Free Web NovelLooking at his parents, who were holding their heads high and beaming, and at the intelligent and gentle Ice Cube, Xiao Li couldn't help but have a question mark appear above his head.
"Ice Cube, didn't you used to hide whenever there were outsiders when you were little?"
Li Dalong chuckled and said, "That was when she was little. Little Bing'er is all grown up now. She was so gentle and virtuous just now."
"When your second aunt saw Little Bing'er, she acted like a little maid, offering tea and gifts."
Madam Gu's mouth was practically reaching for the sky as she spoke.
Ying Bing looked at him with bright, intelligent eyes, her tone soft and calm:
"Those weren't outsiders."
"??"
Li Mo leaned back slightly, the scene from earlier flashing through his mind.
He knew about his second aunt. Ever since she married into Dijin, she had cut ties with her family. Great Yu didn't have sayings like 'three obediences and four virtues' or 'a married daughter is like spilled water.'
It was simply because she had risen in status and was afraid of being entangled by 'poor country relatives.'
But with Ice Cube standing there... it was clear who the poor relatives were.
At that moment, Ice Cube, after accepting the tea offered by his second aunt, looked at her with radiant eyes and said softly:
"We are all family."
When she uttered those words with her crimson lips, in the tone of a mistress, how terrifying was their destructive power!
Just thinking about that scene made Xiao Li's scalp tingle. No wonder his father's smile looked more crooked the more he thought about it.
Gu Xueqin held Ying Bing's hand and dotingly smoothed her hair.
"Grandpa and Grandma will arrive in two days. When they see you, they'll definitely find even Dalong much more pleasing. Little Bing'er, when the time comes, are you willing..."
"I am willing."
"Good, good, good... You truly are my good child."
Hearing Madam Gu say this, Ice Cube's eyes flickered as she glanced at Xiao Li, a smile in her eyes.
Li Mo: "!"
That's not right! Ice Cube isn't even married yet!
Isn't she the aloof Han Xianzi? How is it that now, not only his parents, but the entire Old Li family seems {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} to be under her control?
This won't do! Is he going to become an outsider?
"The domineering Empress and her childish son-in-law..."
Shang Qinqing breathed rapidly, muttering to herself as if possessed.
"I really envy Ouyang; he doesn't even have to come up with the plot for his picture books himself."
Qin Yuzhi said, then shook her head again: "No, that's not right. He still needs to think about how to be a bit more restrained, otherwise the book club won't pass the review..."
Li Mo sighed and got up, intending to clean up.
However, Ice Cube collected all the leftovers from the dining table, doing so as if it were her right and with great speed, then went to wash the dishes.
"You child, you just sit there without moving."
"...I did move, Mother."
So, can parental love also disappear?
When he was injured, his mother worried so much she lost several pounds. For those two days, she often touched his face, afraid he would disappear the next second.
Now, it's only been a few days.
When he stayed in Autumn Water Pavilion, his father said he spent all his days just staying at home. When he had just gone out and returned, his mother said he spent all his days just running around outside.
When he read a storybook, his father said he wasn't doing proper work. When he went to practice martial arts, his mother told him not to have his head full of nothing but martial arts.
When Ice Cube stayed in Autumn Water Pavilion, his mother said Little Bing'er was so family-oriented. When she went out, his father said this child could even handle social occasions.
When Ice Cube was idle and made popsicles, his father said she was truly clever and skillful. When she wrote martial arts essentials for the Scripture Pavilion, his mother said she was truly both beautiful and intelligent.
"So, paternal and maternal love didn't disappear, they just transferred?"
Xiao Li seemed to understand something.
Actually, he could understand.
Ice Cube's background always made his parents want to treat her doubly well, afraid she would feel like she was living under someone else's roof in the Li Manor, and now it was even more so for the same reason.
Two days later, his grandparents also arrived, and the Qizhen Sea Market in the East Sea was also nearing its opening time.
Early in the morning, his parents drove the carriage to the mountain gate to pick up his grandparents.
By the time they returned, Xiao Li was already waiting at the door, well-prepared. This time, he would absolutely not give his parents a chance to criticize him!
"Grandpa, Grandma!"
Xiao Li shouted loudly, just in case his father would later say he called out too softly for anyone to hear.
"Oh my... Eh? My dear grandson?"
In the kind eyes of the old lady, one could vaguely discern the demeanor of a noblewoman, but as soon as she got out of the carriage, Xiao Li's shout made her shiver twice.
"You brat, your grandma is so old, why are you shouting so loudly?"
Li Dalong helped a spirited old scholar in a Confucian robe out, looking at his son disapprovingly.
"??"
"It's alright. Xiao Mo probably hasn't seen us in a long time and misses us. He's famous in the Jianghu now, so a loud voice is a sign of a hero's spirit."
His grandma came up, gently appraising him.
She was indeed gentle, but it didn't last long. She quickly bypassed him and looked behind him.
"Grand... Grandma."
Ying Bing lowered her eyes, her gentle beauty combined with her clear, melodious voice was simply unbelievable.
She stood beside Li Mo and greeted them softly.
"Good, good, good... Oh, Little Bing'er has grown so beautiful now, like a Fairy. I am truly blessed."
His grandma gave a meaningful look, signaling to his My Little Uncle, who was following behind, to take out a box.
Then she personally handed the item to Ying Bing.
When it was opened, inside was a fox-hair brush. She said earnestly:
"Little Bing'er, Grandma doesn't have anything valuable to give. This brush was left by my grandfather when he passed the imperial examination. Later, it was used to write the family genealogy, so it carries a bit of scholarly Qi. It's fine for writing; please don't dislike it."
Li Mo: "???"
He remembered when he was little and visited his grandma's house, he secretly took this brush to draw and play, and was almost beaten black and blue by his family.
"This..."
Ying Bing wiped her hands, pursing her lips, unsure whether she should accept it.
"Take it, Little Bing'er. It's Grandma's heartfelt gesture."
"Yes, there's no other meaning. It's just a brush with a bit of sentiment, that's all. Later, when you have children, girls will have a family heirloom, and boys should have one too."
"Mm..."
Ying Bing finally accepted it, her eyes sparkling as she glanced at Li Mo.
"..."
Xiao Li fell into deep thought.
So now even his grandparents knew about the existence and efficacy of the Dragon-Phoenix Primordial Fetus Divine Pill?
After a long separation, the family was filled with joy, and the entire Autumn Water Pavilion suddenly felt even more like a warm home.
His grandparents and My Little Uncle's wife pulled Ice Cube aside, asking about her well-being, and in his conversations, his grandpa's gaze towards Old Li softened considerably.
How harmonious was it?
Xiao Li and My Little Uncle both felt like they couldn't blend in.
"Here, I also prepared a meeting gift, a gem from North Seal. You can give it to your wife later."
My Little Uncle couldn't find an opportunity, so he could only hand the meeting gift to Li Mo. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
"My Little Uncle, we haven't seen each other in so long."
"Mm, and then?"
Li Mo's outstretched hand froze. He pulled it back and scratched his head:
"I feel like I should get a haircut when I get married. New year, new look, don't you think, My Little Uncle?"
"You should get a haircut when you get married... Hmm? When are you getting married?" ƒгeewёbnovel.com
"New Year's, in the first month."
"What are you trying to do? What do you want to do? We're all family; can't we discuss things properly?"
My Little Uncle, both terrified and angry, pulled out two more North Seal gems and shoved them over, afraid Li Mo wouldn't take them.
Xiao Li sighed.
Good news: He and My Little Uncle are still family.
Bad news: My Little Uncle's wife is also well-liked by his grandparents, so My Little Uncle also often suspects he's an outsider.
"No, I need to find Ice Cube to split the loot."
Li Mo thought with a serious expression.
It wasn't just a matter of everyone in the family siding with Ice Cube; his name on the family tree was practically in Ice Cube's hands.
How could this be allowed?
