The next morning, Li Xia was woken up by a loud and clear voice.

  Li Xia turned over, didnt open her eyes, and had been cooped up on the boat for more than a month. She could finally sleep in a bed, but until midnight, she still felt uncomfortable with the bed swaying back and forth. Now that it wasnt swaying anymore, she thought shed sleep a bit longer.

  "How stupid can you be? Whats the use of having you guys around? That trunk needs two people to lift, oh no! That box is Masters writing brushes! That one is a book box, and the bookshelf isnt even set up yet, what are you moving it for? Oh no! Im so angry! How can someone be this stupid?! You cant drag that cabinet! Cant drag it! Look, youve scratched the cabinet leg! Ah! You! Whats your name? Where do you think youre putting your hand?"

  This sound was like a drill that kept drilling into Li Xias ears, irritating her to the point where she felt waves of fire rising in her heart. Forget it, Ill just get up.

  Li Xia sat up and looked out the window. The window had new pale green gauze pasted on it, and outside the gauze, dense green leaves were swaying, like banana trees.

  "Has Ninth Sister woken up?" Little maid Jiuer poked her head out and took a look, "Ill go fetch water."

  Li Xia stared blankly at Jiu Er, she didnt recognize her, who was this? Looking at her like that, it seemed like they were very familiar... Li Xia didnt say a word, Jiu Er brought water over, Li Xia washed her face and came out, walking along the corridor, passing through the Dao Bao bottle door into the main courtyard.

  In the main hall, at the entrance of the house, a luxurious armchair was placed in the middle, on which sat an old lady dressed in fine clothes, waving her arms and scolding non-stop. She was directing a group of servants to move boxes and clean up things. Under the old ladys angry scolding, everyone in the courtyard was running around hastily, their feet barely touching the ground.

  Li Xia stared blankly at the majestic old lady.

  No wonder shes been feeling something was off since she got back, it turns out she hasnt seen this aunt the whole time!

  This aunt is the sister of Ah Das mother, who raised Ah Da, and Ah Da respects her as a mother. She is the elder in their family who has the final say, but after Ah Da wrongly judged the case and they hastily entered the capital, where did she go?

  Li Xia thought about her headache, she really couldnt remember where she went, but one thing was certain: after Ah Dies bad things, she never saw her again.

  Li Xia walked along the wall corner into the upper house, Mrs. Xu was leaning on the couch under the south window, looking much better, as soon as she saw Li Xia, she smiled and straightened up to call her, "A Xia woke up, did you sleep well last night? Come let mother take a look."

  Li Liu, who was closest to Auntie, shifted over and gave the spot nearest to her to his sister. Li Dong came forward and helped Li Xia take off her shoes, then lifted her onto the bed.

  "Mother, are you better? You look really good today!" Li Xia looked up at her mother.

  "Its okay, dear." Mrs. Xu stroked Li Xias head with boundless love and concern, "Xia, the household has been in a mess these past two days, dont run around randomly, either follow your sister or come to me and write with Gege, I heard youve also taken a liking to writing lately?"

  "Uh, Mother Li..." Before Xia could finish speaking, she heard the old ladys originally loud voice suddenly rise by a full octave, "Halt! Where did this trunk come from? Bring it over! Open it and let me take a look!"

  Mrs. Xue stroked Li Xias hand, her face turned pale, and she hastily made a gesture to Hong Nian, who was standing at the door of the upper house, looking out at the commotion outside. Seeing Mrs. Xues signal, Hong Nian lifted the curtain and came out of the house, smiling and saying: "There are only a few old clothes in this trunk, which were packed and sealed by the mistress herself. Lets move it to this room."

  "I watched these trunks being packed up one by one with my own eyes, Im old but my memory is still good! Theres no such trunk! How many clothes and fabrics can fit in a trunk this big? What else could be at home that I dont know about? Even the dowry of the mistress, Im crystal clear about it! Where did this huge trunk of clothes and fabrics come from out of nowhere?! You tell me!" The old lady was furious.

  Li Xia looked at her pale-faced mother and her sister, who was full of fear, with some confusion. Were they afraid of her? She had already forgotten about this aunts matter.

  This box of clothes was given by my aunt when I went to Jiangning Prefecture last time. In addition to the fabric, there were several good inkstones, two boxes of top-grade Huizhou ink and one box of Lake pens. It seems that there are other things, why dont mother and sister dare to let this old lady know?

  "Ill go take a look." Li Dong looked at Mrs. Xus pale face, bit her lip tightly and forced herself to stand up and walk outside.

  Li Xia hastily shifted her position and looked out through the window slit.

  "Old lady, this box was indeed packed by my mother herself, I was watching from the side... just move it into the house... lets move it in first, and then my mother and I will accompany you to take a look." Li Dong hung his head and shoulders, speaking in a low voice, standing in front of the old lady who had an imposing presence, as if he were the lowest-ranking servant.

  Li Xia felt a sharp pain in her heart.

  "Whats in this box that cant be seen?!" The old lady crossed her arms, spat a mouthful of water on Li Dongs face, and then pointed at his face with her finger. "Go! Open it for me! You dare to play tricks in front of me, tsk, youre still so tender!" As the old lady cursed, she pointed her finger around the room.

  The old lady opened the box, grasped Li Dongs thin shoulder with one hand, and pressed her into the box, "What are these old clothes? Are you blind? Or do you think Im blind? Tell me, tell me clearly, where did this come from? Stolen or robbed? Ill see if you dare to lie to me again. Youd better tell me again!"

  Li Dong was shaken and pressed by her, and his hair was all scattered.

  Hong stood beside with her arms crossed, looking calm and collected, a picture of someone who had seen it all before.

  Li Xias face was tense, the pain in her heart surging like a flood, she suddenly turned her head to look at Ah Niang, Ah Niangs face was pale, her eyes slightly closed, her lips trembling lightly.

  "Go and invite the old master, call the old master over! Im going to die! The old master has just been promoted, this is going to drive me to death! Im going to die! I knew it, once hes been promoted, its all over! I wont live!" The old lady suddenly pushed Li Dong away and sat down on the chair with a thud, slapping her thighs and wailing loudly.

  Mr. Li was busy with his official duties in the front house when he heard that something had happened in the back house, so he rushed in hastily, taking three steps at a time.

  The old lady saw Mr. Li, and tears gushed out, the original dry howl was immediately accompanied by nasal mucus and tears, from the previous ferocity, instantly pitiful to the extreme.

  “…I raised you up…how much suffering I endured! That family...that familys door! Apart from your father, which one of them is a good person? Each and every one of them wishes for your death! Each and every one of them cant wait to strangle you to death, theyre not human... Ahh...for decades, I didnt even dare close my eyes while sleeping, just to raise you up...Ahh...poor me...Ahh...I wont live anymore...I wont be able to survive...”

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