Chapter 42: Stupid!

"Other matters can be negotiated, but this matter—no negotiation!"

Li Shi's attitude is unusually hardline.

Li Yifu, seeing this posture, already understood that he now can't even plead for a lower rank.

"Useless!"

"He still thought this sister was so glorious in the Shen Family, but after all that fuss, it's nothing!"

Li Yifu felt contempt for Li Shi in his heart.

However, he still couldn't show it.

Since the usual approach fails, we can try to go around it.

"Sister, don't be angry!"

"I won't bring this up again, okay?"

Li Yifu still didn't want to fall out with Li Shi, so he had to suppress his temper, his face showing desolation, and continued: "Our old Li Clan truly isn't what it used to be. Missed this chance, beneath the Nine Springs I have no face to meet father and mother!"

"Fine, I won't say it!"

"It's all fate!"

"Sister, I'm leaving; from now on, you must be well!"

Li Yifu stood up and walked toward the outside.

Li Shi looked at this younger brother's lifeless demeanor and felt reluctant in her heart.

"You wait!"

Li Shi spoke.

But Li Yifu merely raised his arm, waved his hand—meaning as simple as that: stop urging me, let me exit like this!

That's another move!

Retreat to advance!

He uses his own desolation and helplessness to coax the last hint of warmth in the old sister's heart.

Li Yifu walked very slowly.

He must give Li Shi time to think.

And his sluggish movement, in Li Shi's eyes, appears as lifelessness, hopeless despair, the desolation of a life nearing its end.

"Li Yifu!"

Li Shi finally stood up and called Li Yifu's name.

This shows the old lady is now angry in her heart.

Li Yifu's face flashed with a hint of smugness: it's fine to get angry, I'm just afraid you won't get angry.

He halted, turned his face, his expression exceedingly bleak, truly bearing the taste of lifelessness.

"Sister, this is my fate!"

"Since I inherited the family business, everything has been predetermined!"

"Back then I was young and reckless; when I finally matured and wanted to make amends, it was already too late!"

"Father and mother are gone!"

"I'm old too!"

"The Li Clan has reached this point, and I am guilty!"

"Sister, a daughter married out is like water splashed outside."

"Don't meddle in Li Family affairs!"

"Descendants have their own blessings; it's timing and fate!"

Li Yifu recalled the past, recounting his story—a prodigal returning but ill‑fated.

Wang Mama watched coldly, already 100% certain that this old matriarch of the Li Family has always been manipulating schemes.

But her family's miss can't see through!

Family ties blind people!

"I can't arrange for a Li Family lady to marry into Jingcheng, and that Seventh Maid might not have the ability either!"

"As for letting the Seventh Maid choose a Li Family lady to be a concubine for the Xie Family Young Master, that's probably difficult too."

"But we can be flexible!"

"The Seventh Maid can marry into the Xie Family, and among the dowry people, there can be a Li Family lady!"

Li Shi slowly voiced her thoughts.

A cow that won't drink water cannot be forced to lower its head.

But we can try another method.

If a Li Family lady has ability, she can fight for it herself.

I have to say, Li Shi is truly losing her mind now.

If a Li Family lady gains favor in the Xie Family, then Shen Yunyao, who comes from the Shen Family, is destined to lose favor, which will affect the Shen Family.

But at this moment, she didn't realize that at all.

Or perhaps she thought of it but didn't take it seriously.

Wang Mama, hearing Li Shi say that, was frantic.

How can this be done like that?

Isn't this offending Seventh Miss to death?

We already offended her before; shouldn't we now try to ease the relationship? Doing this scheme just freezes Seventh Miss's heart completely.

If Seventh Miss gains favor in the Xie Family, then what attitude would that translate to toward the Shen Family?

"Miss…"

Wang Mama couldn't help it and softly called Li Shi.

Li Shi, hearing this, turned her head toward Wang Mama and said, "What is it?"

"Miss, now the Third Madam is in the household, Seventh Miss's dowry, and the choice for a companion marriage; without the Third Madam's nod, I'm afraid it won't be easy to arrange!"

Wang Mama said that, and Li Shi's expression turned sour again.

Nothing else!

Her relationship with the Lu family is not harmonious at all.

"Sister, is there a problem?"

Li Yifu heard Wang Mama's words and his heart gave a sudden thump.

To get the Li Clan linked with the high‑status families in Jingcheng, he has tried every method, and now he is already planning to have the Li Clan's girls temporarily serve as slaves and maids.

But looking at the situation, it seems all of this is rather difficult.

"Eldest Young Master, this matter—sigh…"

Wang Mama gave no explanation, but the meaning she showed was enough to explain many things.

Li Shi kept a stern face, wanting to tell Li Yifu that there was no problem with this matter.

But unfortunately!

His third daughter‑in‑law truly has a bad relationship with her.

To put it bluntly, if time could be turned back, Li Shi would never have agreed to let the Lu family enter.

However, time cannot be turned back.

"Sister, why don't you say something!"

"What am I supposed to say?"

Li Shi, irritated, looked at this younger brother, closed her eyes, thought for a while, then slowly said, "This matter cannot be rushed; it must be handled gradually."

"Sister, how do we handle it gradually?"

"Then you give me a plan!"

Li Yifu was about to lose his patience.

Li Shi thought for a long time and said, "How about letting the Li Clan's girls marry the second or third son of the senior elder?"

"What good would that do?"

Li Yifu snorted, "In the future, the one who inherits the Shen Family will be your great‑grandson, not the second or third grandson. If the Li Clan's girls marry them, what benefit will that bring to the family?"

"Let me think again, think again!"

Li Shi waved her hand, signaling Li Yifu to leave first.

A fine morning, but because of these vexing matters, her good mood was completely ruined.

When Li Yifu left, Li Shi sat there, suddenly missing the days when she was confined by her eldest son in Wenxi Hall, when past affairs were not a worry!

She had barely managed to adapt to that life, and now she had caused trouble for herself again.

"Wang Mama, tell me, can this matter actually be arranged?"

"Miss, the old servant thinks, …"

Wang Mama shook her head outright.

"If a Li Clan girl gains influence in the Xie Family, what will become of our Shen Family?"

"The Eldest Young Master's scheming is clearly digging at the corner of our Shen Family. If the Lord finds out, the old servant worries!"

"Worried about what?"

"Naturally, worried that Shen Shen will once again fall out with Li Shi."

"If they are confined in Wenxi Hall again, regaining freedom will be far too difficult."

"Insubordinate!"

Li Shi obediently chose to omit the crucial part.

Wang Mama simply remained silent.

She understood that the Miss of her household was clouded by lard.

The Li Clan must rise, but the men are lazy, only thinking of marrying the girls into high families—utterly foolish!

(End of chapter)