pdf-ebookys Chapter 324 Going Home
Chapter 324 Going Home
Li Xiangyang was speechless for a moment, not expecting Zhou Yongnian to make such a suggestion.
This was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but I was really not cut out for it, and I really couldn't let go of the carefree feeling of hunting.
“Uncle Zhou, I…” Li Xiangyang chose his words carefully, “I am truly grateful for your kind words, but I still prefer staying at home and hunting. I'm afraid I can’t live without that feeling of freedom.”
Zhou Yongnian had anticipated this and didn't seem disappointed. Instead, he patted Li Xiangyang on the shoulder: "I knew you'd say that. You're a wild and untamed guy at heart."
He took a swig of his drink. "However, I can get you a sinecure in the bureau, just a nominal position. You can go hunting whenever you want, and you won't miss out on any benefits. How about it?"
Li Xiangyang's heart skipped a beat; this was indeed a win-win solution.
But then he thought again that he couldn't help but feel guilty for just occupying the position without doing anything.
"Uncle Zhou, isn't this a bit inappropriate? I'm afraid..."
Zhou Yongnian waved his hand to interrupt him: "Alright, it's settled then! Don't try to refuse me. You've helped me so much, if I don't repay you, who will help me in the future?"
Seeing Zhou Yongnian's resolute attitude, Li Xiangyang no longer declined and raised his glass in thanks: "Then thank you, Uncle Zhou! Please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything in the future."
"By the way, Uncle Zhou, if Er Gou hadn't come along, I wouldn't have been able to handle it all by myself..."
It wasn't until Zhou Yongnian looked down on Wang Ergou that Li Xiangyang had no choice but to shamelessly beg for benefits.
Zhou Yongnian nodded: "I know that. Don't worry, I won't forget his contributions. I'll report the situation truthfully to my superiors later, ensuring everyone is properly accounted for and that he doesn't suffer any losses."
On the other side, Shen Chengye and the others had different expressions, all hoping that Li Xiangyang could get into the Forestry Bureau, so that they could keep an eye on him in the future...
After a satisfying meal, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.
Li Xiangyang tossed and turned in his room, unable to sleep, his mind filled with images of Li Xiaoyun.
Counting the days, he has been away from home for more than ten days. I wonder how she is doing, and whether the baby in her belly is making any trouble.
The thought of seeing Li Xiaoyun tomorrow filled Li Xiangyang with immense excitement.
As dawn broke, Li Xiangyang got up, packed his things, and waited to go home.
As promised, Zhou Yongnian arranged for a jeep early in the morning to take Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou home.
Before leaving, Zhou Yongnian held Li Xiangyang's hand again: "Go back and rest well. Don't worry about anything else, I'll handle it. I'll let you know as soon as I have any news."
"Thank you, Uncle Zhou. Please take care," Li Xiangyang said sincerely.
"Alright, stop being so wishy-washy, hurry back, your wife must be getting impatient." Zhou Yongnian laughed heartily and gave Li Xiangyang a push.
The car bumped along the rugged mountain road, but Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou felt increasingly relaxed.
As they got closer to the village, Li Xiangyang's heart beat faster and faster.
Finally, the familiar village entrance came into view. Although he had only been away for a little over ten days, Li Xiangyang felt as if he had been in another world.
"Stop here, let's stop here," Li Xiangyang said to the driver. "We'll walk the rest of the way."
The driver nodded and parked the car at the village entrance.
Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou thanked him, got out of the car, stood on the familiar land, and took a deep breath of the air from their hometown.
"Let's go home!" Li Xiangyang said with a smile, patting Wang Ergou on the shoulder.
The two jogged all the way and arrived at Li Xiangyang's doorstep in the blink of an eye.
In the courtyard, Li Xiaoyun was hanging clothes to dry, her back to the door, unaware of their arrival.
Li Xiangyang stood at the door, watching his wife's busy figure, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.
"Xiaoyun!" he called softly.
Li Xiaoyun froze, then slowly turned around. When she saw that it was Li Xiangyang standing in the doorway, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Xiangyang, you're back!" Li Xiaoyun dropped the clothes in her hand, rushed to Li Xiangyang, and threw herself into his arms.
Li Xiangyang hugged his wife tightly, feeling her warmth, and his worries were finally completely released.
“I’m back, everything is fine,” Li Xiangyang said softly, gently stroking his wife’s back.
Li Xiaoyun looked up at her husband, her eyes brimming with tears: "I've been so worried about you, I even dream about you being in danger..."
Li Xiangyang gently wiped away his wife's tears with his thumb: "Alright, don't cry. We're back now; you won't look pretty if you cry your face."
At this moment, Li Xiaohua and Wang Ying also ran out upon hearing the noise. When they saw Li Xiangyang return, the two girls jumped for joy.
"Brother, you're back!" Li Xiaohua cheered.
"Brother Xiangyang!" Wang Ying called out as well.
Li Xiangyang released Li Xiaoyun and patted the two girls on the head: "You're back. I'll treat you to a big meal later."
Seeing this, Wang Ergou laughed, "I need to hurry back and check on Ma Hongxia. I'm off."
Li Xiangyang nodded: "Go ahead, come to my house for drinks tonight to celebrate our safe return!"
Wang Ergou agreed and turned to walk quickly towards his home.
Li Xiangyang took Li Xiaoyun's hand and walked into the courtyard with the two girls.
"Oh, right," he suddenly remembered something, squatted down, and gently stroked Li Xiaoyun's belly, "Is the baby alright?"
A happy smile spread across Li Xiaoyun's face: "No. I went to town for a check-up a couple of days ago, and the doctor said everything is normal. In a few months, we'll be able to see him."
A feeling of indescribable happiness welled up in Li Xiangyang's heart.
He stood up and embraced his wife again: "Xiaoyun, thank you for giving me all this beauty."
Li Xiaoyun leaned against her husband's chest and whispered, "I also want to thank you, Xiangyang. You changed my life and gave me a happy home."
The two exchanged a smile, needing no further words.
Li Xiaohua and Wang Ying chuckled to themselves, "Brother and sister-in-law are being all lovey-dovey again."
Li Xiangyang wasn't annoyed. He smiled and said, "What are you two little girls laughing about? Sooner or later, you'll both meet your Mr. Right."
"No way!" the two girls said in unison, then burst into laughter.
In the evening, the family sat around the table. Li Xiaoyun had prepared a table full of dishes, and Wang Ergou and Ma Hongxia were also invited to celebrate.
After a few rounds of drinks, Li Xiangyang briefly recounted his experience on the trip, omitting some dangerous details to avoid worrying his family.
"Do you think that Black Mountain is really that eerie?" Ma Hongxia asked curiously.
Wang Ergou nodded: "That's right, that compass spins like a top, it makes people dizzy after a while. If it weren't for Xiangyang's quick thinking, we'd still be wandering around in the mountains."
Li Xiaoyun frowned upon hearing this: "You're not allowed to go to places like that again."
Li Xiangyang quickly raised his hands in surrender: "Yes, ma'am. From now on, I'll hunt around the village to prepare meat for our little baby."
Everyone laughed again.
After the meal, Wang Ergou and Ma Hongxia said their goodbyes and left. Li Xiangyang saw them to the door and patted Wang Ergou on the shoulder: "Good brother, we owe you a lot this time."
Wang Ergou waved his hand: "Don't say that. We're partners, we should stand together through thick and thin."
Li Xiangyang nodded: "Tomorrow we'll go to the village committee and report the situation to the old Party Secretary; after all, it's a big deal."
"Okay, see you tomorrow." After saying that, Wang Ergou took Ma Hongxia's hand and left.