NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29: Aftermath
Chapter 29: Aftermath
Li Xi was already able to connect all ten hand seals of the fireball technique. Although not fast, her previous progress had only been familiarizing herself with the first seal!
Something wasn’t right; something must have happened that they didn’t know about.
After inquiring, they finally learned what had transpired.
Li Shan couldn’t help but praise: “That young Wen Ze has always been decisive. Now he can even persuade our little stubborn donkey. He’s bound to achieve great things in the future!”
Li Jiang was also very pleased. The villagers had previously thought it odd that he became brothers with an 11-year-old child, even though this child had proposed the “pressure well” principle at nine. But everyone believed it was mainly his own credit, no matter how he tried to defend Li Wen Ze.
Li Wen Ze hadn’t blamed him, saying he was still young and too much fame wasn’t good, which had dispelled Li Jiang’s long-standing guilt.
Now that his good brother had quietly helped his little sister Xi’er, he was naturally happy.
“He helped our little sister; we can’t pretend not to know. His family doesn’t lack anything, so why don’t we send some food to his family every day from now on? It’s a way to show our gratitude,” Wu Jingwan suggested with a smile.
“Wen Ze is my good brother. How can I let sister-in-law thank him for me? It’s embarrassing. Let me think about it again,” Li Jiang quickly shook his head. Things shouldn’t be done this way.
“Wen Ze helped our little sister. As her elder brother and sister-in-law, are we not qualified to thank him on her behalf?” Li He said sternly, changing from his usual gentle demeanor.
“Big brother, how could I think that way? I just feel that sister-in-law is already tired from cooking every day. To trouble her to prepare extra for Wen Ze’s family, this… this…” Li Jiang knew his big brother was pretending to be angry to persuade him, but how could things be done this way?
Wu Jingwan said very gently, “We’re all family. Besides, I’m going to sell food in the future anyway. Preparing one more portion isn’t difficult. Second brother, don’t overthink it.”
“Then on behalf of that kid Wen Ze, I’ll thank sister-in-law first!”
At this point, Li Jiang stopped refusing. It was sister-in-law’s good intention; refusing further might hurt the family’s feelings.
So, for tonight’s dinner, Li Wen Ze once again received food from his good brother’s family.
Li Jiang also kept patting his shoulder and praising him, finally saying that from now on, his family would provide all the dishes for his good brother’s family.
Li Wen Ze, who hadn’t felt embarrassed by his good brother’s praise before, now felt uncomfortable.
“I just did a small thing, how can I deserve such thanks! I’ll accept today’s food, but tomorrow…”
Li Jiang directly interrupted Li Wen Ze’s words: “You helped Xi’er, so you deserve thanks. Don’t refuse!”
Li Wen Ze still insisted: “It was just a small favor. How can I keep taking advantage of your family? Besides, how can I feel at ease enjoying the fruits of your sister-in-law’s labor when she has to cook an extra portion every day!”
“My word doesn’t count here. My sister-in-law is usually gentle and easy to talk to, but once she decides on something, no one can change her mind! Don’t put me in a difficult position. I can’t persuade her!”
“This…” Li Wen Ze was very troubled.
“You probably don’t know yet, but my sister-in-law plans to sell food in the future. She says preparing an extra portion for your family isn’t a problem. Don’t overthink it.”
Seeing that he was still troubled and unwilling to accept, Li Jiang simply repeated his sister-in-law’s words.
Hearing this, Li Wen Ze quickly said, “Wait a moment, let me talk to my father.”
Li Jiang thought Li Wen Ze had accepted and smiled as he watched Li Wen Ze go inside, waiting at the door.
As a result, he not only waited for Li Wen Ze but also for Li Wen Ze’s father, Li Jing.
Li Jing was also in his late thirties or early forties, a handsome middle-aged man, though he seemed quite thin, perhaps due to casually eating at home all day.
“Uncle Jing, why did you come out? It’s just a small matter,” Li Jiang said, rubbing the back of his head and smiling in greeting.
“You little rascal, not even inviting your Brother Jiang in to talk!” Li Jing gave Li Wen Ze a tap on the back of his head before turning to Li Jiang. “Little Jiang says it’s not a big deal, but I think it is. Although Wen Ze helped a bit, we can’t keep taking advantage of your family. Let’s go to your house together and talk about it.”
At Li Xi’s home, Li Jing’s hearty laughter preceded him.
“Brother Shan, are you, sister-in-law, and the kids all well?”
Li Jing stepped in, greeting first.
“Brother Jing, we’re all fine. But how did such a small matter bring you here?”
Li Shan also smiled.
“Brother, how is this a small matter? I can’t keep taking advantage of your family like this. If I stayed quiet hearing about such a big thing, what kind of person would I be?”
Li Jing approached, picked up Song’er, and bounced him in his arms.
“Song’er looks so blessed!” The chubby little boy was fair and plump, his chubby hands like white, tender lotus roots.
“Your Wen Ze is really something. He’s been making do with simple meals following you all these years. Now that he’s done our Xi’er a big favor, sending some food is completely within our means. Don’t refuse on his behalf!”
Li Shan looked at Li Wen Ze approvingly. This child was really good, just still growing and as thin as his father.
Using Wen Ze as an entry point, Li Shan instantly grasped Li Jing’s soft spot.
Wen Ze was the child he had with his late wife. Growing up with him through ups and downs all these years had indeed been tough on the boy. Now the child aspired to become a sword cultivator; how could he do that without a good physique?
But it was indeed difficult for Li Jing to do anything about it.
Li Jing had been cooking for so many years and had thought about improving his culinary skills, but his cooking hadn’t improved at all. He could only make boiled vegetables and meat with water, at most adding some salt. Not only could Wen Ze not eat it, even he himself was tired of it.
But he couldn’t just accept their offer without feeling guilty.
“We’ll shamelessly accept today’s meal, but I heard that your eldest daughter-in-law plans to sell food in the future. Why don’t we buy a portion every day with spirit pearls? That way, it’s a win-win situation.”
Seeing that Li Jing was quite insistent, Li Shan thought for a moment and said, “Brother, let’s not talk about spirit pearls. I see that Wen Ze is only a year older than Xi’er, yet he’s more mature, knowledgeable, and smarter, able to persuade her. I really like this boy Wen Ze. Let me be thick-skinned and suggest this: why don’t our two families become sworn relatives? I’d like to recognize him as my adopted son. In the future, Wen Ze can look after Xi’er as an adopted older brother. This way, we’re all one family, and there’s no need to be polite about meals between family members. What do you think?”
Li Shan truly liked Li Wen Ze. Although adopting Li Wen Ze as his son was a spur-of-the-moment idea, the more he thought about it, the more he felt it was a good idea.
Xi’er’s two brothers were much older than her and had their own things to do. The grandchildren were still young. She usually went to the village school and practiced cultivation on her own, with no one her age at home. If they recognized Li Wen Ze as an adopted brother, it would be more natural for them to be closer, and having someone of the same age around wouldn’t that be better?