novelden Chapter 1868 Sisterly Affection, Is That So? Not necessarily.
Chapter 1868 Sisterly Affection, Is That So? Not necessarily.
Li Xiangnan forced himself to calm down, his thoughts oscillating violently between two extreme possibilities.
"Ruobai, don't panic. Let's sort things out for now! Let's assume, and I'm just saying hypothetically... that Grandma and Aunt Mu Huanrong had a very good relationship. The fire that year separated them, and they haven't seen each other for decades. Perhaps they've already met, and now they're longing to reunite? Xitang's birth and the continuation of the Li family bloodline would just give them such an opportunity? If that's the case, then it would be a wonderful thing!"
This thought warmed his heart and filled him with anticipation; family reunion had always been a deep-seated wish in his heart.
"That's great! If that's the case, our family will finally be reunited! And if Aunt Mu Huanrong also returns to the family, we can help her find her lost Mu family members! In the end, everyone will be happy!"
Qin Ruobai was also moved by her husband's words and couldn't help but start daydreaming.
But then, an even colder guess, one that better reflected Li Xiangnan's complex understanding of wealthy families, also surfaced.
"If... I'm just guessing, but Grandma and Auntie don't have a good relationship, and there might even be some deep-seated hatred between them that we don't know about..."
Qin Ruobai's gaze immediately turned cold.
Li Xiangnan continued, "What exactly happened in that fire of 1940? Why did the Mu family disappear? Why did the two sisters, who were very close in Grandma Yu Jingran's memories, go their separate ways after the fire? So many years have passed, why are Grandma and Auntie scattered all over the country? Why didn't they choose to look for each other?"
"Could something have happened during that fire that caused the two sisters to break up? Now that Bird Guard Mu Zelin has died in the ruins of the Mu family home, could this case, which seems to be a murder, have made Grandma realize some kind of extreme danger?"
The room fell silent. Qin Ruobai bit her lip, not daring to speak.
Li Xiangnan held her hand tightly, and only then did he voice the possibility that he was willing to believe in his heart.
"If Mu Huanrong's sudden arrival in Beijing is what ultimately threatens Grandma, forcing her to return to the capital to oversee things, is it because she fears Mu Huanrong will be detrimental to the Li family?"
This deduction sent a chill down Li Xiangnan's spine.
If Grandma's return to the capital was indeed out of caution and defense, then it means that beneath the calm surface of Yanjing City, there are still turbulent undercurrents that they have not yet noticed.
Xi Tang's birth, instead of being a catalyst for reunion, may well become the fuse for a storm.
"no!"
Li Xiangnan suddenly stood up, his eyes becoming incredibly determined.
"Regardless of the truth, I must ensure your and Xitang's absolute safety until the situation becomes clear!"
He held Qin Ruobai's hand and said, "During this time, I will handle things remotely as much as possible at the hospital, factory, center, construction site, and school. I will try not to go far away and stay at home with you all. I will not leave you for a moment and will not go anywhere else!"
Sensing her husband's resolute determination and protectiveness, Qin Ruobai's unease strangely subsided. "With you here, I have nothing to fear!"
That night, Li Xiangnan barely slept a wink. All sorts of guesses and possibilities churned in his mind. He changed the baby's diaper twice more before finally getting a short two-hour nap as dawn broke.
The next day, Li Xiangnan, with slight dark circles under his eyes, went out to empty the spittoon for the mother and son.
Early in the morning, the courtyard was already awake. Several neighbors were washing up by the pool in the middle courtyard. Xu Damao, He Dashuang, and Yuan Zhencheng greeted Li Xiangnan as he approached.
"Hey, up so early? What a great man! Going to empty the chamber pot? You must have had a hard time last night, right?"
Xu Damao, who lives next door, was squatting by the pool brushing his teeth when he asked a question indistinctly, his face full of longing.
"Not bad, thank you for thinking of me!" Li Xiangnan chuckled, and seeing the three of them made him feel a bit better.
The three major problems that used to plague this courtyard have now been solved, including the child's issue!
He Da's eyes were filled with envy and excitement about becoming a father. Seeing that Li Xiangnan looked tired, he sincerely asked for advice: "Dr. Li, my baby will be born at the end of the year. I will have some experience to share with you later. Please give me some guidance!"
"No problem, no problem!" Li Xiangnan said without stopping.
Yuan Zhencheng, standing to the side, could only sigh. He got married before Xu Damao, but he still didn't have any children. He hadn't thought much of it before, just saying he was living a carefree life.
But Li Xiangnan's child has already been born, and He Dashuang's child will be born at the end of the year. I heard that Xu Damao has been taking care of his health recently and seems to be doing well. I was filled with mixed emotions.
"Oh, I really envy you guys, the kids in this compound keep coming one after another... I guess I'll just have to grow old alone for the rest of my life!"
"How old are you! What's the rush!" Xu Damao lectured him with his own experience.
Li Xiangnan didn't want to say much about this topic, so he chuckled, patted Yuan Zhencheng on the shoulder, and said, "Brother Cheng, our courtyard has good feng shui and is blessed with good fortune. You must be just as good!"
These words warmed Yuan Zhencheng's heart, and a smile immediately appeared on his face. "Thank you for your kind words!"
After Li Xiangnan finished speaking, he laughed and then went out.
After he emptied the spittoon and returned, he busied himself changing the child's diapers, helping his mother wash clothes, and then immediately went to the hospital to prepare the morning's nutritious meals.
After Ruobai finished eating, the courtyard soon became lively again.
Yao Mile, Yang Weidong, Cui Xingjian, and Sun Jie, carrying eggs, brown sugar, and floral fabric, happened to run into factory director Liu Zhiyuan and deputy factory director Xing Chunlai, who were coming together, at the gate of the courtyard and entered the backyard together.
"Little Li! Congratulations! You've truly become an adult this time, haha!"
"Congratulations on becoming a father so quietly! We rushed over here as soon as we finished the factory's monthly safety evaluation! Not too late, right?"
"Let me see my little niece!"
The small room was suddenly filled with people, their faces beaming with the workers' rough and sincere smiles.
Yang Weidong whispered to Li Xiangnan about Tao Zhengtie's recent relationship with a female colleague in the factory office.
Cui Xingjian and Sun Jie were teasing the child, which made the people around them laugh.
Liu Zhiyuan and Xing Chunlai were busy helping to milk the goats, and even then they didn't forget to remind Li Xiangnan that he didn't need to report to the factory this month. Yao Mile, who was standing next to him, immediately pulled out his leave slip from the factory hospital.
This care from his old colleagues at the factory was simple yet profound, making Li Xiangnan feel warm and touched.
"Xiao Li, what's the baby's name?" Old Cui asked Li Xiangnan, who was talking at the door, as the little guy grabbed his hand.
“His name is Xitang, Li Xitang!” Li Xiangnan always speaks of this name with a sense of pride.
"Wow, what a great name!" Everyone's eyes lit up instantly.
Amidst this warm and lively atmosphere, another series of orderly footsteps echoed in the courtyard.
Everyone turned to look, and Li Xiangnan immediately stood up from his seat and went to greet him.
"Uncle Lin!"
Lin Jianzhou led Wang Xiuqin, along with Lin Weimin, Lin Chuqiao, and Lin Youwei, carrying the two children, Duoduo and Lele, and the whole family entered the courtyard "enthusiastically".