RYEY -Chapter 323 Seeing Zhao Min

On the day before New Year’s Eve, Cheng Liguo finally arrived. Li Huan and Cheng Qiao took little Cheng Li to the train station to pick him up. The moment Cheng Liguo saw little Cheng Li, he scooped him up in his arms. Little Cheng Li felt a bit embarrassed—after all, he was already a primary school student.

But in Cheng Liguo’s heart, little Cheng Li was his legitimate grandson. Holding his grandson was the greatest wish of his life, and he simply couldn’t bear to put him down.

“Grandpa, I’ll sleep with you tonight.”

Little Cheng Li, not wanting to tire Cheng Liguo, quickly promised. Only after receiving this assurance did Cheng Liguo put him down, and then he, along with Li Huan, carried the large bags and packages outside.

This time, Li Huan was driving. He had finally learned to drive and eagerly borrowed Ye Jun’s car to pick up Cheng Liguo at the station.

Seeing that Li Huan was behind the wheel, Cheng Liguo felt a twinge of worry—would this guy crash someone to death? That would be a sin. Seeing Cheng Liguo’s expression, Li Huan quickly assured him that he could handle the car just fine.

Cheng Liguo shook his head. “It’s precisely because he thinks he’s smooth at it that there might be problems. Only calm, steady people give a sense of safety.” But thinking of Xiao Dan and Qin Guoqing, he sighed—they were all cut from the same mold anyway.

They got in the car. Only when the car smoothly stopped at the gate of the siheyuan did Cheng Liguo’s heart settle. He had to admit, Li Huan’s driving was steadier than Qin Guoqing’s.

Ye Jun was already waiting at the door. Seeing Cheng Liguo get out of the car, his face lit up in a wide smile. The household was full of young people; only Mother Li was of a similar age to him, but he couldn’t very well engage in long, familiar conversations with her.

The two shook hands warmly and walked inside, laughing. Li Huan, Cheng Qiao, and little Cheng Li acted as porters, carrying all the things Cheng Liguo had brought inside.

“Oh, the charcoal fire is already lit! No wonder the house feels so warm.”

Cheng Liguo immediately recognized the charcoal in the courtyard as the kind Cheng Qiao had bought back in Hexi. She had bought so much at the time, seemingly in tens of tons each time, almost giving the impression she was a profiteer.

“Yes, we don’t have much firewood here, and few people burn kangs. To keep warm, we either tough it out or put a coal stove inside. Thankfully, Cheng Qiao managed to get us some coal.”

“Hexi has abundant coal resources. I’ll stock up more, so that when Cheng Qiao has time to go there, she can bring some back.”

The two shared a knowing smile. Mother Li, seeing Cheng Liguo, also greeted him warmly—after all, this was her daughter-in-law’s father, and one couldn’t be careless.

“Lele, this is a New Year’s gift from Qin Guoqing through me. He’s going to the border to deliver supplies and can’t make it back this time.”

Li Le quickly accepted the package. She already knew Qin Guoqing couldn’t return for the New Year, but she hadn’t expected him to send a gift. When Cheng Liguo returned, she planned to prepare something for him to deliver to Qin Guoqing.

All five children received their gifts. Xuhui was the happiest; he got a homemade rifle. When he learned it had belonged to his father, he froze in shock.

“Xuhui, your mother divorced that man named Wu Fan. She now lives alone in Zhangye. I don’t know how she found out my address, but she specially sent this for me to give you.”

Xuhui felt conflicted—he wanted to throw away the rifle because it came from the mother he refused to acknowledge, yet he couldn’t bear to, as it was his father’s. Once gone, it would be gone forever.

“Xuhui, keep it safe. If you don’t know how to use it, ask your father. Not only can he shoot, but he can also make rifles like this.”

Cheng Qiao understood Xuhui very well. Seeing his hesitant expression, she hurried to comfort him.

Xuhui nodded. The rifle at home was powerful, but unfortunately, it had been confiscated by the authorities.

“Dad, why don’t you take me shooting? Although there are no bullets…”

“Let me see if small lead balls can work. If they do, you can practice. We have a house in the county town; you can practice there.”

Xuhui brightened immediately and started playing with it. Li Ming was envious. He carefully touched the gun barrel but didn’t dare to press hard.

“Little brother, you like it too? Come, I’ll play with you.”

Xuhui scooped Li Ming onto his lap, and the brothers began to play together. Li Huan knew the gun had no bullets, so he could let them play safely.

Finally, New Year’s Eve arrived. Early in the morning, Cheng and Li family members went to Cheng Qiao’s siheyuan to pay respects to their ancestors. Little Cheng Li, as the third generation of the Cheng family, respectfully held incense and knelt.

Watching the green smoke of sandalwood spiral upwards from the incense burner, Cheng Liguo’s eyes filled with tears. His vision blurred—surely the Cheng ancestors must be happy.

In another room, Mother Li and the grandmother were busy as well, but poor Ye Jing had no idea whom to worship first—the Cheng ancestors or the Li ancestors. Finally, Li Huan placed him beside Li Ming. They were all his children. Soon, little Cheng Li would also come to pay respects to the Li ancestors.

Hearing Li Huan, Ye Jing finally relaxed. He glanced at Ye Jun, who was smiling, making his face flush slightly.

After the rituals, everyone gathered in Cheng Qiao’s siheyuan for the New Year’s Eve dinner. Today, the wine, food, and rice were plentiful, and the children were cheerful.

Later, a drunken Cheng Liguo entered the main courtyard. The moment he stepped into the room, it seemed as if he saw Zhao Min smiling, sitting on the edge of the bed, her eyes filled with affection. Cheng Liguo’s heart fluttered.

“Zhao Min, I finally see you. We have a grandson, named Cheng Li. You see him, right?”

Cheng Liguo staggered toward the bed and tried to embrace Zhao Min, wanting to tell her how hard he had waited these past years and all he wanted to say.

But he hugged too forcefully. Not only did he hug empty air, he also fell onto the bed. Feeling the warmth of the bed, he reluctantly collapsed onto it.

“Minmin, it’s late, let’s go to sleep.”

The room was silent. Cheng Liguo got up, seeing Zhao Min still sitting on the bed edge, her face slightly flushed, her eyes a bit red, but her dimples deepened with a smile.

“Minmin, our Cheng Qiao has grown up and married. She gave us a grandson. Little Cheng Li looks so much like you; seeing him makes my heart melt.”

Zhao Min nodded. Cheng Liguo rejoiced—she had seen little Cheng Li already. Perfect. And little Cheng Li said he would sleep with them tonight.

“Minmin, wait for me. I’ll call little Cheng Li in. Tonight, he’ll sleep with us.”

Cheng Liguo swayed as he stood, glanced at Zhao Min, and felt his heart move. He reached out to hug her but only grasped empty air, falling onto the bed again.