Chapter 332 - 329: Grandma Li’s Birthday (Part 1)
Time flew by, and soon it was Grandma Li’s birthday. The Li family’s married daughters all returned, bringing their children along. Li Xiu’s only paternal aunt arrived with her husband, son, daughter-in-law, daughter, and son-in-law. Li Hua and Li Yun came with their husbands and children, along with Li Gui and Li Fen, who had married within the village. Of course, Li Xiu’s own younger sister, Li Xin, also came with her husband and two children.
Li Bao had already received instructions from Zhou Lian to set up five tables for the banquet. The entire second branch of the family was seated together at a single table in the southwest corner. As the principal grandson, Li Xiu was required to sit at the main table with his first and third uncles. This arrangement put some distance between them, sparing Li Xiu the discomfort of having to look at them.
Standing in the study and looking out at the scene in the courtyard, Li Xiu helplessly rubbed his forehead. Zhou Lian said softly, "It’s a good thing less than half of your siblings are married. By the time Grandma has her hundredth birthday, nearly all of them will be. Imagine all the children running around then. It gives me a headache just thinking about it!"
Looking out the window, Li Xiu said softly, "Bao’er, sometimes that’s just how life is—a mix of joy, sorrow, and helplessness. All I can do is my best to shield you from the sorrow, but these moments of helplessness and turmoil are unavoidable."
Glancing out at the courtyard, Zhou Lian looked at Li Xiu and said gently, "Jin Chen, are you thinking about those things from the old house again?"
Perhaps it was because their hearts were truly connected, but Zhou Lian could always sense the emotions hidden beneath Li Xiu’s expressionless, taciturn facade. It was happening again now. Seeing Li Hua, Li Xin, and the others from the second branch had brought out a hint of melancholy and confusion in him. ’Yes,’ she thought, ’no matter the love, hate, and grudges between them, they are still siblings, bound by blood. It’s one thing to say you’ll treat them like strangers, but that’s all it is—just words.’
"Bao’er, sometimes I truly feel I was unbelievably foolish in my last life. There was probably no one in the world more foolish than me. I treated them with all my heart, and the price I paid was losing my wife and family. It’s only because I have memories of my past life that I understand what is truly precious in this one. Bao’er, sometimes I get scared thinking about it. If I didn’t have those memories, would I have suffered the same fate—losing my family and being filled with lifelong regret?"
Looking at the vulnerable man before her, Zhou Lian sighed. In both of his lives, Li Xiu’s vulnerability had always been connected to her. For such a macho man, nearly all his moments of weakness were because of her.
"Jin Chen, we need to look forward. See? We’re doing perfectly fine right now. What’s the point of dwelling on things that haven’t happened in this life? You have a son and a daughter, a successful career, and you spoil me in a way that would make any woman envious. Everything you’ve ever pursued, everything you’ve wanted, you have it right here. What is there to be conflicted about? The most important thing is to cherish the present and enjoy the life we have now!"
Li Xiu reached out and pulled Zhou Lian into his embrace. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they shone with a brilliant light. He scoffed at himself inwardly. ’So I have weak moments like this too, huh? What’s the point? Getting worked up over people who aren’t worth it, and making Bao’er worry besides. I must be regressing.’
"Bao’er, once we get back to the Capital City and are settled, let’s get away for a bit."
Listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat, Zhou Lian smiled. "Alright. Once we’re settled back in the Capital City, I’ll go traveling with you. But do you have anywhere in mind?"
"No. Is there anywhere you’d like to go, Bao’er?" Li Xiu asked softly, gently smoothing back a lock of hair from Zhou Lian’s forehead as he looked down at her in his arms.
Wrapping her arms around Li Xiu’s lean waist, Zhou Lian thought for a moment before saying, "Let’s go to Dian Nan. I’ve heard it’s like spring all year, with flowers in every home and streams flowing by every door."
"Alright. We’ll go to Dian Nan."
As they stood in a quiet embrace, the tender affection between them made Li Guo, who had just entered to call for them, stop in his tracks. He lowered his head, rubbed his nose sheepishly, and said softly, "Big Brother, Sister-in-law, the cake has been delivered. Auntie sent me to tell you that it’s almost time for the banquet to begin."
At the sound of Li Guo’s voice, Li Xiu released Zhou Lian from his embrace and took her hand instead. He said gently to Li Guo, "Let’s go take a look, then. Has everyone from Second Uncle’s side arrived?"
"Everyone except Second Aunt. The children are here too," Li Guo replied, his voice tinged with emotion as he walked beside his older brother.
With a faint chuckle, Li Xiu patted Li Guo’s shoulder. "Getting angry over people who don’t matter is the most foolish thing to do. Just pretend you don’t see them. Today is Grandma’s birthday. There’s no need to let them ruin your mood."
Nodding, Li Guo let a smile return to his face. He said, in a voice just loud enough for them to hear, "I get it, Big Brother. No point in ruining my own mood over people who aren’t worth it."
Zhou Lian smiled with satisfaction as she looked at the cake on the large table in the center of the courtyard. She had designed it herself. The few cake shops around only offered the same handful of designs, none of which she or Li Xiu found appealing.
"Big Brother, where did you have this cake made? It’s gorgeous!"
A clear voice called out from the crowd gathered around the cake. Li Xiu glanced over and saw it was Li Fen’s husband. He smiled. This brother-in-law of his was a retired soldier—principled but not inflexible, clever and shrewd, and utterly devoted to Li Fen. ’He was like that in both lifetimes.’
"What, you like it?" Li Xiu asked, rare for him to joke with his brother-in-law.
Taking Li Fen’s hand, the man hurried over to Li Xiu’s side and said, a bit shyly, "Big Brother, Sister-in-law, we have a few elders in our family, and I was thinking it would be nice to get one to make them happy, too!"
"We had it custom-made in the city, but your sister-in-law designed it. The cakes you can buy in the shops are all rather mediocre," Li Xiu said, the memory of the available designs leaving him at a loss for words.
The man’s eyes lit up as he turned to Zhou Lian, saying shyly, "Sister-in-law?"
"I know," Zhou Lian said softly to her brother-in-law, glancing with amusement at the silent Li Fen. "I think I drew up quite a few sketches when I was designing this one for Grandma. Come and get them from me before you leave."
"Thank you, Sister-in-law!" he said, preparing to lead Li Fen away.
Zhou Lian grabbed Li Fen with a helpless, wry smile. "Hey, you can at least leave my sister behind," she said to her brother-in-law. "I haven’t had a chance to speak with her yet!"
After a glance at the time, Zhou Lian gave Li Xiu a meaningful look, signaling for him to go on ahead. She then led Li Fen into the study to sit down. Looking at Li Fen on the opposite sofa, Zhou Lian asked gently, "How have you been, Third Sister? I feel like I haven’t had a proper chance to ask since you got married."
Li Fen gently took Zhou Lian’s hand and said with a smile, "I’m doing great, Sister-in-law. After all, Big Brother was the one who approved of my husband. Plus, both of you made a special trip to see me off on my wedding day, so no one from my in-laws’ family would dare look down on me. Besides, we’re all from the same village. Everyone knows how much you and Big Brother care about us sisters. So please, don’t worry!"