417 You Brought This Upon Yourself
Old Master Li looked at his three sons in disappointment. Li Tinglei was filled with regret and self-reproach. “Dad, I’m sorry. I was unfilial. I didn’t have the talent for business and ruined the family business.”
“Although you’re mediocre, you’re the most filial child in this family. Your character isn’t bad. Dad doesn’t blame you.”
Old Master Li’s fierce gaze shifted to Li Tingfeng and Li Tingye. He gritted his teeth and said, “The two of you, one is blinded by greed and the other is heartless. Hehe, I don’t blame you. Your mother and I didn’t teach our sons well. We brought this upon ourselves.”
As Old Master Li spoke, tears streamed down his face.
Li Tingye slowly walked up to Old Master Li and knelt in front of him. He finally shed tears of regret.
“Dad, hit me and scold me. It’s my fault for being incompetent and not guarding the Li family’s business. I didn’t manage my younger siblings well.”
Old Master Li looked at his eldest son. He knew that Li Tingye had always received Madam’s love the most. He and his mother had a deep relationship. He should be heartbroken that Madam had passed away.
Old Master Li said, “I hope you can really repent and change. It can be considered as comforting your mother’s spirit in heaven.”
When Li Tingfeng saw that his eldest brother and second brother had repented and obtained his father’s forgiveness, he walked up and said hypocritically, “Dad, I was wrong too. I didn’t manage my unfilial son well…”
“Get lost.” Old Master Li was furious.
Li Tingfeng looked at his father in a daze, not knowing why his attitude towards him was so bad.
“Dad, I’m sincerely repentant too,” he said indignantly.
Old Master Li pointed at his hand, trembling with anger.
“I don’t want to see you again. Get out of this house.”
Li Tingfeng hurriedly asked his eldest brother and second brother for help. “Eldest Brother, Second Brother, look at our father…”
Li Tinglei had enough of the tired frustration Li Tingfeng brought to everyone. He said coldly, “Stop talking. Dad is in a bad mood now.”
Li Tingye also chose to remain silent.
Seeing that no one pandered to him anymore, Li Tingfeng was very angry, but he did not dare to say anything.
In the end, after discussing with the children, Old Master finally decided to prepare a funeral for Madam.
Therefore, the Li family had become especially busy these few days. Huo Xiaoran stayed overnight with the Li family to organize the funeral.
Qiao An’s heart ached for Huo Xiaoran. He returned to the Heavenly Imperial Garden every morning and night to take care of the children and came to the Li family to help during the day.
Li Zecheng and his sister brought Huang Yushu to the Li family’s villa the next afternoon.
When Li Tingfeng saw Li Zecheng, he wanted to slash him with a knife. He vented all the grievances he had suffered over the past few days on Li Zecheng.
“Unfilial son, if it weren’t for you, how could your grandmother have died?” Li Tingfeng was furious.
Li Zecheng was not to be outdone and kicked him out. He said angrily, “You were the one who disrespected your seniors and angered Grandma to death. You still have the cheek to criticize me.”
Many relatives and friends were present. When they saw the father and son fighting, they were so frightened that their faces paled.
The old man was heartbroken, but he was trapped in a wheelchair. There were many things that he could not do as he pleased. He could only ask Huo Xiaoran for help.
Huo Xiaoran received the old man’s gaze and walked up to Li Zecheng. He scolded, “Zecheng, Grandma’s morgue is in the back garden. Bring your mother and sister to pay their respects to Grandma first.”
Li Zecheng nodded.
Qiao An put white flowers on Li Zecheng, Ze’en, and Huang Yushu.
This behavior immediately angered the new mistress of the third branch. She pointed at Qiao An and scolded, “Qiao An, what do you mean? Shouldn’t I be the one wearing the white flowers as the third branch’s wife?”
Huang Yushu’s personality had changed drastically. She had experienced too many sad things. She was no longer willing to fight or snatch. She only wanted the two children to be safe. She immediately tore off the white flower.
However, Qiao An stopped her and said, “Death is the greatest. I think the third daughter-in-law in Madam’s heart has always been Huang Yushu. Now that she’s dead, she also hopes that her beloved daughter-in-law will send her off.”
The mistress gritted her teeth in anger. “Qiao An, you’re not in charge of this family.”
Qiao An walked up to First Madam and Second Madam and said, “Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, elders are respected. I’ll listen to you. What do you think we should do?”
The First Madam and Second Madam looked at each other. Although they hated the domineering Huang Yushu, she respected the parents and never embarrassed them when she was in the Li family. At the very least, she had a certain understanding of the big picture.
She was unlike the current Third Madam, who was an unreasonable person.
First Madam said tactfully, “Qiao An is right. Yushu has always respected Madam. Madam didn’t forget Yushu until her death. I think she must be worried about Yushu.”
The Second Madam was straightforward. She nudged the First Madam and said, “Why are you talking so formally? The truth is that the third daughter-in-law that Madam has set her heart on has always been Huang Yushu, the first wife. Third Sister has given the Li family a son and daughter. Old Madam remembers her contribution.”
Huang Yushu was moved to tears.
She silently put the little white flower back on and instructed Li Zecheng gently, “Zecheng, let’s go and see your grandmother.”
Zecheng Ze’en pushed his mother to the visitation room.
When Li Zecheng saw his grandmother’s body, his body trembled and he knelt in front of his grandmother and slapped himself hard.
“Grandma, I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
Huang Yushu did not stop him.
Seeing this, Li Ze’en slowly knelt down.
Not far away, Huo Xiaoran and the old man looked at Li Zecheng. The cold expressions on their faces softened.
Old Master Li asked Xiao Ran, “Do you think he’s sincerely repentant?”
Huo Xiaoran said, “Li Zecheng has been spoilt by you, so he doesn’t have a sense of responsibility. He’s annoying and willful. However, he’s not a bad person. If it were me, I would be more ruthless if the person I care about the most has been bullied.”
Old Master Li said, “It’s rare for you to treat him fairly.”
Huo Xiaoran did not speak.
Li Zecheng knelt in front of Madam’s coffin for an unknown period of time. In the end, his body couldn’t take it anymore and his face turned pale.
His friends and relatives noticed his abnormality and persuaded him to get up.
Li Zecheng knelt stubbornly. No one knew how much his heart ached at this moment. In this world, apart from his mother, Madam doted on him the most. However, he angered Madam to death.
He only wanted to kneel until the end of time.
Old Master Li couldn’t stand it anymore and said to Huo Xiaoran, “Xiaoran, go persuade him.”
Huo Xiaoran said, “Okay.”
Xiaoran came to Zecheng. Seeing that his face was swollen from his own slap, Huo Xiaoran’s heart ached.