Chapter 6

Mother and Children Deliberate

"From now on, let’s do our best together."

No matter how emaciated her face had become, no matter how much the radiance she once possessed had faded, the smile of the mother always looked bright in the eyes of her three children.

The little children nodded quickly, resembling chicks pecking at their food. Before long, Lijin inadvertently let out a clear, ringing laugh because she heard a sound filling both her ears.

It was the rumbling of stomachs—both their mother’s and the children’s—clearly signaling that they were growing famished.

“Ah! This servant completely forgot. Please forgive me, madam,” the maid quickly turned to glance at the sky, which was beginning to change color outside, and then her face paled slightly. “I will return in two ke. Please endure a little longer, madam.”

“Don’t forget what we discussed. Get as much as possible. If needed, ask the servants in the area to help deliver the goods as well. Just invoking Meiying’s name will suffice.”

“Understood, madam. This servant will follow your orders...” The maid rushed out of the residence in a hurry, but she did not forget to bolt the door behind her. She also took some coarse gravel and scattered it over the stone path in front. This was so that it would make a slight noise, serving as an alert in case anyone approached.

The three children remained on the bed with their mother, continuing their conversation about past events. They basked in the warmth of each other’s embrace until they felt satisfied. After that, a large wooden table attached to the bed was quickly set up, and Ning-ning carried out her duties flawlessly.

This meal was indeed a grand one, just as they had expected. The food was no longer as greasy as before, as per the preferences of the young master and young misses, which had been relayed to the kitchen through Ning-ning. From now on, they would have meals for both morning and evening.

In this era, there was still no culture of having lunch, as Sali was accustomed to in her previous world. Therefore, she solved the problem by requesting larger portions and setting some food aside to eat throughout the day. Unfortunately, she couldn’t prepare meals for her children to take with them for lunch breaks, but she would find a way in the future.

Their conversation, involving the three children and one attendant, flowed smoothly thereafter. Everyone understood their own circumstances well. The intense competition they had faced since childhood had honed their sharp wits. Even Lijin was surprised to see how her once mischievous little son had so quickly become serious and solemn.

“We understand well... It must be Secondary Mother Meiying and Secondary Mother Ningjian as always. But I didn’t expect that they would go so far as to want Mother dead.”

“Should I plead with Father again, Mother?” Lijìn suggested, turning to her eldest sister for an answer. Their mother observed her youngest daughter closely.

She was surprised. Why did these children appear more mature than expected? Was it because society forced them to act in a manner befitting the children of nobility? Or was the level of education in this era so exceptional that it was truly admirable?

However, after pondering over it multiple times, she recalled that ancient Chinese education was not yet widely developed. Aside from reading poetry, memorizing difficult classical texts, practicing calligraphy, or recalling ancestral stories, there wasn’t much that seemed particularly interesting in Sali’s opinion… No, she needed to get used to referring to herself as Lijin.

Not only did she need to find a way to survive, but she also had to seek ways to develop her children’s potential so they could explore the vast world. She possessed extensive knowledge from her previous world due to years of rigorous study. However... before she could apply any of that knowledge to this world, she first had to thoroughly understand the unfamiliar societal structure.

The three little ones continued discussing survival strategies. They had been standing on their own for three years already. It was only natural that they would have some cunning of their own—otherwise, they wouldn’t have survived this long.

“There’s no need... Pleading won’t change anything.”

“That’s true. If deception is used too often, the target will grow weary of it. Dajie, what do you think?” The younger sister looked at her eldest sister with expectation. Other than their mother and Ning-ning, Liming-dajie was the pillar she could rely on the most​.

"Mother, now that you have recovered, what will you decide to do next?"

The substitute pillar turned to ask the true pillar with deference.

"Mother..." She hesitated slightly before turning her gaze to meet her eldest daughter, who had just asked the question. "I want to ask you, are you happy? If we continue to stay here, will you still be satisfied with this life?"

"We... We do not know, Mother." The three children unconsciously clenched their fists. Their faces remained bright, yet their eyes averted when their mother looked at them.

"The Gu family has fallen. There are no longer grandparents for you to rely on. But that does not mean there is no way forward. It will simply be... difficult, both physically and emotionally, but only for a while."

Though she was unsure whether the society of this era matched what she had read about, comparing it to families with three wives and four concubines, she could accurately predict that the oppression of women was not confined to this household alone.

If a woman had problems with her husband, her reputation and position in society would be damaged. She would face pressure and scorn from all sides. Eventually, she would be forced out of society, unable to earn a living or support herself honorably.

However, that... was only the path for those who were unprepared. Lijin was not worried.

"Mother, do you intend to separate from the household?"

"Not separating the household, Xiaodi. Divorce from your father." The second eldest swiftly corrected her younger brother's words, startling the little one so much that he nearly jumped off his high chair.

"No, you mustn’t... If... if you do that, it would be very difficult. Uh, I do not know the exact details, but Mother is very frail. I fear that..."

"But if we stay here, the two secondary mothers will find a way to take Mother's life anyway, won't they?"

"Yes... Most likely before your father returns home this year." Judging from the behavior of Meiying and the maid who had just visited, those vipers were undoubtedly plotting to rid the household of an ill omen like her before the New Year arrived.

Afterward, they would likely celebrate the appointment of the new principal wife and host a family banquet to mark the auspicious occasion. It was a perfectly orchestrated situation—not only would they eliminate a thorn in their side, but in the midst of the festive chaos, the three little children might also be disposed of. In this era, many children perished from illness before reaching adulthood.

Besides... that lustful man had plenty of children. He likely wouldn't even feel a sense of loss.

"Three more months?" Liming was shocked upon hearing this news. The head of the household would return home, yet everyone had remained silent about it. It was truly a sign that something terrible was about to happen.

"Yes. Consider my question carefully, all of you. We see each other every day. Answer me when you are ready. Remember, the future belongs to you. No matter which path you choose, I will support you to the best of my ability."

"I can answer right now!" Jiusi eagerly raised his small arm. "Wherever Mother goes, I will go too."

"I will too, Mother!" Lijìn nodded quickly. She had never felt a connection with the rest of the household. Only the five of them in this place mattered to her. As for her father... Though he had always been within reach, he had felt distant—forever beyond grasp. She felt as though she had already accepted this harsh reality.

However, Liming remained silent. Lijin did not know what thoughts swirled in the twelve-year-old girl's young mind, but she did not press her. It seemed that the two younger siblings beside her did not urge their eldest sister either.

"I... have never thought about a future so far ahead, Mother. At most, I only consider the days just ahead. But this..." Finally, she voiced her feelings. Lijin felt deeply moved. In her view, children of this age should be enjoying life, learning about the world at their own pace, according to their interests.

Yet, the way this child reflected on life reminded her so much of her own past.

Twelve years old... Perhaps, at that age, she had also faced difficult questions from her parents​.

You're going to middle school soon. Have you decided which academic track you want to pursue?

But... Auntie, isn't it true that middle school doesn't require choosing a track yet?

Oh, you. You should pay more attention to the world and see how much it has changed. Auntie Nee’s kid next door has already found a tutoring center. Why is it that even now, you still haven't figured out what you want to do? Girls are just like this—spending all day worrying about their looks and chasing after boys. Hmph!

My child—I can teach her myself. There's no need for an aunt like you to interfere. Be mindful of yourself and remember whose house this is. Don't overstep your boundaries.

Li... I just want you to start thinking about your future. I'm not stopping you from choosing any path. Whether you want to sing, dance wildly, or chase after your dreams—whatever they may be—it's up to you. I just want you to learn how to plan ahead instead of wandering aimlessly, taking risks, and waiting until you fall and get trampled before you decide to stand up again. Do you understand?

I understand, Mother... Please give me a little more time.

A fleeting memory from before finishing elementary school surfaced clearly. Sali chuckled to herself. She remembered well that back then, her mama was so cool, and she herself was indeed a bit wishy-washy. She also felt quite satisfied that the meddling aunt, who had been living with them, had been struck speechless by her mother’s words. Even her grandmother and grandfather at the table had nodded in approval of their daughter-in-law’s capability.

That was why she always planned for herself. Her mother's teachings remained vivid in her mind. As for her papa, he often expressed his concerns in his own way, but she understood well that a father only ever had his child's best interests at heart. It was just unfortunate that he wasn't the warmest person and had a habit of constantly comparing her to Auntie Nee’s kid next door. Her childhood had not been the most peaceful.

However... That life on Earth was likely over. Now, she was firmly Lijin. She wanted to give her children what they deserved, even if she could not remember how they had come into existence.

The former Lijin had always acted like a virtuous woman, a perfect housewife. This, she had already learned from Ning-ning’s words.

But the result of such actions had left her lying in a vegetative state. Both she and her children had been constantly oppressed, sinking lower and lower until they reached this point.

Did this mean that doing good led to no good? Perhaps she needed to rethink her outlook.

Doing good required understanding the circumstances. Because if being good only led to such a miserable outcome, then those past actions could hardly be called noble or praiseworthy​.