Li Wenyi and Ma Rencai returned because this place was secluded, and they wanted to discuss those matters at home. If they found out what they were talking about, wouldn't that expose Ma Rencai's thoughts and preferences? That wouldn't do. She had to deal with these people tonight; she couldn't just let things continue like this.
In the main room, Li had laid out a table full of dishes, all kinds of them, with vegetables and meat, as lavish as if it were Chinese New Year.
Li Mantian placed Ye Shuang on the chair next to him, and Li Wenyi pulled Ma Rencai to sit on the other side of Li Mantian. Li poured a glass of wine for everyone before sitting down next to Ye Shuang.
Seeing that everyone had wine in their hands, Li Mantian picked up his wine glass, looked around, and slowly said, "Today, firstly, we are celebrating the Lantern Festival, hoping that next year will be just as smooth as this year. Secondly, Wenyi's success in passing the imperial examination is truly a blessing from our Li family's ancestral graves. The reason we kept a low profile and didn't celebrate before was because your parents were afraid of bringing you trouble."
At this point, Li Mantian hesitated to continue, but Li Shi picked up where he left off, saying, "Your father and I are just farmers and don't know anything. We've only heard that you officials have your own rules and can't hold grand celebrations. And since it's not a peaceful time, instead of celebrating in a timid and fearful manner, why not find a day when we can celebrate openly and legitimately for you?"
From initial surprise to later emotion and finally tears welling up in his eyes, Li Wenyi went from being surprised to being moved to tears. Although he had guessed that this was the reason, when he actually heard his parents say it, the tiny knot in his heart disappeared with those words: "Father and Mother, your son is unfilial for not being able to help you and fulfill his filial duties. Why don't you move to the county town? Let me take good care of you!"
Upon hearing this, Li Mantian paused mid-air, his wine glass poised to be downed. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "No need for that. We're not used to staying in the county town either. We'll stay with you for one more day tomorrow, and then we'll head back."
Li Wenyi raised his eyebrows slightly, and the tears in his eyes gradually disappeared.
Seeing this, Li quickly said, "Wenyi, we don't know anyone in this county town, it's really inconvenient. Besides, when you bring your friends home, you might also find it inconvenient, right?"
Li Wenyi twitched the corner of his mouth: "If you stay long enough, you'll naturally get to know other people. In the county, I only have Ma Rencai as a close friend. My parents already consider him family, so there's nothing inconvenient about it."
Li chuckled twice, put down her wine glass, looked down at Ye Shuang, and then, as if remembering something, said, "Isn't there still Shuang'er? You don't know, Shuang'er gets along very well with the children in the village now. If she were to leave her friends in the village and come to the county, she would be unhappy."
Li Wenyi put down his wine glass, his smile almost disappearing: "Shuang'er is old enough to go to school and start her education. We can't just let her run wild in the mountains all the time, can we? Once she gets to know her friends at school, she'll have just as much fun. Don't you think so, Shuang'er?"
Ye Shuang, who was enjoying her meal, never expected that the topic would be brought up to her. She looked up and saw Li Mantian, Li Wenyi and Li Shi with hopeful eyes, while Ma Rencai was all smiles, seemingly not yet interested in joining in.
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