Madam Si came over, and Xia Xiao greeted her, "Madam Si, hello."
"Sister Xia, my surname is Li, and I am older than you. You can just call me Sister Li," Madam Si said with a brisk manner, moving forward and smiling as she shook Xia Xiao’s hand.
"All right, Sister Li, please come in quickly. The kids at home are all busy, and my husband is in the army. These days, my grandson is staying at school, so I’ve been alone at home. The maid has also taken leave. It’s great you could come; we can keep each other company," Xia Xiao said with a smile.
"That’s perfect," Madam Si responded with a laugh.
"Hello, Grandma Xia," Si Hexuan then burst out, having been overlooked earlier while Xia Xiao and Madam Si were talking.
"Hello, Hexuan. I’ve heard about you from Shitou and Beibei."
As soon as Xia Xiao finished speaking, Si Hexuan chuckled, "If Beibei mentioned me, it definitely wasn’t anything good."
Madam Si scolded with wide eyes, "That’s because you always bully Beibei." Then she apologized to Xia Xiao, "This grandson has been spoiled by me since he was little."
"Not at all, it’s normal for children to play and make noise. Both the father and son in my family spar sometimes. When they fight, it frightens me."
Madam Si found her topic through this statement, "Exactly, when they fight, they look like mortal enemies."
The two got along very well; Madam Si had a forthright personality and excellent cooking skills. Her dumplings and noodles were particularly deft and tasted wonderful.
Madam Si, a northern woman, was very skilled in making wheat-based dishes, and Xia Xiao could eat spicy foods. Madam Si had stayed for a few days, and Xia Xiao enjoyed various meals, feeling all were quite delicious.
Hexuan, however, had gone to school and did not mention where his grandmother was, just reassuring his family.
Elder Si, infuriated, gave up questioning Hexuan and refused to seek out Madam Si anymore.
As Madam Si and Xia Xiao got to know each other, they got along very well. Plus, since Elder Si hadn’t sent anyone for her, Madam Si felt somewhat sad.
She said to Xia Xiao, "I didn’t know he was seeing someone else initially. He didn’t write to tell me, and his family didn’t know. After our marriage was arranged, he came back unhappy, wanting to call it off. My heart felt very wronged at that time. My father, my only relative, had just passed away saving my father-in-law, and I became an orphan. I was only seventeen and the world was unstable; I, a young girl, dared not venture out. His parents used filial piety to compel him to marry me. I thought that even if he didn’t like me then, our relationship might improve over time, especially since my in-laws were very good, and I quite liked his family."
At that point, Madam Si’s eyes reddened, "Initially, he didn’t accept me, but after going on a trip, he came back changed and gradually treated me better, and we were together like that. After I had children, I found out he had someone else, and she had also married."
"He felt guilty about that woman. For many years, every time that woman’s family needed help, he would agree, even planning a marriage between his son and that woman’s daughter. I was against it and couldn’t stand it. I really wanted to get divorced, but what about the children? I often argued with him about it, but eventually, it infuriated me enough that I thought about remarrying. He then brought a gun to force me to come back. Xia, now I am old, and I don’t want to struggle anymore. A lifetime of fighting, this all seems so meaningless now."
After talking so much, tears started to uncontrollably appear in Madam Si’s eyes.
Xia Xiao handed a tissue to Madam Si and patted her hand, saying, "Sister Li, since you call me little sister, I acknowledge you as my sister. Feel free to stay here as long as you like."
Madam Si wiped her tears then couldn’t help but laugh, "Actually, it’s sometimes funny, but it feels suffocating. When he came back then, he had quarreled with that woman. He didn’t specify what their conflict was about, but it must’ve been a significant misunderstanding. He misunderstood that woman, so when he came back, he didn’t mention he had someone. After going out once, the woman found out he was married and, feeling stifled, got married as a second wife. Once the misunderstanding cleared up, my problems just started, and the old man couldn’t let her go."
"People tend to think that what they can’t have is the best—it’s just folly. I’ve heard from others that when they were together, their relationship wasn’t good; they often argued. But once apart, he started to think she was wonderful in every way..."
Madam Si continued her complaints unabated, clearly needing to vent her built-up frustrations.
"Sister Li, don’t think too much. You have your son and grandchildren now. Try to free your mind and take things easy; there’s no need to upset yourself."
This was an account too complex to settle. These few people had been tangled in emotions for most of their lives, and in reality, all this talk about love was empty—just mere dissatisfaction.
That person had become Mr. Si’s moon in his heart, his indelible mark, along with a sense of guilt, making Mr. Si overwhelmingly accommodating.
At that time, Ning Hui called to discuss the Child Welfare Charity Fund. Xia Xiao turned to Madam Si and asked, "Sister Li, would you like to come with me to take a look?"
"Sure, going out for a walk is good," Madam Si was very willing, as she had previously spent most of her time following the military and rarely went out.
Then Xia Xiao took Madam Si to the foundation, where she met Ning Hui. Afterwards, Xia Xiao, Ning Hui, and Madam Si visited the orphanage for underprivileged children.
Once there, Madam Si seemed to have found a purpose in life. Her life had previously revolved around Mr. Si and their children and grandchildren.
Seeing these underprivileged children, Madam Si’s heart went out to them. She said to Xia Xiao and Ning Hui, "You are doing a great thing, and I think I’d like to stay and help care for these children."
"Sister Li, don’t overwork yourself. There are nurses and volunteers here," Xia Xiao said.
Madam Si shook her head, "I just want to stay here."
Saying this, Madam Si announced her intention to donate, then transferred a large sum of money to the foundation’s account. Although Xia Xiao appreciated Madam Si’s donation, she was worried that the Si Family might think she had lured Madam Si away.
But Madam Si wasn’t worried about that; she just felt she needed to contribute, especially since it was Xia Xiao and Ning Hui’s foundation, which she trusted.
Madam Si didn’t leave with Xia Xiao; instead, she decided to stay and live at the orphanage, playing with the children.