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It was not that he belittled his brother. It was just that Brother was too outstanding. Be it in gun fare, fighting, math, physics, and history, he was far beyond. Even though he worshipped his brother, he was, after all, still a little boy, it did not feel good to be constantly being suppressed by him. So now that he was better than his brother at something, how could he not be excited?

It was also because of this that his interest in painting expanded.

Old Master Li understood Xia Ling’s intention. He smiled and said, “Brother has his own specialty and you have your own. This is good. Your Aunt Ling... is good too.”

These days, Li Lei had come to talk to him while he was staying in the villa.

Li Lei had pleaded with him earnestly to accept Xia Ling. He had said, [Grandpa, even if you don’t like Xiao Ling, the fact that she will remain as the Li family’s matriarch for many more years will not change. Compared to being upset for a whole day, why not just be cordial and happy?]

Old Master Li had chased his grandson out from his room.

However, once he had calmed down, he began pondering over his grandson’s words.

Xia Ling was still the jewel of the supper-hidden family. Furthermore, her relationship with his grandson was also amicable, and her status unremovable. Even if there were twists and turns in life, his grandson had already set his mind on life and death with her. It was non-negotiable. For the sake of the family’s harmony, there was no other choice than to accept Xia Ling. But the thing that made Old Master most uncomfortable was—

How could the Li family’s matriarch be so weak?

Xia Ling was not shrewd nor scheming and did not have any skills in strategizing. She simply could not compare to Su Tang, who was really one in a thousand. So how could a matriarch like Xia Ling bring the family any benefits? Although she had a superior family background, Li Lei’s business could not possibly rely on the matriarch’s family for long. That would be a laughing stock for the world!

That was why Old Master always had a barrier in his heart.

It was not until the event of Li Rui learning painting that Old Master Li realized that this grand-daughter-in-law might actually serve some use. Even though she had a simple mind and did not know how to come up with any conspirations or tricks, but she could make the family live together cordially. To an extremely complicated family like this, what was more important than her ability to make his great-grandsons grow up amicably?

In comparison, Su Tang, who might serve as a good subordinate and could become the heart and limbs, was not comparable to Xia Ling in terms of managing the peace of the house and raising the children.

“Forget it...” Old Master Li sighed. “Nobody is perfect. There are so many subordinates in the Li family, it doesn’t lack a profound senior. At least she could raise the children well, there’s only so much you can get.”

“Grandpa, what are you saying?” Li Rui asked, curious.

Old Master snapped out of his daze and stared at the boy who was his great-grandson only by name. He smiled and said dotingly, “Do you like Aunt Ling?”

“Yes!” The child said without hesitation. “Aunt Ling is the best, she is even better than my Mother! She teaches me how to draw, plays with me, buys me new clothes and even reads storybooks to me during bedtime! I like Aunt Ling the most!” A child’s world was just this innocent. He would remember whoever treated him well.

Old Master Li smiled at his words and caressed the child’s head.

It was the first time he felt that Li Lei had married the right person.

Su Tang came again after a few days. She wore a grey dress embroidered with gladiolus flowers with elegance. She stood in front of the glass window in the living room and said to Xia Ling in a low voice, “How is Xiao Rui? It has been a long time, I’m here to see him. You can’t possibly forbid me from seeing him forever.”

Xia Ling did not bother to pretend with her. She called a maid and instructed. “Go find Young Master Rui, tell him his Mother Su Tang has come and see if he wants to see her.” She wore home clothes, a loose crop that was of comfortable soft material and made her look leisurely, completely opposite of Su Tang’s exquisite look. Her face carried a faint color and made it obvious that her life was blissful. The light that blasted out from within her was like that of a flower blossoming casually.

Comparing the two of them, although Su Tang was pretty, she looked too deliberate.

Su Tang looked at her and guessed that she and Li Lei were living blissfully. Jealousy and hatred filled her heart. This kind of life should have been hers in the beginning! She should have been the matriarch in Li Lei’s family! The more she thought about it, the more unreconciled she was. Her heart was like a burning ball of fire. These days, following the distancing of Li Lei, her heart had already lost the arrogance she had once possessed even if her graceful posture still maintained the exquisite lifestyle of her past.

She had become a woman who could not hold back. She said to Xia Ling, “Xiao Rui will definitely want to see me. Don’t pretend to send people to ask for his opinion, how do I know whether it’s real or just an excuse you made up to pacify me?”

Xia Ling scoffed. “I have never met anyone who thought so highly of herself! It’s Xiao Rui’s freedom to decide if he wants to see you. How do you know he wants to? Don’t kid yourself, you almost hit him to death last time. He will hate you forever!” Honestly, children did not actually have any grudges. Their thinking was simple, and even if they had been scared to death when being beaten, once it was over, they would forgive their Mother with just a few coaxes from her.

However, Xia Ling was not planning to give Su Tang this opportunity.

This woman was too unpredictable and was not able to raise the child well. Even if Li Rui were to forgive her and treat her as his kin mother again with respect and trust, there was bound to come a day when he would be abused again! Xia Ling and Li Rui had gotten along well these days, and it would be a lie to say that she did not care for him. Now, Li Rui was truly like her own child. She was taking care of and teaching him dedicatedly. She did not want the child to trust the wrong person and be harmed.

The two women stood in the living room, both refusing to back down.

After a while, the maid returned and looked at Xia Ling respectfully. “Madam, Young Master Rui was in the garden painting butterflies. He has said that he does not want to see his Mother.”

Xia Ling laughed lightly and looked at Su Tang. “Heard that? Please leave.”

Su Tang shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t believe it! You must be lying! You must be!”

“Su Tang!” They heard an old and stable male voice. It was Old Master Li. He had come in by the side door without their knowledge. He had been beside the child who had been painting butterflies and had heard the maid. He had come out to look at the situation. “Xiao Rui indeed said he does not want to see you. He hates to be disturbed when he is painting. Sit here and rest, we’ll see what Xiao Rui says after he finishes painting.” He did not harbor the same dislike towards Su Tang Xia Ling did. He only felt that Su Tang was unable to educate children, yet he still admired her other skills. So, he was still hopeful that their mother-son relationship could be reconciled.

Xia Ling gave one glance to the Old Master.

Who was the master of this house? Why was he letting the guest stay all on his own accord?

Old Master Li understood the meaning of her glance. He sighed. “Xiao Ling, come with me.” His relationship with Xiao Ling had improved recently. However, they were still not considered close, so it was necessary to communicate when they faced any form of disagreement.