Chapter 244 - 241: Nuonuo’s Birthday

Chapter 244: Chapter 241: Nuonuo’s Birthday

Ping’an froze at her words. A wife. It was always about a wife. For the past few days, his mother had been chattering in his ear, telling him to take a good look today. She said there would be a ball tonight and that he should look carefully. She also said she and Jin Chen had already vetted the candidates and any one of them would do, as long as he found one he liked! ’I was planning on thinking about this in another two years,’ he thought. He wasn’t in a hurry, but his family and Jin Chen were practically frantic!

Seeing Ping’an’s expression, Wang Dongfang and the other two chuckled. Wei Guo bumped Ping’an’s shoulder with his own, a mischievous grin on his face. "Young Master, you should choose carefully. After all, Jin Chen went to a lot of trouble for this!" With that, he headed to the kitchen.

Wang Dongfang clapped Ping’an on the shoulder and said with a wide smile, "Young Master, take a good look and pick a pretty one. You’re a fine figure of a man, so you have to marry a girl who’s good-looking enough to match, right?" After saying his piece, he also strode toward the kitchen.

"Young Master, here’s a piece of advice. Once you’ve chosen a wife, keep her by your side. Otherwise... Heh heh heh heh heh!" Liu Qiang looked at Ping’an and offered his earnest, well-intentioned advice. It wasn’t that the three of them didn’t want to find wives, but every time they saw how Li Xiu doted on Zhou Lian, they got a little scared. ’Are we looking for a wife or a matriarch to worship?’

Looking at Liu Qiang, completely bewildered, Ping’an just stared at him in silence. To be honest, after the experiences of the past few years, Ping’an had developed a powerful presence that not just anyone could withstand. But this was Liu Qiang, a man who had worked under Li Xiu for many years and was known as "the terror of the business world." Was he going to be intimidated by Ping’an? He just grinned, clapped Ping’an on the shoulder, and ambled slowly into the kitchen.

Ping’an was left standing alone in the courtyard, dazed. After a moment’s thought, he figured it wasn’t a big deal. He really wasn’t that young anymore; it was time to start a family. Besides, his mother had said that she, Jin Chen, and his sister had all vetted these young women. ’Though I don’t really trust Mom’s judgment, Jin Chen and my sister have impeccably sharp eyes for people!’

The dishes for Nuonuo’s birthday lunch were prepared by a few of the men along with Sister Fang. After receiving her gifts and everyone’s well wishes, Nuonuo began to slowly sample the food, which was said to have been made by her dad, Uncle An, and several other uncles. ’Dad’s cooking is excellent, and Uncle An’s is okay, I guess. Uncle Wang’s is passable. But can someone please tell me why Eldest Uncle is even in the kitchen? Is his food even edible?’

Seeing his daughter staring at the dish supposedly made by Li Bao as if it were her mortal enemy, Li Xiu said, his heart aching for her, "Nuonuo, go on and eat. Don’t waste your uncle’s kind intentions. After all, washing and chopping the vegetables is hard work. He almost chopped off a finger, you know!"

Nuonuo instantly understood what her father meant. Her Eldest Uncle had washed and chopped the vegetables for this dish, and that was all he had done. She quickly scooped up a small spoonful with her soup spoon. The moment she tasted it, she knew. Grinning, Nuonuo gave her dad a thumbs-up. She could tell from the first bite that this was her father’s handiwork.

After the lively lunch, Li Xiu grabbed a new quilt and carried it to the guest room where Ping’an usually stayed. As Zhou Lian helped Mrs. Ping into the room, they saw Li Xiu making the bed. Seeing them enter, he smiled and said, "Aunt Zhou, just a moment, it’s almost ready. That rascal Ping’an stays one night, and the room looks like it was hit by a typhoon! The key thing is, he doesn’t like anyone cleaning up for him. Aunt Zhou, what kind of weird habit is that?"

Mrs. Ping smiled. "That’s just how he is. He’s been like that since he was a child. I thought you might have been able to change him!"

Clapping the dust off his hands and looking at the tidied bed, Li Xiu and Zhou Lian helped Mrs. Ping sit on the edge. Li Xiu couldn’t help but complain, "I was planning to change him, but I gave it a try and then gave up. It’s not a big deal, so why be so strict with him about it? He’s tired enough as it is. In his own room, it’s better to just let him do whatever makes him comfortable!"

She pointed a finger at Li Xiu and looked at Zhou Lian with a smile. "See? See? I always said the way he dotes on Ping’an is probably even more than I do. You two, stop indulging him. He’s almost thirty, it’s time for him to shoulder some responsibility!"

"Ping’an is only twenty-seven this year, Aunt Zhou," Zhou Lian said, disagreeing slightly. "Ping’an is already very accomplished. Don’t push him too hard!" ’Where does she get thirty from?’ she thought. ’If this were a past dynasty, Ping’an would be the veritable Crown Prince.’

Gently patting Zhou Lian’s hand, Mrs. Ping said with emotion, "Ping’an is so fortunate to have met you two. It’s the greatest blessing of his life. For the Ping Family to have met you two is like a rebirth for us. We’re old now and could be gone any day. From now on, we’ll have to entrust Ping’an to you and your husband."

The three of them chatted for a little while longer before Li Xiu looked at Mrs. Ping and said seriously, "I know a very good traditional Chinese medicine doctor. He just retired, and his background is completely clean. Aunt Zhou, when you return to the Imperial Palace tonight, please tell Elder Ping. Tomorrow, I’ll have Ping’an bring the doctor over. He can be responsible for your and Elder Ping’s health from now on."

Mrs. Ping paused for a moment, then quickly asked, "Is there a problem?"

"Not a huge problem. It’s just that the current one is a bit mediocre, a bit timid, and too content to just get by. You and Elder Ping are not young anymore. Not to mention, back in the day, you were on the battlefield, lying on ice and sleeping in snow. It wore down your constitutions. The past few years were still manageable, but not anymore. Such mediocrity can cause serious delays in treatment."

Li Xiu spoke softly. ’There were faint rumors about this in my past life. I haven’t been idle these past few years; I’ve done plenty of things, both things I should and shouldn’t have. Only recently did I finally get to the bottom of it. Sometimes, mediocrity itself is a grave mistake. Fortunately, Elder Ping and Mrs. Ping trust me. This time, I’ll use the opportunity of Ping’an’s return to have him bring the doctor into the Imperial Palace. With that old master watching over them, I’ll be much more at ease.’

"I understand. We’ll do this according to Ping’an’s wishes," Mrs. Ping said, closing her eyes. ’Li Xiu can’t be implicated in this. The matter is too complicated. It has to be attributed to Ping’an!’

Li Xiu smiled and said sincerely, "Aunt Zhou, there’s no need for that." ’I understand Mrs. Ping’s good intentions,’ Li Xiu thought. ’This matter isn’t massive, but its tendrils run deep, and the waters are very muddy. She’s trying to protect me by removing me from the picture and having Ping’an take the blame. No matter how muddy the waters get, as long as Elder Ping is around, no one will dare to touch Ping’an!’

"You’ll listen to me on this. I’m sure the old man would feel the same way!" Mrs. Ping said firmly. ’Under no circumstances can Li Xiu be involved in this! He has done more than enough over the years. The connections behind this are too murky; we absolutely cannot let Li Xiu get dragged into it.’

Glancing at Li Xiu, Zhou Lian smiled and said, "Then we’ll listen to Aunt Zhou." All three of them were intelligent people; they all understood the meaning behind Mrs. Ping’s words and actions.

Li Xiu just smiled and didn’t say anything more. ’There are indeed some matters I shouldn’t interfere with. But to knowingly play dumb about it... I just can’t bring myself to do that, especially when Elder Ping’s health is at stake. Still, this works too. With that one sentence, Mrs. Ping has completely removed me from the situation.’