The 99th Divorce

New Year’s Eve.

The children arose early. After greeting their elders, they congregated in the study to watch Li Xiao write the New Year scrolls.

The hair on Old Mr. Li’s head had turned almost completely white. His dry and papery hand held on to a cane as he sat to the side and watched his son.

The writing of the New Year scrolls used to be done by Old Mr. Li. But now that he could no longer hold the brush, this duty had been passed on to his son.

The patriarch looked on, and instructed, “Put more strength in your hands.” At the sound of his voice, Li Xiao’s grip on the brush tightened.

Old Mr. Li nodded his head in satisfaction and commended, “That’s right.” As he spoke, he looked to the three children. “Watch how your grandfather writes. The three of you will have to learn calligraphy in the future too. This is the quintessence of Chinese culture. It cannot be lost.”

Li Jianqian and Li Mosen both nodded as Li Jianyue looked towards him with huge round eyes and asked, “Great-grandfather, what’s a quintessence?”

“They are the things that are exclusive to Chinese culture and have been passed on since the olden days. Calligraphy, paper cutting, the zither, chess, literature, and paintings are all examples of the quintessence of Chinese culture. Regardless of the career you pursue in the future, and what you do, you must never lose any of these.” Old Mr. Li’s voice was gentle and light, but it brought an air of wisdom and age with it. “Ersu, come over here.”

Li Jianyue leaned over and called out sweetly, “Great-grandfather.”

Old Mr. Li scrunched his face up in a smile. His wrinkles were deep, but they were filled with happiness.

He pulled the child over gently and said, “I’m not worried about your brothers. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Li Xun are all elite. The only one that I am concerned about is you. In the future, you must find a good man. At the very least, he cannot be inferior to your brothers, do you understand?”

No one really knew if Li Jianyue truly understood what was said, but she soon laughingly replied, “I’m going to marry Older Brother Mosen in future!”

Kids really said the darnest things.

Upon hearing such words spoken, Li Xiao’s hand began to tremble in shock. As his hand trembled, what was initially a neat piece of red paper became stained with ink markings.

Li Mosen’s face flushed as he looked at Li Jianyue.

Of course, Old Mr. Li did not approve, and he admonished, “What nonsense are you saying? He is your older brother. It’s impossible for the both of you to marry.”

“Is that how it is?” Li Jianyue asked blinkingly. “But…”

But Older Brother Mosen had told her this. When Ersu grew up, she was going to marry Old Brother Mosen!

Before Ersu could finish her sentence, Mosen interrupted her. “Ersu, shhhh!”

Li Jianyue swallowed her unspoken words immediately.

Her little head looked up, and she focused her huge round eyes on Li Xun. “I understand, Great-Grandfather!” she agreed with a beaming smile on her face.

Old Mr. Li looked from Li Jianyue to Li Mosen, and his heart seemed to come to an understanding.

He didn’t say more and decided to let nature take its course.

Li Xiao finished writing and laid his brush down. “Jianyue, call your uncles in!” he instructed the child.

Li Sicheng and his brothers were seated on the couch chatting. When they heard the child call for them, they knew what it was for.

The three brothers took the scrolls and pasted them all over the old house. The children imitated them noisily, and Li Sicheng had them hang up the smaller posters of prosperity.