Chapter 154 - 151: Being a Guest
Li Xiu held Zhou Lian tightly in his arms, so overcome with emotion he couldn’t speak. He had finally gotten what he’d been waiting for. He’d waited for his wife to say with her own lips that he was a good man and that she had no regrets marrying him. He had longed for this for two lifetimes, and now, the moment had arrived. His wife had finally opened her heart and accepted him!
After a wonderful night, Li Xiu was radiant and full of energy when he woke up. He coaxed their daughter to eat her fill, then had Sister Fang take her out to play. When he returned to their room, he saw his wife’s peaceful, sleeping face. ’I can’t bring myself to wake her,’ he thought. ’We’re visiting Zhang Hongying’s family today, but they’re only two alleys away. It’s okay if we leave a little later!’
Opening her eyes to see Li Xiu sitting beside her with an ardent gaze, Zhou Lian found she was already used to it. Whenever Li Xiu was home, she was certain to open her eyes in the morning and find him watching over her. She had told him before that he should go about his business and not just sit there, and each time he would agree Hanshao. But the very next day, nothing would change. After a while, she couldn’t be bothered to say anything anymore. ’If he wants to watch over me, then let him!’
Once Zhou Lian had eaten, the two of them changed their clothes, picked up the gifts they had prepared, and started walking toward Zhang Hongying’s house. "Bao’er, don’t overthink it," Li Xiu said. "You do what you can, and leave the rest to fate. Your friend’s family wasn’t thinking along those lines before, but you’ve given them a reminder now. Trust that a family who dotes on their daughter will look out for her best interests. You’ve fulfilled your duty as a friend. As for the rest, just wait and see."
"I know. I just think, Yingzi is such a wonderful girl... that someone could have the heart to hurt her is just despicable. No man is any good!" Zhou Lian said slowly, her words harsh.
Li Xiu was torn between laughter and exasperation. He asked her gently, "Bao’er, you just lumped your husband, your father, and your brother into that statement."
"You guys don’t count. I wasn’t talking about you," Zhou Lian argued in a low voice. ’It was a slip of the tongue. How did I lump them in with the rest?’
"So, we’re not men? Especially me... doesn’t my Bao’er know? Want to put it to the test and see if your husband is a real man or not?"
Hearing Li Xiu tease her again, Zhou Lian rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, "Why are you so sensitive? I already said you weren’t included."
"Alright, alright, alright. My Bao’er is the best. Of course my Bao’er wouldn’t dream of scolding her own husband." Afraid he’d taken the teasing too far and she’d give him the silent treatment, Li Xiu quickly changed his tune to agree with her.
She looked up and saw the look of pure adoration on his face. "I already told you you’re a good man," she said shyly.
Bantering playfully, they soon arrived at Zhang Hongying’s front door. Zhou Lian gently pulled her hand from Li Xiu’s grasp, raised it to knock, and whispered, "Li Xiu, we’re in public. Behave yourself a little!"
Li Xiu gave her an amused look. ’This woman of mine,’ he thought. ’It’s not like I’m doing it on purpose. I just can’t help it.’ Still, not wanting her to be nervous, he gave a slight nod to reassure her. Seeing Zhou Lian break into a relieved smile, Li Xiu couldn’t help but smile back knowingly. ’What a silly woman!’
The door swung open, and Zhang Hongying was there, beaming. She cheerfully grabbed Zhou Lian’s hand and said, "You’re here! Quick, come in."
Inside, the entire Zhang Family was present. Li Xiu and Zhou Lian greeted them Hanshao. After a round of introductions, everyone took their seats. Mrs. Zhang smiled at Zhou Lian and said, "You should have just come as you are! Why bring gifts? Ah, Xiao Zhou, if you do this again next time, this Auntie is going to be angry!"
"Auntie, it’s all homegrown. It didn’t cost much at all," Zhou Lian said with a smile. ’Showing up empty-handed would be unthinkable. And with Li Xiu here today, it would be even more impolite!’
"That won’t do either. I saw it all. How much can you possibly grow inside your house? It’s barely enough for your own family. You can’t do this next time. And look here—pastries, candy, and liquor! This must have cost a fortune!" Mrs. Zhang said, looking at the items on the table.
"Auntie, it’s my first time meeting you and Uncle. I won’t bring anything next time," Li Xiu said to Mrs. Zhang with a smile.
"Good, good, good. Just make sure you don’t!"
"Xiao Li, what do you do for work? Last time, Xiao Zhou mentioned you were away on a business trip," Father Zhang asked slowly, observing Li Xiu. ’He has good character and talent. He’s handsome, well-mannered, and carries himself with courtesy and discipline. Just by looking at him, it’s clear this Li Xiu is no ordinary man.’
"I’m running a small business with a few friends," Li Xiu said with calm confidence. "The policies are more favorable now, aren’t they? As a lad from the countryside, I can’t get a job in a factory. My friends are all returned educated youth who are also waiting for job assignments. We figured we’d try to make our own way and be less of a burden."
"That’s a good way of thinking, and a good thing to do. Not being a burden on the country shows great awareness," Father Zhang said, nodding in approval. ’This young man really has his head on his shoulders!’
"You praise us too much, Uncle. We don’t have such lofty ideals," Li Xiu said humbly with a wave of his hand. "We just figured we should solve our own problems if we can. We’re all grown men; at the very least, we have to find a way to make sure our wives and children are fed and clothed!" ’I’m really not that high-minded,’ he thought. ’It’s not that I don’t love my country, but you have to know your place. If you can’t even take care of your own little family, what energy do you have left to look after the greater good?’
"That’s the honest truth. Brother Li is a straightforward man. Here, here, have some tea," Zhang Hongguo said with a smile, pouring a cup for Li Xiu.
Li Xiu quickly made a gesture of polite refusal and said with a smile, "Please, Brother Zhang, just call me by my name. I’m younger than you, it’s no problem."
Zhang Hongguo smiled. "Alright, that’s less formal then. Xiao Zhou and my little sister are good friends, so you two should visit often. No need for all these formalities!"
Meanwhile, the four men were verbally sparring, each politely probing the other between the lines. Seeing that Father Zhang and his sons had the clear, honest features of upright men, Li Xiu patiently settled in, his tone light as he continued the exploratory conversation.
Things were much livelier on the women’s side. Since they had all met before, this reunion was less formal. Mrs. Zhang, in particular, already felt a debt of gratitude to Zhou Lian, so she naturally chatted with her in an even more familiar way. The two Zhang daughters-in-law were both sharp women; seeing their mother-in-law and sister-in-law being so unusually friendly with Zhou Lian, they too treated her with extra warmth.
"Xiao Zhou, you have excellent taste," Mrs. Zhang said to Zhou Lian with a smile, praising Li Xiu. "He has such clear, handsome features, an elegant bearing, and a confident way of speaking. He doesn’t seem like a country lad at all!"
"Auntie, you’re giving him too much praise. He just has a few more years of schooling than the average person from the countryside," Zhou Lian said with a small laugh. ’Isn’t that an exaggeration?’ she thought. ’Li Xiu is just a little more handsome, a little taller, and a little smarter than other people. Plus, he studied with his master for over ten years. It seems his master taught him well, turning a simple piece of wood into a priceless antique!’
The Zhangs’ eldest daughter-in-law glanced at Li Xiu and said to Zhou Lian with a smile, "It’s more than just a few years of schooling. An aura like that isn’t something you can get from books." ’He’s no country lad,’ she thought. ’With a bearing like that, I’d believe it if someone told me he was a young master specially cultivated by some great family. This young couple really turns one’s assumptions upside down. And my sister-in-law’s friend is the same way. It just goes to show you, there’s always someone better out there.’