Chapter 142: Li Si’s Compromise

Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Li Si’s Compromise

Li Si held his head, looking at his home with a headache. The biggest problem now is what to do with the two kids. They can’t hinder him from going on a mission.

At this moment, a strong aroma wafted over from next door, making the already hungry Li Si stand at the edge of the yard and look over.

He saw Fu Xiaoxiao carrying the cooked dishes, with two children sitting at the table.

"Sister-in-law, can I have a word with you?" Li Si’s eyes lit up, looking at Fu Xiaoxiao.

"What could we possibly have to talk about?" Fu Xiaoxiao glanced at him indifferently, picking dishes for Lu Lin and Lu Chen, urging them to eat quickly.

"I know I was wrong before, but please, sister-in-law, be the bigger person." Li Si lowered his stance as he needed her help.

Fu Xiaoxiao gave him a sideways glance and walked over coolly.

"Speak! What’s the matter?" Fu Xiaoxiao looked at Li Si, signalling him to spill whatever he had to say quickly.

"Sister-in-law, I’m leaving on a mission tomorrow, and you know my situation at home. I’m willing to give you thirty yuan a month to watch the kids for me." Upon hearing Li Tian’s words, Fu Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but laugh in anger.

"If you can’t raise them yourself, then why put on airs? Is dumping the kids on me your solution? My family already has two kids and barely manages. Now you’re shoving two more onto me. What, do you take my place for an orphanage?" Fu Xiaoxiao glared at Li Si.

"What the kids need are their parents. Have you asked them? Have you asked my spouse, Lu Feng, about it? Where do you get off thinking thirty yuan will make us agree to take care of your children?" Fu Xiaoxiao chuckled.

"When you were seeking to marry Sister Chen Xiu, how much did you spend? You got a free nanny in the bargain. Now you’re being generous with thirty yuan. If you gave those thirty yuan to Sister Chen Xiu, would she have to live this tight?" Fu Xiaoxiao pointed at Li Si, scolding him.

She had found out from Chen Xiu that Li Si sends thirty of his sixty-yuan allowance home each month, keeping a little for himself, leaving Chen Xiu only fifteen, forcing a tight living.

A typical family of three would spend at least fifteen yuan on food, condiments, and daily items each month, not to mention sometimes buying cloth for new clothes for the kid. Fifteen barely covers filling the belly.

As for Chen Xiu, with two half-grown boys, plus Li Si, a family of four’s rice and grains aren’t worth mentioning. Li Si is picky with food, demanding meat every few days. The two kids grow fast, with clothes patched and repatched by Chen Xiu.

Yet Li Si still scolded her for not taking good care of their home.

Fu Xiaoxiao prepared three meals a day, with a meat dish every other day. Their family of four also has four eggs daily, and spends twenty yuan a month on food. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

That’s assuming Lu Feng’s entire allowance goes to her. Would Chen Xiu’s situation be this tight if Li Si were half as generous?

"It’s already come to this, what else is there to say?" Li Si pursed his lips, looking sullen after being scolded by Fu Xiaoxiao.

"What else should I say? I have plenty more to reprimand you for. Wasn’t it all smug laughs back then? Said having two kids is no trouble. You’ve only handled it for a few days before throwing them back home unattended. Sister Chen Xiu has raised them alone from birth. What have you done to help her?" Fu Xiaoxiao scolded more severely.

"Let me tell you, not only will I not help you with the kids, but nobody in the family campus will. Two half-grown boys, who can manage them? Your current situation is of your own making. Don’t expect others to help you." Fu Xiaoxiao stated flatly that no one in the campus would aid him.

"Why are you so fixated on me?" Li Si stared at Fu Xiaoxiao with displeasure, feeling she was always spoiling his plans.

"Li Si, quite impressive, aren’t you? Threatening my wife here?" Lu Feng, coming home, caught a hint of threat in Li Si’s tone, standing behind Fu Xiaoxiao, casting harsh eyes at Li Si.

"No, I’m sorry, sister-in-law. I’m just hoping you’ll help me watch the kids. Lu Tuan, this task is vital for me, I beg you to help me!" Facing Lu Feng, Li Si immediately cowered, quickly apologizing to Fu Xiaoxiao.

"Can’t help you one bit." Fu Xiaoxiao sneered coldly.

Li Si gritted his teeth and ran out, asking all the families as Fu Xiaoxiao said. None agreed to help, leaving him to return sheepishly to face Fu Xiaoxiao and Lu Feng again.

"Lu Tuan, you know how important this opportunity is for me!" Li Si kneeled before Lu Feng, genuinely needing this chance.

"Li Si, let’s talk outside." Lu Feng glanced at him calmly, signaling him to step out with him.

Fu Xiaoxiao curiously looked at Lu Feng. Lu Feng motioned her to stay calm, taking Li Si out the door, stopping not far away, unknown what they discussed.

Fu Xiaoxiao intended to vent for Chen Xiu’s sake, but Lu Feng returned with shocking news.

"Li Si agreed to return the kids to Chen Xiu." Lu Feng looked earnestly at Fu Xiaoxiao.

"What did you tell him? How come he agreed to return the kids to Sister Chen Xiu? But this wasn’t discussed. What if Sister Chen Xiu started anew? Can he just decide he wants to take them back, and send them off?" Fu Xiaoxiao frowned, objecting Li Si’s approach of tossing the kids like trash to Chen Xiu.

"No, starting now, he will allocate thirty yuan from his allowance monthly and transfer it to Chen Xiu." Lu Feng ruffled Fu Xiaoxiao’s head gently, signaling her not to be angry and to listen to his explanation.

He certainly wouldn’t let Li Si off easily. Whether or not killing him, he’d make him suffer. Two half-grown boys wouldn’t be sent away so readily.

"Will he agree?" Fu Xiaoxiao questioned Lu Feng doubtfully, not trusting it. "What if he changes his mind later?"

"He doesn’t get to disagree. This mission affects his future. If he misses it, who knows when the next opportunity comes." Lu Feng, being a man, knew Li Si’s weak points best. Despite unwillingness, after weighing pros and cons, Li Si would consent to Lu Feng’s terms.

"I’ve made him write a guarantee, and soon I’ll pass it to Uncle Liu." Lu Feng turned to Fu Xiaoxiao. "Is this settlement satisfactory, Comrade Fu Xiaoxiao?"

"Agreed, agreed, ultimately it’s you who has to step up! You’re the best!" Fu Xiaoxiao initially aimed to get Chen Xiu’s kids back, but this and Li Si’s allowance were even better.

"Shouldn’t there be some show of gratitude?" Lu Feng suggested, expecting a reward from Fu Xiaoxiao.

Fu Xiaoxiao smirked, raised herself on tiptoe, and gave Lu Feng a strong kiss on the cheek.

"But aren’t you setting off on a mission soon? Who’ll send Shi Tou and Mu Tou home?" Fu Xiaoxiao paused, asking.

"For such an important task, of course it’s you." Lu Feng smiled, pointing at Fu Xiaoxiao.

"Can I bring Lu Lin and Lu Chen?" Fu Xiaoxiao, naturally pleased, yet concerned about leaving the two kids alone at home.

"Can you handle them?" Lu Feng asked worriedly.

Fu Xiaoxiao patted her chest.

"I got this."