TSWPF -Chapter 448 Jealousy

Grandfather Liu glanced at the painting in Liu Zhihao’s hand and asked, “What’s this for?”

Why would he randomly give him a painting?

Liu Zhihao shook the painting slightly and smiled faintly. “If you don’t want it, I’ll take it with me.”

If it weren’t just one painting, he would have taken it long ago. There was no way he would’ve given it to Grandfather.

At these words, Grandfather Liu snatched the painting from his hands without a word. As he unrolled it, he asked, “Could it be… a portrait of the girl you have your eye on?”

“Yes…”

“Really?” Grandfather Liu looked at Liu Zhihao with delight. “Which family is she from? What’s her character like?” It had always been his biggest worry that his eldest grandson hadn’t married yet.

Thinking of the adorable Xiaoxiao, Liu Zhihao’s expression softened, and he smiled. “She has a good character and is beautiful too.”

Seeing his eldest grandson’s expression, Grandfather Liu clicked his tongue twice, feeling hopeful. “Which family—” His words suddenly stopped.

This…

“Grandfather, she’s from the Liu family. Are you satisfied?” Rarely seeing his grandfather so dumbfounded, Liu Zhihao’s smile deepened even more.

Grandfather Liu blinked, took a deep breath, and carefully examined the girl in the painting. “This… this is Xiaoxiao?” There was a trace of Mo’er in her features.

Liu Zhihao nodded. “Yes, it’s Xiaoxiao. Are you pleased with her?” He himself was very pleased.

After looking a while longer, Grandfather Liu carefully rolled the painting back up, nudged his eldest grandson with his foot, and asked with a smile, “How did you get Xiaoxiao’s portrait?”

He had written to Mo’er before, asking him to paint a portrait of Xiaoxiao, but after nearly half a month without a reply, he hadn’t expected his eldest grandson to bring it back.

He gently touched the painting, feeling his heart melt. This child was beautiful, inheriting only the best qualities of her parents.

“We passed through Ninghua County and stayed at my fourth brother’s place for a night.”

“How is your fourth brother? Is he doing well?”

Seeing his grandfather hurriedly asking questions, Liu Zhihao sighed softly. “Grandfather, are you sure you want to just stand here and chat?”

Indeed, this wasn’t a good place for idle chatter. Grandfather Liu patted his forehead and led Liu Zhihao toward the study.

He had indeed lost favor.

Ever since the fourth brother returned, he had lost favor.

Liu Zhihao didn’t resist, letting Grandfather Liu lead him, and smiled while asking, “Grandfather, didn’t you tell me to wash up and eat?”

“A real man won’t die from being hungry for a while.”

“….”

Looking at his grandfather’s back, older than before, Liu Zhihao pursed his lips and deliberately said, “In your heart, I’m no match for my fourth brother.”

Grandfather Liu laughed heartily. “Once you marry, you’ll be on equal footing.”

He truly feared that his eldest grandson would remain a bachelor all his life.

“I want to marry too, but there’s no girl.”

“What?” Grandfather Liu stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Liu Zhihao, thinking he’d heard wrong. “Zhihao, do you really want to marry?” There were plenty of girls in the capital; he could help his eldest grandson find someone.

Liu Zhihao raised an eyebrow. “Grandfather, didn’t you want me to marry?”

Every time he received a letter from his grandfather, nine out of ten were urging him to marry and have children.

He also understood his grandfather’s worries. He hadn’t given it much thought before, but seeing his fourth brother’s happy family had sparked a bit of desire in him.

“Yes, yes…” Grandfather Liu’s usual sternness vanished, replaced with uncontainable joy. “What kind of girl do you like? I’ll have someone help find her.” He couldn’t hope for the eldest daughter-in-law, so he would have to trouble the third daughter-in-law to help look.

Liu Zhihao candidly replied, “As long as she’s not a delicate, dainty girl.”

He was a soldier, used to battle, with a strong aura that might scare a delicate girl.

Besides, as the future head of the General’s Residence, he couldn’t marry someone too fragile.

“No need to tell me,” Grandfather Liu said. The Liu family’s eldest granddaughter-in-law must be steady and capable. “I’ll find you a good wife.” His eldest grandson had suffered enough; it was time he had a wife to care for him.

Liu Zhihao nodded. “Grandfather, you decide.”

He had no objections.

After settling this matter, Grandfather Liu was in high spirits. In the study, he eagerly asked about Liu Zhimou’s family.

When he heard anecdotes about Xiaoxiao, he longed to rush to Ninghua County immediately to see his great-granddaughter.

“Xiaoxiao really likes me, her eldest uncle,” Liu Zhihao said proudly.

It seemed an honor to receive Xiaoxiao’s affection.

“How do you know?”

“She likes to kiss me.” Liu Zhihao touched his scruffy face. “That’s how she shows she likes someone.” He couldn’t help missing the Bundle.

Hearing this, Grandfather Liu grew even more envious and jealous. His eyes shot daggers at Liu Zhihao, wishing he could go to Ninghua County and receive kisses from his great-granddaughter.

Liu Zhihao, catching his grandfather’s expression, laughed heartily, asking, “Grandfather, aren’t you especially jealous of me?”

The brat, asking on purpose.

Grandfather Liu glared at him, then gently opened the painting again, sighing. “I wonder when I’ll get to hold my great-granddaughter?”

Liu Zhihao sipped his tea. “We’ll have to wait until the fourth brother is transferred back to the capital.”

By the time Mo’er is back, the chance will be long gone.

He decided it would be better to make a trip to Ninghua County himself.

Seeing his grandfather so glum, Liu Zhihao changed the subject. “Did you name Xiaoxiao yourself, Grandfather? It sounds lovely.”

Liu Xiran, Liu Xiran—easy to say and meaningful.

Unbeknownst to him, Grandfather Liu grew even more frustrated, gritting his teeth. He hadn’t named her; that wretched old man, Old Luo, had beaten him to it.

When he had finally come up with the name and told Mo’er, he was told that Mo’er had already decided on the name.

He had thumped his chest in frustration. Infuriating. Truly infuriating.

Even as her own great-grandfather, he had been deprived of naming rights.

“….”

Liu Zhihao touched his nose, realizing Xiaoxiao’s name hadn’t come from his grandfather.

He cleared his throat to comfort him. “Don’t be upset. For the fourth brother’s next child, you can name it in advance.”

After a couple of deep breaths and another cup of tea, Grandfather Liu finally calmed down.

“You’ll also get to name your own child,” Mo’er said. He couldn’t lose to Old Luo again.

Thinking of Old Luo snatching the naming rights, he felt annoyed.

Liu Zhihao shrugged casually. “Fine, Grandfather can decide everything.”

Grandfather Liu looked at him several times, then sighed. “I wonder when your child will be born.”

“With a good girl, marriage can happen anytime.”

“Good, I’ll try to have you married this year and holding a great-grandson next year.”

“….”

It seemed Grandfather’s wishes were a bit too ambitious.

Liu Zhihao rubbed his forehead and decisively changed the subject.

When Grandfather Liu heard his eldest grandson talk about the border affairs, his face turned serious, and he discussed matters earnestly.

Half an hour later, Liu Zhihao left the study and returned to his courtyard.

Within just that half hour, the entire Liu family knew of his return.

Especially Jiang Yingying. Her expression changed repeatedly. What had Liu Zhihao returned for?

He hadn’t been back in four or five years. Why now?

Nothing good ever came from his visits.

She paced her room angrily, growing increasingly irritable, smashing everything in sight.

Looking at the shattered pieces on the floor, she felt a bit better. About to call someone to clean up, Liu Wenjie returned. Seeing the room cleared by Jiang Yingying’s rampage, he frowned. “What’s wrong again? Who made you angry?”

He knew her temper; when angry, she liked to break things. How many batches of furniture had been replaced?

Fortunately, the Liu family had some wealth, or she couldn’t have caused so much trouble.

Her brain wasn’t stupid; there was no way she would admit in front of her husband that she had smashed things because she was upset that his eldest son had returned. If she did, her husband would surely scold her.

She stood up, forcing a smile. “It’s nothing.”

She signaled her maid to call someone to clean up.

Her maid hurried out, summoning servants to clean the room thoroughly.

Once the room was tidy, Liu Wenjie stepped in, sat down, and slowly sipped the hot tea poured by a maid, calming his irritation.

Jiang Yingying sat opposite him, anxiously watching him. “Husband, why did you return so early today?”

“Finished the matter and came back.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yingying went “oh” and suddenly didn’t know what to say.

Recently, she and Liu Wenjie had less and less to talk about, which made her uneasy.

At this rate, he would drift further away from her.

“Husband, how has Shan’er been performing at the military camp?” she asked, grasping at conversation.

At the mention of their youngest son, Liu Wenjie set down his cup and looked at Jiang Yingying. “Not bad.”

Not good, not bad. At least he hadn’t embarrassed the Liu family. He could continue at the camp, to see if there was room for advancement.

As a father, he hoped his youngest son could progress further.

But he also knew his youngest son’s nature; he couldn’t expect him to be as capable as the eldest.

He just hoped his youngest son would perform well at the camp. Once experienced enough, he would find a chance to bring him back to the capital and get him a post as a guard.

Seeing Liu Wenjie in a good mood, Jiang Yingying asked when their son could return.

She worried about the hardships he endured at the camp and felt heartbroken.

She had repeatedly mentioned this to her husband, but he remained unmoved, saying a boy should aim for the world, not stay at home, and should gain experience outside.