Chapter 335: Arranging Hometown Matters
Chapter 335: Chapter 332: Arranging Hometown Matters
Zhou Lian held her cup, quietly watching her sisters-in-law and Wang Xiaojuan chat animatedly about their daily lives. She lowered her head and smiled silently. ‘This is good. Their relationships haven’t changed, and they’re all doing well. Li Xiu doesn’t have to worry about them anymore. People say he’s both the most heartless and the most deeply affectionate, but that’s just a way to protect himself from getting hurt. Who can really be both deeply affectionate and heartless at the same time!’
Listening to her sisters-in-law all talking at once about their family situations, Zhou Lian smiled. Li Xiu’s affection for them hadn’t been in vain. She glanced at Li Xin, who had been sitting silently in the corner, and shook her head with a self-deprecating smile. ‘Li Xiu really is at odds with the people who should be closest to him. To say he has shallow family ties would be putting it mildly!’
She recalled how after Li Xiu returned from his last trip to their hometown, he had mentioned helping his married sisters. He just wanted them to have better lives and to not fall too far behind their younger siblings who were in college. It seemed his efforts were already paying off. ‘Then again, these small problems were never a challenge for Li Xiu, just a bit tedious!’
Zhou Lian discreetly checked the time. It was getting late. ‘But then again,’ she thought, ‘two of them are married to men in this village, and the other two’s in-laws live less than a mile away. It’s rare for them to get together, and they’re all so close by. I should let them visit a little longer.’
It wasn’t until Sister Fang came to get Zhou Lian, saying that Aunt Li was leaving and wanted Zhou Lian to see her off, that the lively conversation came to a halt. The women looked at the time and all smiled. It was indeed getting late, and it was time for them to head back too.
Aunt Li lived a bit far, so Sister Fang had already arranged for a car to take them home. She had also prepared some parting gifts and placed them in the car ahead of time.
Seeing Zhou Lian arrange a car for their aunt, Li Hua and the others quickly waved their hands in refusal. They didn’t live far and insisted there was no need for their sister-in-law to go to the trouble of arranging a car for them as well.
After Zhou Lian saw her sisters-in-law off with a smile, Wang Xiaojuan looked around. Seeing there was nothing else, she also said her goodbyes and left.
Looking at Sister Fang beside her, Zhou Lian asked softly, “Where’s Grandma? And where did Nuonuo and Yanyan go?”
“Grandma was a little tired, so I took her to her room to rest. I had someone take the two children out for a walk. As for Li Xiu, he’s in his room and hasn’t come out. I suppose he’s not awake yet!” Sister Fang said with a smile as she turned and started walking back with Zhou Lian.
With a small smile, Zhou Lian said gently, “Let Grandma and Jin Chen rest a while longer. They must be exhausted from the past couple of days!”
“Xiao Lian, about that Li Xin… don’t take it to heart. It’s not worth getting angry over someone like her!” Sister Fang advised, her voice laced with concern as she recalled the behavior of Li Xiu’s biological sister just before she left.
Zhou Lian looked at the worried Sister Fang and said with a smile, “Sister, don’t worry. I’m not angry. Why would I torment myself by getting mad at someone so brainless? Besides, after all these years, I’m used to their antics!”
“That’s good. What on earth are they thinking? Honestly, sometimes I really wonder if they and Li Xiu were born to the same parents.” Sister Fang grew a little angry just thinking about the look Li Xin gave Zhou Lian as she was leaving.
Hearing Sister Fang’s words, Zhou Lian couldn’t help but burst out laughing. ‘She’s right, were they really born to the same parents? Apparently so. After all, Grandma and Eldest Aunt were both present when Li Xiu was born! Otherwise, it really would make you wonder!’
‘Perhaps Li Xiu is what you’d call a genetic mutation. With the minds of Second Brother Li and Ge Er Ya, it’s hard to imagine them producing someone as refined and noble as Li Xiu!’
“Sister, as the saying goes, a dragon has nine sons, and each is different. It’s even more so with people. Nature plays a part, and so does nurture—those are all factors. Sister, these things are already set in stone and can’t be changed. Why get tangled up with them over this? It’s best to just treat them like strangers,” Zhou Lian said nonchalantly. ‘Is it really worth my time to fuss over people like them?’
Sister Fang was about to say something when she looked up and saw Li Xiu standing at the entrance to the main hall. She gave a silent smile and ducked into the kitchen. ‘Those two get so lovey-dovey when they’re together,’ she thought. ‘I’d better make myself scarce. I can’t bear to watch!’
As if sensing something, Zhou Lian looked up to see Li Xiu staring intently at her. She smiled and walked quickly toward him.
Reaching out to take her hand as she drew near, Li Xiu wrapped an arm around her waist and led her back to the bedroom. He sat down in the chair before the vanity, pulling her onto his lap. “Didn’t you say you’d be back soon to keep me company?” he asked gently.
“What’s this? You missed me after just a short while?” Zhou Lian teased, watching in the mirror as Li Xiu rested his chin on the top of her head.
Li Xiu pouted. “I’ve been thinking about you the whole time. What am I to do if my Bao’er breaks her promise?”
“Alright, alright, Jin Chen. I was just chatting with Xiao Juan and your sisters for a bit and lost track of time. We haven’t seen each other in a long time, so we sisters-in-law had some private matters to discuss!” Zhou Lian explained gently, knowing he was using his slight drunkenness as an excuse to act spoiled.
Gently toying with Zhou Lian’s fingers, Li Xiu lowered his gaze and asked, “Oh, Bao’er, Li Xin didn’t pull any stunts, did she?”
“Don’t worry, she wouldn’t dare. She just didn’t say a single word. I have no idea why she even stayed. Anyway, let’s not talk about her,” Zhou Lian said nonchalantly, patting his hand. “Jin Chen, how are you feeling now? Uncomfortable? Does your head hurt?”
“It doesn’t hurt, and I don’t feel sick. I didn’t even drink that much. I was probably just happy, so I felt a little light-headed, that’s all.”
“That’s good. Otherwise, my heart would have ached for you.”
Standing at the door, Sister Fang shook her head in resignation. ‘Just how absorbed are these two?’ she thought. ‘I deliberately stomped my way over here, and neither of them even heard me.’ She knocked on the door. As they both turned their heads toward her, she said with a deadpan expression, “The children’s uncles and aunts are coming over tonight. Aren’t you going to get ready?”
“Get ready for what? Are they coming for dinner, or are they coming after they’ve eaten?” Zhou Lian asked, confused, as she remained draped over Li Xiu’s shoulder, looking at Sister Fang in the doorway.
Casting a glance at Zhou Lian, who still hadn’t left Li Xiu’s embrace, Sister Fang could only sigh to herself at how shameless the girl was getting. “Grandma told them to come for dinner,” she said with resignation.
“Who’s all coming?” Zhou Lian asked Sister Fang, curious. ‘How did I not know about this?’
“Three from the eldest branch, and three from the third branch.”
Nodding in understanding, Zhou Lian smiled. “Oh, so the single, unmarried ones! Alright, I get it. We’ll be right there!”
Watching Sister Fang walk away without a backward glance, Zhou Lian looked at Li Xiu in confusion. “Jin Chen, I feel like Sister Fang is a little miffed. Who got on her nerves? She was perfectly fine a minute ago!”
“No, I don’t think so. She’s probably just in a hurry. It’s getting late, and when those youngsters get here, they’ll be clamoring for food. Sister Fang is likely just worried that dinner isn’t ready yet,” Li Xiu said softly, suppressing a laugh. He couldn’t very well tell his dear Bao’er that Sister Fang was annoyed she hadn’t gotten out of his lap—annoyed that his Bao’er had gotten so shameless!