Thankfully, the next day was Saturday, so Li Caiyi could relax for a little. After eating breakfast, Su Suyin called on her and handed over a bulky bag.
pan,da n<0,>v,el "Bring this to the hospital after you finish getting ready, will you? It's Xiaohua's clothes and staying over necessity. Mother has other business to take care of."
"Mother, where are you going?"
"Your Aunt called me yesterday and told me she needs my help to look at her store's record. She was suspicious that one of the employees was embezzling the store's profit, but she wanted me to make sure just in case."
Li Caiyi gave a hum of acknowledgment. It had been a while since she last saw her aunt. She was Su Suyin's older sister who lived in another city and owned a small clothing shop; her name was Su Yan.
When Li Caiyi was small, her aunt would bring her children to visit their house once or twice a year. It was only after her uncle, Su Yan's husband got into an accident and passed away when Li Caiyi was seven years old that Su Yan became busier, as she had to manage the store alone. It had been years since she last saw her aunt.
Su Family was not a wealthy family and came from the countryside, but Grandpa Li was an old friend of Grandpa Su. They were once friends in college and had a close relationship.
The arrangement between the two families to marry Su Suyin and Li Jirong could happen because Li Jirong was fond of Su Suyin, who was famous as the village's flower then. It said that he fell in love with her at first sight, to the point he didn't even care about the disparity in their social status.
Then, her grandmother (Li Jirong's mother) later introduced Li Jirong to Su Suyin. Both clicked it off before they decided to get married.
Li Caiyi didn't believe it was love at first sight at all. At most, it was probably just lusting at first sight. She bet Li Jirong was just too young then, so he didn't think it through. Considering his promiscuous relationship with many women, it was hard to believe he ever experienced true love at all.
Su Yan had four children in total. The oldest was in university, while the youngest was still in the third grade of elementary school. Unlike Su Suyin, who was fortunate enough to go into college and work as an accountant in a small company before marriage, Su Yan was a typical country girl who had minimal education and was satisfied with rural life.
After her husband passed away, many people tried to take advantage of her, as she was a widow with a decent income. It made her trust in people dwindle over time. In the end, she couldn't believe anyone but her family anymore, at least in terms of work. That was why she could only ask Su Suyin's help to check on her store's ledger from time to time.
'I wonder how Auntie is doing right now,' Li Caiyi recalled the fond memories of the past. Su Yan was a spunky and cheerful woman who loved to work as much as she played hard and wasn't the type to put on a front. She always laughed and cried from the bottom of her heart.
Li Jirong disliked her because he thought Su Yan was too crude as Li family's in-laws, but the Li siblings always liked their aunt for her genuineness.
Su Yan had little wealth compared to Li Family, but she never missed sending Li siblings gifts every time she visited or sending presents in New Year or Christmas. She was a wonderful, independent woman and an amazing single mother.
"Mother, you don't have to worry. I'll check on Xiaohua's condition, so you should help Aunt in the meantime."
Su Suyin's expression was complicated, but she smiled upon hearing Li Caiyi's words. "Mother is always lucky to have you. You don't have to stay for too long because Xue is there to monitor your sister." She sighed. "If it were not for your father's initiative, I would feel so troubled. You know your aunt never calls for help unless it is really urgent."
'Yeah, I know. That's why that man took advantage of that, Mother,' Li Caiyi wanted to say that so badly, but she changed the words that were already on the tip of her tongue.
"I miss Aunt and my cousins so much, too. How about we go visit her together after Xioahua is recovered?"
"Yeah, let's do that. Your Aunt is really fond of you, her cute twin nieces, so I bet she would feel delighted." Su Suyin smiled happily. She looked at Li Caiyi deeply before pulling her into her embrace, catching the latter off guard.
"Mother?"
"I heard everything from Renshu yesterday. I can't believe my children have to face something scary like that." Su Suyin loosened her hold and stared at Li Caiyi sternly. "Mother knows you care about your sister and want to save her, but running off on your own is a definite no-no! You were so timid before, but when you got some courage, you behaved recklessly."
Li Caiyi's heart shook at her mother's reprimand. She expected Su Suyin would do that eventually, but she didn't know she wanted to reprimand her about this.
"Mother, aren't you angry with me? It's because I took my eyes off of Xiaohua that it happened."
"I heard from Renshu that Xiaohua is the one who goes out on her own through the back gate, and you didn't know about that until she was taken away. If it's the case, then this isn't your fault. It's those bad guys who preyed on young girls who are at fault here." Su Suyin said with a twisted smile. A hint of fury lurked under her usually gentle face.
Her children.
Her mother wasn't talking only about Li Chunhua, but also Li Caiyi.
She wasn't angry at her but worried about her this time.
Li Caiyi's nose soured upon feeling the sudden care her mother showed her. Just when she decided she wouldn't let herself get hurt by her mother's biased treatment anymore, she got this. It shook her to the core, but Li Caiyi was too afraid to let the seed of hope grow again.
Su Suyin gently took Li Caiyi's hand and lightly squeezed it. "Yesterday, when I heard about what happened to your sister, I admitted that my first thought was it's because you didn't look after her well. Then your brother scolds me."
Li Caiyi raised her head in shock. "Brother Jie was?"
"Well, not scolding actually, more like voicing his opinion. He said that you are also in danger, but is that all I have to say about you?" Su Suyin smiled bitterly. "If even Junjie said that, then there must be something wrong with my way of thinking, indeed. I didn't even realize it until he pointed it out to me. What a terrible mother I am."
Her brother said that? It was even more shocking than seeing pigs flying!
How come when her brother was the one who said that, it suddenly became a fact, but when she was the one who said that, nobody listened to her? First, Meng Renshu, now her mother also likes that!
"Junjie… that kid. I never heard him speaking what was on his mind after that day…." Su Suyin muttered in a low voice.
"Ah? Mother, what are you talking about?"
Su Suyin shook her head and stroked Li Caiyi's head with an apologetic look on her face. "Mother had done self-reflection last night, and I think I might have gone too far with you. Xiaohua is my daughter, but so are you. I'm sorry, Xiaoyi."
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