Chapter 237 - 234: Step by Step

Chapter 237: Chapter 234: Step by Step

In the days that followed, life fell back into its rhythm. The kids went to school, the adults went to work. Modern society didn’t really require traditional mourning periods anymore, but Li Xiu and Zhou Lian still conscientiously observed the one-hundred-day mourning period. Of course, the practice was much simpler now. It wasn’t like the old days of abstaining from meat and alcohol. It just meant they didn’t pay social visits, drink, or share a bed. As for food, they ate whatever they wanted; there were no real taboos. As the eldest grandson and granddaughter, the two children also mourned their grandfather alongside their parents.

Time slipped by unhurriedly, and in the blink of an eye, it was nearly the twelfth lunar month. That day, Li Xiu was up early as usual. He had just washed up and was walking into the yard when he heard a noise at the front gate. He went to the outer courtyard, opened the gate, and saw Ping’an leaning against the wall outside.

"Hey, brother-in-law, I’m back! I’m starving. Mind getting me something to eat?" Ping’an grinned and waved at Li Xiu, then grabbed the bag at his feet and strolled into the courtyard without waiting for a reply.

Li Xiu shook his head with a helpless smile. There was just no dealing with this kid. He used to just call him ’bro,’ but ever since Yanyan’s first-month haircut, things had changed. Since the three Zhou brothers couldn’t make it to the Capital City, Ping’an had stepped in as the maternal uncle to do the honors. From that day on, the kid had switched to calling him ’brother-in-law’ at every opportunity.

Li Xiu drew some water for him to wash up, then went into the kitchen. He quickly prepared a large bowl of noodles in chicken broth. When he came out with the bowl, he looked up to see Ping’an already seated at the dining table, idly playing with his chopsticks. Handing him the bowl, Li Xiu said softly, "Here, have this to tide you over. I’m going to make breakfast, and you can eat again with everyone else in a little while."

Ping’an was too focused on the food to speak, simply giving a quick wave with his left hand. ’It’s been so long since I’ve had Li Jincheng’s cooking,’ he thought. ’I’ve been dying for this taste during my years away.’ Though he’d returned to the Capital City a few times, his trips were always rushed, and sometimes he didn’t even get a chance to see him.

Since she had a class that morning, Zhou Lian was also up early without being called. After washing up, she went to the kitchen looking for Li Xiu and was pleasantly surprised to see Ping’an leaning against the doorway, chatting with him. "When did you get back?" she asked happily.

"Sis, my train got in this morning. I missed you, so I came straight over!" Ping’an said with a charming smile. His years in local government had certainly thickened his skin; he could toss out such cheesy lines without a second thought.

"Pfft." Zhou Lian burst out laughing and shot him an exasperated glare. "If you used those lines on the girls you’re set up with on dates, you’d probably have a kid calling you ’Daddy’ by now!"

Ping’an shot her a wounded look and said with utter dejection, "Sis, can we please not talk about that? I finally made it home. Can’t you just comfort your beloved little brother for once?"

Zhou Lian shivered dramatically, getting goosebumps from his theatrics. ’Where does this little rascal learn this stuff?’ she thought. With a grin, she jabbed back, "I heard Aunt Zhou has already found seven or eight young ladies from families of similar standing and is getting ready to set you up. You’re quite the lucky man, little brother!"

Li Xiu listened with amusement as the two traded barbs, shaking his head slightly. ’This kid never learns,’ he thought. ’My wife’s wit is in a league of its own. Even Professor Xiao said it was a shame she never became a lawyer with a tongue that sharp.’ Every single time, she would leave Ping’an utterly speechless, yet he was always itching for a rematch, trying to get the last word. ’He really needs to tone down that damn competitive streak. If he keeps this up, it’ll become a major weakness.’

The family of ten finished a lively breakfast. Soon, everyone was heading out—some to school, some to work. Sister Fang carried Yanyan off to play. Zhou Lian told Li Xiu not to drive her today. Seeing it was still early, Zhou Huaitai and Zhang Yizhen proudly puffed out their chests, declaring it was on their way and that they would escort their aunt to the university. When Zhou Lian shot him a look, Li Xiu didn’t insist, letting the two boys take her. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Zhou left to take Nuonuo to school together.

Ping’an was still processing the sudden emptiness, momentarily dazed to find only the two of them left in the entire courtyard. Li Xiu paid him no mind, simply brewing a pot of tea, setting it on a tray, and carrying it to his study. A moment later, Ping’an moseyed on in.

Plopping down casually across from Li Xiu, Ping’an picked up the cup of tea his brother-in-law had poured, took a sip, and said, "I finally get it. I see why you’d rather die than join the system. This is no way for a person to live!"

Li Xiu shot him a glare. ’This kid has no filter. He just blurts out whatever’s on his mind.’

"Oh, come on. It’s just you and me. If I still have to watch what I say around you, that’d be just plain sad," Ping’an said nonchalantly, understanding Li Xiu’s unspoken warning.

"It’s still better to be careful. What if you let something slip when you’re out and about?" Li Xiu paid no attention to his theatrics. ’This kid’s tougher than he looks.’

"Li Jincheng! We haven’t seen each other in forever! Would it kill you to comfort me a little?" Ping’an protested, annoyed at Li Xiu’s completely unfazed demeanor.

"No, it wouldn’t. But what if I just can’t be bothered to comfort you? You sure picked up the local accent quickly, though," Li Xiu said, landing a casual jab as he watched Ping’an’s dramatic display.

Ping’an deflated instantly. "You think I wanted to?" he said, his voice drained of energy. "I had to do it to make some inroads!"

"You did a good job. It seems reading all those books paid off."

Ping’an shot Li Xiu a harsh glare. ’Paid off? Of course they did!’ he fumed internally. ’Those were all books on political strategy and the arts of rulership. Many of them were out-of-print editions! Even the bigwigs in the Imperial Palace didn’t have a collection as complete as Li Jincheng’s!’ He practically knew those books by heart. If he didn’t, there was no way his father and Li Jincheng would have felt at ease letting him take a post elsewhere. He understood Li Jincheng’s purpose in making him study, but when he remembered those days of forcing himself to study to the point of exhaustion, he couldn’t help but shudder.

Seeing his reaction, Li Xiu roasted him without holding back. "Look at you, so promising. That was nothing. Back in my day, I worked on a production team all day and studied with my master all night. I never complained like you, and I kept that up for ten years!"

Ping’an rolled his eyes, unable to stop himself from retorting, "You think everyone is like you? A bona fide reincarnated fox spirit. My own father says that when it comes to strategy, you’re even more formidable than the great Elder Yun Qi. Back in the day, that man was the master strategist for the very bigwigs now running things from the Imperial Palace! You’re even more of a monster. The fact that you won’t join the system is probably the best news those old timers have ever heard!"

Ignoring Ping’an’s salty remarks, Li Xiu looked him straight in the eye and said bluntly, "You need to rein in that competitive streak. I’m not talking about the one you show on the surface, but the one deep inside. Do you understand? Your overt need to win is a major weakness, but the real work is taming that desire in your own heart."

Ping’an listened intently, then gave him a thumbs-up. ’Brilliant,’ he thought. ’How can one person have no flaws? And he’s not even thirty yet!’

"You just focus on your work out there and do what you need to do. I’ll keep an eye on things here in the Capital City. As for military connections, the Wang family is a good one. Your sister’s best friend, Zhang Hongying—you know her—is married to their only son, Wang Song, who’s the heir to the Wang family. He’s a reliable kid. I’ve coached him a little, so he’ll be a good ally for you down the line. You don’t need to worry on that front. The Sun family are loyalists, and as long as I’m here, there won’t be any issues. As for that kid from the Lan family... you can deal with him as you see fit."