan Laidi left, it was time for Old Yuan and the others to move to Yunyang City.
The house Yuan Yindi asked Wei Wushang to find had already been located.
Entering the city early to adapt and, incidentally, find a place for Yuan Shoucheng and his brothers to study.
Due to their husbands having to leave again, both Song and Peng were not in high spirits.
Mrs. Li, thinking of her eldest son Yuan Shougui, was also a bit down in spirits, while Mrs. Xiao Li had a wooden expression throughout, showing no trace of a smile.
Hearing what Yuan Yindi and the others said this morning, something steadfast in Mrs. Xiao Li’s heart began to crumble.
Mrs. Xiao Li always thought that Yuan Bao might not be the one to bring luck to the family; after all, Yuan Bao was just a girl and would eventually marry out.
But the situation with the dumplings today made the persistence in Mrs. Xiao Li’s heart collapse.
The son she had always thought about was not the one bringing good fortune to the family!
Mrs. Xiao Li spent the entire morning in a daze.
Mrs. Zeng saw Mrs. Xiao Li’s state and slightly frowned, saying, "Fourth daughter-in-law, did you not sleep well last night? If not, why don’t you go back and rest a while?"
Staying up late into the night for New Year’s Eve could indeed cause fatigue at this time.
Although Mrs. Zeng did not favor Mrs. Xiao Li, at heart she was not a mother-in-law who treated her daughters-in-law harshly. Moreover, since they had already split the family, she was even less inclined to give Mrs. Xiao Li a hard time during this period.
"Mother, I’m fine, I just need to wash my face!"
Upon hearing Mrs. Zeng’s words, Mrs. Xiao Li quickly responded.
Although she was in a bad mood and emotionally low, Mrs. Xiao Li had not lost her mind and knew that on the first day of the New Year, she could not cause any trouble. Otherwise, there would be no good days to come for the whole year.
"No problem, if you’re tired, just go back and take a nap; your three sisters-in-law are here to help!"
Seeing Mrs. Xiao Li’s troubled appearance, Mrs. Zeng still offered some advice.
However, Mrs. Xiao Li declined Mrs. Zeng’s kindness.
She left the kitchen and, in the courtyard, washed her face with the icy well water. The cold water touching her cheeks gave her a jolt, making her blurry head much clearer.
She did not want to admit she was wrong, but facts speak louder than words!
That cheeky girl, her daughter, really was the family’s lucky charm!
Yet, she had pushed her away.
Is there anyone in the world more foolish than herself?
Tears fell from Mrs. Xiao Li’s eyes, mixed with the icy clean water, sliding down her cheeks.
She regretted it!
She wanted her daughter back!
But, was there still a chance?