Chapter 36: Standing Her Ground
Seeing the three of them, the neighbors were convinced they were all up to something shady. They looked at them with disdain and contempt.
Song Hanmei's face burned with shame.
Li Yuwei, picking up on this, quickly retorted, “Sister, what are you talking about? It was clearly Great-Aunt Zeng and Uncle Hu messing around! When I came in, Uncle Hu was shirtless! What does my mom have to do with it?”
This was too much for Aunt Zeng to handle. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
The neighbors were quick to jump into action, putting aside their nosiness and helping to get Aunt Zeng to the hospital. Hu Niu and Hu Xiaoqian followed.
Song Hanmei also left the house.
Only Sisi and Li Yuwei remained.
They glared at each other and turned back to their rooms.
Sisi thought back on the day's events, her body and mind exhausted. The lingering smell of strangers still lingered in the air. She cracked open a window for some fresh air.
She stripped the bed, changing the sheets and blankets. Then she cleaned the room, mopping and scrubbing. It was nearly three in the morning by the time she finished. She was so tired, but she still had to put on some medicine for her sprained ankle. Then, finally, she collapsed into bed and fell fast asleep.
She didn't wake up until nine-thirty the next morning.
She lay in bed for a while, then finally got up to wash her face and brush her teeth.
She quickly ate breakfast and then pulled on the cotton coat she had made the day before. The soft beige fabric was simple and flattering, not bulky at all. It was the perfect length, reaching just below her knees, and it was both windproof and warm.
Li Yuwei looked over at her with a sneer. “So that's the 'country' coat you slaved over all night?”
Sisi's eyes drifted to Li Yuwei, who was decked out in a vibrant red down coat. Her hair was pulled up in a bun on top of her head.
It was a cute style, but her mean face made it impossible to find her attractive.
Sisi shot back, “As if you're so much more fashionable.”
“Of course! My hairstyle is called a 'bun,' and my coat is a classic style that's always in fashion. It'll be trendy for decades to come!”
Sisi countered, “Clothes might be timeless, but people aren't. Imagine you in your sixties or seventies wearing your twenty-year-old clothes! How ridiculous that would look!”
Li Yuwei was incensed. “You! We're not seeing eye to eye!”
“Then why are you bothering to talk to me?”
Li Yuwei stormed off in a huff.
Sisi went into the kitchen and made herself a quick bowl of corn porridge. After breakfast, she grabbed her knitting needles and yarn and sat down to knit a pair of gloves.
It took her a whole day to knit just one glove.
She was about to take a break when Li Junlu walked in, followed by Song Hanmei.
“Sisi, I heard what happened last night. You must have been so upset. Your aunt didn't realize that Hu Niu would go into your room. It's a good thing you weren't there.”
Sisi thought Li Junlu was being kind, but his tone shifted instantly. “But! You shouldn't have made such a big deal out of it! Now our whole family is the talk of the neighborhood. It's a complete embarrassment! You must apologize to your aunt and give her an explanation.”
Sisi's heart sank. Her usually soft voice suddenly hardened. “Why were you so afraid of embarrassment when you were trying to frame me?”
“Who's framing you?” Song Hanmei denied it.
“You can only fool idiots! Your tricks won't work on me,” Sisi stood her ground.
Li Junlu realized she was accusing him and became upset. “What kind of way is that to talk to your father?”
Sisi turned away from him, her heart cold and filled with disappointment.
She silently vowed to cut ties with them once she married.
Li Junlu was furious. “Keep reflecting on your actions. No dinner until you apologize!” He stormed out of the room and locked the door.
(End of Chapter)
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