Chapter 352 - 349: Resolved

Chapter 352: Chapter 349: Resolved

’Oh, well.’ Since Grandma Li had dropped her little schemes, Sister Fang didn’t want to press the matter. As long as she didn’t try to plot against Li Xiu and Zhou Lian, things could go on as they always had. She was, after all, the grandmother who had helped raise Li Xiu. It was best to just let it be. What else could be done?

"Yes, we must keep a close eye on them. They’re only in their thirties!" Grandma Li sighed and said slowly. ’To shine in public is to suffer in private. How true that saying is!’

Looking at Grandma Li, Sister Fang said softly, "Grandma, Li Xiu has a distant relationship with his parents. You are the closest person to him. Watch over him well, and he won’t easily go against your wishes."

Seeing the dazed Grandma Li, Sister Fang quietly left. At the door, she glanced back at Grandma Li and sighed softly. ’Every family has its own problems. Can you really say Grandma Li was wrong in this? From Li Xiu’s perspective, yes, it’s wrong. But from Grandma Li’s perspective? You can’t choose between the palm and the back of your hand. They are all her grandsons. Even though she’s partial to Li Xiu, you can’t expect her not to care for her other grandsons!’

Dazed, Grandma Li thought about Li Xiu. ’As a child, he never received his mother’s affection, and his father was weak and useless. It was so hard on him. Worried that his parents would be a bad influence, she and her eldest daughter-in-law had taken Li Xiu in to raise him. But "raising him" back then just meant keeping him from starving or freezing. When he was six, worried about all the gossip, they sent him back to his parents.’

’Back then, a dark-skinned, skinny six-year-old Li Xiu was already herding cattle for the production team. When he got a little older, he started working in the fields with them. He grew up year by year, but he became more and more taciturn, his face emotionless, and he never quite fit in.’

’At twelve, he was working as a full-time laborer for the production team. At sixteen, he was earning twelve work points. By twenty-two, it was only because she and her eldest daughter-in-law urged her that his mother finally bothered to find him a match. His features were a blur in her memory from that time; all she could recall was a dark, skinny boy who just buried his head in hard work day after day. Everyone thought he was simple, honest, and dutiful.’

’Who would have known that as soon as he was engaged, he would immediately demand the family be divided, without even waiting for the wedding. For so many years, she had never thought about it carefully. Everyone knew he had been wronged when the family split, that he was basically kicked out with nothing. But thinking about it now, it wasn’t hard to see that he did it on purpose. He deliberately split the family before he got married!’

Grandma Li sighed. ’Who was to blame? Could she blame her eldest grandson for scheming? But all he schemed for was to split the family, and he left with almost nothing. Even back then, her eldest grandson must have seen what a disaster his parents’ household was. He had simply lost all hope in them!’

’After the family split, Li Xiu obviously changed. The constant troublemaking from his parents’ household pushed him further and further away. It got to the point where, for his wedding, his own mother didn’t even make the traditional wedding sweets. That must have been when his heart turned completely cold towards her!’

’She remembered when her granddaughter-in-law was pregnant. Her second son had come over, happy. At that time, Li Xiu was still very concerned about his father. He’d gone to the hospital for a check-up, and the results were unexpected. He was still very worried about his dad back then!’

’So what was the final breaking point? Right, it was when my granddaughter-in-law was pregnant with my great-granddaughter. I was there. It was Li Hua. Li Hua tried to start a fight with his pregnant sister-in-law. That’s what led to the final split. That must have been when Li Xiu completely gave up on his parents’ family. His own parents just stood by and watched as his own brother tried to attack his pregnant wife. He must have been in so much pain then!’

’After that, it was one incident after another, and every single time, wasn’t it Li Xiu who was wronged? How could I even think of asking him to help them now? Have I forgotten all the injustices he has suffered over the years? Or was I just thinking that they were, after all, his own family? But how many younger brothers would scheme against their own elder brother like that? It’s a good thing I hadn’t said it out loud. How heartbroken that child would have been!’

Grandma Li let out a long breath. ’Everyone says Li Xiu is the most passionate and also the most heartless man. But that’s not it at all. He values relationships and loyalty deeply. He only appears heartless because he’s been forced into it!’

’Thinking about Li Xiu after he got married, he was like a completely different person. He’d grown a lot taller, filled out, and put on some weight, no longer rail-thin like a beanpole. His face had gotten much fairer, too. It was only then that everyone realized how handsome he was. When was it that they noticed?’

’It must have been after my great-granddaughter Nuonuo was born. We were all gathered on the heated brick bed in this very room. Which of the girls was it who said her big brother was handsome and tall? That’s when we all realized Li Xiu was like a new man!’

’More than ten years have passed. The Li Xiu of today... and this wasn’t just me being a proud grandmother, you couldn’t find another man as capable as him, not in all the surrounding villages, not even in the entire, vast county!’

Lost in her memories, Grandma Li didn’t notice Zhou Lian walk in. Seeing that the old woman was clearly in a daze, Zhou Lian didn’t dare call out to her loudly, afraid she might startle her. Instead, she reached out and took her hand. Only then did Grandma Li snap out of it.

Looking at Zhou Lian before her, Grandma Li asked softly, "What is it?"

Pulled from her reverie, Grandma Li looked at her granddaughter-in-law. More than ten years had passed, but she hadn’t changed one bit. Her looks, her temperament—they were all the same as back then. Her eyes were as clear as ever. ℯⅇ𝙡.

"Grandma, we kept forgetting to ask if you had any objections?" Zhou Lian’s eyes flickered as she smiled and asked Grandma Li. ’What was that look in her eyes just now?’

Blinking, Grandma Li shook her head. "I don’t mind about those things. You two just do what you need to do. Don’t worry about me!"

"Grandma, how can you say that? Not only are you our elder, but you’re the one who raised Jin Chen since he was little. If we don’t consider you, who should we consider? Besides, when Jin Chen and I left home to go north to the Capital City, if it weren’t for you watching over this house for us, who would we even have to come back to?" Zhou Lian said softly.

’Whatever little schemes the old woman had, since she’s already dropped them, I’ll just pretend it never happened. She’s ninety years old, after all. Am I really going to hold a grudge against her?’

Patting Zhou Lian’s hand, Grandma Li said with a smile, "Then I’ll keep watching over the home for you, so you’ll always have a reason to return!"

"Yes! Thank you, Grandma!"

"Tell me the truth. What’s really going on with you two’s health?" Suddenly, Grandma Li’s expression turned serious as she asked.

Clearing her throat, Zhou Lian let the smile fade from her face and said earnestly, "Grandma, Jin Chen worries too much. He’s exhausted his mind and spirit. You must understand the saying, ’A brilliant mind often burns itself out.’ But it couldn’t be helped. It’s not easy to establish yourself Under the Imperial City. Thankfully, we’ve achieved some success now. We’re letting Jin Chen rest and recuperate. If he takes it slow, it shouldn’t be a big problem."

"And what about you? What’s wrong with you? Tell the truth!" 𝖋𝘳ℯ

With a wry smile, Zhou Lian said softly, "Grandma, Jin Chen wasn’t in the Capital City at the time, so I had no choice. He worked so hard for so many years; I had to hold down the fort for him, didn’t I? It’s just that my body let me down. I was wound so tight for so long, and when I suddenly relaxed, I came down with a fever. It’s nothing serious. Once the fever broke, I was fine. It’s been a long time. Why are you suddenly asking about this, Grandma?"