Chapter 180: Returning to Bangye

After sending Yan Shilin off, Li Xian and the thoroughly disheartened Liang Yonghe boarded the train to Bingcheng.

Perhaps the blow was too severe, Liang Yonghe had been in a daze for the past few days. Even though Li Xian had dragged him around for some leisure, it hadn't had much effect.

He remained dispirited, as if a dark, rainy cloud was constantly hanging over him.

Li Xian could somewhat understand. After all, having lived with Lin Technical School for four years, Liang Yonghe's future plans during his student days were largely built on supporting his parents. Even when facing unfair treatment, standing on the rooftop of the dormitory, thoughts of his parents and future kept him going.

Now, all those dreams had collapsed overnight, and who wouldn't feel this emotional burden?

However, from an outsider's perspective, Li Xian could only try to comfort him, not truly experiencing the pain.

Life had to move forward.

"Uncle and Aunt, if they knew, I hope they're doing well."

That was the only point Li Xian could make.

On the train's sleeper cabin, Liang Yonghe, with his stubbly face, stared blankly out the window, seemingly lost in thought.

It was not until they returned to Bangye that Liang Yonghe finally took Li Xian's hand and said he had come to terms with things.

He needed to keep living, to carry on the family line, to make the Liang family thrive, and to make his deceased parents proud, so they could see the Liang family prospering and becoming a prominent clan in the Qiyi Forest.

Faced with these ideals still rooted in his parents, Li Xian sighed.

Strong attachments can make life very burdensome.

He thought this to himself but didn't voice it.

However, seeing a glimmer of light in Liang Yonghe's eyes, he felt it was better than the previous state of soul loss.

No matter the reason, living well was what mattered.

Perhaps, once Liang Yonghe had his own family and children, he would let go of these burdens?

He thought so.

Secretly slipping a thousand yuan into Liang Yonghe's coat pocket, Li Xian sent him off on the bus back to the Forestry Bureau and reminded him to contact him if he needed any help. Watching the willow trees already sprouting new buds in May, Li Xian took out his phone and dialed his home.

The call was quickly answered by Li Daoyun.

The old man seemed to enjoy answering the phone, and almost every time Li Xian called, he was greeted with a boisterous "Hello! What's up?"

"Grandpa, it's me. Well, could you and Grandma pack up and come stay in Bangye for a while?" Hearing the old man's voice, Li Xian's mood lifted instantly, clearing away the negative emotions Liang Yonghe had brought.

"Grandson, the factory is so busy now. Your father is always at the factory, and your mother is busy cooking for the factory. Your elder brother's family is also busy with the land. What are we supposed to do? What's the matter?"

"Nothing much, just… I miss you."

Upon hearing this, the old man chuckled with satisfaction on the other end of the line. "Alright! Anyway, your father is always wandering around the factory, not doing any real work."

After hanging up the phone, Li Xian felt greatly relieved. He didn't return to the house but went straight to the Forestry Bureau — there was still an old man there, so he couldn't neglect him.

...

During this busy period, it had been a long time since he had been back. Unexpectedly, returning to the retirement home, Li Xian became the new favorite among the old men.

Old Wu was particularly impressive now. Ever since he recognized a godson, he had straightened his back, increased his appetite, and his voice was now eight degrees louder than before! He had quite the imposing demeanor of Wu Shengli.

In the retirement home, only Zheng Weishi could manage him — after all, it was Zheng who came up with the scheme of pretending to be sick.

So whenever Old Wu's arrogance seriously disrupted the order of the retirement home, Zheng Weishi had to get up with a big teacup and say, "Don't forget the well-digger when drinking water" to admonish him.

In the activity room, upon hearing that Li Xian had bought a large house in Bangye and wanted the old men to spend a few days there for a change of environment, Old Wu's previously calm heart swelled again.

At sixty years old, he jumped onto the table, waved his big hand, and said, "Old Liu, you're not going. Why? Didn't you cheat when playing chess last night, thinking I didn't see it? Old Xu, you're not going either! Why? Didn't you soak the fifth episode of 'Snow Mountain Flying Fox' in water? Don't you know yourself? Old Pi, Old Bian, Old Qi, Old Kang…"

In one breath, Wu Shengli almost listed all the old men in the retirement home: "None of you can go!"

Seeing his 'foster father' flaunting his power over the others, Li Xian could only laugh dryly and advise, "Foster father, that's enough. This is affecting unity, isn't it?"

Old Wu glared, "To hell with unity! When they said my son couldn't help, did they think of unity? Now what? My son is here to take me to enjoy life! Hahaha! Not letting these old guys go!"

A group of old men, having old scores settled in front of Li Xian, were all flustered. They all waved their hands, cursing Old Wu for being petty, and said they didn't care about going anyway.

Looking around, only Zheng Weishi, Wang Linhe, and Qin Hongjun, the "good people," remained.

Zheng Weishi and Old Qin had good relations with Li Xian. Hearing about the house in Bangye, which belonged to the Yehe Nala clan of the previous dynasty, they all wanted to see it. Wang Linhe, on the other hand, was not keen to go, but since he had no followers from his time as the director and only Zheng and Old Wu were still with him, he agreed after some thought.

Seeing this, Li Xian stifled his laughter, smoothed things over with the angry old men, and then called Zhou Yong to take the four elders to the new house.

...

Previously, although Li Xian liked the house, he hadn't considered it his home.

He thought perhaps it was because the house was too run-down and old that it didn't feel right. It wasn't until Wu Shengli and the others came and the house became lively and noisy that he realized the problem.

No family.

So, no matter how good or beautiful the house was, it was just a house.

Sitting on the threshold, propping his chin with his hands, Li Xian felt a sense of home as he listened to Wu Shengli's praises about the house and Zheng Weishi's criticisms of the feudal social class's extravagance. Zheng Weishi touched and admired the odd antiques in the house, while Wang Linhe and Old Qin studied the bat relief on the screen. Li Xian felt a sense of security.

He had a vague feeling of home.

Thinking that in a couple of days, when Li Daoyun and Li You arrived, with the stove lit and the smell of cooking in the house, and seeing his family every morning when he opened his eyes, everything would be perfect.

With these thoughts, he glanced at Su Hui, who was busy repairing the carved window in the main hall with Zhang Yaba, put down his hands, and stood up.

"I need to find a way to get a maid."

With this thought, he walked behind Su Hui, cleared his throat, and called him aside.

Facing Su Hui's puzzled look, Li Xian's face turned red, and then he put on a serious expression. "Xiao Hui, are you still adjusting well to things here?"

Su Hui nodded.

"That's good. By the way, have you been home these days?" Li Xian asked after a moment's pause.

Su Hui nodded.

Bangye County was not too far from the Forestry Bureau; it took about half an hour by bus. Although he was busy with the house repairs, Zhang Yaba sometimes gave him time off to visit home.

"How's your mother… recently?" Li Xian asked, turning his eyes.

"If you want to inquire about my sister, just ask directly. My mother is always the same." Su Hui did not nod this time; he felt that Li Xian was being a bit indirect and bluntly addressed it.

Tsk! This kid!

Li Xian's face darkened.

Can you have a brother-in-law by chatting like this?