Li Weibo pulled his wife to clear the table.
Daimai stopped him, "Xiaobo, we can handle these things, let Ziyu rest."
Tian Jing also agreed, "Ziyu go rest. Tomorrow you only need to manage, don't personally do the work."
"Mm, thank you, Mother," Li Weibo answered for his wife and took her back to the backyard to rest.
Tian Jing told her daughter and son-in-law to also return to the backyard to rest. They didn't need to worry about household matters; they just needed to rest well for the banquet the day after tomorrow.
After sending off the two young couples, Tian Jing rolled up her sleeves and asked her husband to wash dishes with her:
"Daimai, Xiaomai, you two also go back and rest. Tonight, I plan to invite your parents and aunt to dinner. You two sisters come early to help prepare dinner."
"Xiao Yuan, don't worry about the kitchen tonight. Go back to your room in the backyard. The room from last time is still available."
With Tian Jing's arrangements, everyone "went to their own duties."
Doctor Yang called his "disciples and grandchildren" to go back with him to sort through medicinal herbs.
Zhou Yulin was also taken home by Xiaomai and her husband.
Zeng Jingliang told his brother to adjust his mindset and not scare Jixiang, then took his daughter back to Hot Spring Valley.
In a blink of an eye, the courtyard became quiet. Mother Li sighed, "It's lively with many people, but lonely when they disperse."
Li Zhengguo laughed, "Mother, you're not tired enough."
Mother Li said, "Being tired means the children are home, and I'm happy."
Li Zhengguo pushed Mother Li out, "You should go rest too."
After Mother Li left, Li Zhengguo wouldn't let his wife do anything, "You just watch by the side, or hand me things."
Tian Jing couldn't sit still. She picked up a rag to wipe the table and a broom to sweep the floor.
She even sighed, "When we get older, our role will be just cooking and sweeping."
Li Zhengguo chuckled, "You'll only have a chance to cook and sweep when the children come back. Normally, I'll do it."
Tian Jing glanced at her husband and continued cleaning. Alas! Soon she would follow in her mother-in-law's footsteps.
...
In the afternoon, without Tian Jing calling, Li Min brought her elder sister-in-law.
"Xiaosao, why didn't you call us back when Lushu and Lili returned?"
Li Zhengguo glared at his sister, "This morning we were busy arranging dishes for the day after tomorrow. Lili brought her son-in-law back, and Mother only called her other two sons-in-law."
"We said we'd call you and eldest sister-in-law back tonight, but you've already come before we could invite you."
"We originally asked Daimai and Xiaomai to come back and help with dinner. Since you're here, you can help with the cooking."
Li Min, who was looking for trouble, was thus sent to the kitchen by her younger brother.
When Daimai and Xiaomai arrived to help cook, the kitchen was already cleaned and ingredients were chopped.
Their aunt pointed at them, "We agreed to cook dinner, why aren't you here earlier?"
Daimai and Xiaomai both rolled their eyes at their aunt. They had never seen such a leisurely woman.
Without a mother-in-law to manage her, and her two sisters-in-law at her maiden home not holding grudges, she could come back with her family whenever she pleased. It was unlike them, who had in-laws and a master to consider.
Xiaomai was the most unhappy. Her parents-in-law came back to live with them, and she had no objections. However, living together all the time was incredibly awkward and stifling.
When she returned to her maiden home, she had to inform her mother-in-law, and only after her mother-in-law agreed could she come back, although her mother-in-law had never refused.
The sisters ignored their aunt and began to cook.
Zhou Chengbina did not go back with his wife. While his wife was away, he took the opportunity to talk to his parents:
"Mom, Dad, I'll rent a place for you. Will you move out?"
"Why?"
Mother Zhou was surprised. Did her son dislike them?
Zhou Chengbina held his naughty son in his arms and said to his parents:
"I want to have another child with Xiaomai. Having an extra child in Kushan should be fine, but if I want to take another step forward, it will become a handle."
"I saw so many things when I went to Kyoto... In this life, money and power are not important."
"Money, our family's money is enough. If I leave Kushan, I definitely won't get as high a year-end bonus as I do here."
"Power, even if I get promoted to county magistrate, what then? I'll still have to retire eventually."
"By then, I'll be in my sixties. Looking back, what did I gain? It seems nothing. What did I lose? It seems a lot."
Father and Mother Zhou were shocked by what their son said.
They never expected that Tian Jing, who seemed to have nothing to do every day, was actually incredibly wealthy!
Father Zhou was the first to recover, "Son, what do you mean by all this?"
Zhou Chengbina said, "I don't plan to get promoted anymore."
Seeing his mother's expression change, he explained, "Before I told you this, I had already spoken to my cousin-in-law."
"Cousin-in-law agreed with my choice. He said the position of county magistrate doesn't need to be held onto so tightly, and Mayor Li doesn't plan to get promoted either."
"I also talked to Mayor Li. Mayor Li said if he retires from his position as mayor, he'll just be an ordinary worker."
"He's not even willing to take on the position of village secretary anymore. I plan to take on the position of village secretary after my term is up."
"This is my future plan for having a second child."
"Mom and Dad, you've been living here for quite some time. You can compare the prosperity of Kushan."
"If I leave here, no matter how high a position I reach, I won't get much salary or bonus, unless I take bribes."
"In the past half month, I've thought a lot. I've also analyzed my abilities and future."
"I think the only things I can firmly grasp in this life are family and money. As for power, I'm content with just this small area of Kushan."
Father Zhou remained silent for a long time, then nodded, "Your future is yours to decide."
"I agree to move out with your mother. Every morning, bring Yulin to us."
"Okay." Zhou Chengbina smiled, the most genuine smile he had in two years.
"Do you prefer living in a Western-style house or an old courtyard?"
"An old courtyard," Father Zhou said. "An old courtyard is small, so it won't be too tiring for your mother to clean."
"Okay."
...
At dinner, everyone in the Li family could tell Zhou Chengbina was in a good mood.
Xiaomai was also somewhat baffled because her husband was treating her as fondly as when they were first dating.
After dinner, while clearing the table and washing dishes, Zhou Chengbina drove everyone away. He stayed with his wife to wash dishes.
"Xiaomai, I've thought it through. I don't plan to leave. I'll grow old and die in Kushan my whole life."
"I don't have Aunt's unfathomable methods and abilities, nor do I have Uncle's calmness and foresight."
"I don't want to pursue something only to find out I've lost you in the end."
"I want to have another child with you. Regardless of whether it's a boy or a girl, it will bring some change to my parents and Yulin."
"I've already spoken with my parents. Once I rent them an old courtyard, they'll move out."
"Every morning, you take Yulin to them, and I'll pick him up after work."
"Living separately like this is good for everyone, and it won't wear down our relationship."
Xiaomai was so shocked she almost dropped the bowl in her hand. "You don't want to be county magistrate anymore?"
"No," Zhou Chengbina shook his head. "How high is Aunt's position? How much money does Aunt have?"
"In the end, what she wants is still a home, isn't it? If I still can't understand that her showing us everything in Kyoto was a warning to me, then I don't even deserve to be the village chief."
"Xiaomai, I'm sorry. It's not too late for me to wake up, is it?"
Xiaomai's eyes welled up. She never expected her aunt to help her so silently. "Yes."
Zhou Chengbina wiped his hands on his clothes, grabbed a tissue, and wiped his wife's tears. "Wife, let's have another child, okay?"
"Okay," Xiaomai's tears fell.
Zhou Chengbina embraced her. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
Xiaomai cried with a smile. She too was a happy member of the Li family.