Su Yu reassured her, "Everything is fine. Don't worry."
Li Ping has a family in the provincial capital, and Jiang Hu is now Li's son-in-law, so Su Yu and the others went directly to the military compound with Song. They then arranged to have dinner at Song's house on the third day of the Lunar New Year to have a proper chat.
Li Guoliang was very happy because Li Ping and Jiang Hu had returned. But he was unhappy again because he didn't see his child.
"Why didn't you bring the kids back... Sigh, you must bring the kids back next year," Li Guoliang said with a disappointed look. At his age, he really wanted to see his third generation.
Li Ping said, "The child is still here, and his grandparents are worried about him. Jiang Hu and I were thinking that since we couldn't come back last year, we had to come back this year. We're going back on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year."
Li's mother said, "You're back just in time. Ai Hong is getting married, so you, as her older sister, can attend her wedding."
Li Ping nodded upon hearing this, without asking how Li Aihong's boyfriend was doing. Seeing that she didn't ask any further questions, Li's mother was very unhappy, feeling that Li Ping was a very incompetent eldest sister.
Li Guoliang knew his two daughters didn't get along, so he didn't blame Li Ping. After all, his second daughter had indeed gone too far before.
In the evening, Li Aijun and Li Aidang also returned. Li Aijun is still with the Beijing Municipal Cultural Troupe; the troupe has fewer assignments now, so she was able to come home for the Spring Festival. Li Aidang also took leave to come home. He has now served two years, so he took leave to come home for the Spring Festival. Of course, more importantly, he knew that his older sister would be coming home this year.
They were all in the military, so they had a lot to talk about, and the whole family sat in the house chatting happily.
A while later, Li Aihong returned, her face beaming with joy. She had arranged the marriage herself; her fiancé's father was a staff officer in the provincial military region. Her fiancé was her son, so he wouldn't need to support her in her old age. Moreover, thanks to his family's help, he was already a company commander. Although his rank wasn't high, Li Aihong wasn't worried. Since he was in the military region, her father could help him in the future, and promotions would be quick.
Her mother, Li's mother, was very satisfied with this in-law. She felt it was convenient to take care of them since they lived close by. She also worried that her daughter wouldn't be mistreated by her in-laws after marriage. Li Guoliang was also satisfied. Not because of his in-laws' positions, but because his son-in-law was a rather incompetent man. In Li Guoliang's view, if his second daughter had married someone capable, she would have dragged him down. The current situation was good; she had a son-in-law with limited abilities, and they could live an ordinary life, at least peacefully, with neither of them looking down on the other.
Seeing Li Ping return, Li Aihong's lips twitched slightly, and she went into the house without even acknowledging her. Li's mother said, "Aihong must be tired. She's been exhausted from all this time preparing for the wedding."
Li Ping wasn't angry, after all, she didn't like to talk to Li Aihong. So she just nodded slightly.
During dinner that evening, Li Aihong started discussing her dowry.
Anyway, a bicycle and a watch are essential for the trip. These were things Li Ping had bought before; she's also a daughter of the Li family, so she needs them too. In addition, Li Aihong also wants the 1,500 yuan that was given to Li Ping as a dowry.
Seemingly surprised that Li Aihong brought up the dowry in front of her eldest son-in-law, Li Guoliang's face darkened instantly. His good mood for drinking with his son-in-law vanished, and he said sternly, "We'll talk about these things after dinner. Let's eat now."
Li Aihong said, "Dad, you're just giving me the runaround. Why are you so eager to get involved in my eldest sister's wedding?"
Li Guoliang gripped his chopsticks tightly. If his eldest son-in-law hadn't been there, he would have slammed his fist on the table and told the man to get out.
“Okay, I agree to all your requests. But don’t come back to me if you need anything in the future,” Li Guoliang said directly.
He was utterly disappointed by the behavior of the second son.
He went to join the army, but ended up being discharged due to illness. Everyone in the compound laughed at him.
Now that they're getting married, they're still so immature, saying things without thinking about the occasion, and even comparing themselves to others.
"Will your eldest sister look for you?" Li Aihong asked, looking at Li Ping. She wanted to be just like her eldest sister.
She deserves everything.
“Your older sister and the others have never contacted me!” Li Guoliang said.
Li Ping smiled slightly, "We're all adults now, why would we need to look for Dad?"
Li Aihong gritted her teeth and said, "Fine, then I won't look for her."
Li Aidang immediately exclaimed excitedly, "I can vouch for Second Sister's words. Mom and Dad, if Second Sister comes crying to our door in the future, you can't do anything about it. I certainly won't."
Li's mother patted his head and said, "Eat your food."
Li Aidang ignored her and instead looked at Li Aijun, who was eating with her head down, and asked, "Third sister, are you going to look for Dad in the future?"
"Why do you need to see Dad?" Li Aijun asked, puzzled. Then, displeased, he said, "Dad won't help me. Last time I went to the performing arts troupe, he even made my leader hold me to high standards and absolutely forbid any leniency. Now I'm being watched every day, it's exhausting!"
Li Aihong's face flushed even more. She realized that none of her brothers and sisters in the house were close to her; they had all been seduced by her eldest sister.
The more she looked, the angrier she became, so she put down the bowl, her eyes red, and ran back to her room.
Li's mother hurriedly followed, "Aihong!"
Li Guoliang casually invited his son-in-law to drink, "Jiang, come on, let's have a drink."
Jiang Hu quickly picked up his wine glass and drank with his father-in-law.
However, under the table, he reached out and squeezed Li Ping's hand. Li Ping smiled, pulled away, and picked up her chopsticks to eat.
After dinner, Li Ping and Jiang Hu were called into the study by Li Guoliang for a talk.
Once inside the study, Li Guoliang's expression became very serious, just as serious as when he was in the military region.
He gestured to Li Ping and Jiang Hu's chairs, inviting them to sit down and talk.
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