Chapter 983: Let

"Ya! Baba!"

Li Shu was wearing a fluffy little vest, a tiger hat on her head, and cotton mittens on her hands.

She was standing in the foyer, looking toward the main entrance, clapping her hands happily as soon as she saw Baba enter the courtyard.

"Yo! Who is this?!"

Li Xuewu stood in the courtyard with a smile, looking closely at his daughter in the foyer and asking, "Is such a beautiful little girl from my family?"

"Giggle~"

Li Shu wasn't the least bit shy about Baba's praise; she jumped on her feet, wanting to come out.

However, Gu Ning was standing behind her. She looked back, but only received a shake of Mama's head in response.

She really wanted to run out to welcome Baba, but Mama wouldn't let her, so she could only wait in the foyer for the gift Baba... brought back.

Qin Jingru opened the main gate for Peng Xiaoli and Han Jiankun behind them. Looking at Li Shu, who was swaying with laughter in the foyer, she said helplessly, "She runs out with me as soon as she hears the car."

"Is that so~"

Li Xuewu responded with a smile. As he walked toward the foyer, he asked, "Daughter, did you miss Daddy?"

"Missed!"

Li Shu very seriously patted her own belly with her little hand, indicating that she missed him right there.

Li Xuewu amusedly stepped onto the porch, exchanged a glance with Gu Ning, then squatted down and picked up Li Shu, who looked like a little adult.

Seeing that he was going to carry the child outside, Gu Ning reminded him, "There's snow on the steps."

"Then we'll walk slowly~"

Li Xuewu replied with a smile, then asked his daughter, "Do you want to go out and play?"

"Want!!"

Li Shu shrieked and pointed excitedly toward the entrance, where Han Jiankun walked in carrying a large box.

"Haha~!"

Li Shu's sharp shriek made even Han Jiankun laugh. The little girl's favorite thing was to unwrap gifts every time Daddy returned from a business trip.

Li Xuewu carried her down the steps and set her down in the courtyard.

Li Shu could walk fine, but she looked clumsy, perhaps because she was wearing so many clothes, making her look bloated.

Or perhaps it was just because she was still small; at a year and a half old, one couldn't expect much more.

"Come with me~"

Han Jiankun sent the box into the house, and when he came out, he teased her, pointing at the entrance, "Come with me, help me move things~"

"Yo~"

Hearing Uncle ask for help, Li Shu pretended not to understand, pointing her little finger at the entrance and babbling something.

Qin Jingru came over from the entrance, carrying bags just like Peng Xiaoli, filled with dried goods; they weren't heavy.

She said to Li Xuewu, "She's so smart; she says everything she's supposed to say, but plays dumb when she doesn't want to."

"Who's talking about us?"

Li Xuewu squatted down with a smile, hugged his daughter from behind, and asked, "Is Auntie talking about us?"

"Yo~"

Li Shu was at the age where children like to pick at their mouths, but she had mittens on, so she couldn't cover her mouth.

Her big eyes were fixed on the boxes being moved from the car at the entrance to the house; she knew that most of them would contain snacks for her.

She had never been short-changed on food since she was little; Li Xuewu never forgot his daughter's snacks wherever he went.

So the little girl had remembered: every time Daddy was away for a while, there would inevitably be something delicious when he returned.

Some time ago, Pei Jungang of the Jinmen Seafood Company specifically arranged for a trade train to ship a large box of seafood snacks for him.

Especially the snacks that children liked, which Li Xuewu had bought from him during training last year—he still remembered.

At the end of last year, the Rolling Mill reached a cooperation agreement with the Jinmen Seafood General Company. Because of his connection with Li Xuewu, Pei Jungang took the opportunity to advance half a rank, which was a real benefit.

Having hooked up with Zhang Changming, the vice president of the Seafood General Company, he naturally wouldn't forget Li Xuewu.

They hadn't even finished eating the large box of dried shrimp and small dried fish sent from Jinmen, and now many more boxes of Yingcheng specialties had arrived.

Li Shu stood obediently in front of Baba, chatting with him, answering every question.

Watching the boxes being moved, and seeing Uncle Han go out to send off the other Uncle Peng, Baba even told her to say goodbye—how could she be willing?

She twisted her body and wanted to run into the house, terrified that if she went back too late, Auntie would tidy up all those delicious things and not give them to her.

They're all mine! Ya!

"You two split the things in the car yourselves."

Li Xuewu carried Li Shu into the foyer, then turned back to see Peng Xiaoli and the other off at the courtyard gate.

After giving Han Jiankun and the other a word of instruction, he watched the command vehicle leave.

Closing the main gate, he glanced at the snow in the courtyard; it seemed that Beijing, like Jinmen, had had quite a heavy snowfall.

There were many things in the car, and it wasn't convenient to split them with Peng Xiaoli, so he could only send Li Xuewu back first and then detour to send Peng Xiaoli.

Unlike Sha Qizhi, Peng Xiaoli was talkative and cheerful; he didn't refuse the local specialties Li Xuewu shared, only saying repeatedly how much face he would have when he returned home.

Li Xuewu knew he was young, learned more and understood faster than Sha Qizhi; if such a seedling was brought up well, it wouldn't be wrong.

Whether it was pretending, liking to suck up, or knowing how to please people and socialize, Li Xuewu didn't care.

When using people, first look at ability, then at character, and finally at results; don't expect the people you promote to be of one mind with you forever.

How immature must a cadre be to have such a perception, and how insecure must a leader be to appoint people by nepotism?

When selecting and transferring positions, and selecting and using people, never feel that this position is yours, that it was selected by you, and that listening to you is what's expected.

If you cannot rely on a public spirit, the result will also be out of your control.

First look at ability, so they won't cause trouble below; then look at character, so they won't cause trouble for themselves; finally look at results, so they won't cause trouble for you, the recommender.

If you select people who are upright and rely entirely on a public spirit, they should be convinced by you; if you select your own people and the path goes crooked, they should betray you, and they will.

Today, the cadre adjustment of the Security Group was taking place, and all cadres above the deputy section level were on-site, except for Yu De, who had work.

In front of everyone, Li Xuewu pointed out the generals; whoever he told to go where had to go there, no explanation, no clarification, entirely based on his own perception and judgment.

Just look, was there anyone on-site who wasn't convinced?

Whether it was the original cadres of the Security Division or the cadres of the Discipline Inspection Commission, no one in the Security Group dared to stand up and cause trouble.

Because Li Xuewu himself didn't form small cliques, others dared even less to play that game in front of him.

Peng Xiaoli watched as Sha Qizhi, after serving Li Xuewu for a year, leaped from a staff position to become a deputy section chief with real power.

Not to mention where Sha Qizhi would serve in the future, just speaking of now, who wouldn't call him mature, steady, young, and promising?

Li Xuewu had never promised Sha Qizhi anything, nor had he obtained anything from him; the superior-subordinate relationship and the leader-secretary relationship were handled very appropriately.

With Sha Qizhi ahead, Peng Xiaoli knew his own measure and understood what he should do.

In the foyer, the boxes of specialties were stacked half a person high.

Li Shu stood there looking eagerly, her fluffy little earmuffs making her eyelashes look especially long.

Li Xuewu asked with a smile, "Who made these little clothes? They're so beautiful~"

"Eat!"

Li Shu ignored her father's teasing, pointed her little hand at the boxes at the entrance, and told her father she wanted to eat.

Li Xuewu helplessly poked his daughter's cheek and said, "You've become a meatball, and you still want to eat?"

"Ball!"

Li Shu mimicked him, then clumsily walked into the inner room with her little legs.

Qin Jingru was busy in the kitchen, and only Gu Ning stood in the living room, holding her waist and watching her.

Li Xuewu changed his slippers at the entrance, put down his handbag, and said with a smile, "She even knows she's a ball~"

"Ya~"

Li Shu pointed her little finger at the ball in the toy box for Baba, then turned and headed back to the foyer without looking back.

"..."

Li Xuewu looked at Li Shu, who had passed by him, somewhat speechless, not knowing what to say.

If you say she's not obedient, she pointed out the "ball" you mentioned in your words.

But if you say she's obedient, she just kept staring at the boxes at the entrance and wouldn't let go.

"Don't give it to her."

Gu Ning watched Li Xuewu, who was about to coax the child, and stopped him, then said, "If she has snacks, she won't eat her dinner well."

Li Xuewu helplessly spread his hands toward his daughter, who was looking back, indicating that he also had to listen to Mama.

Li Shu stared with big eyes at Baba, then at Mama, and walked into the room with a pouting little mouth.

Li Xuewu and Gu Ning stood in the living room watching without reaching out to coax her; she hid behind the sofa and then cried out.

"Woo~~~~"

"Sigh~ Alright~ Alright~"

Li Xuewu, as a father, couldn't bear to see this; ignoring Gu Ning's gaze, he could only raise his hands in surrender.

He hurriedly hung his coat on the hanger and walked quickly behind the sofa.

The sight of this little girl sitting on the floor crying with her back against the sofa was enough to break Li Xuewu's heart.

At this moment, let alone his daughter wanting snacks, even if she wanted dragon meat, he would have to get it for her.

"Go, go, go, let's go find snacks."

Li Xuewu picked his daughter up from the floor and, under Gu Ning's reproachful gaze, bit the bullet and walked toward the foyer.

Li Shu lay in Baba's arms, secretly glanced at Mama, and hid herself, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Let's see what delicious things Daddy brought back for Li Shu."

Li Xuewu was a complete daughter-slave; even if he were to be scolded by Gu Ning tonight, he had to take care of Li Shu first.

He actually didn't know what Xu Si had brought, so he could only dig through the boxes.

He didn't need to worry about the bags stacked on the side; one look and he knew they were either dried wood ear mushrooms, dried mushrooms, or other dried vegetables.

Only the things in the boxes had moisture and were edible.

"Dang~ Dang~ Dang~"

Li Xuewu felt something round and thought it was an apple or a pear, so he dug it out and showed it off to his daughter.

To his surprise, when he looked at it in the light, it was a pomegranate.

Isn't this just talking nonsense? Yingcheng produces pomegranates?

How come Li Xuewu didn't know?!

He only knew that Yingcheng's apples and crabs were famous, and the rest were musical instruments and seafood. Bringing out a pomegranate like this—wasn't this treating him like a fool!

Li Xuewu's expression changed, but Li Shu was happy, thinking Baba was teasing her on purpose.

She giggled, and even snot bubbles came out from laughing.

"You're still laughing~"

"Giggle~"

Li Shu reached out to hold the pomegranate, but Li Xuewu threw it back into the box.

"This can't be eaten; be careful it doesn't get stuck in your throat. Let's change to another one."

He pushed aside the top box and opened the box below, but it was frozen seafood.

After several more boxes, he finally found the apples.

He stuffed one into Li Shu's arms, told her not to eat it yet, to wait until it was washed clean, and took two more in his hands before walking back.

Li Shu held a big apple, and seeing Mama look over, she smiled and held it up for her to see.

Gu Ning also smiled, poked her little hand, and said, "We're about to have dinner. Do you want to eat an apple?"

"Want!... Eat~"

She answered very crisply at first, but then felt that this wouldn't be obedient, so she had to look at Daddy.

Li Xuewu placed his daughter on the sofa, took off her gloves, and then removed the hat and earmuffs from her head.

Seeing that she was still holding that apple, he poked her little hand and asked, "Is it cold?"

Li Shu looked down at the apple Baba pointed to and nodded, "Cold!"

"Your hands will be cold, and your belly won't be able to take it; it will hurt~"

Li Xuewu showed his daughter the two in his hands and said, "It's too cold. Let's wash them and put them here. Let's wait for them to warm up before we eat, okay?"

Li Shu looked at the apple with some reluctance and didn't want to answer Baba's words.

"This one is for you; I won't eat it, and Mama won't eat it. It's for you."

Li Xuewu could only patiently explain to his daughter, then pointed to the ones in his hands and said, "These are for Daddy and Mama, okay?"

"Okay~"

Li Shu understood this time; she put down the apple in her hand right on the sofa and even covered it with her little hat.

In her little heart, since Baba said the apple needed to be warmed up, it was just like what Auntie said when she went out—if you put a hat on, it would be warm.

Li Xuewu couldn't help it; he looked up at Gu Ning and let out a deep, long sigh.

Bearing and raising children isn't as simple as just giving birth; you have to educate them bit by bit.

Gu Ning stood in the room holding her lower back, her gaze never leaving Li Xuewu and her daughter.

Seeing Li Xuewu's gaze, she pouted and said, "She was very obedient when you weren't home."

"That's not because I spoiled her."

Li Xuewu helped his daughter take off the fluffy little vest, saw it was still handmade, and asked, "Did Jingru make this?"

"Mom sent it."

Gu Ning glanced at the kitchen and then said, "I didn't know you were coming back today. She came to see me in the morning and said Sister-in-law is almost due."

"Is that so~"

Li Xuewu calculated in his mind; wasn't the due date in January?

He wiped the corners of his daughter's eyes and nose with her handkerchief and asked, "Did she say where she's giving birth?"

"I said to let her come to our place."

Gu Ning walked behind the sofa and stood holding the backrest, replying, "But Mom wants to arrange it at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, saying it's close to home."

She glanced at Li Xuewu, hesitated for a moment, and still said, "It seems like she's afraid of troubling us."

"Not necessarily, perhaps there are other considerations."

Li Xuewu knew in his heart that his mother didn't want to trouble him, but he couldn't add psychological pressure to Gu Ning.

He held his daughter and set her down on the ground, letting her run around and play, while comforting her, "The Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine is Dad's workplace, and he has a good relationship with the leadership there; isn't it just for the sake of convenience?"

"If it really doesn't work out, staying at home is fine too."

Gu Ning glanced at the room on the first floor and said to Li Xuewu, "Or checking into the hospital early is also an option."

"I'll go back tomorrow morning, ask around, and then decide."

Li Xuewu tapped his daughter and said, "Aren't we still supposed to send her to Grandma's house to play?"

"Let's see, if it really doesn't work out, let's not trouble the old lady."

Gu Ning said with some hesitation, "If the eldest sister-in-law gives birth, the old lady will have to take care of the little one, and Mom will have to take care of the eldest sister-in-law."

"Mm, mm, don't worry."

Li Xuewu felt hot in the room, so he took off his sweater, wore his shirt, and took three apples to the washroom to wash them.

Li Shu had sharp eyes; seeing her father take her apples, she followed right behind him, very afraid they would be snatched away.

When Li Xuewu came out and saw his daughter's expression, he helplessly tapped her little nose and sighed, "Why are you so suspicious? Who do you take after?"

After dinner, Qin Jingru first helped Gu Ning upstairs to rest, then called Han Jiankun over to help pack up the boxes and dried goods at the entrance.

Li Xuewu coaxed Li Shu and told them to pack some for themselves to take back.

Qin Jingru asked what else was in the car, and Han Jiankun said there was a bit of everything, which they had split with Peng Xiaoli.

"I won't take any more; three meals a day, and I eat all three here, so what else do I need?"

She waved her hand, telling Han Jiankun to continue working, while she helped Li Shu press some apple juice with the juicer and handed it over.

Li Shu was just curious and wanted a taste of everything; she usually ate these apples, but she felt the ones her father brought back today were delicious.

It was time to sleep, and she was very sleepy; Qin Jingru gave it to her, but she only drank half a cup and gave the rest to Li Xuewu.

"Split the portion Han Jiankun divided with the relatives at home later; my mother-in-law doesn't eat much."

Qin Jingru nagged while tidying up the little clothes on the sofa for Li Shu, and explained, "Aunt Liu said Yu Li made these; she really is quite skillful."

She examined the little plush clothes in her hands, took a liking to them, pursed her lips, and admitted, "I just can't make this style."

Li Xuewu was used to her quick-tongued nature; every night she had to go through this bit of chatter.

Li Shu's plush clothes were lined with rabbit fur, and he didn't know where Yu Li had managed to find it.

In the past, his clothes were all arranged by Yu Li, and the same went for Li Shu's.

Now his clothes were all ordered from Tailor Li, including Gu Ning's, but he never had to worry about Li Shu's; when the time came, Yu Li would always think of her.

Qin Jingru didn't know if she had mentioned this intentionally or unintentionally just now.

Li Xuewu knew her little thoughts; it was nothing more than being afraid that if she got pregnant, Li Xuewu would ask Yu Li to come home to look after her.

Actually, she was silly enough; she clearly knew Yu Li was working at the club now, yet she still worried about these things.

Even if he needed someone to look after the child and Gu Ning, he wouldn't ask Yu Li to come home; it would be troublesome, and it would make both Yu Li and Gu Ning uncomfortable.

You might say she is short-sighted, but she could handle all the housework, and Gu Ning and Li Xuewu didn't have to worry about a thing.

But if you say she is capable and quick-handed, her mouth is like a machine gun, saying nothing but useless things without a second thought.

Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn't say these things in front of Li Xuewu; they would talk to Gu Ning behind his back, asking how they could not take care of her.

But Li Xuewu just ignored her, and even Han Jiankun glared at her, still not paying attention to her words.

A person without ulterior motives who is quick-handed, and has no intention of stealing, taking, or harming you—what does it matter if her mouth is a bit loose?

If someone came who didn't say a word all day and had eyes darting around, he wouldn't dare entrust his home to them.

He waved his hand, telling Han Jiankun not to overthink it, and signaled him to hurry up and finish so he could go home and rest early.

Seeing that his leader didn't care, Han Jiankun went to tidy up the things at the entrance.

He also knew what kind of temper and personality his wife had, and even more so what was on her mind.

Sometimes when she thought of it at night, she would nag for a long time, and no matter how he explained, it was useless.

Women, when they get stuck in a rut, nothing you say is of any use.

She asks you: How much is 1+1?

You say: 2.

She says: I've been calculating for a long time, and it's all wrong; how much is 1+1 exactly!

You say: 2, it's 2.

She says: You were right when you calculated it yesterday; why is it wrong when I do it? You must have calculated it wrong!

You say: Actually, it's 2.

She says: I told you long ago not to buy this kind of pencil; you can even calculate it wrong, and you just won't listen. Look at Xiao Ming next door, he bought a ballpoint pen and calculated it right away. Why won't you listen to me!

You say: Fine, I'll buy a ballpoint pen later; you try writing a 1 and then a +1 first.

She says: So annoying! I've been calculating for a long time and it's all wrong; I've been stewing over it for ages, what if I overexerted my brain and died of exhaustion!

You walk to the table, write 1+1=2, and then turn around to look at your wife.

Your wife will glare at you and ask unreasonably: Why are you looking at me like that?!

What can you say?

What can you say!

You can only say: Nothing, I just wanted to tell you that 1+1=2 is calculated correctly.

She clearly knows she is being unreasonable, but she still has to say: Now you're impatient with me, right!

You are cursing wildly in your heart, but you still stabilize her situation with your mouth, saying: No~ no~ no~.

At this moment, you just listen; she will say to you: So love will disappear, right!

At this very moment!

At this very moment!

You just want to drag your father-in-law out of the house and give him two big slaps!

Let him see how harmful substandard products are!

Han Jiankun couldn't afford to provoke Qin Jingru; it wasn't that he couldn't beat her or argue with her, but that he was both angry and felt sorry for her.

With Qin Jingru's temper, let alone him, even at home, his mother had to endure and yield.

It wasn't that his mother had a good temper and was honest and easy to bully; it was his mother who told him not to be angry or annoyed at anything his wife said, just pretend not to hear it.

She just happened to have an extra mouth.

No matter how late she returned, Qin Jingru had to go into her room to see if she was sleeping well and feel if the bedding underneath her was warm.

She didn't have to worry about the household expenses, clothes, hats, shoes, or socks; she never touched the money in the drawer, and no matter how tired she was at night, she would get up in the morning to cook breakfast for her.

She was loud and boisterous with Han Jiankun, but she had never had a red face with the old lady; so you tell me, could his mother let him yell at his wife?

His aunt saw it once; it was Qin Jingru scolding Han Jiankun, and she scolded him harshly. On the surface, she didn't say anything, but behind her back, she spoke ill of Qin Jingru to the old lady.

As a result, the old lady told his aunt not to come to the house anymore; it was too noisy, and she didn't want to receive her.

So it wasn't that Qin Jingru was loose-lipped at Li Xuewu's house and couldn't keep her mouth shut; she was the same way at home.

He couldn't afford to provoke her, and seeing that his leader had the cultivation not to bother with her, that was just how it was.

This wife was introduced to him by his leader, so both of them should just accept the good and the bad; neither should pick on the other.

Qin Jingru didn't know any of this; after tidying up Li Shu's clothes, she went to tidy up the clothes Li Xuewu brought back.

Which ones needed washing, which ones needed ironing, which ones needed mending—she sorted them by category.

Her mouth nagged while she worked, but it wasn't annoying; she was just like a tractor—working was fine, but the exhaust pipe had to chug along.

You don't have to worry about what she's chugging; you rest, she works, neither should delay the other.

Li Shu was sleepy; she woke up early and went to sleep early.

If she hadn't had a nap at noon, she would have been asleep by now.

Using a towel dipped in hot water, she wiped Li Shu's little mouth, and Qin Jingru signaled upstairs, letting Li Xuewu take the child to sleep.

Li Xuewu nodded, pointed to the door, and carried the child to the upstairs rest area.

The couple didn't know how long they were busy; anyway, when Li Xuewu got up in the morning, the couple was busy downstairs again.

If it weren't for the fact that they had changed their clothes, he would have thought they had stayed here last night.

Actually, when Qin Jingru got married, her room here wasn't changed, and many of her things were still kept here.

Whenever Li Xuewu went on a business trip, Qin Jingru would accompany Gu Ning to sleep at home, and sometimes Han Jiankun would be here with her.

Downstairs, Han Jiankun, wearing a cotton-padded jacket and an apron, first cleaned the ash from the stove and added firewood.

Qin Jingru pulled back the curtains, watered the flowers in the room, and went to the kitchen to get busy.

Han Jiankun came out of the kitchen and started tidying up the fireplace, adding firewood to start the fire, changing the water in the fish tank, and clearing the accumulated snow and ice at the entrance.

Not everyone has the ability to live in a villa; having money isn't enough; you have to have a lot of money, otherwise just tidying up the house could exhaust you to death.

You aren't living in a house; you are looking after a house.

Why did Li Xuewu choose this place as his wedding house back then, and also tidy up the house in the Sihe Academy?

Wasn't it just because he was afraid he couldn't handle the tidying, and afraid Gu Ning couldn't handle the tidying?

Neither of the couple could handle household chores, and neither had the time to do these things.

Even in the Sihe Academy, look at how many times Li Xuewu had started a fire or tidied up the house.

Getting up in the morning, the old lady would have already cleaned the stove, and in the evening, the old lady would watch the fire and warm the room.

On weekdays, they ate at home or at the Daozuofang; his clothes were all made by Yu Li, who even helped him put on his coats and shirts.

She was just short of changing his underwear for him; she spoiled him like a child.

When they got here, at first Gu Ning complained that he was lazy, but what happened?

Good heavens, he didn't want to change and went straight to his mother-in-law to complain!

He was lazy to an incredible degree!

And he knew he was lazy!

So if Qin Jingru hadn't come back then, he and Gu Ning would have had to move back to the Sihe Academy, even if it meant a longer commute to work.

Looking at all the work Han Jiankun was busy with since getting up in the morning, Li Xuewu's head was spinning.

If he really had to finish all this, he might as well forget about going to work and just rest at home.

Why else would he take care of and tolerate the couple Qin Jingru and Han Jiankun? This kind of help is hard to find.

In later generations, you haven't been in contact with it, but high-level domestic helpers in the domestic service market don't circulate in the market; once a family finds a good one, they keep them.

Even if the children are already grown and in school, the helper is still needed.

In order to keep the helper, not only do you have to help arrange work for the helper's children, but you also have to arrange for their retirement.

You say someone comes to poach the domestic helper; some families can get so anxious they go and quarrel.

The most ruthless thing Li Xuewu heard was an old cadre whose family had a good helper; the old cadre's old colleague came to visit and quietly said to the helper, "When he dies, come to me!"

Qin Jingru was not only honest herself, but she also demanded honesty from Han Jiankun.

She trained the young man to do all kinds of work, and he could even finish all the work inside and outside the house, and could also help Li Xuewu coax Li Shu for a while.

Li Xuewu was also quite embarrassed, but seeing Li Shu being annoying in the morning, he felt deeply grateful that Han Jiankun was there.

Children are cute, but when they really get annoying, they can make people explode with anger.

You say one, she insists on saying two; if you don't let her speak, she cries, and it's not a real cry, but a nagging cry, staring at you while she cries.

Li Xuewu's explosive temper could only endure it; he couldn't hit her, and in this life, he never had the hand to hit a child.

Look at how ruthless he is outside—calculating, taking action, even chopping off people's fingers with a long gun—but he couldn't bring himself to be ruthless to children.

The old saying goes, appearance comes from the heart; all the children who come into contact with Li Xuewu really aren't afraid of him.

From the first time Fu Zhidong saw him, he never thought of being afraid, and even when he saw him catch his father, he never thought of hiding from him.

Banggeng didn't submit to anyone in the courtyard, but only when he saw him did he act like a follower, doing whatever he was told, and laughing when he teased him.

Li Shu just saw that he was easy to bully; she didn't dare do this or that with Gu Ning, but in front of him, she was like a great demon king descending, and he had to listen to her whims.

Why could Han Jiankun coax her? Because Han Jiankun was obedient.

Li Shu said to hold her and watch the goldfish, and Han Jiankun would hold her and stand by the pool to watch, with patience no matter how long it took.

If she said to get on the windowsill and watch the snow, he had to hold her up to the windowsill, and if she dirtied the windowsill, he would clean it up.

If she really said she wanted to eat something, Li Shu insisted on eating snacks; Han Jiankun wouldn't give them to her, but he wouldn't say anything, just look at her.

You look at Li Shu again; you tell me if she's doing it on purpose!

She wouldn't act tough with Han Jiankun anymore; she would either change to something else she wanted to play with, or let Han Jiankun put her on the ground to wander around and play by herself.

Li Xuewu finally understood; in this family, Li Shu didn't dare bully anyone else, but she dared to manipulate her father.

After breakfast, Li Xuewu carried Li Shu, who was dressed like a ball, into the car; as long as he was at home, he would send this naughty child to the old lady's place.

When he was on a business trip, there was no other way, so she could only mix with the family; except for when Qin Jingru held her to sleep at noon, she followed Gu Ning to play at other times.

Gu Ning said that when Li Xuewu wasn't at home, she was very well-behaved, not crying or making a fuss, but once she went out, she wasn't herself.

After getting in the car, she insisted on clinging to the communication console and telling Han Jiankun to switch places with her; she also wanted to drive the car.

Han Jiankun ignored her, and she turned her head back and started nagging Li Xuewu to let her drive.

Li Xuewu looked at his daughter blankly, his head buzzing.

Let alone a car, even a plane her father could afford to buy, but you're only a year and a half old!

Even if you were eighteen and a half, if you said, "Dad, buy me a car to drive," Li Xuewu wouldn't have any hesitation.

At a year and a half, she wanted to snatch someone's car to drive; if she wasn't sent up the mountain to be a bandit, wouldn't it be a waste of talent?

Other people's children set lofty ambitions from a young age, like "I want to be a doctor," "I want to be an astronaut," "I want to be a scientist."

You look at Li Xuewu's daughter again: "I want to be a bandit!"

He had deliberately left early in the morning, so every family in the Sihe Academy was still eating breakfast.

The Li family was the same; Ji Yuxiu had to go to work, Li Xue had to go to work, and the old lady didn't sleep much and got up early in the morning.

So even though Zhao Yafang was heavily pregnant and got up late, the family's breakfast was prepared early.

Li Xuewu carried Li Shu into the room; Li Xue had just finished eating, wiped her mouth, and came over to take her with a mischievous smile.

Li Shu waved her hands anxiously, shouting "No, no," but she couldn't escape the little aunt's magic hands.

In her own home, the great demon king was afraid of Gu Ning; at Grandma's house, the great demon king was most afraid of the little aunt.

Everyone else yielded to her and spoiled her, but only the little aunt snatched her snacks and laughed when she teased her until she cried—a more terrifying existence than the great demon king.

It would be better if Grandpa were at home, but Grandpa was often not at home, and Grandma couldn't restrain the little aunt; every day as long as she saw her, she had to cry once.

"Why didn't you tell us in advance when you came back from your business trip?"

Liu Yin was eating and turned to say something to her son, then asked if he had eaten.

Li Xuewu held his mother down, said he had eaten, and signaled to the inner room, asking about the sister-in-law's situation.

Ji Yuxiu tilted her head and said helplessly, "Looking at sister-in-law, I think of myself; I don't have this patience."

"What woman doesn't have to suffer this?"

Liu Yin said with a laugh, and then talked about Zhao Yafang's situation.

Perhaps because of sufficient nutrition, the child had grown a bit larger, but the hospital said Zhao Yafang had a large frame, so giving birth wouldn't be difficult.

Prenatal checkups nowadays weren't as troublesome as in later generations—no 4D scans, no genetic tests—as long as the fetal position was correct, there was no problem.

In later generations, they were mainly afraid of the child being naughty in the womb, grabbing the umbilical cord to play with; some bear children even wrapped the umbilical cord around their own necks to play at hanging themselves.

The doctor checked the fetal heart rate, and it was intermittent; at first, they thought there was a problem with the fetus, but when they looked at the 4D scan, the little guy was pinching the umbilical cord himself, causing his own heart to stop.

There are all kinds of bear children, but at this time, there weren't such comprehensive medical means.

It was just judging whether the fetal position was correct; the doctor would touch it with their hand and tell you the fetus's head had entered the pelvis, and they could even calculate roughly when you would give birth.

It wasn't that the doctors at this time were better than those in later generations or had higher medical skills; it was just that there were no conditions to do those things.

In later generations, you see them prescribing checkups without touching or looking; that's because there are more advanced means.

If they really touched it wrong, there were few investigations at this time, but later generations were different—that would be a medical accident.

So don't mention the general environment, and don't talk about the four-eyed ones.

"Gu Ning's idea is to arrange for her to give birth at the military hospital; she can arrange it."

Li Xuewu explained to his mother, "She also thought that it's close to our place, and it's convenient to send her over; even checking into the hospital now is fine."

"Forget it, don't trouble them."

Liu Yin thought for a moment and said, "If I and your grandma go over to your place to toss about, we won't be able to take care of things at home, and it will also disturb Xiao Ning."

"Furthermore."

She nodded to her son and said, "Xiao Ning using her unit's benefits for childbirth is as it should be; after all, it's inconvenient for us, and it's all about favors."

Liu Yin thought more about it and signaled to the inner room, saying, "Your dad and the third one have both sent news; the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine has already arranged everything."

"Their director specifically mentioned this matter, and the doctor delivering the baby is also a department head, mentioned early on."

"Then let's do it that way."

Li Xuewu nodded decisively; since the family had arrangements, there was no need to trouble the eldest sister-in-law.

He tidied his clothes, signaled outside the door, and said, "I'll tell Guodong to keep the car ready, leave a driver at home, and pick up the eldest brother later."

"It's still a few days away."

Liu Yin chased him out and said to her son, "Calling him back won't help; there's still time."

"He's not busy anyway~"

Li Xuewu glanced at the eldest sister-in-law's room, thinking in his heart, what woman doesn't want her husband to accompany her when giving birth?

It was just that the eldest brother was big-hearted and thought about coming back only when the days were close.

He waved his hand to signal his mother not to worry, greeted the people coming out of the courtyard, and went to the Daozuofang to instruct Shen Guodong to handle this matter.

As it happened, Seeing Sha Zhu and the others were all eating, and hearing Li Xuewu's arrangement, they all said it should be so.

Shen Guodong immediately arranged for that GAZ-69 not to be used for the time being, and the rear compartment was tidied up; they should prepare a wooden bed and mattress, so they wouldn't be caught off guard when the time came.

There were ambulances at this time, but they weren't very convenient; most people found a tricycle at home to send the pregnant woman to the hospital.

You just think about it—in the dead of winter, a pregnant woman covered in a big quilt sitting on a tricycle, how could she not be cold?

The fire in the garage's warm room couldn't be cut off; Zhao Yafang's belly was so big, even if it wasn't the due date, there was a possibility of giving birth a few days early.

Seeing Sha Zhu thought of his own wife and felt the same way, also agreeing that it should be tidied up; he thought that his own family would have to use it in the future too.

He wasn't worried that this side would be stingy; using the car was no problem, mainly it was about being prepared.

The garage had to be arranged for someone to burn the fire, a driver had to be left at home, and enough people had to be left to carry the pregnant woman.

Either do as Li Xuewu said and go to the hospital to wait before the due date, or if you really want to send her to the hospital when the amniotic fluid breaks, you have to be fully prepared.

You might joke around and say that picking up a person weighing over a hundred jin isn't hard, but picking up a pregnant woman is impossible.

Even the specialized medical staff in an ambulance couldn't pick her up; two people wouldn't be enough, so they had to use a specialized vehicle.

Zhao Yafang herself was tall and ate well, so her weight had long exceeded 150, plus her care for the child.

Li Xuewu talked to the Daozuofang for a long time before coming out; Shen Guodong also followed him out after eating, saying he would tidy up the car and go to pick up the eldest brother Xuewen.

Arranging for the boys to be on duty, or being on duty himself, no one had any complaints.

It wasn't just Li Xuewu's family business, and it wasn't just the Li family and the Daozuofang taking care of each other.

They also had to think about Li Xuewen teaching skills to Wen Saner and Erhaier in the past, and think about the knowledge Zhao Yafang taught the boys on weekdays.

The benefits of having people at home were revealed; there were many pregnant women in this courtyard this year.

Not counting Ge Shuqin who had already given birth, Zhao Yafang was one, Diliya was one, and there was also Fei Shanying in the back courtyard.

If you count Gu Ning, the children in this courtyard would be many in the future; raising them all here, counting down from Li Shu, it was almost becoming a kindergarten.

After explaining the family matters, he got into the car and pointed in the direction of the Third Guard Regiment, telling Han Jiankun to send him to work.

It wasn't too far; after dropping him off, he would go straight to pick up Peng Xiaoli and head to the Rolling Mill, and just have the car pick him up at noon.

The Third Guard Regiment—he had to deal with the weapons and the case.

Li Xuewu was prepared to give that bastard hiding in the shadows a big one.