Chapter 124: The Silly Girl

Last night, the commotion at Accountant Liu's house lasted until midnight.

After reviving the fainted Accountant Liu, he took a moment to recover before heading to the guesthouse in the dark. When he learned from Meng Qingwei that Li Xian had recognized the former Forest Protection Section Chief as his godfather, Accountant Liu felt a blockage in his chest and almost fainted again.

This was like kicking a solid iron board!

What on earth was going on?

He just couldn't understand how Li Lao Er, who was on the brink of starvation, could have such an extraordinary opportunity outside.

After a night of turmoil, Liu Bao was in better spirits this morning. After eating a small amount of food, he squatted in the corner to play.

Seeing his grandson with a bruised face, and remembering Meng Qingwei's instructions from last night to "go and find the Li family, ask them to let it go," Accountant Liu slapped himself in frustration.

Furious!

At that moment, a shrill scream came from outside the door, like a pig being slaughtered.

"Li Lao Er, you beat my Liu Bao to this state, and your dirty work made my son end up in the Forest Protection Section. How dare you come here? I'm going to fight you to the death!"

Hearing this, Accountant Liu quickly dressed and dashed out of the house. Meanwhile, the neighbors, hearing the commotion, gathered in the courtyard, craning their necks to watch.

The feud between the Liu and Li families was far more entertaining than the daily squabbles at the lumberyard. This matter had already spread throughout half of the lumberyard last night and was expected to become today's hot topic.

Seeing Liu Accountant's wife approaching with a menacing attitude, Li Xian sidestepped, "Auntie, I'm here to wish you a happy New Year!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Accountant's wife was taken aback, wondering if this kid actually understood some manners, recognizing that the local area was not easy to mess with, and had come to apologize. But seeing him empty-handed except for a stack of red paper tucked under his arm, there was little sincerity.

At this moment, Accountant Liu came out of the house, pulled his wife, who was making a fuss, aside, and coldly said to Li Xian, "Li Lao Er, what are you here for?"

Li Xian chuckled and waved the couplets in his hand, "It's the New Year! After a whole year of troubles and not making much money, I thought about it and decided to pick something artistic since Accountant Liu is a refined person. So, I wrote a couplet early this morning and brought it over."

Accountant Liu was puzzled. Although it was common to bring practical gifts like cigarettes, alcohol, or pastries when visiting someone in the lumberyard, he had heard that refined people in big cities might give artistic items like calligraphy or paintings.

But bringing couplets for the New Year was a first for him.

Subtly, Accountant Liu felt that this kid might not have good intentions. He pointed to the new peach paper on his house gate and door, "We've already put up decorations for the New Year. There's no need for this!"

Li Xian looked around and noticed the empty pigpen. He smirked, "Oh, how timely. Little Four, bring the paste."

"Alright!" At home, Li Pi was now Li Xian's errand boy. He might not know much, but after witnessing the changes in his elder brother over the summer, he believed Li Xian was the most capable person. So, he did whatever Li Xian asked.

He immediately took a brush and applied the paste from the plastic bag to the pigpen.

Li Xian promptly unrolled the couplets and affixed them to the pigpen in front of Accountant Liu and the neighbors.

Seeing the content of the couplets, Accountant Liu's eyes widened in shock!

The first line read: "If you want a fat head and big ears, you must have integrity and righteousness to become fat soon."

The second line read: "To be robust and strong, you must avoid crooked and deceitful hearts and maintain a straightforward heart to achieve wealth and peace."

The horizontal scroll read: "Self-Reflection"

The meaning of the couplets was somewhat clear to the surrounding neighbors. However, as a cultured person, Accountant Liu understood it completely!

This wasn't just insulting him as a pig but also mocking him for being corrupt and morally wrong!

This little brat had become so arrogant with his newfound power!

Pushing aside his wife, who was inquiring about the meaning of the couplets, Accountant Liu trembled with anger, pointing at Li Xian, "Li Lao Er, you're something else!"

Li Xian smiled and, in front of everyone, began recounting the grievances starting from when Accountant Liu refused to sell him a house, Liu Jie's salary and land issues, and the insults Liu Bao hurled at Li Lingling yesterday afternoon.

Then, looking at Accountant Liu and the gathered onlookers, he said slowly, "Our Li family has always lived honestly. We earn money through legitimate means and haven't taken a single cent from the lumberyard. On the contrary, over thirty households depend on my business to make a living. Yes, I owe some money outside. You all think it's forty thousand, right?"

Facing Li Xian's glare, the surrounding people avoided eye contact. They dared to gossip behind his back but lacked the courage to confront him directly.

Seeing this, Li Xian snorted, "I'll tell you now, forty thousand is old news! Now, I owe over one hundred sixty thousand!"

Wow!

The crowd erupted upon hearing the amount.

One hundred sixty thousand!

What does that even mean?

How much could a lumberyard worker save in their lifetime, even if they didn't eat or drink? Assuming a hundred fifty a month, living a hundred years, it would be eighteen thousand!

How could one ever repay that in a lifetime!?

Looking at Li Xian, people's expressions shifted from avoidance to disdain.

"Even after going broke, you're still so arrogant. Li Lao Er, you really have no shame!"

Someone in the crowd shouted.

Li Xian sneered, "Shame? I actually have some! Compared to the outside world, if you measure within the lumberyard, the debt I owe, you'll never repay in your lifetime. But the money I made last year in a few months, you'll never earn in your lifetime!"

Facing everyone's disdain, Li Xian waved his hand, "Talking to you about this is pointless. I'm here today to tell certain people that our Li family lives honestly and doesn't seek trouble. But if anyone tries to cross us, stepping on us for no reason, they better weigh their own capabilities!"

After finishing, he looked at Accountant Liu, "If you want your eldest son to come back, it's simple. After all, we're fellow villagers. I won't make you kowtow or apologize. Just lower your head, bring some fruit to our house to wish us a Happy New Year, and stop with the crooked ways. Then this matter will be settled."

After saying that, without waiting for the crowd's reaction, he turned and left with Li Pi, who was clenching his fists behind him.

...

On the way home, Li Pi was ecstatic.

"Second Brother, how come you're so amazing? Who did you learn this from?"

Li Xian had no way to answer that, so after a moment, he gently tapped Li Pi on the head, thinking, "Definitely not from you."

Unaware of Li Xian's complex emotions, Li Pi grinned and rubbed his head, "Second Brother, you really offended Accountant Liu just now. Is that okay?"

Li Xian snorted, "His eldest son is still in the Forest Protection Section. What can happen? Do you think I'd mess with someone I can't handle?"

Li Pi grinned, "Second Brother, you're too clever!"

Hmph!

If I weren't clever, how many beatings would I have had as a child?

Li Xian thought to himself, taking big strides toward home.

After the commotion at Accountant Liu's house in the morning, Li Xian felt much better. He and Li Pi wandered around the lumberyard for a while and didn't return home until nearly noon.

While they were having fun, there was still a silly girl at home who hadn't left the house all morning.

Last night, Li Jie hadn't eaten, went straight to her room, locked the door, and hadn't come out since.

When they returned home, Zou Ni was carrying a large bowl of food, trying to persuade her from outside the door.

Seeing this, Li Xian went up and took the bowl from her. "Mom, you go ahead. I'll talk to Little Three."

Once he had reassured Zou Ni and sent her away, Li Xian gently knocked on Li Jie's door. "Little Bunny, open the door quickly. Big Brother wants to come in."

Hearing his teasing voice, there was some movement inside. "Big Brother, I know what you want to say. I'm fine and won't do anything foolish. I just want to be alone."

Li Xian sighed, "Little Three, when you say that, it makes Big Brother feel uneasy. If it weren't for me dealing with the starvation issue, your matter with Gao Ming wouldn't have turned out this way. Big Brother is sorry for you."

After saying this, there was a lot of noise from inside the room, and then the door opened.

Li Jie, bare-faced and with sleep crust at the corners of her eyes, stood barefoot on the floor, angry. "Big Brother, how can you think like that? It has nothing to do with you! It

's obviously Gao Ming's family being unreasonable."

Li Xian chuckled, entering the room and placing the bowl of food on the kang. "I think the same way, but you wouldn't open the door otherwise."

Li Jie was taken aback and then lightly tapped Li Xian's arm. "Big Brother, why are you so mean?"

Li Xian pointed to the steaming food, "Eat some. Mom specifically saved this for you. People are made of iron, and food is steel. How can you have the strength to be angry if you're not full?"

Li Jie pouted and didn't move.

Seeing her dejected look, Li Xian sighed and sat down on the stool by the hearth. "Little Three, now it's just us siblings. Tell me honestly, what's bothering you?"

Li Jie bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes. After hesitating, she opened up, "Big Brother, I don't blame anything else. I just hate Gao Ming! His family didn't agree with us, so he didn't make any effort? Since I started taking medicine until now, that heartless guy hasn't contacted me. I... I gave him everything! Wuwu…"

As she spoke, she buried her face in her arms and cried uncontrollably.

Sigh,

Li Xian sighed, walked over, and patted Li Jie's back. "Didn't you say you wanted to forget him? Didn't you say you wanted to go abroad? Since he's a scoundrel, let's not think about him, okay?"

"No!" Li Jie jumped up, "I can't swallow this anger. Before and after the New Year, I must find an opportunity to ask him face-to-face what he means! What did I, Li Jie, do wrong? Where did I fall short? Big Brother, don't worry. I absolutely don't want to have anything to do with him. Once I find out, I can let go!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xian shook his head.

Such a silly girl.

If feelings could be untangled so clearly, what kind of feelings would they be?

When it's over, it should be over. The more you entangle, the messier it gets.

Just as he sighed over Li Jie's naivety, there was a commotion at the door.

Li Xian immediately stood up and saw the person outside. He walked straight out of the house.

At the gate of the courtyard, Liu Accountant's second son, Liu Guangfa, was leading fifteen or sixteen young men, wielding shovels and axes, and furiously smashing the door.

"Li Lao Er, have you bullied our family? If you don't release my brother today, I'll wipe out your whole family!"

Li Xian's heart sank, realizing the trouble.

Liu Guangfa was now the deputy secretary of the lumberyard's team, managing many young workers. With Wang Qinghe and the others still on the mountain and Xu Bing and the rest unreachable, Li Xian had no one by his side and was afraid of getting into trouble!