95 Chapter - 94 - Jiaojiao

Yi Xiu glanced at her younger brother's bewildered expression and couldn't help but join in the laughter. She lightly patted her daughter's back and offered her a comforting smile.

"Be good, don't cry. Uncle likes you and wants to play with you, so he patted your head. It was not to scare you,..." Yi Xiu reassured Jiaojiao, who had been startled.

Yi Minghuan, still startled by the sudden tears, nodded quickly.

He couldn't believe that his attempt to be affectionate had unintentionally frightened his little niece.

'Did he look that scary?!'

"Of course you're scary when you smile sullenly. If you smile better, Jiaojiao won't be afraid of you," Tang Li, who was observing the scene, couldn't resist suppressing her laughter as she whispered a suggestion to Yi Minghuan.

"Is that so?" Yi Minghuan contemplated for a moment before breaking into a wide smile, revealing his white teeth. The brightness of the smile almost blinded Tang Li's eyes.

"...beautiful!" Tang Li nodded, feeling her heart flutter with fascination. The charming smile had a magnetic quality that was undeniably attractive.

"Xiao Rui looks pretty when he smiles," Yi Xiu added, glancing at her brother with a dazed expression before breaking into a smile herself.

Tang Li, observing the exchange between Yi Xiu and Yi Minghuan, couldn't shake off a lingering suspicion. There seemed to be more beneath the surface of this sister's feelings.

'Eldest Sister is hiding something from them.'

As everyone complimented Yi Minghuan on his appearance, Jiaojiao turned her head curiously to look as well. Yi Minghuan quickly flashed a smile at her seeing her turning around.

This time, Jiaojiao looked at him for a few seconds before turning her head, and hiding her face in her mother's shoulder. It wasn't because she was crying this time; it was from embarrassment.

Tang Li found Jiaojiao's reaction amusing, thinking the little girl was incredibly cute.

Yi Minghuan, drawn to his little niece's cuteness, wanted to hug her. However, remembering the earlier scare, he hesitated and held back, saying nothing.

"Minghuan, come here!" Father Yi emerged from the main room at that moment. His face lit up with joy upon seeing Yi Minghuan.

Yi Minghuan called him "Daddy," and the sight of his father's happy smile warmed his heart.

Despite the evident affection his father had for him, Yi Minghuan couldn't fathom why he chose to live here 'alone'. He often pondered why he remained in this challenging environment instead of accompanying them.

"Father, did you take out the flour? I'll steam the steamed buns for you quickly. I have to go back tonight. Jiaojiao's father broke his leg a few days ago, and I need to go back and take care of him," Yi Xiu explained.

"Elder Sister, did you come back just to steam steamed buns and wash clothes?" Tang Li, with her eyes wide, asked, clearly surprised.

"My mother is sick, Wanjing's wife is not at home, neither father nor Wanjing can do these things..." Yi Xiu smiled wryly but didn't elaborate further, because after all it would be like she is hinting at Tang Li's perceived negligence as a daughter-in-law.

Yi Xiu had no intention of criticizing Tang Li, who simply wanted to enjoy a comfortable life with Xiaorui. The money Minghuan sent back over the years was more than sufficient to support the family, and Tang Li had little reason to worry about other household affairs.

"Minghuan can steam steamed buns and wash clothes by himself. Why is Yi Wanjing so delicate? Sister, it's not that we don't want to help with the work; it's because my mother and Yi Wanjing see us as enemies. When they see us, they want to harm us. We can only stay away," Tang Li explained.

She felt the need to clarify the situation and couldn't tolerate Yi Wanjing's oppressive and lying behavior in the family.

"Yi Wanjing didn't have the ability to call back his wife, so he called you back to serve him because you were easy to bully! I don't think you are having an easy time at home either elder sister. Both children and men depend on you, so you have to be tougher. If you don't want to be taken advantage of you must refuse, otherwise the one who suffers is your family!" 

Yi Xiu looked at Tang Li in surprise, and was stunned by what she said, not knowing how to reply..."..."

"Tang Li! You scoundrel! You made my wife run to her mother's house, and now you're meddling with my sister! You wicked woman! I'm going to expose your true colors to the villagers!" Yi Wanjing erupted from the house, hurling accusations in anger as he ran outside....