Read Novel Full Chapter 1397 - 827
Chapter 1397: Chapter 827
Since the son left with the Mayor, Father Li couldn’t stop blaming himself: "Look at my big mouth, why couldn’t I just keep it shut? We always eat sweet potatoes, why did I say it’s pig food?..."
"His father, the Mayor looks like a good person, he won’t blame us."
Father Li puffed on his pipe and sighed heavily: "The Mayor may not blame us, but we can’t remain indifferent. You know, on such a cold day, he comes over and we serve just a plate of sweet potatoes.
If word gets out, won’t people think we’re fools? After finally getting such an opportunity for our son, we end up causing trouble."
"Our Xiao Kun is a thoughtful child. If the Mayor were really upset about this, Xiao Kun would have surely asked me to cook something better.
Besides, didn’t the Mayor and Xiao Kun both say that an important official from the city is coming today? Compared to our meal, meeting the big official is obviously more important, don’t you think so, his father?"
"Well, it is what it is now. Next time, let’s give the kid a good showing." Father Li said as he started puffing on his pipe again.
Mrs. Li watched for a while, unable to help reminding him: "His father, it’s long extinguished. Get a new bowl of tobacco."
"Didn’t our son say smoking can cause serious illness? I’ll smoke less in the future." Father Li said while tapping the pipe bowl along the edge of the kang, pointing at the black-yellow tobacco oil on it, "Our son said this stuff is the most toxic. His mother, you clean it well for me."
Mrs. Li obediently took the pipe, meticulously wiping it with a cloth, and after a while, she slowly asked: "His father, do you think our son can become an official this time?"
"Hard to say." Father Li snuggled up to the edge of the kang, "He’s a doer, but will Secretary Jiao and Mayor Liang let him do it? It’s still up in the air."
"Then why do you still support our son in following him?"
Father Li heaved a deep sigh: "His mother, do you think the child has been happy these past years?"
"If the child were happy, he wouldn’t have mentioned quitting to go work outside, would he? He’s not stupid; he knows going out to suffer hardships and be looked down upon."
"I’ve thought about it too. The society is different now. We can’t hinder the child with old routines. If he ends up bottled up, won’t we be the ones regretting it?
Whether he becomes an official or makes money, life still goes on. In the future, as long as the child is happy, let him do what he wants."
Mrs. Li looked at Father Li surprised: "When did you come to this realization, old man?"
"It’s been a while. Since that incident last time, the child still looks the same on the surface, but look at the way he walks, no vitality.
That shows he’s suffocated inside! Only in his twenties and already defeated; how can that be okay? We can’t let pride ruin the child.
I’ve been thinking about talking to him these days, and coincidentally, he brought the young Mayor to visit us.
Old lady, the young Mayor is a doer and a man of sentiment. Our son follows him and won’t suffer. Even if he loses his job, it won’t be a loss."
Mrs. Li puzzled looked at her old man: "How can losing his job not be a loss?"
"We farm and have losses and gains, let alone pursuing a future? If you do well, it’s good luck. If you’re let go, a clear conscience brings peace.
Anyway, I believe that people who do real work won’t be bad in the end. Our son being with such people, he won’t be bad in the future either."
Mrs. Li grinned: "It’s good you’ve figured it out. Anyway, I always believed that our Xiao Kun is kind-hearted and diligent, no matter where he goes, he won’t do badly.
Even if he really doesn’t work at the town anymore, it’s not a bad thing. Going to a big city to explore, it’ll be easier to find a wife there, don’t you think, old man?"
Father Li thought for a while, then nodded: "Yeah, that’s right. Staying in the town too long, it’s hard to find a suitable wife. After finishing college, if he marries someone from the countryside, imagine how stifled he might feel.
Old lady, regarding the child’s marriage, we shouldn’t be burdensome. When he finds someone he likes, no matter who she is, we won’t interfere."
"Not interfere no matter who she is?" Mrs. Li laughed, "You old man, when you get going, you just talk nonsense, huh? If Xiao Kun finds someone divorced and with children, you won’t interfere?"
"Phooey, phooey, phooey..." Father Li spat a few times towards the kang, "Xiao Kun is only twenty-six, he is neither foolish nor crazy, why would he find a divorced woman with children? You old lady, are you cursing our son?"
"Alright, alright, it was my nonsense. What if he finds someone from the countryside, will you step in or not?"
"You old dead wife, are you deliberately arguing with me today?" Although Father Li wore a dissatisfied face, he still expressed his true thoughts, "As long as the child thinks she’s right for him, I will not step in."
"His father, you’ve been stubborn all your life, but close to the end, you’ve come around." Mrs. Li looked relieved, "These two years, I was always scared that because of this matter, we’d push the child into a corner. Now, I’m finally at ease."
Father Li looked startled: "No wonder every time I asked our son to find a wife, you never said a word."
Mrs. Li pursed her lips: "If I speak up again, will the child have any chance to live? But every time you criticize the child, I try to persuade him. He knows that you mean well. He personally told me he feels bad for not living up to your expectations."
"This silly kid." Seeing his wife polishing the tobacco pipe until it was shiny, Father Li grabbed it and stuffed it with tobacco to light it, causing Mrs. Li to become displeased, "Didn’t you say you’d smoke less and listen to the child?"
"I’ll smoke one pipe, then another, and that’s it for today." Father Li chuckled, "The kid is so considerate, it makes me happy."
"Xiao Kun has been sensible since he was young. There’s something I’ve never told you. When Xiao Kun was ten, my Second Sister came home for a visit and brought some second-hand clothes that her kids had outgrown.
"Xiao Kun and Xiao Xia were about the same height at the time. Xiao Xia saw the clothes and was utterly fascinated by them. Xiao Kun told me to give all the clothes to his sister and said he’d wear patched ones himself. He even told me not to tell you, fearing you’d scold Xiao Xia."
"Xiao Xia, although two years older than Xiao Kun, is not as sensible as Xiao Kun." Father Li puffed contentedly on the tobacco pipe, "Old woman, people should be content. We have such a thoughtful son, he’s been easy since young. Now that he’s grown, it’s right for us to worry about him a bit."
"Grandma! Grandpa! Grandma! Grandpa! ..."
As the couple chatted, their little grandson came running in, followed by their daughter, Li Zexia, gasping for breath: "Dad, Mom, my mother-in-law pickled some cabbage and sent me to bring you some."
"Dear child, you’re so grown-up yet still not sensible. You’ve already split households with your in-laws, you shouldn’t always bring things back from them. If your sister-in-law finds out, she’ll surely give your mother-in-law a hard time." Mrs. Li scolded her daughter while cuddling her grandson tightly, "Zhuangzhuang, are you cold?"
"Not cold!" Zhuangzhuang wriggled around, "Grandma, I want to eat meatball dumplings!"
"Alright, Grandma will make them for you." Mrs. Li said while trying to get off the heated brick bed, "Hold on!" Father Li interrupted, glaring at his daughter who sat idly by, "Is it you who wants to eat or is it Zhuangzhuang?"
"Of course Zhuangzhuang wants to eat." Li Kunxia laughed while climbing onto the heated brick bed after removing her shoes, "Dad, you really look down on me? Just wanting dumplings and still need the child to ask?"
"That’s something you’d do." Father Li reached out to Zhuangzhuang, "Come to Grandpa."
"Grandma..." Zhuangzhuang snuggled into Mrs. Li’s arms, his voice soft and coy.
"Alright..."
Father Li glared at his wife, interrupting her, "Old woman, you seem to understand when it comes to our son, but completely lose it with your grandson?"
"Zhuang, go sit with Grandpa, he’ll cuddle you, go on." Mrs. Li coaxed softly, pushing her grandson towards her husband, but Zhuangzhuang just stuck his little leg out and refused to move.
Father Li reached out, pulled his grandson into his arms: "Zhuangzhuang, is it you who wants dumplings or did your mom tell you to say you do? Good kids tell the truth, whatever you want to eat, Grandma will make it for you."
"Dad..."
Before Li Zexia could say anything, the chubby little boy blurted out: "It’s my mom who told me to say I want meatball dumplings. She asked my Grandma to make them, but Grandma wouldn’t."
Father Li released Zhuangzhuang, "Whatever you want to eat, tell Grandma."
"Let’s go, Grandma will take you to make something tasty." Mrs. Li, knowing her husband was about to scold their lazy and greedy daughter, immediately took her grandson to another room.
Once the door closed, before Father Li could speak, Li Zexia started: "Dad, don’t scold me anymore. Can’t I just not eat?"
"Xiao Xia, after you got married, you insisted on splitting the household. Your father-in-law and mother-in-law agreed, but after splitting, you don’t cook, so your mother-in-law makes your share too. You dislike working in the fields, so your father-in-law helps your husband with all the chores. You don’t care for your child, but your in-laws both take care of him together. Even if your heart was made of stone, it should’ve softened a bit, right?"
Li Zexia looked impatient: "Dad, why say this?"
"I’m saying this because I don’t want you to chill the hearts of Li Ming’s entire family." Father Li sighed, "Child, there’s truly no regret medicine sold in this world."
"Dad, what’s with you?" Li Zexia looked confused, examining her old father, "Has Xiao Kun been back?"
"Sis, is Second Brother at home too?" Before Father Li could answer, a woman’s voice asked from outside.
"It’s my little aunt." Li Zexia barely spoke when the door creaked open, revealing Mrs. Li with Father Li’s younger sister standing at the doorway, "Old man..."
The Li family’s aunt interrupted Mrs. Li, "Brother, the niece of my eldest sister-in-law visited a few days ago, and I happened to meet her. That girl is quite pretty. I asked around, she’s 24 this year, graduated from secondary school and has been teaching at the town’s middle school. She’s honest and has never dated. I was thinking, wouldn’t she be perfect for our Xiao Kun?
So, she left, and I came right after. I’m asking about your thoughts first. If you feel comfortable, I’ll have my eldest sister-in-law ask around and pick a day to meet."
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There’s still one and a half Chapters tonight, will upload later. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian () to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)