Chapter 196: Luoluo angrily scolds her brother: 'Don't disgust me!

On New Year's Eve, the city was full of fireworks.

Firecracker sounds rang out incessantly.

The Jiangjun Fu was bustling in a moderate way; Li Qingluo only showed a hint of a smile when she occasionally spoke with Pei Lao Furen, and then she had a bit of patience toward Huan Jieer.

As for everything else, she appeared indifferent to anyone and anything.

The people of the second and third branches found her displeasing, thinking she truly looked down on everyone, yet they dared not act recklessly out of deference to the Old Lady.

Qu Shi came over several times to speak gently and affectionately with Li Qingluo, but Li Qingluo acted as if she hadn't heard; however, as her mother, she naturally could not give up, and kept chattering there: 'Luoluo, the day after tomorrow you will go with Mother to play at your maternal grandmother's house? Your maternal grandmother and the others still haven't formally met you…'

Li Qingluo: 'I have seen them. Mother, did you forget the day the eldest son broke his leg?'

That day, her maternal grandmother showed great might, sending Chang Mama to cause trouble at her Hongfenguan, and Li Qingluo gave that old servant a good scolding!

Chang Mama, standing nearby, upon hearing the past events, wished she could sink into a crack in the ground.

Who would have thought that day, this unassuming young lady would be so formidable!

Qu Shi's face stiffened, feeling that Li Qingluo was exactly the type who brings up the very pot that shouldn't be mentioned.

This… Mother said, you still haven't formally met your maternal grandmother's family, and even your maternal aunts haven't given you a greeting gift…

Li Qingluo: 'No need. There's no feeling, so no need to maintain relations.'

Toward the Qu family, Li Qingluo didn't want to get close at all, so she was unwilling to put on a show.

According to what Zhao Shi meant, back then when her identity was switched, her maternal grandmother, the old lady of the Qu family, must have been involved.

But was it just her alone, or the entire Qu family behind her?

Li Qingluo naturally wanted to deal with that old witch.

But not now.

Zhao Shi had just died; in the prison, who exactly gave her the poison?

So far, De Shu and Deng Mama have still not uncovered the truth; Li Qingluo can only temporarily hold back.

When the truth finally comes to light, that will be the day the old lady of the Qu family is exposed.

Qu Shi wore an expression of boredom and embarrassment; Li Kechuan, who had been silently drinking at another table, seeing this scene, couldn't help but say: 'Luoluo, why must you make things so difficult for Mother?'

'There are no parents in the world who are not good; since Mother has already humbly begged you, why do you still press on aggressively, publicly disgracing her?'

'If you resent Mother because of what those older brothers did, that's even more unnecessary. If you must hate, then hate only me.'

The hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone's gaze went back and forth between the mother and her biological siblings.

Li Kechuan had shut himself up in the Lan Cang Yuan for several days without seeing anyone; upon emerging today, he appeared disheveled, emaciated to the point of being unrecognizable, a miserable sight.

This is none other than the eldest legitimate son of the Jiangjun Fu, once glorious beyond count, with limitless prospects as a young general, yet now he has fallen into such a wretched state, truly heartbreaking.

Looking again at Li Qingluo, the once dark-skinned, thin, utterly ordinary and even down-and-out person was clearly her; now she has transformed into the most dazzling among all the juniors present tonight.

The contrast between the two is sigh-inducing and also raises suspicion.

Especially the people of the second and third branches couldn't help but wonder: what exactly happened between these two? How did it even get dragged into the matter of hatred?

Qu Shi was anxious, clearly wanting to say something, but upon looking at Li Qingluo, she still forced herself to endure.

Indeed, she herself had already become very humble.

Every day they sent food, drink, and supplies to her Hongfenguan, and even various gold and silver ornaments that Zhu'er used to like were sent over one by one to her Hongfenguan.

But aside from those gold and silver items that she accepted, she actually returned everything else in full.

Even ordinary greetings, Qu Shi now dare not even hope for.

Even just wanting to see her once is not easy.

Qu Shi's eyes reddened, and she felt somewhat wronged in her heart.

After all, she is still the mistress of the Jiangjun Fu; today, at the New Year's Eve banquet, even the people of the second and third branches are present here.

Yet she has already been so carefully trying to please her, but Luoluo still keeps a cold face!

Since Luoluo refuses to give her face, why not let Chuan'er dampen her spirit and scold her a few sentences?

After taking away her face, she ought to know some hierarchy, right?

Li Qingluo, however, said: 'Eldest son, you'd better stop calling me Luoluo. After all, back then you wanted to flay me, pull out my tendons, make me kowtow a hundred times before the grave to atone for Liu Qingzhu, conspired with others to cut off my flesh, and even wished that the person who truly died in the fire was me, hating me more poisonously than any generation‑long enemy—yet you are the one.'

'And now you're putting on the act of a good person, a good son, a good elder brother here?'

'Li Kechuan, stop disgusting me!'

As Li Qingluo's words fell, Li Kechuan accidentally knocked over his wine cup.

The people of the second and third branches all gasped in shock, their eyes wide with astonishment.

This, these… are they really true?

Tsk tsk, they've never even heard of such shocking things on the estate!

Could this really be something a brother would do?

Under everyone's gaze, Li Kechuan's façade of calm, which he had been forcing, finally broke.

His spirit and soul were utterly destroyed; he stared at his legitimate younger sister with agonizing pain, recalling the deeds he had done and the words he had spoken, which now flooded his mind like a fleeting panorama.

'You… you really won't forgive me?'

Li Qingluo couldn't help but laugh: 'Forgive? On what basis?'

'Li Kechuan, is it because you lost a leg, or because Liu Qingzhu betrayed you, that you finally, with a conscience not entirely lost, see me, your own younger sister?'

Li Chao Jing and Qu Shi, hearing this, could no longer hold back either.

Li Chao Jing rose to his feet and shouted angrily: 'You wretched creature, shut your mouth!'

Qu Shi trembled as she reached to pull Li Qingluo: 'Luoluo, hurry and stop speaking. Today is New Year's Eve… can't we, as a family, just peacefully have a meal? This is the first meal we've eaten together since returning!'

Li Chao Jing, face flushed with anger, pointed at her: 'Li Qingluo, do you think our whole family owes you something? That's why you now act so arrogantly—just who are you putting on this show for?'

'Tell you, it's not only you who suffers; our suffering has never been less than yours!'

When they swapped daughters back then, weren't we victims too? We didn't want our newborn daughter taken away and replaced; after raising her for over ten years, it turns out there isn't a drop of blood relation.

Li Qingluo, the matter is clearly over; why do you keep bringing it up repeatedly, refusing to let it go?

You won't stop until you've turned the whole family into enemies, will you?

Li Qingluo burst out laughing 'hahaha' several times.

Faced with their three faces, each more disgusting than the last, she had long seen through them.

So at this moment she felt no pain at all, only found it ridiculous.

Back when Li Kechuan was tormenting me, why didn't you say that then?

He repeatedly hurt me, insulted me, even tried to take my life, yet you always defended him and ignored my wounds—what did you say then?

It was just to scare and intimidate me, so I wouldn't make a fuss.

Now I merely said a couple of sentences, and you can't tolerate it?

Father, you really do play favorites. So stop pretending to be a fair and just hypocrite dad—I'm not blind or deaf yet.

Li Qingluo had long wanted to break completely with them!

Once I've earned enough money in hand, it will also be the time they are utterly ruined and disgraced!

After saying that, she rose and bowed to Pei Lao Furen: 'Grandmother, please excuse my rudeness just now; I will first return to Hongfenguan to face the wall.'

The Old Lady, who had not intervened all night, now also knew that Luo'er truly detested everyone in this house.

Especially toward that Li Kechuan...

If it weren't for her promise to me back then, Li Kechuan might not even be able to sit here.

Actually, I myself also loathe everyone in this house.

Since I can't leave, why bother rejecting her?

Besides, Luo'er is now my only obedient granddaughter; if I don't dote on her, what else can I do?

Go back; later we'll wait for Grandmother at Jingci Tang and keep vigil together.

Li Qingluo smiled: 'Yes.'

Having said that, she glanced at no one else, rose, and hurriedly left the place.

Li Chao Jing saw her just leave like that, and, unable to contain his anger, exclaimed: 'Mother, you really indulge her like this? Such ignorance of propriety is sheer arrogance and lawlessness—who would dare marry her as a daughter-in-law in the future?'

Qu Shi, thinking of Li Qingluo marrying into the Qu family in this state, also felt a great headache.

She then followed Li Chao Jing, saying: 'Yes, Mother, Luo'er indeed lacks some decorum. Why not, after the new year, have the daughter-in-law fetch a governess to teach her...'

Shut up, all of you! Aren't you embarrassed to make a spectacle of yourselves?

What are you lot? Are you trying to drive me away too, just so you can be pleased and satisfied?

You know full well what you've done; Luo'er's hatred of you is completely deserved.

Today I don't want to embarrass you as a couple, so I'll just keep my mouth shut!

When Pei Lao Furen said that, the whole hall grew even quieter.

Li Chao Jing and Qu Shi simultaneously wore grimaces so ugly, Li Kechuan's face was ashen, and everyone else trembled, wishing desperately to finish the meal quickly and disperse.

At the same time, the Liu household.

Repeated urgent and tense knocks sounded loudly from outside.

Liu's second daughter-in-law came running to open the door, cursing: 'Who is it? In the New Year, who comes at this hour? Won't you let people have peace? Could it be Jinzhi?'

After all, the Liu family now resides in Jinling City and has hardly any old acquaintances.

As soon as the door opened, a frail figure immediately flung herself to the ground.

Liu's second daughter-in-law held up her lamp, took a close look, then slapped her thigh and exclaimed: 'Good heavens! It's Sui'er—it really is Sui'er! Father, elder brother and sister-in-law, everyone come out quickly to see—it's Sui'er—'