Ruan Jiaojiao smiled at the Li family members, "That’s because Xiaohei knows Uncle Li likes Jiaojiao, so it’s particularly fond of Jiaojiao."
Hearing this, Li Shu laughed heartily, praising Ruan Jiaojiao for her clever words. He had failed his college entrance exams last year and, under the arrangements of his elders, had married in a hurry. He didn’t have any children yet and felt a fondness whenever he saw children, especially ones like Ruan Jiaojiao who were fair and tender and exceptionally pretty. Even though she was a girl, he liked her a lot and always enjoyed teasing her.
He asked Ruan Jiaojiao to wait for him for a moment before turning to enter his inner room. When he came back, he was holding two mint candies and patted her little head, urging her to eat them.
Ruan Jiaojiao didn’t refuse, accepting them with a smile and sweetly thanked him. After greeting the enthusiastic Xiaohei, she then continued towards her family’s plot of land.
However, as soon as she left, a pregnant woman with a large belly walked out of the Li family’s inner room, glaring at Li Shu with displeasure, "Why are you paying attention to that child? Haven’t you heard what everyone’s saying? That child could be a spirit from the mountains transformed, specially preying on the essence of little children. Even if not for your own sake, you should think of our child!"
Li Shu’s wife, Chang Qingqing, had been arranged for him by the elders. They got married last year, and she fell pregnant right after the honeymoon. The Li family valued her highly, and she acted with the authority of a Little Tyrant at home. When she said one, no one dared say two. Li Shu often didn’t argue with her, partly because she was pregnant and deserved to be indulged, and partly because she was tough to handle, and he didn’t want to waste his energy arguing.
But he couldn’t tolerate this talk. Having studied for so many years, he frowned at Chang Qingqing with a serious tone, "You are a mother yourself now, how can you say such unkind things? How could a perfectly good child be a spirit? That’s utter nonsense!"
"Don’t give me that literary talk, thinking I don’t understand!" Chang Qingqing couldn’t stand this aspect of Li Shu the most. Resting her hand on her belly and pointing at him, she retorted with dissatisfaction, "How am I being unkind? It’s not just me saying this; lots of people in the brigade are talking about it!"
"You are you, others are others; I can’t control what others say. And besides, their house is right next door. If you speak so thoughtlessly and offend the Ruanlin Family, I’d like to see how you’ll resolve it!"
"I... I’m not stupid; of course, I wouldn’t say it in front of her." Chang Qingqing was somewhat apprehensive of the Ruanlin Family’s strength, especially since she had recently witnessed them nearly tear apart several people in the brigade who had badmouthed Ruan Jiaojiao. Their fighting spirit was not something just anyone could withstand.
For the time being, no one in the brigade could outdo her.
Somewhat sheepishly, she pursed her lips and muttered while supporting her belly as she returned to the room.
Li Shu watched her back and sighed. His amicable behavior towards Ruan Jiaojiao wasn’t just because of her endearing charm; he also had his own motives. He knew better than anyone the formidable background of Jiaojiao’s mother, Shu Jiao. He had been her student and had accidentally learned some private matters.
Ruan Jianguo was building their house at the entrance of the village, closest to his, and he naturally wanted to foster a good relationship with their family.
Unaware of the Li family’s present motives, Ruan Jiaojiao made her way to her family’s land, weaving through the field strung with rebar until she encountered Ruan Jianguo, who was bending over to pick up bricks around a corner.