Chapter 245 Self-Reliance

The fragrance made his nose tingle.

Tonight's meal is equivalent to all the meat he's eaten in the previous ten years!

After the meal, his bowl was completely empty, not a single grain of rice was left.

He patted his round belly, and a smile finally appeared on his face.

They've truly become wealthy.

Seeing that he was eating happily, Zhou Shufen picked up the chicken soup from the pot and ladled out a whole bowl.

"Father-in-law, have some soup to warm your stomach. This soup has been simmering all afternoon, with angelica, astragalus, and codonopsis. It's very nourishing and replenishes qi and blood."

She moved the rim of the bowl closer to his palm.

Li Kangjun held it in both hands and took a small sip.

"Little sister, thank you so much, I'm so sorry to have troubled you."

He used to be a schoolteacher, speaking with proper manners, and everyone who saw him would call him "Teacher".

Who would have thought that one day I would be so humble and subservient to the merchant's daughter?

But now I understand that respect is not based on social status, but on who truly treats you as family.

Zhou Shufen didn't mind that he was poor; on the contrary, she cooked for him herself, served him soup, and called him "father-in-law".

"Why are you being so polite with me!"

Zhou Shufen waved her hand.

"If you say that again, I'm going to get angry. We're family, why are you talking such nonsense?"

She turned her head and looked at Li Rongkai.

"Have you eaten yet? Your older sister saved some candied hawthorns for you today. The hawthorns are coated in syrup, bright red, crisp and sweet. Don't eat them right away, it's too late. Eat them tomorrow morning. It's cold, they won't spoil overnight, and the sugar coating will be even crisper."

Li Rongkai's eyes lit up immediately.

He nodded repeatedly.

"Thank you so much, sister! Thank you so much!"

He grinned at Zhou Lijuan, his cheeks puffed out.

Zhou Lijuan's ear tips were slightly red.

She quickly lowered her head and ruffled his soft hair.

"No need to thank me, just take it from the cabinet tomorrow morning. Remember not to mess things up, and put it away neatly after you're done."

Li Kangjun sat on the side; although he was blind, his hearing was extremely sharp.

The children chatted away, and a smile couldn't help but appear on his face.

He reached out and felt around the rim of the bowl, brought it to his lips, and took another small sip of chicken soup.

For more than ten years in the village, he was confined to his sickbed every day, surviving on thin porridge.

Now, he sits in a warm room, with people serving him tea and water, and offering him words of comfort and concern.

He was filled with indescribable emotions.

Have I really started a family?

“Father-in-law, if you like it, I’ll stew another pot tomorrow with some ginseng to nourish your blood and qi.”

Zhou Shufen said with a smile as she cleared away the dishes.

"Your body is too weak, you're just skin and bones. You need to recover little by little, it can't be rushed. Only when you're well will you have the strength to watch the children grow up."

Li Kangjun gently placed the bowl back on the table.

"This...this is too much trouble for you, little sister. I just arrived and haven't done anything...I really feel bad."

What does "causing trouble" mean?

Zhou Shufen simply interrupted him.

“You’re Hua Chen’s father, so you’re an elder in our family! Don’t say such formal things. Besides, with one more person in the family, there’s double the laughter, one more meal to cook, one more set of chopsticks and bowls. What’s so difficult about that? The children will also have one more elder who loves them. Isn’t that wonderful?”

She turned and gave Zhou Yufan another instruction.

"Second brother, go to the market tomorrow and buy some crucian carp and pork ribs. Crucian carp soup is the best for the stomach, and pork ribs stewed with radish are good for calcium and lung health. Also, buy a pound of red dates. Don't buy the drier ones, pick the plump ones. I'll steam some date cakes, and my father-in-law will enjoy them too."

Zhou Yufan nodded quickly.

"Alright, little sister, I'll go first thing tomorrow morning. I'll also buy Dad a pair of thick cotton shoes while I'm at it. His old ones are worn through, the soles are so sore and uncomfortable to walk in. No wonder his feet get frostbite in the winter. I need to buy a pair with sheepskin lining, they'll be warmer."

His gaze fell on Li Kangjun's feet.

The uppers of those cloth shoes had long been washed until they turned white.

Upon hearing this, Li Kangjun pulled his foot back.

"No, no, no, these shoes are still wearable! A little patching and mending will fix them, they're still functional. Don't waste your money, really don't waste it..."

He was used to living in the village and had to be very careful with every penny he spent.

He feels guilty about letting others pay for his shoes now.

"Dad! These shoes really can't be worn anymore!"

Li Huachen frowned.

She reached out to pull her father's foot out from under the chair, but Li Kangjun nimbly pulled his foot back, managing to avoid it.

"Dad, we're not short of money right now. If you go out in these shoes, your feet will get cold, and you might catch a cold or fever, which would be even more worrying and expensive. Take my advice, let Yufan buy you a new pair of cotton shoes. They'll be warm, comfortable, and you'll feel more secure walking in them, okay?"

Guo Zhenyi quickly smiled as well.

“Uncle Li, please don’t stand on ceremony with us. How much can a pair of shoes cost? Although we are not rich, it’s really not difficult for us to support you. Besides, you have been living with us for a long time, helping to look after Rongkai and teaching him to read and write. This kindness can’t be measured in money.”

"If you really feel bad about it, once your eyes are better, you can come work as a bookkeeper at the factory and get paid on time every month. That way, we'll be even, and you won't be staying for nothing, right?"

He knew very well that Li Kangjun, who had spent his entire life wielding a pen, valued his reputation and dignity most.

Even if his children are filial, he will always feel inferior to others if he is allowed to eat and live for free.

Therefore, Guo Zhenyi's words both preserved his dignity and gave him a way to earn a living.

Upon hearing the words "accountant," Li Kangjun's hand twitched slightly.

In his entire life, he spent more time writing than working in the fields.

Back in the Li family compound, he meticulously calculated every single expense in and out of the household.

When his sons were young, he taught them how to keep accounts, write notes, and record transactions.

Now that Guo Zhenyi had said that, the anger that had been building up inside him vanished instantly.

"Accounting room..."

He read it aloud softly.

"If I could really see it... I could give it a try. My only concern is that the factory's accounting methods are different now than the old ones, and I might not be able to learn them, which could cause problems..."

"It won't be bad!"

Zhou Yufan immediately chimed in.

"It's just recording goods and calculating money! How much comes in, how much goes out, how much is received, how much is paid, every single transaction must be clear. You're an old scholar, meticulous and accurate in arithmetic. You'll learn it in no time, it's not difficult at all. I'll have the most honest and patient accountant in Yu Xin's factory teach you for two days, starting from the beginning, I guarantee it won't be a problem."

He understood that as long as the elderly felt they were still useful, they wouldn't feel like a burden.

Seeing that her father's expression had clearly softened, Li Huachen quickly seized the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot.

“Dad, look, once you’re cured, you can help out at the factory and use your skills, and you can also live with us every day. Rong Kai will also pester you every day, asking you to teach him to recognize and write characters and tell him stories. Don’t you always say that children need to build a foundation from a young age? Isn’t this a perfect little apprentice waiting for you to teach?”

She took Rong Kai's hand and pushed him towards Li Kangjun.

"Rong Kai, haven't you always said you wanted your grandpa to teach you to write? Grandpa is the best at writing regular script, every stroke is so steady. Haven't you always been looking forward to learning? Today's your chance, why don't you hurry up and ask?"