Sun Miaoqing was already extremely disgusted when she saw Li Rusong spitting the shrimp shells directly on the table. Later, when she saw "Father Cheng" doing the same, she felt a wave of nausea and threw down her chopsticks.
"Who eats like this? People who don't know might think they're beggars from the street! Li Wanming, now that your good husband isn't going to become a son-in-law, are you planning to stay in your natal home with him for the rest of your life?"
If she had to eat with these people every day in the future, how could she bear it?
Hearing this, He Shi also said, "Yes, Third Daughter. Although your younger sister's words are harsh, they make sense! If your husband had become a son-in-law, it would be fine. But now that you're a married woman, how can you always stay in your natal home?"
She wasn't actually disgusted by the Prince of Ning's unseemly eating habits. Instead, she was worried that Li Wanming and her husband staying here all the time would cost the Li family money... No! The money of the Li family would eventually be hers. Every bit they spent was her money!
Yuan Jinqiu's cold voice rang out, "What? In my own home, my aunt can stay, but my daughter and son-in-law can't?"
"That's not how it's supposed to be. A married woman staying in her natal home will invite gossiping. Rusong is still an official in the court. I'm doing this for his official reputation..."
Yuan Jinqiu replied, "My general's official reputation was earned on the battlefield. There's no need for aunt to worry."
Mother Li also threw her chopsticks on the table and shouted, "You know that's the military merit my son earned with his life? Such precious military merit should be carefully protected! If his official reputation is damaged because of family matters, I won't forgive you!"
Actually, she didn't understand He Shi's little scheme at all. But she was used to opposing Yuan Jinqiu. As long as Yuan Jinqiu opposed something, she would support it, and vice versa.
As for her son's official reputation, she didn't really care—she didn't understand the affairs in the officialdom.
Li Wanming asked Xiao Jingnan, "Is your uncle's house big?"
Xiao Jingnan replied, "It should... be okay."
"Would it be okay to have one more person living there?"
"It should... be okay."
Li Wanming nodded. "Okay, then we'll move!"
Just as Yuan Jinqiu was about to object, she heard her daughter say, "Grandmothers are right. Since I'm already married, it's not appropriate for me to stay in my natal home all the time."
"Li Qing said there's a house at his uncle's place. If his uncle doesn't mind, we'd like to stay there for a while."
She had long wanted to move out of this family!
Li Rusong and his wife often stayed in the military camp and only returned home once every one or two months. Her eldest and second elder sisters were already married. Now, only she was left in the grand mansion of the Li family.
Mother Li didn't like her, and He Shi and Sun Miaoqing were always causing trouble for her—this grand mansion of the Li family was no longer her home.
It would be better to take this opportunity to move out. Maybe she could create a new world for herself!
Uncle Zhong, Lu Ping, and Wu Yao were all shocked when they heard Li Wanming's words.
They glanced at each other but didn't say a word.
The house they had prepared was originally only for preventing sudden visits from the Li family. It was just simply cleaned and arranged and wasn't suitable for long - term residence.
Li Wanming saw their expressions and thought they were in a difficult situation. She quickly said, "We won't stay for free. We'll pay the rent."
She had secretly brewed and sold wine in Fujian before and had saved up some money.
After deducting the money for buying raw materials in the future, the remaining money should be enough for her and Xiao Jingnan to spend for a while.
Anyway, the house in Pingkangfang shouldn't be too expensive...
Uncle Zhong looked at the Prince of Ning's expression and carefully said, "Niece, what are you talking about? We're all family. How could we take your rent? It's just that the house is simple. I'm afraid you won't get used to living there..."
Li Wanming had already prepared herself mentally for this.
Xiao Jingnan had already told her that his uncle was a vegetable farmer in the capital and didn't have much money.
How good could the house of a vegetable farmer be?
Li Wanming said, "It doesn't matter. Our family wasn't well - off when we were in Fujian either."
Yuan Jinqiu knew that her daughter always had her own ideas. Hearing her say this, she knew that her mind was made up, so she didn't object anymore.
The current state of the Li family even made her feel suffocated and reluctant to come back, let alone Li Wanming, who was used to being free in Fujian.
"Alright."
Yuan Jinqiu said, "You're already married, so you're an adult. You should learn how to manage the household and handle affairs independently."
Uncle Zhong knew that there was no turning back on this matter, so he turned to Lu Ping and whispered,
"Hurry and tell Nanny Yu and the others to ask her to lead the housekeeping maids to clean that courtyard properly. The Prince and Princess are really going to move there to live!"
They originally thought that the Prince and Princess of Ning would just stop by there for a while and pretend. Now, since the Princess of the Heir Apparent was going to move there, how could the in - laws not go?
Li Rusong didn't care about anything. He just pulled the Prince of Ning to drink.
When he heard that the Prince of Ning had also served in the military, he immediately felt a strong sense of familiarity and chatted non - stop with the Prince of Ning.
The Prince of Ning gradually got a bit drunk. He patted Li Rusong's shoulder and said, "Brother Li, we hit it off right away today! If it weren't for the fact that we're in - laws, I really want to swear brotherhood with you!"
Li Rusong said, "Then what are we waiting for! Let's swear brotherhood right now!"
Saying that, he was about to pull the Prince of Ning to kneel down!
Uncle Zhong was so scared that his heart almost jumped out of his throat!
"This won't do! Your Highness... Cousin, you... You're in - laws. If you swear brotherhood, the family relationship will be in a mess!"
The Princess of Ning was also so panicked that she didn't know what to do. "No, no... We can't swear brotherhood..."
Yuan Jinqiu supported her husband and gently scolded, "What are you fooling around about again? If you become brothers with your daughter's father - in - law, how should your daughter and son - in - law address you in the future? Should they call you father or uncle?"
Hearing this, Li Rusong laughed foolishly. "You're right. The generations will be in a mess!"
He always listened to his wife. Seeing Yuan Jinqiu object, he didn't insist anymore. He just grabbed the Prince of Ning's arm and said, "But you're not allowed to leave! We brothers haven't had enough to drink yet!"
The Prince of Ning was also drunk. "I'm not leaving! I want to get drunk with you for a whole month!"
Uncle Zhong was so anxious that his face turned red.
A whole month?
Coming to drink with Li Rusong every day?
What should he do...
"Cousin, you're drunk. Let's go back and rest first..." Uncle Zhong tried to persuade.
The Prince of Ning broke free from him. "I'm not drunk! I'm happy to meet Brother Li today!"
Seeing that she really couldn't separate them, Yuan Jinqiu said, "In a few days, it will be the Flower - Worshiping Festival. The newly - admitted scholars will parade on horseback. It will be very lively. Why don't you watch the parade before going back to Langya?"
The Prince of Ning readily agreed. "Okay! Let's go watch the parade! I want to go with Brother Li and drape red ribbons on them!"
Li Rusong laughed. "You're... talking nonsense. Draping red ribbons on the scholars is the business of the royal nobles. How... could it be our turn?"
The Princess of Ning was very anxious, but seeing the Prince of Ning's drunken state, she couldn't say it clearly. She had no choice but to agree.
Uncle Zhong said with a bitter face and instructed Lu Ping and Wu Yao, "Did you hear that? The Prince and Princess are going to watch the scholars' parade. You must be well - prepared and protect the safety of the Prince and Princess."
Lu Ping and Wu Yao replied, "We heard..."