FID – Chapter 380

 Chapter 380: What a B*tch!

  Even if they couldn’t intervene with the wineries, it was still beneficial and harmless for them to establish a good relationship with the Liu family when they were just starting out.

  Thus, the entire upper class circle was happy to receive the invitation.

  The middle class might have not been invited, but they began to think of ways to see how to make an appearance tomorrow.

  The Li family of Cangwu Town was one of them.

  In Cangwu Town, the Li family could be regarded as a wealthy family with heritage. They sure had fame and prestige in town, and even commanded respect from the town guards.

  However, this kind of family background had no presence at the table and wasn’t at all comparable to those gentries in the county town.

  From the afternoon when they heard that invitations were handed out from Xinghua Village, the entire Li Manor was in an uproar.

  Some people scolded Qian Wanjin for being insensitive. He only invited the town guards in the whole town, but not the Li family; he simply looked down on the Li family.

  Some people insinuated that the Li family was declining year by year because the patriarch hadn’t done anything. Otherwise, how could they be looked down upon today? Even a rural family forgot that a Li family existed in the town when they hosted a banquet.

  The old matriarch of the family sat in the seat of honor in the hall. Sitting below were a pack of younger brothers from each household in the clan. With their clashing opinions, they quarreled that she could hardly find peace. 

  Li Junyue sat quietly in the corner with her head down, hands on his knees, and drooping eyebrows.

  They, the third house of the Li family, had always had a very low status and presence in the clan. If Li Junyue hadn’t met Kang Ziyu later and befriended her, the other houses would have long bullied and oppressed the third house to the point where they couldn’t afford to stand up.

  Even so, it only guaranteed that the third house had a better life and given their due share of monthly allowance, without embezzlement.

  ”Grandma, isn’t Sister Yue’er good friends with the daughter of the County Magistrate? With this relationship, Sister Yue’er just had to ask, if our family wants to attend the banquet, right?”

  Li Junyue raised her head and looked at the young girl with bright makeup, sitting next to the matriarch. She bit her lips and said softly, “As long as Grandma is happy, I’m willing to contribute to the family. But the Eldest Sister’s words are inappropriate. The Li family is a big family in the town. It’s only others who come to our door and beg us to visit, not the other way around. Otherwise, our whole family will be regarded as inferior in the eyes of other people. Wouldn’t it make people laugh at our Li family for rushing to seek connections?”

  The smile on the corner of the girl’s mouth froze, and the old matriarch’s face turned gloomy.

  ”Grandma?” Li Junyue promptly knelt in fear, “Grandma, did I say something wrong? If Grandma wants to go to the banquet, I will go beg Sister Ziyu and ask her to let the magistrate intercede…”

  ”That’s enough!” Matriarch Li shouted sternly, and the hall immediately quieted down: “A mere banquet has reduced you to such a mess. My Li family has not yet fallen in dire straits that we have to beg others for a meal! Retreat!”

  The crowd did not dare to make any more noise and immediately dispersed.

  ”Yue’er, stay behind.”

  ”Yes, Grandma,” Li Junyue trailed behind the crowd, slowly walking out, when she heard the matriarch’s order. She immediately stopped and turned back respectfully.

  ”Junhua, withdraw for now.”

  The bright young lady, Li Junhua, got up and threw daggers at Li Junyue ferociously when she passed by her.

  When Li Junhua left the hall, the matriarch patted the spot beside her: “Yue’er, come to my side.”

  ”Grandma.” Li Junyue went and sat down obediently, both excited and apprehensive as the matriarch held one of her hands.

  ”You, child, you are still formal around your grandmother.” The old matriarch patted the back of her hand, laughed and snapped, “You are sixteen this year, and won’t be spending much time like this with me. In the blink of an eye, you will have to get married. Over the years, our Li family is getting worse and worse, so the future revitalization of the family will depend on you juniors.” 

  ”I have no talent, nor virtue. I only hope that I can always be with Grandma. I know nothing else.”

  ”It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand. So long as you find a good husband and bring the family along, it’s already your contribution to the family. This is the obligation of all women in the Li family. You previously had a good relationship with Miss Kang, and I thought you could find a better candidate by making friends with her, so I wasn’t at all anxious about your marriage. Now, I’m afraid we can not delay it anymore. You see, even just a small developing family in the countryside have dared to underestimate our family. It’s all because the Li family isn’t as good as it once was.”

  ”Grandma, if I can contribute to the family, I will spare no effort, but I still have an elder sister above. I do not dare to surpass her.”

  ”I already found a good prospect for Junhua. Neither of you, sisters, will be left behind, so don’t worry.” The old matriarch laughed and said, “The Wang family in the county had someone come to speak a few days ago, saying that their second eldest son has not yet married and wants to matchmake with you. I’ve already agreed on this matter, so in the next two days, spare some time to meet the family.”

  ”I’ll listen to everything Grandma says.” Li Junyue shyly lowered her head. Even though the matriarch couldn’t see her face clearly, she could see the scarlet blush of her ears.

  The old matriarch’s eyes flickered before she nodded in satisfaction.

  After leaving the hall and walking around the corner, the shy and frail girl raised her head and looked back. Her beautiful watery eyes were icy, and blood spilled from the corner of her mouth from a bite just now.

  ”Li Junyue!” An overbearing voice erupted in front of her, and Li Junyue immediately reverted to her delicate and pitiable expression.

  ”Elder Sister.”

  ”Elder Sister? I can’t afford it.” Li Junhua slowly walked towards her with several sisters from her family, sneer and cynicism dying her eyes: “Now that you have climbed up to the magistrate’s daughter, your status in front of Grandma has risen. Even I, as the eldest sister, have to bow before you.”

  ”Elder Sister, you’re slandering me. I have never had such thoughts.”

  Several ladies around Li Junhua sneered, “Why are you still pretending? If you really respect our Elder Sister, how come we never saw you bring her together with you to greet Miss Kang every time she came?”

  ”Exactly, you’re just being meek and subservient in front of Miss Kang in exchange for a small advantage. Who among us would care about it?”

  ”That’s right. If Miss Kang really considers you a good sister, why didn’t she ask you to join her at the banquet in Wanjin Restaurant this time? You really think she treats you so well! Rushing to give her a leg up!”

  Li Junyue bowed her head, biting her lips tightly without saying a word.

  She was used to such spectacles. They were just looking for a reason to humiliate her. No matter what she said, it would only make things evolve more intensely and the more humiliation she had to bear.

  Bear with it, bear with it until they feel bored and go away..

  Before her eyes, a handkerchief embroidered with flowers fluttered to the ground, and then stepped on by an embroidered shoe. The shoe print was immediately imprinted, and it became dirty.

  ”Pop!” The slap deflected her face with such force that she tasted blood, spreading in her mouth.

  ”Despicable b*tch, this is Elder Sister’s favorite handkerchief. How dare you deliberately step on it and dirty it! You clearly disrespect our Elder Sister!”

  Li Junyue closed her eyes and whispered, “I’m sorry, Elder Sister.”

  Someone pushed her hard, pitching her forward to the ground, and a mouthful of spit splashed on her face.

  ”Sorry? What’s the use of saying sorry when you’ve already stepped on it? You’re bullying our Elder Sister yet worrying about sisterhood. We won’t indulge you! What a lowly b*tch. You never learn your lesson without a beating!”