Chapter 40: A Father's Love as Steadfast as a Mountain! Li Chun-ya Weeps with Emotion

“I’ll go out and look for Xiaoyu myself later, you don’t need to worry.”
“You and Songui should head back first. It’s too late and not safe to stay out. Don’t worry about Xiaoyu—she’s in good hands with me here!”
Thinking of how her father had changed so much from before, and how today he’d truly stood up for Xiaoyu—even going so far as to slap his own wife—Li Chunhua felt a wave of emotion. She was thin, her belly already heavy at nine months, and though she longed to go find her younger sister, she simply didn’t have the strength.
All she could do was try to persuade her father. “Dad, you really have to find Xiaoyu and bring her back. If you can, just let her marry someone she truly loves. Maybe the man she’s seeing is genuinely a good person!”
Li Chunhua hoped her father would get to know her sister’s suitor better, and not blindly force her into marriage the way their mother did.
Li Junsheng understood her meaning and nodded solemnly.
“I know. Guohua, you two should go on ahead. And tomorrow, remember to take Xiaowei to the hospital for a check-up. Don’t let any aftereffects linger!”
Turning, Li Junsheng gave his second son and daughter-in-law a few final instructions. It seemed the day was filled with endless worries.
Li Guohua still wanted to help his father look for his little sister, but Li Junsheng insisted he take his wife and son home first.
He had no choice but to leave, taking with them a generous portion of tonight’s untouched food, which Li Junsheng packed up for them.
After sending off Li Guohua and Ji Xiaocui, Li Junsheng packed up some things for Li Chunhua, too. He’d bought plenty of pork ribs, an old hen, and some free-range eggs, and he added the little clothes Xiaoyu had sewn for the unborn child—everything was bundled up for her to take.
“Chunhua, take these ribs, the hen, and the eggs back with you. In these last couple of weeks, nourish yourself well. You’re still too thin.”
“If you can’t finish it all, give some to your daughters. Next time, bring them back with you—I miss them, too.”
Li Chunhua was overwhelmed by his kindness, never expecting her father to set aside so much for her.
Her husband and mother-in-law treated her poorly. Throughout her entire pregnancy, she’d barely had a mouthful of meat. In the end, it was her father who cared for her.
Songui, ever concerned with appearances, put on a show from the side. “Dad, we’re not in need of these things. Chunhua can’t be eating too much. My mother says if you over-nourish the child, it’ll make the birth difficult.”
“It’s not a big deal—just some eggs. I said to give them to the girls, too. Take good care of Chunhua. Once she delivers safely, I’ll bring that two hundred seventy-five yuan when I visit her!”
Li Junsheng made a point of mentioning the two hundred seventy-five yuan, hoping that for the sake of the money, Songui would treat his daughter better during these last weeks.
Knowing how much Songui valued money, Li Junsheng hoped he could use this to hold him in check—at least until after Chunhua gave birth and the man didn’t immediately turn on her.
Li Junsheng could see right through Songui’s lies; he knew all too well what kind of family Songui came from. Any money in the house was either kept by his mother or spent on Songui’s eating, drinking, and carousing; his own daughter got nothing.
If he didn’t spend from his own pocket to buy meat and eggs for his daughter, who would?
After much assurance from Songui, Li Junsheng finally saw them out the door.
The moment they left, Songui dropped the act—letting go of Chunhua’s arm, picking his teeth as he strode ahead, impatiently urging her.
“Hurry up! Didn’t you eat enough just now? You’re always so slow. I’m tired—let’s get home and sleep!”
Li Chunhua said nothing, carrying the things her father had given her as she followed Songui.
Li Junsheng had never imagined that the meat and eggs he’d bought for Chunhua would become yet another burden on his daughter’s shoulders.
Two hours later, Li Chunhua finally reached home.
No sooner had she entered than Songui eagerly recounted everything from the day to his mother.
When his mother, Wu Dongmei, heard that Li Junsheng had sold his job at the machinery factory, she was astonished.
“Has your father-in-law lost his mind? Selling such a good job, then spending big on fancy food and drink? Is he planning to starve? Eat one last meal and then be done with life? What kind of sense is that?”
“Who knows? Anyway, there’s still plenty left from selling the job, and three hundred yuan in savings to be divided among his daughters. Chunhua gets a share—two hundred seventy-five. There’ll be more later.”
“Two hundred seventy-five? That’s not a small sum!”
Wu Dongmei’s eyes lit up. She glanced toward Chunhua, who was unpacking, and pulled Songui aside to plot in secret.
“Son, you have to find a way to get that money. Chunhua married into our family—what’s hers is ours!”
“Of course. But the money won’t be given until after Chunhua has this baby. I asked for it today—Li Junsheng wouldn’t hand it over.”
“Why wait until she’s had the baby? What if he changes his mind and refuses to give it later?”
Their whispered conversation drifted clearly to Chunhua’s ears.
When the topic turned to childbirth, Wu Dongmei suddenly raised her voice. “If she gives birth to another money-losing girl, you should divorce her. You’re the only son in the family—the bloodline can’t end with her!”
Hearing this, Chunhua felt nothing.
If someone like Songui divorced her, it would be a blessing for her and her daughters.
She went to her room, where her two girls were already fast asleep, curled up together. After checking on them, she took out the baby clothes her sister had sewn for her unborn child, intending to put them in the wardrobe.
To her surprise, when she shook out the clothes, a stack of banknotes fell out—exactly two hundred seventy-five yuan.
Shocked, she quickly hid the money away.
Her heart pounded furiously, and tears streamed down her clear eyes.
She hadn’t expected that while her father said he’d give her the money only after the baby was born, he’d secretly hidden it in the clothes. He must have known that if he gave it to her openly, Songui would snatch it away, so he concealed it in the baby’s clothes, ensuring Songui would never discover it.
In her father’s heart, she truly mattered.
Sniffling, she choked back sobs, unable to control her emotions.
Just then, Songui pushed open the door. Startled, Li Chunhua quickly turned away to wipe her tears, but he noticed anyway.
He showed no concern for her tears—only looked her over with disdain and snapped, “Why are you crying again? All our good fortune’s being washed away by your tears. Stop crying…”
Before he could finish, a sudden thought flashed across his face, and he broke into a grin.
He looked at her slyly and asked, “Did your father secretly give you that two hundred and seventy-five yuan?”