Chapter 64: Want to Pry for Secrets? Expect to Be Shut Out!

Li Junsheng felt a jolt in his heart; if Chen Dazhu got hold of the things in his hands, Ma Yulian would surely find a way to keep them. Knowing that Chen Dazhu had come to snoop about what he’d been up to in the factory last night, Li Junsheng didn’t want to say much to them, nor did he want to step inside his own home.

Just then, Li Xiaoyu happened to open the door across the hall. Seeing her father, she hurried over with concern. “Dad, why are you standing here? Have you had breakfast yet?”

“Not yet. I went to buy some things for your sister to help her recover.”

With that, Li Junsheng turned away, carrying his parcels, and walked into the neighbor’s apartment across the hall.

Li Xiaoyu noticed that Chen Dazhu and his son had come to their home early in the morning. She didn’t think much of the pair, especially Chen Zhiyuan; the way he looked at her was always unsettling.

So Li Xiaoyu ignored the two of them.

But Chen Dazhu, seeing Li Junsheng enter the neighbor’s place, quickly followed, placing his hand on the door to prevent Li Junsheng from helping.

“Old Li, I came all this way to talk to you. Aren’t you going to invite me in for a chat?”

Chen Dazhu’s face was plastered with a false, insincere smile. Li Junsheng scoffed inwardly; what was there to talk about with him? He was only here to probe into his money-making secrets, pretending they were close.

Li Xiaoyu was puzzled. Since when had her father become so chummy with Chen Dazhu? Besides, the way he clung to the door, desperate to get inside, seemed suspicious. Was he up to something?

Li Junsheng put the health supplements aside, walked over, and gently pried Chen Dazhu’s hand away from the door.

“Sorry, Chen Dazhu, my eldest daughter, Chun Ya, is in confinement after childbirth. It’s not convenient for you to come in. Let’s close the door; she can’t be exposed to drafts during her recovery.”

“But—but I came all this way. You could at least talk with me for a bit.”

Chen Dazhu was stunned, but Li Junsheng didn’t bother to respond. He slammed the door shut, leaving Chen Dazhu and his son standing outside, thoroughly rebuffed.

Enraged, Chen Dazhu nearly kicked the door, but remembering that he still needed information from Li Junsheng, he forced himself to hold back.

“Dad, Li Junsheng won’t talk to us; something’s not right. What do we do now?”

“We’ll wait at his place. I don’t believe he’ll stay inside forever!”

After all, at Li Junsheng’s house, the food and drink weren’t coming out of their pocket, so Chen Dazhu didn’t care. Ma Yulian would welcome him anyway. Later, he would talk to her and see if she had any ideas.

Meanwhile, in the neighbor’s home, Li Xiaoyu whispered to Li Junsheng, “Dad, why did they come to our place? Didn’t you sell your job to them? Are they just using the excuse of gratitude to extract something else from you?”

Knowing her father was honest, Li Xiaoyu worried he’d be taken advantage of.

But Li Junsheng was no longer the man he used to be.

He comforted his younger daughter, “Don’t worry. I won’t let them treat me like cattle for slaughter. Look, I made some money yesterday—here’s a bit for you as pocket money.”

Li Junsheng took some bills from his pocket and handed them to Li Xiaoyu, who was surprised; she hadn’t expected her father to give her so much. It was equal to almost half a month’s wages for most people.

“Thanks, Dad, but I don’t need the money—I still have some. You should keep it for yourself.”

“I have enough, don’t worry. Take it—buy yourself some nice clothes and some face cream.”

He pressed the money into her palm and then went to see his granddaughter.

“Come here, sweet girl, let Grandpa give you a hug.”

He took the little granddaughter from the old lady, his face lit with joy, savoring the bliss of family life.

Li Chun Ya was inside, having just finished a bowl of sweet rice dumplings and poached eggs made by her sister.

Li Junsheng, holding his granddaughter, walked over and spoke to Li Chun Ya, “Chun Ya, how about we call the youngest Sweetie? Just the name ‘Sweet’—it carries a good meaning. Her days will surely be sweet and happy.”

Li Chun Ya forced a smile and nodded, “Alright, Dad. Sweetie sounds lovely.”

Compared to names like ‘Wanted-a-son,’ it was much more pleasant.

Li Junsheng also thought he should change the names of his older granddaughters; their names had been chosen too hastily and didn’t sound good.

He’d arranged everything, but seeing his daughter still worried, he asked, “Chun Ya, why do you look so unhappy? If there’s something bothering you, tell Dad—don’t keep it inside.”

“Dad, I’m just worried that while I’m away, Big Girl and Second Girl won’t have a good life at Sun Gui’s house. You don’t know…”

Li Chun Ya poured out her troubles to Li Junsheng. At Sun Gui’s home, Wu Dongmei favored sons over daughters; her two girls couldn’t even eat leftover rice without being scolded.

Li Junsheng took her words to heart; he’d have to bring his other granddaughters over soon. Otherwise, who knew how badly Sun Gui’s mother would treat them?

After comforting Chun Ya, Li Junsheng went to the living room. The old lady who lived alone was glowing, her home lively now that Chun Ya and Li Xiaoyu were there.

After some thought, Li Junsheng peeled a banana for her and discussed, “Ma’am, there’s something I’d like to ask you. Could I rent another room in your house to bring over Chun Ya’s two daughters?”

“Sun Gui and his mother are no good—they resent the girls for not being boys, won’t even let them eat properly. Chun Ya worries for them, and as their grandfather, I can’t bear it!”

The old lady, who had watched Chun Ya grow up, understood her pain and agreed at once.

“Alright, forget about rent. I have all these rooms and live alone. No need to pay—just don’t mind having an old woman around.”

The neighbor was delighted, wishing her home were even bigger. In reality, three bedrooms was already quite spacious.

“Alright, ma’am, then I’ll bring more rice, flour, and oil next time.”

“You mustn’t refuse; Chun Ya needs to eat, after all.”

She could only accept.

“Good!”

Let Chun Ya and her granddaughters make do for now; once the confinement was over, he’d find them better accommodations.

Just then, someone knocked at the door.

Li Xiaoyu hesitated, asking from the doorway, “Who is it?”

If it was Chen Dazhu again, she wouldn’t open the door.

But outside came Ma Yulian’s voice, “It’s your mother! I came to see your sister. Hurry and open the door.”

Li Xiaoyu looked to Li Junsheng, silently asking if she should open it.

Li Junsheng walked over and spoke to Ma Yulian through the door, sparing his younger daughter any trouble.

“Why are you here? Didn’t you say you didn’t care about Chun Ya?”

Ma Yulian rolled her eyes outside, but pretended to care, “I just don’t want her to spend her confinement at her mother’s house. If I didn’t care, would I bother bringing chicken soup?”

“My eldest daughter-in-law made chicken soup for her. Open the door, let her have some.”