Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Wang Chunhua frowned and stepped towards her nephew. Xiao Gang shivered in fear and resentfully glanced at Li Mingwei, before turning to his aunt, trying to smile ingratiatingly.

"What did your auntie just say? That we're out of money at home?"

Granny had instructed that this should not be spoken about. Xiao Gang gritted his teeth and stammered, "I don't know. It's what auntie said, not me."

Wang Chunhua twisted his ear viciously. "Are you sure you don't know?"

"Ow, that hurts! Dear aunt, my own flesh and blood, go easy on me!"

He was in an impossible situation now. Telling would anger his granny and mother. Not telling would anger his aunt. Why should a child like him suffer for adult matters?

Feeling her grip on his ear grow heavier, Xiao Gang cried, "Auntie, ask my mom instead. She'd beat me to death if I told you!"

"I'll beat you to death right now if you don't tell me!"

Though Xiao Gang knew his aunt wouldn't actually beat him to death, her sinister expression still frightened him. He swallowed and confessed.

It was nothing major. Last year, while gathering firewood in the mountains, Wang's Father took a bad fall which left him bedridden for nearly the whole winter. All their money went towards treating his injuries, leaving little for daily expenses. They hadn't bought much meat in the lead up to New Year, which is why the children were craving it so badly.

They didn't want to tell Wang Chunhua, firstly to avoid worrying her, and secondly to stop her from giving the family money. Dong Shan made his living through blood and sweat alone. Dong Lei was still studying. They were worried...

Xiao Gang recounted haltingly. Wang Chunhua was already fuming. So that was why her father kept massaging his legs when speaking to her today!

How dare they keep this from her? Outrageous!

She stormed off to the main house, face black as thunder.

Soon after, yelling erupted from the main house. Xiao Gang unhappily eyed Li Mingwei, "You just had to tell auntie. Now they're fighting because of you."

With her temper, things would surely escalate. Everyone was in for a scolding.

Li Mingwei pouted. She had only wanted to help, thinking it was a problem that could be easily solved with money. She hadn't expected sister Wang Chunhua to react so strongly.

While it was no golden hairpin, the ingot was still rather valuable. Wang Chunhua put away her pouch and handed the silver to her mother instead. "Mother, take this two taels of silver and buy something nice for the children, and get father's health back in order."

Clutching the money, Wang's Mother turned to look at Wang's Father. He took a long drag of his pipe and nodded. "Our daughter gave it to you. Keep it."

That daughter's temperament meant there was no other way. The yelling from before had left his ears ringing.

Only then did Wang's Mother smile at Wang Chunhua, tucking the money into her clothes.

Standing outside, Xiao Gang gaped at Li Mingwei in astonishment. "Auntie, where did you get so much money?"

The others were curious too, gazing over in askance. Li Mingwei smiled. "Your auntie earned it."

"How?" Xiao Gang hugged her arm, shaking it repeatedly. "Teach me, I want to earn money too!"

Wang Chunhua came over to pull him away. "Don't bother your auntie. She's tired. She earned it through embroidery. Do you want to learn that?"

Xiao Gang had no such inclination. That was a girl's pursuit. No way would he pick it up.

"That's right." A thought struck Wang Chunhua and she ordered Dong Shan, "My sister made handkerchiefs for all the girls in the family yesterday. Those were gifts from her so she should hand them out herself. I kept them, go take them out."

Yesterday, Li Mingwei had specifically asked for numbers, making one handkerchief for each female from Wang's Mother down to the youngest girl.

Mrs. Wang instructed her son to call out all the girls. After Dong Shan retrieved the handkerchiefs, they each picked out a design they liked, leaving the rest for the older women.

The girls were delighted. These were much finer than their regular kerchiefs!

Wang's Mother held hers, the coarse skin of her hands gliding over the smooth fabric and vibrant crimson flowers. Joyfully she praised, "If not teaching, how do you know embroidery too?"

Li Mingwei lowered her gaze. "I'm not teaching. Just helping the students practice writing. The embroidery workshop also calls me over sometimes when they're busy."

"Not a word my daughter said about you was wrong. A true capable person!" Wang's Mother commended.

Outside, Xiao Gang let out an aggrieved huff. Why only the girls? Weren't he and his brothers people too? Auntie was clearly playing favourites!