The couple took turns driving and finally returned to the Kūshān mountains as dusk fell.
Hearing the familiar honk of the car, Mother Li excitedly came out of the large courtyard gate, "Is it Zheng Guo and Tiantian?"
Tian Jing got out of the car, "Yes, Mom, we're back."
"Eh," Mother Li responded loudly, "It's good you're back. Haven't you eaten dinner yet? I'll cook for you."
"No rush." Tian Jing's heart warmed at her mother-in-law's solicitous greeting as soon as they returned.
"Mom, we can just boil some instant noodles ourselves later."
"No," Mother Li disagreed. "I'll steam some buns and heat up a couple of dishes for you, then stir-fry and boil some noodles."
"Alright, alright, we'll do as you say," Tian Jing agreed, "Don't worry, we're not very hungry, we can take our time."
Mother Li went back to prepare dinner, while Li Zheng Guo and Tian Jing carried the items from the trunk into the living room.
He then went out to park the car by the village road ahead.
The couple entered the dining room and were soon served a steaming hot meal.
Mother Li sat by the dining table, inquiring about the situation with the Yu family.
Tian Jing recounted the normal events, omitting the internal power struggles and competition for status and profit from her mother-in-law.
Upon hearing about the temperament of the Yu family couple, Mother Li felt relieved. She then asked,
"Are that eldest aunt and second aunt difficult to get along with?"
"That has nothing to do with us. Yu Zi Yu's eldest aunt is forcefully interfering in the Yu family's affairs, believing that Yu Jing Hai took Shen Jian Ming's promotion spot."
"Now that it's clear, Yu Jing Hai and Shen Jian Rong will no longer tolerate her."
"No," Mother Li was still worried. "When we go to the wedding, I need to have a good talk with Zi Yu."
"The give-and-take between elders has nothing to do with Zi Yu. Zi Yu shouldn't learn from her mother and always give in to her maternal relatives."
"As you wish," Tian Jing didn't mind. If her mother-in-law wanted to dote on her granddaughter-in-law, she wouldn't stop her. She had something else to tell her mother-in-law:
"Mom, Li Li has already registered her marriage."
"What?" Mother Li stood up in surprise. "What happened?"
Her mother-in-law's sensitivity was too high. Tian Jing nudged her husband, who was quietly eating,
"I'm eating, you tell Mom."
Li Zheng Guo... How could he explain something like this?
Mother Li wouldn't allow her younger daughter-in-law to evade. "Tiantian, you eat first, I'll listen to you."
Tian Jing... Mother-in-law, are you really not favoring your younger son?
While eating, Tian Jing pondered and then shifted the blame to her daughter's close friend.
The most cliché plot: the close friend liked the boy Li Li was pursuing and maliciously drugged her intending to ruin her.
Unexpectedly, the former substitute teacher, who had mutual feelings for Li Li, went to discuss something with her, and that's how...
"Then Han Lu Shi was preparing to get his marriage certificate with Li Li. Coincidentally, we went to see Li Li, and he recognized me because he was Hao Hao's comrade-in-arms..."
Mother Li's heart clenched with each word. In the end, hearing he was her eldest grandson's comrade-in-arms, she felt relieved but then worried again:
"Won't Li Li have to live alone for extended periods like Zi Yu?"
Tian Jing quickly reassured her mother-in-law, "Li Li is bringing him into the household. Han Lu Shi is on Li Li's household registration book."
"Li Li needs to focus on her career, and Han Lu Shi needs to be with his team most of the time. They're both in similar situations and have mutual feelings for each other, so let them figure it out themselves."
Mother Li sighed, "I never expected all four children to be tied to military life. Is Li Li's health alright?"
"She seems fine for now," Tian Jing wasn't sure. "I've asked her to stay on the top floor of her company. It's safer there."
"No," Mother Li was worried again. "I'll go take care of her for a few days."
"Mom~" Tian Jing was exasperated by her mother-in-law's incessant worrying. "Aren't Hua Er's twins due? Don't you need to keep an eye on Li Min?"
Mentioning Lin Hua Er's pregnancy, Mother Li's heart was tugged again. "Hua Er is carrying twins, due at the end of July."
"Oh my, I feel like even if I had three heads and six arms, I wouldn't be able to manage everything!"
"I must attend Xiao Bo and Zi Yu's wedding. But Hua Er will be heavily pregnant then and won't be able to attend, so Xiao Fu won't be able to go either."
"Min Min definitely has to go. We can bring Ji Qing and Ji Xiang. Can Xiao Fu take care of Hua Er alone?"
"I'm also worried about Li Li if I don't check on her. Didn't you say she has to write her graduation thesis? Who will cook her three meals a day?"
"Oh dear, if only I could split myself in two to take care of both sides."
"Mom will go with Li Li," Li Zheng Guo made the decision.
"Min Min is grown up. If her own daughter-in-law doesn't look after her, why should Mom be bothered?"
"Xiao Fu has already leased out the shop in Hot Spring Valley, so there's nothing for Mom to manage here. Li Li needs company there."
Tian Jing gave her husband a sidelong glance. "Then why didn't you ask me to stay?"
Li Zheng Guo retorted with a clear conscience, "Didn't you need to come back to manage the nursery? Didn't your workload just increase?"
Tian Jing actually had no grounds to refute this reason.
Mother Li stood up, "I'll start packing my things. Tomorrow is the fifteenth, and I'll leave early the day after."
Watching her mother-in-law's retreating figure, Tian Jing glared at her husband. "Who will send her?"
"Ask Big Brother to send her," Li Zheng Guo had someone in mind. "It's good that Mom is going. Li Li needs to write her thesis and work, so her meals won't be regular."
"If Mom stays there longer, her horizons and inner self will change. She won't be intimidated at Xiao Bo's wedding."
"You!" Tian Jing pointed at him. "You think Mom is too provincial."
"Nonsense," Li Zheng Guo grabbed her hand. "I'm saying Mom should go out and broaden her horizons."
"Besides, Li Li, a young woman living on the same floor as Ouyang Lei and his father, is prone to gossip."
"Sigh!" Tian Jing sighed. "Do you think I haven't considered that? Li Li doesn't want to live on the top floor precisely to avoid that."
"She thinks that once she takes over the company and Ouyang Lei is free, she can move out of the top floor, and then it will be appropriate for her to move in."
"Li Li's future will be like Zi Yu's, living alone for extended periods. Without anyone by her side, it will be very difficult."
"Zi Yu has her own parents. Even if I didn't have the planting task, if I went to accompany Li Li, it would lead to family conflict in the future."
"Zi Yu doesn't care, but what about Hao Hao's wife and Ran Ran's wife?"
"Mom wants to be in two places at once, I want to be in four places at once to be fair."
"All the way here, I've been thinking about who can stay by Li Li's side all year round."
"Mom is the most suitable person right now. Even disregarding the wishes of Big Sister-in-law and Li Min, letting Mom accompany Li Li."
"But Mom going there isn't a long-term solution. As people age, they return to their roots. Over time, Mom will be tired, both physically and mentally."
Li Zheng Guo squeezed her hand. "You and Mom are the same, always worrying about too many things."
"Han Lu Shi is an orphan, so you worry about Li Li not having anyone by her side. If Han Lu Shi had parents, you'd be worrying about how Li Li would get along with her in-laws."
Tian Jing feigned anger, "Are you saying I'm getting old?"
"No, no," Li Zheng Guo quickly explained. "I mean to praise your maternal devotion."
"Actually, the only ones who can wait with Li Li are the three daughters-in-law who have experienced similar situations. Zi Yu can't go, so we can only wait for Hao Hao and Ran Ran."
"You're talking nonsense," Tian Jing pulled her hand away. "Won't it still cause conflict? Not to mention sister-in-law and brother-in-law disputes."
"'Sister-in-law says brother-in-law is back, why isn't brother back?' 'Younger sister-in-law says brother is back, why isn't brother-in-law back?'"
Li Zheng Guo... Dare he repeat his wife's maternal devotion again?