The Biased Grandfather

Li Nian forced a smile.

"A-Chuan, I didn't scare you, did I? Don't you worry about family matters; I will handle them."

Grandmother Chen walked over and stroked Li Chuan's hand with a pained expression.

"My Chuan'er has suffered. The autumn wind is biting now; make sure you don't catch a chill."

As the youngest grandson and the one with the hope of earning a scholarly title, Li Chuan was deeply cherished by his grandparents.

To earn the tuition and medicinal broth for his martial arts training, the elderly couple, who should have been enjoying their twilight years, came to help at the breakfast stall.

Working from dawn until dusk every day, their frames had gradually grown thin.

After all, for a family like theirs, earning money only in the morning was not enough.

There were also his aunt and cousin from his uncle's side.

A family of six, plus his martial arts expenses.

The breakfast stall sold steamed buns in the morning and noodles in the afternoon and evening.

Even so, it was barely enough to keep him in the martial arts academy.

He had heard they even had to borrow silver from time to time to make ends meet.

It could be said that the entire family had pinned their hopes on him.

Li Chuan couldn't help but curse inwardly again.

How many people would give anything for a family like this?

The original owner not only failed to cherish them but even took his family's hard-earned money just to buy a smile from a beauty.

He truly deserved to die!

"Xiumei, call Sanfeng and A-Qing to eat," Li Nian said to Wang Xiumei.

Before long, Qin Sanfeng, dressed in gray-white linen, sat down with Li Qing.

Aunt Qin Sanfeng and cousin Li Qing operated this breakfast stall together with them.

Ever since his father and uncle were taken away for corvée labor, the two families had relied on each other for survival.

As commoners with no background, they had to huddle together for warmth just to stay alive.

Li Chuan lowered his gaze and saw that both Qin Sanfeng and Li Qing's hands were covered in blisters of all sizes.

They were worn raw from working day and night at the breakfast stall.

He observed that his aunt, Qin Sanfeng, had a look of worry in her eyes, as if she were troubled by something.

"Everyone sit and eat," Li Nian said.

Li Chuan shifted his gaze to the Eight Immortals table in front of him.

It was still possible to tell that the table was made of decent material.

But with no money for repairs lately, it had developed several cracks, making it look rather unsightly.

The other five had bowls of coarse rice and pickled vegetables in front of them.

Only in front of Li Chuan were there fine white rice and braised pork.

The fragrant scent of meat wafted through the air.

Li Chuan could hear the others swallowing their saliva, some more audibly than others.

The family had once been considered well-off, but with the two men taken for corvée labor and the need to fund Li Chuan's martial arts training, they were now living in such austerity.

Looking at Li Nian and Grandmother Chen, who were nearing sixty yet still eating nothing but coarse rice and pickles, Li Chuan felt an inexplicable pang of heartache.

Cousin Li Qing looked at the tender, braised pork and involuntarily drooled. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Grandpa, I want to eat meat too."

Li Nian thought for a moment and ladled a spoonful of sauce for Li Qing, but shook off half of it before it reached the bowl.

Qin Sanfeng said with dissatisfaction, "Father, you are being too biased. Hasn't A-Qing sacrificed enough for this family over the years? He can't even have a piece of meat!"

Li Nian glared at her. "Sanfeng, A-Chuan is the hope of the entire family. A-Qing must endure for now. Once he earns his title, do you think he will forget your support?"

Wait, wait, wait—so my son is just supposed to suffer and toil?

Qin Sanfeng's eyes turned red.

Since her husband left, the pressure on the breakfast stall had increased sharply.

A-Qing worked busily alongside her every day, and all the money they earned went to Li Chuan's martial arts training, yet her own son couldn't even eat a piece of meat.

Seeing his mother's eyes turn red, Li Qing seemed to have made up his mind, and he said in a low voice:

"Grandfather, I want to learn martial arts too!"

Wang Xiumei looked surprised and quickly tried to dissuade him:

"A-Qing, martial arts aren't for just anyone; you need to have the right natural aptitude."

Li Qing's voice was hoarse:

"A few days ago, I was tested and found to have low-grade aptitude."

Li Qing looked at Li Nian, yearning for an affirmative answer.

Unexpectedly, Li Nian frowned:

"A-Qing, don't be foolish. You know our family's situation; we can only afford to support A-Chuan in his martial arts training."

Li Qing gritted his teeth:

"We both have low-grade aptitude, so why must I slave away at the breakfast stall while A-Chuan gets to train at the martial arts hall? When it comes to contributing to this family, I've done far more than A-Chuan!"

Li Nian said coldly:

"A-Qing! A-Chuan has already been training for four months and is now at a critical juncture for his breakthrough. In terms of potential, his chances are much higher than yours!"

Qin Sanfeng wiped away her tears and stood up:

"Father, you are always so biased. A-Chuan is your grandson, but isn't A-Qing one too?"

"If that's the case, then let's just... split the family!"

The Li family's money was managed by Li Nian; Qin Sanfeng's suggestion to split the family meant they would keep their own earnings.

Yet, family bonds are often maintained by money.

If they split the family, it would mean severing those ties.

It implied going their separate ways, never to interact again.

Li Nian trembled with rage and slammed his hand on the table:

"You've all rebelled! Do you think I want your money? Everything I do is for this family. I could have stayed in the countryside to rest, but to ensure A-Chuan gets ahead—to reduce our taxes and exempt us from forced labor so we don't have to suffer the pain of separation—I've brought my old bones here to work in this shop!"

"Have I ever had a shred of selfishness?"

Li Qing bit his lip until it bled.

For the family, for the family—it was always for the family.

If this is what a family is, then he was better off without it!

Just as Li Qing was about to stand up and leave, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Big Brother, if you want to learn martial arts, I can teach you the basics first. Once I earn my status, I will send you to the martial arts hall."

Li Chuan looked at the flushed faces of the others and spoke slowly.

"What?" Li Qing was stunned.

In his memory, ever since his younger brother joined the martial arts hall, he had looked down on him and couldn't even be bothered to call him brother.

Wang Xiumei became anxious:

"A-Chuan, focusing on your own training is what matters. Don't sacrifice the big for the small!"

Li Nian nodded as well:

"A-Chuan, don't be reckless. You must not let this affect your training and end up with nothing."

Li Chuan smiled:

"It won't hinder my training. I'll just share a few pointers with Big Brother, that's all."

Under Li Chuan's persuasion, Li Nian reluctantly agreed:

"Fine. Whenever you come home, you can spare an hour or two to teach A-Qing, but it must not take too long."

After everyone sat down, Li Chuan placed a piece of braised pork into Li Qing's bowl:

"Big Brother, eat."

Li Qing was usually a man of few words. Li Chuan's earlier words had filled him with guilt, and this gesture touched him deeply.

Li Qing shook his head:

"You eat it, A-Chuan. I was reckless earlier. You are the one with the best chance of achieving success; I cannot let myself hold you back!"

Li Chuan could not refuse him, so he ate it himself.

The atmosphere at the table shifted from the previous tension to one of harmony.

As Li Chuan ate the delicious braised pork, he felt a sense of melancholy.

Often, it is the smallest things that lead to the breakdown of a family.

But because everyone is in a different situation, it is hard to understand one another, and no one is willing to yield.

In the end, everything falls apart.

In truth, sometimes a small concession is all it takes to earn understanding and ease the tension.

In his past life, he had struggled through society to finally realize this truth.