Chapter 343 - 340: Arrangements for the Younger Siblings

Chapter 343: Chapter 340: Arrangements for the Younger Siblings

"Don’t worry about Cui," Li Xiu said softly, sighing. "Let’s apply for her to live off-campus this semester. We’ll have someone drive her to and from school every day. This situation is serious, so everyone needs to be on high alert. Your family too—don’t have your wife pick the kids up from school anymore. Arrange for people to watch over them. We’re an open target in the Capital City now. We have to be careful about everything."

After a moment’s thought, Li Bao also sighed. "That’s probably for the best. With Li Guo over at Beijing University, there shouldn’t be any problems on that end."

"With your sister-in-law’s connections there, not to mention Professor Xiao and Professor Fan, protecting Li Guo and He won’t be a problem. We can’t have both of them apply to live off-campus, though; that would be too conspicuous. Don’t worry, I’ll arrange for people to keep an eye on things."

Li Xiu gave a self-deprecating laugh and looked at Li Bao. "We’ve fought our way through the Capital City for so many years. If we can’t even protect our own family, we might as well pack it all in and go back home to farm."

Li Bao shuddered as he pictured his older brother with his pant legs rolled up, bare-chested, heading to the fields with a farm tool in hand. It was a common sight in their childhood, but looking at his brother now, he just couldn’t imagine it.

"By the way, do you need any help on your end?" Li Bao asked with concern, thinking of how busy his brother had been lately.

Li Xiu glanced at Li Bao and smiled. "Not right now. We’ll see in a bit. You and the others should discuss hiring a new batch of people for the company. As long as they’re capable and have good character, we can raise the salary offer a bit."

"Are you thinking of expanding into some new business ventures?" Li Bao asked with a knowing smile, able to read between the lines.

Li Xiu nodded with a slight smile and said softly, "Ping’an is in the Northwest now, and we have a general grasp of the situation there. He needs to develop the local economy, and the company needs new sources of revenue. It’s a win-win situation. But there’s no rush. We’ll wait until Ping’an has everything firmly under his control."

Li Bao nodded in understanding, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the table. ’The Northwest is a bit chaotic, but they have jade. People’s living standards are rising quickly, and they’re pursuing more and more material things. They always say, "Gold has a price, but jade is priceless." If we handle it right, it could be a very lucrative path.’

Seeing Li Bao’s eyes light up, Li Xiu gave a subtle nod and smiled. ’Li Bao is really starting to look like a true businessman. His mind works fast.’ He thought about his younger brothers. Li Bao was destined for the business world. As for Li Guo, given his temperament and his major—he and Zhou Lian had discussed this—a career in scientific research was the better path. And then there was Li Bo, his sharp-witted younger brother with a Seven-orifice Exquisite Heart; it would be best for him to join the establishment.

’If the Li family wanted to establish a firm foothold in the Capital City, they couldn’t rely on others. They had to have their own people inside the establishment. As for his younger sisters, the family didn’t need them to marry for alliances. All that mattered was that they lived happy lives and did what they loved.’

"We should put this on the company’s agenda," Li Bao said, looking at Li Xiu with a fawning expression. "Hetian Mutton Fat Jade is historically renowned. The market is still wide open, so this is the perfect time to dominate it. Come on, Big Brother, give it some serious thought!"

Li Xiu shot Li Bao a disdainful look. ’When did this brother of mine become so money-grubbing?’ Despite his disdain, he agreed, "I know. You also understand that cornering this market will require a massive capital investment. You and the others do your research."

"Don’t worry, Big Brother. Funding won’t be an issue. We’ll come up with a research proposal soon. The rest is up to you!" Li Bao knew instantly that his brother had agreed. ’It wasn’t that he wanted to complain, but he’d never seen a boss who cared so little about his own company.’

It was getting late, so Li Bao took his wife and children home. Sister Fang arranged rooms for Li Cui and Li He and told them to get some rest. As for Li Guo, he went directly to Zhou Huaitai’s room, insisting that they didn’t need to prepare another one for him since he could just share with Huaitai.

As the courtyard quieted down, Zhou Lian smiled. ’This house is getting more and more lively. In another two years, when the three youngest from back home get into universities in the Capital City, it will be even more so.’

Seeing Li Xiu return after washing up, Zhou Lian said softly, "Jin Chen, we’re having Li Cui apply to live off-campus while Li He stays in the dorms. Is that really alright?"

"It’s fine," Li Xiu said gently, leaning against the headboard with his arm around Zhou Lian. "Not only does she have Li Guo watching over her at school, but you also have your relationship with those two professors. It’s unlikely anything will happen. Li Cui is a different story. She has no one looking out for her at her university. It might be different if she were a boy, but she’s a girl, and a junior at that. She’ll graduate in two years. We can worry about the rest after that."

Knowing Li Xiu had considered everything, Zhou Lian didn’t press the topic. She changed the subject to the Ping Family. "A few days ago," she said softly, "I went to the Imperial Palace to visit Elder Ping and his wife. From what Liu Shengnan was saying, it sounds like she wants to come stay at our estate for a while."

"Why would she want to stay at our estate?" Li Xiu asked, looking at Zhou Lian in confusion.

"Elder Ping’s wife has been in poor health, and the doctor suggested she stay at a sanatorium for a while," Zhou Lian explained, clearly displeased. "But Elder Ping is too busy to go with her. He’ll remain at the Imperial Palace, which Liu Shengnan finds inconvenient. So, her plan is to have the Eldest Young Master and the Eldest Young Madam move back to the Imperial Palace to accompany Elder Ping while his wife is away, and she, in turn, will bring her child here to stay with us!"

It wasn’t that Zhou Lian disliked Liu Shengnan staying at the estate, but bringing a child along was an immense responsibility. Her mind spun just thinking back to Liu Shengnan’s pregnancy. No one knew how much effort she and Li Xiu had put in over the course of nearly a year to ensure both mother and child would be safe.

Li Xiu gently patted Zhou Lian’s back and said with a faint smile, "Bao’er, don’t worry. She won’t be coming to stay at the estate."

"Why not?"

"You silly girl," Li Xiu said nonchalantly. "The Eldest Young Madam and Ping Jing would never let her bring the child here. Ping Jing knows how busy I’ve been. Besides, your semester is about to start, and the house is already full of our younger siblings and nephews. The Eldest Young Madam won’t let her come and cause a disturbance at a time like this. And above all, the safety of that mother and child is the top priority!"

’That’s true. Li Xiu was so busy lately he was almost never home. Her own semester was starting, which meant she’d be working, and they had their own two children to look after. The Eldest Young Madam wouldn’t let Liu Shengnan and her son leave the Imperial Palace at a time like this. While their estate was secure enough to ensure their safety, the Eldest Young Madam understood how much focus it would demand from Li Xiu. At this critical time, with everything concerning Ping’an, she would never allow anyone or anything to cause more trouble for Li Xiu!’

"You’re right," Zhou Lian said with a relieved, wry smile. "The Eldest Young Madam is far too smart and perceptive to let Liu Shengnan come here and make a mess of things."