Chapter 559: Chose a Wife Good at Bickering

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Sister Li Xia Yue recovered very smoothly; she only stayed in the hospital for three days before packing up and preparing for discharge.

Mother-in-law Yang Yang Huaihua had finished packing and hesitantly asked Li Xia Yue: "Xiao Xia Yue, after we leave the hospital, will you and the baby return home to rest after childbirth, or stay at Zaojunmiao with your parents?"

Li Xia Yue looked at her clearly uneasy mother-in-law and smiled: "Mom, how about I go back home first? After staying there a while, I'll move to my parents' place."

"But once I'm back, you can't ignore the fast-food shop anymore—during the day, let Grandma watch the baby, and at night, Yang Yumin can handle it."

"Oh, alright, let's go home!"

Yang Yang Huaihua, who had been breathing shallowly just moments before, immediately gave a crisp, enthusiastic reply, carefully wrapping Xiao Dun'er in blankets and holding her beloved grandson tightly.

During these hospital days, visitors to Li Xia Yue never stopped—Auntie Li Li Mingyue, Auntie Li Li Mingxiang, the Hong Kong businesswoman, Fu Fu Yiruo, Li Juan, Zhao Zhao Meiwen, and a whole group of women and girls kept cuddling Xiao Dun'er nonstop; Yang Yang Huaihua had to wait in line just to hold her own grandson.

Li Juan and her cousin Zhao Zhao Meiwen, who came to pick up Li Xia Yue, found it strange—Li Xia Yue had always insisted on resting at Zaojunmiao after childbirth, even quarreling several times with Wu Wu Juying over it—why the sudden change of heart?

Although Yang Yang Huaihua was an independent entrepreneur who believed "if you want to work, work; if not, rest," she was actually less free than a factory worker with a clock-in schedule.

Grandfather Li Li Zhongfa called out to Cui Ruan Zhisheng and said calmly: "You've climbed up from the countryside—you know some things shouldn't be spoken of until the very last moment."

"We can't help Little Ye with his affairs, so we have no right to cause him trouble."

And that was secondary—mainly, neither Yang Yang Huaihua nor Yang Yang Yumin were "idle people."

Was Li Ye a cold-hearted person?

"Ruan Zhisheng…"

Xia Xia Yue studied at a normal college, with the shortest program being two years—she had indeed graduated this year.

But the key was Cui Ruan Zhisheng didn't treat himself as an outsider—for instance, regarding Cui Aiguo's job transfer, he and Aunt Li Li Mingyue thought Yang Yang Yumin could lend a hand, offer some help, and put in some effort.

Go ahead and argue—you're still a bachelor, no matter how you argue.

When the family sat down for dinner that evening, Uncle Cui Ruan Zhisheng suddenly asked Li Kaibian: "Kaibian, now that you have an external grandson, are you finally hopeful about your own biological grandson?"

Li Ye whispered to Li Ying: "Watch closely—Auntie picked out a daughter-in-law who's good at bickering; things are going to get lively."

"My xx is dating the daughter of some high-ranking official—when that happens, you come to me for favors, no problem."

Logically, this secret couldn't be kept much longer.

Li Li Zhongfa's remarks sounded mild, but his final sentence was crystal clear: since you can't help, you have no right to take advantage—just stay out of the way.

Moreover, whenever Li Ye returned home on leave, Jiang Hong's "amateur renovation team" would fix up his house—installing air conditioners, tiles, wallpaper—all the upgrades—so his living conditions were already nearly on par with ordinary homes decades later.

Li Ye bought the Zaojunmiao courtyard with a "no money worries" approach, while Yang Yang Yumin, when purchasing his Zhongguancun house, was strapped for cash and too proud to use others' money, so he ended up with a mediocre courtyard.

Li Ying paused, then narrowed her eyes and said: "No problem—I'll help you fight her too, along with my sister."

Zhongguancun's conditions were certainly worse than Zaojunmiao's.

Seven days after Xiao Dun'er's birth, following Qingshui County custom, the maternal family came to deliver "Zhu Mi"—so Grandfather Li Li Zhongfa brought another group of relatives from home to Beijing and threw a lively banquet.

Aunt Li Li Mingyue nodded: "Yes, yes—that's Xia Xia Yue! Wait, Li Ye, do you know her? I've never heard her mention you."

Don't you dare ruin my grandson!

It's no surprise—how many college graduates were there in the county? If Cui Aiguo wanted to marry a female college student, his options were extremely limited.

As for Li Ye and Wen Wen Leyu's relationship, the Li family kept it tightly sealed, unlike many who, the moment they touched a powerful connection, shouted it to the world before even a single word was exchanged.

So Li Xia Yue's decision to assign Wu Wu Juying to work daytime shifts at Zhongguancun, helping her care for the baby, caught most people off guard.

But Li Li Zhongfa also knew well that his grandson wasn't a forgiving man—if you'd ever looked down on him before, don't expect him to ever forgive you.

Li Kaibian was enjoying his drink when his brother-in-law asked this—he laughed: "Why rush? Little Ye hasn't even graduated yet! It'll take at least three or four years!"

The problem was, even if the aunts were tolerable, those other young people had no idea how to care for a baby—they were clumsy, treating Xiao Dun'er like a toy.

Individual entrepreneurs in catering, transportation, and sales had virtually no days off—even if it rained knives, they'd worry: "If I don't open, what if a customer comes?"

But as living standards rose generally from the 1980s onward, people increasingly chose to rest after childbirth wherever conditions were better and more comfortable.

Don't believe those freelancers bragging about their freedom—they're anxious 365 days a year, and only they know it.

Everyone at the table froze for a moment, all eyes turning to Aunt Li Li Mingyue.

Even Aunt Li Li Mingxiang, before her daughter came to Beijing for school, had no idea Li Ye and Wen Wen Leyu had reached the point of being inseparable—missing each other for a day felt like three autumns.

Your parents don't have much surplus grain either—your baby bears your husband's surname; better to rest at your in-laws' place.

Li Li Mingyue spoke with glowing pride—her meaning was clear: you said my Aiguo was ugly? Well, I beat you to it—I got a beautiful daughter-in-law first; by the time Little Ye marries, my grandson will be old enough to fetch soy sauce.

Grandmother Yang Yang Huaihua paced anxiously, too afraid to speak up.

In truth, customs on where to rest after childbirth varied by region—in some conservative places, women were required to rest at the in-laws' home.

This brother-in-law was a power-seeker—climbing every pole, squeezing into every crack; when Li Xia Yue got married, he came over just to build connections.

But little sister Li Ying noticed something odd and slipped away to ask Li Ye: "What's wrong, Brother? Is there something strange about Xia Xia Yue?"

And Yang Yang Huaihua naturally understood this was her daughter-in-law catering to her wishes—her gaze at Li Xia Yue showed she was utterly delighted with her.

"Sister, aren't you going back to Zaojunmiao to rest after childbirth?"

If they found out Li Ye had climbed onto a high branch, who knew what demands they'd come up with?

Especially this year, with Cui Aiguo's job transfer, Li Li Zhongfa even helped arrange it—making Cui Ruan Zhisheng and his wife believe relatives were relatives, bound by blood, obligated to help.

So Yang Yang Huaihua absolutely did not want Li Xia Yue returning to her parents' home to rest—she hadn't even had enough time to enjoy her beloved grandson yet!

"The girl is beautiful, knows how to handle things, a top graduate from Qufu Normal, teaching at County No. 2 High School."

He certainly wasn't—just look how he helped Fu Fu Yiruo, Li Juan, Zhao Zhao Meiwen—they all got major help.

"Exactly! We were planning to come help you watch the baby!"

"Three or four years?" Cui Ruan Zhisheng looked meaningfully at Li Kaibian: "So you already have something lined up?"

"I heard from your sister that Wen's girl hasn't come to visit Xiao Xia Yue these days—I thought Little Ye still hadn't settled anything."

"Go on, you don't understand—stay at the in-laws' first, then the maternal family sends rice—that's the rule!"

Cui Ruan Zhisheng's face turned red.

If someone was nearly thirty and still unmarried, people would say: "Oh, why are you still picky? Look at me—I've got a grandson about to start elementary school."

"Oh Dad, don't get the wrong idea,"

Li Juan rolled her eyes at her sister and added: "Brother, I'll help you too!"

Yang Yang Yumin, of course, was a key reserve cadre at his unit—he couldn't let personal matters disrupt his work for long.

But what she didn't guess was that when Li Xia Yue said "stay with my parents," she didn't mean Zaojunmiao—she was a channel manager for Pengcheng Seventh Factory, working nationwide; staying a few days at her mother's place in Pengcheng was perfectly reasonable, right?

Li Li Mingyue lifted her chin and smiled: "My Aiguo met a girl this summer through an introduction—

But the Li family never revealed anything about Li Ye and Wen Wen Leyu to outsiders.

But Li Ye asked in surprise: "Qufu Normal graduate? Teaching at County No. 2 High School? You don't mean Xia Xia Yue, do you?"

Seeing her husband blush, Aunt Li Li Mingyue quickly said: "We're not trying to cause trouble!"

"We just meant—if Little Ye doesn't hurry up, Ruan Zhisheng might become a grandfather before Kaibian does!"

Housewives loved boasting about their sons and grandsons most—because no one could argue back.

Li Ye smiled and said nothing more.

So many people in Qingshui County spread the rumor that Miss Ke's daughter, after returning to Beijing, had long since distanced herself from Li Ye—mere acquaintances at best.

Li Kaibian pursed his lips and looked at Cui Ruan Zhisheng.

"Heh, I'm not too familiar with classmates from No. 2 High."

Li Ye waved his hand: "No need—Grandma will take good care of her."

Xia Xia Yue's tangled history with Li Ye might be unknown to Auntie, but Grandma certainly hadn't forgotten.

(End of Chapter)