Chapter Sixty-Five [V] The Wife Sings, the Husband Follows
Li Yan said, "Give me a few days, I need to take care of things here in Huating County."
Xue Yi had no objection and nodded in agreement.
However, Xue Yi's leave is only three days. He was delayed for one day yesterday, so he can only stay in Huating County for today and tomorrow.
He explained the situation to Li Yan: "When the time comes, I will take my mother and Xu'er back to Jiangning Prefecture first. If you are done with your work, come to Jiangning Prefecture to find us. You know the address of my residence."
Li Yan nodded and said no problem.
However, after Xue Yi told his mother about it, he was sternly rejected by Aunt Xue.
“You go back first, we’ll wait for Yan Niang. Once she’s finished with things here, we’ll go back together.” Aunt Xue didn’t want to leave her daughter-in-law alone here, nor did she want to move out in such a hurry.
I've lived in this alley for almost a year now, and the neighbors all get along very well.
If you're moving out, you should at least say goodbye to everyone, right?
She still needs to chat and catch up with her old friends.
Seeing her son hesitate, Aunt Xue added, "There's also Xu'er's homework. He's currently studying with Scholar Weng. If he really wants to leave, he should properly inform Scholar Weng and explain the reason. Besides, he's doing very well in his studies now. Once he goes to Jiangning Prefecture, we should find him another private school."
Xue Yi is now a commander of a thousand men in the army, a high-ranking official, so he must have some connections in Jiangning Prefecture.
He used his connections to find a reliable teacher for his nephew; this shouldn't be difficult.
After hesitating for a moment, Xue Yi agreed: "Then I will leave first tomorrow night. After the Li family's business matters are settled, you can go to Jiangning Prefecture together. Also, I will take care of Xu Ge'er's studies in the city."
That would be for the best. Although there will be a brief separation from my son, we will reunite afterward, so there won't be too much sadness.
If a grown man suddenly moves into your home, it's impossible for the neighbors not to know. Once they find out, they'll inevitably ask what's going on.
So all morning, Aunt Xue spent her time explaining to her neighbors about her son's sudden return home.
When everyone heard that there were still such wicked people, who dared to take credit for the achievements they had earned on the battlefield, people from the same village... they couldn't help but feel indignant and sorry for the Xue family mother and son.
Fortunately, God has eyes, and now the son has regained his memory and been found.
"You look like a lucky person. Although you suffered in your early years, your future will definitely be smooth. Now that your second son has returned with merits, you can enjoy your life to the fullest."
Another chimed in, "Your daughter-in-law is also filial, and your grandchildren are sensible and intelligent. You're destined to enjoy a life of happiness from now on."
"Yes, your second son is now an official in Jiangning Prefecture, so he'll definitely have to take you there, right? When are you leaving?"
Aunt Xue first humbly said that there was no such thing as enjoying life, and that she still had to worry. Then she replied, "Yan Niang still has some business to settle here. Er Lang doesn't have much leave, so he will leave in the next couple of days. We will wait for Yan Niang and go back together when she is done with her business."
Aunt Hua next door was closest to Aunt Xue and her mother-in-law, and they were the best of friends. Now that they were about to move away, she was very reluctant to see them go.
“Ever since Yanniang moved in, we neighbors have been taking advantage of her a lot. Milk tea, roast pork, and many other foods... we've eaten quite a lot of them. You and your mother-in-law are kind-hearted and not stingy. Whenever you have something to eat or drink, you always think of us, your fellow villagers. Although you've only been here for less than a year, I feel like we've known each other for a long time... Now that you're moving away, I'm really sad.”
Aunt Xue was also reluctant to leave, but her son had returned and now that he had a place to stay, she couldn't just stop living with him and continue living here.
"Jiangning Prefecture and Huating County are not far apart. It only takes about two hours to get there by renting a carriage. Once I get there, I will have the children write back and tell you our address. When you go to Jiangning Prefecture in the future, be sure to look for us."
The neighbors all said it was definitely true.
At this moment, Aunt Xue and a group of neighbors were gathered at Aunt Hua's house. Separated by only one wall, Xue Yi could hear clearly what the aunties next door were saying.
Most of the comments were praise and recognition of Li, which shows how good her reputation was in the whole alley.
Then, glancing at her busily working in the courtyard, he saw her earnestly teaching Qingniang something, her attitude extremely serious. Naturally, Xue Yi felt a greater sense of approval for her.
She still couldn't understand how Li, who was so dull and taciturn in her previous life and had a strained relationship with her mother, could become so sophisticated and charming in this life.
As Li Yan corrected some minor issues Qingniang had while making the drink, she looked up and met those deep, dark eyes.
Their eyes met, and Xue Yi didn't look away, but simply walked towards her.
Li Yan thought he had something to say to her, so she asked, "What's wrong?"
Xue Yi then said, "I overheard the conversation next door just now, and every word they said was an affirmation of you. It's clear that you have a very good reputation in Tongye Hutong."
Li Yan felt a bit proud of this, but also humbly said, "It's also because those aunts and sisters-in-law are all good-natured and not fussy people, that we can get along so well."
Xue Yi narrowed his eyes and continued, "I heard from Mother that you weren't like this when you first came to our home. Back then, you were timid and taciturn, not very talkative, and rather quiet. But in just one year, you've changed quite a bit."
Li Yan had genuinely thought that Xue Erlang was praising her, but she became wary when she heard him mention this.
Is he doubting himself?
A sense of unease arose, and Li Yan took a step back defensively, then smiled and said, "Isn't it normal for people to change? It's only natural for someone who has been suppressed for a long time to rise up in rebellion. Besides, I wasn't always dull and timid. I was a sunny and cheerful person when I was very young. It was only after my mother passed away and my father remarried that I was ostracized at home, which led to this."
"But after I married into the Xue family, my mother-in-law treated me sincerely, and I felt what family love is like. Under these circumstances, I gradually changed little by little. Isn't that normal?"
It is indeed normal, and it is perfectly self-consistent.
But Xue Yi could see that there was panic in her eyes at that moment.
If everything she said is true, then why is she panicking?
It is clear that this statement is partly true, but also partly false.
Xue Yi did not expose her and continue to press her, but instead went along with her words, saying, "What you said makes sense."
.
In the evening, Li Shangping suddenly came to the Xue family.
Standing at the door, Li Shangping, unlike his usual arrogant self, now had a friendly and even somewhat ingratiating expression on his face.
“I heard my son-in-law is back! This is wonderful news! Mother-in-law, why didn’t you tell me? I could have come to congratulate you. I only found out because of the carpenter who lives in the same alley as you. As soon as I heard the news, I rushed over with gifts.” He said, lifting the things he was carrying.
Li Shangping never expected that after the second wife married into the Xue family, not only did she live a wonderful life, but her husband also miraculously returned from the dead.
Not only did he return home alive, but I also heard that he is now an official.
He felt very regretful when he heard the news. If he had known, why did he have to raise someone else's child in the first place?
If it weren't for the previous conflict, this son-in-law, who is now an official, would surely have taken the initiative to visit him. Instead, he, as the father-in-law, has to condescend to personally bring gifts to his son-in-law's doorstep.
Aunt Xue didn't like this father-in-law, but since he was Yan Niang's biological father, she couldn't go against Yan Niang's wishes and decided to refuse him entry.
Therefore, the only option was to invite them inside.
And she called out, "Yan Niang, your father-in-law is here."
Li Yan had already heard the commotion outside, and when her mother-in-law called, she came out as well.
"Why have you come here, sir?" Li Yan had no good feelings towards the original owner's biological father.
Li Shangping laughed and said, "You are my daughter. Even if you are married now, you still have the surname Li and my blood flows in your veins. Does that mean I can't visit my daughter's house?"
At this moment, Xue Yi also appeared in the courtyard upon hearing the sound. Upon suddenly seeing a handsome young man in front of him, Li Shangping couldn't stop smiling.
"This must be my son-in-law?" Li Shangping looked the man up and down with his eyes, then praised him highly, "Good, really good, truly good." Then he began to boast to his daughter, "Second Mother, your father found you a good husband, didn't he? Not only is he an official, but he is also so tall and handsome. He is no worse than your scholar brother-in-law."
Since the two sons-in-law were of similar age, Li Shangping naturally compared them.
To be fair, both sons-in-law are top-notch in terms of appearance and future prospects. But even among the best, one must be chosen to be more outstanding.
Although the eldest son-in-law was a scholar and refined and handsome, he was still a bookish man, and his imposing manner was inevitably lacking.
The second son-in-law appeared to be half a head shorter than the eldest son-in-law, but he was also tall and imposing. Despite his young age, he exuded a powerful aura.
Even if he was his father-in-law or an elder, he felt inferior in terms of presence standing in front of him at this moment.
Although he knew that the person in front of him was not of good character and had mistreated Li Shi in the past, he was still Li Shi's biological father. Xue Yi would not treat him sincerely, but he could not turn away a person of such status.
“Since it’s your father-in-law who has come looking for you, please come in and sit down,” Xue Yi said, taking the initiative to invite him in.
Seeing this, Li Shangping became even more smug.
Invited by the officer's son-in-law, he naturally straightened his back even more. Carrying his things, he strode into the main room with his head held high and chest out.
However, Xue Yi is not an honest man and will not rigidly adhere to the so-called "filial piety," but he has neglected his wife who has been neglected by him over the years.
So, once inside the main room, Xue Yi, acting as the husband, began to seek justice for his wife from her family.
"I heard that before Yanniang got married, she had a hard time living her life?" he asked casually.
His tone was calm, but his presence was undeniable. This made Li Shangping, who had just sat down, instantly feel a chill run down his spine.
"This...how could this be?" He denied it. "She's my own daughter, how could I not treat her sincerely? It's a misunderstanding, there must be some misunderstanding here."
Upon hearing this, Xue Yi slightly twitched the corners of his lips, revealing a faint smile before quickly suppressing it.
"So, Father-in-law, you mean...my wife is lying?"
"No...no." Li Shangping suddenly felt uneasy and began to think that today's trip might have been a mistake.
He suddenly realized that the military officer's son-in-law, born into a peasant family, seemed to possess even greater authority than the scholar's son-in-law, born into a wealthy family. He would have had to be somewhat submissive in front of the scholar's son-in-law, and couldn't afford to act like a superior.
Now that he was in front of this son-in-law, facing his questioning, he didn't dare to breathe loudly.
Xue Yi could probably tell that the person in front of him didn't have many impressive skills; he was just a bully who preyed on the weak.
Seeing this, Li Yan, who was peeping inside from outside the door, couldn't help but laugh out loud.
It seems that the only way to deal with this cowardly and opportunistic father is to use power and influence.
Thinking back to when she dealt with him before, she had exhausted all her energy and words, only to leave him humiliated and speechless. But now, Xue Erlang didn't say a word at all. Because of his status, he softened after being asked a couple of questions.
Li Yan suddenly remembered something, and at that moment, she confidently carried the tea into the main room.
"Father, have some tea." She handed a cup to Li Shangping first, then turned and handed another cup to Xue Yi. "Husband, have some tea." She called him affectionately.
In front of her adoptive father, she naturally couldn't let him see through her act; naturally, the more affectionate the couple was, the better.
Upon hearing this, Xue Yi's eyebrows twitched, but he picked up his teacup without making a sound.
After serving the tea, Li Yan didn't leave. She took a seat next to Xue Yi and said, "Father, it is a joyous occasion that my husband has returned home. As his father-in-law, shouldn't you set up two tables at home to celebrate and welcome him back?"
Since his son-in-law was successful, Li Shangping was naturally eager to cultivate a good relationship with him. So, with the words already on the tip of his tongue, Li Shangping quickly chimed in, "Of course, of course! I'll invite your sister and brother-in-law's family over too, and we can all have a good time together as a family."
Li Yan smiled and agreed: "That's perfect, since my husband and brother-in-law haven't met yet. My brother-in-law will also be an official in the future, so it's good that the two of them can get along as soon as possible and have each other to rely on."
Li Shangping thought so too. With one son-in-law being a scholar and the other a warrior, how could he, the father-in-law, possibly have a bad life in the future?
Li Yan added, "If Father thinks it's alright, then let's do it tomorrow. My husband only has three days off, and today is already the second day." But she also said, "If we don't have time by tomorrow, after our family moves to Jiangning Prefecture, we probably won't be able to get together again."
"Tomorrow is fine!" If he could, Li Shangping would love to have this meal tonight.
Fearing he might miss this opportunity, Li Shangping readily agreed.
Li Yan: "Then I won't keep Father at home for dinner. Father still has to go to the Han family to invite people back, and he also needs to ask the cook to prepare tomorrow's dishes. He'll be quite busy..."
Li Shangping was already preoccupied with the thought of how he would steal the spotlight at the father-in-law and son-in-law's gathering the next day, so he immediately got up to say goodbye, forgetting about the meal.
Xue Yi didn't offer him a meal, but simply stood up and said, "I'll see my father-in-law off."
After seeing the person out of the courtyard, Xue Yi turned back into the main room.
Li Yan was waiting for him to come over so she could explain why she had done what she did earlier.
"I apologize to you first. I took it upon myself to book a dinner for you without your consent." Li Yan apologized first, then explained, "But I had my reasons for doing this. I still need your help with this."
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Author's Note: [Sprinkling flowers]
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