Chapter 343

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan truly did not expect that this woman, after waking up from a brush with death, would ask this as her very first question.

The youth walked out of the room, and Grandma Yao was waiting at the end of the corridor; Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan walked over.

"Little Prince Consort, please."

Grandma Yao made a gesture of invitation toward her side.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan walked in; inside there was only one table, and on the table were two cold dishes, three hot dishes, plus a winter melon soup, accompanied by a set of bowl and chopsticks.

In such a rush, it was impossible to prepare a grand banquet, so these were all home-cooked dishes, very clean, and deliberately plated.

Grandma Yao did not enter and left directly.

This meant she intended for the youth to eat alone.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had said before that he would feel uncomfortable if things were too formal, but Grandma Yao truly could not imagine the scene of her taking her family to eat with the Little Prince Consort; she could not appear informal according to the Little Prince Consort's request.

The current situation was, in a way, a method that wasn't really a method.

Grandma Yao's family was eating in another room, and Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan even heard Grandma Yao's two grandsons asking why they had to change places to eat today; Grandma Yao ignored them, only continuously instructing the two grandsons on the matters they needed to pay attention to later.

Yao Nian'en only focused on shoveling rice into his mouth.

His wife couldn't help but ask if that youth had a major background.

Yao Nian'en reached out to poke his wife.

The wife retorted, asking why he was poking her.

Grandma Yao said, "Ever since you entered this family, although I haven't let you live a life of great wealth and nobility, I haven't let you truly toil, nor have I let you struggle for money."

She stopped halfway through her sentence, and the rest didn't need to be said; the wife obediently lowered her head to eat.

The money for her younger brother's schooling and the gifts for pulling strings to find a job back then, including the money for her parents' medical treatment, were all things her mother-in-law had taken the initiative to cover; in this family, as long as her mother-in-law put on a stern Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face, she truly lacked the courage to look her in the eye.

But Grandma Yao knew that her past life had relied on the Young Lady, and that her son could live healthily until now and even give her two grandsons was also thanks to the Young Lady.

While Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan was still eating, Grandma Yao was already waiting in the corridor with her two grandsons.

The two grandsons hadn't even finished eating before they were taken away from the table by their grandmother, but they had always been obedient in front of her, so the two boys didn't dare to grumble in dissatisfaction.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan did not like such formalities, but the old woman had received kindness from Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei and wanted to express it in this way, and even more so wanted to use this to reminisce; if he didn't cooperate, it would only make the old woman feel incomparably regretful.

The youth finished eating and set down his chopsticks with a slight force.

Hearing this movement, Grandma Yao walked slowly to the doorway:

"Little Prince Consort, may I bring my two little ones to kowtow to you?"

"Then let's meet formally."

The two grandsons were beckoned and led inside.

Grandma Yao's hands pressed on the back of her two grandsons' necks, signaling them to kneel and pay their respects, but before their bodies could go down, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took the initiative to leave his seat, walked in front of them, and asked what grade they were in and how their final exam results were.

This instead made it impossible for Grandma Yao to let the children kneel down.

The two children were not shy, mainly because Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan was not much older than them, and they both answered with smiles.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "You must study hard."

Grandma Yao: "These two boys are quite mischievous, but when it comes to their studies, their parents really don't need to worry."

Speaking of this, Grandma Yao couldn't quite suppress the corners of her mouth.

The family lived a harmonious and happy life, and the younger generation's schooling was going smoothly; the two children were two years apart and one grade apart, but both were class monitors in their respective classes.

Since they had met formally, he had to give a gift.

But this was exactly where Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan felt awkward; he was not like Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei, who could casually take off a jade thumb ring to give to someone.

He did have many pendants on him, but they were basically ominous objects that required him to suppress them, making them unsuitable for giving away.

Therefore, he had deliberately started the topic earlier to pave the way.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "How about this, every season from now on, I will have someone mail a set of supplementary teaching materials; I compiled them myself, called 'Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's Secret Scrolls'."

The two grandsons: "..."

Grandma Yao: "Why don't you hurry up and thank the Little Prince Consort."

The two grandsons felt incredibly stifled inside; the smiles on their faces faded, and they muttered to themselves:

What kind of person is this, giving out test papers when meeting for the first time?

"Thank you, Little Prince Consort."

"Thank you, Little Prince Consort."

Grandma Yao: "You may both go back now."

Hearing this, the two grandsons immediately turned and left the room, fearing that if they stayed any longer, the gift would be increased.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan sat down at the table and signaled for Grandma Yao to sit as well; Grandma Yao responded and sat on the edge of a chair opposite him, looking very reserved.

"Thank you so much, Little Prince Consort."

"Please apologize to the children for me; it's because I wasn't prepared."

"No, Great Grandma told me that you, Little Prince Consort, are a star of literature descended to earth, a top scholar; what you sent is literary energy, it's just that the two children are ignorant."

Grandma Liu, you really tell her everything.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "These days, the Jianghu in Luoyang is not peaceful; you and your family should not go out for the time being."

Grandma Yao: "Yes, I will give the order."

Logically speaking, after lighting the lamp and walking the river, one can no longer receive protection and support from the family, otherwise, one will suffer a backlash.

Therefore, anyone with a bit of family foundation will make property arrangements before their family members light the lamp, similar to dividing the family, or even expelling them from the family, genealogy, and sect.

Before Zhao Yi lit his lamp back then, the Zhao family had arranged it exactly like that.

And the reason Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan dared to bring Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan here to seek treatment was also because Grandma Yao had long since ceased to be a member of the Liu family.

She had had her contract torn up and had been expelled from the Liu family.

Even now, when she makes clothes for Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei, Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei still pays what she should pay and gives gifts when she should give gifts.

The reason Grandma Yao still calls Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei "Young Lady" and Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan "Little Prince Consort" is because, in her heart, she still recognizes the affection of the past.

But legally speaking, she is not a subordinate of the Liu family, and Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei did not assign her in advance to help the youth walk the river; this land of Luoyang was pushed by the river water itself, and this small hotel alley was also something Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan encountered randomly.

Therefore, asking Grandma Yao for help does not count as breaking a taboo.

To take a step back, even if one really wanted to calculate karma, this karma would not fall on the Liu family.

Driven by the river water, the hospital where Pan Zi, Lei Zi, and Liang Jun were staying was right across from this alley.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan suspected that among the group of people with mushroom poisoning in the hospital ward, there should be a spray of waves that belonged to Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan.

Himself in the soup shop in the early morning and Grandma Yao's family living in the alley were all prepared by the river water for Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan.

The "protection" of the Dragon King's gate was safeguarding Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan through this great tribulation.

This should be what Grandma Liu called "spirit."

It is the incense-fire affection accumulated by generations of ancestors who hacked through thorns and thistles to suppress the Jianghu for the Heavenly Dao, and it is also the best manifestation of predecessors planting trees so that descendants can enjoy the shade.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan is a special case here, because his "predecessors" not only didn't plant trees but almost burned down the forest.

After exchanging more pleasantries, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan rose from the table.

"Little Prince Consort, I have already asked Nian'en to rearrange for you..."

"I have already opened a room; I have a place to sleep."

"Yes, then I won't disturb the Little Prince Consort's rest."

After Grandma Yao left, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan returned to his room.

There was a bathroom in the room, and under the sink were wooden basins, plastic basins, rubber tubes, and eight full hot water bottles.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and incidentally washed his dirty clothes simply before hanging them up to dry.

When he first arrived at his great-grandfather's house, his dirty clothes were all taken down by Liu Yi to be washed; later, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan would wash his dirty clothes while taking a shower, and Liu Yi would help collect the clothes, fold them, and put them in the shower room.

A knock on the door came; it was room service.

Grandma Yao's daughter-in-law had brought a fruit platter.

They were all seasonal fruits, washed very clean, and the water droplets had even been wiped off.

After eating a banana, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan lay on the bed, closed his eyes, and began to sleep.

At three o'clock in the morning, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan woke up.

According to his routine, he should have slept for another two and a half hours; the reason he woke up early was because the youth sensed that his sealing talisman had fallen.

The youth got out of bed, pushed open the door, and walked to Grandma Yao's workroom.

"Knock, knock, knock."

After knocking, he added: "It's me."

From inside came Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan's voice: "Please come in."

The voice carried a bit of coldness; she should have regained full consciousness.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan opened the door and walked in.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan was no longer lying on the tabletop but was standing by the window.

Her injuries and the treatment of just having her tendons and pulses reconnected naturally could not heal so quickly.

She was now in her weakest state after waking up.

But her habits did not allow her to meet guests while lying on the workbench.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan's gaze was clear as she looked at the youth who had walked in and said:

"Meeting you at the soup shop could be called a coincidence, but being able to meet you again in the museum could never be a coincidence; are you a person of the Jianghu?"

"Yes."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan walked to the hot water bottle, wanting to pour a glass of water, only to find that the hot water bottle was empty.

He remembered it being full when he left.

She had lost too much blood and was prone to thirst.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Shall I fetch you another bottle of hot water?"

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Okay."

"Do you want tea leaves? There isn't any good tea, so just make do with this."

"Anything is fine, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Carrying the thermos, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan opened the door again, paused, then stepped back two paces and reached out to open a vintage wardrobe nearby.

The design was quite ingenious; inside was a very clean little restroom, with incense burning.

Yao Nai would seclude herself here for a few days every month to make clothes; she did not allow family members to disturb her, and she would not go out herself.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "The restroom is here, you can use it."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Okay."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan went out to fetch water; the thermos in his room was not empty, but the water had already turned lukewarm.

The hot water room was opposite the inn's front desk; the room rate was cheap, so one shouldn't expect other services, and there was a charge for hot water.

The owner, Yao Nian'en, was not sleeping on the bed made of joined benches today, but had his chin resting on the counter; he was likely trying to stay awake but hadn't managed to.

As a result, his snoring resonated with the counter, making the noise even louder.

He wasn't watching people fetch water; he was likely following Yao Nai's instructions to stay awake tonight and keep watch in case of need.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan originally didn't want to disturb him, intending to "steal" a pot of hot water himself.

But there was a small mechanism on it.

The young man discovered it, but could only trigger it.

As the hot water flowed out, a sound like a steam whistle rang out: "Beep~~~"

Yao Nian'en woke up, and upon seeing it was Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan, he immediately stood up and said:

"Please rest, I'll do it."

"No need, it's almost done."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan plugged the thermos, walked to the counter, and pointed at the tea canister: "Can you give me some tea leaves?"

"Yes, yes, of course!"

Yao Nian'en didn't take the ones on the counter, but lowered his head, opened the drawer inside, and took out some prepared good tea leaves.

"Just use the ones on the counter; it's not for me to drink, it's for someone else, so it would be a waste to use anything too good."

"This..." Yao Nian'en paused, "But my mother..."

"Just like this, thank you, put it on the room bill."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan pointed at the tea leaves and the thermos.

"How could I? You are an honored guest."

"You continue sleeping, sorry for the disturbance."

"Please walk slowly, shall I help you carry it in?"

"No need."

On his way back, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan first went into his room, took the two remaining bananas from the fruit plate, and then walked to the entrance of the workroom.

He pushed the door open and entered; it was empty inside, with no one in sight.

After putting the items down, the young man exited the room.

After a while, the young man entered again, and Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan appeared in the room.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan began to brew tea, one cup for himself, and handed one to her.

Incidentally, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan pointed at the bananas he had brought:

"Eat two bananas."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan took the bananas, looked at the young man with great surprise, and asked:

"Are you always this thoughtful?"

"You haven't eaten for a long time; bananas digest quickly and help replenish energy, why?"

"Oh, nothing."

Being thoughtful was inevitable, because yesterday, to make the old grandmother in the melon field happy, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had personally fed Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan berberine.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan had a sip of tea and a bite of banana; after one cup of tea, the two bananas were also finished.

The woman put down the teacup and said: "After eating, I feel even hungrier."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "You're recovering well."

The young man could see that there was a special fluctuation on the woman; this meant that the first thing she did after becoming fully conscious was to slightly expand her domain to accelerate her recovery.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan's gaze fell on Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan again.

"There is something I want to ask you."

"You may, except for personal questions."

"Heh, who would ask you personal questions at a time like this?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan nodded; this was something he had said in his sleep and didn't remember.

"Are you merely a martial artist?"

"You can ask more directly."

"Have you lit the lamp?"

"I am on the river."

"Did you worship someone else?"

"No."

"Then you lit the lamp yourself; why is it so exhausting to talk to you?"

"My fault."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan reached out her hand toward Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan knew what she was going to do; he sat there and didn't avoid it.

The woman's hand squeezed the young man's shoulder and then felt his chest.

Yesterday in the soup shop, she had touched the young man's Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face, but that was just touching for the sake of touching; other than wanting to touch, there was no other meaning.

This time, she was investigating whether the young man had practiced martial arts.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Are you sick?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "No illness in my body."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Your physical foundation is excellent, yet you lit the lamp and walked the river without practicing martial arts? Why were you in such a hurry? You could have waited longer, really, it's such a pity and so irrational."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "I encountered an accident."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Did someone deliberately set you up?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Yes."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Heh, you saved my life, so I will repay you with my life; I will be responsible for helping you with the person who set you up..."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan immediately interrupted: "You saved me first, then I saved you; we are even."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "How was that saving you? You being able to appear there shows you didn't need my help at all; my mind wasn't clear at the time."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Judge by intent, not by action."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan turned her head away, feeling a bit embarrassed: "Then wouldn't I be taking too much advantage of you? This isn't my style; if I owe you, I must compensate you. Tell me, what compensation do you want?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Is it possible?"

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Don't be polite."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "From now on, after your injuries recover to a certain extent, I hope you can stand on my side and listen to me; I want to make use of you."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan blinked.