"This is your home, and he is your second brother. You don't mind being lectured a few times."
"But Lu Shi is different. He cares about you, and he hasn't had much experience with family. His only connections are his teammates, people he can challenge at any moment. And Ziyu, she didn't think too deeply about it originally, but with your second brother chiming in, she'll see you as a manipulative sister-in-law who stirs up trouble."
"These small conflicts, if left to fester, will become major ones. It's like a snowball effect; without the initial small snowball, it can't roll and grow."
Fine, Li Weili took her mother's words to heart. She got up and headed to the kitchen.
Tian Jing went to the main gate.
Seeing Yu Ziyu still laughing and washing bowls, Tian Jing breathed a sigh of relief and squatted by the large basin to help.
"Mom?"
"Mom?"
Li Weibao and Yu Ziyu were surprised their mother (mother-in-law) had come out to help.
Tian Jing looked up at Yu Ziyu, "Ziyu."
Yu Ziyu quickly responded, "Mom."
Tian Jing got straight to the point, "Lili told me about what happened at the gate just now. I think I need to talk to Xiao Bo."
Yu Ziyu's eyes widened, "What about Xiao Bo?"
Li Weibao also looked confused.
Tian Jing said to her second son, "You're married now, and Lili is married too."
"You two siblings can't talk as casually as before."
"Lili and Ziyu are both women. Even if they were to quarrel, it wouldn't be convenient for you to intervene."
"Only your grandma or your aunt and uncle would be called to mediate. This is a matter between women."
"Men and women understand and perceive words and events differently. If you step in, the nature of the situation changes."
"If you lightly reprimand your sister, Lu Shi might see it as you caring more about your wife than your sister. He'd feel his wife was wronged, even if Lili didn't feel wronged herself."
"So, let Lili and Ziyu communicate amongst themselves, and you and Lu Shi communicate. Do you understand?"
Li Weibao stood up, "Perfect. I'm already displeased with him. I'll go have a chat with him."
"Go ahead."
Tian Jing waved her son away indifferently.
Seeing Li Weibao stride menacingly into the courtyard, Yu Ziyu asked nervously, "Mom, will something happen? It's my fault for being too eager and acting ahead of time."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Tian Jing chided, "You did the right thing, and what you said was correct."
"Once Lili understood your meaning, it was wrong for her to directly step in and make arrangements without speaking."
"Xiao Bo intervening was also wrong. Even if he was just truthfully blaming his sister, it was inappropriate in front of Lu Shi."
"I just want you to know that once you have a partner, you must always recognize your role as being in the middle."
"It's like how you sometimes have to mediate between Xiao Bo and his parents. You play a harmonizing role. Think about it, isn't that right?"
Yu Ziyu froze, "Mom, did I... was I too harsh on my father?"
Tian Jing smiled, "It's fine to protect your husband in trivial matters, but in truly significant events, you must act as a mediator between both sides."
"Mm-hmm," Yu Ziyu nodded, "I understand. I don't just need to learn how to manage a household, I also need to learn how to be the pillar of the family, holding up the four corners so the house doesn't collapse."
Tian Jing smiled, "Ziyu, I'm very pleased with your perceptiveness. I believe your little family with Xiao Bo will be the most stable among the four."
Yu Ziyu clenched her fist and gave herself a pep talk, "I'll work hard and not disappoint you and Dad."
Tian Jing nodded, hoping her efforts hadn't been in vain. She also hoped all four children's families would be stable. Regarding Ziyu, she admitted there had been some initial friction between them, but she had seen Ziyu's recent actions. To say she was completely dissatisfied would be a lie, but completely satisfied? Impossible. These young people hadn't experienced much of life's trials yet. They still had a long way to go to truly support both the extended and their own families.
...
In the kitchen, Li Weili stopped Han Lushì from washing vegetables. "Xiao Yuan and Grandma are here. Why do you need to do this? Don't hide. My mom said you can fight with my second brother."
Hearing this, Li Mu became anxious, "What happened?"
Li Weili recounted the incident at the gate to her grandmother.
Li Mu slapped her thigh, "Your second brother deserves a beating. What business does a man have butting into a conversation between women? Lushì, go and give your second brother a good lesson."
Han Lushì was taken aback. He hadn't expected his grandmother and mother to be so protective of Lili and him, not at all like some families who favored sons over daughters. "Grandma, it's my fault. I shouldn't have sulked."
Li Mu waved a hand at him, "No, you're not wrong. It's right for you to care about Lili. It's also right for your second brother to care about Ziyu."
"But him intervening in a conversation between women is wrong. You handled it perfectly, not butting into the women's talk, nor the sibling's talk. Grandma is very pleased."
"Go beat him. Teach him a lesson. Don't think he's so special just because he's your second brother-in-law."
Li Weili laughed heartily, "Hahaha, yes, go quickly! Beat second brother while you can. Once our wedding banquet is held, you'll officially be beneath Big Brother and Second Brother. Then, you'll have to tolerate it even if you don't want to."
Han Lushì helplessly tapped Li Weili's forehead, "Gloating."
Li Weili pushed him out, "Hurry! I've wanted to beat Big Brother and Second Brother for a long time, but I lack the strength."
Coincidentally, Li Weibao called from the second courtyard, "Han Lushì, come out."
Han Lushì no longer refused. He walked into the courtyard and faced Li Weibao.
Yuan Fang pulled Zhou Yulin towards the kitchen, "Quick, hide behind the adults."
It was Saturday, and Li Zhengguo was in his study organizing documents he had brought back. Hearing the commotion outside, he emerged from his bedroom and walked out of the main house. "What's going on? Are you about to fight?"
"Dad."
"Dad."
Li Weibao and Han Lushì called out to Li Zhengguo.
Li Zhengguo nodded, "Fight it out. Then we'll sit down and talk."
Han Lushì, who had been hesitant, relaxed completely upon hearing his father-in-law didn't mind him fighting his second brother-in-law. He cupped his hands towards Li Weibao, "Please!"
Li Weibao had heard of this first-place fighter from the martial arts team. Yan Yan had always wanted to challenge him. Today, he would test him out on Yan Yan's behalf.
Therefore, after Han Lushì's "Please," he also uttered "Please" and then launched himself at Han Lushì.
Han Lushì casually raised his right hand. Their fists met squarely, and they each took a step back. Han Lushì retreated two steps, stabilizing himself, then abruptly pushed off, his figure flashing in front of Li Weibao as he threw a punch that whistled through the air.
Li Weibao stumbled back several steps. Just as he regained his balance, a whistling fist appeared before him. He ducked, evading the punch, and then swung his left hand with all his might towards Han Lushì's waist.
Han Lushì, his punch having missed, immediately retreated. But Li Weibao's speed was astonishing. Seeing Li Weibao's left fist about to strike his waist, he immediately channeled energy throughout his body.
Li Weibao felt as if he had hit a rock. No, even a rock would shatter under his full force. This person's internal energy was indeed as profound as the legends said.