Chapter 129: Views on Love

Li Xian's directness left Su Hui a bit flustered.

Even in this less advanced era, children of this age already understood a lot of things. Compared to the maturity of sixteen or seventeen-year-olds later on, children from this period were evidently different.

They seemed better at handling problems with adult thinking and relatively naive methods rather than relying on techniques learned from various channels about relationships.

Li Xian noticed that when he openly expressed his feelings for Su Ya, Su Hui's face first showed strong resistance, but then quickly became calm.

"You... you're very wealthy, aren't you?"

After a while, Su Hui glanced at Li Xian and asked.

Seeing his serious expression, Li Xian smiled.

Weighing his current assets and liabilities in his mind, and considering the long-term profitability of his career, and reflecting on his current status with a car and house, he nodded.

"Yeah, quite wealthy."

Seeing Su Hui looking a bit absent-minded, he pointed to the main road outside the small infrastructure building, "Want to take a walk?"

This time, Su Hui did not hesitate. It seemed he didn't want the upcoming conversation to be overheard by others. He went back inside, tidied up the New Year supplies, put on his cotton-padded jacket, and followed Li Xian.

With only a few days until New Year's Eve, the season was the coldest, making it feel as if they were in the Ice Age. The air between heaven and earth seemed to be frozen into a single block of pure ice.

The crescent moon in the sky appeared even more brilliant due to the exceptionally clear air, casting long shadows of the two figures—one tall and one short—on the path.

Returning to this era, Li Xian's favorite thing was the clear night sky. The Milky Way flowed like silk in the sky, while the white snow on the ground reflected a silver glow under the bright moon. It made one feel entirely awake and clean.

The so-called cleansing of the soul probably meant this.

Neither of them spoke. It wasn't until a biting cold wind blew that Li Xian realized that taking a walk in this weather was both pretentious and foolish.

Moreover, he confirmed that his patience was definitely not as good as that of this half-grown kid.

"Actually, with your sister, I'm still at the liking stage," Li Xian stopped and looked at Su Hui beside him. Seeing no reaction, he asked, "You know what liking means, right?"

Su Hui blinked, "Yes, it means wanting to marry her."

"No, no, no," Li Xian quickly waved his hand, feeling the need to explain the stages of relationships to this single guy.

"Liking means thinking about her when you're not with her, wondering how she's doing, whether she has any troubles or joys. That's liking. Wanting to marry her means we've both confirmed that we love each other. You know what love means, right?"

Upon hearing this, Su Hui got agitated, "So you don't want to marry my sister!?"

Li Xian smiled slightly and reached out to pat his head, but Su Hui stepped back and pushed him away, "My sister has suffered a lot. If you don't want to marry her, don't mess with her!"

Looking at Su Hui's stubborn face under the moonlight, Li Xian rubbed his numbed hands and said calmly, "Your logic is off. Liking someone doesn't mean you have to marry them. You can't use liking as the basis for a marriage."

Feeling that his explanation might be too convoluted, Li Xian tried another approach. He gestured with his hands, "You see, my liking for your sister is my business, but if I want to marry her, she also has to like me. And not just liking; it needs both of us to spend time together, to get past the initial novelty of mutual attraction. We need to be sure that we'll like each other for a lifetime, and that we won't suddenly stop liking each other due to any random issues. Only then can we get married… Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Su Hui pondered for a while and nodded thoughtfully.

Li Xian's views seemed to address some doubts in his mind.

"I understand now. You... you're different from those scoundrels. They just want to take advantage of my sister. You... you're thinking further and more deeply."

Li Xian chuckled, "Well, that's not entirely wrong."

Things that are essentially the same can become entirely different due to differing motives. That's why "I want to sleep with you" and "I want to wake up with you" are two different realms.

Understanding Li Xian's perspective and sensing the difference from previous scoundrels, Su Hui moved a bit closer.

"My sister's fate has been hard. After that bastard ran away, my mother became like this. For years, she has managed everything at home. She... she can't speak, but there's no better woman in the world than her. I want... I want you to be rich, to be able to speak, and to have hands and feet... I don't want her to end up like my mother! If that happens, I won't let you off!"

Su Hui's words were somewhat disorganized, but Li Xian understood.

This kid seems worried that he might be attracted to Su Ya's appearance and then abandon her because of her shortcomings.

This is... a preemptive warning from a future brother-in-law!

Feeling this mix of maturity and childishness, Li Xian smiled and gave Su Hui a pat on the head.

"You little brat, you're overthinking things. The road ahead is long; it has to be walked slowly, and people have to be observed slowly. Whether it's me towards your sister or you towards me, talking about it now is too early. Understand?"

Feeling the intense cold, Li Xian turned and waved to Su Hui, heading back.

On the way back, Li Xian asked about Su Hui's apprenticeship at Zhang Yaba's place. However, the introverted Su Hui didn't say much, only mentioning that his master treated him well. When Li Xian inquired about his future aspirations, Su Hui remained silent.

"I want to earn money quickly to support my sister and my mother. Once I've earned enough money so they don't have to suffer from hunger or cold anymore, I'll find that bastard. I must find him, ask him why he cruelly abandoned us, and make him pay!"

Hearing this and seeing the cold, determined look in Su Hui's eyes under the starry sky, Li Xian felt a sudden drop in temperature.

He couldn't help but shiver.

He couldn't imagine what kind of hatred would drive a half-grown kid to make such a resolute vow.

But he didn't comment on this "aspiration."

Without personal experience, he couldn't truly imagine the immense damage a man who abandoned his wife, young daughter, and infant son could cause to his family.

Especially in an era where starvation was a real threat.

Moreover, if it weren't for this man, Su Ya wouldn't have become disabled.

He truly was a scoundrel.

Silently, Li Xian sent Su Hui back to Zhang Yaba's place. After instructing him to arrange a car to pick up Su Hui the next morning and ensuring that he was well cared for, he bid farewell to Zhang Yaba and left.

Back home, lying in bed and thinking about how Su Ya and Su Hui's lives might have been if that man hadn't abandoned them, Li Xian fell asleep.

No more words.

The next morning, he sent Xu Bing and Zhou Yong, who were preparing to transport the last load of timber to the forestry bureau for the New Year, to pick up Su Hui, instructing them to deliver him right to his doorstep.

After receiving their assurance with raised eyebrows that they would take good care of Su Hui, Li Xian stuffed the red envelopes he had prepared for them into their pockets and gave them a good scolding to cure their "eye disease."

The calendar had already been torn off by the early-rising Zou Ni.

The latest page, a poor-quality oil-printed wax paper, showed "January 20, 1993. The 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Major Cold," indicating that only one day remained until the New Year.

Looking at the thick layer of window flowers with big red paper-cuts and couplets and feeling the cold air seeping in through the collar, cuffs, and lapels, Li Xian couldn't help but shiver.

"Mom! Light the fire, or I'll freeze to death!"

Wrapped in a big quilt like a large silkworm and still in bed, Li Pi loudly pleaded.

"Lazy bum! What time is it and you're still not up?" Li You, unable to tolerate it any longer, pointed at the fourth child, "Get up, today we're steaming bean buns. Go to your eldest brother's place and call your brother and sister-in-law over."

Li Pi turned over, "I'm not going. It's so cold, unless Er Ge drives, otherwise, I won't go even if you beat me."

Seeing this kid completely refuse to get up, Li Xian shook his head.

Thinking that even Su Hui was dealing with things like an adult, this little brat was still throwing a childish tantrum. A sense of responsibility arose instantly.

Rich families raise spoiled children. After just a few days of good times, they start to indulge and refuse to go out without a car.

That's unacceptable!

Previously, Li Xian's greatest wish was to be a rich second generation, to reach the peak of life without having to struggle, but unfortunately, this wish had not been realized even after twenty years.

Now

, seeing Li Pi with a tendency to achieve it ahead of time, Li Xian felt extremely uncomfortable.

You're lucky!

Seeing Li Pi rolling around in bed with the quilt still on him under Li You's urging, Li Xian smirked and went outside to break two long icicles from the doorframe.

Breaking them into small pieces, he went back inside, lifted Li Pi's quilt, and stuffed the ice pieces inside.

With a scream like a pig being slaughtered, Li Pi jumped up from the bed.

Watching him jump around on the bed like a madman, shaking out the ice pieces from his clothes, Li Xian laughed heartily. He waved to Li You, "Dad, if the fourth one is still in bed next time, do just this! Spoiling a child is like killing a child. After indulging him for too long, he'll become a spendthrift. When it's time to discipline him, don't hold back. If he has a problem, it needs to be thoroughly dealt with!"

"I see!"

Li You watched his fourth child bouncing three feet high on the bed, took a drag on his cigarette, and nodded with a deep, satisfied smile.

"Er Ge! Are you really my second brother?"

On the bed, covered in water stains and shivering with cold, Li Pi's face twisted as he shouted.