Chapter 17: Deception

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

She knew that if she told her father where she was going early in the morning, her father might not agree to her going due to her safety.

Even if she said she had a space to hide in and her father could be with her.

Perhaps her father would go alone and ask her to wait at home.

It was too early in the day for her to alarm anyone.

“Father.” Once again she moved to stand in front of the door.

Through the door, she listened to the voices.

Father’s voice was clearest outside.

She automatically blocked out all other sounds. Who cared if they were curses?

“Sister Fu, you’re back? Where have you been? I was worried and didn’t see you early in the morning. I was afraid that something had happened to you, so I kept looking for you. The rest of the family was looking for you too.” Second Li’s voice did not stop. He talked about where he had gone to look after she disappeared. He had searched the village. He wanted to leave the village to look for her, but he did not know where to go. He could not stop.

After that, he searched outside.

This he did not say.

He knew she was home and well before he rushed back.

Madam Li snorted. “Heard that you wild girl Sister Fu? Everyone was searching for you yet you still dare to show your attitude when you’re back! You were raised for nothing. You were just born to be a debt collector! Now that your father is here, open the door and come out if you want to talk to him!”

As Madam Li spoke, she was extremely angry and dissatisfied.

Li Yan’er and the others immediately helped to call her and said that Grandma shouldn’t be angry. In the end, they said, “Big Sister, why aren’t you coming out?”

“Father.”

Li Fu’er only called him father.

She said she wanted to see Father, but she didn’t say she wanted to go out and meet him.

“Yes, Sister Fu.” Second Li’s voice perked up and he felt relieved. “How are you?” He lowered his voice to a whisper when he asked the question, his tone honest and worried.

“Good. Dad, I’ve made you worried.You don’t have to look for me. I’ll be fine. I just went out for a while. It’s not fooling around, you know. I should have told you in the morning. It was just very early and I didn’t want you to be worried.”

Li Fu’er comforted her father, wanting to tell him more. Thinking of the people outside, she did not continue. “Father, you’ve been tired for so long. Go and rest. It won’t happen again.”

“Alright, I’ll listen to you. I’m relieved that you said that. Sister Fu, do you want to rest?” Second Li asked. He knew that Sister Yan and her mother were looking at him. “You went into the room. You and Sister Yan.”

“Yes.” was all Li Fu’er said, not wanting to mention Li Yan’er.

Second Li could tell what Sister Fu meant.

“I’ll talk to Father when I’m free,” Li said again.

As he finished speaking, Second Li thought of last night and was about to respond.

Someone couldn’t help it.

“What did you say, you wild girl? Do you know what you’re saying? You want to see your father? I called him over, but you don’t even want to see him. What do you want?” Madam Li glared at the closed door angrily. She wanted to grab her and tear her in half, not into pieces.

Li Fu’er, you stinky thing!

Li Yan’er was the same. “Big Sister is right. Don’t be like this.” She looked sad.

There was also Madam Yu and Madam Wang. “Sister Fu.”

“Did I say I was going out to see Father? Which one of you heard me? You were the ones who promised to bring Father here,” Li Fu’er said faintly. At the same time, she looked out the door. “Father, I’m sorry. I.” In the end, he was still her father.

“It’s all right,” Second Li replied in the same way, then hesitated. “It’s just that you talk to your grandmother and the others like that.” He hesitated, trying to persuade her.

“Father.”

Li Fu’er interrupted.

Second Li didn’t look too good. His daughter’s face flashed before his eyes.

Li Fu’er stopped thinking.

In the silence, someone couldn’t take it anymore.

“What a brat. With the way you’re acting, you’re lying to us or trying to lie to us.” Madam Li opened her mouth and cursed at the closed door. Then she faced Second Brother. “Second Brother, look at your daughter. She lied to us.”

Second Li said, “Mother.”

Li Yan’er was very careful. “Second Uncle, Big Sister is like this.”

Madam Yu and the others said, “Mother.”

“Second Brother, you tell me.” Madam Li glared at Second Brother again.

“Mother, Sister Yan.” Second Li met their gazes and didn’t know what to say.

“You can’t even call out your own daughter. You’re really useful! Second Brother, call her out. How dare she rest inside! Not only did she come back so late, but she also came back so late!” Madam Li said angrily.

She really thought that if she called Second Li here, the brat would come out.

She didn’t expect that!

“Mother.”

Second Li lowered his voice.

“Grandma and Second Uncle, Big Sister can’t be inside all the time. It’s not even dark yet,” Li Yan’er said. “We’ll be having dinner soon. Isn’t Big Sister hungry? If she’s inside all the time…”

“If she’s in there all the time, then she doesn’t have to eat!” Madam Li was so angry that her voice was hoarse. “Just stop it. She doesn’t even care about Sister Yan, my good granddaughter. If she does this to you again, if she does this again—I won’t spare her! She can’t stay there forever!”

The two of them looked at each other. “Yes.”

Second Li replied. “Sister Fu and Mother.”

“What?”

Madam Li Wang was unwilling to listen to him anymore.

Second Li called her Sister Fu softly.

“It’s okay, Second Uncle,” Li said.

Li Fu’er was still leaning against the door. She heard her father and the others. “Father, I’m not hungry. I’ve eaten.”

Second Li instantly perked up. “Ah, Sister Fu.” He still wanted to say it.

“I really ate already,” Li Fu’er said.

“You did? You’re talking big again. Where did you eat?” Madam Li wanted to know angrily. Then, her mouth felt sour. “Can you find food? You brat, Sister Yan was chased away by you but she even helped you.”

Li Fu’er was silent.

Li Yan’er’s eyes turned cold.

“Someone must have given it to her,” Second Li tried to explain.

Madam Li Wang refused to listen and said to go to the window.

Li Fu’er heard them walk away.

When there was no sound outside, she walked towards the window and found the box not far away. She moved it over to block it, and when she did, she heard sounds. Clap, clap, clap.

“It won’t open!”

“I’m too angry. I can’t open it. I can’t get in. It’s blocked. It must be that hateful ingrate, Sister Fu! She knows that we’re here. Ungrateful b*tch, open it for me. You!” Madam Li shouted.

“Grandma, don’t be angry. You’re not well. Don’t be angry,” Li Yan’er said.

“Only you care about Grandma. Not like some people.”

“Mother.” “Grandma…”

“Is Sister Fu wearing your clothes? She’s so thick-skinned!” Madam Li thought of something.

“Grandma, Big Sister hasn’t worn my clothes. It’s fine even if she did,” Li Yan’er whispered.

“You’re too generous. Is she worthy?”

“And the sheets,” Li Yan said suddenly.

“What?”

Lee Wong stopped.

Madam Yu and the others asked.

“Stupid girl, open it.” Then, they knocked on the window again.

Li Fu’er let go of her emotions and realized that she did not hear her father’s voice. The bedsheets on the wooden bed had indeed been changed to those that were new and clean. She did not even noticed when she came in.

She wasn’t exactly clean at that time. With a thought, she lay down and stared at the ceiling.

This room had more fragrance than when she had left in the morning. It wasn’t a scent she liked.

She wondered what Li Yan’er had done.

She probably tried to get rid of the smell she left behind. She had almost forgotten about the sheet in the space.

She closed his eyes and lay down to rest for a while.

It was completely dark.

After a long time, someone outside called to her.

It was her father, Li Fu’er heard.

“Sister Fu, dinner,” Second Li stammered.

‘Father,” Li Fu’er said, rising up and walking over. “No one else?”

“No Sister Fy, just…” Second Li didn’t finish.

“Second Uncle, you’re here again. Big Sister, why aren’t you opening the door? You need to rest.” At this moment, another voice sounded. It was Li Yan’er.

Seeing this, Li Fu’er returned to the bed and vaguely heard Li Yan’er talking to her father.

“Second Uncle.”

“Sister Yan, I’m sorry.”

“Second Uncle, I can still stay with Grandma tonight, but you can talk to Big Sister tomorrow. This isn’t a long-term solution.”

“Okay.”

Her good words floated away. Li Fu’er knew that this wouldn’t last. She took out the space needle and played with it.

The night deepened. After everyone had rested…

She went out and knocked outside her father’s room.

“Sister Fu’er.”

Second Li opened the door, anxious. He had been waiting for a long time.

Li Fu’er gave her father the wild fruit pheasant she had prepared.