Chapter 338 - 335: Siblings

Chapter 338: Chapter 335: Siblings

"You’re all doing well. As you get older year by year, you must think things through before you act. Don’t be impulsive or emotional. If you run into a problem you can’t solve, discuss it with the family. Don’t try to handle it all on your own. He, you’ll be off to university after summer break. I know you’ve applied to universities in the Capital City. When the time comes, if there’s anything you don’t feel comfortable telling your older brother, you can talk to your two sisters-in-law or your Sister Cui!"

Glancing at the three little prodigies, Li Xiu paused before continuing, "And the three of you, you’re all in high school now. Don’t look down on others just because you’re smart. You need to understand that there’s always someone better out there. I’ve taught you this before: never go against your principles. If anything comes up, either write a letter or make a phone call. We’re your own brothers and sisters-in-law, don’t ever feel like you’re being a bother!"

"Yes, Big Brother, we’ll remember!" the few who had been singled out answered almost in unison.

Glancing at Li Guo, and then at Li Bo, Zhou Lian said with a smile, "High school has a heavy workload, but I’m sure the three of you can handle it. When you have free time, go to the study here. Your big brother and I will pick out some books for you before we leave. You should spend more time reading, otherwise you’ll be wasting those clever little minds!"

’I didn’t notice it in my past life, but I see it clearly now. Except for Li Guo, every single Li family member present is incredibly shrewd, including my own son and daughter! As for Li Guo, it’s not that he isn’t smart; he is, but he’s just too simple and honest. However, after thinking about his field of study, Zhou Lian abandoned the thought of having Li Xiu coach him. He was fine just the way he was. Once he graduates and goes straight into a research institute, with Li Xiu and Li Bao around, he surely won’t be at a disadvantage. Sometimes, being too calculating isn’t necessarily a good thing!’

"Got it, Big Sister-in-law!"

Looking at the three pairs of bright, wide eyes, Zhou Lian couldn’t help but sigh and press her forehead. ’Look at them, just look. Calling them little prodigies wasn’t an exaggeration at all.’ Raising an eyebrow at Li Xiu, Zhou Lian thought, ’Aside from those fools from the second branch who mistake fish eyes for pearls, everyone in the first and third branches might as well have been taught by Li Xiu. It’s no wonder they’re all sharper than the last—except for Li Guo. He must have inherited that deep-seated honesty from Uncle Li.’

"Bao’er, our uncles from the first and third branches are both smart men. How could these younger siblings of ours be foolish? And that’s not even counting their mothers. But this is for the best; it’s always better to be smart than foolish!" Li Xiu said softly to her, as if he had read her mind.

Glancing at Li Guo, Zhou Lian looked at Li Xiu with a smile. ’Right, they’re all clever, their minds as complex as sieves. So how did a genuinely pure soul like Li Guo come from the same stock?’

Li Xiu also glanced at Li Guo and said with a laugh, "He takes after Uncle Li. You know Uncle Li—he’s smart, but he has no guile. He’s just too honest. It’s in his blood. Bao’er, out of the five younger siblings from the third branch, he’s the only one like that!"

Grandma Li, who had been quiet all this time, looked at the crowd of descendants on and around the kang bed and said cheerfully, "The Third’s personality comes from my father, and Li Guo takes after the Third!"

"Between Big Brother, Brother Bao, and me, we’re more than enough to protect him. Brother Guo is perfect just the way he is!" Li Bo said nonchalantly while feeding peaches to his little nephew and niece. ’With the brothers, sisters, and two sisters-in-law all being so shrewd, how could they possibly fail to protect this one guileless simpleton!’

Understanding the implication behind Li Bo’s words, Li Guo couldn’t help but retort in exasperation, "Little Brother, I’m not actually that stupid. Can you please stop looking at me like I’m mentally challenged!"

At his words, everyone, including the youngest, Yanyan, burst out laughing. Li Bo’s sharp tongue was a long-established fact, and the whole family knew he’d learned it from Li Xiu. But while Li Xiu could have a cutting wit, he never turned it on his family. Li Bo, on the other hand, launched indiscriminate attacks!

Hearing his family’s laughter, Li Guo removed his glasses and rubbed his temples in resignation. ’The younger ones were one thing, but Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law, and even Grandma were getting in on it. It wasn’t that he was actually stupid; he just couldn’t be bothered to dwell on things or get caught up in petty squabbles. As Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law had once taught him, life is just a few short decades, so why waste your feelings on unimportant people and events!’

Seeing how late it was, Li Guo and Li Cui began to organize their departure. Li Xiu and Zhou Lian saw them to the door. Watching the six figures recede into the distance, Zhou Lian remarked with a touch of nostalgia, "Time passes so quickly. In the blink of an eye, they’ve all grown up. I remember when I first married you, Li Bo wasn’t even as big as Yanyan is now!"

"That’s right. He’s grown into a young man now, one who knows how to protect his family," Li Xiu said, closing the door in agreement.

Zhou Lian shot Li Xiu a look. "What do you mean? Even back then, Li Bo knew how to protect his big brother."

"You’re right. That kid’s had a sharp tongue since he was small. I remember back when I was building this house, before you and I were married—he must have been only four years old—he argued Li Hua speechless. Then, using his age as a shield, he and Li Guo ganged up on my own father!" Li Xiu recalled those difficult times with a smile. ’No matter how hard things were, it never felt like a true hardship. My future wife was already promised to me, and my younger siblings were all busy helping out. It was exhausting, but it was also a very happy time!’

Zhou Lian recalled that time. They had both just come back. ’Things had been fine for her, but Li Xiu had faced incredible hardships—the strain of familial conflict, financial powerlessness, and the constant effort of having to hide it all from her!’

The two children wanted to sleep with Grandma Li, which made Zhou Lian a bit worried. Grandma was getting old, and it would be difficult for her if the children needed to get up in the night. However, Sister Fang, who had come over at the sound of the door closing, told her not to worry; she would sleep with them all on the kang bed. ℴℴ𝘮

So, Li Xiu pulled a reluctant Zhou Lian back to their room. After they had both washed up and were lying in bed, Zhou Lian grumbled to Li Xiu, "Jin Chen, you spoil those two way too much. Grandma is old and already a light sleeper. The children getting up in the night will disrupt her rest!"

Gently pulling Zhou Lian into his embrace, Li Xiu said tenderly, "Bao’er, Grandma wants them to stay. We aren’t home for long, and she hates to be parted from the children. With Sister Fang there to look after them, everything will be fine."

After a moment’s thought, Zhou Lian had to admit that Li Xiu had a point, so she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she started talking about the younger siblings from the first and third family branches.

Li Xiu listened to her attentively, and when she was done, he simply smiled. "Bao’er, people say that human nature is fundamentally good, but that’s not always true. In two lifetimes, I still haven’t figured out whether Li Hua and the others were born that way or if their upbringing made them so. But with a mother like theirs, I think it’s nearly impossible to raise a child who values family."

Hearing this, Zhou Lian gave Li Xiu a displeased look. ’Then how come he isn’t the same? They all have the same mother and father. The only difference between Li Xiu and the others is that he wasn’t doted on by their parents. Could that be the reason he didn’t grow up twisted?’