Chapter 235 - 232: A Send-off

Chapter 235: Chapter 232: A Send-off

Li Xiu woke up before dawn. Looking at Zhou Lian sleeping soundly in the crook of his arm, a sweet smile unconsciously touched his lips. ’How wonderful it is to open my eyes and see the woman I love. This is the most beautiful gift heaven has given me!’

He carefully slid his arm out from under her, replacing it with a pillow for her to hold. Li Xiu then quietly opened their door and stepped into the courtyard. He saw that his grandmother was already awake and washing up, so he greeted her in a low voice.

Hearing his voice, Grandma Li turned around. Seeing her energetic eldest grandson, she smiled and said, "Why are you up so early? You’ve been exhausted these past few days. You should have slept in a little longer!"

"It’s fine, I’m rested now," Li Xiu explained nonchalantly, seeing his grandmother’s slightly chiding expression. "I’m used to waking up early. I’m not that tired anymore, and once I’m awake, I can’t fall back asleep."

"As long as you’re not tired. You’re driving back to the Capital City today. Go slowly and be safe!" Grandma Li said, fussing over him.

Li Xiu listened earnestly, without a trace of impatience. In two lifetimes, this was a kind of affection he had only ever received from his grandmother, so he cherished it dearly. But in this life, he also had his wife’s love. At the thought, he couldn’t stop a sweet smile from spreading across his face.

The two of them chatted away while making breakfast. Watching Li Xiu skillfully and quickly whip up a sumptuous meal, Grandma Li couldn’t contain her curiosity and asked softly, "Are you still the one who does the cooking?"

Glancing at his grandmother, Li Xiu smiled and said, "Not often. We have Sister Fang at home. I just cook when I get the itch." He said it casually, conveniently forgetting that he was the one who prepared almost every meal separately, worried that his picky wife wouldn’t eat well, which might affect her health.

Grandma Li shot him a look but said nothing. ’He’s just talking nonsense,’ she thought. These past few days, she had seen that Sister Fang was always taking care of Yanyan. Unless her eldest grandson had no time, he was the one doing the cooking. Sister Fang never acted like it was unusual. Besides, all the meals he made were tailored to his wife’s preferences.

After they cleaned up the kitchen, Sister Fang came out with Yanyan. As he watched Sister Fang help Yanyan wash up, Li Xiu tiptoed back into their room. He saw his wife was still sleeping and couldn’t bear to wake her. But thinking of their trip back to the Capital City today, he steeled himself, walked to the bedside, and gently called for Zhou Lian to get up.

Zhou Lian’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze hazy. It took her a moment to fully wake up as she looked at the man before her. Gently pushing away his embrace, she asked, "Jin Chen, what time is it?"

Li Xiu glanced at his watch and said gently, "It’s only around seven, Bao’er. There’s no rush. Take your time."

Remembering they had to return to the Capital City today, Zhou Lian stopped dawdling. She took the clothes Li Xiu had left on the headboard and quietly changed into them. "Jin Chen," she asked softly, "are Grandma and the others up yet?"

"Mhm. Grandma’s getting on in years, so she doesn’t sleep much and gets up very early. Sister Fang and Yanyan just got up, too," Li Xiu replied casually as he carefully helped Zhou Lian pin her long hair up with the jade hairpin.

Zhou Lian pressed her lips together, saying nothing. ’I woke up late again,’ she thought. ’I wonder if Grandma will say anything.’ As if reading her mind, Li Xiu met her eyes in the mirror and said gently, "Bao’er, Grandma won’t mind things like this. Besides, you’re exhausted from the last few days. You’ve even lost weight!"

"No, I haven’t!" Zhou Lian pouted coquettishly, looking a little embarrassed at Li Xiu’s reflection in the mirror.

Gently pulling Zhou Lian to her feet, Li Xiu carefully kissed her eyes and said softly, "You have. I’ll make you some nourishing meals to help you recover when we get back to the Capital City. I’ve already made breakfast. Go wash up, Bao’er, and we’ll leave after we eat."

They were halfway through breakfast when the third branch of the Li family arrived. Seeing the lavish spread on the table, Wang Xiaojuan knew at a glance that her eldest brother-in-law had made it. She pursed her lips and secretly pinched her husband, Li Bao. Even though she often saw her brother-in-law cooking for Zhou Lian in the Capital City, she still couldn’t help feeling a pang of jealousy. ’They’re brothers, but look at my husband... he can’t even boil noodles without them ending up half-raw. Why is there such a huge difference!’

Li Bao was sure there was another bruise on his side. ’This wife of mine,’ he thought, ’it’s not her first time seeing this. Does she really have to get jealous every single time?’ He was careful not to let his expression betray him, though. His grandmother, parents, brothers, and sisters were all there; it wouldn’t be good if they noticed. ’But judging by my sister-in-law’s mysterious smile, she probably saw everything.’ Feeling a little embarrassed, Li Bao lowered his head.

Watching the silent spat between her younger brother-in-law and his wife, Zhou Lian smiled to herself. In two lifetimes, the two of them had always been bickering lovebirds, but their bond was strong. Li Bao never got truly angry with his wife; she would throw a small tantrum, and he would coax her, and they had bickered their way through an entire life like that.

A short while later, the first branch of the Li family arrived as well. Seeing that everyone was done eating, Sister Fang handed Yanyan to Li Xiu and began to quickly clear the table. Zhou Lian watched her for a moment before inviting everyone into the main hall. The first and third branches of the family were here to see them off.

She called Li Cui, Li Yuan, Li He, and Li Miao to her side. Looking at her four sisters-in-law—some charming, others quiet—Zhou Lian couldn’t help but sigh to herself. ’Time flies so fast.’ When she had first married Li Xiu, Li Miao was only a five or six-year-old girl. She remembered a time when they were working in the fields and ran into a village gossip. The little girl had stood in front of her, fiercely defending her. Now that little girl was a young woman in her teens, standing there quietly, but there was still a hint of wildness in her eyes that betrayed her delicate features.

"All of you need to study hard," Zhou Lian said, pushing aside her nostalgic thoughts. "If there’s anything you don’t understand or need help with, just write to me. I’ll be waiting for you in the Capital City!"

Seeing her four sisters-in-law nod shyly, Zhou Lian couldn’t help but laugh. When everyone turned to look at her curiously, she explained with a smile, "It’s nothing. I was just thinking how fast time flies. When I first married Jin Chen, I went to work in the fields for the first time. Little Sister Miao, who was only five or six back then, stood right in front of me and shut down a village gossip so hard the woman almost fainted!"

Third Aunt Li remembered it too. She slapped her thigh and laughed. "That girl has had a sharp tongue ever since she was little. Don’t be fooled just because she’s all grown up now—that habit of hers hasn’t changed one bit!"

"Why should she change? It’s not a bad habit at all," Zhou Lian said, looking at Third Aunt Li disapprovingly. "In fact, when Sister Miao takes her university entrance exams, she should consider studying law. She’d make a great lawyer!" ’This girl has real potential,’ she thought. ’She just needs to be properly nurtured.’

Glancing at Li Miao, Li Xiu added softly, "That’s true. Sister Miao, if you like the liberal arts, you should listen to your sister-in-law."

Li Miao nodded excitedly. ’Like it? Of course I like it!’

Zhou Lian smiled at her reaction, then turned to the other three. "Sister Cui has a gentle nature," she said softly. "It would be nice for you to go to a teacher’s college and become a teacher. Sister He and Sister Yuan, you’re both doing well in your studies, so just pursue whatever you’re passionate about. Don’t worry about anything else. As long as you get into a university in the Capital City, your big brother and I will be there for you!"

The Li family members understood this was Zhou Lian’s way of saying that as long as the girls got into a university in the Capital City, she and Li Xiu would arrange everything. Both First Aunt Li’s and Third Aunt Li’s eyes lit up. They both resolved to go home and supervise the girls’ studies closely. They had to make sure every single one of them made it to the Capital City!