"If you two really have a falling out, I definitely won’t side with the Li family. When that happens, my little brother will surely stay with Uncle Sun. After all, you don’t even have the ability to raise a child." After her final words, Tang Li shuffled off to the kitchen.

Seeing her approach, Wen Xiao turned and handed her a glass of water. "If you’re not busy, could you help me prep some vegetables?"

Tang Li held the basket of produce. "Sure. What are we making? Dry-fried green beans? I love those."

Sun Zhicai also turned his head to look at Tang Li, his smile growing even wider. "I made lamb soup at noon, so we can have some tonight to warm up. Li Zi, when you go to S City, I’ll braise some beef for you to take with you."

The living room wasn’t soundproof, so the two of them had heard everything Tang Li and Li Lanzhen said. There were some things Sun Zhicai couldn’t say too bluntly, considering Li Lanzhen had just given birth, but Tang Li’s words were exactly what he had been thinking. Sun Zhicai was only too happy that his stepdaughter wasn’t close with his wife’s family—in fact, that she despised them.

If his in-laws were decent people, Sun Zhicai would have been more than happy to have the connection. But the Li family were a bunch of scoundrels; how could he possibly let them leech off of him?

He did indeed care more about the child than about Li Lanzhen; Sun Zhicai wouldn’t deny that. But it was clear Li Lanzhen didn’t understand this as well as Tang Li did. The thought of his son having such a formidable older sister in the future only made Sun Zhicai happy.

Tang Li knew Sun Zhicai was a smart man, so she accepted his kind offer. "Great! I’ve heard for a long time that the beef you make is to die for, Uncle Sun. It looks like Wen Xiao and I are in for a treat."

Wen Xiao played along perfectly. "Thanks, Uncle Sun. I’ll be sure to send you some of the braised beef my grandpa makes. He used to run a private kitchen."

Sun Zhicai laughed heartily. "Excellent! I’ll have to get some pointers from the old master. You two must let me know when you have your wedding. No matter how busy I am, I’ll be there."

Wen Xiao replied, "Definitely, definitely."

Back in the living room, Li Lanzhen was fuming, but what could she do? She couldn’t handle a single one of these three people. That brat Tang Li had never been close to her, and even though Wen Xiao was her son-in-law, it wasn’t her place to say anything to him.

As for Sun Zhicai, Li Lanzhen wouldn’t dare have a falling out with him. She had dared to throw fits with Tang Cheng because he had loved her and mostly gave in to her. But Sun Zhicai wasn’t like that. If she dared to cause a scene with him, he would genuinely divorce her.

Deep down, she understood that a huge reason Sun Zhicai had married her was that he wanted a child. Now that the child was here, if she didn’t behave, Sun Zhicai was absolutely capable of divorcing her.

If they really did divorce, she had no job, and the child would certainly go with Sun Zhicai. Li Lanzhen wouldn’t even be able to fight for custody. So, as things stood, her only option was to live a peaceful life with him.

As for her side of the family, Li Lanzhen sighed. This was just how it had to be.

Perhaps because she had talked herself into it, Li Lanzhen didn’t mention the Li family again during dinner. Seeing that she had figured it out on her own, Tang Li didn’t intentionally give her the cold shoulder.

At the end of the day, Li Lanzhen was now Sun Zhicai’s wife, and Tang Li still hoped she could live a quiet and stable life with him. Of course, if Sun Zhicai were to treat Li Lanzhen poorly, Tang Li wouldn’t just stand by and watch.

"I can see you worry a lot about your mom," Wen Xiao said suddenly after they left Sun Zhicai’s house.

Tang Li sighed. "She’s so clueless, so someone else has to do the worrying for her. The key thing is, she doesn’t listen to anyone else’s advice, which makes it even more frustrating."

"Fortunately, Sun Zhicai has the courage to rise to the challenge. A true warrior, daring to marry a woman so obsessed with helping her own family."

Wen Xiao chuckled. "That’s because Sun Zhicai doesn’t have much affection for your mom. He just wanted a child. From what I can tell, as long as your mom doesn’t continue to be clueless, he can keep living with her."

"That’s their business. He’s the man she chose," Tang Li said coldly. "I absolutely despise people who are slaves to their family like that. I really, really hate it."

"Li Lanzhen seems like she’d do anything for her family, but the person she loves most is herself. Don’t be fooled by how weak she appears. She’s actually an expert at reading people and pushing her luck."

"When she brought up the Li family today, she was actually using her recent childbirth to test Sun Zhicai’s boundaries."

Wen Xiao said, "It’s just that she didn’t expect you to push back so hard. Looking at her, I felt she was both pitiful and pathetic."

"What’s so pitiful about her? My dad is the one who’s truly pitiful," Tang Li said, her expression blank. "She never fulfilled her responsibilities. My dad, who worked so hard to raise me—he’s the one who deserves pity."

"My grandparents used to give me allowance money, but she always found a way to take it from me. Eventually, I just stopped accepting money from them. I knew they’d give it to me if I asked anyway, so there was no need to keep cash on hand."

"Seeing Sun Zhicai keep her in check, honestly, I feel a sense of satisfaction." She laughed softly. ’Am I a terrible person?’

"No, I’ve never thought that," Wen Xiao said, stroking her hair. "You’re her daughter, so there are some things that are naturally difficult for you to do. But others can. Besides, Sun Zhicai is already treating your mom pretty well."

"Even if it’s just for the sake of the child. Or, to put it another way, it takes a villain to handle a villain?"

Tang Li broke into a smile. "You’re right. ’It takes a villain to handle a villain.’ That’s the perfect way to put it."

"But it’s also tragic. She really is a tragic figure. To be brainwashed by the Li family like that, to the point of having no thoughts of her own... it’s both pathetic and hateful."

Wen Xiao said, "That’s why I’d never favor a son over a daughter. If we have a child, I’ll raise her well and make sure she grows up to be a well-adjusted person."

Tang Li thought for a moment before replying, "If we have a child, you might have to take on more of the responsibility for their upbringing. Of course, I won’t be absent, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be a good teacher."

Wen Xiao said, "Of course you would be. My Li Zi is an amazing woman. With you as a role model, our child will definitely grow up well. So, Li Zi, when are we getting married?"

Tang Li replied frankly, "You change subjects so fast. But getting married... that’s not out of the question. We’re in my hometown now, so I can go register our marriage anytime. But can you?"

Wen Xiao beamed. "Of course I can. I always carry my household registration booklet with me."

Tang Li said teasingly, "You carry your household registration booklet with you? That’s pretty calculating of you."

"I just had to be prepared for when you finally made up your mind, right? See? It came in handy." Wen Xiao wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. ’How can you get married if you’re not a little shameless?’

Tang Li herself hadn’t expected to resolve such a major life decision just by taking a vacation. But this was good, too. Now she could focus on building her career.

Thinking about the timing, Ye Qian’s production had already started filming. It was about time for her to head to the set and check on things.