Li Shan was flustered and glared at Li Hu with some annoyance, "Why are you out here showing off instead of studying in your room? What do you mean 'what are we doing'? Isn't it your mother's bad idea, making Lian'er wash clothes with cold water in this freezing weather? Your sister Lian's hands are almost frozen. I felt bad seeing it, so I comforted her a bit!"
Li Hu said with a cold face, "Father, what are you saying? How is my mother's idea bad? How is she bad? She's a servant in our house. What's wrong with washing clothes? Isn't that what she should do? As a servant, one should have the consciousness of a servant. Does a servant expect to wear fine clothes and be served? What a joke! Have you no rules? And you, why are you sitting there? Have you ever seen a servant sit with the masters? Or do you have some ulterior motive? Let me tell you, if a servant harbors any improper thoughts, they won't even know how they died."
If Qi Zhenzhen were here, she would definitely give Li Hu a thumbs-up. This kid's words were so satisfying.
Lin Ruixue, who was in the room, felt the same way. Her son's words were truly comforting.
"You impudent brat, how are you speaking? Your sister Lian is a servant in name, but actually, she's not. She's, she's..." Li Shan didn't know what Bai Xuelian's current status was. "In short, she's not a servant!"
"Father, are you out of your mind? You want me to call a servant 'sister'? What, you want me to study, do you want me to become a servant? Then I'd rather not study, save some money. I've never heard of a servant needing to be educated. Besides, a servant is a servant, whether in name or not. And no one is forcing her to be a servant; she insisted on it herself. If she's willing, why are you worrying about it?" Li Hu said with a mocking tone.
His words made Li Shan's face flush and turn pale. He wanted to get angry but didn't know how, and his son wasn't talking nonsense.
"Huzi, come into the room. Mother has something to tell you." Lin Ruixue was afraid that Li Hu, being young and impulsive, would say more and anger Li Shan, leading to a beating.
The father is still the father. A son cannot go too far.
Li Hu glared fiercely at Bai Xuelian, then turned and went into the east room.
Bai Xuelian drooped her head, her face full of resentment. Li Hu was Li Shan's son. If she wanted to have a dignified position in the Li family, she couldn't offend him too much. At least, before she gave birth to Li Shan's child, she had to try her best to please him.
"Huzi, this is a matter for adults. Don't you mind. Mother knows you're protecting her, but Mother doesn't want these trivial matters to affect your mood." Lin Ruixue said gently to persuade him.
"Mother, Father is being unreasonable. That little white flower clearly has bad intentions," Li Hu said with a shudder.
"Little white flower? That name?"
"Aunt Zhenzhen said it. Some people love to act pitiful to gain sympathy. They seem kind on the outside but are very vicious on the inside. People like that are like little white flowers, putting on a pretense," Li Hu explained.
Lin Ruixue chuckled. "Your Aunt Zhenzhen is really..."
"Mother, don't worry. If Father does anything to betray you, we'll kick him out. You have your son to rely on, and your life won't be difficult in the future. I'll study hard, and maybe I can even achieve official status in the future. Even if I can't, studying more has its benefits, and I can find a better job. Life won't be too difficult," Li Hu said earnestly, patting his chest.
Lin Ruixue was very touched and pulled Li Hu into her arms. "Huzi, Mother knows your intentions. You have to believe Mother. Mother can handle these small matters. He is your father, after all. We've lived a relatively happy life as a family of three all these years. Mother still hopes we can persevere if possible."
Li Hu nodded, "Anyway, I'll always stand with you, Mother. Aunt Zhenzhen said that if Father acts recklessly, the pickled cabbage business won't be given to him anymore. Oh, and Mother, don't tell Father about the noodle shop idea either. That little white flower, isn't she after our family's money? Without money, let's see how long she can keep up the pretense."
Lin Ruixue suddenly felt less sad. Her son was thinking of her, and with Zhenzhen's help, even if she couldn't get along with Li Shan, her future life wouldn't be too difficult. However, as husband and wife, she was still willing to give him a chance. If they could get along well, it would be better than a complete breakdown.
"Alright, alright, what do you want to eat tonight? Mother will make it for you," Lin Ruixue asked.
"Mother, you rest. We have ready servants, and you still need to serve her?" Li Hu waved his hand. "Wait, I'll tell her to cook."
Li Hu ran off in a flash. Lin Ruixue could faintly hear Li Hu instructing Bai Xuelian from inside the room.
"My mother's appetite hasn't been good lately, so simmer some shredded chicken congee. Use a low heat and simmer it slowly until the rice and meat are melt-in-your-mouth. I want noodles with bone broth. The noodles need to be very chewy; don't knead the dough too soft! As for other dishes, you can decide."
Shredded chicken congee took a lot of time.
Chewy noodles required a lot of effort.
Li Hu was doing this on purpose.
"Okay, I understand, Huzi." Bai Xuelian's attitude was very good.
Li Hu slapped Bai Xuelian hard, with full force. Red handprints quickly appeared on Bai Xuelian's fair and tender little face.
Bai Xuelian covered her face and looked at Li Hu in disbelief, "Why did you hit me?"
"I've told you several times, as a servant, you must have the consciousness of a servant and follow the rules. I am the master of this house. Who gave you the courage to call the master by name? And to say 'I' in front of the master? You're unwilling to be a servant, aren't you?" Li Hu said sternly and coldly.
"I..." Bai Xuelian wanted to retort aggrievedly.
Li Hu's expression darkened, and he slapped her again. Now, Bai Xuelian had a handprint on each side of her face, perfectly symmetrical.
Her face hurt terribly. Bai Xuelian had never been a servant before, so how would she know the rules for servants? She just felt that Li Hu had been instigated by Lin Ruixue and was deliberately hitting her to vent his anger.
She didn't go to the kitchen anymore and ran back to her room, crying softly.
Li Hu shrugged and turned back to Lin Ruixue's room.
"You hit someone?"
"I just found her really annoying," Li Hu said with a displeased look. "Besides, I'm teaching her the rules. A servant dares to call herself 'I' and call me by my name? Even though we're country folk, we can't abandon the rules. What would the villagers think?"
"Your father cares so much about her. Won't he come looking for you to settle the score?"
"I'm not afraid. Mother, he needs a justifiable reason. It's clearly that little white flower who broke the rules. As the master, can't I teach her the rules?" Li Hu said carelessly.