Chapter 125: Returning Home

Having finally completed his work in France, Xi Junjie quickly called home after receiving his ticket to return. It had been three years since he last saw his two children, and the two families missed them dearly. Wang Sufen called the furniture factory to arrange for two cars to take the families to the airport to pick up Xi Junjie and Zhenzhen.

The two returned with minimal luggage, each carrying only one suitcase with their everyday clothes. Xi Junjie had already hired a team to manage his overseas assets, and even the fashion magazines and new seasonal clothing needed for the beauty salon were entrusted to someone to mail back regularly.

Grandma Li and Wang Sufen held hands, craning their necks to peer eagerly at the exit. Just as they were anxiously waiting, a pretty figure finally emerged. Grandma Li let go of Wang Sufen and ran over nimbly, hugging Zhenzhen tightly. “Oh, my dear, you’ve finally come back. I’ve missed you so much.”

Zhenzhen wrapped her arms around Grandma Li. “I’ve missed you too, Grandma. I often dream about you.”

Grandma Li playfully tapped Zhenzhen. “You little fibber, if you missed me, you should have come back sooner.” Despite her words, Grandma Li held Zhenzhen’s hand with a beaming smile. Wang Sufen and Li Muwu also came over, grinning from ear to ear. Zhenzhen hugged Wang Sufen and Li Muwu, making Li Muwu blush. “You’re all grown up, still acting spoiled with your dad, making people laugh.” But his proud expression betrayed his true feelings. Zhenzhen laughed and hugged him again, saying brightly, “I’ve missed you all.”

Li Muwu couldn’t stop smiling. “Well then, Dad’s taking you out for a meal at a restaurant!”

Nearby, Xi Changbo and Ling Xiulan were also chatting with Xi Junjie. Once both sides finished their greetings, Zhenzhen quickly came over to call out, “Dad, Mom.”

Ling Xiulan smiled, holding Zhenzhen’s hand and looking at her. “Our Zhenzhen is getting prettier.”

Seeing that Xi Junjie had finished greeting the Li family, Xi Changbo quickly invited everyone into the car. “I’ve reserved a restaurant. Let’s eat first, then go home so the kids can rest.”

Li Muwu squeezed in, looking displeased. “I already told my daughter I’d treat her to a meal, and you stole my thunder!”

Over the years, with Xi Junjie away, Xi Changbo’s favorite pastime was bantering with Li Muwu, and both had become quite sharp-tongued. Hearing Li Muwu accuse him of stealing the spotlight, Xi Changbo retorted, “Did you reserve a restaurant?”

Li Muwu was momentarily stumped. “Can’t we just go directly?”

Xi Changbo elegantly rolled his eyes. “Today is Sunday. By the time we get from the airport to the city, it’ll be past noon. Those big restaurants might not have space.” Seeing Li Muwu deflate, Xi Changbo smugly announced, “I’ve reserved a big room for both families. Just come and eat.”

Li Muwu stubbornly insisted, “Then I’ll pay. I have to treat my daughter.”

Xi Changbo chuckled and shook his head. “Alright, alright, you can pay for lunch. But I’m warning you, don’t come crying to me if you run out of pocket money.”

Li Muwu pretended not to hear the last part, energetically running over to Zhenzhen, proudly declaring, “Zhenzhen, Dad’s paying for lunch today.”

“Great!” Zhenzhen wrapped her arm around Li Muwu’s. “Then I’ll order some good dishes.”

“Order whatever you like. Dad’s got plenty of money.” Looking at Zhenzhen’s delicate face, Li Muwu felt a pang. “Did you not eat well abroad? I heard from your father-in-law that they don’t have braised ribs or red-cooked pork there. Look how skinny you’ve gotten.”

Zhenzhen touched her face, laughing and crying at the same time. “Dad, a round face isn’t pretty.”

“Pretty, pretty, my daughter is beautiful no matter what!” Li Muwu opened the car door for Zhenzhen, and Grandma Li immediately squeezed in after her. Wang Sufen cleverly opened the other door, giving Li Muwu a triumphant look before sitting next to Zhenzhen.

Seeing his precious daughter sandwiched between his wife and mother-in-law, Li Muwu dejectedly closed the door and reluctantly sat in the front passenger seat.

The car drove all the way to the Imperial Hotel, where Xi Changbo had reserved a large private room with three tables for both the Xi and Li families. Everyone was waiting for Xi Junjie and Zhenzhen.

As the door to the private room opened, Xi Changbo entered, followed by Xi Junjie and Zhenzhen. The young people from both families immediately cheered. Before Zhenzhen could see who was inside, her arms were filled with bouquets, blocking her view.

“Sister-in-law, you’re amazing!”

“Auntie, I’ve missed you so much!”

“Zhenzhen, you’re finally back!”

Familiar and unfamiliar faces crowded around. Over the past three years, Zhenzhen’s work abroad not only brought back thousands of Cultural Relics for China but also earned her a fan base, especially among the younger family members who admired her greatly.

After setting the flowers aside, Zhenzhen greeted Grandma Xi, the Xi family elders, and the Li family couple. Although she had heard Xi Changbo mention at the airport that both families were invited for the meal, she hadn’t expected not only the Xi elders but also the high-ranking uncles Xi Changshan and Li Muwen to attend the welcome banquet.

Sitting at the main table, Xi Changshan smiled and said, “Mingzhen has really made a name for herself abroad these past few years. You’re now a celebrity in our country.” Xi Junjie’s aunt, Chang Leqing, immediately laughed and said, “Zhenzhen, you might not know this, but the Li Mingzhen gallery in the National Museum now occupies an entire floor, making it the largest exhibition hall in the museum.”

The National Museum has always divided its exhibition areas by era, but the Cultural Relics that Zhenzhen brought back span from oracle bones to Qing Dynasty artifacts, covering a millennium. To thank Li Mingzhen for her generous donations, the museum broke its usual rules and established a separate Li Mingzhen gallery, which has expanded from a single room to an entire floor.

“I’ve been there several times,” Chang Leqing said. “Once you’ve rested, you should go take a look.”

Li Muwen’s wife, Xue Wenhua, was no longer as distant and polite as before, her face now adorned with a warm smile. “The Forbidden City also has a Li Mingzhen Cultural Relics exhibition these days. Your uncle and I went to see it yesterday. He said you’re the pride of the Li family.”

Xue Wenhua was genuinely impressed by Li Mingzhen. Years ago, when she and Li Muwen took a long train ride back to the remote Lin City, she found the young girl to be particularly spirited and pretty, not like someone raised in such a small place. Because Li Muwen valued the only girl in the family, Xue Wenhua even spent a month’s salary on a wool coat for her. Later, Li Mingzhen was admitted to the Imperial University with the top score in the province and traded gold bars she found in the mountains for a sought-after courtyard house in the capital. At the time, Xue Wenhua thought the girl would do well, but she never imagined how successful she would become. Even Li Muwen, who thought he had reached the peak of his career, rose another level in the military due to Li Mingzhen’s influence, which was no small feat in peacetime without military achievements.

Zhenzhen didn’t have any ill feelings towards Xue Wenhua. Although she was somewhat aloof, she had consistently provided for Grandma Li and regularly brought her children to spend weekends with her, which was commendable.

Zhenzhen exchanged a few pleasantries with Xue Wenhua, and soon the pre-ordered dishes began to arrive. Although she had eaten well abroad, the familiar flavors made Zhenzhen feel that Chinese cuisine was the best in the world.

The lively lunch lasted until the afternoon, with Li Muwu and Xi Changbo drinking until their faces were red. Xi Junjie was slightly tipsy, but Zhenzhen, with her flushed cheeks and clear eyes, clearly hadn’t drunk too much.

Back at their long-missed home, Zhenzhen looked around the small room she shared with Xi Junjie. The floors and windowsills were spotless, fresh flowers bloomed in the vase, and the bedding seemed freshly changed, exuding a faint fragrance.

The couple took off their clothes and tossed them into the washing machine, letting the warm water from the shower cascade over them. They exchanged shy smiles, both a little flushed. After a bath, Xi Junjie felt much more refreshed and couldn’t help but hover around Zhenzhen as she dried her hair, occasionally sneaking a kiss.

As Zhenzhen dried her hair, she dodged Xi Junjie’s advances. “Aren’t you tired after such a long flight?”

Xi Junjie’s face was still a bit red from the alcohol, and his long eyelashes and moist lips looked particularly enticing. “I was tired, but seeing you makes me feel energized. Let me hold you, darling.”

As Xi Junjie approached, Zhenzhen playfully lifted her leg to block him with her foot. “You big flirt.”

Xi Junjie placed his hand on Zhenzhen’s foot, letting it glide up her smooth leg. “Let me help you dry your hair.”

Feeling ticklish from Xi Junjie’s touch, Zhenzhen withdrew her leg, and Xi Junjie immediately moved closer, taking over the hairdryer to gently dry her long, shiny hair.

As her hair dried, Xi Junjie turned off the hairdryer and tossed it aside, eagerly pulling Zhenzhen onto the bed. Before she could speak, he kissed her passionately.

The kiss moved from her lips to her neck and gradually downward. As the kisses grew more intense, Zhenzhen’s large, bright eyes became slightly dazed, her hands weakly resting on Xi Junjie’s firm chest, allowing him to do as he pleased.

The sturdy wooden bed creaked for a good half-hour before it finally stopped. Zhenzhen lay weakly in Xi Junjie’s arms, gently covering her abdomen, thinking to herself, “I hope I can have twins, a boy and a girl.”

Just as she thought this, Zhenzhen felt a slight warmth in her abdomen, soon sensing a faint life force within her. Although it was weak, almost imperceptible, she could still feel their presence.

After cleaning up, Xi Junjie snuggled up to Zhenzhen, kissing her cheek. “Want me to carry you for a rinse?”

“But I’m so sleepy, I don’t want to move,” Zhenzhen yawned lazily.

Xi Junjie chuckled and shook his head. “Then you sleep, and I’ll wipe you down.”

Zhenzhen nodded, and sleep quickly overtook her. In her drowsiness, she felt a warm towel gently wiping away the sweat from her body. She sighed contentedly and soon drifted into a deep sleep.

After resting at home for a week, Ling Xiulan was too busy with the beauty salon to stay home with them, so Grandma Li and Wang Sufen happily took over the task of feeding the young couple. From early morning, the two would start discussing what to eat, then squeeze into the kitchen with the cook to get busy.

Sometimes it was eight-treasure porridge, various side dishes, and large meat buns; other times it was steamed dumplings and wontons; sometimes it was tofu pudding and fried dough sticks. Grandma Li thought of all the breakfasts she had ever eaten in her life, preparing different delicious meals for the two. As for lunch and dinner, they were even more lavish, with a table full of dishes. Grandma Li and the others had experienced hard times before, so they were reluctant to waste any food. Li Muwu would stuff himself, and within a week, he had gained weight.

Xi Junjie and Zhenzhen were also overwhelmed by the food, constantly telling Grandma Li not to make so many dishes. Grandma Li would agree, but once she was in the kitchen, she’d forget her promise: “These ribs are fresh, let’s braise them; Zhenzhen loves this with rice. Oh, that chicken is freshly slaughtered, let’s stew some chicken soup to nourish my dear Zhenzhen. Look at her little face, so thin, it breaks my heart. These two fish are really good; Junjie loves fish, let’s steam them for a fresh taste. And let’s make more vegetables; it’s all meat and fish, the kids will get tired of it.” By lunchtime, the table was once again full.

Finally, it was Monday again. Xi Junjie and Zhenzhen left the house without even having breakfast, stopping at a small street shop for a bowl of tofu pudding each before heading to work.

Zhenzhen leisurely rode her bicycle into the newspaper office’s gate. The gatekeeper, upon seeing Zhenzhen, jumped up from his chair and shouted, “Li Mingzhen is back!” This startled Zhenzhen so much that she almost fell off her bike. She patted her chest in relief, still shaken, and looked at the gatekeeper, taking a while to regain her composure.

The old man’s shout was so loud that not only did people in the bike shed hear it and come running out, but even those in the upstairs offices poked their heads out: “Where’s Li Mingzhen?”

Zhenzhen was dumbfounded as a large group of people gathered around her. Her bicycle was taken by a helpful colleague and placed in the bike shed, and before she knew it, the keys were handed back to her. Familiar and unfamiliar faces surrounded Zhenzhen, eagerly asking about her years abroad exchanging Cultural Relics.

Yu Shoujing wobbled in on his bicycle, surprised to see dozens of people gathered in the courtyard: “What’s going on here? Are we having a protest?”

Guo Xiaoqiao, unable to squeeze in, was anxiously waiting when he heard Yu Shoujing’s voice and immediately turned to complain: “Editor-in-chief, Li Mingzhen is back at work, and look at them, they’re about to squash our Zhenzhen.”

Hearing this, Yu Shoujing quickly parked his bike and ran to the gatekeeper to borrow a loudspeaker, shouting with full authority: “Everyone, back to your offices!”

The noisy courtyard immediately quieted down. Seeing it was the editor-in-chief, everyone reluctantly dispersed from around Li Mingzhen, glancing back as they headed to their offices.

Li Mingzhen finally breathed in fresh air, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and gratefully smiled at Yu Shoujing: “Chief Yu, you came just in time, or I would have been eaten alive.”

Yu Shoujing felt proud of his talented protégé: “Who told you to make such a big name for yourself these past few years? Even our president talks about you all the time, saying you’re the pride of our newspaper.”

To this, Zhenzhen could only chuckle awkwardly: “Just lucky, I guess.”

Indeed, she was lucky. For centuries, treasure hunters and gold diggers abroad have been numerous, with some spending their entire lives on a possibly fake Treasure Map, but none have been as successful as Zhenzhen, finding treasures as if she were picking cabbages from her own field, making others envious to the point of bleeding. Some even harbored thoughts of kidnapping or robbing her upon discovering that this petite Chinese woman always acted alone. But whether they wielded knives or guns, they would despairingly find that this Chinese woman was incredibly skilled in combat. Some criminals, even with guns loaded and ready to risk it all, found themselves overpowered by Zhenzhen before they could pull the trigger. She would leap behind them, slap them to the ground, and knock them out with a flurry of punches. Some of these were internationally wanted criminals with huge bounties, yet none could withstand Zhenzhen’s fierce attacks. As a result, police in various countries were pleasantly surprised to find that many criminals they had spent significant resources trying to capture were brought in by this young Chinese woman, and wherever Zhenzhen appeared, the local crime rate significantly improved.

Yu Shoujing led Zhenzhen into his office, had just brewed some tea, and was about to chat when the editor of the international news department, Jiang Mengxuan, pushed the door open: “I say, Old Yu, you’re not being fair, snatching our department’s Li Mingzhen first thing in the morning. I’ve been waiting eagerly.”

Zhenzhen stood up with a smile: “Chief Jiang.”

“Please, sit down, sit down. Must have been tiring, right?” Jiang Mengxuan immediately put on a smile upon seeing Li Mingzhen: “You could actually rest a bit longer, no need to rush back to work.”

“Hey, hey, hey, Old Jiang, back then Li Mingzhen was transferred to your international news department because she went abroad with her husband. Now that she’s back in the country, she should be transferred back, right?”

“You are so heartless!” Jiang Mengxuan rolled his eyes at Yu Shoujing. “Li Mingzhen has been working so hard abroad these past few years, and now that she’s back, you won’t even let her rest. Our international news department is relatively relaxed compared to your domestic news department. Which reporter can just sit in the office and write articles? They all have to go out and gather news in all kinds of weather.”

Yu Shoujing was momentarily speechless, looking at Li Mingzhen sitting on the sofa. Her obedient demeanor hadn’t changed much since she first joined the newspaper after graduation, but she was already twenty-six years old, an age when many of her female colleagues had become mothers.

Yu Shoujing saw this apprentice, who was the same age as his daughter, as his own child. Hearing Jiang Mengxuan’s analysis of the pros and cons made him reluctant. “You have to take care of Li Mingzhen, don’t give her too much work.”

“I know, I know.” Jiang Mengxuan waved his hand, smiling at Li Mingzhen. “Let’s go to the president’s office first. The president asked me to bring you to his office when you returned. Also, you don’t need to rush to work; take your time to rest at home. Our newspaper can manage.”

Yu Shoujing quickly chimed in, “Editor Jiang is right, go home and take care of yourself. You’ve been married for three years, right? Are you planning to have a child?”

Zhenzhen gently touched her belly and nodded with a smile, “We have plans.”

Both of them smiled at Zhenzhen’s gesture. Jiang Mengxuan opened the office door, “Let’s go, we’ll talk in the president’s office.”

At that moment, President Wang Jingcheng was reading an anonymous complaint letter. The letter claimed that Li Mingzhen owned too many properties, including a factory and a beauty salon, and according to regulations, she shouldn’t be employed in a state unit. Wang Jingcheng angrily slammed the table, “The movement ended years ago, yet there are still people who can’t stand others doing well and resort to anonymous complaints.”

When Zhenzhen graduated from university and submitted her files, she had already disclosed that she owned a furniture factory, which was already quite well-known at the time. President Wang Jingcheng had considered this seriously when he saw the information, but the newspaper was in urgent need of young professionals, so he submitted a special report and ultimately hired Li Mingzhen. However, apart from the president, no one else at the newspaper knew about this. When Yu Shoujing was assigning these graduates, he could only see their academic performance and knew nothing else.

Wang Jingcheng put the complaint letter in the drawer, deciding to investigate privately. If it was someone from the newspaper, they would be severely punished. For those who had experienced the movement, malicious reporting was the most detestable behavior. Li Mingzhen’s investment in the factory didn’t involve any violations or power-money transactions. Moreover, considering her contributions to the repatriation of Cultural Relics over the years, the person who reported her was truly despicable.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, and Wang Jingcheng looked up, “Come in!” Jiang Mengxuan opened the door with a smile, “President, Li Mingzhen is here.”

“Oh!” Wang Jingcheng immediately stood up and extended his hand, “Reporter Li, welcome back to the country.”

Although Li Mingzhen had been with the newspaper for several years, it was her first time meeting the president, and she was a bit excited, “Hello, President Wang.”

“Reporter Li, you are so accomplished at a young age!” Seeing Li Mingzhen, Wang Jingcheng couldn’t help but mention the Cultural Relics, “The humiliating history of the past is a pain for every Chinese person. You did what many of us wanted to do but couldn’t.”

Li Mingzhen smiled, “I was just lucky to encounter so many Chinese Cultural Relics. Anyone else would have done the same.”

Wang Jingcheng didn’t comment on this. Faced with so many valuable Cultural Relics, not everyone could make such a decision. It was precisely because of this that people from the highest leadership to ordinary citizens in China deeply admired Zhenzhen’s actions.

Jiang Mengxuan seized the opportunity to advocate for his subordinate, “President, Comrade Li Mingzhen has been traveling to various countries for Cultural Relics and the newspaper. She’s been married for years without considering family issues. Shouldn’t our newspaper give her some special consideration?”

Wang Jingcheng nodded, “Let Reporter Li rest for three months first, and when she returns to work, assign her some lighter tasks so she can take care of her family.”

Thus, on her first day back at work after returning to the country, Zhenzhen inexplicably went home after just two hours at the office.

After a lively week, the house returned to its quiet state. Grandma Li was just feeling a bit unaccustomed when she saw Zhenzhen come back.

“Zhenzhen, why are you back? Did you forget something?” Grandma Li hurried out to ask.

Zhenzhen shook her head, “No, the boss said I should rest for another three months.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful.” Grandma Li immediately clapped her hands, “Zhenzhen’s mom, quickly have Aunt Yang go out and buy a chicken. I’ll make something nourishing for Zhenzhen.”

Zhenzhen’s legs went weak, and she quickly grabbed Wang Sufen, “Mom, mom! Please don’t make me any more nourishing food, I’ll throw up if I eat more.”

“Throw up?” Wang Sufen looked at Zhenzhen with surprise and joy, “Are you pregnant?”

Although Zhenzhen knew she was pregnant, it had only been a week, and even the most advanced equipment couldn’t detect it. So she shook her head and playfully said, “Not yet, but I’ll keep trying.”

Grandma Li suddenly remembered what Zhenzhen said before going abroad and immediately said, “Have two, we’ll take both boys and girls. A brother is best to protect and spoil a little sister.”

“That’s what I think too,” Zhenzhen laughed, “I’m sure I’ll have two.”

Listening to this unreliable conversation between the grandmother and granddaughter, Wang Sufen couldn’t help but interject, “So, Zhenzhen, what do you actually want to eat? I’ll make it for you right away.”

Zhenzhen thought for a moment and said, “Fish and shrimp are fine; eating them will make the baby smart.”

Upon hearing that eating fish and shrimp can make the baby smart, Wang Sufen immediately perked up, “No need to buy from outside, the ones from our pond are the freshest.”

Grandma Li and Wang Sufen got excited again. Zhenzhen was worried they might prepare a whole table of dishes, so she repeatedly reminded them not to make too much. Grandma Li and Wang Sufen spent a whole day discussing what to eat today and what to eat tomorrow, striving not to repeat dishes for Zhenzhen.

With plenty to eat and drink and nothing to worry about, whether it was the furniture factory, clothing factory, or beauty salon, everything was running smoothly. Zhenzhen had no worries, and in a month, her face had become rounder. When Zhang Renze came to check Grandma Li’s pulse and saw Zhenzhen’s condition, he immediately laughed, “It’s only been a month, right? The sunflower seed has turned into a watermelon seed?”

Zhenzhen touched her chubby cheeks, feeling a bit troubled, “I think I’ve been eating too much lately.”

Grandma Li looked at Zhenzhen and felt it wasn’t just about eating too much. She secretly winked at Zhang Renze, “Brother Zhang, could you check on our Zhenzhen and see how her health is?”

Zhenzhen sat at the table and extended her arm. Zhang Renze felt her pulse and smiled, “Although it’s still early, I feel there’s an eighty percent chance she’s pregnant.”

Grandma Li exclaimed with joy, clapping her hands and jumping out of her chair, “I knew it! How else could she have such a good appetite if she wasn’t pregnant? So, Brother Zhang, is our Zhenzhen expecting twins?”

Zhang Renze almost knelt down, “Big sister, I really can’t tell that!”