Chapter 165 - 162: Returning Home
Li Xiu had completely handed off business matters to Wang Dongfang and the other two. He, on the other hand, was wholeheartedly focused on taking care of Zhou Lian. Just as her figure started to round out, it was time for exams at the university. Once they were over, summer vacation would begin.
The exams lasted three days, and Zhou Lian earned excellent marks in all her subjects. Li Xiu had also spoken with the department head and the university president, finally arranging for Zhou Lian to take a semester off. The agreement was that since she had passed the end-of-semester exams, she could directly resume classes in the spring semester of her sophomore year. This made Zhou Lian happy for a long time.
Meanwhile, Zhang Hongying confidently promised to take meticulous notes for Zhou Lian during the fall semester of their sophomore year. She also vowed to study hard so she could help tutor Zhou Lian. This move significantly improved Li Xiu’s impression of her, which, in turn, indirectly created many more obstacles for her fiancé, Wang Song, on his path to winning her over!
Once Zhou Lian was home for summer vacation, Li Xiu took her to the hospital for a check-up. Hearing the doctor say that everything was fine and that both mother and child were healthy, he was finally able to relax completely. He asked Sister Fang to take good care of Zhou Lian for a few days, as he needed to take Nuonuo back to his hometown. He had three reasons for the trip: first, to visit his master’s grave; second, to tell his grandmother and the family that his wife was pregnant again; and third, to bring Li Bao back with him. It was time to start training Li Bao. After all, he wouldn’t have time to worry about the business in the future, and Wang Dongfang and the other two wouldn’t be able to handle it all by themselves.
Li Xiu and Nuonuo traveled by train for a day and a night, finally arriving home the following afternoon. Seeing the travel-worn father and daughter, Grandma Li’s heart ached for them. She immediately ordered Li Miao and her sisters, who had rushed over, to get busy boiling water and making a meal.
After the father and daughter had bathed, changed their clothes, and eaten a delicious meal, everyone sat down, ready for a proper talk. The Li family was also curious why Li Xiu had returned alone with Nuonuo, without Zhou Lian.
Seeing Li Miao and the others gathered around Nuonuo, playing with her, Li Xiu felt relieved. Nuonuo wasn’t shy at all and was having a blast playing with her young aunts and uncles. He finally turned back, ready to talk, but was met with an unsettling sight: seven or eight pairs of eyes staring intently at him. Li Xiu gave a wry smile. ’They really don’t trust me at all, do they!’
"Grandma, Uncle, Aunt, Third Uncle, Third Aunt, it’s not what you’re thinking. Nuo Nuo’s mother didn’t come back with us this time because she’s pregnant. The journey would have been too difficult for her!" Li Xiu explained helplessly. He could tell what they were all thinking just by looking at their faces. ’Seriously,’ he thought, ’am I that unreliable? They think I can’t even hold on to my own wife!’
"She’s pregnant? Really? That’s wonderful! How many months along is she? Is the morning sickness bad?" Aunt Li was the first to react, rattling off a series of questions. "This is great news, just great!"
Grandma Li and Aunt Li also looked at Li Xiu with excitement. Li Xiu glanced around at everyone and said with a contented smile, "A little over four months, almost five. Her symptoms aren’t too severe, but they’re a bit worse than when she was pregnant with Nuonuo." When Zhou Lian had been carrying Nuonuo, she had almost no symptoms. This time, however, she had some, especially nausea and dry heaving in the morning.
"You should take some of our homemade pickled vegetables when you go back. Nuo Nuo’s mother will probably like them. You can’t really get things like this in the city!" Aunt Li said with a smile. ’It’s good that she’s pregnant,’ she thought. ’Just having Nuonuo alone always seemed a little lonely.’
"Take them," Grandma Li explained gently. "Your younger brothers and sisters went out of their way to gather wild vegetables and mountain bamboo shoots after school. Your aunts pickled them for you, and they’re in the kitchen. Don’t forget them when you leave." She wanted Li Xiu to know that all her grandchildren were dear to her, and that his siblings were always thinking of him.
Li Xiu understood her meaning perfectly. He smiled gently and said, "Alright. Since they’re my own siblings, I won’t stand on ceremony!"
Hearing this, both of his aunts exclaimed in approval. Not standing on ceremony was good! That’s how real family should be!
Li Xiu got up and started unpacking the gifts he had brought. There were about ten books for his school-aged siblings. His grandmother, uncle, aunt, third uncle, and third aunt each received a new set of clothes. Grandma got two extra pairs of shoes, and for Li Bao and his wife, he had brought a pair of matching watches.
When Li Bao tried to refuse, Li Xiu shot him a look. "That’s enough. Why are you being so formal with your own brother? I got them for you, so just take them."
After a moment’s thought, Li Xiu addressed the elders in the room. "The main reason I came back this time was to ask Li Bao to come to the Capital City with me. Grandma, Uncle, Aunt, Third Uncle, Third Aunt, what do you all think?"
"Take him with you? What for? What would he do? Have you thought all of this through? This is no small matter," Grandma Li asked gently after a moment of contemplation. "Have you discussed it with Nuo Nuo’s mother?" She hoped Li Xiu would help his siblings, but only if he was in a position to do so.
"Don’t worry, Grandma. Nuo Nuo’s mother knows, and I’ve already figured out what Li Bao will be doing. You don’t have to worry," Li Xiu reassured her. Then, looking at Li Bao’s wife and her large, pregnant belly, he added with some hesitation, "The only thing is, only Li Bao can come for now. His wife will have to stay here and wait a while. And since you’re expecting now... will that be a problem?"
"Of course not, Big Brother. What problem could there be?" Wang Xiaojuan said nonchalantly. "Li Bao can’t help much around the house anyway. It’s not like he can have the baby for me. Besides, with Grandma, Mom, and Aunt here, it really makes no difference whether he’s around or not!" ’It was her baby,’ she thought. ’My husband’s presence isn’t that important. He couldn’t help much and would probably just get in the way. If he followed his big brother, he’d have a bright future. It’s like getting a head start on building a foundation for our child.’
Li Xiu nodded in approval. ’Good,’ he thought. ’This sister-in-law is sensible. She doesn’t hold her husband back.’ He then gently reassured her, "Alright then. You just rest up and wait at home. Don’t worry, I promise that by next year, you and the baby will be in the Capital City to reunite with Li Bao!"
"We’ll listen to whatever Big Brother says!" Wang Xiaojuan said with a smile. ’My brother-in-law is capable, decisive, and he values his family,’ she thought. ’I’d have to be a fool to hold my husband back. In the time I’ve been married into this family, I’ve figured it out. He may not be close with his own siblings, but he’s incredibly good to his cousins. Both he and his wife are successful and accomplished. I’m not an unreasonable person; if he wasn’t in a position to help, I wouldn’t try to force the issue. Besides, the elders would never allow it. But since he’s making the offer, I’ll be just like my husband and follow his lead in everything!’
Seeing Wang Xiaojuan nodding her head enthusiastically, Li Xiu smiled. ’She’s a smart one,’ he thought. ’This sister-in-law was clever and knew how to handle things in their past life, too. She got along well with my wife, and most importantly, she was good to Li Bao. Her fiercely protective nature is just like her mother-in-law’s.’
"It’s settled then. Sister-in-law, please help Li Bao pack a change of clothes and a set of bedding. He’ll come back to the Capital City with me," Li Xiu said to Wang Xiaojuan. Seeing her nod, he turned to Li Bao and asked, "What about you? Are you coming with me now, or do you want to wait until after your wife gives birth?"
"I’ll go with you, Big Brother," Li Bao said to Li Xiu after glancing at his wife.