Chapter 86

Zhenzhen returned from the market and handed the live chickens and ducks she bought to Mingxi and Mingbei, asking them to handle the cleaning. As for the pigeons Xī Junjie had brought, Zhenzhen figured they wouldn’t be eaten today, so she opened the cage and placed it in the main courtyard, gave Yuanxiao a handful of millet, and let him feed the pigeons for fun. With her ability under control, she wasn’t worried about the pigeons flying out of the yard.

Since she’d gone for a run and bought live poultry in the morning, Zhenzhen felt like she didn’t smell great. Seeing her little nephew playing happily, she returned to the west wing, shut the windows tightly, locked the door, and entered her space. She released a large basin of hot spring water, stepped into the tub, and sank in for a bath.

She closed her eyes and rested in the tub for ten minutes before opening them and grabbing the shampoo she had bought from the overseas Chinese mall, rubbing it into her long hair. Then she lathered herself thoroughly with body wash and turned on the showerhead. The hot spring water sprayed out and rinsed her clean from head to toe.

Once her bath was done, Zhenzhen didn’t hurry out. She wrapped herself in a towel and adjusted the temperature in her space to around thirty degrees. A gentle breeze blew through, and before long, her shiny black hair was dry.

It was already mid-October and the weather had turned a bit cold. Zhenzhen pulled out a loose, off-shoulder sweater she had knitted herself and put it on, pairing it with a pair of jeans. At the time, thanks to a certain TV drama, flared jeans were a hot trend among young people. But Zhenzhen wasn’t a fan of flares, so she went to several places to find a slimmer, more regular cut. She even had the hems tailored at a ready-to-wear shop. Once she put them on, they made her legs look long and slender, and the whole look was sharp and stylish—absolutely stunning.

Zhenzhen swept the courtyard with her awareness and saw that Mingxi and Mingbei were still plucking the ducks, so there was no rush to head out. She styled her hair into a princess look in front of the mirror, and the slight wave of her bangs added a sweet and cute touch.

Just as she opened the door, she heard someone outside knocking. “Old Li, we’re here!”

Zhenzhen was momentarily stunned, then saw Li Muwu coming out of the house, shouting, “Coming, coming!” as he hurried to welcome the guests.

Zhenzhen scanned the entrance with her awareness and saw a couple standing there—both elegant and striking in appearance—while Xī Junjie stood behind them, looking utterly shocked and dismayed.

Li Muwu invited them in. While Xī Junjie was suffering from existential despair, he was also secretly grateful for his habit of running and showering afterward. The only issue was that his current outfit was far too casual. He immediately regretted it. If he’d known he was coming to visit Zhenzhen’s home, he would’ve worn that well-fitted white suit. But who knew his own dad would sabotage him like this without a word, completely ruining his plan?

Originally, Xī Junjie had planned to wait until he graduated and started working, then show up at Zhenzhen’s house in a custom-made suit and polished shoes, bearing carefully prepared gifts. But now here he was, with his freshly washed, still-fluffy hair, wearing a casual outfit, following behind his parents—completely different from the image he had in mind.

Seeing Zhenzhen walk out from the inner courtyard and give him a soft smile, Xī Junjie suddenly felt like crying.

Ling Xiulan was still exchanging pleasantries with Li Muwu when she noticed a graceful young girl standing under the ornamental gate. Her eyes immediately lit up. Over the years, whether in the Imperial Capital, the Magic Capital, or even France, Ling Xiulan had seen plenty of pretty girls, but none with this kind of otherworldly elegance.

Being someone who appreciated beauty and had a cheerful personality, Ling Xiulan couldn’t stop the stream of compliments forming in her mind when she saw such a beautiful girl. She couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Li, is this your daughter? She’s stunning!”

Li Muwu was caught off guard by the formal “Mr. Li” and fumbled a bit. “Uh, miss, I’m not used to being called that. Why don’t you just call me Old Li, like Old Xi does?”

No way. With a girl this pretty, Ling Xiulan’s first thought was to bring her home as a daughter-in-law. “Old Li” was way too casual for someone like her.

Ling Xiulan, recalling what her husband had mentioned about the Li family, quickly adjusted: “Brother Old Li.”

Now Li Muwu relaxed and grinned from ear to ear. “That’s my girl. Her nickname is Zhenzhen.”

Ling Xiulan didn’t even pay attention to her son still holding gifts behind her. She stepped forward, held Zhenzhen’s hand warmly, and asked affectionately, “Your name’s Zhenzhen? I heard from Old Xi that you go to Imperial Capital University too?”

“Hello, Uncle and Auntie. My name is Li Mingzhen, and I’m a journalism student at Imperial Capital University,” Zhenzhen said with a composed and elegant smile, helping Ling Xiulan step through the ornamental gate.

As soon as they entered the main courtyard, Ling Xiulan was stunned by the sight of pigeons everywhere. Even though her family had only bought theirs two or three days ago, she couldn’t help feeling that these looked awfully familiar. Just as she was puzzling over it, she spotted the cage in the corner of the yard—and the butterfly knot she tied on it herself—instantly confirming her suspicions.

She turned to look at her son, who had been silent the whole way. His cheeks were slightly red, and though he tried to play it cool, his eyes kept following Zhenzhen. Ling Xiulan immediately understood: So it wasn’t that her son was dense—he just hadn’t met a girl this pretty before.

When the pigeons noticed people approaching, they flapped their wings and flew into the corner. Zhenzhen felt a little annoyed—she’d been so focused on welcoming Xī Junjie’s family that she forgot to put the pigeons away. She clapped her hands toward the birds, and instantly, all ten of them scrambled back into the cage and sat quietly. Zhenzhen quickly shut the door.

Ling Xiulan was amazed to see how well-trained these pigeons were in just one morning. “Have you raised pigeons before?”

“No,” Zhenzhen said with a slightly embarrassed smile. “But back in my hometown, I often played with birds in the mountains, so I’m pretty familiar with them.”

Since the pigeons were a gift from Xī Junjie and his parents were now visiting, it was only proper to thank them sincerely. “I haven’t yet thanked you, Auntie, for the generous gift of pigeons. Now that you’re here today, you must try my cooking.”

“Good! Good! Good!” Ling Xiulan beamed from ear to ear. Seeing her son’s slightly awkward expression made her even more delighted. Who would’ve thought he was clever enough to sneak things from home to win over a girl?

Looking at the pigeons packed into the cage, Ling Xiulan had a sudden realization about the mysterious disappearance of her wild ducks. She linked arms with Zhenzhen and asked with a bright smile, “Was that wild duck tasty last time?”

“It was! Very plump,” Zhenzhen said, eyes crinkling with her smile. “The ducks you raised are amazing, Auntie. The soup was so flavorful.”

“I’m glad you liked it.” Ling Xiulan looked completely pleased. Then, with meaning in her eyes, she glanced at Xī Junjie. “Our Junjie has even been urging me to raise more wild chickens, ducks, and pigeons. If there’s anything you like to eat, just tell Auntie. I love raising these things.”

Following her gaze, Zhenzhen’s eyes also landed on Xī Junjie, and she smiled a little shyly. “That’s too kind… I’ve already eaten quite a few of your ducks these past months.”

Ling Xiulan mentally tallied the number of missing ducks from her own yard and nodded to herself: yes, quite a few indeed.

Grandma Li and Wang Sufen had just heard from Li Muwu that neighbors were coming over as guests. Wang Sufen quickly used the time before the visitors arrived to wipe the floors again and tidy up everything scattered around. Even though the main house was now split between Grandma Li and the Li couple, both women were neat freaks—they’d scrub the place three times a day if they could. The house was always spotless.

Grandma Li picked out a bit of each fruit that Li Muwen had brought and filled a large basin with them. She handed it to Xie Yanan and Wang Xinwen to wash. By the time voices started coming from outside, the fruit had already been rinsed, arranged on a tray, and brought up.

Zhenzhen’s family lived in the central courtyard of what used to be a royal mansion, so the layout from the front courtyard to the main house was different from Xi Junjie’s family home. As Xi Changbo admired the original look of the old house, he entered the main hall and was greeted by a full set of rosewood furniture.

The Li family had been in the capital for almost a year. With the social environment growing more relaxed, and more places no longer requiring ration tickets for purchases, Zhenzhen took the opportunity to furnish the house with new items. Since the remaining funds from buying the house were in her hands, the family didn’t question her much.

Living in such a classically elegant home, Zhenzhen didn’t favor brand-new furniture. Aside from a few Qing Dynasty pieces they had at first, any new additions were at least in the style of the Republic era imitating the Qing. The furniture set in the main hall, for instance, was modeled after Qing Dynasty rosewood with colorful shell inlays. The tables and chairs were intricately carved on both sides with patterns symbolizing prosperity and blessings, the Five Fortunes bringing Longevity, and peaceful bamboo motifs.

Because these weren’t particularly rare antiques, Xi Changbo and Ling Xiulan didn’t focus on the furniture. Instead, their gazes were drawn to the row of orchids placed in the main hall. Most of the varieties they’d seen the night before in Xi Junjie’s room were also present here. A glance at the pots showed they were all from the same collection—clearly purchased together.

“Auntie, these flowers are really well cared for,” Ling Xiulan praised with a smile.

“They’re all thanks to our Zhenzhen,” Grandma Li replied, full of pride when talking about her granddaughter. “She’s loved fiddling with flowers and plants since she was little. Everything she touches just thrives. If you like any of them, take a couple pots with you when you go.”

“I’ve got quite a few orchids at home myself,” Ling Xiulan said with a warm smile. “I enjoy tending flowers too, though I’m not great at it. If Mingzhen ever has time, she should come by for a visit—we can chat about plants. You don’t know, but I took a liking to her the moment I saw her.”

Grandma Li chuckled happily. “If you don’t mind her being a bit noisy, let her come play. Back when we were in Heilongjiang, we always visited each other to chat, but since we moved to the capital, we barely know anyone. Even if we wanted to chat, there’s nowhere to go.”

“Auntie, sister-in-law, you should come over to my place to chat when you’re free,” Ling Xiulan said enthusiastically. “With the kids at school during the day, I get quite lonely. People say distant relatives can’t beat close neighbors—and we’re not just neighbors, we’re living in two wings of the same royal mansion, separated only by a wall. We really ought to be closer.”

“Alright, then you’re welcome at our place too. We might not have many flowers, but we grow a lot of vegetables. If you want to eat something, just come pick it,” Grandma Li agreed cheerfully, clearly glad to find someone willing to befriend the family.

While the group was chatting warmly, Zhenzhen walked in carrying a tea tray. The family had some fine tea from Li Muwen, and to show their respect, Zhenzhen had even brought out a set of late Qing imperial porcelain from her storage space to serve it.

Xi Changbo lifted the lid of the teacup, took a sip, and complimented, “Excellent tea!”

Ling Xiulan accepted her cup from Zhenzhen and set it down on a side table, beaming with genuine affection. “Good girl, don’t fuss around. Come sit down and chat with us.”

“Alright.” Zhenzhen answered sweetly, smiling as she turned and handed a cup to Xi Junjie.

From the moment he entered the room, Xi Junjie had quickly adjusted his mindset. He might be dressed casually, but he could still behave well—no point in giving a bad impression. So when Zhenzhen handed him tea, he stood up at once to receive it, and before he could even set it down, he eagerly praised, “This tea you made is amazing. I’m really in for a treat today.”

Zhenzhen’s eyes curved into a smile. “You haven’t even tasted it yet. How do you know it’s good?”

“I can smell the fragrance—you brewed it, of course it’s good,” Xi Junjie replied, his face full of warmth.

Xi Changbo had been too busy chatting with Li Muwen when he first arrived to notice his son’s behavior. Now seeing Xi Junjie acting so attentive, he couldn’t help feeling a bit smug: This rascal—claiming he didn’t know the girl. Look at how well he’s sucking up. Must’ve liked her for a while now.

Grandma Li put on her reading glasses and gave Xi Junjie a good once-over. Her eyes showed a trace of approval. “Oh my, is this your son? He’s very handsome.”

Ling Xiulan quickly responded with a smile, “Your Mingzhen is the truly good-looking one. To tell you the truth, I’ve been to many places and seen many beauties, but Mingzhen isn’t just beautiful—she’s got a spirit about her. One look and you just like her.”

Everyone likes hearing praise for their children. The moment Ling Xiulan finished speaking, Grandma Li grinned so wide her eyes almost disappeared. Wang Sufen, a little embarrassed from all the praise, chuckled and said, “Don’t be fooled by how quiet she looks—she’s actually wild and bounces all over the place.”

“That’s a good thing!” Ling Xiulan quickly said. “My Junjie is too quiet. He used to go jogging with his dad around 7 every morning, but now he won’t even go when his dad calls him.” She looked at Zhenzhen with joy. “Since you and Junjie are classmates and both studying French, you should join more campus activities together. Junjie, make sure you look after Mingzhen at school too.”

As soon as she said that, Mingxi and Mingbei walked in after finishing up with the chickens and ducks. Mingxi glanced at Xi Junjie, who was sitting at the end of the row, and said with surprise, “Hey, isn’t this the guy who jogs with Zhenzhen every morning? So he lives next door?” As the room suddenly fell silent, Mingxi looked confused.

Ever since Mingxi moved into the courtyard, he had noticed that Zhenzhen went out jogging every morning. Since his parents and grandma lived with Zhenzhen, he assumed everyone knew and casually brought it up. Now, seeing everyone speechless and his dad giving him a fiery glare, he awkwardly stepped back. “Uh, I just remembered I haven’t finished with the pigeons Zhenzhen asked me to prep… I’d better go deal with those first…”

And off Mingxi ran.

Zhenzhen, trying to play it cool, stood up and said, “Since the ducks are done, I need to start roasting. The stove’s been lit since early morning.” She gave polite goodbyes to Xi Changbo and Ling Xiulan, then shot Xi Junjie a helpless glance before slipping away herself.

Xi Junjie, face stiff, glanced at his gleeful parents and the complex expression on Li Muwen’s face. He was at a total loss—this wasn’t part of the plan.

Unlike the father’s reluctance to see his daughter courted, Grandma Li and Wang Sufen seemed genuinely happy. Back in Beicha, kids Zhenzhen’s age would’ve been married already. The Li family had a late-marriage pattern, and Zhenzhen spent her days buried in books. Grandma Li had honestly been worried she lacked the romantic instinct.

Now that Xi Junjie might become a future grandson-in-law, Grandma Li scrutinized him more critically. His looks were flawless—she’d lived a long time but hadn’t seen a boy this handsome before. He seemed well-mannered, too. As for personality and morals, well, time would tell. Still, thinking of the boys her granddaughter’s age back in Beicha, she definitely preferred this one.

Seeing Li Muwu glaring at Xi Junjie like a fierce beast, Grandma Li felt a little soft-hearted and tried to smooth things over. “Actually, going out for a run in the morning is great. When your body’s in good shape, you won’t suffer so much when you’re older. Just look at our Muwu—he’s done heavy labor his whole life, all thanks to those years of climbing mountains every day as a kid.” She shot Li Muwu a glance, then smiled and added, “From now on, Mingbei should join him for morning runs too. Don’t just lie around all day eating and sleeping like a dummy. Learn a thing or two from others.”

Mingbei had only just sat down for barely two minutes when he got dragged into it. Still trying to get his bearings, he scratched the back of his head and looked at Xi Junjie for a while before finally realizing what was going on. “Oh, it’s you. Every time I take the bus home from school, I see you.”

Xi Junjie smiled. “I go to Imperial Capital University too. It’s on the same route.”

“What a coincidence.” Mingbei grinned. “So, uh, I’m Li Mingbei. What’s your name?”

“Xi Junjie. I’m majoring in French in the Western Languages Department.”

“Xi Junjie… French, huh…” Mingbei furrowed his brow slightly, as if trying to recall something. “That name sounds familiar.” After thinking hard for a moment, his eyes suddenly lit up. “Right! Last semester my Wife mentioned you. She said my sister Zhenzhen told her you were really good-looking, and she remembered your name because of that. My Wife freaked out at the time—she dragged me along, insisting we go see what you looked like, but we never got the chance ‘cause we were busy studying for exams.” He looked closely at Xi Junjie’s face, frowned, then nodded. “Yeah, you are good-looking. Otherwise my sister wouldn’t have remembered your name.”

Grandma Li sighed as she looked at Mingbei. He’d gotten into National University, yet his head still hadn’t caught up—he was just blurting out whatever was on his mind. Seeing him about to keep rambling, she couldn’t help calling out, “Don’t just sit there being silly. Didn’t Zhenzhen want to roast a duck? Go help her feed the fire.”

“Oh.” Mingbei got up, and didn’t forget to give Xi Junjie a shout. “What time are you heading back to school tonight? Let’s go together, we can chat on the bus.”

Xi Junjie didn’t even have to look at Li Muwu to know that Mingbei was definitely getting a beating today. He couldn’t sit there anymore either, so he seized the chance to stand up. “Grandma Li, how about I go help too?”

Seeing how uncomfortable Xi Junjie looked inside the house, Grandma Li nodded. “Go have some fun, but don’t get your hands dirty. There are plenty of people here, we don’t need your help.”

Xi Junjie responded quickly and followed Mingbei out of the main house. Only when they reached the kitchen at the back through the corridor did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Once the kids were gone, Ling Xiulan burst out laughing. “Auntie Li, I tell you, my son’s always had a cool, calm personality. No matter what happens, he always keeps a straight face. I’ve never seen him so flustered before.”

Grandma Li smiled with narrowed eyes. “Junjie and Zhenzhen are both college students now. They have their own thoughts. If they want to date, let them. It’s all freedom these days anyway, just like on TV. We adults shouldn’t interfere too much—getting too involved just makes them unhappy.”

Li Muwu instantly felt wronged. “How old is Zhenzhen, already dating?”

Wang Sufen gave him a look and shot him down on the spot. “Not that young. I was already pregnant with Mingdong when I was her age.”

“That’s different,” Li Muwu snapped, flustered. After holding it in for a while, he finally came up with an excuse. “My daughter gets good grades. She’s top of her class. She’s got a top scholarship!”

Just as Xi Changbo was about to say something, Li Muwu cut him off. “And my daughter knows how to fish! What can your son do, huh?”

Xi Changbo calmly replied, “The girl my son likes is pretty capable.”

Li Muwu: …Shameless!!