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"Um?" Ye Xiaohan asked curiously, "Which relative?"
It was rare for the family to have so few relatives, yet they seemed to be appearing one after another without a moment's pause.
Li Yang looked somewhat pleased; it seemed this relative was a good one, at least welcomed by him. "It's my aunt. Don't worry, sister-in-law, my aunt is really nice. She often brings me snacks. She's nothing like my Second Uncle and Second Aunt; you'll definitely like her."
Ye Xiaohan could only hope for the best. If another Second Uncle came along, with two oddballs together, it would surely cause chaos.
When she stepped outside, the room was already filled with people. Her aunt was holding Qi and sitting in a chair chatting.
"Li Bei, you manage this place quite well. If your father saw how the Li family is now, he would surely be happy. It's just a pity that my poor brother had such bad luck and left us early." Li Bei's aunt was his father's sister, named Wen. She had married young and rarely returned to the Li family over the years.
Li Bei comforted her, "Aunt, it's rare for you to come; you should take some time to relax and not bring up sad topics. I think my father wouldn't want to see you upset."
"You're right," Li Wen said as she took out a handkerchief and dabbed at her moist eyes. "Let's not talk about it anymore. As long as you all are doing well, my brother would be happy too."
As if just remembering something, she asked, "I came unexpectedly this time and didn't have time to inform you all. I hope I'm not disturbing you?"
Before Li Bei could respond, Li Yang jumped in, "Aunt, we're more than happy to have you here; it's not a disturbance at all. If you had let us know earlier, we could have come to pick you up."
Li Wen laughed and said, "Oh you! You'll understand once you get married that a home isn't just one person's domain; big matters need to be discussed with others. You all are welcoming, but if Li Bei's wife has any grievances, wouldn't that lead to quarrels in your home?"
Li Yang instinctively replied, "Aunt, don't worry! My sister-in-law is great; she's not petty at all. Just feel free to stay."
Hearing them mention Ye Xiaohan, Li Qi nodded enthusiastically and chimed in, "Sister-in-law is great! Qi likes Sister-in-law the most!"
Li Wen laughed and said, "You little rascal really has a soft spot for your sister-in-law. It seems Li Bei's wife is quite remarkable; even this little monkey of ours listens obediently."
Li Yang smiled shyly and scratched his head.
Li Qi, somewhat confused but thinking that being called obedient was praise, nodded vigorously in agreement: "Qi is obedient and listens well."
The whole room erupted in laughter as Li Wen teased Li Qi while holding her close.
"Xiao Han is a good person, so naturally, Liu Yang likes her. Aunt, you can stay here at ease while I and Liu Yang fulfill our filial duties," Liu Bei said.
"Alright, alright," Liu Wen replied with a warm smile, appearing like a harmonious family.
Ye Xiaohan stood outside, having followed Liu Yang in. The people inside had been discussing her, and it felt too awkward to enter at that moment, causing her to miss the opportunity to make an entrance.
However, thanks to this missed chance, she overheard their conversation. The support from the Liu siblings made her feel cherished, more satisfying than having a chest full of gold and jewels.
This missed opportunity also gave her a new understanding of the 'good' aunt Liu Yang spoke of.
What kind of mindset does a truly considerate elder have when they openly pick at someone else's daughter-in-law in front of everyone? The aunt's words sounded ordinary, just typical parental concern. Yet every sentence was laced with barbs.
From the very beginning, Ye Xiaohan was impressive, managing to keep the Liu family in line. This wasn't praise for her capability but rather a criticism of her assertiveness and dominance over the Liu household.
Usually, Liu Yang would catch the underlying meaning in such remarks. However, since this time the subject was his 'good' aunt, he let his guard down and acted foolishly.
As for Liu Bei, whether he was deliberately playing dumb to hide his true identity or simply careless, he certainly did not show any signs of being perceptive on the surface.
Then there was Liu Qi. Ye Xiaohan sighed; did she really expect such a child to grasp the intricacies of adult scheming?
Moreover, Liu Wen's earlier provocation left no mark on the Liu siblings; they even praised Sister-in-law. It seemed she had already added another layer of disdain for Ye Xiaohan in her heart.
Before they even met face-to-face, an intense battle had begun. The absence of visible conflict only heightened the tension.
In the first round, Ye Xiaohan narrowly emerged victorious, maintaining a temporary lead.
The Liu siblings supported Ye Xiaohan wholeheartedly, but they also liked this aunt. Ultimately, it would take some effort to see who would come out on top.
Ye Xiaohan felt a bit of a headache.
What kind of luck did this Liu family have? Every relative seemed more eccentric than the last. Uncle Liu was selfish and shallow-minded; although he could be quite bothersome when stirred up, dealing with him wasn't too difficult.
But this aunt was different; a person full of schemes like her was not someone to be taken lightly. Just the thought of having to live on guard again after only a few peaceful days made Ye Xiaohan's head throb even more.
From inside, Liu Wen's voice came through, "Liu Bei, when is your wife coming? I’m eagerly looking forward to meeting this famous Ye Boss."
Her tone was light, but her words were sharp, as if Ye Xiaohan was flaunting her success in front of the elders.
Then Liu Bei's voice responded, "There’s a lot going on at the shop. Xiao Han has been quite busy lately. She worked late last night and is probably tired. I'll go check on her."
"I just went in; my sister-in-law is already up and should be here soon. Should I go check again?" Liu Yang said, moving quickly toward the door, his voice growing closer.
In order not to reveal that she had been eavesdropping, Ye Xiaohan hurriedly ran back the way she came. When Liu Yang emerged, he saw Ye Xiaohan strolling in leisurely.
"Sister-in-law, you’re here! Aunt is waiting for you; come quickly!" Liu Yang called out enthusiastically, waving at Ye Xiaohan.
As soon as Ye Xiaohan entered the room, all eyes turned to her. The fleeting glimmer in Liu Wen's eyes was quick but unmistakable to Ye Xiaohan.
Their gazes met for a brief moment, and it seemed they both silently assessed each other. Ye Xiaohan felt even more certain of her intuition; this aunt was not someone to underestimate.
"Xiao Han, this is your aunt. When we got married, she even sent us a gift," Liu Bei introduced. Ye Xiaohan felt a bit relieved; she was worried that the original owner had met this aunt before, which would make it easy for her differences to be noticed.
The Liu family accepted her changes so easily not only because of the still enigmatic Liu Bei but also because the other two were children who would readily accept sincerity.
However, Liu Wen was not so easy to deal with; she appeared quite calculating and seemed to harbor significant hostility toward Ye Xiaohan for reasons unknown. If she wanted to navigate this situation smoothly, it would likely require some effort.
Ye Xiaohan found it strange; since she and Liu Wen were strangers, why did Liu Wen seem to dislike her even before they met? Was it because of the original owner's foolishness that made her feel protective of Liu Bei?
Recalling Liu Yang’s comment about how "Aunt treats us well," that possibility seemed plausible. If it were just that reason, she didn't want to confront Liu Wen directly.
It felt as if they were skilled opponents exchanging blows in an instant, having already exchanged hundreds of moves.
Liu Wen stood up with a smile and said, "So this is Xiao Han! She’s truly beautiful; our Liu Bei has great taste. After hearing some stories about Xiao Han, I was worried that such an impressive person might cause trouble for Liu Bei. But seeing you in person puts my mind at ease; you really are a good girl."
What a joke, really just a reiteration of past foolishness. If there was genuine support, there wouldn't be such a need to remind me repeatedly.
Ye Xiaohan scoffed inwardly, unwilling to back down. "Aunt, where do you get off saying that? Everything I have now is thanks to Liu Bei. If he hadn't saved me, I can't imagine how miserable my life would be. He treats me so well, ignoring all the gossip from outsiders. When someone brought up those past foolish things behind my back, he got so angry he almost confronted them! Ha ha ha."
The implication was clear: Aunt, please keep quiet. You're an outsider; don't meddle in the Liu family's affairs. Otherwise, if it ends up causing discord between you and your nephew, don't blame anyone else.
Liu Wen felt cornered and was furious inside, but she still forced a smile. "It's good to remember the kindness of others, but it's a pity that Liu Bei doesn't have the fortune to keep such a good daughter-in-law."
You should remember your place—you're just a divorced woman who has no right to control the Liu family.
Ye Xiaohan feigned difficulty and said, "I used to be so foolish and did so many stupid things. The Liu family not only didn't abandon me but welcomed me back. I was afraid to step through the door because I felt unworthy of them. Fortunately, Liu Bei and the others don't mind and still give me a place here."
No matter how much I mess around, I can still hold my ground in the Liu family.
Liu Bei and Liu Yang looked on in disbelief as Ye Xiaohan earnestly spun her tale. She had clearly stated that she wouldn't stay long in the Liu family and intended to leave eventually; it was the Liu family that had been pleading for her to stay.
Yet in her words, it became a story of her begging the Liu family for permission to remain.
Though they didn't understand why Ye Xiaohan acted this way, their long time spent together had made them tacitly agree to lower their heads and play dead.
Liu Wen had nothing more to say; the entire Liu family had been swayed. Now all she felt was disappointment at their inability to see reason.
In the second round, Ye Xiaohan won with unwavering determination.
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