"Nonsense!" County Magistrate Li was furious, lifting his foot to kick his son, but halfway through, he forcibly put it down - that was his own son!

  "You little slave, what elder? Who told you such nonsense? Ill teach you a lesson tonight!"

  Magistrate Li turned around and left, Li Wenshan sobbed heavily a few times, stood up, lowered his head and walked in with his hands hanging down.

  Magistrate Li returned to the signing room, but he could no longer sit still. He forced himself to sit for a while before getting up and returning to his living quarters.

  Behind the house, Old Lady Zhong was sitting on the steps of the upper floor door, patting her thigh and wiping away tears and snot, crying and complaining at the same time, with a pitiful expression.

  "Waaaahhhh... Oh, heaven... Ive worked hard my whole life... Youd better watch out... Waaaahhhh... Who was it all for? My poor deceased sister... Waaaahhhh... Sister, your fate is tough... Waaaahhhh... Im a person with a tough fate..."

  Magistrate Li stood with his head bowed beside Old Lady Zhong, while Li Xias eyes darted back and forth before she timidly stepped forward, grasping her fathers hand. "Father, Im scared." Magistrate Li wanted to speak but couldnt bring himself to do so, instead patting his daughters head gently.

  "Father, did you make our ancestors cry? Our ancestors are seniors, Father, this is unfilial. Father, why dont you kowtow to our ancestors? If not, I and Sixth Brother will kowtow on your behalf to atone for the sin?" Li Xia pulled on County Magistrate Lis hand and asked, looking up at him.

  Magistrate Li was pierced to the heart by these few words from Li Xia.

  She had been very kind to him, and he respected her, never treating her as an inferior. He genuinely regarded her as his own family member, showing her the respect due to a senior. However, it now seems that he has shown too much respect, causing chaos in this household and allowing the children to become confused about the distinction between master and servant.

  In the past, it was okay, but now and in the future, their family is not like before. He has to maintain his official dignity, this small county of Hengshan is full of hidden dragons and tigers, with eyes and ears everywhere, if hes not careful, he wont be able to keep his position as county magistrate... He doesnt care, as long as the old lady is happy, but what about Shan Ge? What about Shan Ges future prospects? This isnt just his own affair...

  Its his fault! He should have thought of these things earlier, and what is wrong cannot be made right.

  Thinking of this, County Magistrate Li slowly straightened his back and looked around. In this courtyard, except for the wailing and crying of Old Lady Zhong, there was only Little Jiuer staring foolishly at the commotion. County Magistrate Li pointed at Little Jiuer and sternly said: "Dont you hurry to support her inside! Is this a place where one can cry out loud? What kind of decorum is this? Wheres the mistress? This family! Its becoming more and more unorthodox!"

  Standing behind the upstairs curtain, Hong Niang looked out through the gap in a daze. Master is...hes gone mad this time!

  Mrs. Xu, who had been listening intently to the commotion outside, was also stunned. Li Wenshan hastily signaled to Hong Niangniang, "You go, quickly drag her back, quick."

  Hongs wife let out a cry and lifted the curtain to come out, pulling up Xiao Jiuer who was about to cry, one on each side to help Old Lady Zhong get up.

  Mrs. Xü and Li Dong also followed closely, bending down to help Old Lady Zhong, "Old lady, youre advanced in years, you should take care of yourself, Ill help you back, if theres anything, wait till youre feeling better before telling Master, Master is the most..." Mrs. Xü forced herself to swallow the word filial, this word cant be said anymore. "...Master was raised by you, you still dont know him..."

  Of all people, it was Old Lady Zhong who was the most shocked.

  This master who has been shitting and pissing for over thirty years, actually treats her like this, where did this day come from?

  ………………

  Mrs. Xü led Li Dong to settle down Old Lady Zhong, and when they returned to the upper house, County Magistrate Li was holding Li Xia, sitting on the kang in a daze. The two sons were not there.

  Mrs. Xus anxiety was much heavier than her surprise, she lifted the curtain and was about to enter the house, but then stopped in her tracks and pushed Li Dong, hinting: "Take a look at your brother..."

  Li Dong understood as soon as he heard it and hastily turned around to look for Fifth Brother.

  Now in front of her father, whatever her fifth brother says goes. Now its up to her fifth brother to calm things down.

  There are some small advantages in the county governments inner house. Mrs. Xu entered the house, just washed her hands and started brewing tea. Li Wenshan led his younger brother Li Wenran, and Li Dong followed behind, all entering the upper room.

  Mrs. Xu saw three people... especially her eldest son coming in, and suddenly felt relieved, letting out a breath.

  "Is Father all right?" Li Wenshan led his tear-stained younger brother to sit beside County Magistrate Li, "Just now, Brother Lan scared him into crying so hard that I had to bring him out. Is the old ancestor all right?"

  "What ancestors?" County Magistrate Li was furious, "When you were young and didnt understand things, calling out like that would have been enough. A slave girl, how can she bear the weight of the three words ancestors? And you too, how could you let her behave like this? This household, how are you managing it?" County Magistrate Li had nowhere to vent his anger and scolded Lady Xu instead.

  "Its my fault." Mrs. Xu immediately admitted her mistake.

  "Its not Moms fault, the old lady just pointed at Moms face and scolded her, saying she was a fox spirit. Dad, what is a fox spirit?" Li Xia immediately chimed in, "Is this Moms fault? What a joke! Dont take it out on her like that."

  Li Wenshan followed his sister, "It was Father who told Mother to let Old Lady...to let Zhong Yiniang serve as a mother-in-law, Father said it more than once, Father also said that Zhong Yiniang is just like our own grandmother, these words were entrusted by Father, how can we blame Mother?"

  "We have to kowtow to the old lady during the New Year." Li Wenlan was a bit bewildered, but this sentence was indeed very appropriate.

  "Father also let Mother call herself daughter-in-law in front of Clock Granny, you say this is our familys etiquette." Li Dong also plucked up the courage to speak on behalf of his mother, "Everyone in the house, from top to bottom, calls her Old Lady and Ancestral Matriarch, which was also Fathers words."

  County Magistrate Li stared blankly at his son and daughter who were scolding him in unison, with his mouth agape but unable to utter a word. In this instant, he felt what it meant to be isolated by the crowd of his own family.

  "Look at you, how can you talk to your father like that." Mrs. Xus voice was choked with emotion as she looked at her children one by one, wishing she could hug them all in her arms and kiss each of them.

  "It was me... I was wrong." County Magistrate Lis words were stuck together, it was his fault, he was the one who was not upright.

  "Look what the master said." Mrs. Xu couldnt bear it anymore, and tears poured down her face. "My husband and I are of one flesh, his mistakes are mine too. Master, rest assured, from now on..." The words that followed, Mrs. Xu didnt dare to say, as for that old ladys affair, what could she do about it with the master?

  "Second Brother is also at fault." Li Xia pointed at Li Wenshan.

  "Me?" Li Wenshan pointed at his own nose tip, what did Ah Xia mean by this? He didnt react in time.

  "Brother Five, you said it yourself. You want to cultivate your character and manage your household. I asked you what managing the household means, and you said its just that everything in our family should be good. Brother Six, is that what Brother Five said?" Li Xia pulled Brother Six into the conversation.

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