Chapter 343: Tang Xue’s Decision

The Li Family’s New Home!

Tang Xue had just picked up her teacup, preparing to take a sip.

Hearing Li Yi’s words, she immediately said, “What’s so mysterious that you had to wait until Second Sister left to tell me? Aren’t you afraid she’ll hold it against you?”

“It’s nothing. Second Sister is a smart woman; she wouldn’t hold it against me!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“So what is it?”

Li Yi hesitated slightly, then said, “We’ve heard from your parents!”

Tang Xue frowned and asked, “Weren’t they sentenced? What’s going on now?”

“It’s not Tang Jizhong and Li Hongmei!”

Hearing this, Tang Xue froze for a moment, and the teacup in her hand suddenly slipped from her grasp, falling onto the kang and splashing water all over her.

This gave Li Yi quite a start, and he immediately said, “Did you get burned? Get up quickly…”

But Tang Xue seemed oblivious to the spill. She grabbed Li Yi’s arm and blurted out, “You mean… you mean my biological…”

By then, Li Yi had confirmed that the liquid in Tang Xue’s teacup was only lukewarm water, so he replied immediately, “Yes, your biological parents!”

“Really… How did you find them? Are they in Beijing?” Tang Xue asked, her face full of excitement.

“Yes!”

Li Yi continued, “A few days ago, didn’t my friend in Beijing call and say his family’s elders had invited me to dinner? After I went to Beijing…”

Li Yi then recounted his visit to the Jiang family and how he’d discovered Ye Lingyun’s photo.

After listening to Li Yi, Tang Xue’s agitated expression gradually calmed down.

Then, furrowing her brow, she said, “Isn’t it a bit hasty to conclude they’re my biological parents based solely on those photos?”

“No, the photos are just a starting point. Do you know what Aunt Jiang San’s real name is?”

Before Tang Xue could speak, Li Yi interjected, “Ye Lingyun!”

“Ye Lingyun? Not Ye Lingwan?” Tang Xue asked.

“Right. We’ve deduced before that Ye Lingwan is likely just an alias. In fact, your biological mother’s name is Ye Lingyun!”

Li Yi continued, “And according to Aunt Jiang San, twenty years ago, while she was pregnant, she was suddenly implicated by her family and sent down to the Yong County Cotton Mill in Qin Province, where she gave birth to a child. Unfortunately, the baby died shortly after birth…”

Hearing this, Tang Xue could no longer hold back and burst into tears.

Now she finally believed it: this Ye Lingyun was the biological mother she had been searching for all this time!

Fearing that Tang Xue’s emotional turmoil might trigger premature labor, Li Yi hurriedly pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back to help her calm down.

At the same time, he kept whispering words of comfort to her.

Fortunately, with Li Yi by her side, Tang Xue stopped crying after just a short while.

After resting in Li Yi’s arms for a while, she tilted her head back and asked, “So you didn’t tell them about me?”

“No. For one thing, your mother isn’t in the best of health…”

Before he could finish, Tang Xue asked nervously, “Is she… is she okay? Is it serious?”

“It’s somewhat serious, so I didn’t dare mention it, for fear of upsetting her!” Li Yi said.

“Hmm, you have to be careful then!”

Li Yi continued, “Also, I didn’t know how you felt about it, which is why I rushed back from Beijing—I wanted to hear your thoughts first before making a decision!”

Tang Xue could sense the respect in her husband’s words. She immediately snuggled closer to Li Yi and said, her voice tinged with emotion, “Thank you!”

“It feels a bit formal for an old married couple to say that!”

“We’ve been married less than six months—how can we be an old married couple already?” Tang Xue said, her eyes reddening.

“Let’s not talk about that. Tell me what you’re thinking,” Li Yi said.

“I want to reunite with them!” Tang Xue said firmly.

“Alright, but I suggest you reconnect with your father first. As for your mother, take it slow—her health is really quite poor,” Li Yi said.

“I’ll take your advice. Could you tell me about them? I want to know what kind of people they are!” Tang Xue said.

“Sure!”

Then, the two of them leaned against the pile of bedding as Li Yi began to tell her about the Jiang family and the couple, Jiang Shiying and his wife!

It took nearly an hour before Li Yi had finished giving a brief overview of the Jiang family’s situation.

When she heard Li Yi say that her mother, Ye Lingyun, had suffered a severe emotional shock over the matter of the child, and that her health had been up and down for the past twenty years—and that not long ago, she had even nearly…

And his father, though still in the prime of his life, already had a head full of white hair.

Tang Xue could no longer hold back her tears, and they began to fall.

“Don’t cry. It’s not your fault. If anyone is to blame, it’s Tang Jizhong and Tang Meiqin for being so malicious!” Li Yi comforted her.

“Hmm, I thought I’d had a miserable enough twenty years, but I never imagined they’d been suffering just as much—maybe even more than I have!”

“Don’t worry. Things will get better!”

“Then… how is Ye… my mother’s health? Is there still a way to help her?”

Tang Xue asked again, genuinely worried about Ye Lingyun’s health.

“The medicine I recommended to her is a highly effective treatment for depression, and the Jiang family has also hired a traditional Chinese medicine doctor to help her recover. I don’t think there’s much to worry about!” Li Yi said.

“That’s good. By the way, how do you plan to arrange for us to meet?” Tang Xue asked.

“I plan to go to the county seat tomorrow, then give Jiang Longcheng—your cousin—a call and have your father come over to our place!” Li Yi said.

“Will… will he come?”

“He will. He and his wife have always been haunted by what happened to that child. If they find out you’re still alive, they’ll definitely come to meet and acknowledge you!”

But just thinking about Jiang Shiying’s shrewd and ruthless nature, he knew that having a father-in-law like that would make life quite difficult.

At this point, Li Yi couldn’t help but sigh.

“Why are you sighing?” Tang Xue asked, puzzled.

“They’ll definitely acknowledge you as their daughter, but whether they’ll accept me—a street urchin—as their son-in-law is another story!” Li Yi said.

“You’re no street urchin!”

Then Tang Xue took Li Yi’s hand and said, “If they don’t accept you, I won’t accept them either. After all, you’re the only man I’ll ever accept in my life!”

“Haha, I was just teasing you. Whether it’s your grandfather or your father, they both have a high opinion of me!” Li Yi said.

“That’s good!”

Li Yi looked around at the brand-new house before them and said, “Looks like we won’t be living in this new place for very long!”

“Why?”

“If you’re officially recognized as a member of the family, given your father’s temperament and the Jiang family’s status, they’ll definitely bring you back to Beijing to give birth!”

As he spoke, Li Yi couldn’t help but think that his plans to buy a house in the capital would have to be moved up.

He had originally thought he wouldn’t need to consider this until at least after Tang Xue got into college, but plans never keep up with changes—he hadn’t expected Tang Xue’s parents to actually be from the capital.

Since he didn’t want to live with his in-laws in the future, buying a house had to be put on the agenda!

Tang Xue frowned and said, “I don’t really want to go back to Beijing to give birth!”

“Why?”

“You know my mother isn’t in good health. If I go to Beijing, there’ll be no one to look after her. It’s better here—with my mother-in-law and my second sister to help out, it’ll save me a lot of trouble!” Tang Xue said.

“Let’s talk about that when the time comes!”

“Okay!”

……

Ning City. Municipal Bureau!

Late at night, all was quiet!

Li Yi had just finished the bowl of boiled noodles Wang Anguo had made for him, and then fell into a deep sleep.

But over in the Criminal Investigation Division office, Wang Anguo was in a state of turmoil. Although Li Yi’s words had been simple, if anyone else had said them, he certainly wouldn’t have taken them seriously.

But Wang Anguo knew Li Yi’s capabilities. Since he had said that, trouble was surely on the horizon, and he couldn’t afford to be complacent.

Moreover, he had clearly sensed that something was amiss lately. Since the beginning of spring this year, he had noticed that public order had deteriorated significantly compared to the past.

In previous years, the area had gone years without a single serious crime; even a fight resulting in injury could be considered a major case, and murder or arson were virtually unheard of.

But in just the past six months, he had handled multiple major cases: cases involving roaming bandits, child abductions, gold thefts, a body hidden in an oil drum, and the attempted murder of Hong Kong tycoon Huang Lixing and his wife.

Such a cluster of serious crimes occurring all at once was clearly no coincidence.

Moreover, according to reports from the provincial bureau, public order was rapidly deteriorating not only in Ning City but throughout the entire province of Saibei—and even nationwide—with serious crimes occurring with alarming frequency.

Although the exact cause remains unknown, these developments have put Wang Anguo on high alert.

Recalling what Li Yi had said, he sought out the captain in charge of public security that very night and ordered him to step up patrols in the city.

At the same time, he gathered his team and devised a plan to reach out to scattered herders in the pastoral areas to prevent any accidents.

Li Yi, however, paid little attention to these matters. He had merely recalled a series of violent crimes targeting herders that had occurred in the city toward the end of the year and felt compelled to issue a reminder.

Since the incidents hadn’t occurred yet, he didn’t feel it was appropriate to say more.

As for the fate of those herders, he left it entirely in Wang Anguo’s capable hands.

The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, just as Li Yi was fast asleep, a frantic knock suddenly sounded outside his room.

Still half-asleep, Li Yi scrambled out of bed, opened the door, and saw Wang Anguo standing there holding a lunchbox.

“Brother Li Yi, hurry up and wash up and eat—the comrades from the bureau are about to set out!” Wang Anguo said.

Hearing this, Li Yi was fully awake.

He immediately got dressed, then followed Wang Anguo’s instructions to the communal washroom to splash some water on his face.

Back in the room, after devouring the meat buns Wang Anguo had brought, he picked up his bags and followed Wang Anguo out to the municipal bureau’s courtyard.

By then, a jeep in the courtyard had already started up; the engine was humming, and black smoke was billowing from the exhaust, filling the air with the smell of carbon monoxide.

Wang Anguo loaded the items into the car, then instructed the driver to make sure Li Yi was taken to Nianzishan Village before waving them off!

…….

At 11:00 a.m., after more than three hours of driving at high speed, the jeep finally arrived at Nianzishan Village!

The village was just as peaceful and serene as when Li Yi had left; it seemed nothing had changed!

Li Yi didn’t return to the old house; instead, he had Comrade Zhang, the driver, take him straight to the new house.

At the Li family’s new home, Tang Xue was sitting on the kang, reading a story to her eldest nephew, Zhang Ning, while her second sister, Li Lan, was busy at the stove. The room was filled with the rich aroma of cooking meat.

“Mommy, when will the meat be ready? Ningning is hungry!”

Hearing her son’s babyish voice, Li Lan smiled and said, “That’s not hunger—you’re just craving it!”

Tang Xue laughed and said, “It’s perfectly normal for a child to want meat. I’ve been craving it myself lately!”

“Hehe, Xiao Xue, you’re different. You’re eating for three people right now, so of course you want something nutritious that’ll keep you full!” Li Lan said with a laugh.

“I just think I’m craving it…”

Just then, little Zhang Ning suddenly pointed out the window and shouted, “A big car… there’s a big car…”

Tang Xue and Li Lan looked in the direction Zhang Ning was pointing and sure enough, saw a jeep parked outside the gate. Both of them were startled.

Whether it was because the courtyard was so secluded or the wind outside was so strong, they hadn’t heard the sound of the car at all.

“Xiao Xue, stay on the kang. I’ll go take a look!”

With that, she wrapped her headscarf around her head and went outside.

As soon as she stepped outside, she saw her younger brother, Li Yi, getting out of the car, with a man in a police uniform helping him carry his things.

Li Lan was both surprised and delighted; she immediately ran over to help.

“You little rascal, why did you come back without a word? You didn’t even send a message!”

“Sis, I’ll talk to you in a minute!”

Then, Li Yi turned to the driver, Xiao Zhang, and said, “Comrade Zhang, it’s almost noon. Let’s grab a bite to eat before heading to the county seat!”

Xiao Zhang shook his head and said, “No, thanks. I’m still busy. Maybe next time!”

With that, he quickly got back in the car, waved to Li Yi, and drove off toward Qingshan County!

After watching the jeep drive away, Li Yi picked up the various gifts he’d bought and followed his second older sister into the house.

Inside, Tang Xue had already spotted Li Yi returning and was overjoyed.

She had assumed that since Li Yi had gone to Beijing, it would take him at least ten days or half a month to return, so she was surprised he was back so soon.

As soon as Li Yi walked in, she couldn’t help but ask, “Didn’t you say you were going to wait until you sold all the dried goods before coming back?”

“Hehe, something came up, so I came back!” Li Yi replied.

“What’s so urgent?” Tang Xue asked curiously.

“Nothing much. I’ll tell you in a bit!”

Then Li Yi sniffed the air and asked, “What’s simmering in the pot? It smells so good.”

It was better to discuss this sort of thing privately with Tang Xue. It wasn’t that Li Yi didn’t trust his second sister, but since this matter involved Tang Xue’s privacy, it was best to talk about it when the two of them were alone together.

“Meat, meat—a big rooster!” Zhang Ning replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Li Yi scooped up the little one and asked, “Ningning, do you want to eat a big rooster?”

“Yes! Rooster is so yummy. Ningning wants a big chicken drumstick!”

“Hahaha, okay, in a minute Uncle will tear off a big chicken leg for you…”

Before he could finish, Second Sister chimed in with a laugh, “There aren’t any whole chicken legs left—they’ve all been chopped up!”

“Then I’ll put one together for Ningning!” Li Yi said.

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but laugh.

Knowing that Li Yi had come all this way and was probably starving, Second Sister immediately set the table and brought out the steamed rice.

She then tasted the chicken in the pot and found it had already fallen apart.

She immediately scooped half of the chicken and mushroom stew into a serving bowl and called out to Li Yi and Tang Xue to come eat.

Second Sister was a good cook; the chicken and mushroom stew was tender, flavorful, and exceptionally aromatic.

Or perhaps Li Yi was genuinely hungry; he managed to polish off two large bowls of rice with the dish.

After the meal, Second Sister cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, then transferred the remaining chicken and mushrooms from the pot to another bowl.

She then said, “You two take a break. I’ll go deliver this food to the old house first!”

“Sure!” Li Yi replied immediately.

“Ningning, do you want to go with Mom, or stay with Uncle and Aunt?”

“I’ll go with Mom!”

“Alright!”

Second Sister then quickly dressed the little one in warm clothes, put a woolen hat on her head, and wrapped a thick scarf around her neck.

Only then did she pick up little Zhang Ning, carry the small bowl of chicken and mushroom stew in a cloth basket, and leave the bridal chamber.

After Second Sister left, Li Yi turned to Tang Xue and said, “Xiao Xue, there’s something I need to talk to you about!”

……

Just after seeing Jiang Longcheng off, Li Yi spotted Long Zhanjun returning on a tricycle.

Long Zhanjun was riding in front, while Liu San’er pushed from behind.

In the middle of winter, riding against the wind, it was indeed quite a struggle.

As soon as the two reached the shop entrance, Li Yi immediately went out to help unload the cargo.

Seeing them both panting heavily and exhaling white vapor, with frost clinging to their eyebrows, he could tell they’d been through quite a ordeal.

“Dalong, find some time to get a motor engine…”

Realizing that Long Zhanjun was unfamiliar with the area and would likely have a hard time buying a motor, Li Yi added, “Never mind, I’ll find someone to get it. Let’s convert this tricycle into a motorized one—otherwise, it’s just too exhausting!”

“It’s actually not that bad. I’m in good shape; there’s no need to waste money on that!” Long Zhanjun said as he unloaded the cargo.

“That’s not a waste of money at all. Alright, it’s settled then!” Li Yi said.

“Alright!”

After unloading the goods, Li Yi told Long Zhanjun and the others to stay at the store.

He tidied up a bit and then headed toward his rental apartment.

By the time Li Yi returned to the rental apartment, Dongzi, Zhang Xinyao, and the others were already up and getting ready to head to the shop.

Seeing Li Yi, they all greeted him.

Li Yi immediately called them over and said, “I might be heading back to the village in a bit. Is there anything you want me to take back home for you?”

No sooner had he spoken than his third older sister, Li Na, asked in surprise, “Why are you going back so soon? Did something happen?”

“Nothing’s wrong, I just feel like going back!” Li Yi replied.

“What about me?”

She still hadn’t told Long Zhanjun about that matter, and she was a bit worried that her younger brother might ask her to come back with him—in which case, her trip to the capital would have been for nothing.

Li Yi knew exactly what his third sister was worried about. He immediately smiled and said, “If you want to stay in Beijing a few more days, go ahead. But you have to come home for the New Year to celebrate with Mom and Dad!”

“Alright, I’ll definitely be home for the New Year!” Li Na said.

Li Yi nodded, then turned to An Hong and asked, “Sis-in-law, I’m planning to leave this afternoon. What about you?”

“I… I think I’ll head back too!”

“Sis-in-law, if you feel like you haven’t had enough time to explore, stay a few more days. Barring any surprises, I’ll be back in a few days!” Li Yi said.

“How long will you be gone?” An Hong asked.

“Three or five days, I guess!”

“Then I’ll stay a few more days. It’s not often I get to come here!” An Hong said.

“Alright!”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Shitou reached into his pocket and handed Li Yi a cylindrical object wrapped in plastic.

“Brother Yi, this is my salary from last month. Please take it back to my dad for me!”

“How much?” Li Yi asked as he opened it.

“100!”

Li Yi opened it and counted the bills—sure enough, there were ten 100-yuan notes.

He immediately pulled one note out and handed it back to Shitou, saying, “When you’re out on your own, you should always keep some money on hand for emergencies!”

“No need. My dad gave me thirty yuan when I left, and I haven’t spent a single penny yet!” Shitou said.

“Alright then!”

With that, Li Yi put the 10 yuan back.

At that moment, Dongzi, Qiangzi, and Gangzi also handed their money to Li Yi, asking him to take it back for them.

Afterward, Li Yi went back inside, gathered all the inner garments he’d bought for Tang Xue in the city the day before, and then returned to the shop with Dongzi and the others.

Once at the shop, he immediately called Jiang Longcheng and asked him to book a train ticket back to Ning City for him.

…….

Ning City Train Station!

As soon as Li Yi stepped out of the station, he heard someone calling his name.

Looking in the direction of the voice, he saw Wang Anguo, dressed in a military overcoat, standing outside the fence to the right of the exit, waving at him.

Li Yi immediately picked up his luggage and walked over to him.

It was An Hong’s idea to have Wang Anguo pick him up. Upon learning that Li Yi would arrive in Ning City at midnight and that there were no buses back to the county, An Hong had called Wang Anguo and asked him to pick up Li Yi that night.

As soon as Li Yi emerged, Wang Anguo took a package from his hands and said in surprise, “Are you just going home or moving? Why do you have so much stuff?”

“Hehe, these are all New Year’s clothes I bought for my wife, my parents, and my sister, so there’s a bit more than usual!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“I really envy your wife!”

“What’s there to envy? My wife also bought gifts for you and the kid. She originally wanted me to bring them back, but when she saw I was carrying so much, she decided not to send them after all!” Li Yi said with a laugh.

“Oh, she really bought me something?” Wang Anguo asked happily.

“Of course she did!”

“What did she get?”

“It’ll spoil the surprise if I tell you now. Just wait for your sister-in-law to bring it back to you!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“Sounds good!”

The two chatted as they walked and soon reached the jeep!

After loading the items into the car, Wang Anguo started the engine and drove away from the train station.

“Captain Wang, let’s head to the City Hotel!” Li Yi said.

“What for? We’re in the city—I’m not going to put you up in a hotel. Just go along with my plan!” Wang Anguo said as he drove.

“Alright!”

Before long, the car pulled into a large compound.

Li Yi took a closer look and realized it was the Municipal Bureau.

“Captain Wang, you’re not planning on making me crash on the floor in your dorm room tonight, are you?” Li Yi said with a laugh.

“No need to squeeze. My room is a single, and I’ve got a case to work on tonight. Just lock the door and get some rest. I’ll have someone take you back to the county tomorrow!” Wang Anguo said.

“No need. I’ll just take the bus back tomorrow!” Li Yi replied.

Although the two got along well, Li Yi didn’t want to trouble Wang Anguo by having him send someone specifically to take him back.

“Giving you a ride is just a detour—we actually have a case that requires us to gather evidence in our county!” Wang Anguo explained.

“That works then!”

Li Yi then asked again, “Judging by how you look, have you been really busy lately?”

“I am a bit busy, actually. It’s nearing the end of the year, and theft cases are on the rise—the pressure at the station is intense!” Wang Anguo said with a sigh.

“That’s true. With the year-end approaching, some people are desperate to make money for the holidays, and if they can’t get it, they might turn to criminal activities!”

“You’re absolutely right. In just a short while, we’ve already cracked seven theft cases and two robbery cases—thankfully, none of them were too serious!” Wang Anguo said.

Suddenly, Li Yi thought of something and looked at him, saying, “Wait a minute, you don’t look well. You need to be careful these days!”

Wang Anguo’s heart skipped a beat, and he asked immediately, “Brother Li Yi, have you picked up on something again?”

“Your complexion doesn’t look good—it’s a sign of professional setbacks. You guys should be more vigilant in your daily work; a major case might be about to break!” Li Yi said.

“What kind of major case?”

“Didn’t you just mention it yourself? There’s been a recent surge in thefts and robberies. I suggest you have your people step up patrols—especially around those isolated herders in the outskirts. They live in isolated homes; even if they’re robbed, you might not even know about it!” Li Yi said.

Wang Anguo nodded thoughtfully, then said, “Hmm, I understand!”

With that, he pulled over as well.

Then, the two got out of the car, carrying their belongings, and headed toward Wang Anguo’s dormitory.

Li Yi had no idea just how much of a misunderstanding his words had caused for his in-laws.

The couple hadn’t even considered the possibility that their child was still alive; they were already making plans to adopt a child.

As for Li Yi, after a few drinks, he slept soundly until dawn!

When he finally woke up, it was already past 8:00 a.m. the next morning.

The shop was completely empty; clearly, Long Zhanjun and the others hadn’t returned from Dong’an Market yet.

Li Yi quickly washed up and immediately thought of the matter involving Tang Xue.

He walked over to the phone and prepared to call Li Gang.

He planned to ask him to help bring Tang Xue to the county seat so they could talk on the phone and discuss the matter.

But just as he was about to dial the number, Li Yi stopped himself abruptly.

He’d been so focused on his mother-in-law’s fragile health—she couldn’t handle any stress—that he’d forgotten Tang Xue was also pregnant.

And she was carrying twins—a pregnancy that was already prone to premature birth.

If this news were to upset her and cause her to go into premature labor, that would be a real problem.

With that in mind, Li Yi decided it would be better for him to go back. With him by her side, Tang Xue’s emotions shouldn’t get too worked up.

After all, his trip to Beijing was partly to meet with the Jiang family, partly to bring his third sister and Zhang Xinyao here, and partly to handle the dried goods business.

Now that everything except the dried goods matter had been taken care of, going back wouldn’t hold him up.

With that in mind, he decided to head back today—after all, his wife comes first!

He knew just how much Tang Xue wanted to find her biological parents.

No matter how busy he was, he had to resolve this matter first!

Just as Li Yi had made up his mind, the sound of a car engine suddenly roared outside.

Immediately afterward, Jiang Longcheng stepped out of the car, clutching a small briefcase and looking every bit the dandy.

Just as he was about to push open the door and step inside, he discovered that the shop door was locked tight.

Long Zhanjun and the others had locked the door while they were out restocking, worried that someone might break in.

Just as Jiang Longcheng was about to leave, looking a bit disappointed, he heard someone calling his name from inside.

He turned around and saw Li Yi standing by the window, watching him.

“Hey, what’s going on here?”

“Dalong and the others went to restock. I was sound asleep, so they locked the door!”

Saying this, Li Yi pulled out his key and handed it to Jiang Longcheng.

Jiang Longcheng didn’t hesitate; he took the key, unlocked the shop door, and walked inside.

“Why did you come over so early?” Li Yi asked immediately.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about what you mentioned yesterday—it kept me up all night!”

Li Yi glanced at Jiang Longcheng’s eyes and noticed faint dark circles.

He smiled and said, “Alright, I didn’t expect you to be so curious!”

“Stop beating around the bush, man. Just tell me what’s going on with my third uncle and aunt—do me a favor and spill the beans!” Jiang Longcheng said, feigning helplessness.

“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but it involves other people. I’ll let you know after I’ve asked her first!”

“Who?”

“Alright, that’s enough about this. Now do me a favor!” Li Yi said.

“What kind of favor?”

“Check if there are any tickets back to Ning City today!” Li Yi said.

“What? Are you going back?”

“Yeah, I’ve got some urgent business I need to take care of. If everything goes as planned, I’ll be back in a few days!” Li Yi said.

“Sure!”

With that, Jiang Longcheng immediately picked up the shop phone and dialed a number.

He briefly explained the situation, then hung up!

“Never mind what happened with Uncle San, but you’ve got to help me out with the factory—I’m really at my wits’ end right now!” Jiang Longcheng said.

“Are you talking about turning your factory around?” Li Yi asked, frowning.

“Yeah. As of this month, our factory’s total cash on hand is less than 100,000 yuan, and we owe our suppliers over 200,000 yuan. I’m completely overwhelmed right now!”

Li Yi frowned; to be honest, this was a really tough problem to solve.

It wasn’t that Li Yi didn’t want to help Jiang Longcheng; rather, the decline of the cotton spinning mill was an inevitable trend.

According to data, the domestic textile industry is currently developing rapidly; in just over a decade, the number of cotton spinning spindles has grown from 17.8 million to 42.45 million.

At the same time, as the market gradually opened up, a series of problems—such as excessive competition, unsold inventory, corporate losses, underutilized capacity, and a surplus of workers—have been constantly emerging.

Consequently, enterprises with poor management would begin to suffer losses immediately, and within a few years, even state-owned textile enterprises would face industry-wide losses.

At its peak, the losses of state-owned textile enterprises nationwide reached as high as 10 billion yuan.

Although the situation isn’t quite that dire at the moment, it won’t be easy to turn things around.

After a moment’s thought, Li Yi immediately said, “If you trust me, start with these three areas right now, and perhaps we can bring the factory back from the brink.”

“What are those three areas?” Jiang Longcheng asked eagerly.

“Your most pressing problem right now is a lack of funds. As long as you have money, the problem is solved, right?”

“Right!”

“Alright, first, we need to clear out that backlog of inventory to free up some cash!”

Li Yi continued, “Second, investigate those raw material suppliers to see if they’re connected to the Gao Shubin case and whether the materials they supplied previously met standards. If any are linked to the Gao Shubin case, waive all payments.”

“Finally, we need to restructure our product lineup. We can’t just follow the crowd—we have to produce what the market needs!”

Jiang Longcheng listened, half-understanding, and then said, “I think I get the gist of those three points you mentioned. The first is to clear out the backlog in the warehouse, and the second is about defaulting on payments—I get that too. But what does the third one mean?”

Li Yi replied immediately, “The third point means you shouldn’t just produce whatever you’re capable of making. Instead, you should produce what the people need and what they like!”

“How are we supposed to know that?”

“Conduct market research. Make a decision after you’ve finished the research!” Li Yi said.

“Alright, but what about that batch of inventory? You know as well as I do that our factory’s products just won’t sell—even if we slash the prices, nobody wants them!” Jiang Longcheng sighed.

Li Yi suddenly thought of An Hong. Back when she first started out, she had also taken over a textile factory on the verge of bankruptcy.

Back then, the county cotton mill she took over had warehouses full of unsold cotton fabric. She gritted her teeth and turned all the fabric into clothes.

No one wanted the fabric, but everyone was scrambling for the clothes.

In less than two months, she had sold off all the raw materials in the cotton mill’s inventory, not only recouping a large sum of capital but also making a hefty profit.

Thinking of this, Li Yi immediately said, “Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll go back and draw up a plan for you. Just follow it, and I guarantee you’ll sell all your inventory!”

“Really?”

“Yep!”

“I knew you could pull this off, Brother Li Yi…”

Just as they were speaking, the phone at the front desk suddenly rang.

Jiang Longcheng knew it was news regarding the matter he’d had someone look into, so he picked it up right away.

After a brief exchange, he hung up.

“Brother Li Yi, there’s a train to Lucheng this afternoon that passes through Ning City, but it won’t arrive there until around midnight. What do you think?” Jiang Longcheng asked.

“Book me a ticket… Wait a bit before booking—I’ll check if Sister An Hong is coming back!”

“Alright, I’m heading back to the factory now. Give me a call once you’ve decided how many tickets you need!” Jiang Longcheng said.

“Alright!”

With that, Jiang Longcheng got up and left the shop, and soon the sound of a car engine could be heard outside!

The car soon arrived at Beiguan Village. As soon as they reached the fork in the road at the village entrance, Jiang Longcheng asked, “The shop or the place where you live?”

“The shop!” Li Yi replied.

“Alright!”

Then Jiang Longcheng added, “I can’t help but feel that ever since you came out of the old house, your mood hasn’t been quite right. What’s going on?”

“You noticed?”

“Come on, I’m not blind!” Jiang Longcheng said.

Li Yi thought for a moment and said, “It’s nothing much. I just discovered some issues, and now I’m not sure if I should tell Uncle and Auntie.”

“Squeak…”

Hearing this, Jiang Longcheng suddenly slammed on the brakes right where they were, giving Li Yi quite a scare.

Fortunately, it was late at night, and they were in the suburbs where there wasn’t much traffic.

Otherwise, pulling a stunt like that in a busy downtown area would definitely have caused a traffic accident.

“What were you doing…”

Before he could finish, Jiang Longcheng immediately asked, “Brother Li Yi, what’s going on? Is Auntie No. 3 not doing well, or is it Uncle No. 3…”

“Stop… stop!”

Once Jiang Longcheng had quieted down, Li Yi finally spoke: “It’s neither of those. For them, it should be great news. It’s just that…”

“But what? Just spit it out!” Jiang Longcheng said, sounding anxious.

“It’s just that Auntie Li’s health is too fragile, and her condition has only just stabilized. I’m afraid if I tell her this, her body won’t be able to handle the shock and she’ll collapse!” Li Yi said.

“I see. Then let’s keep it from Auntie for now. We’ll tell her once she’s fully recovered!”

Jiang Longcheng then added, “But you can tell Uncle San first. He’ll be fine—he can handle anything, no matter how big the news is!”

“You’re right!”

“Um… what could be so serious? Can you tell me first?” Jiang Longcheng asked.

“I can’t tell you yet. In a couple of days,” Li Yi said.

“A good person doesn’t leave things half-said. You’ve told me half of it and then stopped—that’s just stringing me along!” Jiang Longcheng said with a wry smile.

“Stop messing around. Hurry up and drive—I need to go home and have a drink!” Li Yi said with a laugh.

“Aren’t you a teetotaler? Why do you suddenly want to drink?”

“I won’t be able to sleep tonight without a drink…”

“That just makes me even more curious. What’s going on that even you can’t handle it?”

“Don’t ask. Even if you did, I wouldn’t tell you!”

“You’re not being a good brother here…”

“Get lost. Just drive already!”

Seeing that Li Yi really wasn’t going to budge, Jiang Longcheng could only shift gears and step on the gas, heading back to the hot pot restaurant with a look of confusion and a touch of reluctance on his face.

When they got back to the restaurant, the staff had just finished cleaning up and hadn’t closed up yet.

Li Yi’s mind was a bit unsettled today, so he didn’t invite Jiang Longcheng inside.

After getting out of the car, he told Jiang Longcheng to head home immediately, while he strode into the restaurant.

Seeing Li Yi push open the door, Long Zhanjun and Li Yeqiao, who were busy tallying the accounts, immediately stood up to greet him.

Li Yi nodded and told them to continue.

He then took a bottle of Moutai from the front counter and, as Long Zhanjun and the others stared in astonishment, found a seat by the window. Everyone in the shop looked completely baffled.

In their eyes, Li Yi was definitely the kind of person who remained unflappable and composed in the face of any situation.

Even in adversity, even when facing difficulties, he always seemed to have everything under control.

What on earth had happened today that he needed to drown his sorrows in alcohol?

In fact, Li Yi wasn’t drowning his sorrows at all—he was drinking to help him sleep!

Tang Xue’s background had indeed come as a huge surprise to him—it was simply too shocking. Without a drink tonight, he feared he’d be up all night.

He had thought he’d have to start from scratch again in this life, but in the blink of an eye, his wife had landed him such a powerful connection.

Granted, given his current circumstances, he could still make a name for himself even without the Jiang family’s backing.

But having such a powerful father-in-law and such a formidable family backing him up would certainly help him avoid many pitfalls.

At the same time, it would deter all sorts of petty schemers.

These days, there are just too many bizarre things happening. If you don’t make a name for yourself, no one will take notice.

But if you do make a name for yourself, you might just become a fat pig in others’ eyes—ready to be slaughtered and devoured at any moment.

In his previous life, Li Yi had seen far too many instances of this sort!

However, as for whether to formally acknowledge the Jiang family as relatives—and exactly how to go about it—Li Yi felt that decision should be left entirely up to Tang Xue.

If it weren’t already so late, he would have called Tang Xue right away to ask for her opinion.

With that thought, Li Yi immediately poured himself a small glass of wine and downed it in one gulp…

……

The Jiang Family’s Old Mansion. West Wing!

While Li Yi was using alcohol to help him sleep, Jiang Shiying and his wife were also lying awake.

After seeing Li Yi off, Jiang Shiying returned to the room to help his wife settle down for the night.

Ever since his wife had fallen ill, she had been suffering from frequent insomnia, so whenever he was home, he would go to bed early to keep her company.

But after they lay down in bed, Ye Lingyun tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

“Yun’er, what’s wrong? Can’t you sleep?”

“Hmm, I’m thinking about what Comrade Li said!”

“What did he say?”

“He said I’d have a large family with many children and grandchildren. What do you think that means? Did you tell him to say that?” Ye Lingyun asked.

“I did ask him earlier to say a few kind words to cheer you up, but I definitely didn’t tell him to say something like that. I was actually worried it might upset you!” Jiang Shiying explained immediately.

“What about Father-in-law?” Ye Lingyun asked.

“Why would my father say something like that? Besides, they hadn’t even met before this. I was here the whole time before you came in, and I didn’t hear Dad or Li Yi mention a thing about it!”

“I remember Father mentioning before that he wanted us to adopt a child—so we’d have someone to rely on in our old age. I’ve always refused. Do you think he’s trying to use Little Li…”

“No way. Adopting a child is up to the two of us. If we don’t want to, can Father really force us?”

“That’s why he had Little Li say those things…”

Before she could finish, Jiang Shiying spoke up again: “That’s unlikely. Besides, even if Dad did have that idea, that kid wouldn’t necessarily go along with it!”

“Huh?”

Seeing the puzzled look on his wife’s face, Jiang Shiying smiled and said, “That kid has the temper of a stubborn mule—he’s the kind who won’t budge no matter what.”

“Yesterday I went to see him, hoping he’d say something nice to cheer you up, but instead of agreeing outright, he gave me a vague answer.”

“Really?”

“Yep! And just a moment ago, when I went out to see him off, that kid even cast a fortune for me!” Jiang Shiying said with a touch of exasperation.

“He read your fortune too? What did he say?” Ye Lingyun asked curiously.

“He said I’m a fortunate person too. He said my career will go smoothly, that I’ll rise to the highest ranks of the court, and that I have a strong aggressive streak—so I might end up holding the power to decide life and death, punishment, and judgment…”

Before Jiang Shiying could finish, Ye Lingyun laughed and said, “That kid dares to say anything. What does ‘reach the highest ranks of the court’ even mean? Who would even dare to dream of such a position!”

Just then, Jiang Shiying suddenly said, “Yun’er, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you!”

“What is it?”

“The provincial government called me, asking me to return and take over the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection!”

“That’s great news! So when are you leaving?” Ye Lingyun asked immediately.

“You don’t seem to get it—the Commission… it holds the power to decide life and death!”

Hearing this, Ye Lingyun froze for a moment, then said with a hint of surprise, “Are you saying that Little Li… he actually got the job?”

“Yes, it looks that way for now!”

Jiang Shiying then added, “Besides, he also said I’ll have many children and grandchildren!”

“Well…”

“I suspect he was hinting at something, but I just can’t figure out what exactly he meant!” Jiang Shiying said.

At that moment, Ye Lingyun suddenly said, “Shiying, why don’t we… why don’t we adopt a child?”

“Weren’t you always against the idea before? Was it because of what that guy said?” Jiang Shiying asked.

“Not entirely. We’re at this age now. Whether I recover or not, having another child is clearly out of the question. Adopting a child would be nice—it’d save us from growing old without anyone to look after us!” Ye Lingyun said.

“Let’s wait a bit. Once you’re feeling better, we can talk about this, okay?”

“Okay!”

“Let’s get some sleep!”

“Great!”

…….

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shiying assumed Li Yi was preparing to say some encouraging words to comfort his wife, just as he had suggested!

With that in mind, he immediately nodded at his wife, giving his approval.

After receiving Jiang Shiying’s signal, Ye Lingyun turned to Li Yi and said, “Young Li, we’d be grateful if you could help us!”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Auntie, the wealthy have the appearance of wealth, and the poor have the appearance of poverty. Whether a woman is blessed or has a good fate can be directly seen from her facial features.”

“Does that mean my facial features aren’t very good?” Ye Lingyun asked immediately.

“No, your features aren’t just good—they’re excellent!”

Li Yi continued, “Although you look frail now, I can see that you have a round head, a flat forehead, a full, rounded chin, and large ears with thick earlobes. These are truly excellent features!”

“R… Really?”

“Yes! A round head and flat forehead are, in the study of facial features, the standard signs of wealth and prosperity. It indicates that the person possesses abundant innate vitality, and both their body and aura exude a sense of health and positivity.”

Li Yi continued, “Your facial features reveal that a woman like this is intelligent and quick-witted, successful in her career, and blessed with a happy and fulfilling marriage. Before marriage, she receives love and care from her parents and family; after marriage, she is cherished by her husband and household.”

Hearing this, Ye Lingyun couldn’t help but reflect on her own life experiences over the past forty-plus years.

Although the past twenty years had been quite difficult, both her husband and the rest of her family had shown her ample love and understanding, just as Li Yi had described.

At this point, Li Yi continued, “Auntie, do you know what the chin represents in facial reading?”

“I don’t know—I don’t usually pay much attention to that sort of thing!”

Before she could finish, Jiang Longcheng, sitting nearby, blurted out a surprising remark: “It must be luck!”

Li Yi smiled and said, “You actually guessed it right!”

“What do you mean ‘guessed right’? I’ve been reading plenty of books on the subject lately. You know *The Divine Art of Physiognomy*, right? That book covers everything!” Jiang Longcheng said.

“Just focus on your lousy factory instead of wasting time on this nonsense!” Li Yi retorted.

“What do you mean, meaningless…”

“We’ll talk about your stuff later. Right now, let’s focus on Aunt San’s situation!”

Li Yi continued, “In physiognomy, the chin does indeed represent luck—but not just any kind of luck. It signifies one’s fortune in old age and the luck of one’s children.”

Hearing this, the three people in the room all felt a sudden jolt of unease.

Jiang Shiying suddenly looked at Li Yi with a touch of nervousness; he was genuinely afraid this kid might blurt out something shocking that would scare his wife.

“A woman with a round, full chin is blessed with good fortune and will enjoy a happy and fulfilling life in her later years!”

Li Yi’s voice suddenly rose slightly as he continued, “Moreover, her children will be filial and successful, allowing her to live out her golden years in peace, surrounded by a large family.”

“Little Li, are you saying I’ll have a house full of children and grandchildren?” Ye Lingyun asked, furrowing her brow.

“Yes! Your facial features indicate that you’ll be surrounded by children and grandchildren in your later years!” Li Yi said.

“How is that possible…”

Li Yi smiled and said, “In this life, anything is possible! You may be facing some setbacks right now, but that doesn’t mean anything!”

Ye Lingyun glanced at Jiang Shiying beside her and suddenly understood.

These young men were probably saying this at her husband’s behest. Though she didn’t quite believe it, she could still sense her husband’s well-meaning intentions.

“Little Li, thank you for your words of comfort…”

But before she could finish, Li Yi spoke again: “Aunt Ye, I’m not just trying to comfort you!”

“Then what is this?”

“You’ll find out soon enough!”

Jiang Shiying was very pleased with Li Yi’s performance and immediately said, “Thank you for your kind words. It’s getting late, so let’s call it a day for today!”

“Alright then. Thank you, Uncle and Auntie, for your hospitality. I’ll come visit you again next time!” Li Yi stood up and said.

“Alright!”

Jiang Shiying then turned to Jiang Longcheng standing nearby and said, “Longcheng, take Little Li home before you head back yourself!”

“Don’t worry, Uncle!” Jiang Longcheng replied.

With that, Li Yi and Jiang Longcheng left the west wing and headed toward the main gate.

Jiang Shiying, having stopped Ye Lingyun from coming out to see them off, followed them out as well.

Upon reaching the main gate and seeing that his wife hadn’t followed, Jiang Shiying looked at Li Yi and said, “Thank you. You did well today. I owe you another favor.”

Li Yi immediately replied, “It’s not really about favors or anything—just look out for me a little more in the future!”

To be honest, Li Yi was genuinely intimidated by his father-in-law.

Before they had any connection, it didn’t matter—he could simply avoid him. No matter how ruthless or formidable he was, as long as Li Yi didn’t make any mistakes, there was nothing he could do to him.

But that wasn’t an option anymore—this was his father-in-law, after all. He couldn’t very well avoid him.

“No problem. From now on, if anything comes up, just talk directly to Long Cheng and Long Yin. If they can’t resolve it, then come find me!” Jiang Shiying said with a smile.

“Since you’ve put it that way, I’ll cast a fortune for you too!” Li Yi said.

“I’ll pass. You know I don’t believe in that sort of thing!”

But Li Yi just smiled and said, “It doesn’t matter whether you believe it or not—there’s no harm in listening!”

“Alright, go ahead!”

“You have a full forehead, a rounded nose, and thick earlobes—all signs of a fortunate person. Your facial features indicate a smooth career path ahead; you are destined to rise to the highest ranks of government. However, your actions carry a heavy air of aggression, suggesting you will wield the authority to execute, punish, and pass judgment!”

Hearing this, Jiang Shiying couldn’t help but feel a jolt of surprise.

Just a couple of days ago, the provincial government had called him, saying they intended to put him in charge of the Commission for Discipline Inspection—wasn’t that precisely the authority to execute, punish, and pass judgment?

Could this young man really be a master of divination?

He hadn’t even had a chance to report this to his father yet; so far, he was the only one in the family who knew about it, so there was definitely no way the information had been leaked.

Just as he was deep in thought, Li Yi spoke again: “Also, just like your third aunt, you have the facial features of someone blessed with dutiful children and a large family of descendants!”

Seeing Jiang Shiying’s brow furrow, Li Yi smiled and said, “All right, that’s enough for today!”

With that, Li Yi immediately turned and got into the small jeep, then drove away from the Jiang family’s old residence.

Watching the jeep drive away, Jiang Shiying couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

He simply couldn’t figure out why Li Yi had said those things to him. It seemed to carry a hidden meaning, but he had no idea what it was.

Inside the jeep, Li Yi was equally deep in thought.

He truly hadn’t expected that a casual meal would actually help Tang Xue find her biological parents, and he certainly hadn’t anticipated that their identities would be so staggering.

Li Yi was well aware of the future achievements of his future father-in-law; even in his previous life, he had been nothing more than a mere nobody in comparison to the man standing before him.

What would his reaction be if he found out I’d made a move on his daughter?

With that in mind, Li Yi felt he had to tell Tang Xue about this as soon as possible and see what she had to say.

If she thought it was okay, he would arrange for them to be reunited as soon as possible!

The Jiang Family’s Old Mansion. West Wing!

Li Yi’s casual glance was suddenly drawn to the photos in the glass frames on the wall.

Or rather, it was the girl in the photos that caught his attention… She looked so much like her!

Stunned, Li Yi instinctively stood up from the sofa and walked straight toward the frames.

As he drew closer, Li Yi could see more clearly.

The photo in the frame looked quite old, but it was in excellent condition.

More importantly, the girl in the photo looked exactly like Tang Xue.

If it weren’t for the fact that the girl in the photo was wearing somewhat old-fashioned clothes, and the photo itself wasn’t new, Li Yi would have definitely thought it was a picture of Tang Xue!

Seeing Li Yi staring intently at the photo on the wall, Jiang Shiying said with a touch of pride, “This is a photo of my husband when he was young. Isn’t he handsome?”

“Click!”

Hearing this, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck Li Yi’s mind, and his heart began to pound uncontrollably.

Surnamed Ye, identical in appearance, and had suffered psychological trauma in her youth!

The answer couldn’t be any clearer!

If he wasn’t mistaken, Tang Xue was the child of Jiang Shiying and his wife, and the couple standing before him were his future in-laws.

At the thought of this possibility, Li Yi felt a mix of shock, joy, and a touch of dread.

The joy came from the fact that after investigating for so long without a single lead, they had suddenly found the answer.

It truly was a case of searching high and low to no avail, only to find it effortlessly!

The anxiety stemmed from the fact that his wife’s background was simply too formidable.

In fact, he had already suspected that Tang Xue’s biological parents were no ordinary people, but he never imagined she would be a child of the Jiang family—and that her father was none other than the infamous “White-Haired Butcher.”

And that was just her father’s side—her mother’s family was no less formidable. The Ye family was every bit as powerful as the Jiang family!

More importantly, as far as he knew, neither the Jiang nor the Ye families had any daughters in this generation.

Which meant his own wife was the only little princess of both the Jiang and Ye families!

Holy crap!

This revelation was absolutely mind-blowing!

“Brother Li Yi, why are you staring at Auntie San’s photo? Have you also been captivated by her youthful charm?” Jiang Longcheng said with a smile.

Li Yi chuckled and replied, “Auntie really was beautiful in her youth, and I’ve actually noticed that my wife bears a striking resemblance to her!”

“Really? That’s quite a coincidence!” Jiang Longcheng said with a laugh.

Just then, Li Yi suddenly said, “Uncle Li and Auntie, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask—I’m not sure if it’s appropriate.”

“Just ask whatever you want—there’s nothing inappropriate about it!” Jiang Shiying said with a smile.

“Why haven’t I seen your children?” Li Yi asked.

At those words, the expressions of all three people in the room changed.

Ye Lingyun, in particular, turned unusually pale, and her whole body seemed on the verge of collapsing.

Meanwhile, Jiang Longcheng, standing nearby, hurriedly tugged at the hem of Li Yi’s shirt.

Jiang Shiying instinctively glanced at his wife, then at his nephew, Jiang Longcheng.

Seeing Jiang Longcheng shaking his head at him, he immediately understood: he hadn’t told Li Yi about the loss of his and his wife’s child.

No wonder!

He looked at his wife with some anxiety, fearing that her condition might flare up again.

Ye Lingyun took a moment to compose herself, finally took a deep breath, and then looked at Jiang Shiying and said, “It’s okay, don’t worry about me!”

Li Yi feigned ignorance and asked, “Was that a question I shouldn’t have asked?”

“Don’t ask!” Jiang Longcheng said urgently.

Ye Lingyun shook her head and said, “Longcheng, it’s fine. This matter has been buried in my heart for twenty years, and I’ve never wanted to bring it up. Since Little Li asked about it today, I’ll just talk about it!”

“Yun’er… you…”

Before Jiang Shiying could finish, Ye Lingyun said with tears in her eyes, “Go ahead and tell me. It’s been so many years—this has almost become a taboo in our family!”

Jiang Shiying sighed and said, “If you want to talk about it, go ahead!”

Ye Lingyun nodded, then looked at Li Yi and said, “Actually, your third uncle and I had a child when we were young. It’s just a shame that the child came at the wrong time…”

With that, Ye Lingyun began recounting the events of those days.

The story wasn’t complicated. Twenty years ago, the Jiang family had lost a political struggle. Because of the old patriarch’s involvement, everyone in the Jiang family suffered, including Jiang Shiying and her husband.

One was sent to a labor camp on a farm in the northwest, while the other was sent to work as a laborer at a textile factory in Yong County. At the time Ye Lingyun was sent to Yong County, she was already pregnant.

The work at the textile factory was extremely strenuous; even healthy young adults might not have been able to handle it, let alone a pregnant woman like Ye Lingyun, who had almost no experience with physical labor.

Consequently, her life at the textile factory was extremely difficult during that period. In less than six months there, she lost over twenty pounds and was in very poor health.

Just a few days before she was due to give birth, she suddenly blacked out and collapsed while working, causing complications with her pregnancy, and was rushed to a nearby clinic…

Ye Lingyun didn’t actually know the details of what happened afterward; she was merely recounting a rough outline based on her fragmented memories.

After listening to Ye Lingyun’s story, Li Yi couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.

It really was a tragic story!

At that moment, he felt a bit hesitant about whether he should tell them about Tang Xue right away.

Deep down, Li Yi wanted to reveal the truth, but at the same time, he was a bit hesitant to do so.

It wasn’t that he was worried the Jiang family would stand in the way of him and Tang Xue—after all, the baby was about to be born, so he wasn’t really afraid of that.

He was worried whether his mother-in-law’s health could withstand such a sudden shift from joy to grief—and whether she could bear the harsh truth.

If he were to tell her that her child is still alive, that she was simply swapped at birth all those years ago, and that her daughter hasn’t had an easy life since then…

If he really did say that, given her current health, she might just collapse on the spot!

So Li Yi felt he couldn’t rush this matter. Perhaps he could first talk to Tang Xue or Jiang Shiying and seek their advice.

Just as Li Yi’s thoughts were racing, Ye Lingyun suddenly let out a long sigh, wiped away her tears, and said, “Little Li, I don’t know why, but seeing you always makes me feel a sense of warmth in my heart. I couldn’t help but say so much—please don’t take it to heart!”

Li Yi immediately replied, “I was thoughtless to bring up such painful memories. But there was a reason I asked that question earlier!”

“What reason?” Ye Lingyun asked instinctively.

“Because, judging by your facial features, you seem like the kind of person blessed with many children and grandchildren. So I instinctively assumed you and Third Uncle had children!” Li Yi explained.

“You must have misread it,” Ye Lingyun said.

Li Yi didn’t respond, but looked at her again and said, “Auntie, why don’t I cast another divination for you?”

Hearing this, Jiang Longcheng, who was standing nearby, immediately perked up and said, “Auntie, Brother Li Yi doesn’t speak lightly, but when he does, his predictions are always spot-on!”

Ye Lingyun had also heard her family discuss Li Yi and knew he possessed some extraordinary abilities.

But she had always been a timid person, so she instinctively glanced at Jiang Shiying beside her.

Watching the father and son battle wits over a single cup of wine, Li Yi found it both amusing and a little enviable.

His own father, though equally devoted and deeply loving,

he was always a man of few words and would never speak to him like that, so their time together was often rather dull.

With Jiang Shiying keeping an eye on things, the old man ultimately didn’t get to drink any alcohol, but everyone still enjoyed the meal immensely.

It’s worth mentioning that Aunt Jiang San’s cooking was truly excellent; the dishes she prepared herself left Li Yi particularly impressed.

To be honest, he felt that with Aunt Jiang San’s culinary skills, if she opened a restaurant in the city, it would surely be packed every day.

Of course, that was just a thought; given the Jiang family’s circumstances, they certainly wouldn’t let her put herself out there to do something like that.

Besides, Li Yi could tell that her health wasn’t the best.

With such a large table full of delicious food, she had only eaten a small bowl of rice and drunk half a bowl of soup before putting down her chopsticks.

Judging by this, she was in a bad mood, had lost her appetite, and lacked any desire to eat—classic symptoms of depression.

He hoped Prozac could keep her condition under control; otherwise, with a constitution so frail it seemed she might collapse at the slightest breeze, Li Yi truly feared she wouldn’t last much longer.

At that moment, Li Yi began to understand why Jiang Shiying had specifically sought him out, asking him to say some kind words to his wife.

Indeed, in a situation like hers, she truly needed some external motivation to reignite the hope deep within her heart.

Otherwise, it’s easy to fall into self-doubt and lose hope in life.

Li Yi wasn’t opposed to white lies; in fact, he was happy to oblige.

But even after the meal was over, he still hadn’t found the right moment to comfort poor Aunt Jiang San.

After eating and drinking their fill, the group returned to the living room.

Just as they were about to sit for a while longer, a soft knock suddenly sounded at the door.

“Come in!” Old Master Jiang said immediately.

Next, a young man pushed open the door and walked in, then approached the old man and whispered a few words in his ear.

Since he was standing close by, Li Yi heard the young man tell the old man who was at the door and that they had urgent news to report.

Hearing this, Li Yi knew it was time to take his leave.

But just as he was about to take his leave, Jiang Shiying suddenly said, “Comrade Li Yi, we’ve hit it off right away. Come on, let’s go sit in my room for a while!”

“Sure!”

Li Yi knew that Jiang Shiying must feel his mission wasn’t yet complete, which was why he didn’t want him to leave.

Then, led by Jiang Shiying and his wife, Li Yi and Jiang Longcheng left the main hall and went to the west wing next door.

Since everyone had been dining in the main hall, the lights in the west wing hadn’t been turned on.

Although the faint light from the main hall meant it wasn’t pitch black, the room still felt dark and gloomy once they stepped inside.

More importantly, the moment he stepped inside, Li Yi caught a strong whiff of Chinese herbal medicine.

Clearly, Aunt Jiang was taking herbal decoctions alongside her Fluoxetine—though it was unclear what ailment she was treating!

“I’ve been boiling herbal medicine for a while now, so the smell in here isn’t great—please don’t mind!”

Aunt Jiang San said as she turned on the light.

“The smell of Chinese medicine isn’t that bad; I’ve actually gotten used to it!” Li Yi said with a smile.

The moment the light came on, Li Yi could clearly see the room’s furnishings.

Compared to the main hall, the west wing was a bit smaller, but it was decorated in a more modern style.

Not only had the solid-wood chairs been replaced with cushioned sofas, but the room also featured musical instruments like a piano and a guzheng.

Clearly, Aunt Jiang San was a woman of many talents.

Although the smell in the room wasn’t great, it was very clean and tidy, showing that Aunt Jiang San was also a neat and tidy person.

After the group sat down on the sofa, Aunt Jiang San was about to go make tea for everyone when she was stopped by Jiang Shiying.

“Just sit tight, I’ll go!”

“Okay!”

Seeing the tenderness in both their eyes, Li Yi suddenly felt a lump in his throat; this kind of unintentional display of affection was the most devastating.

At the same time, he felt a touch of envy.

They say beauty fades, but how many people can remain true to each other after their looks have faded—especially men?

Although Aunt Jiang San had a lovely demeanor—and it was clear she must have been quite attractive in her youth—she didn’t look particularly beautiful now.

For one thing, she was too thin—so much so that she’d lost her former features, and the skin on her face had sagged.

Second, her overall vitality was lacking, making her look exceptionally aged and devoid of any beauty.

And yet, even so, someone in a position of such high authority as Jiang Shiying remains utterly devoted to her—so much so that he would even go so far as to beg a young man like me on her behalf.

For a man—especially a powerful figure—to do this is truly commendable!

Perhaps realizing that this behavior had upset the two younger people, Ye Lingyun cleared her throat and asked, “Little Li, I heard you’ve gotten married?”

“Yeah, I got married this summer!”

“Do you have a child yet?”

“Yes, but she hasn’t given birth yet. I plan to go be with my wife for the delivery once I’m done with this busy period!”

Ye Lingyun said with a touch of envy, “Having a child is wonderful. You must treat your wife well—giving birth is no easy feat for a woman!”

“Yes, you’re absolutely right!”

Thinking of Tang Xue, a tender look involuntarily softened Li Yi’s expression.

Seeing the tenderness Li Yi couldn’t hide, Ye Lingyun thought of her own husband; in this regard, the young man did bear a certain resemblance to Shiying.

“Your wife must be very beautiful!”

“You’re absolutely right—my wife really is the village beauty!”

“The village beauty?”

“She’s the prettiest girl for miles around!”

“You young people these days… I can hardly understand what you’re saying anymore…”

Just then, Jiang Shiying walked out carrying a teapot and a teacup, and asked, “What don’t you understand?”

“Little Li said his wife is the prettiest girl for miles around—the village beauty!” Ye Lingyun said with a smile.

“If that’s the case, then your aunt must have been the ‘courtyard beauty’ in her youth—the prettiest woman in the whole compound!” Jiang Shiying said with a laugh.

“You’re just talking nonsense—I’m nowhere near as pretty as you say!” A faint blush flushed Ye Lingyun’s pale face.

She still wasn’t quite used to her husband praising her like that in front of the younger generation. dxmbang

“Of course I am! I’m not making this up—there’s a photo on the wall, isn’t there?”

Saying this, Jiang Shiying pointed toward the piano.

Following the direction of Jiang Shiying’s finger, Li Yi indeed saw several picture frames hanging directly above the piano.

It was very popular in this era to place photos in glass frames and hang them up as decorations.

It wasn’t just the Jiang family; even Li Yi’s own home had such frames, so there was nothing particularly unusual about it.

Suddenly, Li Yi’s gaze was drawn to several photos inside the glass frames on the wall.

The Jeep drove south from Beiguan Village on the outskirts of the city, cutting straight through the downtown area until it reached the Second Ring Road.

After passing through a cluster of majestic ancient buildings, the vehicle came to a stop in front of a traditional courtyard house.

Although this was Li Yi’s first time here, he knew this place was truly extraordinary.

After all, they had just passed the Forbidden City—the absolute heart of the capital.

In terms of distance, this spot was no more than 500 meters from the Forbidden City—it was right on the doorstep of the imperial capital.

Wow, owning a private courtyard in a place like this was an absolute symbol of status and prestige.

Forget about money—these days, having money doesn’t get you far here!

To Li Yi’s discerning eye, it was clear that in thirty years’ time, any courtyard in this neighborhood would be worth a small fortune!

It’s priceless!

After the car pulled up, Li Yi got out carrying the gifts.

But he didn’t go inside. The armed guards at the entrance were downright intimidating—he’d better wait for Jiang Longcheng to arrive first!

It wasn’t that Li Yi was a coward; it was that these two guards exuded an extraordinary aura. They were clearly battle-hardened veterans, and the faint glint of murderous intent in their eyes was impossible to hide.

Facing men like that, even Li Yi wouldn’t dare to act recklessly!

However, to Li Yi’s surprise, Jiang Longcheng didn’t go straight inside after getting out of the car either; instead, he had someone go in first to announce his arrival.

Seeing this, Li Yi asked in surprise, “Is this your grandfather’s house?”

“Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”

“You have to announce your arrival even when visiting your grandfather?”

“What did you think? No, I never come here unless I absolutely have to—it’s too much of a hassle and way too stifling!” Jiang Longcheng grumbled.

“You’re taking your blessings for granted. You have no idea how many people would kill to have a relative with such high status and influence…”

Just as they were speaking, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed through the courtyard, and moments later, Jiang Shiying strode out.

Upon seeing Li Yi, he immediately smiled and said, “You’re here pretty early. Come on in!”

Li Yi and Jiang Longcheng then followed her directly into the courtyard.

Once inside, Li Yi noticed that although the property covered a fair amount of land, it wasn’t as luxurious as he had imagined.

In fact, it looked rather simple; aside from a few fruit trees, the entire courtyard contained nothing more than a small pond.

At first glance, it didn’t look much different from an ordinary courtyard house.

If there was any difference at all, it was the presence of several guards in the eastern wing.

Following Jiang Shiying into the main hall, Li Yi immediately spotted a vigorous-looking elderly man seated in a traditional Chinese armchair in the living room—none other than the renowned “Iron-Blooded General” Jiang Dingfang.

“Grandfather, look who I’ve brought you!” Jiang Longcheng exclaimed.

“Stop making such a fuss!”

Then Old Master Jiang looked at Li Yi and said with a smile, “Young man, you must be Li Yi, right?”

“Hello, Old Master Jiang. I’m Li Yi. It’s an honor to meet an anti-Japanese hero like you!” Li Yi replied.

“What a fine young man. Have a seat!”

Li Yi immediately set the gift he was holding down in the corner, then sat down next to Jiang Longcheng.

“You didn’t have to bring anything, young man.”

“Don’t be like that. Who visits a friend empty-handed? Besides, it’s nothing valuable!” Li Yi said with a smile.

Hearing this, Old Man Jiang immediately laughed and said, “You’re a good lad!”

Just then, a woman who looked rather frail and pale pushed open the door and walked in, carrying a tray with a teapot and several teacups.

Upon seeing the woman, Jiang Longcheng immediately stood up and said, “Third Auntie, let me handle this!”

The woman smiled and said, “It’s fine, I can handle this little task myself!”

She then turned to Li Yi and said, “Comrade Li Yi, I am Shiying’s wife. Welcome to our home, and thank you for saving his life!”

Li Yi quickly replied, “Auntie, you’re too kind. I was just speaking off the cuff—it’s nothing to thank me for!”

“You’re far too modest, young man!”

Old Master Jiang, standing nearby, chimed in, “Yun’er is right. You’re a very humble young man. You saved Longcheng first, then you saved Yun’er—you’re a great benefactor to our Jiang family.”

Li Yi immediately replied, “You’re really too kind, Grandpa…”

Jiang Longcheng chimed in, “Grandpa, Third Aunt, you’re going to scare Brother Li Yi. Let’s not make this so formal, okay?”

The old man smiled and said, “Right, right, we got carried away!”

Aunt Jiang nodded and said, “Well then, you two go ahead and chat. I’ve got some dishes cooking in the kitchen; I’ll come call you when they’re ready!”

With that, she turned and walked toward the inner room.

Watching Aunt Jiang’s retreating figure, Li Yi felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity—as if he’d seen her somewhere before, yet he just couldn’t place it.

Just as Li Yi was racking his brain, trying to figure out where exactly he had met Aunt Jiang San, Old Man Jiang asked him about his family.

Li Yi could only set the matter aside and focus on chatting with the old man.

After chatting for half an hour, Jiang Shiying emerged from the inner room, announcing that the meal was ready and inviting everyone inside to eat.

Immediately, Li Yi and Jiang Longcheng helped Old Master Jiang into the dining room at the back of the house to eat.

The Jiang family’s dining room was spacious, featuring both round and square tables—clearly a result of their large household.

However, there were few people today; aside from the old man and Jiang Shiying and her husband, there were only Jiang Longcheng and Li Yi.

So, for this meal, they only used a small round table!

The table was already set with a variety of dishes—meat, vegetables, side dishes, and soup—and looked quite lavish.

Just from the spread on the table, it was clear that the Jiang family placed great importance on his visit; not only had Old Master Jiang personally come out to welcome him, but they had also prepared so many delicious dishes.

After everyone had seated themselves around the table, Aunt Jiang first served Li Yi a bowl of rice, then glanced at the table and said, “Look at my memory—I completely forgot to bring you some wine!”

As she spoke, she started to get up, apparently intending to fetch some wine for them.

Li Yi immediately said, “Auntie, don’t bother. I don’t drink!”

Old Man Jiang laughed and said, “What man doesn’t drink?”

“Old Man, drinking causes trouble, and besides, I promised my wife I’d never drink again!” Li Yi said.

“Hahaha, I never would’ve guessed you were such a devoted guy!”

Then the old man turned to Jiang Shiying and said, “Third Brother, in this regard, this young man is quite a match for you!”

Hearing this, everyone burst into laughter, except for Aunt Jiang San, who stood nearby with a slight blush on her face.

Jiang Shiying smiled and said, “Since Comrade Li Yi isn’t drinking, we won’t serve any alcohol today. Let’s eat!”

The old man shot Li Yi a slightly resentful glance and said, “I was hoping to get a drink off you, kid, but looks like I can’t count on that!”

Jiang Shiying immediately replied, “Dad, your blood pressure is nearly 180. You’re still thinking about drinking? Have you forgotten what the doctor told you?”

“Enough! Back in the day on the battlefield, neither brigade commanders nor division commanders could boss me around, but now that I’m old, you little brats have me tied up in knots—is that any way to treat an old man?”

“Whether it makes sense or not, you’re not having a drop of that liquor!” Jiang Shiying said.

“Ah, old age… They say even a tiger falls when it reaches the plains…”

“Stop right there. If you keep going, you won’t just be cursing me—you’ll be cursing yourself too!”

Jiang Shiying clearly wasn’t buying his father’s act and cut him off immediately.

Hearing this, everyone at the table couldn’t help but laugh.

In an instant, the atmosphere at the table became even more relaxed!

The Jiang Family’s Old Mansion!

Early in the morning, Jiang Shiying was startled awake by the sound of rustling nearby.

Opening his eyes, he saw his wife, Ye Lingyun, getting dressed!

“Why are you up so early today?”

Jiang Shiying knew his wife was a light sleeper and usually woke up early, but it wasn’t often she got up before dawn like this.

Ye Lingyun smoothed her slightly dull and disheveled hair, then said, “I couldn’t sleep. Did I wake you up?”

“It’s fine. Why couldn’t you sleep? Is something on your mind?” Jiang Shiying asked, sounding a bit anxious.

“Not really, I just suddenly feel a little nervous!”

“Nervous?”

“Hmm, I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t seen anyone from outside the family in a while. When I heard you say yesterday that you were going to invite that young man over for dinner, I just got a little nervous!” Ye Lingyun explained.

“Come on, he’s just a young guy. Why would you be nervous?” Jiang Shiying frowned.

“I don’t know. I just feel a little flustered, as if… as if I were about to meet someone important!” Ye Lingyun said.

“Well… maybe I should postpone it. How about another day?”

“No need. It’s not that I’m afraid of meeting strangers; I’m just nervous!”

Then, Ye Lingyun suddenly smiled and said, “Actually, I’m actually looking forward to meeting that young man!”

“Oh, what’s there to look forward to?” Jiang Shiying asked.

“I just want to thank him in person!”

Then, Ye Lingyun looked at her husband and said, “Shiying, you have no idea how desperate I was a while back. I felt like I was done for! But I couldn’t bear to leave you. I still wanted to go to Yong County to add some soil to our child’s grave and burn some joss paper, but I just didn’t have the strength. I was truly afraid I’d just pass away like that.”

“It was that young man who gave me hope and saved my life. Both out of gratitude and common decency, I want to see him—even if it’s just to say a simple ‘thank you’!”

Thinking back on his wife’s condition a while ago, Jiang Shiying felt a chill run down his spine.

“It’s the least I can do!”

Just then, Ye Lingyun suddenly asked, “Shiying, that boy’s name is Li Yi, right?”

“Right!”

“What kind of person is he?”

“How should I put it? That kid gives me a somewhat mixed impression, but there’s no denying he’s a very smart person.”

“Compared to Long Yin and Long Ze?”

“Apart from his background being a bit lacking, in every other aspect—whether it’s Long Yin or Long Ze—he’s far superior. When it comes to dealing with people, among the younger generation, probably only that little brat from the Wang family has that kind of poise!” Jiang Shiying said.

Hearing this, Ye Lingyun was somewhat shocked!

After all, Long Yin from her eldest uncle’s family and Long Ze from her second uncle’s family were both considered the cream of the crop, the hopes of the Jiang family, and deeply favored by the old patriarch.

But she never expected that, in her husband’s eyes, they were both outshone by that mysterious young man.

In fact, the very idea that Shiying would place that young man on the same level as that little brat from the Wang family was truly shocking.

“The more you say that, the more curious I am about him!”

“Don’t be curious—you’ll meet that kid tonight!”

“Okay, then hurry up and get ready, and come with me to the market!” Ye Lingyun said suddenly.

“The market?”

Jiang Shiying was a little surprised. His wife was indeed a good cook, but she had rarely cooked since falling ill.

Especially in recent years, as her condition had worsened, she hadn’t set foot in the kitchen for quite some time.

“I want to pick out some fresh meat and vegetables so I can cook two dishes for him myself tonight!”

“Alright, I’ll go with you right now!”

“Okay…”

…….

At 3:30 p.m., after spending most of the afternoon wandering around downtown, Li Yi and the others finally arrived at their rental apartment.

All three of them were carrying quite a few bags, but most of the items were bought by Li Yi.

There were items for Tang Xue, things for their future child, and the clothes he’d promised to buy for his third older sister, Li Na, among other things. By the end of the day, Li Yi had actually spent over five hundred yuan.

But Li Yi didn’t mind. Since he’d finally found the time to browse the malls, he certainly couldn’t just look without buying anything!

Additionally, thinking about their visit to the Jiang family that evening, Li Yi had also bought gifts for Old Master Jiang and the Jiang Shiying couple.

Although he knew they certainly didn’t need these things, one simply couldn’t show up empty-handed when visiting someone’s home.

To be honest, after spending most of the day out, both An Hong and Li Na were deeply impressed.

They had originally thought that the shops lining the streets and the teeming hordes of bicycles were the height of Beijing’s bustling scene.

But when they actually arrived at Wangfujing Street, they were instantly stunned by the scene before them—everything here exceeded their wildest imaginations.

So for most of the day, Li Na and An Hong had been in a state of utter awe!

However, everything was exactly as Li Yi had anticipated. Right now, they were like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden—finding everything they saw astonishing.

No big deal—they’ll get used to it after a few more visits. That’s what broadening one’s horizons is all about!

Back at the rental apartment, Li Yi didn’t join in on the chattering discussion between Third Sister and An Hong; instead, he went straight to his room and fell asleep.

He’d been up since early morning and hadn’t returned until now—even someone with Li Yi’s stamina was feeling a bit worn out.

By the time Li Yi woke up, it was already past five o’clock.

Thinking that Jiang Longcheng would be finishing work soon, Li Yi grabbed the gifts he’d bought for the Jiang family and headed to the shop.

When he arrived at the hot pot restaurant, he noticed Jiang Longcheng’s car was already parked outside.

As he pushed open the door and stepped inside, he spotted the guy from a distance—he was indeed already there, chatting with Zhang Xinyao, who was cleaning up.

Seeing Li Yi push the door open, Jiang Longcheng immediately stopped chatting with Zhang Xinyao and hurried over to him.

As soon as they met, Jiang Longcheng exclaimed loudly, “Brother Li Yi, if you hadn’t shown up, I was about to go look for you at your apartment!”

“Don’t you get off work at six? How come you’re here so early?”

“Hahaha, I’m the factory director—who’s to say when I get off work?” Jiang Longcheng said with a laugh.

“Aren’t you worried the factory workers might follow your example?” Li Yi said with a smile.

“Who would dare?”

Jiang Longcheng then added with a laugh, “Actually, I went to a meeting at the district office this afternoon. I came straight here after the meeting—I didn’t even go back to the factory!”

“You’re always either in a meeting or on your way to one!” Li Yi said.

“Ugh, just hearing the word ‘meeting’ gives me a headache. Every time we have a meeting, our factory gets criticized, while that kid Lin Jianguo gets praised every single time!”

“Lin Jianguo? How did he get praised?” Li Yi asked, somewhat surprised.

“You didn’t know? Ever since that kid made those tables, chairs, and benches for you last time, he suddenly got the hang of it. He converted half the workshop to produce tables, chairs, benches, and all kinds of kitchenware!”

Jiang Longcheng continued, “And you know what? That change actually brought the foundry back from the brink. Profits have been climbing steadily, and it’s almost become a model enterprise in the district!”

“Is that so? I haven’t really been paying attention to the foundry,” Li Yi said, somewhat surprised.

Jiang Longcheng immediately replied, “You bet. That guy really hit the jackpot. I hear he’s made over a hundred thousand yuan just from selling those sheet-metal kitchen appliances lately—enough to pay off the employees’ wages that had been overdue for half a year!”

“Our cotton mill, on the other hand, has been having a rough time. We can’t get paid by our upstream raw material suppliers, we can’t sell our inventory, and we can’t pay our workers’ wages. Every time I go there, I get chewed out like a dog—it’s infuriating!”

“Come on, don’t get so worked up. If you’re not doing a good job, you can’t blame others for pointing it out!” Li Yi said.

“It’s not just my fault the factory’s in this state. Old Zhang and Bald Li before me—they share the blame too!” Jiang Longcheng said, sounding a bit aggrieved.

“What’s the point of bringing that up? You’re the factory director now, so of course people are going to take it out on you first. Do you think they’re going to drag the retired director back just to yell at him?”

“Brother Li Yi, I know you’re capable. Help me figure something out!” Jiang Longcheng said.

“We’ll talk about this later. It’s getting late—let’s head over to your third uncle’s place first,” Li Yi said.

“Alright, we’ll talk about this in detail later. Let’s head home first!”

“Alright!”

The two immediately left Li Yi’s shop, got in the car, and headed straight for the Jiang family’s old mansion!

Nothing happened that night, and Li Yi got up early the next morning!

He was heading to Dong’an Market to help pick out beef and mutton, and take a look around the produce section while he was at it.

Ever since he’d had Long Zhanjun and Liu San’er, he’d actually rarely had to handle these matters personally.

The main reason he was going was to take An Hong to see the big markets in the capital.

After all, he’d promised to bring her to the capital to broaden her horizons—he couldn’t very well have her stuck in the kitchen helping out every day!

Upon learning that Li Yi was taking her to explore the capital’s vegetable market, An Hong was thrilled and got up early as well.

Third Sister Li Na, upon hearing that Long Zhanjun was going too, naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity—after all, her whole reason for coming to the capital was him.

And so, the scale of this trip to the market suddenly grew.

After the three of them got up, they freshened up briefly.

They then left their rented apartment and headed to the nearby shop to meet up with Long Zhanjun and the others.

The early morning in Beijing was quite unique—not only was it cold, but the sky was also overcast and gray.

Looking up, it felt as if a huge pot had been placed over their heads—not even a star or the moon was visible—a stark contrast to the crisp, clear skies of Qingshan County.

Mainly because the capital is so crowded, and on top of that, everyone in the city needs to stoke their stoves in winter. With so many chimneys constantly belching thick smoke every day, the sky overhead is naturally a hazy gray.

As soon as they stepped outside, Third Sister exhaled a puff of white breath and said, “It’s so cold!”

An Hong agreed, “It is a bit cold. Besides the cold, I think the capital smells a bit unpleasant—it has a smoky odor.”

Li Yi smiled and said, “It’ll get better.”

Soon, the three of them arrived at the hot pot restaurant.

The lights inside were already on, indicating that Long Zhanjun and the others had woken up.

Immediately, Li Yi knocked on the front door!

Hearing the knock, Long Zhanjun immediately called out to Liu San and came out of the shop, then pushed a tricycle out from inside.

Long Zhanjun had bought this tricycle specifically for the shop, mainly because buying vegetables and meat every day made it both inconvenient and uneconomical to rely on others.

Afterward, Long Zhanjun pedaled the tricycle himself while the others sat on the flatbed, heading straight for Dong’an Market.

Since there wasn’t much traffic on the road and it was all paved, the tricycle made decent speed.

They covered the seven or eight kilometers in less than an hour!

Upon arriving at Dong’an Market, Long Zhanjun took Liu San to select beef and mutton, with Third Sister tagging along to help.

Meanwhile, Li Yi took An Hong to a nearby vegetable stall to buy various vegetables.

It was An Hong’s first time at such a large market, and she was naturally curious.

But she soon realized that this market was completely different from what she had imagined.

In Qing Shan County, you needed ration tickets for everything; without them, it was nearly impossible to buy what you needed, even if you had money.

Here, however, things were different. While ration tickets were still required, having money was sufficient if you didn’t have them.

As long as you were willing to pay a high price, you could buy almost anything.

It might not seem like much of a difference, but in reality, it’s a huge one.

After browsing the market for an hour and a half, around 7:30, Long Zhanjun and the others finally finished buying all the meat and vegetables.

Afterward, Li Yi told him to head back with Liu San first, while he took Third Sister and An Hong for a stroll around the city center!

To give them a taste of the real capital, a single farmers’ market wouldn’t be enough, so Li Yi planned to take them to the bustling downtown areas to experience the city’s large shopping malls.

After seeing Long Zhanjun and Liu San off, he noticed it was nearly 8:00.

Realizing they hadn’t eaten yet, Li Yi decided to take Third Sister and An Hong out for a meal first; after all, the big shopping malls in the city center usually didn’t open until after 8:30.

The three of them walked along the streets of Beijing, each lost in their own thoughts as they looked at the shops lining the streets and the throngs of bicycles passing by.

Li Yi felt a touch of nostalgia, while Li Na and An Hong were curious—but more than anything, they were in awe.

Even though it was already the 1980s, bicycles were still a luxury in their hometown of Qingshan County. If any family owned one, it would be the envy of countless people.

But here in the capital, it seemed like everyone—men and women alike—had one.

Especially when they stopped at traffic lights, the lines of bicycles waiting on both sides could number in the hundreds—a truly awe-inspiring sight!

What shocked them even more were the shops lining both sides of the street—their sheer number was staggering.

Since the policy was relaxed, more and more ordinary people have started opening their own shops.

There are also street vendors selling everything from steamed buns and fried dough sticks to pancakes, scattered all along both sides of the street.

Even early in the morning, the place is already bustling!

This was something completely unimaginable in Qing Shan County. Never mind the police or the industrial and commercial authorities—you wouldn’t even get past the street patrols with their red armbands.

An Hong finally understood why Li Yi had insisted she come out for a walk; without seeing this scene with her own eyes, it would have been impossible to imagine.

In just a single day, she felt that Beijing and Qingshan County were two completely different worlds!

Compared to the poverty and isolation of her hometown, the capital’s attitude toward small business owners was completely different—it was as if all restrictions had been lifted.

The three of them picked a random breakfast shop and walked in; the place specialized in millet porridge and pork buns.

The shop was quite crowded; when Li Yi and the others arrived, every table was occupied, so they had to share a table with a young man.

While eating, An Hong munched on a meat bun while quietly surveying the shop.

The shop wasn’t large, consisting of just an open kitchen and six small tables.

The owner was a young man in his twenties, assisted by an older man.

Yet business was brisk. From the moment they entered until they finished eating and paid the bill—a span of just ten minutes or so—over twenty customers had come and gone.

An Hong did a quick mental calculation: in just that short time, the young man had taken in at least 15 yuan.

Li Yi had once mentioned that the gross profit margin in the restaurant industry is around 50 percent. That meant, in such a short time, the young man had earned 7.50 yuan.

This figure shocked her!

After all, she was a junior manager at the cotton mill and earned 38 yuan a month—which was considered a decent income in all of Qingshan County.

But on average, that came to less than 1.30 yuan a day.

And this unassuming young man had just earned nearly a week’s worth of her salary in a mere ten minutes or so—wouldn’t he make a month’s worth of her income in a single day?

This realization only strengthened An Hong’s resolve to quit her job and go into business!

Li Yi had no idea what was going through An Hong’s mind; if he had known, he might have chuckled to himself.

That’s nothing!

These days, it’s no exaggeration to say that Beijing is a goldmine. Earning an ordinary worker’s monthly wage in a single day by running a restaurant is nothing out of the ordinary.

And what about those selling small goods? Every single one of them was raking in a fortune.

Especially those running inns and hotels—a single bed for 80 cents a night. Larger inns often have 150 or 60 beds; just imagine how much that adds up to in a single day!

Of course, making money is a given, but not everyone has the guts to go into business.

After breakfast, Li Yi took the two of them straight to the nearby Wangfujing Street; he wanted to give Third Sister and An Hong a taste of the capital’s most bustling commercial thoroughfare.

While Li Yi was showing his third sister and An Hong the bustling streets of the capital, things were quite different over at the Jiang family’s place!

With Jiang Longcheng, Jiang Longyin, and the others gone, the small private room was left with only Li Yi and Jiang Shiying!

Jiang Shiying looked Li Yi up and down, then said, “Comrade Li Yi, I’m very grateful for the prescription you provided. After my wife took that medicine, her condition has improved significantly!”

“You’re too kind. I merely mentioned it in passing; there’s no need to make a big deal out of it,” Li Yi replied.

To be honest, he really didn’t want to deal with this man.

The reason was simple: this man was far too shrewd; the average person simply couldn’t hold a candle to him.

And given that his current persona was that of a bona fide charlatan, drawing this man’s attention might not be a good thing!

“No, it may be a trivial matter to you, but for my wife, it was a lifesaving act—and for me as well!”

“You’re overestimating me!”

Jiang Shiying, however, spoke with a solemn expression: “I, Jiang Shiying, have never liked owing anyone anything, but in this matter, I truly owe you a favor. If you ever need my help in the future, just ask!”

Although Jiang Shiying’s promise was tempting, Li Yi wasn’t particularly interested.

However, given the current situation, he couldn’t say much more; he could only nod to indicate he understood.

At that moment, Jiang Shiying spoke again: “Comrade Li Yi, to be honest, I came here today because there’s another matter I’d like your help with!”

“What kind of favor? Go ahead,” Li Yi replied.

“My wife is also quite grateful to you, so we’d like to host a dinner for you at our home tomorrow evening. We hope you’ll honor us with your presence!”

“Is that all?”

“No, I’d like you to say a few kind words during the meal!”

“Huh?”

Seeing the puzzled look on Li Yi’s face, Jiang Shiying immediately explained, “You see, my wife went through some difficult times when she was younger. She’s been depressed for all these years, and eventually, her worries turned into an illness!”

“Now that she’s been taking Prozac, her condition has stabilized somewhat, and she no longer thinks about taking her own life. But she’s still not in a good mood—in the doctor’s words, she lacks the will to live!”

Upon hearing this, Li Yi suddenly understood and said, “So you’re asking me to counsel your wife and help reignite her will to live?”

“Exactly. Everyone in the family has heard about you now, and they tend to trust what you say!” Jiang Shiying said.

“Does that include you?”

Jiang Shiying hesitated slightly before replying, “I… I’ve never been one to believe in ghosts or spirits!”

“If you don’t believe in it yourself, then why ask me to say these things?” Li Yi asked.

Jiang Shiying sighed and said, “It doesn’t matter whether I believe it or not—as long as Yun’er believes it!”

“Yun’er—your wife?”

“Yes. My wife and I grew up together from childhood—we were even betrothed as children. We knew from a very early age that we were meant for each other, so our relationship has always been exceptionally strong!”

Then, Jiang Shiying continued, “But life is unpredictable, and fate can be cruel. No one could have imagined that Yun’er would suffer such a tragedy, leaving her completely devastated.”

“I truly envy the bond between you two. That’s what it means to grow old together and support each other through thick and thin!” Li Yi said.

“I’ve already lost a loved one, so I simply cannot bear to lose Yun’er as well. You must help me with this!” Jiang Shiying said with a solemn expression.

Li Yi thought for a moment and said, “I can’t give you a definite answer on this; I can only say I’ll try!”

Li Yi then explained further, “After all, I don’t know much about your wife’s situation right now. Some things I say might not help, so let’s just see how things go tomorrow!”

“Alright, then I’m counting on you for this!”

“Alright!”

After discussing this, Jiang Shiying looked at Li Yi again and said with a touch of admiration, “You really are a unique person!”

“Oh, what makes me special?” Li Yi asked with a smile.

He appeared relaxed on the surface, but deep down, he couldn’t help but grow wary.

“Contradiction!”

“Contradictory?”

“Yes, you give me the impression of being particularly contradictory!”

Jiang Shiying continued, “Based on my experience in reading people, you seem simple and honest on the surface, but you’re actually quite shrewd. I can see that in your current business as well!”

“Logically speaking, someone like you shouldn’t be the type to be so eager to help others, yet that’s exactly what you do.”

“Are you talking about Old Jiang’s situation?” Li Yi asked.

“Not entirely. There’s also Jianhua, and even the things you did back in your hometown!” Jiang Shiying said.

“Are you investigating me?” Li Yi asked calmly.

“Does it bother you?”

“It’s exactly what I expected. After all, the Jiang family isn’t just any ordinary family. Anyone who gets close to the Jiangs is bound to be investigated—why would I be any exception?” Li Yi said.

“That’s why I say you’re a contradictory person. You don’t seem like one of those charlatans who spout nonsense about karma and reincarnation, running around the world getting people’s fortunes told, but the things you do make me…”

At this point, Jiang Shiying smiled but didn’t continue.

Li Yi knew what he meant. He smiled as well and said, “Maybe I’m playing the long game, just to get more benefits from your Jiang family!”

“You’re not!” Jiang Shiying said bluntly.

“How do you know that?”

“When you said that, your eyes were filled with arrogance and disdain. Though I don’t know what gives you such confidence, I can tell that, in your eyes, the Jiang family doesn’t carry much weight!”

Hearing this, Li Yi couldn’t help but be secretly startled.

No wonder this man could go so far—his ability to read people alone was enough to send a chill down one’s spine.

He had indeed been thinking exactly that while speaking just now. With over forty years of foresight and experience, Li Yi was confident he could build a super-powerhouse even more glorious than the one in his previous life.

The Jiang family before him was certainly powerful, but Li Yi was confident he could surpass them—and it wouldn’t take long.

Yet he hadn’t expected that a single glance would completely expose his true intentions.

Li Yi shook his head and said, “You’re right. I truly have no designs on the Jiang family, and certainly no ill will!”

“Then why did you help that kid Long Cheng so much?”

“Heh, fate, I suppose!”

“Fate?”

“Hmm, the moment I laid eyes on him, I felt a connection. I sensed he was someone worth getting to know deeply, so I couldn’t help but give him a heads-up!”

Then Li Yi added, “Of course, it might also be that his flamboyant, ‘I’m number one, the heavens are second, and I’m third’ attitude caught my attention. And as it turns out, this guy really is someone worth getting to know!”

Jiang Shiying smiled and said, “That’s true. That kid Longcheng doesn’t have a single ulterior motive, and he’s a man of honor. He’s definitely worth getting to know!”

“Yeah, that’s true, but his personality has some pretty obvious flaws too. One wrong move and he’s doomed!”

“Then I’d appreciate it if you could keep an eye on him from now on and make sure he doesn’t act on a whim and do whatever he pleases!”

“Sure!”

“Well, it’s getting late. I’ll head home now. Longcheng will come pick you up after work tomorrow!” Jiang Shiying said.

“Okay, I’ll be there on time!”

“Well, I’ll head out now!”

“Alright…”

……..

PS: I’m moving today, so I really don’t have time to write. Please forgive me!