Chapter 182: Cannot Forget One's Roots

Upon entering the supermarket, Li Dong first took his parents to the office area. 

He then told the duty manager, "Go find Cao Feng and Cao Yu and have them come over."

After the duty manager left, Li Dong chatted with Cao Fang and the others for a while. Soon, Cao Yu arrived.

Seeing Li Dong, Cao Yu quickly said, "Mr. Li…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Li Dong interrupted, "Cousin, when there are no outsiders around, just call me Dongzi."

Cao Yu then addressed him correctly, "Dongzi, do you need something from me?"

Cao Fang and Li Chengyuan, who had been observing Cao Yu, looked at her with curiosity. Cao Fang, with tears in her eyes, asked, "Are you Erbao?"

Cao Yu then noticed Cao Fang and her husband and hesitated, "Aunt?"

"It's me. You are Erbao, right? I'm your Aunt!" Cao Fang's tears started flowing.

The two relatives embraced and began to cry loudly.

Li Dong and Li Chengyuan looked at each other in surprise. Was this too emotional?

Seeing the situation, Li Dong did not interfere but gently nudged his father and whispered, "Dad, it feels like there's some hidden story here. Could it be that Mom was taken away by you back then?"

Li Chengyuan glared at him and said unkindly, "Stop talking nonsense. Your mom and I were in a free relationship, understand?"

"Is that true?"

Li Dong looked skeptical. His mother was from Qian Province, over a thousand miles away. How could she have met his dad more than twenty years ago?

Seeing his expression, Li Chengyuan knew what he was thinking and, feeling embarrassed, said, "What are you looking at? I was also a well-known handsome guy back then. Your mom pursued me. If you don't believe me, ask your mom!"

Li Dong chuckled, "I believe it. If you weren't handsome, how could you have such a handsome son?"

The father and son exchanged a look and burst into laughter. It was clear that like father, like son.

As the two were chatting idly, Cao Feng arrived.

Cao Feng first saw Cao Yu and Cao Fang crying together, then noticed Li Dong talking to a middle-aged man who looked somewhat like Li Dong, and realized something.

Hesitantly looking at Li Chengyuan, Cao Feng asked cautiously, "Aunt's husband?"

Li Chengyuan laughed, "You must be Cao Feng. Time flies; it's been twenty years. When I first saw you, you were just a little kid running around in open-crotch pants…"

As Li Chengyuan reminisced, Cao Feng broke out in a sweat.

Li Dong was also at a loss and coughed to interrupt his father, calling out to his still-emotional mother, "Mom, Cousin Feng is here. Stop crying so much, or your eyes will swell up."

Hearing her son tease her, Cao Fang glared at him.

She took a good look at Cao Feng and, this time, did not cry. Instead, she repeatedly said, "Good."

The group sat down to chat for a while, with Cao Fang mainly asking about the situation back home in Qian Province.

When she heard that her mother was still in good health and sometimes went to pick fruits on the mountain, Cao Fang's tears started flowing again.

Seeing this, Li Dong quickly said, "Mom and Dad, it's getting late. Let's head back first. We'll talk about the rest during dinner."

Cao Fang finally stopped crying, nodded without speaking, but held onto Cao Yu's hand, unwilling to let go.

…

On the way back, Li Dong suddenly remembered he had forgotten to inform Qin Yuhan.

He had Cao Feng and Cao Yu take his parents home first and quickly dialed Qin Yuhan's number.

After Li Dong mentioned that his parents had arrived and would be home soon, Qin Yuhan panicked, "Why didn't you tell me earlier! I'm heading back now. I didn't have time to tidy up, so you'll have to handle it yourself."

"Don't go. A bride must meet her in-laws eventually. Why are you leaving now?"

"You're the one who's a 'bride'!"

Qin Yuhan huffed angrily and then said, "I'm not arguing with you. I'm leaving now. I wasn't prepared at all today. We'll introduce you to my uncle and aunt next time."

Li Dong wanted to persuade her further, but Qin Yuhan had already hung up.

Li Dong considered continuing to persuade her but decided against it. It was bound to happen sooner or later.

When they arrived at Wanyuan, Qin Yuhan had indeed already left.

As they entered the house, Li Chengyuan and Cao Fang exchanged glances, noting the pink slippers at the door but said nothing.

When they entered the house, Cao Fang and Li Chengyuan exchanged looks again.

Qin Yuhan had left in a hurry, and there was still a lot of her stuff around: clothes drying on the balcony, small snacks she bought, a big teddy bear in the room, towels and toothbrushes in the bathroom…

As Li Dong helped them with their luggage, Cao Fang quietly asked, "Are you dating someone?"

Li Chengyuan stroked his chin and said, "Should be, but isn't it a bit early?"

"Early? When you were twenty…"

"I was still single at twenty!" Li Chengyuan interrupted before Cao Fang could finish.

Cao Fang rolled her eyes at him. Just as she was about to speak, Li Dong emerged from the room.

Seeing his parents staring at the prepared dishes on the table, Li Dong laughed awkwardly, "Let's eat out instead. This amount of food won't be enough."

Qin Yuhan had prepared enough for two people, and with six now, it was clearly insufficient.

Cao Fang ignored him, tasted a bit of the dish with her chopsticks, nodded, and said, "The taste is okay. It seems like Dongping's flavor. Who made it?"

Li Dong awkwardly replied, "My girlfriend."

Cao Fang wasn't surprised but said meaningfully, "We don't oppose you dating, but isn't it a bit early to talk about having grandchildren?"

Li Dong was speechless. How did the topic shift to grandchildren?

Without addressing his mother's comment, Li Dong changed the subject, "Let's go out to eat…"

"No need. I'll check the fridge to see if there's any more food. If there is, I'll cook a few dishes, and we'll eat at home tonight."

Cao Fang continued, "Where's your little girlfriend? I see the food is still warm. When will she be back?"

"She doesn't live here. She went home. I'll introduce you next time."

Cao Fang gave him a look, thinking he was lying. However, she didn't press further. She needed some time to digest the news that her son was dating someone.

…

As Cao Fang and Cao Yu went to the kitchen to start cooking, Li Dong and the two other men sat on the sofa watching TV.

Li Chengyuan watched TV for a while, then turned to Li Dong and said, "Kid, now that you have money, there are some things I can't control. But when you have money, you mustn't forget your roots. Think carefully about what you can and cannot do. You have more knowledge and achievements than me, so you should understand better."

Li Dong looked innocent and said, "Dad, I haven't done anything wrong. Why does it feel like you're hinting at something?"

Li Chengyuan snorted and ignored him.

While he was happy and proud that his son could make money, he was concerned that wealth might corrupt him. Li Chengyuan feared his son might be tempted by external influences, given his youth.

He didn't mind Li Dong having a girlfriend, but he worried it wouldn't just be one. If it caused trouble at home, his son would be the one to suffer.