Chapter 299 - 297: Back to the Hometown

Chapter 299: Chapter 297: Back to the Hometown

After seeing off the Ping Family’s eldest young master and his wife, Zhou Lian slowly finished washing up and went to the bedroom. She let out a soft sigh. ’What an exhausting day.’ She couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for her husband. He had been living like this every day for so many years, taking care of the children, supporting the family, worrying about friends and relatives back home, and, most importantly, looking after her day in and day out. ’Where on earth does he get so much energy?’ Zhou Lian gave a wry smile. ’He must just be forcing himself to hold on.’

’They should have arrived by now. I wonder what things are like back home.’ Still, she knew Li Xiu would handle all the family matters when he got there. With the understanding they shared from two lifetimes together, Li Xiu should grasp why she had urged him to return to their hometown and stay for an extended period.

Thinking about the current situation in the Capital City, Zhou Lian found it laughable. ’People truly forget the pain once the wound has healed. It’s only been a few years, yet they’ve already forgotten the lessons of the past!’

The thought of all the scheming and backstabbing disgusted her. ’Isn’t it better to just live a good life? What has become of people’s hearts in the pursuit of power and money?’ It wasn’t that Zhou Lian considered herself morally superior. There was nothing wrong with desiring power and wealth in life, especially if one strived for it openly and honestly. But to let one’s heart turn black and one’s eyes be blinded for power and money—that was what Zhou Lian despised. Yet, that was the reality. ’How can one person’s ideals stand against the rules of the entire world?’

In a small mountain village thousands of miles away, Li Xiu lay on the large bed in the bedroom with Nuonuo and Yanyan. Yanyan whispered, "Daddy, I miss Mommy a little! Big Sister, do you miss Mommy?"

"I miss Mommy too. I wonder if she’s asleep yet," Nuonuo said softly, holding Yanyan’s hand under the covers.

Li Xiu smiled at his two well-behaved children nestled in their blankets. "Your mommy is definitely asleep by now," he said gently. "You two should sleep too. We have a lot to do tomorrow."

"Okay. Good night, Daddy!"

"Good night, Daddy!"

"Alright, good night to Daddy’s darlings, too!"

A short while later, looking at his two sleeping children, Li Xiu sighed silently. ’My Bao’er is definitely not asleep yet. With her temperament, she probably started cleaning up that whole mess in the Capital City the moment I left.’

Fortunately, Li Xiu had long been prepared for this. A few days ago, when Zhou Lian had said to him, "Jin Chen, you’re tired. Go get some proper rest," Li Xiu understood that she wouldn’t let him have his way anymore. They had been husband and wife for two lifetimes; no one knew Zhou Lian’s temperament better than he did. She was incredibly perceptive. Once she had figured out how to handle the situation, she had impatiently sent him back home, telling him to stay for a while.

’These were the kinds of matters she detested most, yet for his sake, Zhou Lian had taken it all upon herself. It was then that Li Xiu realized it was probably impossible for her to live a simple, carefree life. But he also trusted her, so when she told him to stay away, he obediently did so.’

’Based on his understanding of Zhou Lian, she would definitely pin this matter on the Ping Family’s eldest young master, Ping Jing. She would force him to step forward and resolve it, maybe even coax him out of his seclusion. With her intelligence and resourcefulness, she would surely compel him to take on these affairs.’

Li Xiu had obediently stayed away so as not to worry Zhou Lian. Besides, it truly wasn’t appropriate for him to get involved in these things. The situation at the time had been rather sudden, leaving him with no choice. But to prevent him from being viewed with suspicion later on, Zhou Lian had insisted on intervening and taking the matter out of his hands. However, she knew she couldn’t get involved directly, or Li Xiu wouldn’t agree. That’s why she would force the Ping Family’s eldest young master, Ping Jing, to act. After all, it could be considered an internal affair of the Ping Family.

At this thought, Li Xiu couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. ’She’s doing this because she cares for me and wants to protect me.’ The old saying was indeed true: "A virtuous wife brings a man less strife."

Li Xiu woke at the crack of dawn. Listening to the howl of the north wind outside the window, he turned his head to glance at his two children, who were still fast asleep. He got up quietly, careful not to wake them.

When he reached the east wing, he saw Grandma Li already sitting before the stove, tending the fire. He smiled and said, "Grandma, why are you up so early? It’s cold, you should have slept in a little."

"When you get old, you don’t need as much sleep. Once I’m awake, I can’t stay in bed," Grandma Li said, beaming as her eldest grandson walked in. "How come it’s just the three of you this time? Where’s my granddaughter-in-law?"

Seeing his grandmother’s radiant smile, a pleased Li Xiu said softly, "There are still some things to take care of in the Capital City, so she had to stay home to handle them. Bao’er said the children haven’t seen you in a long time, so she told me to bring them home for a longer stay and spend more time with you."

Hearing this, Grandma Li was delighted. Her eyes crinkled into a smile, and she said repeatedly, "Good, good, good! My granddaughter-in-law is the most sensible and well-mannered person I know!"

"Oh, right. Who were those two people who came back with you yesterday?" Grandma Li asked after a moment, her curiosity piqued.

Li Xiu smiled and said nonchalantly, "Well, I came back with the two children, and Bao’er was worried. One of them is a driver, and the other is a retired soldier, specifically here to look after the kids. I have a lot to do while I’m back and was afraid I wouldn’t be able to watch them properly."

"What do you have to do?" Grandma Li asked, a little surprised.

Li Xiu said softly, "Don’t worry, Grandma. I haven’t been back for years, and with the end of the year approaching, I need to properly visit our ancestors’ graves. There are also my younger cousins from First Uncle’s and Third Uncle’s families, and my married female cousins. I can make arrangements for all of them while I’m here, so I won’t have to worry about them from the Capital City."

"Those younger ones are all very sensible. After seeing Li Guo and Li Cui get into university, they’re quite envious and are thinking of taking the exams to come find you in the Capital City. By the way, Li Guo and Li Cui haven’t caused you any trouble in the Capital City, have they?" Hearing Li Xiu’s words, Grandma Li finally relaxed and spoke slowly.

Li Xiu smiled and said, "Not at all, they’re very well-behaved. Don’t worry, Grandma. Besides, Li Bao is there too. The two of us can surely take care of a few younger cousins. Rest assured!"

"That’s true. You’ve always been responsible, so I’m not worried. As for the three who are already married, what arrangements are you thinking of? They’re doing quite well now, so you don’t need to worry about them." Although she was happy that Li Xiu was good to his other cousins, Grandma Li was still afraid it would be a hassle for him. After all, Li Xiu was the grandson she doted on the most.

Understanding his grandmother’s concern, Li Xiu smiled and said, "Grandma, I’ll act within my means. The younger ones will surely do well in the future, but my married cousins are still in the countryside. Over time, the gap between us will only grow wider, and I’m afraid that might affect our relationship."