Chapter 372 - 369: Lunar New Year’s Eve

Chapter 372: Chapter 369: Lunar New Year’s Eve

With Grandma Li present for this Chinese New Year, Sister Fang made a point of observing some of the holiday customs from Li Xiu’s hometown. This made the already busy festival season even more hectic. Fortunately, more than half of the dozen or so bodyguards from the front courtyard stayed at the courtyard home for the holiday and helped Li Xiu with most of the chores, like hanging up the Spring Festival couplets in all four courtyards and at Professor Xiao’s house.

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, Grandma Li watched the courtyard, abuzz with the sounds of people bustling about, and said with a smile to Zhou Lian beside her, "Aren’t you going to help?"

"I’d like to help, Grandma, but you’ve seen for yourself. From this morning until now, have I had a single chance to lend a hand?" Zhou Lian said to Grandma Li with a helpless look, taking sporadic sips from her cup. "Both Sister Fang and Jin Chen started nagging me the day before yesterday. Sister Fang thinks I’ll just make a mess, and Jin Chen told me to keep you company!"

Watching Sister Fang and Professor Xiao bustling in the kitchen, Grandma Li paused for a moment and asked softly, "Has it always been like this?"

"Mmm, I suppose so. Back in our hometown, when Nuonuo was still little, Jin Chen basically never let me get involved in the kitchen, not even during the New Year. Then we came to the Capital City. For the first couple of years, I’d lend a hand at most. After Sister Fang joined our family, I pretty much never set foot in the kitchen. And for the past two years, since we’ve been with my professor and his own master, it’s usually Sister Fang and my professor who take over the kitchen. Now, it’s a struggle for me to even get inside!"

Seeing Zhou Lian’s slightly aggrieved expression, Grandma Li was at a loss for words. ’Her grandson dotes on his wife so much he can’t bear to see her work—what can an elder like me say? The hired housekeeper dotes on her like her own little sister—what can I say to that? Even her professor spoils his student. What am I supposed to do?’

"If they won’t let you in the kitchen, then don’t go in. We’ll just wait to be served!" Grandma Li could only comfort her this way. It wasn’t that she was spoiling Zhou Lian too, but her face was just so youthful. Though she was in her thirties, she looked like a young girl. And when she frowned, her clear, dewy eyes looking up at you, you couldn’t help but want to give her whatever she asked for. ’No wonder my grandson pampers her like a child!’ Grandma Li thought.

On this point, Grandma Li had hit upon the truth. Across two lifetimes, Li Xiu could never bear to see Zhou Lian frown. In their last life, they had fought so bitterly they’d nearly parted forever, but even then, a simple frown from her was more than he could stand—let alone in this life. If she asked for the stars, he’d never give her the moon. It was a good thing it was Zhou Lian. Anyone else, spoiled to this degree, would become arrogant and entitled, and that would be putting it lightly.

"Grandma, I’m actually not a bad cook. When I was still a girl living at home, I cooked quite often. Though it’s probably not as delicious as Jin Chen’s cooking!" Zhou Lian said softly after a moment of thought. She had grown so used to this life over the years that she hadn’t even thought about it. In all her years married to Li Xiu in this lifetime, she’d rarely done any housework, let alone cooked. Before moving to the Capital City, she would occasionally do things around the house, but since arriving, she had become accustomed to being the hands-off boss.

Picking up a tangerine, Grandma Li began to eat it as she spoke. "You two should just act as you always do. Don’t mind me. I may be old, but I get it. With Li Xiu’s personality, once he’s made up his mind, no one can stop him. You’re probably the only one who can talk any sense into him. He dotes on you and spoils you—I saw plenty of that when you first got married. I just never expected him to get even more intense after all these years. Well, I’m old, and I don’t meddle in the affairs of the young. How you live is your business. It’s a dynamic you’re both happy with, so I’m not about to play the villain."

"However, you need to take that herbal tonic of yours properly. Don’t make things difficult for Fang. Li Xiu can always coax you into drinking it when he’s around. But when he’s busy and can’t watch over you, don’t make him worry. Drink your medicine like you’re supposed to. If for no other reason, you have to stay healthy for Li Xiu. I see it clearly now—you’re his entire world. For his sake, you need to behave and listen to the doctor!"

Grandma Li glanced at Zhou Lian and spoke with conviction. ’In the week or so since I arrived in the Capital City, I’ve finally understood. On the surface, it seems like everyone in this house listens to Li Xiu. But Li Xiu himself spends nearly twenty-four hours a day revolving around Zhou Lian, unless it’s absolutely unavoidable. The way he looks at her is enough to startle me. That’s not just simple affection. In all my years, I’ve never seen a look like that. Every time I catch a glimpse of the madness in his eyes when he looks at Zhou Lian, I know with certainty that if anything ever happened to her, my grandson would either go insane or die.’

"I know, I know. It’s just that the herbal medicine is so bitter. I can’t imagine how much Coptis root that old doctor puts in it." Zhou Lian wrinkled her nose. She didn’t even want to think about it; just the memory of the taste made her feel sick.

Gently patting Zhou Lian’s hand, Grandma Li said with a smile, "There, there, don’t worry. I heard Li Xiu say he talked to the old doctor about making it into pills for you. He also said the liquid medicine is bad for your appetite, so after the New Year, you should be able to switch to pills!"

"Really? Oh, Grandma, that’s wonderful!" Zhou Lian said, looking at Grandma Li happily. "You have no idea. Every time I drink that medicine, I feel so sick to my stomach I can barely stand it. I lose my appetite completely."

The last time Zhou Lian had fallen ill, the root cause had been a fit of extreme anger. For the better part of a year, she’d been taking that herbal medicine every few days, and it always included the bitter Coptis root. After so many years of being pampered by Li Xiu, Zhou Lian had become a bit delicate and couldn’t stand the slightest bitterness. It was no surprise that Li Xiu had to coax her every time she took her medicine. If he wasn’t around, she’d drag things out with Sister Fang until the brew went cold and had to be reheated before she would finally drink it.

Watching her granddaughter-in-law’s unintentional pouting, Grandma Li sighed. ’This personality of hers is all thanks to Li Xiu’s spoiling.’ Not wanting to dwell on the topic, she gently changed the subject. "I’ve noticed Nuonuo and Yanyan have been in the study this whole time. It’s New Year’s Eve; shouldn’t they take a break?"

"It’s not that we won’t let them rest; they don’t want to! Grandma, you have no idea. I don’t know who those two get their stubborn streak from, but it must be Li Xiu. We went back to our hometown a little while ago, and they fell behind on some schoolwork. It was just extra, optional homework their professors had assigned, but here they are, insisting on catching up!"

Smiling at Grandma Li, Zhou Lian said gently, "Those two are such easy children. They’re wonderful, whether it’s their studies or their daily habits—truly outstanding. Grandma, you just wait and see how accomplished your great-grandson and great-granddaughter will become!"

Seeing Zhou Lian’s pride, Grandma Li smiled as well. "I can see that," she said softly. "Those two are more than just a little smarter than other kids. I have to make sure I live long enough to see them become successful and make us all proud."