Chapter 1286: Chapter 1286: The First Lady’s Academic Journey [5]
Tang Li was not aware of this matter.
Song Baiyan never mentioned it either.
But obviously, there was quite a bit of private interaction between Song Baiyan and Li Hao.
Tang Li retorted, "Who said I’d have a second child?"
There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone.
The voice on the other end changed to Li Hao’s: "You’re the only direct descendant of the Li Family left. Whether it’s responsibility or obligation, the lineage of the main branch cannot be broken with you."
Tang Li did not agree with this concept of legitimate and illegitimate offspring: "This is not a feudal society anymore. A capable family successor is what can take the Li Family further. If you only focus on blood ties, who can guarantee that the offspring of the main branch will definitely have outstanding talent?"
If Li Chengyu were still alive, Tang Li wouldn’t have so much to say about the Li Family’s family rules.
But in fact, she was the only daughter who married outside of the main branch left.
In other words, the direct descendants of the Li Family are long gone.
Tang Li had made it clear two years ago—
[Let the capable ones take the place.]
She still holds this attitude now.
If the road ahead is gone, why not take a detour?
Perhaps the detour is full of difficulties; it might also lead to a hidden village in a dark forest with bright flowers blooming again.
To her, having children is an extension of love, not to obtain a tool.
Of course, Tang Li also knew that her way of thinking was overly sentimental.
In the face of family interests, men can often make more rational decisions. This kind of concern from Li Hao over having no successors could only be understood by the Song Family Head, Song Baiyan.
Tang Li had anticipated Li Hao’s plan.
Even if she gives birth to a second child now, nurturing them until they’re talented would take at least twenty-five years.
Li Hao wouldn’t be able to wait that long.
So, Li Hao would inevitably choose a family head from a collateral line first and make an agreement with them that in the future, when her child grows up, the managing rights would be returned to the main branch.
According to Li Ling, Li Ruan is the stepping stone that Li Hao picked for her child.
Tang Li questioned the Li Family’s system of the eldest son inheriting, and not only did Li Hao not refute her, he even agreed: "You’re right, the children of the main branch are not necessarily more outstanding than those from collateral lines, so the genes of the child’s parents are crucial."
Tang Li: "..."
Li Hao added, "A child who inherits the advantages of their parents will show extraordinary qualities from a young age, for example, Xiao Hua."
The sudden compliment alerted Tang Li to a dangerous signal.
Realizing that Li Hao hadn’t given up on the plan for a second child, Tang Li’s attitude hardened as well: "Song Baiyan and I agreed before marriage to only have one child. Since you all have reached an agreement, you can go ask him if he’s willing to have Song Xiaohua change her surname to Li."
Li Hao wasn’t offended by these words.
It was Tang Li who hung up the phone first.
Li Hao held the cellphone, and beside him, Li Ruan spoke up for Tang Li: "As a mother, Ah Li’s reaction is understandable."
The Li Family’s roots are in Siam; once the assets are transferred to S Country, it might severely weaken them, so the child who would take over the Li Family’s business in the future would indeed remain in Siam.
For Tang Li, this was equivalent to being separated from her flesh and blood.
Parents present, no distant travels.
This is the belief of many people in S Country.
So Tang Li’s refusal is also understandable.
"No hurry." Li Hao handed over the cellphone, not without a plan B in mind, "If she really doesn’t want to have another child, it’s fine; there’s already one, and in the future with Xiaohua, it’s not impossible to fight for it."
Li Ruan: "... Would President Song agree?"
After all, she is his eldest daughter.
Parents always have unique feelings towards their first child.
Li Hao covered the head of his cane with both hands and then said, "Your cousin is right, it’s not a feudal society anymore, and parents can’t have a one-man show anymore, and if the child herself is willing, should she not be respected?"
Li Ruan: "..."
Song Baiyan didn’t know his ’ally’ was planning a backstab, and as soon as he returned to the master bedroom in the evening, he encountered a human ’barricade’ at the door.
Song Xiaohua, in a beige romper, with her chubby feet on the carpet, her hair still damp, and her chubby little hands supporting the door frame, with five cute little dimples on the back of her hand, she saw her dad and opened her little mouth: "Daddy, don’t come in."
As soon as she said that, she was picked up by her daddy.
As soon as the little girl reached her daddy’s arms, she immediately turned traitor: "Mommy, block."
Saying this, she cupped her daddy’s face with her little hands, fawning: "Xiaohua, Daddy, sleep; Mommy, herself."
With just a few words, she already classified herself and Daddy as one nation.
Hugging his daughter, Song Baiyan entered the room and found that the bed had already been divided into a ’Chu River - Han Border.’ On the bedside table, the copy of "The New Yorker" he had been reading had been replaced by a copy of the "Sutra of the Buddha’s Profound Silence"; and the one who caused all this was coming out of the bathroom, climbing straight onto the bed, pointing to the sea-blue thin quilt: "You and Song Xiaohua will sleep together from now on, I’ll sleep on the left side."
Before Song Baiyan could react, the little vanguard beside him agreed in a sweet voice: "Okay!"
Tang Li: "..."
She almost forgot.
This is a daddy’s girl.
Sleeping with Daddy would be a dream come true.
However, the words had already been said, taking them back would put her at a disadvantage.
Might as well keep her eyes off the matter.
Pulling the quilt over herself, Tang Li turned her back and lay down, only for her hair to be tugged.
"Mommy."
The little one called out.
Tang Li didn’t respond.
"Mommy." The little one continued.
Tang Li switched to deaf mode.
A few seconds later, a chubby little hand covered her cheek, and once again called: "Mommy."
Making sure Song Baiyan was in the bathroom, Tang Li turned her head to look at Song Xiaohua, who was sitting on Song Baiyan’s pillow: "What is it?"
The little one quickly crawled over.
Seeing Song Xiaohua desperately crawling onto her head, Tang Li no longer kept the little traitor at ’a thousand miles’ away, and took the initiative to hug the child, "Aren’t you Daddy’s favorite? Why are you being chummy with Mommy now—"
Before she finished, Tang Li smelled a stench.
Song Xiaohua, sitting on her mom, let out a series of long winding flatulent sounds.
Tang Li: _(┐「ε:)_
It’s no different from cooking a pot of stinky tofu.
After farting, the little one immediately crawled away from Tang Li’s chest.
Tang Li: ...
When Song Baiyan came out of the washroom, he saw the crib had been moved next to the door, with Song Xiaohua standing in it, holding onto the railing, like she was being exiled.
Once she saw her daddy, Song Xiaohua was no longer afraid.
Tang Li watched as Song Baiyan picked up their daughter again, about to say ’just let her sleep by the door,’ only to hear the child’s father say to Song Xiaohua: "Did you bully Mommy again?"
Tang Li: "..."
What do you mean again?
Am I that much of a pushover?
It’s just a human cub wearing a diaper.
Tang Li was about to retort, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she met Song Baiyan’s smiling eyes, very gentle, instantly silenced her.
Then, she was asked by Song Baiyan: "Did you get into a tiff with the child again?"
"Who said it was Song Xiaohua."
Tang Li thought about the second child issue and got a little angry again.
——
——
Good night!
