She had anticipated this outcome when she told Ruan Jiandang to use this method, because the Liao Family were extremely selfish people, and for the sake of their son, they would definitely not consider Liao Zhaoji’s well-being.
Sacrificing Liao Zhaoji was almost a foregone conclusion.
What she didn’t expect was that the Li Family could be so heartless, almost eagerly sending their own daughter to die!
She stepped aside and called in, Ruan Jiandang was in the main room discussing matters with Ruan Jianguo. Upon hearing her voice, he walked out with his crutches, his face showing no emotion, but his heart was as cold as iron. He said, "I’ll change my clothes and come out immediately."
With that, he limped away on his crutches toward his own room.
Liao Zhaoji watched his indifferent back, and tears streamed relentlessly down her face.
"Mom... my pants are torn..." Just as Ruan Jiandang entered the room, Ruan Chi came out from a side door with a pair of pants that had come unstitched. Catching sight of Liao Zhaoji standing in the yard crying, he frowned for a moment, but then turned his gaze away as if he hadn’t seen her.
"What a rude child!" Li Family, seeing this, yelled unhappily, "You see your mom and grandma but don’t even greet them?"
"Chizi!" Ruanlin Family looked at him disapprovingly.
Biting his lip, Ruan Chi reluctantly called out "Grandma," but he was unwilling to call out "Mom" ever again.
Ruanlin Family gave him a look, but didn’t press the issue further, taking the pants with undone seams from him and said, "Go and get Jiaojiao up."
After entering Ruanlin Family’s room, he saw that Ruan Jiaojiao had already gotten out of bed and that Xiu Xi was helping her put on her shoes. He didn’t approach but instead stood at the doorway, listening intently to the activity outside.
Ruanlin Family was asking the Li Family and Liao Zhaoji if they had had breakfast and if not, to join them for a meal.
The Li Family wouldn’t pass up a free meal, so they eagerly approached, not the slightest bit shy. Liao Zhaoji, having no appetite, left Li Family’s side and ran off in search of Ruan Jiandang.
The Li Family, with the mentality of taking advantage, ate ravenously—one sweet potato after another, and a bowl of millet porridge was gone in a few gulps—as if it had been ages since they’d had a meal. Meanwhile, the members of the Ruan Family sitting at the table all silently frowned.
Watching Li Family’s sallow hands pick through the sweet potatoes, Du Qing was the first to lose her appetite. After struggling to swallow the porridge in her mouth, she got up and went to the kitchen.
"Jiaojiao is up. Bring out the egg custard," Ruanlin Family said, seeing her enter the kitchen.
Du Qing responded with a yes.
Upon hearing about the egg custard, the Li Family’s eyes darted about, their chewing slowed, and even the half-eaten sweet potato in their grasp was put down. Their voice was barely able to contain their joy, "Relative, you have such good food in the morning? There’s even egg custard? Life must be truly wonderful..."
"That’s for my sister to eat. No one else gets any!" Little Fatty, upon seeing Li Family eyeing his sister’s egg custard, immediately became unhappy. Too young to hide his emotions, he glared at her indignantly.
"What?! Only that little girl gets to eat?" Li Family protested, clearly disapproving, "A mere little girl doesn’t need to eat that well. Relative, no offense, but there’s no need to pamper her . Girls are just water splashed outwards. Instead of wasting those eggs, it’d be better to save them and sell for some money." Li Family’s tone suggested they were thinking of the Ruan Family’s best interests.