Chapter 616: Moving House

Sunday, seven in the morning.

The young people, exhausted from a week of work, were still enjoying the caress of the God of Bedding, while the retired old men and women had already begun cooking and morning exercises.

Two light trucks pulled up nimbly to the entrance of the Zaojunmiao courtyard. Li Ye got out of the vehicle with Jiang Hong, Ma Qianshan, Tan Min, Wang Qiangdong, and Wei Jiaxian, and they began moving things out of the courtyard.

"Slow down, slow down! There's still stuff inside, it's heavy. Carry it slowly, don't rush. Uncle Jiang, if you all get tired, take a break in the middle."

"You don't need to move this furniture; just move the set in the study."

Wen Leyu and her two younger sisters, Fu Yiruo and Li Juan, had also arrived early to prepare, busy running back and forth to help their brother move.

In the past, Wen Leyu didn't really interact with Li Ye's fellow villagers, but today she was busy running around greeting everyone, calling out "Uncle Jiang" with every breath, as if she had already cast herself into the role of the "little daughter-in-law of the Li family."

Li Ye and Wen Leyu's wedding date was already approaching. Although Wen Leyu had long since chosen the furniture and appliances for their new home, the desk, chairs, and bookcase that Li Ye was accustomed to using, along with the bedding and clothes already prepared at home, still had to be moved to the new house on Fuyoujie.

Because there wasn't much to move, Jiang Hong and the others finished quickly. Wang Qiangdong, who came from the transport department, used ropes to "tie up" the items securely, then proceeded toward Fuyoujie at a turtle's pace of twenty miles per hour.

The current Wang Qiangdong was no longer the person he was when he first arrived. Back then, when he looked at the old things in Li Ye's house, he felt they were about the same as looking at junk.

But now, he knew very well that Li Ye's aged pear-wood desk was actually worth over a thousand yuan. If he accidentally chipped it on the road, it would ruin his reputation as a transport soldier.

After Jiang Hong and the others left, Li Ye, Wen Leyu, and the others tidied up a bit before locking the door and leaving. They were definitely faster in the small car and wouldn't delay Uncle Jiang and the others in unloading.

His younger sister Li Juan scrambled to lock the door and then handed the key to the Zaojunmiao house to Li Ye.

"Brother, here's the key."

Li Ye looked at her in surprise and asked, "Why are you giving me the key? Isn't this your key?"

There were several keys to the Zaojunmiao gate; Li Ye had one, Wen Leyu had one, his older sister Li Yue had one, and of course, his younger sisters Li Juan and Fu Yiruo had them too.

But Li Juan said sheepishly, "Brother, you've moved out. It wouldn't be proper for me to keep the key."

"..."

If her brother were at home, then her coming over to stay for a few days would count as "mooching a meal," but if her brother wasn't home, what would her coming over count as?

Li Juan had grown up amidst cold glares. Although Li Ye truly treated her like his own younger sister, she had her own sense of propriety in her heart.

Moreover, there was still a lot of "junk" in the Zaojunmiao home.

This junk had been collected for Li Ye over the years by Old Song and Wei Jiaxian, one after another—mutton-fat jade pendants, imperial green bracelets, and so on. At first, Li Juan only knew they were colorful and pretty, but now that she knew their hidden value, how could she not avoid suspicion?

Actually, Li Juan had been quite conflicted these past few days.

For the past year, her little life has been quite pleasant. Li Ye bought her a bicycle, and it only takes ten minutes to ride from school to Zaojunmiao. Watching TV and drinking soda are nothing; Li Juan is mainly obsessed with that private bathroom.

But in the blink of an eye, her brother was actually getting married.

And when the family was making quilts for Li Ye, a small incident occurred that left a knot in Li Juan's heart.

According to the traditions of Qinghe County, the bride's side mainly prepares the bedding, but the groom's side must also prepare a few quilts, because "quilt" (bei) sounds like "carrying" (bei), implying they are coming to "carry a son" for the family.

When making quilts, it requires a "proper" daughter-in-law who has both a son and a daughter to thread the needle.

And Li Juan's mother, Han Chunmei, did not meet this standard, so Li Juan also felt a trace of inferiority in her heart.

However, after Li Juan finished speaking, she received a slap on the head from Li Ye, followed by a sound scolding.

"Who told you these stinky rules? I'm just moving some things away; does that mean this isn't my home anymore?

If this weren't my home, how could it serve as your maiden home? How could it back you up? Feel free to come over to watch TV and drink soda whenever you want; no one dares to gossip."

"..."

Li Juan's smile became even more awkward, but her heart felt warm and comfortable.

Wen Leyu also saw Li Juan's expression, straightened her face, walked over, and scolded her with the air of an "eldest sister-in-law": "Your brother is asking you a question! Did you hear what he just said? Did you remember it?"

Li Juan's eyes turned red, she lowered her head silently, and answered obediently in a voice like a mosquito's hum: "I heard you, Brother; I heard you, Sister-in-law. I will treat this as my maiden home from now on."

Sometimes, people who have suffered for a long time are a bit unaccustomed to suddenly tasting sweetness.

Wen Leyu was driving, and halfway there, she overtook Wang Qiangdong and the others, making Li Juan feel both envious and yearning.

"Sister-in-law, you drive really well, just like Sister Li Yue—fast and steady."

Most female drivers these days drove buses; very few drove small cars. Now that the Li family had two female drivers, it would be a lie to say Li Juan had no expectations.

Especially since Li Ye had already promised to let the youngest sister, Li Ying, learn to drive later, Li Juan had even more ideas.

Wen Leyu said while driving: "It's only because the family has this car now; otherwise, I wouldn't have let your brother move. I originally thought he worked here on Chang'an Street, but now he's gone to Haidian. It would have been more convenient to work if he lived in Zaojunmiao."

Li Ye smiled and said: "If we lived in Zaojunmiao, it would be closer for me to work, but wouldn't it be further for you to work and go back to your maiden home? Living on Fuyoujie is just right in the middle; it's convenient to go to both sides."

The house on Fuyoujie was between Wen Leyu's home and Haidian, but it was actually closer to Wen Leyu's home—only a ten-minute drive.

Wen Leyu sighed softly: "You are always like this, making things convenient for others while troubling yourself."

"Hee hee, Sister-in-law, this is my brother doting on you! I have to say, my brother and you are truly a perfect match."

"..."

Younger sister Li Juan watched silently as Fu Yiruo called Li Ye "Brother" this and "Brother" that, always feeling a bit awkward.

For over a year now, Li Juan has long been accustomed to this international student from Nanyang. She follows Pei Wenhui in calling Li Ye "Brother," but Pei Wenhui only calls him "Brother" because she is dating Li Dayong. Why are you tagging along and getting involved?

Wen Leyu turned her head slightly, looked at the rearview mirror in the front row of the driver's cab, and noticed Li Juan's strangeness.

Of course, Fu Yiruo was also a bit strange today, and Wen Leyu could guess the reason for her strangeness more or less.

Li Ye was about to get married, and Hearing Fu Guiru had indicated she would not appear in public, so when the groom's parents greeted guests at the scene, Han Chunmei would take Hearing Fu Guiru's place.

Adults' thoughts are different from children's. Fu Yiruo was only nineteen this year; how could she hold back if she had an opinion? Wasn't she just giving Li Ye a hard time?

Wen Leyu's heart was full of Li Ye, and she couldn't help but sigh softly.

【When we get married, please don't let anything go wrong! Otherwise, wouldn't Li Ye be worried to death?】 ===== CHAPTER 617 =====