Chapter 255 - 252: The Agreement

Chapter 255: Chapter 252: The Agreement

Liu Shengnan stared at Zhou Lian, dumbfounded. ’Isn’t this a bit too much?’ she thought. ’No wonder Ping’an has changed so drastically. Thankfully, only those close to him have noticed. This must be the effect of that special training. What about me? Will I become the person she wants me to be?’

As if she had read her mind, Zhou Lian smiled at Liu Shengnan. "You don’t need to change a thing. Just be yourself. Simply build upon that foundation and strive to become even better, even more outstanding. Look at Ping’an now—he’s as kind and genuine as ever. He’s simply learned to be worldly-wise without becoming jaded. He’s still the same lovable Ping’an we’ve always known!"

Watching the eloquent Zhou Lian, Mrs. Ping felt a wave of shame. She had always thought Zhou Lian was merely clever, a naive girl spoiled rotten by Li Xiu. But everyone had been wrong about her. Zhou Lian was the one who was truly worldly-wise yet uncorrupted. Her thoughts were profound yet clear, her brilliance restrained yet palpable. And to think Mrs. Ping had always prided herself on her infallible judgment of character! Yet when it came to the couple, Li Xiu and Zhou Lian, she had been wrong again and again. Those two were truly some of the finest people on earth: never competing, never grasping, staying true to themselves. Their wisdom was almost otherworldly, their talents concealed, yet they treated others with sincerity and always held to their principles.

"They both call you sister, so you are their sister. We’re getting old and can’t always keep up. You all should support one another as you walk your paths. I’m entrusting your younger brother and his fiancée to you," Mrs. Ping said with a sigh. "I won’t say any more words of gratitude. The Ping Family will always be a second home to you. It is the greatest fortune and blessing for both Ping’an and our family to have met you and Jin Chen!" To say more would be to dishonor Li Xiu and Zhou Lian. It was enough for Ping’an and the Ping Family to remember this kindness in their hearts.

Seeing the relief and gratitude in Mrs. Ping’s eyes, Zhou Lian smiled faintly and said softly, "Please, Aunt Zhou. Jin Chen shares a brotherly bond with Ping’an, a true friendship. You needn’t worry about them. As for me, I initially got involved because of Jin Chen, but later, it was for Ping’an himself. He’s such a dear and likable younger brother, and Shengnan is too. They’re both wonderful kids. We only hope that the path forward for our dear little brother and sister will continue to improve, that they will not fear hardship or adversity. May the world treat them kindly."

It was clear Zhou Lian’s words were sincere. Deeply moved and gratified, Mrs. Ping could only say, "Good, good, good."

Zhou Lian had never been one for such formalities; she always did as she pleased. Seeing the emotional Mrs. Ping and Liu Shengnan, she simply said, "Then it’s settled. Shengnan, you’ll come home with me in a little while. I’ll give you a few books to read at home first. Once you’ve sorted out your own things, you can come over to my place, just like Ping’an did. Time is tight, so we’ll have to work hard together. After your wedding in the first half of next year, you’ll be accompanying Ping’an to his post."

"Okay, I’ll do whatever you say, Sis!" Liu Shengnan replied without hesitation. ’My sister is doing all this for my own good,’ she thought. ’How could I possibly be so ungrateful as to refuse? Besides, she already mentioned some of this to me in private, but she was careful not to bring it up in front of my future mother-in-law today. She did that to help me earn goodwill with my new family.’

Watching the two leave together, Mrs. Ping felt too restless to wait. She sent someone to see if Elder Ping was free and, if so, to ask him to come home for lunch.

Elder Ping was quite curious. Mrs. Ping had always been clear on priorities and rarely disturbed him during his work hours. He asked what was going on and was told only that Zhou Lian and Liu Shengnan had visited the house, which left him puzzled. Upon returning home, he went straight to Mrs. Ping and asked, "My dear, did something happen with those two young women?"

Mrs. Ping shook her head, seeming a bit distracted. "It’s late. Let’s eat first. We can talk after."

Later, sitting on the sofa in the study with a cup of tea in hand, Elder Ping listened quietly as Mrs. Ping spoke at length. She only stopped when her throat grew dry, at which point she picked up her own cup for a drink of water.

"My dear, you’re quite stirred up. I haven’t seen you show such strong emotions in many years!" Elder Ping said, gently teasing her.

Mrs. Ping, looking uncharacteristically sheepish, gave a small smile. "You’re right. I’m getting old. But I truly never imagined that couple would do so much for Ping’an! In the beginning, we only helped them a little for Yun Qi’s sake. Later, you took them more firmly under your wing because you saw how principled and prudent Jin Chen was. But them... what an excellent disciple Yun Qi raised. To think that in the end, our Ping Family would be the one to benefit most!" ℯℯ𝑙.

"It’s not so strange. You know Yun Qi’s character, and Jin Chen’s is different from his besides. Don’t overthink it. That couple seeks neither fame nor fortune. Truthfully, there’s not much we can do to help them anymore. Perhaps this was all destined to be. Whether you consider Ping’an or the entire Ping Family, our situation would be vastly different without Jin Chen. Let’s just watch. Let’s see how those two help Ping’an walk this path of success," Elder Ping said with a sigh of emotion.

’Who doesn’t have a selfish side? He had one too, though it was small. Back then, with his eldest son having given up and his youngest son showing no interest, Elder Ping had no intention of forcing the matter. He never imagined that one man, Li Jincheng, would single-handedly alter the destiny of the Ping Family. Was this heaven’s reward for his own tireless dedication to the country and its people? No one could say for sure. All they could do was take it one step at a time.’

"You’re right," Mrs. Ping said, her voice filled with emotion. "With the man Li Jincheng is today, just based on his own merits in the Capital City, no one would dare to bully him. For him to treat Ping’an with such sincerity... that truly is Ping’an’s fortune and luck. I just can’t believe I misjudged Zhou Lian so badly. Then again, it makes sense. For a man like Jin Chen to dote on her so completely, to hold her in the palm of his hand... she’d have to be extraordinary. I really am getting old, and my judgment is slipping. I completely misread that couple, time and again."

In the Capital City today, anyone who didn’t know their history would never guess that Li Xiu and his wife came from a rural village. Their demeanor, appearance, and overall presence put them a cut above even the direct heirs of the so-called great families. They truly were favored by the heavens!

Seeing his wife sighing again and again, Elder Ping said teasingly, "So, you’re admitting you were wrong. It’s been many years since I’ve seen you do that." Elder Ping knew better than anyone how stubborn his wife could be. Take Ping’an, for instance. She had been pushing him for a good ten years, ever since he was a teen. Even Elder Ping had long since given up, but she persisted. Eventually, her pressure pushed Ping’an into open rebellion around the age of twenty. It was a good thing Mrs. Ping made the final decision to hand Ping’an over to Li Xiu; otherwise, the outcome would have been hard to predict.

Mrs. Ping laughed self-deprecatingly. "Li Jincheng, I can understand. But with Zhou Lian, I really fell into a common trap. I just thought she was clever, pretty, and had a pleasant personality. I never imagined she possessed such strategic depth, such a broad perspective. To be honest, I never had high expectations for Shengnan. We watched her grow up; she’s our son’s childhood sweetheart. But Zhou Lian, on the other hand..."

She shook her head slightly. Zhou Lian was preparing them to stand shoulder-to-shoulder as equals in the world. That was a level of foresight and spirit she knew she could never possess.