Chapter 1442: Life in 1442
Li Xue nodded. How could she not know that Guodong was genuinely concerned and pained for her?
But she didn’t want to have kids now; maybe wait a few years.
Li Yunqiao wanted Red Army and Hongling to stay, but neither wanted to.
Red Army had a lot of work in Li Family Village. Hongling simply already considered Li Family Village home.
In the end, they decided to stay for dinner. At night, the family sat in the living room making dumplings.
Li Yunqiao looked at the big family, thinking that when Hongling and Red Army also got married, the home would become even more lively.
Lu Fengzhen wanted to speak but hesitated; finally, she bit her lip and said, "Guodong, I’m thinking of going to visit my parents’ home tomorrow."
This year, Li Yunqiao was busy with work, and there’s been no visit to Jin Family Village before New Year’s. Now his mother wasn’t well, and he hadn’t returned because of his daughter’s situation.
So even knowing it’s difficult, he spoke up. He still wanted to spend more time with his mother. Seeing her one more time is one less time.
"I’ll come back and pick you up tomorrow morning."
Li Yunqiao thought, "How about we go back together tonight?"
"Can we?"
"Dad, Aunt Lu, I’m okay with anything. You decide."
Once decided, after dinner, the family squeezed into the car; fortunately, there were no heavy folks in the Li Family; certainly, not at this point. However, it was uncomfortable squeezing in.
Once back at Li Xue’s house, Lv Beiguang had already lit the fire at home. But he wasn’t home; he was likely at the distillery.
"Dad, Aunt Lu, you and Little Sis can stay in my dad’s room. He’s lit the fire. I’ll go tell him so he can stay in the distillery instead."
Li Yunqiao nodded. At this point, going to the second child’s house would mean a cold room, so staying here with the daughter worked.
Guodong at the next door said a word, planning to visit Jin Family Village tomorrow, especially with little children around.
He went to the distillery and told Lv Beiguang.
"Alright, I know; you’re heading back tomorrow morning." With in-laws visiting, Lv Beiguang must entertain them well.
The next morning bright and early, Lv Beiguang carried a five-pound wine jar back home.
Jing Chu and Li Xue prepared breakfast. Now when Lu Fengzhen saw Lv Beiguang, she felt more emotionally stable. This is the change for women after settling down.
Li Yunqiao and Lv Beiguang sat and chatted.
"Brother Li, this is the wine from this morning. Try it; it’s different from what Guodong brought you back."
"Is this set to go to the Capital?" Li Yunqiao opened the jar, releasing a fragrant wine aroma.
"Yes, but this kind of wine isn’t much. They want it urgently over there. This morning marks a batch readiness, plus I prepared some Daughter’s Red for the little niece. If the city doesn’t have a cellar, store it at home."
"That’s great, having such an opportunity."
"But Daughter’s Red isn’t this kind of wine; it’s from the original Daughter’s Red recipe."
"In-law. You talk about wine, and it seems different now." Li Yunqiao felt amused. This in-law was actually a shy, honest man, but when it came to wine, he changed, becoming much more animated.
Lv Beiguang chuckled awkwardly, "I love making wine."
After breakfast, Guodong drove, and Li Yunqiao, along with four of them, headed to Jin Family Village.
Perhaps it was the mother-daughter connection; today, Aunt Wang didn’t wake up in the morning.
Lu Fengzhen carried the child inside the house, surrounded by all the brothers and sisters-in-law.
"Fengzhen, you didn’t come today; we were planning to find you. Go see Mom."
Lu Fengzhen felt bad. Holding her daughter, she ran into the mother’s room.
Aunt Wang lay in bed with her eyes closed; if not for the slight rise and fall of her chest, she’d look as if she were gone.
She started crying at once, "Mom, Mom, I came to see you today."
Li Yunqiao brought Hongpeng in, taking the daughter and standing to the side.
Lu Fengzhen climbed up the bed, sat beside her mother, gently nudging the old lady, "Mom, Mom, wake up. I’m here."
At this moment, five brothers of the Lu Family and their five wives also came inside.
In response to Lu Fengzhen’s crying, Aunt Wang opened her eyes.
"Fengzhen, mom’s satisfied getting to see you before dying." Having said this, the old lady closed her eyes.
"Mom, Mom!" Lu Fengzhen cried.
𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
Then, the eldest grandson of the Lu Family entered carrying a barefoot doctor.
The old gentleman touched the old lady’s pulse, turned her eyelids.
"Elder sister is gone."
The room was full of crying. Li Yunqiao carried the child out.
"Guodong, run back, call Secretary Wu at the township, ask for a two-day leave. Then send Xiaotong back, let Xue look after her; you don’t need to return."
"Dad, I’ll head back now."
Guodong took the little girl, drove away.
Upon reaching the township, holding the little girl, he found Xing Xiangzhang to make the call.
Back home, Li Xue learned of the incident, "Do the four of us need to go?"
"Dad didn’t say to come, and even told me not to go."
Yet Li Xue got up, "I’ll go ask Second Aunt, you find a new bottle, give Xiaotong some water."
Qu Xiaoli heard the news and replied, "Xue, if your dad didn’t say to go, it’s alright, but your second uncle and fourth uncle definitely should visit. You go home, I’ll notify them."
After waking up, Li Xiaotong didn’t see mom, cried loudly, leaving Guodong at a loss; luckily, Li Xue returned.
At Jin Family Village, the process was fast; Aunt Wang’s health had long been failing, preparation was already in place.
When Li Yungui’s brothers arrived, the mourning tent was already set.
Li Yunqiao stayed beside Lu Fengzhen, "Be strong; everyone comes to this moment, don’t be sad. You’ve seen Mom at her last. Your health matters."
"Where’s Xiaotong?"
"I asked Guodong to take her home; Hongpeng’s staying, it’s okay at Xue’s."
Lu Fengzhen nodded; the arrangement worked best. The family of three donned mourning clothes, sat decently aside waiting.
Wang Shulin saw Li Yungui’s two brothers arrive, exchanged a few greetings.
After paying respects, the two brothers didn’t stay, rode home.
Until the next afternoon, Guodong finally drove over, delivering the in-law family home to the city.
Time flew, it was already the Lantern Festival. This year, the snow wasn’t heavy, and Chaoyang was getting ready to go back.
He truly didn’t want to leave, staying close to Jing Chu every day, feeling he just couldn’t leave her.
"How about we get married at the year-end?"
"I’m not ready yet."
"Jing Chu, have pity on me. I don’t want to be apart from you for a minute. Let’s get married; we’ll go to the Capital together, you can study there too."
"What’s the rush?"
"Aunt, you aren’t anxious, but I’m dying here. Let’s get married, Jing Chu; I’ll treat you well for a lifetime."