There was a flicker in Mu Xichen’s eyes when he heard that. His fingers tightened over his knees at once.
He turned slightly toward Li Beinian and saw that she was already looking at him.
“Why, you want to live together when nothing is even cast in stone?” Old Master Li struck the ground with his cane once more, looking furious. “I will give my granddaughter’s hand in marriage when this news is finally announced.”
“Grandpa…” Li Beinian tugged at the old man’s arm and whispered, “Didn’t you just say that this is not the time to announce this…”
“Well then, the two of you wait till such a time before moving in together.” Old Master Li humphed adamantly. Looking at Mu Xichen, he said, “It’s all set, then. Nian Nian, you will stay with me while you’re not working. And when you have work, you may stay at Qing Shui Fu. We’ll not give people a reason to think that the two of you are sullied.”
Li Beinian was stumped.
Mu Xichen protested, “Grandpa, we’re officially man and wife. Everything we do is legitimate.”
“Humph, you can say that again. Nian Nian is only twenty, and you can bear to do this to her!” Old Master Li lifted his cane and almost hit the man with it.
Li Beinian hurriedly tried to hold him back, saying, “Grandpa, we’ll obey you, we’ll do whatever you say. Please don’t be angry.”
The old man had only meant it as an angry gesture and did not really intend to hit Mu Xichen with it.
But being held back, he immediately looked toward Mu Xichen and instructed, “You, e with me.”
As he said this, Old Master Li turned around and made his way further into the house slowly, aided by his cane.
The back view of the old man looked stubbornly rigid, as though he had an intention for a showdown.
Li Beinian felt inexplicably perturbed.
She was quite convinced that her grandfather was about to do something drastic.
Secretly frightened, she held onto Mu Xichen’s hand when he got up to follow the old man and said, “I’ll e with you.”
“You stay right here!” Old Master Li glared at her. “Are you worried that I’ll bully your man? I’m an old man and can’t fight him!”
Turning red with embarrassment, Li Beinian quickly explained, “I only want to know what you’re discussing…”
Her grandfather shot her a look and did not speak further, but headed into the study.
Mu Xichen gently caressed her hand and whispered, “Wait here for me.”
Her eyes were fixed on him as she watched him walk toward the study, trying to guess what her grandfather was going to tell him.
When Aunt Jiang saw this scene, she laughed and teased the girl. “Alright already. I know you two are such a pair of lovebirds. He’s gone into the study, so there’s no point staring. Just wait for a bit.”
Li Beinian reluctantly looked away and went to help Aunt Jiang with her cooking.
…
Mu Xichen entered the study and shut the door behind him.
The Old Master stood with his back to the man, holding his cane. His back view showed a slight hunch and his short hair had grayed for he was in his seventies, but he was alert and in the pink of health.
He struck the leg of the sandalwood table with his cane once before he turned around and asked meaningfully, “Do you know what I did as a young man?”
Mu Xichen pursed his lips and replied to the old man respectfully, “I heard that you were a secretary. Later on, when Xia Nation was reformed, you stepped down from that position.”
That was many years ago. Li Xu was in his early thirties when he stepped down from the position. Later on, he became a businessman and had many glorious years doing that. In the last ten years, he had gradually stepped back from his business, and, with this, the Li Family slowly declined in stature.
Old Master Li showed no surprise that the younger man knew this much about him, but nodded and added, “Many years have passed since.”
Then, there was silence.
A couple of seconds passed. Then, Mu Xichen couldn’t refrain from asking the question that had been playing on his mind. “Grandpa, you said earlier that Ah Nian’s parents are no longer around. What did you mean?”
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