Chapter 202: Chapter 202

The items were too valuable, yet Qin Xi told Li Xianglu to just keep them in her room. Li Xianglu wondered if she had revealed something unintentionally, but since Qin Xi did not mention it, she didn’t say anything either and agreed. Although the items were placed under the bed, Li Xianglu still felt uneasy and stored them in the Storage Ring, and actually placed pots, pans, ladles, and a stool nearly the same size inside the black bag under the bed.

The next day early in the morning, they didn’t check out of the room but locked the door and notified the office. They left and first went to eat at the State-owned canteen, then waited at the Armed Forces Department before seeing the same car from yesterday with the same driver. They greeted the familiar driver and set off.

On the road, looking at the familiar route brought many emotions, Qin Xi sitting beside her smiled and said: "What are you thinking about? Feeling nervous as we approach home?"

Li Xianglu shook her head and said: "Back then, it was this road that Uncle Ge used a sheep cage to pull me to the county town. Along the way, we met Ge Sanmei and Li Jianwen, who joked and got on the wagon, even telling people on the road that there were lambs in the wagon."

Qin Xi had never heard these details from Li Xianglu before, and now hearing her narrate them calmly as if talking about someone else’s affairs, pained him and he couldn’t help but embrace her tightly, comforting her, "It’s alright, it’s all in the past now."

Yet Li Xianglu stubbornly turned her head, her fair hands holding his face and asked firmly, "Back then, Brother Ge asked you if that note was left by you, and you said no. Today, I want to ask again, did you leave that note?"

Qin Xi took Li Xianglu’s hands down and let her lean onto his chest and said, "It was me who left the note. Initially, I only knew that Ge Congxin had taken you away, but I didn’t know where you were taken. It took a few days of asking around to find out you were at Wang Xiwang’s house."

Upon hearing this, Li Xianglu felt relieved. In fact, she wanted to ask what her past self was like, if anyone had come to rescue her then, but then thinking that person from her past life wasn’t her, even knowing wouldn’t change anything, it was just self-trouble.

Qin Xi also wondered if he should tell her if she asked, but unexpectedly, the girl didn’t ask anything, which made him breathe a sigh of relief, yet also felt a little disappointed.

Forty minutes later, they arrived below the ridge of Li Family Village. A group of older children all ran down from the mountain crest, buzzing around the car.

Li Xianglu took out a big bag of candy from her bag, told the children to line up, then gave two candies to each child. The children from Yellow Earth Slope had little to eat, and probably only got to eat candies during the New Year. Li Xianglu had brought all the candies left over from their New Year celebration at home, luckily stored in the Storage Ring without melting.

The children were overjoyed, staring at Li Xianglu with eager eyes.

After everyone received their candies, they did not disperse but followed Qin Xi and Li Xianglu up to Erdaoliang, and some children had already run to Li Dafu’s house to send the news.

Although July was not a busy farming season, weeding still needed to be done. At the house, only the pregnant eldest daughter-in-law and Old Mrs. Wu with her grandson were present, Li Xiangwei was not home.

Old Mrs. Wu was tidying up the vegetable garden in the courtyard, and hearing children shouting on the beam that someone had come to their house, she immediately ran to the door to see.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw two people walking up from below the ridge, leading was Xiangxiang! Old Mrs. Wu excitedly ran back inside and shouted towards the house, "Jianjun’s wife, quickly, call your mother-in-law, and call back your father-in-law; Xiangxiang is back!" After shouting, she ran to the door to look, and the two had already reached the door.

Seeing Old Mrs. Wu in a relatively healthy state, Li Xianglu smiled and said, "Granny, I’m back!"

Old Mrs. Wu with teary eyes hugged her tightly, "Xiangxiang, ah, you’re back, come quick inside, it’s hot outside, isn’t it?" Li Xianglu smiled and pulling Qin Xi behind her said, "Granny, this is Qin Xi."

Old Mrs. Wu, aware of her granddaughter’s marriage, nodded and said, "Good, good children, come inside, Granny will make you Saozi Noodles to eat."

As they welcomed the two inside, she saw Jianjun’s wife greeting them briefly before she quickly went out.

The two directly entered the cave dwelling in the east room, which was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. As soon as they entered, they immediately felt a coolness. The old lady invited them to sit on the kang, while she went to the kitchen.

Soon, she brought over two bowls of cold boiled water.

Qin Xi took a long stride and directly took the bowl, placing it on the kang table. Li Xianglu held up the water with a smile and took a sip, then smilingly said, "Grandma, are you feeling well?"

The old lady, seeing her fair and beautiful granddaughter, couldn’t help but let tears fall again, and with a smile, she said, "Yes, I am quite well, I can even eat two bowls of Saozi Noodles when your aunt makes them."

Li Xianglu smiled and handed over a handkerchief, "Don’t cry, Grandma. See, I am perfectly fine."

Old Mrs. Wu, hearing her granddaughter’s still tender voice, also laughed, wiped her tears, and looked Qin Xi up and down. The child had looked different from the village kids when he first came, and now he had grown tall and handsome. She nodded in satisfaction and said, "Xiangxiang, did you come this time to see your..." The old lady paused, then sighed, "to see your second uncle?"

Li Xianglu nodded and said, "Brother received a telegram in the military, saying his leg was broken and he was worried. I happened to be on holiday, so I was sent to check on him and take him to the hospital."

Old Mrs. Wu helplessly said, "We went to the hospital and they said he needs to be admitted, but he is reluctant to spend the money. I said I would pay, but he still refused and just endured the pain, it’s infuriating!"

Li Xianglu said matter-of-factly, "Didn’t the doctor say it might lead to disability if not treated?"

Old Mrs. Wu was shocked, "He didn’t say that, just went to the local clinic, got bandaged, and came back home."

Li Xianglu frowned, "Where is he now?"

Old Mrs. Wu said, "Still living in the cave dwelling on the east side."

As they were speaking, a series of footsteps were heard from the courtyard. Liu Aidang was walking fast, lifted the curtain, and came in. Seeing the people on the kang, she warmly said, "Xiangxiang, you’ve come, hey, did you come from the capital?"

Li Xianglu smiled and nodded, "Hello, auntie."

Liu Aidang, not minding that Li Xianglu called her auntie, smilingly said, "Good, we are all good, thanks to your blessing. Your second brother now has a job in the province, they provide food and even talk about future placements."

Li Xianglu didn’t particularly dislike Liu Aidang, who was a clever person knowing what to say to please others. She smiled and nodded, "That’s good."

As they were talking, Li Dafu lifted the curtain and came in, and there was another round of pleasantries.

Li Dafu knew that Li Xianglu had come to take Li Erfu to the hospital, so he didn’t delay and directly led them to the cave dwelling on the eastern side.

Ever since Li Jianwen had deceived her, Li Xianglu had not come here again. The place was as chaotic as ever, but one cave dwelling at the front had a tall fence wall planted with tall and short plants, and the yard was clean. It was clear that someone was living there, and that this family knew how to live well.

ps: I’m going out, will continue coding when I return home at nine.