Lantern Festival Family Visits

After Zhao finished instructing Grandma Su, Old Master Su listened with displeasure, his face long: "You, as the daughter-in-law, why are you still unwilling to take care of the old lady?"

Zhao immediately retorted: "Father, I don't like hearing that. How could I not take care of my mother-in-law? I handle everything inside and outside the house all by myself, without any help. If I end up exhausted to death, who else will do the work?"

Old Master Su listened, lowered his head, and said nothing. Now this household was held up by the eldest daughter-in-law; he was old, had no fields to farm, and no longer held the authority he once did at home.

Grandma Su was still on the bed, grumbling her discontent, but her husband, son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter didn’t make a move.

Zhao, growing impatient, said to Su Daqi: "If Mom eats more, she’ll have more bowel movements. Starting tomorrow, feed her less—one meal a day with some food and a bit of water. She won’t die from that."

Grandma Su grumbled even louder, veins bulging on her neck. If she were still strong, hearing Zhao’s words, she would have slapped her and cursed her out thoroughly.

But now, she was paralyzed, unable to manage eating, drinking, or toileting by herself, no longer able to wield the power of a tyrannical mother-in-law.

What goes around comes around; now it was the wicked daughter-in-law’s turn to torment her.

Su Daqi nodded, though feeling it wasn’t very kind to his mother, but thinking about the trouble of caring for a paralyzed old lady, he agreed: "Alright, start feeding her less tomorrow. Father, you remember not to secretly feed Mom, or else you’ll be the one changing and washing her diapers."

Old Master Su heard the idea of taking care of the old lady and immediately shook his head: "I won’t feed her. Why bother? That old woman won’t die. Let her live one more day if she can."

Su Meixiang had remained silent the whole time, looking at Grandma Su with schadenfreude: "Old hag, you favored sons over daughters, bullied me, now you’re paralyzed, serves you right!"

Su Li left the house.

Qingmu was guarding the gatehouse at the door, with a charcoal brazier burning warmly at his feet, when suddenly he heard someone knocking.

"Who is it?" Qingmu called out to the outside.

A man's voice came from outside, shivering from the cold: "I am Su Shimao, here to visit relatives for the Lantern Festival, came to see my second aunt and fourth uncle and aunt."

Qingmu knew Su Shimao, who was Miss Ali's cousin. However, Qingmu also knew that Miss Ali and the Su family were not on good terms, so he did not open the door but said, "Wait here, I will go inform inside."

Outside the door, Su Shimao shivered in the cold, gritting his teeth and cursing Su Li: "You look down on people like that? Visiting your house as a relative and you still need to notify first? When I become successful, the Young Master will deal with you properly!"

Inside, everyone had already finished eating tangyuan. Adults were playing cards or drinking, gathering together in lively chatter. Several children, led by Bailu, were playing games, their faces flushed red with excitement.

"Miss Ali, Su Shimao is outside. He says he came for the Lantern Festival to visit his uncle and aunt. I didn't open the door and told him to wait at the gate," Qingmu said.

Su Li nodded and looked at Qingmu with approval.

The little servants chosen by Fourth Uncle were indeed good. They didn’t open the door recklessly just because they heard it was a relative from the Su family; instead, they immediately informed inside. Not bad.

Su Li’s first reaction was that she didn’t want to see Su Shimao. It was a festive holiday, and seeing that guy would only spoil her mood.

However, Su Shimao claimed he was here to see Mrs. Wang and the fourth uncle and aunt, so Su Li turned to look at the three of them for their opinion.

Mrs. Wang was soft-hearted and hesitant, unsure whether to meet him or not.

Fourth Uncle and Aunt exchanged a glance, then quietly said to Su Li, "Ali, Su Shimao is a schemer. He came here specially today, surely for a reason. If you refuse him, he might plot something later. Better to let him in and see what mischief he wants to make."