After finishing his sentence, Li Sanjiang's old face unexpectedly showed a teasing expression that screamed "Ha, you didn't expect that, did you?"
Li Zhiyuan appeared disappointed on his face. He had planned on focusing solely on his books and did not want to help his sister with her studies.
Previously, when his sister was doing her first-year summer homework, the number of questions she didn't understand wasn't too many. Now she's already started to preview the second-year curriculum, and still, the number of questions she understands isn't too many.
Li Sanjiang stretched out his hand to rub Li Zhiyuan's head, speaking earnestly, "This child, you take after your mother, having such a smart brain. Wouldn't it be a pity not to use it to study?"
"But, Grandmaster..."
"There are no buts, study well so that in the future you can get into a good university just like your mother did. Understand?"
"But Grandmaster, I'm already taking university classes."
"Hey, you dare to pull the wool over your Grandmaster's eyes? Do you think your Grandmaster, who may not have eaten pork, hasn't seen a pig run? Listen, that's how it will be!
Oh, by the way, Li Hou, when you go to town later, buy some snacks for the kid. Just buy whatever you see, and get something for your daughter as well."
Li Zhiyuan looked towards Uncle Qin, gesturing towards the southeast corner of the terrace, saying, "Uncle, could you help me move the wicker chair over there?"
"Why move it there?" Seeing that Li Zhiyuan didn't want his wicker chair side by side with his own, Li Sanjiang, curious, walked over to the southeast corner, and lo and behold, he saw the young girl sitting inside the eastern room's threshold.
"Hey, Little Yuanhou, what are you setting up here for?"
Li Zhiyuan: "Grandmaster, I think the Feng Shui here is good."
"Tch!" Li Sanjiang laughed and scolded, "You think I don't know what's on your mind? You just want to watch that pretty girl."
That girl, Qin Li, indeed looks beautiful. Otherwise, Li Sanjiang wouldn't have offered her candies initially but that girl is really fierce.
Uncle Qin moved the wicker chair over, then greeted Li Sanjiang as he was about to go to town to buy some things.
After Uncle Qin left, Li Sanjiang pulled Li Zhiyuan aside, pointing his finger at him warningly:
"I'm telling you, Little Yuanhou, it's fine just to look at that girl, but don't think about getting close to her or playing with her. Otherwise, she'll scratch your face. Look at your delicate face; how pity it would be if it got scarred, how would you find a wife in the future?"
"Alright, Grandmaster, I understand."
"Besides, there are so many girls out there; liking a girl with a problematic mind, even if she's pretty, it's useless. Are you really planning to take care of her for your entire life?"
These words, Uncle Qin was previously present, so it wasn't convenient for Li Sanjiang to speak them.
"I understand, Grandmaster."
"Never mind, you're still young, why am I even discussing this with you? You're still far from the age of getting a wife. Alright, Grandmaster is going out for a bit, I won't be back for lunch, you eat alone."
Li Sanjiang, hands behind his back, humming a little tune, went downstairs. Reaching the courtyard, he turned back, looking up to the terrace with a smile emerging on his face.
Little Yuanhou asking him for things, he doesn't mind spending money, for he has money!
Suddenly, he felt that spending earned money on his children is also a kind of happiness.
He used to think that being a slavish father was very disgraceful, especially since those boys weren't very filial, but now, he suddenly had some realizations.
What if raising children isn't about preparing for one's old age, but purely about the joy it brings, making one's life more fulfilling?
"I've raised you, not seeking your gratitude; after all, it's for my own life's fulfillment."
Heh, that feeling wasn't too bad either.
Li Sanjiang shook his head, letting it be. Why think about these things now? He was at an age close to the grave, doomed to live a life without children.
After Grandmaster left, freshly bathed and changed, Li Zhiyuan couldn't wait to pick up the first volume of "Jianghu Chronicles" and sit on the wicker chair, flipping open the book to start reading.
The calligraphy used in this book was thin and elegant, making the reading much more comfortable, in stark contrast with the "Golden Sand Luo Wen Scripture," which looked like dog scribbles.
In his heart, he silently made a wish: hoping other books in the chest were all well-written.
Li Zhiyuan quickly immersed in the reading atmosphere. However, each time he turned a page, he would take a glance down at the girl sitting with her feet on the threshold.
He didn't harbor any mixed thoughts, just simply felt that looking at beautiful things was pleasing to the eyes and could make one's mood more joyous.
But other than briefly turning her gaze towards Niu Fu's back in the morning, the girl hadn't made any other movements.
Reading time flew by quickly, and Uncle Qin returned midway, bringing him a lamp, a set of stationery, and lots of snacks.
After reading a bit longer, Aunt Liu's voice came from below: "Little Yuanhou, time to eat!"
Setting down the book, Li Zhiyuan descended the stairs. Lunch was still eaten at the courtyard, but he had his own separate table.
On the square stool were placed a dish of chicken and stir-fried edamame, a dish of scrambled eggs with leeks, and a bowl of crucian carp soup.
Li Zhiyuan couldn't help but reflect: living conditions at the Grand Master's House were indeed good.
At his grandfather's house, Brother Panzi and Brother Lei were probably still drinking porridge by now.
But he didn't think of taking some food back to share; he knew that wouldn't be appropriate.
At the courtyard, Grandma Liu was squatting beside Qin Li, softly persuading.
Finally, Qin Li lowered her head and started to eat.
Her eating manner remained the same as during breakfast; both dishes and rice were consumed frequently, rhythm absolutely not chaotic.
After finishing his meal, Li Zhiyuan hurried to clear the bowls and utensils before Aunt Liu appeared, then washed his hands and returned upstairs to continue reading.