The chickens and rabbits were led away. Li Wanzhen held the bank card with over a hundred thousand yuan, still finding it hard to believe that the matter that had worried her for a month had been resolved so perfectly.
Ouyang Meihua playfully nudged her, "Are you going to stay at ease now and wait to give birth? Didn't I tell you? With your aunt here, there's nothing to worry about?"
Li Wanzhen thanked her family, "Thank you, Auntie. Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Father."
"Mother and Father, you've worked hard. This money, we'll each take one-third."
Ouyang Meihua nodded, "I'll accept it, but I'll spend it on my grandson."
Li Liguo felt the same.
Li Wanzhen held the bank card, unsure what to do.
Li Weiyan told her to accept it with peace of mind.
...
On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, Li Siyu's baby was born.
The name, of course, wasn't chosen by his grandmother. His mother had thought of a few characters first, and his father casually picked one, and his name was decided.
Ouyang Meihua held her grandson, smiling like a blooming flower, "Indeed, names chosen by young people sound good. The pronunciation is pleasant, and the meaning is also good."
...
Li Family King Kong couldn't come back for the New Year this year. Because Li Family King Kong had taken too many leaves of absence, Captain Zeng no longer granted him leave.
Tian Jing called Ziyu, asking her to spend the New Year with her parents this year.
She then called Lili, saying that her uncle and father-in-law would drive to Kyoto to pick them up.
With everything arranged, Tian Jing peaceably made dumplings with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
Ouyang Meihua didn't have time to help this year. Tian Jing and Li Min had started preparing for the New Year goods two months in advance.
Li Min, while making dumplings, teased Xuanxuan, who was pinching dough beside her, "Xuanxuan, you have a new younger brother. Do you like him?"
Xuanxuan, diligently pinching dough, didn't look up. "I like him."
Mother Li glared at her daughter, "Your sister-in-law is happy. Don't talk nonsense. You like girls. Can't you ask Hua'er to have another one?"
Li Min immediately shook her head, "I can't handle so many. If she has another boy, Xiao Fu and his wife will be busy for a lifetime."
On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Li Liguo and Chen Suozhu picked up Lili and her two children. They also brought a delicate guest.
Mother Li happily welcomed the delicate guest into the living room, "Xiaojie, quickly, come in and rest."
Chen An placed the suitcase by the living room door, "How is it? I told you that coming back with me wouldn't mean staying at my place, right?"
Hou Xiaojie glanced at Chen An with slight embarrassment.
Mother Li waved to her younger grandson, "You, go to the backyard quickly and tidy up a room for Xiaojie."
After her grandson left, Mother Li comforted Hou Xiaojie, "Call your parents and let them know you're safe so they don't worry."
Hou Xiaojie nodded, "I'll call later."
Since Hou Xiaojie was willing to visit, Mother Li had many questions, "When do your parents have time to come and see? When will An'an go to your house? Can you have the wedding banquet after the New Year? What do your parents plan? Will you have separate banquets or one here?"
Hou Xiaojie...
Li Min quickly intervened, "Mother, all matters can only be discussed after An'an visits Xiaojie's home."
Mother Li smiled, "I'm just eager. Alright, I won't rush. Xiaojie and An'an can decide for themselves."
After sitting for a while, Chen An came to carry the suitcase and take Hou Xiaojie to settle in.
Only then did Mother Li glance sideways at her daughter, "You're not rushing An'an. If Xiaoyu and Ranran get ahead of them, don't blame me."
"I understand."
Li Min sat beside her mother, "We haven't been to Xiaojie's home yet."
"Xiaojie's home is too far. Arranging their matters will definitely take time. If they truly want to get married, they'll be more anxious than us."
Mother Li nodded, "Alright, you and Suozhu can handle it."
Holding her daughter, Li Weili saw that her aunt and grandmother had finished talking, and she spoke up, "At last year's company year-end employee meeting, An'an won the special grand prize."
Li Min turned, "Last year?"
Li Weili nodded, "Yes, last year, at the end of December."
"What was the prize for the special grand prize?"
"A suite of 90 square meters, with two bedrooms, two living rooms, one kitchen, and one bathroom."
"Ah?"
Li Min became excited, "Why didn't An'an say anything?"
"Slap!"
Mother Li slapped her daughter's back, "What are you shouting for? You scared Xuanxuan. It's obvious Lili gave it as a gift. Does An'an have the nerve to show off?"
Uh...
Li Min froze, "Lili?"
Li Weili smiled brightly, "Even though An'an and Xiaoyu are usually mischievous, they both work very hard. They put in their best efforts to help me, so this benefit is well-deserved."
"Lili."
Li Min said solemnly, "Thank you, Auntie. Without you pushing him and Xiaoyu, they might not have been willing to work so hard."
Li Weili shook her head, "Auntie, we are family."
Li Min's face immediately turned into a smile, with a fawning expression, "We're family, so there are no strangers between us. Then why did you only give a two-bedroom apartment?"
Mother Li raised her hand to hit her daughter.
Li Weili reached out and held her grandmother's arm, "Xiaojie's home is not only far away but also in a poor condition. A smaller room is better."
"Later, Xiaoyu's will be the same. When you visit, you'll all stay on the top floor of the company. You don't need to squeeze into their place. Their small family needs 90 square meters, which is enough."
"Alright."
Li Min nodded, "When they have a child, they can bring them back."
Mother Li pointed outside, "Go to the kitchen and cook."
Li Min ran off.
Mother Li chided her granddaughter, "Don't spoil them."
"It's fine."
Li Weili smiled, "Do you really want Auntie to spend money to buy An'an a house? If not for Auntie's sake, then for Uncle's lifelong genuine affection for Auntie."
...
In the kitchen, Li Min happily whispered beside her sister-in-law.
Tian Jing looked at her sister-in-law speechlessly, "A whole apartment bought you over?"
"Ah?"
Li Min was stunned, "Shouldn't I be happy?"
Tian Jing shook her head helplessly, "I mean, An'an got an apartment but didn't mention it. He definitely knows what he's doing. These are matters between siblings. Don't interfere."
Li Min nodded, "I just feel a lot lighter on my shoulders."
...
Ouyang Meihua's family of three and Chen Fu's family of six all returned for dinner.
Hou Xiaojie was also acquainted with them, so she wasn't too nervous. However, when facing County Magistrate Li, she was so nervous she could barely speak.
County Magistrate Li's official aura was growing stronger. Tian Jing gently patted County Magistrate Li's arm. County Magistrate Li restrained his demeanor and smiled, "Welcome, Xiaojie."
Hou Xiaojie's nervousness eased a lot, "County Magistrate Li..."
Chen An tugged at her sleeve, "Call him Little Uncle."
Hou Xiaojie changed her address, "Little Uncle, I chose to come during the New Year. I hope I haven't disturbed you and everyone."
"No, no."
Mother Li's voice was quicker than her younger son's, "Sit down, sit down. Sit down and eat."
Her younger son was too busy before the New Year, returning home only after dark. When he returned home, he unconsciously carried an official aura. They were all used to it.
After dinner, Chen An took Hou Xiaojie, who wanted to help clear the table, to see the night view of the village.
Mother Li asked her younger son when he would have a holiday.
Li Zhengguo rubbed his temples, "Lunar New Year's Eve, which is the day after tomorrow."
Tian Jing casually asked, "What are you busy with?"
There was nothing that couldn't be said about what he was busy with. County Magistrate Li directly told his wife, "After the villages of Zhangshan and Zhonghe were vacated, some villagers regretted choosing houses in the county town and went to the county government every day to complain."
"The land in the southern part of the city that Aodu Group bought. The villages that sold the land are also causing trouble, all demanding more money from Aodu Group for the land."
"A contract signed in black and white, how can they regret it just because they want to?"
Tian Jing frowned. How come it was all Aodu Group? She wouldn't believe that Aodu Group wasn't being targeted.