Chapter 665 - 344: Dropping a Rock on One’s Own Foot

Chapter 665: Chapter 344: Dropping a Rock on One’s Own Foot

Li Changyu turned and looked down at the quiet woman beside him, speaking gently. "These flowers, plants, and trees are all quite ordinary. You have every one of them in your family’s garden—in fact, you even have more precious varieties. But Wan’er, close your eyes and just feel it for a moment. Compare your garden to this place. Don’t you feel that they’re different?"

Mrs. Gao did as he said, closing her eyes to quietly take it all in.

After a while, she opened her eyes and said with a sigh, "My family’s garden is beautiful too, and it feels fine to walk around it in my usual clothes. But here... I feel more at ease walking around in the clothes your mother made for me."

Li Changyu hadn’t expected her to say something like that. ’So women always care about their appearance and clothes, no matter the situation,’ he thought.

He chuckled. "You have a point. But it’s mainly because this place is so open and vast. There are no walls to block the view, which gives you a feeling of freedom and joy, as if you can touch the clear breeze, the drifting clouds, and the wild mountains. I’ve always believed that no matter how large you build a garden, the scenery within it becomes lifeless. It can’t compare to this feeling of gazing into the distance and taking in the whole world with your eyes."

Mrs. Gao had read her fair share of books, and she nodded repeatedly at his words, feeling his explanation was far more fitting than her own comment about clothes.

Li Changyu spoke to her softly again. "I’ve been busy these past few days and haven’t been able to spend much time with you. I know you’re used to a life of fine clothes, exquisite food, and servants all around. I wanted to bring you here to experience this unrestrained, rustic life. If you like it, I’ll bring you back often in the future. If you don’t, we’ll come back less. The reason I got angry with them earlier was because with them watching you, wouldn’t you feel just as restricted as you do in the city? If you act according to the strict etiquette of a wealthy household while in the countryside, of course you’ll feel awkward about everything. I’ll take you for a proper stroll these next few days. If you really don’t like this place, we’ll go back to Qinghui."

Mrs. Gao was only in her teens. Having been accustomed since childhood to the hollow pleasantries of high society, she found Li Changyu’s words incredibly thoughtful—more moving than any sweet talk could ever be. Her eyes immediately grew moist.

She said softly, "Thank you, Changyu. I did come out before and walked around the edge of the village. But it was just as you said. I had a whole group of maids and old nannies trailing behind me, and it was terribly boring. It’s not like being with you now. I feel so relaxed. I think... I think I do like this kind of rustic life."

Smiling, Li Changyu took her hand, and they began to walk forward slowly. Before long, Mrs. Gao revealed the innocent nature of a teenage girl. She would occasionally pick some wildflowers, and Li Changyu would pluck wild berries from the bushes for her to try. Laughing and joking, the two of them walked further and further away.

When Mrs. Gao grew tired, Li Changyu pulled her over to a clean patch of grass to sit down. Feeling the soft green blades beneath her, she was filled with a sense of novelty. ’When have I ever been so wild and unrestrained?’

The two of them leaned against each other without speaking. Sitting on the grass, their view was blocked by the trees, so they couldn’t see the fields or the green mountains.

As the sun began to set, Li Changyu held Mrs. Gao’s hand and asked softly, "Wan’er, shall we head back? You weren’t feeling well today, and you still need to take your medicine."

Mrs. Gao let out a little "Oh!" and said shyly, "I completely forgot about that. Changyu, I feel much better now. I don’t think I need to take any medicine."

Li Changyu looked at her for a moment, and then they both started laughing.

When she stood up, Mrs. Gao’s legs felt a little weak—when had she ever walked so far? Seeing how she struggled to drag her feet, Li Changyu offered to carry her on his back, but she refused, afraid that people would see and laugh at them.

They slowly made their way back home. Li Changyu assumed Mrs. Gao would have her servants attend to her so she could quickly wash up and rest. Instead, she excitedly went to find his mother, Mrs. Fang, to ask for some cotton cloth. She instructed her maids to make two more sets of clothes for her, modeled after the ones she was wearing, telling them to make them comfortable and not too fancy.

Although her body was clearly exhausted, her spirits were high. She ate two small bowls of rice for dinner and didn’t return to her room right away. Instead, she stayed in the main hall with Li Changyu, listening to Grandpa Li Mingrui tell old stories.

Li Changyu would occasionally protest, "Grandpa, you’ve already told this story so many times."

Li Mingrui would retort indignantly, "You little brat! You may have heard it, but Wan’er hasn’t, has she? Wan’er, you want to hear Grandpa’s stories, don’t you?"

It was a rare occasion for his grandson and granddaughter-in-law to sit and chat with him, so once the old man started talking, he simply couldn’t stop. He dredged up all sorts of experiences from his youth and recounted them all over again.

Mrs. Gao nodded her head like a chick pecking at rice and even coaxed, "Changyu, just listen to Grandpa with me one more time! We just ate, so it’s not good to go to sleep right away. We need to let our food digest for a bit."