"Hi!" Zeng Jingchu greeted the man and woman at the door. "Lili, Lili's boyfriend, hello."
Zeng Jingchu's voice brought Li Weili back to her senses. "Why are you tied up?"
"He was bitten by a mad dog and is now afraid of light and water."
A woman's voice answered for Zeng Jingchu.
Li Weili and Han Lushi turned. Standing at the second gate were a beautiful woman and a young man.
"Mom, Second Brother."
"Mom, Second Brother."
Li Weili and Han Lushi called out in unison.
Tian Jing nodded. "You're back, go into the living room and rest."
As Li Weili turned, Zeng Jingchu saw her slightly protruding belly.
Lili is pregnant?
"Lili's boyfriend, stop!" Zeng Jingchu shouted at Han Lushi.
Han Lushi looked at Tian Jing, waiting for her instructions.
Tian Jing walked out of the second gate and reached Zeng Jingchu's door in a few steps. "If you make any more trouble, I'll cut out your tongue."
"No, Tiantian," Zeng Jingchu said aggrievedly, "Lili is pregnant, her boyfriend should be taught a lesson."
Tian Jing crossed her arms and looked at him. "Has anyone taught you a lesson from Yulia's side?"
Zeng Jingchu froze, remembering how that woman had gone into hiding with him to give birth to the child...
Seeing Zeng Jingchu lost in thought, Tian Jing waved at Han Lushi.
Han Lushi helped Li Weili into the second gate.
Yuanyuan shook off her father's hand and ran to Tian Jing. "Auntie."
"Hey!" Tian Jing responded, squatting down. "Come, Auntie will hug you."
Yuanyuan waved her hand and retreated. "I, I'm very heavy, even Lili can't hug me anymore."
Tian Jing looked at her bandaged hand. "Injured?"
Yuanyuan nodded. "Just a small injury. Mom says she had hundreds of such injuries when she was a child."
Tian Jing beckoned her. "Your Lili has a baby, so she can't hug you."
"Don't talk about your weight, even if it were two of you, Auntie could still carry you. Come here, Auntie will hug you."
Yuanyuan then happily threw herself into Tian Jing's arms.
After Tian Jing picked her up, she asked, "Auntie, am I very heavy? Lili's husband said I'm over fifty pounds, and my mom also says I'm a bit fat. My dad says I'm just right."
Tian Jing pinched her chubby little face. "You're fine now. If you're still this chubby after the age of ten, then eat a little less."
"Okay." Yuanyuan's eyes crinkled with a smile.
The aunt and niece entered the second courtyard. Li Weibo followed his mother and left, unable to bear his uncle any longer.
Zeng Jingliang glanced at his brother, who was still in a daze, and sighed softly. Unrequited love is very painful.
...
In the living room, Han Lushi asked Li Weili to sit on the sofa, put down his handbag, and then waited for Tian Jing.
After Tian Jing entered with Yuanyuan, she told Han Lushi, "You'll be staying in the backyard. You can use the bathroom, but you can't shower. The water heater hasn't been installed yet."
"The rooms are all tidied up, and the bedding is in the wardrobe."
Tian Jing said to her second son behind her, "Xiao Bo, show Lushi to his room."
Li Weibo led Han Lushi out of the living room.
Tian Jing placed Yuanyuan next to her and then examined her daughter.
"You look energetic. How is Lushi? Has he learned to take care of you?"
Li Weili smiled and nodded. "He's been caring and attentive, and he's even learned to cook. I can't teach him stews, though."
"But he learned some things from Grandma. The appearance is similar, but the taste isn't. Still, it's quite delicious."
Tian Jing lightly pointed at her daughter. "A family is for two people. You can't just expect him to make all the effort."
"If he's willing to do things for you, you should do some things for him too. Even small things can be touching."
"One-sided effort is tiring and leads to exhaustion and boredom."
Li Weili nodded repeatedly. A son-in-law is half a son, and her mother was protecting half a son. She just had to listen.
...
On the first floor, Mother Li fed the wild chickens and rabbits and then brought up a basket of vegetables. She saw Han Lushi and Li Weibo moving luggage.
She exclaimed in surprise, "Lushi? Lushi, you're back? Where's Lili?"
Han Lushi put down his suitcase. "Grandma, we just arrived. Lili is talking with Mom in the living room."
Mother Li nodded, then suddenly felt something was wrong. "Huh? When did you leave? How did you arrive this morning?"
Han Lushi said, "We left Kyoto yesterday morning and stayed out one night yesterday."
Mother Li nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, that's good. It's not tiring to drive or travel like that. Aren't you disappointed with our humble village?"
"Grandma, you're too modest." Han Lushi said, "I was shocked. I've never seen such a rural area, so lively with so many people and cars."
"Hahaha." Mother Li laughed heartily. "This is peak tourist season. After November, you won't see many people or cars."
"You unpack your luggage. I'll go catch a wild chicken."
Saying that, Mother Li put down the vegetable basket and went down the stairs.
Soon, she brought up two wild chickens and carried the basket to the second courtyard.
"Lili, Grandma will kill a chicken and stew it for soup for you."
Li Weili got up and walked out of the living room. "Grandma, let me help you."
Mother Li refused. "No need, you rest."
"I'm not tired," Li Weili said, walking to Mother Li's side. "We stayed about two hundred kilometers away last night and only drove for a little over two hours today."
Mother Li looked at her granddaughter's slightly protruding belly. "How is it? Is it causing trouble?"
Li Weili shook her head. "No trouble, it's being very good."
Li Weibo, returning from the backyard, saw his sister going into the kitchen with Grandma and hurried after her.
"Lili, Lushi asked you to rest well. He said he'd come to help later."
Li Weili pouted. "He tied me up to death, and back home, you guys are still helping him."
Mother Li chided, "Don't be ungrateful when you have the blessing. Lushi is concerned about you. Alright, you just watch in the kitchen."
"Xiao Bo, you help me."
"Okay, I'll kill the chicken."
Li Weibo took the two wild chickens from Mother Li's hands, put them under a basket by the kitchen door, and then boiled water in the kitchen.
Seeing Mother Li picking vegetables, Li Weili reached out to help.
Mother Li was about to push her granddaughter's hand away when she heard her say,
"Grandma, there will be many pregnant women in this family in the future. If you don't let me do things, what about the daughters-in-law of the Li family? Will they do things?"
"If their husbands are not home, shouldn't you treat them even better?"
"If you can't be fair, then don't try. Put the bowl on the table; it can tilt and spill as it may."
Mother Li was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "You're right. We shouldn't show our affection for you on the surface, it can lead to comparisons."
Li Weili smiled and nodded. "Grandma is wise. Just secretly dote on me."
"You mischievous girl." Mother Li lightly poked her granddaughter. "Alright, you can pick these vegetables. I'll go dig out some jarred meat."
"Okay, okay, dig out more. I want to eat steamed pork and stir-fried jarred meat with green peppers."
Saying that, Li Weili couldn't help but swallow her saliva.
Mother Li chided, "It's spicy and salty, not suitable for you."
Li Weili shook her head. "No, no, it's very suitable for me. If you make it, I'll eat two bowls of rice for you."
Mother Li was just teasing her. Pregnant women only need good appetite. As for dietary restrictions, don't be too strict.
Especially in the hot summer, being able to eat is a good thing.
So, she dug out eight pieces of jarred meat, planning to steam two large bowls of pork and stir-fry two large plates of pork with green peppers.