Chapter 244 has been turned over.

Guo Zhenyi frowned.

"Who said he died? Li Anwei is not dead at all. Not only is he alive, but he also changed his name and is living a very comfortable life in hiding."

"What...what did you say?!"

Li Kangjun suddenly sprang up from the dilapidated wooden stool.

Guo Zhenyi was taken aback by this sudden action.

This old man has such a strong grip.

“He had completely severed ties with the Li family long ago, and even changed his surname to his wife’s, and now he has a different name.”

“I knew long ago that there were still people in the Li family alive, but at that time Zhou Yufan hadn’t found Li Huachen yet, so I didn’t need to dredge up those old grievances. But now it’s different, and what needs to be said needs to be made clear.”

Seeing this, Zhou Yufan quickly reached out and tugged at his sleeve.

"Brother-in-law, say less... The old man is frail and can't withstand such a shock, what if..."

"That brat, didn't she take just as long to come see him too?!"

Guo Zhenyi suddenly flicked his sleeves.

"Second Uncle, Anwei is a regular worker in the factory, with a secure job and a permanent position. He's protected from the elements and the government guarantees his livelihood. What urgent matter could he possibly have? Is he lacking food or clothing? Does he need to scrape together tuition fees for his children's schooling? Does he need to borrow money from all over the place when his wife is sick?"

Guo Zhenyi's voice suddenly rose in pitch.

“But what about Hua Chen? She only came to see you now because she can’t even afford to eat! She has to set up her stall on the street before dawn every day and doesn’t finish until late at night. If she doesn’t work one day, she won’t have money to buy rice to cook the next day! She can’t even afford to buy milk for her baby. How could she have the time or the energy to come to you?”

“Zhenyi…since you know about him, please help me, bring Anwei back, bring him back…”

Li Kangjun's voice trembled.

"You can look for it, but first you need to fix your eyes, then you can go find it yourself!"

Guo Zhenyi made his words firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

After saying that, he turned around and stood still, arms crossed, quietly waiting for Li Kangjun to make his choice.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Li Kangjun groped his way into the house.

He shakily dragged an old bundle covered in patches from under the bed.

Guo Zhenyi, Zhou Yufan, and Li Huachen exchanged glances.

It's done.

Li Kangjun gripped the cloth bag tightly.

He called out softly in Li Huachen's direction.

“Hua Chen… let’s go, let’s go now. Father will go back with you.”

Seeing her father like this, Li Huachen's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

"Hey, Dad, let's go."

She helped her father straighten his collar, which had been ruffled by the wind.

Li Rongkai also ran over, his little hands tightly gripping the hem of Li Kangjun's clothes.

"Let me help you with your bag! Let's celebrate the New Year with Mom! When we get home, I'll get you some milk candy, it's so sweet!"

Seeing this scene, Guo Zhenyi finally felt relieved.

He silently stepped forward, took the old bundle from Li Kangjun's hands, and weighed it in his hand.

Inside were several neatly folded old clothes, along with a small, hard metal box.

He carefully tied the bundle to the back seat and tightened it with rope, loop by loop.

Then he turned to Zhou Yufan and said.

"Yu Fan, you help Uncle first, I'll push the bike. You take Rong Kai and Hua Chen with you, let's ride slowly and avoid bumps."

Zhou Yufan nodded and reached out to support Li Kangjun's arm.

"Dad, slow down, let me help you. Don't be afraid, I'm here."

He helped the old man step by step, slowly moving him to the back seat of the old bicycle.

After Li Kangjun was seated, he bent down and carefully tucked the hem of the old man's old cotton-padded jacket inside.

"Dad, you have to hold on tight to the metal bars on both sides of the seat and don't let go. The road is bumpy, so don't fall."

He whispered his instructions.

Li Huachen walked forward from the side, carrying a thick down jacket that Zhou Shufen had prepared in advance.

She knelt down and draped the down jacket over Li Kangjun's shoulders.

"Dad, this is the thickest one. It's lined with cashmere, so it won't be cold at all. The road back to the village is long and windy, and you'll easily catch a cold if you stay out in the wind for too long. You must make sure to cover yourself up well."

Li Kangjun remained silent.

However, his right hand unconsciously rose up and hesitated in the air, groping.

When his hand finally touched Li Huachen's palm, he tightened his grip and held her fingers tightly.

Li Huachen felt the warmth from her father's palm.

In that instant, her nose suddenly stung with tears.

"Dad, I'm right here. I've always been here. We'll be home soon. Our home is just ahead."

The team set off again.

At 10 p.m. sharp, the group finally arrived at Yuxin Town.

Zhou Shufen waited inside the house.

She sat on a small stool in the main room, holding an old photo album in her hand, her eyes occasionally glancing at the path outside the door.

Hearing footsteps, she immediately stood up and quickly went out to greet them.

The food had only been heated up recently.

She waited for nearly two hours, watching the heat to cook the meal.

The children were still awake.

Only Yang Qingyan couldn't hold on any longer and leaned against the fabric sofa in the living room, already fast asleep.

She was constantly running around during the day, which was very physically demanding.

When Zhou Shufen saw that everyone had returned, she immediately called Guo Zhenyi and Zhou Yufan over to help.

The three of them worked together to carefully help Li Kangjun into the bathroom in the inner room.

They helped the old man take off his outer clothes, gently wiped his body with a towel, and then helped him change into clean clothes.

After taking a shower, Li Kangjun's complexion was noticeably rosier.

Once everything was settled, the whole family finally sat down around the dinner table.

Li Kangjun had never eaten a meal in such a warm atmosphere in his entire life.

He reached for the chopsticks with trembling hands, his fingers shaking uncontrollably, and he almost dropped the food several times.

"Dad, Yu Fan and I are doing well now, and we don't have to worry about food and clothing anymore."

Li Huachen said in a low voice.

"The Zhou family's business has picked up again in the last two years. We've opened two shops, and business is quite stable. Don't worry, we're all doing well."

Li Kangjun kept his head down, staring at the rice in his bowl.

In the past, he looked down on those who spent their days running around doing business.

But now, it is these "businessmen" who, with their own hands, have enabled his daughter to live a stable and decent life.

"Dad, the world is different now."

Li Huachen continued speaking softly.

“Studying is important, of course, but being able to support yourself and take care of your family is equally important. I’m not the stubborn person you were back then. I know how to be flexible, and I know what is truly the best choice for my family.”

Over the past ten years, he has experienced hunger and poverty.

Having survived all of that, I finally understand.

In this world, you rely on luck, not connections; you rely on strength, not books.

"Hua Chen, the person you chose... is reliable."

He finally spoke.

"He still thinks about you after all these years."

"Dad, let's put it behind us. Let's not talk about it anymore."

Li Huachen said softly.

"Eat rice, eat meat. This meat is stewed until it's tender and melts in your mouth. Try it."

As she spoke, Zhou Yufan picked up a large piece of braised pork and shakily placed it into her bowl.

"Dad, please eat more and take care of yourself. You've suffered these past few days."

Li Kangjun lowered his head, picked up the bowl with both hands, and began to eat heartily.

This meat smells delicious!