Chapter 45: Seeing off guests

Rascal!

Li Yifu was halted outside Wenxi Hall's gate; hearing the servant say Lady Li had caught a chill and needed a few days' rest, he instantly widened his eyes and, fuming, rushed to the Shen family's front courtyard.

Great nephew!

Are you even human?

Li Yifu arrived at the front courtyard, found Shen Shen in the study, and ignoring that Shen Shen was instructing the steward, he immediately shouted.

Even if your mother did something you dislike, you cannot put her under house arrest!

What about your filial piety?

In front of many Shen family stewards, Li Yifu directly put an unfilial hat on Shen Shen.

Unfilial!

If that hat were placed on Shen Shen's head, his reputation would suffer; furthermore, if someone insisted on pursuing the matter and brought it to the court, the court could remove Shen Shen as head of the Shen family, beat him, and exile him.

Filial piety is considered the foremost virtue in Dayong.

Uncle, have I offended you?

Shen Shen heard Li Yifu's words, and his expression did not change.

For things he dares to do, he fears no gossip; moreover, this situation with Lady Li was of his own making.

Nonsense!

Clearly it's your unfilial behavior; don't even think of changing the subject!

Li Yifu stared fixedly at Shen Shen, as if Shen Shen were truly a great unfilial person.

Uncle, my mother feels unwell, caught a chill at night, needs a few days' rest; this is the doctor's order after diagnosis!

Saying she needs rest is also my mother's own decision!

Uncle, without asking the reason, regardless of the truth, you insist on putting a chamber pot on my nephew's head; what does that mean?

Could it be that because my Shen family refuses to help you marry off the Li clan's daughter to a high match, you're spewing such bloody accusations?

Uncle, Dayong is not yours to decide.

There's still the law!

There's still heavenly principle!

Facing Li Yifu's chamber pot, Shen Shen's counterattack was quite sharp.

His words were decisive and imposing, with a mighty presence.

Looking again at Li Yifu, he was completely overwhelmed by Shen Shen's aura, his lips and hands trembling; though he wanted to retaliate, he saw no trace of nervousness in Shen Shen.

In other words, he got it wrong!

This matter has nothing to do with Shen Shen; it's purely his premature assumption.

But can we blame him?

Li Yifu doesn't think he's wrong at all!

If we insist on assigning blame, it must be his sister's fault.

This person is really something; others don't see her, yet as her own brother, he doesn't see her either.

He clearly promised to help him!

Precisely because of this, Li Yifu misunderstood, thinking Shen Shen disagreed with Lady Li Shi proposal, and thus confined Lady Li again in Wenxi Hall.

Great nephew, don't be angry!

This matter, I messed up!

I'll apologize to you!

Realizing he had made a blunder, Li Yifu hurriedly admitted his mistake.

If you make a mistake, admit it; if you get hit, stand firm!

Li Yifu is now quite experienced in this routine.

As long as he apologizes promptly, then if the other party still refuses to let up, it will make the other party seem petty and narrow-minded.

Don't!

You are an elder!

If you apologize to me, I fear losing longevity!

I cannot bear it!

When it comes to sarcastic remarks, Shen Shen also has a knack.

Great nephew, I'm doing this for your own good, fearing you've gone astray!

Li Yifu accompanied his words with a smile, showing he had no ill intent.

Unfortunately, because he was overly worried, he simply couldn't recall what Shen Shen had just said.

All his scheming has been known to Shen Shen.

Uncle, there are many affairs at my mansion; I'm truly busy.

Then I won't entertain you!

Wait till tomorrow, I'll arrange someone to send you back!

Seeing off guests!

Originally Shen Shen didn't intend to send him off so quickly, but Li Yifu's recent antics still startled Shen Shen a bit.

If it weren't for his proper conduct this time, he might really have been trapped by this uncle.

Great nephew, are you serious?

Uncle, I truly mean it for your own good!

Yes, yes, you're doing it for my good. Then, so I can peacefully handle household affairs, you old man should go back first!

Shen Shen forced a smile, expressing his strong intention to see the guest off.

"That won't do!"

Li Yifu refused bluntly, "My older sister is still sick here; I haven't seen her recover, how can I, as her brother, just go back without any worries?"

Well, this person is shameless, truly invincible.

Li Yifu's shamelessness made Shen Shen suddenly realize that using a gentleman's approach to deal with this good uncle of his simply wouldn't work.

A gentleman can be bullied with proper methods!

Then, what about a non-gentleman?

And what about a scoundrel?

Seeing Li Yifu's shameless appearance, Shen Shen gave a slight smile and said, "Uncle, it's not that I, as a nephew, must definitely send you back; I just heard that a woman named Ran Niang, carrying a child, seems to be about to be evicted from her rented place!"

After knowing what kind of person Li Yifu is, how could Shen Shen possibly have made no arrangements?

However, considering that the other party is indeed his biological uncle, and wanting to give him some face, unfortunately this uncle truly is shameless.

Since you yourself are shameless, then I, as your nephew, can only comply with your wishes.

Upon hearing Shen Shen say that, Li Yifu's face changed instantly.

"Eldest nephew, you're right!"

"Uncle, I shouldn't be bothering you!"

"Alright, I'll go back tomorrow!"

Li Yifu could only compromise.

Of course, just a temporary compromise.

Once he settles his rear worries, he will still come back.

The Li Shi must have a good marital alliance; only then can the Li Shi have a chance to rise again.

Of course, only when the Li Shi is well will his days be better.

Otherwise, living off inherited wealth, what would the Li Shi elder grandfather have to enjoy a bit of face in his old age?

As for the future of the Li Shi?

He's already dead; what does he care about future affairs?

"Uncle, rest assured, your nephew will prepare a generous return gift for you."

"From now on, during holidays and festivals, we should still keep in touch; we will certainly not let you, Uncle, be left without care!"

"Eldest nephew, you're thoughtful!"

Li Yifu felt stifled in his heart, angry enough to make his teeth ache.

However, with his weak point grasped by Shen Shen, he could only compromise.

But he will definitely come back!

Shen Shen saw Li Yifu out of the study, a picture of harmonious uncle-nephew relations.

But in reality, both were silently cursing each other's ancestors eight generations back.

……

"Father, Uncle is going back tomorrow; should we still help arrange marriages for those Li Shi young ladies?"

Shen Zheng Qiao looked at the solemn-faced Shen Shen and asked quietly.

"Of course!"

"Since we're going to cut off the source, we must do it properly!"

"Also, assign someone to watch over your seventh younger sister's side, to prevent any mishaps!"

Shen Shen suddenly raised his voice and gave Shen Zheng Qiao a reminder.

He never believed his uncle would simply accept fate; he worried the other party might go all-in, or simply pull a stunt that would bring misfortune upon everyone.

(End of chapter)