Chapter 973: Will of the Matriarch
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xia Ling ordered the maids. “Serve Miss Su well.”
She said the word “serve” with a harsher tone, and the maids understood her meaning. They stared deadly at Su Tang and observed her every action, making her unable to perform any antics.
Su Tang was furious, but there was nothing she could do.
Xia Ling followed Old Master to the tiny rest area behind the living room and said in dissatisfaction, “Grandpa, this is between us women, I don’t want you to be involved.” Her words were straightforward, and although she tried her best to be gentle, it still came out rude.
Old Master Li looked at her and said, “No matter what you say, Su Tang is still Xiao Rui’s kin mother. How can there be overnight grudges between mother and son? Since she has admitted her wrong and her bipolar disorder is not acting up anymore, why not let her see Xiao Rui and resolve the misunderstandings?”
Xia Ling did not want the child to be negatively influenced by her. She snorted lightly. “I don’t agree.”
All the maids in the house listened only to Xia Ling’s orders. As long as Xia Ling did not agree, Old Master Li’s words held no weight whatsoever. Old Master Li was furious. He had just thought that this grand-daughter-in-law wasn’t that bad, but it had only been two days and here she was, preventing a hero like Su Tang from seeing her own son just because of her emotions?
If this continued, wouldn’t it be letting down Su Tang?
Noticing that Old Master Li’s expression was stern, Xia Ling told him her concerns. “Grandpa, it is true that I don’t have good feelings toward Su Tang. However, this has nothing to do with why I’m refusing to let her see Xiao Rui. You have seen just how Xiao Rui has turned out under her care from all those years. He did not understand manners nor grat.i.tude. He would even hit and scold people. Don’t you think he was the exact replica of Li Feng? Do you wish to have a second Li Feng in your house?”
Old Master took a deep breath.
Li Feng, this rascal, would always be a knot in his heart.
Speaking objectively, Li Feng was very outstanding. In terms of gun fare, plotting, and the skills to persuade people… They were all of top quality. If the Li family did not have Li Lei, Li Feng would have been the successor without a doubt if it was picked based on skills. Unfortunately, such a brilliant child had to have a cynical personality. He eventually harmed his family and also caused his own death… Old Master Li would dream of him and be often heartbroken over his grandson who had died early. If only he had taken more care of him when he was young and had guided him towards the righteous path. Could there have been a better outcome?
Old Master’s face revealed his pain.
Xia Ling softened her voice and said gently, “I don’t like Su Tang, she doesn’t like me either. Old Master, she is not as broad-minded as you think.”
Old Master came to his senses. He reb.u.t.ted. “Su Tang has always been very understanding.”
Xia Ling laughed lightly. “Who would be generous toward their enemy? Fine, even if she has not revealed her hateful jealous side in front of you, you have witnessed Xiao Rui’s att.i.tude toward me before. Who taught him that?”
Old Master Li did not speak. Deep in his heart, he really did not wish to see the Su Tang he had always thought highly of bearing such hatred toward Xia Ling. However, ever since he had removed his biases against Xia Ling, there were many things that did not seem right once he stopped to think about them calmly.
Xia Ling said, “Even if you don’t care about me, you have to care about Shaohui. Su Tang hates me, so naturally, she hates Shaohui as well. Xiao Rui’s att.i.tude towards Shaohui was very poor in the past. The two brothers finally have a cordial relations.h.i.+p now. If Su Tang were to draw a wedge between them and make Xiao Rui hate Shaohui, the wall between the two brothers would then be the greatest disaster to our family ten or twenty years later.” It was not that she was knowledgeable in this area, she was only thinking deeper into it because she was concerned about her own son. She looked pleadingly at Old Master and believed that if even she herself could understand these reasons, Old Master would too.
As expected, Old Master was silent for a long time before sighing longly.
“Forget it, forget it. Don’t let Su Tang see Xiao Rui before she has gotten rid of her feelings for Li Lei,” Old Master said. “Once she has a motive, she will be determined to achieve it. Don’t influence the child negatively.”
The corners of Xia Ling’s lips curled up in a smile. It was a victory smile.
She really wanted to give herself a thumbs up. The Old Master who had hated her and sided with Su Tang all this time was finally on her side and helping her block Su Tang. She was satisfied with it even if it had been because of the two children. After all, she did not wish to have a conflict with the grandpa of her loved ones.
The two returned to the living room after their discussion.
Su Tang was sitting on the sofa and sipping tea with an elegant pose. Her back was pencil straight, and the sunlight that fell on her embraced her body like chiffon, attracting the gaze of people unknowingly.
She was such a beauty.
However, Xia Ling did not give her face on purpose. She said while smiling, “Miss Su, we’ve made you wait long. I have discussed things with Grandpa. Xiao Rui has been overwhelmed with cla.s.ses every day and is too tired. Since he does not wish to see you, then it’s better to not meet. It’s better for men to have their own opinions, no? We have to start respecting his opinion since young, don’t you agree?”
She was full of nonsense!
Su Tang was furious. She suppressed her fury and turned to Old Master Li in disbelief.
It was expected that Xia Ling would not let her see him, but when had Old Master Li started supporting Xia Ling?! A sense of threat rose in her heart. Su Tang put down her teacup and stood up. Feeling wronged and helpless, she shouted, “Old Master!”
Old Master looked at her pitifully. “Ah Tang, since you are in the Li house, you have to abide by the Li family rules. Don’t defy the matriarch and set a good example for others. Xiao Ling has been taking care of your child and he is well, don’t worry. Xiao Ling has her own reasons for not letting you see the child. When she deems it fit for you to meet him, she will arrange for you to meet your child. It won’t be too late. Listen to me, you have to see the big picture.”
She staggered a few steps backward with tears rolling down her cheeks. “Please, don’t do this…”
Old Master Li frowned. This child, why was she not listening? “Ah Da, send Miss Su back,” he instructed a maid. “Take good care of her, okay?”
The maid obeyed and said to Su Tang, “Miss Su, please.”
Su Tang’s face was ashen. Seeing that she could not fight her way past this, she said quietly, “No need to send me off, I’ll leave by myself.” She let two more drops of tears fall. As if resisting many grievances, she lifted her head to look at Old Master Li. “I’ll listen to you, I’m leaving. You… you help me take good care of Xiao Rui. Goodbye.”
After saying that, she left quickly, covering her face and choking on her tears.
Old Master Li stared after her back, feeling sorry. He had once been in control of the Li family, and he understood deeply that sometimes, in order to ensure the whole family benefited, there was a need to sacrifice some people’s benefits, even if it was Su Tang. Being charitable would not support an army, so as an elderly, he must possess cold objectiveness.