Chapter 467 - Maybe I Should Take Her Home
Chapter 467: Maybe I Should Take Her Home
Huo Jinyao recalled how Li Qianxue and Su Qingsang had become reacquainted with each other.
“Her daughter had lived with her for over twenty years, but she didn’t know that it was her daughter. It’s understandable that she had a real shock from that. That’s why I let Qingsang spend a few days with her mother. Grandpa, if you want to blame someone for that, blame me.”
“I don’t blame you.” Old Master Huo hadn’t known the full story before. “Despite everything, they still came here in such haste. I can see how much Qingsang means to them.”
“Of course.” Huo Jinyao nodded. Thinking of what Su Qingsang had told him the day before, he continued, “Qingsang’s mother and grandfather have just gotten her back. They really don’t want to part with her so quickly, actually, but in consideration of our family, they will let her come back here soon.”
The Li family had really been trying to consider things from Su Qingsang’s perspective.
“They didn’t come here right after they got off the plane yesterday, because Lin City’s traditions don’t allow people to meet with their in-laws in the afternoon. They did that to show us respect and to let us know how important this marriage is to them, even though we don’t have that kind of tradition here.”
“That’s right.” Old Master Huo nodded and said, “Don’t worry. I understand.”
Huo Jinyao sighed with relief and said, “Grandpa—actually, Qingsang didn’t want me to tell our family about her story. She didn’t even plan to tell her mother the truth. In fact, things have ended up this way because of a series of coincidences.”
“Qingsang planned to take care of Xiang Caiping for the rest of her life and treat her like her real mother. If Li Qianxue hadn’t coincidentally returned when we got home, all if this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Jinyao, you don’t need to explain. I know what you’re trying to tell me, and I know what your mother has said. Sometimes, she can be very opinionated and assertive. Don’t worry, you don’t need to take what she’s said seriously.”
Huo Jinyao nodded. He did not take Liu Tongjia’s words to heart, but he was still worried that she would keep giving Su Qingsang a hard time. She might use the fact that Qingsang didn’t come home with him for the New Year as an excuse to be harsh.
He didn’t really care what Liu Tongjia had said. He knew that Liu Tongjia had held a grudge with him all these years. He just didn’t want Su Qingsang to have to put up with unreasonable confrontations from Liu Tongjia.
“I know that you’re worried that your mother might not treat Qingsang well. Relax. Your mother is sharp-tongued, but she won’t do anything awful. If she is really tempted to be cruel one of these days, I’ll stop her.”
“Grandpa, thank you.”
If it weren’t for Old Master Huo, the family would have many more problems.
“Alright kid, no need to thank me.” Old Master Huo looked at Huo Jinyao with glowing eyes. “If you really want to thank me, have a baby with Qingsang. I’d be so happy to have a great-grandson.”
“That’ll happen sooner or later.”
“Master, people from the Li family are here.” Uncle Zhang had appeared as they were talking.
Old Master Huo and Huo Jinyao hurriedly went downstairs.
When Yang Wenchang picked them up from the hotel, he gave Huo Jinyao a call. That way, by the time Old Master Li and Li Qianxue entered the courtyard, Huo Jinyao was already at the bottom of the stairs.
Li Yongfeng had met Old Master Huo several times before, but they ended up founding their businesses in different areas. This would be the first time they saw each other in decades.
“Yongfeng, my brother.” Old Master Huo greeted Old Master Li warmly. He moved to welcome Old Master Li and Li Qianxue the moment they came in. “I never thought that we’d become family someday.”
“Tell me about it.” Old Master Li gave a long sigh. “I told Qingsang that she was a lucky girl when I heard that she married into your family.”
“Oh, I think Jinyao is even luckier.”
Old Master Huo meant what he said, but to Old Master Li, it seemed that he was just trying to be nice.
“I think Qingsang is a very nice girl, too,” Old Master Li said frankly. “If she and Jinyao weren’t already married, I wouldn’t let her leave home so soon.”
Old Master Huo understood where Old Master Li was coming from, having already spoken with Huo Jinyao.
He laughed. “I understand. If I had a granddaughter as nice as Qingsang, I wouldn’t want her to get married so soon either.”
“Is this Qingsang’s mother?” Old Master Huo turned to Li Qianxue.
Li Qianxue took a step forward, smiled at Old Master Huo, and reached out a hand.
“I’m Li Qianxue. It’s such an honor to meet you. I heard about you from my father, long ago.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
Old Master Huo guided Old Master Li and Li Qianxue to the living room and offered them seats. Li Qianxue presented Old Master Huo with the gifts that she had brought.
“Having you two here is already such a delight. You shouldn’t have brought us gifts.”
Old Master Huo let Huo Jinyao accept the gifts. By then, Li Qianxue hadn’t seen her daughter for almost a day, and she couldn’t help but glance around.
“Qingsang stayed up late last night, so she hadn’t gotten up yet,” Huo Jinyao explained.
Li Qianxue gave him an extra look over. Before, Qingsang always got up early, no matter what time she went to sleep the night before.
So she was tired, huh?
“Grandpa. Mom. ”
While they were talking, Su Qingsang appeared downstairs.
“Qingsang, look at you!” Though Li Qianxue was happy to see her daughter, she didn’t hesitate to remind her how to behave properly. “Why did you sleep so late? You’re a married woman now. You shouldn’t sleep in.”
“I know, Mom.”
“It’s alright. Qingsang just arrived home yesterday. She was tired. It’s okay for her to sleep a little late.”
Old Master Huo spoke for Su Qingsang. He looked at her and said amiably, “Qingsang always gets up early, otherwise. Before, she exercised with me every morning.”
“Good, I’m sure that was her pleasure.”
Li Qianxue reached a hand toward Su Qingsang, signaling for her to come and sit beside her.
Before Su Qingsang walked to her mother, Huo Jinyao abruptly took her hand and said, “Mom, Qingsang hasn’t had breakfast yet. She should have some breakfast first.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that you haven’t eaten yet?” Li Qianxue hurriedly said to Su Qingsang, “Go have breakfast. We’ll be here, chatting with Old Master Huo.”
“Okay.” Su Qingsang glanced at Huo Jinyao, squeezed his hand, and then headed towards the dining room.
As she left, Li Qianxue looked at Old Master Huo and said, “She’s so happy to see us that she forgot to eat!”
“Mom, don’t worry. This doesn’t happen often. Usually, I’d get breakfast ready for her.”
Huo Jinyao was talking about the days when he and Su Qingsang had lived together in Lin City.
Li Qianxue knew that Huo Jinyao would take good care of her daughter. She trusted him.
“Thank you for taking care of Qingsang.”
“You don’t need to thank me. I’m her husband. It’s my job to take care of her.”
“You’re her husband, so taking care of her is your job. But she’s your wife—isn’t taking care of you her job?” A hostile voice spoke, followed by a series of footsteps. Liu Tongjia came down the stairs, giving Huo Jinyao a frosty look.
The way she saw it, Huo Jinyao had basically forgotten about his mother once he got married. For all these years, she hadn’t once heard him talking about taking care of his parents. But, for this woman, he was willing to drop everything to look after her.
Both Old Master Li and Li Qianxue looked at Liu Tongjia.
Her tone was very unfriendly. Li Qianxue furrowed her brows but kept her cool.
“That’s right. Qingsang and Jinyao are married, so they should look after each other.”
“Look after each other?” Liu Tongjia shot her a cold smirk and said, “I don’t see that happening. I think it has just been Jinyao looking after your daughter.”
“She didn’t come home for the New Year because she needed to take care of you. Earlier, she said that she’d come back for the First Full Moon Festival, but in the end, she didn’t show up. I heard it was because she wanted to keep you company. I really don’t understand it. I’m starting to wonder if, in Lin City, a married woman can do whatever she wants and ignore the feelings of her husband’s family.”
Li Qianxue had already guessed who Liu Tongjia was once she showed up. After hearing what she said, Li Qianxue was even more sure of it.
“You’re Jinyao’s mother, aren’t you?” Li Qianxue wore a faint smile and spoke in an extra-polite tone.
“You’re right, actually. But I believe that my daughter is still my daughter, even though she is married. It wouldn’t be right for her to care only about her husband’s family and forget about her own once she got married. You have parents too, don’t you? You don’t only consider yourself only a member of the Huo family, do you? I would guess that if anything happened to your family, you’d try your best to take care of them. Am I right?”
Liu Tongjia couldn’t think of any way to argue with what Li Qianxue had just said. She resorted to rudely talking back, her face crinkled with a scowl.
“Now, I can see where Su Qingsang got her sharp tongue from. She is just like her mother.”
“Tongjia!” Old Master Huo couldn’t bear listening to her disrespect. “What are you talking about?”
“Father, you don’t need to protect these outsiders. Was anything that I said wrong? Don’t you think Jinyao is too good for Su Qingsang? Hasn’t he been bending over backward for her since they got married? Jinyao moved his business all the way to Lin City for her. He spent so much time there, and even refused to come home. I can’t tell if Su Qingsang has married into our family, or if my son has married into hers!”
“Tongjia, that’s enough.” Noting the displeased look on Li Qianxue’s face, Old Master Huo warned Liu Tongjia in a firm tone.
Liu Tongjia wasn’t ready to give in at her father’s command. She opened her mouth to speak again, but Li Qianxue wouldn’t tolerate the nasty words any longer.
She had always been aware that Huo Jinyao treated her daughter very well. She believed that her daughter had also been kind to Huo Jinyao.
A good relationship requires mutual caring, after all.
Liu Tongjia had made it sound like everything was Su Qingsang’s fault.
When she found out that Su Qingsang was her real daughter, Li Qianxue promised herself that she would never let Su Qingsang suffer any kind of injustice. She intended to keep that promise.
“Since you have so many complaints about my daughter, maybe I should take her home and teach her how to behave herself.”
Li Qianxue then turned to Huo Jinyao, who she was angry with, as well, in the heat of the moment. “As for Huo Jinyao,” she said, “Tell him that he can leave my daughter and marry someone who you approve of.”