Chapter 369 - 366: Reassurance

Chapter 369: Chapter 366: Reassurance

It took Grandma Li three days to finish her general tour of the sprawling, four-entry courtyard house and its western garden. That night, after watching her grandson and granddaughter-in-law thoughtfully turn on her bedside lamp, switch off the main lights, and gently close the door behind them, she finally let out a long sigh.

’Only after coming to the Capital City did I begin to understand just how capable my eldest grandson was. A grand, four-entry residence, plus a garden of nearly equal size, and all so close to the Imperial Palace... Anyone could imagine the kind of influence he must have in this city.’

’And that was to say nothing of the dozen or so burly men living in the front-facing building. Whenever my granddaughter-in-law came or went, a group of three or four people, including her driver, would follow her. When my grandson occasionally went out, he too was accompanied by three or four men. If we weren’t so close to the Imperial Palace, and if people in uniform weren’t constantly visiting him, I would’ve been certain he was involved in some kind of shady business!’

’In the three days I’ve been in the Capital City, my granddaughter-in-law has left early and returned late every single day, always with a stack of documents in her arms. My eldest grandson is just as busy, constantly on the phone. People even come to the house to see him, and their meetings last for an hour or two at a time. It’s no wonder Fang said through her tears that one of them was mentally and emotionally drained while the other was utterly spent. In the three days since they returned, those two haven’t had a single moment to just sit down and rest!’

During the day, while someone was visiting Li Xiu, Grandma Li took the opportunity to ask Sister Fang. Only then did she learn that taking a break right now was pure wishful thinking. Between the company, Li Xiu’s outside affairs, and matters at home, how could they possibly stop everything at once? Moreover, these things had to be handled personally by either Li Xiu or Zhou Lian. If anyone else were to try, disaster would strike in a matter of minutes.

’No wonder Li Bao has a house, a car, and everything else after just a few years of working for him. Li Xiu even mentioned that while Li Bao’s residence wasn’t huge, it was still a three-entry courtyard house. It might not be as big as this one, but it’s certainly not small!’

’Those people who came to see Li Xiu all had such an intimidating presence; you could tell at a glance they were no ordinary folk. Not to mention the two or three who came in uniform. I may not have seen much of the world, but Li Xiu bought us a television back home. Even if I haven’t met people like that in the flesh, I’ve certainly seen them on TV!’

’And thinking about Li Xiu’s own presence now, it’s even more imposing and colder than that of his visitors. Zhou Lian is the same. She usually looks like such a gentle, sweet young wife, but these past few days, the moment she puts on her glasses and pins up her hair, she radiates a commanding aura that no ordinary person could possess!’

Grandma Li was old and sharp. Staring at the sprawling, four-entry house and the adjacent, equally large garden, she knew that in this city, once the seat of the emperor, a residence of this size was not something money could easily buy.

’Remembering the arrangements Li Xiu and Zhou Lian had made back home for the younger siblings from the first and third branches of the family, Grandma Li sighed again. ’When it comes to controlling people, Li Xiu is truly terrifying. As for the second branch... well, they are what they are. I just hope they’re smart enough not to provoke Li Xiu or Zhou Lian again. If they really manage to anger those two, no one will be able to hold them back. I hope those few from the second branch know what’s good for them. I can’t let a few disappointments ruin the promising futures of the children from the first and third branches!’

Lost deep in thought, Grandma Li didn’t hear the knock on her door. She only snapped out of it when Li Xiu pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"Grandma, what’s wrong? You didn’t eat much at dinner. Is something on your mind?" Li Xiu asked softly, pulling a chair over to sit in front of Grandma Li.

Gently shaking her head, Grandma Li said with a smile, "What’s there to be on my mind? I’m just old and don’t dare to eat too much at night, or else I’ll get indigestion!"

"That’s good to hear," Li Xiu said, nodding in relief. "Bao’er was just urging me to come check on you. She’s incredibly busy and couldn’t spare a moment, or she would have come herself. Please don’t mind her, Grandma."

"Don’t worry about such formalities. You two just focus on your work. But you can’t keep being this busy all the time. What will you do if you work yourselves to the bone?" Grandma Li said, her voice filled with concern. Fang’s words were still ringing in her ears; how could she possibly be at ease?

Shaking his head with a smile, Li Xiu spoke in a slow, deliberate voice. "Grandma, we don’t have a choice. Now that we’ve reached this point, Bao’er and I are caught up in things beyond our control. For the Li family, and for our future, we can’t retreat a single step. One step back, and it’s all over. Grandma, things in life rarely go as planned. It’s all part of the struggle to survive."

"My heart feels like it’s being torn in two. On one hand, I think about how well you’ve all done, bringing honor to our ancestors. But on the other hand, I wonder why you have to work so hard. Isn’t it enough to have enough money to live on? Wouldn’t it be wonderful for the family to just be together, happy and carefree? I don’t even know what to hope for anymore. It just breaks my heart to see you two working yourselves to the bone for the Li family and for the future!"

Looking at his grandmother’s face, Li Xiu reached out and took her hand. "Grandma, everyone’s life is a struggle. I know your heart aches for me and Bao’er, but we have to keep moving forward. We have to leave something behind for the future, for our children. How could I ever let my two kids go through the same hardships that I did?"

"But you have to take care of yourselves! One of you is mentally and emotionally drained, the other is utterly spent. If your health fails, then you’ll have nothing left!" Grandma Li said, her voice catching in her throat.

With a sigh, Li Xiu said softly, "Grandma, I have to protect the people I care about. If I have no power and no money, how can I possibly protect them?"

"Grandma, Bao’er is only so drained because she’s trying to protect me. But what can be done? It’s all for survival. To live a little better, to not be bullied, to not be at the mercy of others. There’s no other way, Grandma," Li Xiu said with a wry smile.

Gently patting Li Xiu’s hand, Grandma Li said softly, "Do what you feel you must. Grandma will be right here, looking after you both."

’Li Xiu understood the meaning behind his grandmother’s words and smiled. ’Her thinking this way is enough,’ he thought. ’After all, in my last life, it was Grandma who gave me the last shred of warmth and concern I ever received from my elders. She protected me in my childhood and ached for me in my middle age. Even though things have changed a little in this life, the big picture remains the same. That’s all that matters. Besides my own precious wife, I never expected anyone else to be wholeheartedly on my side anyway.’

After coaxing Grandma Li to sleep, Li Xiu quietly slipped out of her room and went to Zhou Lian’s study. He found her absorbed in a pile of documents. A doting smile touched his lips as he said gently, "Bao’er, still at it? I’ll keep you company."

"No need, I’m almost finished. Is Grandma settled in?"

Hearing Zhou Lian’s words, Li Xiu leaned against the doorframe and said with a grin, "Of course. When your man is on the case, consider it handled!"

"You’re so shameless, Li Jincheng. So, how did you sweet-talk her?" Zhou Lian looked up at her husband’s smug expression and couldn’t help but laugh. ’This man... he’s such a child!’