Only then did Suisui notice Ji Youyuan in the wheelchair. Previously, while at the Li Family's home, she'd heard her eldest maternal uncle, Ji Youyuan, was disabled. Not only was he wheelchair-bound for life due to his physical condition, but an old injury also meant he had no children.
"Uncle!" Suisui's voice was so soft that Ji Youyuan could barely hear it unless he paid close attention.
"Uncle is here. Suisui, what is it?"
When Ji Youyuan asked about her injuries, Suisui couldn't help envisioning the brutal beatings from Old Madam Ji. A horrified expression unconsciously appeared on her face. Seeing this, Old Madam Ji's heart ached terribly!
"The child is frightened. Let's not ask any more today. Don't you have other matters to attend to? Go on then."
Old Madam Ji, distressed for Suisui, gestured with her eyes, preventing her sons from pressing further.
"Okay! Mother, you should also go rest! We'll step out for a bit. Suisui, you rest well. Uncle has some matters to attend to."
Her eldest aunt, Wang Dongxue, came in carrying two bowls of soup.
"Mother! You haven't eaten anything today! I've made some soup. You and Suisui have some together!"
Wang Dongxue handed one bowl to Old Madam Ji and then slowly began to feed Suisui from the other. When Suisui saw the few pieces of radish in the bowl, her eyes filled with amazement. "This soup is so fragrant! Eldest Aunt, your cooking is wonderful! Even Radish Soup tastes this good!"
Radish Soup? Wang Dongxue and Old Madam Ji exchanged a glance and chuckled softly.
"If Suisui likes it, have your Eldest Aunt make it for you every day!"
Suisui tilted her head and pursed her lips. "Eldest Aunt makes even these small radishes so fragrant. If they were bigger, wouldn't she make them even more fragrant and delicious?"
Her words made both Wang Dongxue and Old Madam Ji laugh.
"Hmm! That makes sense. Suisui thinks our radishes are too small and wants us to grow bigger ones for stewing!"
A ginseng as large as a normal radish... I wonder if Second Son's Medicine King Residence has one. Tomorrow, I'll have Eldest Son write a letter to inquire!
As Old Madam Ji was thinking, she and her granddaughter finished their soup. She put down her bowl and said to Wang Dongxue, "You've worked hard, Eldest Daughter-in-law. You've been tired all day; go rest early."
"Eldest Son is back. You two are a rarely reunited couple; he should stay home for more days this time. You both should... make good use of this opportunity."
Hearing her mother-in-law's implication, Wang Dongxue lowered her head, a blush creeping up her cheeks as she subtly touched her belly.
"Mother! I wish to ask something of you!"
When Old Madam Ji heard her eldest daughter-in-law use the word 'ask,' her brow furrowed slightly. "If you're going to suggest again that, for the sake of my eldest son's lineage, I should arrange for him to take concubines, or that you yourself should request to be set aside, then you'd best retract those words immediately. I will not permit it!"
Old Madam Ji herself had borne eight children. She and her husband shared a very good relationship, and he had no messy affairs with other wives, concubines, or serving maids.
Therefore, she did not support her eldest daughter-in-law, who had been unable to conceive for many years, entertaining such thoughts.
"Mother! That's not what I wanted to say. I want to ask you... to let Suisui live with me from now on! I will treat her as my own daughter."
Seeing Suisui injured, Wang Dongxue's heart ached. She had always been fond of Suisui and had wanted to discuss bringing Suisui to live with them with her mother-in-law several times. However, thinking of their family's unique circumstances and that Suisui might grow up safely with the Li Family, she had always held back.
But now that Suisui has been brought back, then she...
"Have you thought about the rumors outside...?"
"Mother! You said yourself those are just rumors. You won't allow my husband to take concubines, nor will you let me be set aside. If I truly cannot conceive, then in the future, wouldn't Suisui be a companion for both my husband and me?"
Hearing this, Old Madam Ji felt it was reasonable. She turned to Suisui to ask for her opinion.
"Suisui, would you be willing to live with your Eldest Aunt from now on?"