The matter of division within the family had been settled, and the clan elders, along with the young Clan Leader Luo Shun, had no reason to stay in the Luo Family any longer.
Given the Luo Family was now bustling and devoid of peace, they did not want to stay any longer.
Luo Shun also had a trace of sympathy for his Aunt Su.
As people age, it is the time to enjoy the blessings of the younger generation, and the elderly fear the most encountering problematic descendants.
Clearly, Aunt Su was one such unlucky person.
Using his status as the Clan Leader, Luo Shun warned the Luo Family brothers.
In the Luo Clan, filial piety was highly valued... if they did not want to be ostracized by the clan, then they should treat their mother with filial respect.
The composition and development of this world were quite fascinating.
Its overall level of development was actually similar to that of a world from the sixties and seventies that Su Li had once experienced.
Productivity was low, and food production was scarce.
The national divide was severe, with the underprivileged masses finding life extremely tough, while the upper-class nobles completely ignored environmental constraints and lived luxuriously.
In this world, the arena was the only way for the lower-class people to ascend into the upper echelons.
But in reality, it was very difficult for commoners to join the arena.
There were two methods, one was to be admitted to the Sports Academy and be recommended during the graduation exams; this method was mild and less dangerous.
It was usually the choice of nobles’ offspring.
Another method was to directly participate in the monthly contests held by the arena, which had a terrifyingly high death rate.
The existence of the arena made this seemingly peaceful world dangerously fraught, to the extent that the lowly commoners were forced to band together to survive.
This was when the strength of clans became apparent.
Although in this era, the separation between the upper and lower tiers had grown more severe, and the lives of the lower-class were not as harsh as a thousand years ago, clans with the same surnames still preferred to live together, providing them an added sense of security.
Luo Rujiang and Luo Ruhe needed to care about what Clan Leader Luo Shun said if they wanted to live well in this place.
Otherwise, the slightest sabotage from him could always make their lives miserable.
These, Su Li also understood.
As Luo Shun was about to leave, Su Li softly called out to him and then brought out a packet of sugar, wrapped in multiple layers, and stuffed it into Luo Shun’s arms.
"It was tough for you to come all this way."
Luo Shun shook the packet and did not refuse, his tone even milder, "Auntie, no need for gifts, I’ll go back and immediately revise the genealogy information."
From the moment Su Li brought out the sugar, both daughters-in-law’s eyes nearly popped out. Feelings of reluctance and indignant emotions had to be suppressed forcefully upon meeting the gaze of Clan Leader Luo Shun. They dared not vent their dissatisfaction.
Luo Rujiang and Luo Ruhe too were greatly displeased by their mother’s grand gesture.
Especially Luo Rujiang, who truly felt resentment towards Su Li.
Obviously, there were still good commodities like sugar, which could temporarily fill the gap of an empty pot if they were sold.
He couldn’t comprehend what had possessed his mother to so resolutely divide the family, neglecting even their late father’s final wishes.
Su Li, however, did not care about what any of them thought. Once the sugar was given, she took Luo Luxi’s hand, closed the door, and sealed away the unfriendly gazes waiting to trouble them once the Clan Leader had left.
Luo Rujiang and Luo Ruhe’s myriad thoughts were like a deflated balloon, utterly desolate...
The scene had barely passed, and it was already late; yet the whole family was still hungry.
At first, the younger ones, constrained by the serious and strange atmosphere among the adults, dared not cry out even with their stomachs growling.
Now, deeply hungry and seeing their usually stern grandmother smiling and holding the hand of that mixed-blood child, the youngest couldn’t bear it any longer and burst into tears.
"I’m hungry, I want to eat... I also want Grandma..."
The child who was crying was the second boy from the second branch of the Luo Family, the youngest one besides Luo Luxi.
Having his own mother around, he wasn’t normally very close to his grandmother. But now, his least favorite person was holding his grandmother’s hand, so he cried out for her too.
Moreover, he was truly starving.
No matter how hard times were, his grandmother had never let him go hungry.
Luo Ruhe and Yuan Ling were a mess, and the sharp cries of their youngest son drilled into their heads like a curse, throwing them into disarray. Without thinking, Yuan Ling viciously slapped their beloved child.
The child cried even louder, and worse, his cries triggered a domino effect.
Children of similar age from the major branch also started to wail.
Tang Yilan was frantically trying to soothe them, and after a while, when her patience wore thin, she resorted to physical restraint.
These children were extremely close to their mothers but disliked the original owner who was very strict with them.
Unexpectedly, their most beloved mothers would strike them at the slightest disagreement.
When the slap landed, the howling children were momentarily stunned, causing a brief pause.
But then, the cries resumed, shrill enough to nearly lift the roof.
At this moment, these children realized how good their grandmother was.
She might have been strict, but at least she had never laid a hand on them.
The voices crying for their grandmother grew louder, and even the adults, busy with their chores, had their eyes glued to the tightly closed door, anticipating the compassionate grandmother to open the door the next second.
The grandmother certainly wouldn’t heartlessly watch her grandsons go hungry.
Not only the two daughters-in-law but also the sons firmly believed this.
To their disappointment, despite the second branch’s youngest son almost hoarse from crying, the tightly shut door showed no sign of opening.
Aunt Su was that merciless.
To avoid the annoying disturbance outside interrupting their cozy mealtime, she had even bolted the door from inside, making it impossible for anyone to open.
Yes, the scene Aunt Su considered cozy seemed to only be perceived as such by herself.
At least the other party involved didn’t seem to think so.
At that moment, Luo Luxi sat formally at the long table, a plate of deliciously roasted potatoes in front of him.
The potatoes were sprinkled with pepper, salt, and vibrant green onions, triggering saliva to quickly form in anyone’s mouth.
Across from him, his grandmother had already started eating.
As she ate, she spoke, "Today was very rushed, couldn’t prepare much good food; make do with this."
Holding the chopsticks in his hand, Luo Luxi didn’t start eating right away; instead, he watched Aunt Su with a complex gaze.