The crowd began to hurl various harsh words at Li Suisui.
They figured that by speaking more ill of Suisui, the Star of Calamity, in front of Li Yanyan, the Lucky Star, they might also catch some of Li Yanyan's good fortune.
Li Yanyan stood obediently and cleverly in the Courtyard, basking in everyone's compliments. She was reveling in all the attention.
Hearing everyone curse Li Suisui made her absolutely thrilled.
That Star of Calamity, Li Suisui, affected my luck for so many years, and now she's finally dead.
If not for Li Suisui, that Star of Calamity, the Li Family might have already become extremely wealthy, and I would have become a young lady of a wealthy family long ago!
As she was thinking this, she heard someone suggest, "Let's finish worshipping the Li Family's ancestors and then go to the Star of Calamity's grave to curse at it. Let's send off that source of bad luck for good. What do you all say?"
Everyone agreed to this proposal.
Especially Li Yanyan, who vigorously nodded her little head, like a chick pecking at rice grains.
Mother said that Star of Calamity, Li Suisui, blocked my path to becoming a young lady of a wealthy family.
Now that she's dead, I'll soon become a young lady!
People in the Li Family's Courtyard began to busily set about. Third Aunt silently took her leave.
When Third Aunt arrived home, Suisui was rubbing her eyes, having just woken up.
Old Lady Ji and Eldest Aunt were helping Suisui apply some ointment. When Third Aunt returned, Old Lady Ji took her into the adjacent room to talk.
After Eldest Aunt dressed her, she told Suisui to take her medicine, as usual.
The little Girl, upon seeing the dark medicinal soup, ran away.
"I don't want to take the medicine."
"Suisui dear, we've got preserved fruit; the medicine won't be bitter."
Even with the promise of preserved fruit, she refused to take the medicine.
The little Girl got off the bed, intending to hide in the other room, but just as she reached the door, she heard Third Aunt saying from inside, "It's said that Li's second son is going to the Capital City to become the general shopkeeper, and the third one bought a courtyard and a stall. From now on, he's going to slaughter pigs and sell the meat himself."
Third Aunt was truly reluctant to share this news; the Li Family's luck had been excessively good these past few years.
"Who's going to slaughter pigs himself?"
The little Girl was confused. She went into the room and snuggled into her Grandma's arms to avoid Eldest Aunt's bitter medicine.
"Your Third Uncle. He's going to slaughter pigs and sell the meat himself," Third Aunt blurted out, not noticing her mother-in-law's warning glance.
"If Third Uncle slaughters pigs himself, will he get bullied by the pigs? Pigs are so big and fierce; Third Uncle definitely can't kill one!"
To four-and-a-half-year-old Suisui, her Third Uncle slaughtering pigs himself meant that he would be slaughtering a pig all by himself. She couldn't understand any deeper meaning.
Grandma and her two aunts didn't dwell on it; they instinctively tried to shield Suisui from matters concerning the Li Family.
Seeing Eldest Aunt holding out the medicine with a smile, Suisui didn't want to drink it. Her mind raced, and she quickly tried to change the subject. "Third Aunt just said that my Second Uncle is going to be the general shopkeeper, right?"
The little Girl burrowed her head into Grandma's arms again. Old Lady Ji understood her intent to avoid drinking the medicine and played along, saying, "Yes, my darling, don't worry about it too much. From now on, you'll have nothing to do with the Li Family. From now on, you're our Ji Family's Ji Suisui."
"Okay! Suisui won't think too much. Then, Grandma, what's a general shopkeeper?"
When I was with the Li Family, everyone said Second Uncle was the shopkeeper of Fuman Building. He was incredibly impressive and earned a lot of money every month.
Now that Second Uncle has become the general shopkeeper, isn't he even more impressive than before?
Yanyan truly is a little Lucky Star!
"A general shopkeeper means Li's second son is going to the Capital City to manage all Fuman Building establishments nationwide—the account books, personnel..." While explaining, Third Aunt finally noticed her mother-in-law's warning look and quickly shut her mouth.
"Second Uncle is going to the Capital City? Won't he walk so much his legs break?"
The little Girl felt a bit distressed. Previously, when her Fourth Uncle went to the Capital City for his exams, she had asked her Grandma where the Capital City was and if it was far from Ling Village. Grandma had told her that the Capital City was very far, so far that walking there would wear out her little short legs until they broke.
"..."
At a meaningful glance from their mother-in-law, both Eldest Aunt and Third Aunt tactfully refrained from continuing the conversation.
They made a mental note: in the future, they would not mention the Li Family in front of Suisui.