"Silly girl!" Leng Mochen ruffled her hair, pulling her into his arms as he said softly, "We’ve been together for so long, have you ever seen show excessive emotions towards any other woman?
I admit that when I first saw her with Lu Zhengming, I did feel uneasy.
But after investigating the situation, it beca clear that, in this life, Lu Zhenghang was killed by them at the age of 25.
Tell , could I ever have feelings for such a woman? The only reason I spared her before was because she wasn’t the mastermind—her involvent was rely incidental.
Now that I have you and Buding, my heart isn’t big enough to hold anyone else!"
"I’ll trust you for now!" Li Si bit her lower lip. "But if I ever find anything suspicious, you’d better watch out!"
"You can deal with however you want then!"
"You said it yourself! I’ll kick you out with nothing!" Li Si raised her fist.
Leng Mochen kissed her ear lightly and teased, "So ruthless!"
The two reconciled once more as if nothing had happened.
The next day, Leng Mochen went to the company as usual, while Li Si brought gifts to the new neighborhood where she had relocated after the demolition.
The facilities in the neighborhood were quite good, with substantial spacing between the buildings. When she found the building where her new ho was located, there were several elderly ladies sitting near the unit’s entrance playing cards. A cardboard box set on the cent ground was serving as their makeshift table.
Amused, Li Si got out of the car and imdiately spotted Grandma Wang sitting to the east.
The elderly lady looked up and noticed Li Si at once, tossing the cards in her hand onto the table in an instant: "Oh dear! I’m done playing!"
One of the other elderly won complained, "You old lady, I had such good cards! You’re just throwing them away—no way!"
Another elderly woman tugged at her sleeve and said softly, "Soone’s here to visit! Let’s wrap up and play tomorrow!"
"Alright! We’ll continue tomorrow then!"
Grandma Wang stood up, smiling and walking cheerfully toward Li Si, "Li Si! When did you get back?"
"I just got back! Ca to visit you!" Li Si retrieved the gifts from the car’s trunk.
"You child, you don’t need to bring things when you co to visit! Don’t waste money like that!" Grandma Wang adamantly refused the gifts.
Li Si grinned as she held them up, "It’s not anything expensive, just so local specialties! Besides, I have a favor to ask you—I’ve been craving your homade pickled vegetables!"
Grandma Wang playfully scolded, "You sly girl! Co on in! I’ve just pickled a fresh batch in the fridge, thinking you might co back soon to have so!"
Grandma Wang led Li Si through the unit’s door, while the three elderly won outside began murmuring softly amongst themselves, "Who’s this relative of Mrs. Wang? She looks quite well-off!"
"No idea! Haven’t seen her since we moved here!"
"True! Her grandson and granddaughter-in-law have been spotted a few tis though. This one must be back for the wedding!"
"Must be. The wedding’s next week—we should all go together... "
The three elderly won chatted as they walked away.
Inside Grandma Wang’s ho, Li Si glanced around. It was a two-bedroom, one-living-room layout. The newly-built house had a spacious living room, one big bedroom and one smaller one, and a kitchen imdiately to the left of the entrance.
Though compact, it was well-equipped with everything one might need.
Grandma Wang kept her house impeccably clean. The light-colored sofa was covered with white slipcovers, and the bay window in the living room was adorned with several potted plants. Li Si didn’t recognize most of them, except for clivia and hibiscus, and a third one that seed familiar but whose na she couldn’t recall.
Grandma Wang handed her a glass of warm water and said, "You child, you’ve been out of touch for so long. I even thought of you during the New Year when I was in Shandong, wondering if you’d co back. Later, my eldest daughter-in-law told you hadn’t co back at all.
How’s everything in Beijing? Did you graduate?"
She had heard from her granddaughter-in-law, who was Li Si’s classmate, that recently so thesis defenses had been completed, so it must be the sa for her.
Li Si took a sip of water. "The defense is over—so, yes, I’m officially graduated. Grandma Wang, you look great! Still as robust as ever!"
Grandma Wang chuckled as she sat beside her, "At my age, if you want to live a long and healthy life, you have to stay active and avoid dwelling on the past! Since I ca back from the region, I’ve developed the habit of walking loops daily with neighbors, eating als, and then playing cards or chatting. Life couldn’t be more comfortable!"
"It sounds wonderful! What you said is really important. But generally speaking, not everyone your age can think this way. Most people dwell too much on the past or let worries consu them!"
Many elderly folks like to reminisce about the past, obsess over trivial matters, or stress about one thing after another instead of seeking professional help for their ailnts. Then, by the ti they decide to act, it’s often too late.
Grandma Wang waved her hand dismissively with a laugh, "True! I guess I’ve just been lucky. I’ve hardly had much to worry about! Take the old ladies downstairs for instance—each of them has so family issues causing her stress. Anyway, dear, what brings you back this ti? How long can you stay?"
"I’m back to relocate my dad’s grave to Beijing. I’m handling that matter, so I’ll only be here for a few days."
"Relocating is a good idea—avoids the inconvenience of traveling for annual visits to the grave. But you must consult an expert; relocating graves is a serious matter!" Grandma Wang said gravely. "Does your grandma’s side of the family know about this?"
At the ntion of the Li family, Grandma Wang furrowed her brow. The new neighbors in the community wouldn’t know about them, but back in the old neighborhood, people often talked behind their backs. What kind of family would do such things?
A child loses her father, and her so-called relatives still have the audacity to sell the child’s bone marrow? It’s utterly heartless!
Li Si shook her head, "They don’t know, and I don’t intend to tell them. There’s no need. I send my grandmother two thousand yuan every month—it’s my way of honoring my father’s filial duty!"
Grandma Wang patted Li Si’s hand and sighed, "You’re such a good child! Those people are both hateful and pitiful. It isn’t easy for elderly folks like her. One day, Mrs. Lin Sr. will surely regret it!"
Li Si smiled faintly and remained silent.
Whatever she thought now was no longer relevant to her own life.
"What kind of pickled vegetables are you craving? I’ll pack so for you. I’ve got spicy cabbage, small radishes, and pickled cucumbers in the fridge right now," Grandma Wang said, sensing the topic wasn’t worth continuing. She got up to pack the vegetables for Li Si.
Li Si followed her closely, "Anything will do! Just pack a little—I’m the only one eating them, and too much would go to waste!" Leng Mochen rarely ate pickled vegetables; his eating habits were rather healthy.
Perhaps it had to do with his past life spent abroad. Even after being reborn in Leng Mochen’s body, many of his habits had persisted.
Grandma Wang opened the fridge, smiling as she pulled out a few large jars. Whatever she prepared was always neat and clean. The small radishes were cut into uniform pieces, mixed with red chili peppers—the vibrant red and white color combination looked particularly appetizing.
She took out a transparent container and began using chopsticks to pack so for Li Si.
As she was doing so, there was a knock at the door. With her hands occupied, she didn’t hesitate to ask Li Si, whom she treated like her own granddaughter.
"Dear, can you see who’s at the door?" Anyone coming here was surely family or neighbors; outsiders rarely visited.
Li Si responded with a quick "Okay!" and opened the door—only to freeze, stunned. The person standing outside was equally surprised! (To be continued. If you’ve enjoyed this work, you’re welco to visit Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation votes and monthly tickets—your support is my biggest motivation. For mobile users, please visit m.qidian.)
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