Chapter 209 - 206: Returning to the Village

Chapter 209: Chapter 206: Returning to the Village

"Then what do you do? Seriously, is this how you’re a wife? You don’t have to do chores, you don’t have to raise the kids, you don’t have to earn money, and you don’t handle any of these social obligations. What do you do all day besides go to school?" Mrs. Zhou was a little angry. It was like this when they first got married, and it was still the same now. She was already thirty, and her kids were so big, yet her daughter still acted like a child herself.

"Well, I’m busy," Zhou Lian muttered a little defiantly.

Not like a thirty-year-old? With her past and present lives combined, she was older than Mrs. Zhou. It had to be said, Li Xiu had truly spoiled Zhou Lian into a young girl again. She could act cute and spoiled so naturally. In the end, he had doted on her until she became that innocent, charming young girl from when they had first married in her previous life. This was the result of Li Xiu’s painstaking efforts.

"Just by going to school, how busy can you be? So busy you can’t even look after your husband and kids!" Mrs. Zhou said, glaring at Zhou Lian. ’And just a moment ago, I was thinking she was the most sensible and well-behaved!’

Zhou Lian thought for a moment and said, "That’s not entirely true. When I was doing my undergrad, many of my classmates were married with children. I saw that they could handle both school and their kids just fine. If they can do it, I should be able to as well. But Jin Chen won’t let me. He says he’s not busy, and he doesn’t need me for those things. He just tells me to focus on my studies!"

Mrs. Zhou looked at her daughter, then thought about her son-in-law. ’Forget it. I’ll wait until I go to the Capital City to see for myself,’ she thought. ’My daughter is so good at school, she must be smart. How can she be so clueless about things?’ What Mrs. Zhou didn’t know was that Zhou Lian, in the words of a later generation, had a high IQ but a low EQ. Actually, it wasn’t that her EQ was low; it was just that when it came to Li Xiu, she seemed to be missing a screw. Judging by how she handled external matters, one could tell Zhou Lian’s EQ wasn’t low at all.

When they woke up, Li Xiu had already made breakfast for the four of them. Mrs. Zhou watched as her son-in-law drew wash water for her daughter, handed her soap, and got her a towel... Deciding it was better not to watch, she quickly washed up and went into the kitchen. Seeing the already prepared meal, she sighed silently. ’Oh, well. The old shouldn’t meddle in the affairs of the young.’

After breakfast, Li Xiu and Zhou Lian left. They were heading back to the village. After all, since they’d made the trip back, they had to visit the elders in the family. Most importantly, they needed to pay respects at his master’s grave. For the past few years, no matter how busy he was, Li Xiu would return twice a year to pay his respects: once on the anniversary of his master’s death, and once for the New Year.

When they arrived home, Grandma Li was sitting at the courtyard entrance with several other old men and women, enjoying the cool air. She was thrilled to see Li Xiu and Zhou Lian get out of the car. Grandma Li was over eighty, but her eyesight was sharp, her hearing was good, and she was still in robust health.

"Grandma, we’re back." Helped out of the car by Li Xiu, Zhou Lian took a few steps forward to where Grandma Li had already stood up and greeted her with a smile.

Grasping Zhou Lian’s hand, Grandma Li looked at her and said, a little incoherently, "It’s Nuonuo’s mother! Nuonuo’s mother is back! My Nuonuo’s mother has come back!"

Hearing Grandma Li’s words, Zhou Lian frowned almost imperceptibly. ’Why does that sound so odd?’ She hadn’t considered it, but she hadn’t been back in years; Li Xiu had always returned by himself. All sorts of rumors had been flying around the village. Grandma Li was old and tended to overthink things. She was afraid that everything Li Xiu said was just to fool the family. Even with Li Bao and his wife vouching for him, without seeing Zhou Lian in person, Grandma Li’s heart had been pounding with anxiety.

"Yes, it’s me. Your granddaughter-in-law is back!" Zhou Lian just assumed the old woman was getting on in years and didn’t think too much about it, simply going along with what she said.

The surrounding old men and women also gathered around, chattering and asking all sorts of questions. Zhou Lian answered them good-naturedly. Li Xiu, who was carrying things into the house, glanced over at her. Seeing that she wasn’t getting impatient, he quickly continued moving their belongings.

Only after Eldest Li’s family and Third Brother Li’s family heard that Li Xiu and his wife had arrived and came over did the old men and women disperse, taking with them the snacks Li Xiu had given out. Once everyone was seated in the main hall, Eldest Li was the first to ask, "Why did you come back at this time? And you didn’t bring the children?"

"Uncle, we hurried back because of some business with my father-in-law," Li Xiu explained. He knew word of him bringing his parents-in-law to the Capital City would reach the village sooner or later. It was better to explain things clearly now to prevent any resentment from forming among the Li family members.

"What happened? Is it serious?" Eldest Li asked in surprise. He hadn’t heard of anything happening over in Zhou Family Village.

Li Xiu glanced at Zhou Lian and said softly, "It’s my father-in-law’s health. Things are a bit behind the times here at home. My eldest brother-in-law sent me a telegram, so I thought I’d bring him to the Capital City for a check-up. After all, the facilities there are much better."

The Li family members were all stunned for a moment. Grandma Li quickly said, "That’s what you should do. A son-in-law is half a son. And since you’re in the Capital City now, you absolutely should take him for a check-up. For so many years, Nuo Nuo’s mother hasn’t had time to come back and fulfill her filial duties. If anything is wrong, you must pay close attention."

"I will, Grandma!" Li Xiu readily agreed.

And just like that, the matter was settled. The aunts went to the kitchen to get busy with lunch. Zhou Lian wanted to go help, but Grandma Li held her back. "Nuo Nuo’s mother, we don’t need you. Just sit and tell me, how are Nuonuo and Yanyan? Are they doing well?"

The aunts also quickly said, "No need." Seeing this, Li Xiu said, "You stay here and talk with Grandma. You can also ask our younger cousins about their studies. After all, you’re a university lecturer now. See how our family’s younger siblings are doing with their schoolwork. We’ll have to trouble our aunts for lunch today."

As soon as Li Xiu finished speaking, the Li family members were astonished. A university lecturer! Seeing the star-struck expressions on her younger sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Zhou Lian secretly shot Li Xiu a sidelong glance. ’This man... what’s there to show off about? I spent eight straight years on my bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate. What’s so special about being a university lecturer!’

After a lively send-off for their uncles and their families, Zhou Lian looked at the time and said to Li Xiu, "Jin Chen, it’s getting late. Let’s get our things. We should go see your master now."

After saying goodbye to Grandma Li, Li Xiu picked up their things, and the two of them walked quickly toward his master’s grave. Truth be told, in the two lifetimes since Zhou Lian had married Li Xiu, she had never paid respects at his master’s grave. This time, Li Xiu wanted to properly show off his wife to his master, which was why he had brought Zhou Lian along. After all, there was an unwritten rule in these parts: after a woman married, she would only visit a grave right after the burial or if her own parents were going. Otherwise, it was the men of the family who went.

When they arrived at the master’s grave, they saw it was lush with wildflowers and weeds. Without a word, they immediately got to work pulling them all out. This time, Li Xiu didn’t stop Zhou Lian from helping. It was a rare chance for her to also show her filial piety to his master, his grandmaster, and his grandmaster’s wife.

They tidied up quickly. Seeing the new paper offerings on the grave mound, they arranged all the tribute items one by one and set off three strings of firecrackers. Only then did Li Xiu pull Zhou Lian down to kneel before the master’s grave. Li Xiu gazed at the tomb, an image of his master’s noble and serene face appearing in his mind’s eye, looking at him with gratification and saying, "Jin Chen, for this master to have taught a student like you in my lifetime... it was all worth it!"