Chapter 1487: Gratitude
Yang Jiu Long felt good listening to Li Yungui’s words. "From now on, I’ll have to trouble you to look after these few people a bit."
"Of course, of course."
Yang Jiu Long shook hands with Lv Beiguang again. "Mr. Lv, the liquor you brew is just fantastic. That rascal Junzi wouldn’t let me drink my fill."
"Thank you, Mr. Yang, for your approval."
Liu Hong heard that this was the village chief of Li Family Village, and she had a lot of questions she wanted to ask.
"Junzi, I’m treating today. I want to drink with Village Chief Li."
"Sure, you all go inside. The women will come over in a bit too."
Liu Hong followed them into the room. Just then, the person in charge here came in.
"Mr. Yang is here?"
"Yes. Junzi, have you ordered the dishes?"
"I have. Director Tian, add two more roasted lamb legs. And bring another three jin of lamb."
"Alright, I’ll go down and get it ready."
Liu Hong really couldn’t hold back anymore. "Village Chief Li, how’s my daughter‑in‑law doing?" In the past she truly hadn’t liked Tao YanZhen, but Xu Ying had almost killed her in the end, and now she couldn’t see her daughter‑in‑law or her grandkids, so of course she felt Tao was good now.
"She’s doing very well. Tao is now working as a teacher. Yang Shihao and Yang Sijia, those two little ones, are in kindergarten. They’re together with my two grandsons and their cousin."
Now Liu Hong was a bit unhappy. Wasn’t Yu Jie supposed to go take care of her aunt? How could they send the kids to the Red Education Class?
So it showed on her face. Yang Jiu Long coughed once, and only then did she rein herself in.
By this time the side dishes had already been served. Chaoyang came up front leading the way, holding his son.
Then there was another round of introductions. Liu Hong’s gaze was all on Jing Chu; this girl was too beautiful. Following such an ordinary man was really a loss.
Yang Jiu Long knew this beautiful woman was his fourth son’s crush. After seeing her, he could understand why his son still couldn’t let it go. She really was gorgeous.
It was supposed to be one family having a cheerful meal, and now with two strangers added, it really felt quite awkward.
Liu Hong kept chasing after Qu Xiaoli, asking about the daughter‑in‑law’s situation. This made Jing Chu very displeased; this was mealtime.
She picked some food for Qu Xiaoli. "Mom, have some. The hotpot lamb here is good."
What kind of person was Yang Jiu Long—how could he not see that the others felt ill at ease? "Liu Hong, you eat more too."
Only then did things ease up a lot. She still asked questions, but it wasn’t as intense as just now anymore.
Yang Xiuqin was off to the side, just waiting on the kids as they ate.
Chenxi still couldn’t eat solid food yet, so Chaoyang sat off to the side holding him and let his wife eat first.
"Jing Chen, tell Grandpa Han, are you satisfied with this meal?"
"It’s okay, but it’s not as tasty as what Grandma Jiang makes."
Looking at Jing Chen acting like a little grown‑up, Yang Jiu Long was delighted.
The Lv Family all had very high looks; at a glance they made people feel a natural fondness.
"Your Grandma Jiang also said the food here is good."
"Feifei Auntie said it’s just so‑so. Before I came, Uncle Jianbin mentioned several restaurants, but Auntie told me not to get my hopes up too high."
Han Xiangjun burst out laughing. "Your aunt is right, don’t set your expectations too high.
Tomorrow Grandpa Han will take you to eat roast duck, how about that?"
"Alright then, Grandpa Han, the day after tomorrow when we go back, bring a few roast ducks for me, and take some back for Auntie too."
"It won’t taste good that way. How about next year you come together with your uncles and aunties. We’ll come here and eat roast duck fresh out of the oven."
"Will it really be not good?" Jing Chen asked his dad.
"Yeah, it definitely won’t be as good. When you go back, have Grandma Jiang make it for you; it won’t be any worse than here."
Jing Chen nodded, rolled up a piece of pancake, and handed it to Yiqing. "Little Uncle, you eat."
He didn’t play favorites, rolling pancakes for his little aunt and youngest uncle as well.
Watching this, Yang Jiu Long really liked it. "This kid’s been raised well."
Yang Jiu Long called them to drink. Lv Beiguang just symbolically had one glass. "Mr. Yang, I can’t hold my liquor, you all drink."
"A brewmaster who can’t drink?" Yang Jiu Long said, then laughed loudly.
"It’s because He Run isn’t home. Otherwise, if he knew you all were coming, he’d definitely be overjoyed."
"I haven’t seen He Run for years either, really a good kid," Li Yungui sighed. Only after meeting Yang Run Tai did he realize there really was someone even more outstanding than Xiao Wei.
"That kid went out of town." Without the eldest grandson at his side, it was truly boring.
Liu Hong listened to Qu Xiaoli talk about the grandkids, and her eyes lit up. "Thank you, Xiaoli, for taking such good care of them."
"It’s nothing, I just treat them like the kids in our own family. With Zhongyi not home, we just lend a hand on small matters."
"That already counts as a favor." Liu Hong was sincerely grateful to Li Yungui’s family. "Xiaoli, I brought some things for the children, I still have to trouble you."
"It’s no trouble. This time we’re going back by truck.
You’re really a good mother‑in‑law, always bringing things for the kids."
Liu Hong’s smile was a bit unnatural; she really hadn’t prepared anything before.
In the end, Yang Jiu Long insisted on paying the bill. "Junzi, tomorrow at noon let’s eat together at the roast duck restaurant again."
"Alright."
"Tomorrow the eldest couple will come too. Their three kids in Li Family Village have all been under Village Chief Li’s care."
"Haha, looks like there’s nothing much for me to do."
Yang Jiu Long had the driver take them back, while he and his wife stayed here waiting.
"Old Yang, I want to go over and take a look."
"Just stay put." If she went over once, it would be a whole hassle.
"Or we could have Xiao Zhen bring the two kids back."
"Do you know how unsafe it is for a woman to travel with two kids? Didn’t you see the photos of the two children?"
"How is that the same? If it’s not safe with her taking the kids, then I’ll go; I’ll go along the day after tomorrow."
"You won’t be able to handle that. There are so many people, what are you squeezing in with them for? Let’s see next summer, we’ll drive over once."
"You said it. Don’t forget then."
On the other side, once the family got home, everyone washed up and went to rest.
Chaoyang wrapped his arms around Jing Chu. "Wifey, you’re happy now, right? You’ve met everyone in the family."
"Mm. Chaoyang, look at my dad, he hasn’t aged at all."
"Isn’t that so? Look at my dad, he’s aged a lot. When the two dads stand together, there’s a big difference."
"My dad doesn’t have much to worry about. My stepmother’s really good at taking care of him."
"Exactly. At dinner my father‑in‑law was taken care of just like the kids. My father‑in‑law is blessed."
"You jealous?"
"Heh, I’ll take care of you like that in the future too."
"Such a smooth talker."
Chaoyang pressed his beloved woman down once again.
Li Xue was lying in Guodong’s arms. "Tomorrow let’s go home and visit too."
"Okay. Tomorrow morning we’ll take the kids over."
Yang Xiuqin soothed Yixin to sleep. "Beiguang, once Old Han gives back the money tomorrow, let’s first take out fifteen thousand and give it to him. When we get home I’ll go talk to Xinyu. There’s still ten thousand at my place; we’re short five thousand, we’ll owe Xinyu that for now.
I feel embarrassed owing Old Han. What do you think?"