Chapter 167 - 164: Zhou Kun’s Decision
Zhou Kun watched Li Xiu with a wry smile. ’This kid...’ he thought. He understood Li Xiu’s predicament. Brothers-in-law weren’t like your own brothers, after all. You couldn’t hit them or curse them, and you couldn’t even speak too harshly. But ignoring the situation wasn’t an option either. His son-in-law doted on his daughter so much that, out of love for her, he was determined to give his brothers-in-law a leg up. It was a tough spot to be in.
"So, do the three of you want to go or not?" Zhou Kun said coolly, his gaze sweeping over his three sons. "Since your brother-in-law brought it up, he must have a way to arrange things. But whether it turns out to be a good thing or a bad thing—that’s up to you. Don’t make him go to all that trouble only for it to blow up in his face. If that happens, don’t blame me for dealing with you!"
"Dad, of course I want to go," Second Brother Zhou said, his excitement tinged with a hint of apprehension. "But after hearing my brother-in-law put it like that, I feel a little spooked."
Li Xiu smiled. "Second Brother, Brother Zhou, Third Brother Zhou, it’s not that sinister. It’s just... how do I put this? The Capital City is the kind of place where imperial relatives are a dime a dozen and the sons of powerful families are everywhere. We’re just ordinary folk. The goal is not to cause trouble, but not to be afraid of it either. The most important thing is to have self-control. Life here in the countryside is relatively simple, maybe even a little sheltered. But over there... with all the drinking, whoring, gambling, and drugs, one slip-up is all it takes. In the best-case scenario, you’ll lose your wife and kids. In the worst, your entire family will be destroyed, and you could end up dead. I’m not just saying that to scare you."
He glanced at Zhou Kun and said gravely, "Dad, it looks like Lian’er and I will be staying in the Capital City for the long haul. We absolutely want to help our family however we can, but this situation truly has its pros and cons. Lian’er and I have thought about it for a long time and discussed it many times, and we’re honestly torn. There are good reasons for you all to come, and good reasons to stay. I figured I should just lay everything out on the table, and then you, Dad, can discuss it with my brothers and make a decision."
"And what about you? Isn’t my sister worried you’ll be led astray?" Second Brother Zhou asked, looking at Li Xiu with a challenging glint in his eye.
Shooting Second Brother Zhou a wry look, Li Xiu replied softly, "Second Brother, you’re overthinking it. I barely have enough time in the day to take care of Lian’er and Nuonuo as it is. I don’t have time to go out carousing. Besides," he added, his tone dropping, "are you implying Lian’er can’t compare to those women out there?"
Second Brother Zhou jolted and shot Li Xiu a fierce glare. ’He’d set another trap for me!’ He retorted indignantly, "I never said my sister was anything less than perfect! I was talking about you! As her older brother, isn’t it my job to worry that *you* might be led astray?"
"Well, I appreciate the concern, Second Brother. Don’t worry, I won’t be corrupted," Li Xiu said, smiling at Second Brother Zhou, his tone perfectly level. "Besides, only an idiot would knowingly do something self-destructive. Lian’er has never once doubted me on that front."
Watching the two of them bicker, Third Brother Zhou shot his own brother a look of disdain. ’He can never win an argument with our brother-in-law, yet he provokes him every time. He’s just asking for trouble.’ He then glanced at Li Xiu, who, despite his smile, had an undeniable presence. Pursing his lips, he said, "Li Xiu, I’m not going to beat around the bush with you. The Capital City is obviously a great place, but to be honest, Brother Zhou, Second Brother Zhou, and I... we’re barely literate. We’d feel completely out of our depth there."
Seeing that Li Xiu was listening intently, he went on, "We’ve heard they’re going to start allocating land to individual households, but as you know, you can’t make much money just toiling in the fields. So... if we don’t go to the Capital City, is there something we could do right here at home?"
"So you’ve thought it through, Third Brother Zhou," Li Xiu said quietly, looking at him. ’This third brother-in-law of his had always been the most pragmatic one. It looked like he had made the choice that was truly right for him.’
"Yes, Dad. I’ve thought it through," Third Brother Zhou said with conviction. "To be honest, everyone dreams of a place like the Capital City, but you have to know your own limits, right? Our brother-in-law can get a foothold there because he’s smart, and more importantly, he has strong self-discipline and knows what he wants. If we go... forget about the trouble we’d cause for our sister and brother-in-law. The real question is, who can guarantee we’d stay true to ourselves and keep ourselves in check? One wrong move and not only would we drag them down, but we’d likely be ruined ourselves. What’s the point of that risk? So, since our brother-in-law is kind enough to offer help, we won’t stand on ceremony."
Brother Zhou, standing to the side, nodded emphatically. "I feel the same way."
Zhou Kun looked at the two of them, then turned his gaze to Second Brother Zhou. He stared until Second Brother Zhou gave an awkward laugh and said, "Dad, stop staring at me. I’m well aware of my own shortcomings. Let’s just do it this way. I’ll go with what my big brother and third brother say."
Nodding in satisfaction, Zhou Kun turned to Li Xiu. "The three of them won’t be going, then. They’re not cut out for it, and I’m afraid they’d just be courting disaster. You and Nuo Nuo’s mother should just focus on living your own lives. Now that you understand the family’s situation, and you’ve been to the Capital City and seen the world... do you see any opportunities here that might be suitable for these three?"
"Don’t say that, Dad. Just because the three of them aren’t going to the Capital City doesn’t mean they can’t make money here at home," Li Xiu said gently, looking at them. "The government policies are improving, and the overall climate is much more relaxed. The household responsibility system is definitely coming, most likely this year. The question is, what do you three want to do? Go into business, farm the land, or follow Dad and learn medicine?" ’It was better this way,’ he thought. ’It would save his wife from constantly worrying about them.’
"I think I’ll just stick to farming," Brother Zhou said quietly. "I don’t have the knack for Dad’s medical skills. As for business, I’ve never been involved in it. What if I lose all the money?" Just as his second brother had said, he was well aware of his own capabilities. Being overly ambitious was a mistake. Farming was what he did best.
"In that case, Brother Zhou, when the land is allocated, you should lease that whole mountain over by the Earth God Temple," Li Xiu suggested after a moment’s thought. "Plant the whole thing with fruit trees, then raise chickens in the orchard. Make sure to sign a seventy-year contract. I’ve already had someone look into all the details. As long as you and your wife are willing to put in the hard work, you’ll make a very good living." ’He’d done plenty of homework in the Capital City,’ he thought. ’When it came to making money, even without his memories of a past life, he’d seen enough in this one to help his relatives live comfortably. They might not become fabulously wealthy, but becoming well-off was definitely not a problem.’
"What about me? I want to study medicine with Dad!" Second Brother Zhou said hurriedly.
"Then settle down and study hard. When the opportunity comes, you can get some advanced training. People will always need doctors, after all!" Li Xiu said with a smile. ’He had to admit, his second brother-in-law did seem to have a talent for it. If he really applied himself, it wouldn’t be a bad future for him at all.’
"I’d like to start a small business, right here near home," Third Brother Zhou said in a low voice.
Li Xiu thought for a moment. "The old supply and marketing co-op is bound to be shut down eventually. Our village is pretty big, so Third Brother Zhou, you should try to buy a few rooms in the village center and open a small shop there. A little general store, you know? It’d be a small-scale business, so it wouldn’t make a huge profit, but it’s something your wife could run. That way, it wouldn’t interfere with your work in the fields."
Zhou Kun nodded in approval. ’His son-in-law’s suggestions were good. They weren’t overly ambitious, just small businesses, and they all suited the personalities of his three sons. He’d clearly put a lot of thought into this.’
"What do you think, Dad? Do those sound suitable?" Li Xiu asked Zhou Kun with a smile. At the end of the day, he was only offering suggestions. Whether or not his three brothers-in-law would listen was up to them.