RYEY -Chapter 363 The Bright Red Envelope

“It’s late now. You should wash up and rest in the guest room for the night. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Ah, ah, sorry about this… These are things our village prepared…”

“Hmm, just leave them here for now. We’ll deal with it tomorrow.”

Li Huan would accept these things. Although his family didn’t need them, refusing them might seem rude. Besides, they weren’t expensive; letting people feel at ease was also a kind gesture.

The three of them washed their hands, feet, and faces with cold water. It was summer, so it was perfectly normal for grown men to wash in cold water. Even after washing and lying down on the kang, none of them felt sleepy.

By the time the sky started to lighten, the three were already sitting in the courtyard, chatting. Looking at Li Huan’s brick house, they couldn’t help but feel envious.

“Come, breakfast is ready.”

Breakfast was abundant: porridge, steamed buns, boiled eggs, and large meat buns. The three village heads were stunned by the wealth of the Li family and didn’t speak for a while.

“Come, sit and eat. Here, big meat buns made by my mom. Boiled eggs too, for protein. Have a couple of bowls of porridge—don’t be shy.”

“Ah, thank you, thank you.”

Each of the three took a large meat bun. It had been a long time since they’d eaten meat—no, since they’d eaten white wheat buns—and they were truly delicious.

Seeing them hesitant, little Cheng Li brought over three more large meat buns. He had been eating them since he was little and was nearly tired of them.

“Ah, thank you, young man. Director Li, is this your son? He looks like a little girl, so pretty.”

Li Huan smiled and nodded. Little Cheng Li increasingly resembled Cheng Qiao, which made Li Xiaonuan a little jealous. She was a real little girl herself but wasn’t as pretty as her second brother, though she was still beautiful.

Cheng Qiao could only accept it. After all, little Cheng Li was reborn, and some favor from heaven was expected. Good looks were just one aspect; what truly made Cheng Qiao spoil this child was his thoughtfulness and maturity.

After breakfast, Cheng Qiao took the children up the mountain to strengthen their physical stamina and endurance and to teach them how to identify herbs.

Li Ming was happiest; among the children, he had the best agility and endurance—even little Cheng Li, who always followed Cheng Qiao, couldn’t keep up with him.

Li Xiaonuan gritted her teeth and followed closely behind. Her frail condition at birth had long been cured by Cheng Qiao, and now she was strong with good endurance.

Li Huan took the three village heads to the Xiangyang Village Committee. He had already planned for these three villages, so implementing everything was effortless.

The three village heads received the same treatment as Xiangqian Village, aiming to experiment with two wheat harvests per year and developing side industries according to each village’s specialty.

They proposed setting up dozens of fish ponds in Xiangshui Village for aquaculture, and raising rabbits in Xianghou Village—the meat could be sold, and the fur used for clothing, killing two birds with one stone.

When the village head of Xiangrong Village learned they could have a sugar workshop, he was so excited he almost danced. White sugar was precious, and their village could make it.

After all matters were discussed, it was already afternoon by the time they returned. The sun blazed overhead, but no one felt the heat.

Their hearts burned hotter than the sun. They imagined homes like Li Huan’s brick house in their own villages, where villagers could enjoy large meat buns and rice porridge every morning.

After two quiet days at home, Mother Li and Li Le did household chores. Next year, Li Le would graduate and go west to meet with her husband. At that time, mother and daughter might hardly see each other.

“Mom, why don’t you come with me? My second sister-in-law will leave next month too.”

“Ah, this is cruel… why must they be separated? Who’s so heartless?”

“Shh, mom, my second sister-in-law said someone is secretly sabotaging them. They don’t know who, so we just have to endure a bit. In a couple of years, it’ll be fine.”

“This saboteur is terrible. When I see them, I’ll give them a few slaps!”

“Me too! Not just slaps, a few kicks too!”

The mother and daughter laughed heartily. Then the postman arrived on his bicycle, smiling as he handed over a bright red envelope—it was a college admission letter.

“Oh my, Xuhui got into university!”

Mother Li immediately put down her clothes, wiped her hands, and hurried over. But the two of them just held the envelope, turning it over in their hands, not opening it.

The admission letter had to be opened by Xuhui himself—it was one of the greatest joys in a person’s life. They waited until dusk, and Li Ming’s voice could still be heard grumbling:

“We’re supposed to live in the mountains. I still wanted to catch a couple of wolves.”

“Hehe, let’s see who catches whom then, are you out of your mind?”

Little Cheng Li bluntly retorted. Li Ming opened his mouth to reply but was stopped by Cheng Qiao, who noticed Li Huan, his mother, Li Le, and the grandmother waiting at the main gate. Something was happening at home.

Little Cheng Li and Xuhui exchanged a glance and rushed home. When Xuhui saw the bright red envelope, he didn’t know what to do.

“Idiot, open it!”

Li Huan patted Xuhui’s head. Xuhui’s tears blurred his vision. Cheng Qiao took a clean handkerchief and wiped away his tears.

“Mom, thank you. Dad, and Grandma Li, thank you.”

Xuhui held the letter but didn’t open it. He bowed to Cheng Qiao, Li Huan, and Mother Li. Although he had saved little Cheng Li, his parents had raised him, sent him to school, and supported his grandmother.

“No need to thank us. This is your own achievement. Open it and see which school accepted you.”

Xuhui nodded and carefully opened the envelope. A white admission letter with black text appeared, bearing the bright red header of the National University of Defense Technology.

“Haha, my Xuhui is amazing! He really got into the National University of Defense Technology. From now on, he’ll be an honorable soldier. Congratulations!”

Cheng Qiao hugged Xuhui, followed by Li Huan. Little Cheng Li clapped with his siblings. Their big brother was incredible—reading at ten, getting into university at nineteen.

“Good grandson, truly your father’s son. Work hard and make the Chen family proud.”

“Grandma, I will. I’m Chen Dapao’s son. My father was a martyr. I won’t let him down.”

“Good child, you’ve finally grown up. Now I can rest assured.”

Li Huan brought out firecrackers and set them off. Villagers, knowing Xuhui had been admitted, came to congratulate him. Aunt Wang was the most enthusiastic, even bringing benches and tables.

But when she saw the grandmother sitting motionless in her wheelchair, something seemed wrong. Xuhui and Cheng Qiao came over. Cheng Qiao checked the grandmother’s pulse for a long time, shaking her head.