Chapter Thirty-Three: Another One Arrives

While Tang Wei was calling her eldest sister, she made her way toward the valley, planning to inspect Zixuan’s handiwork. She had just hung up when her mother’s call came in—someone else was looking for her. Tang Wei muttered under her breath, “When did I become so popular? I’ve just seen one person off, and now here comes another looking for me. I hope this one isn’t trouble again!” Little did she know, this time the trouble was even bigger.

Tang Wei first went in to greet Zixuan before making her way slowly back home. She was curious—who could it be this time? Even from a distance, she could hear the agitated voice of a young man: “Grandpa, is this really your place? Look at it! There’s no bar, no gym, you can’t even drive a car in here. How am I supposed to stay in a place like this? The whole road is filthy—look at my pants, my shoes! What is all this? No way, I’m not staying here, I want to go home!”

Tang Wei was speechless. What kind of specimen was this? She was certain she didn’t know anyone like that. Intrigued, she quickened her pace to see what was going on, eager for the spectacle. From the doorway, she heard an elderly man say, “If you keep shouting like that, just go home! And don’t ever come back to the Li family. I have no grandson like you. Look at you, spoiled rotten by your parents! Back when your great-grandfather and I came from the countryside, we—”

The familiar voice made Tang Wei freeze mid-step. Wasn’t that Old Doctor Li from the hospital? He really had come! She pressed her hand to her forehead, wincing in anticipation of a headache. This was indeed big trouble.

“Doctor Li, what brings you here? I thought you wouldn’t come,” Tang Wei greeted him as she entered, finding him in the midst of scolding his grandson.

Old Li hurried over. “Young lady, you agreed to let me come, didn’t you? What’s wrong, are you regretting it? Well, that won’t do. I’m already here, you can’t send me away now!”

Tang Wei smiled awkwardly. “Of course not, I just worried you might not find it comfortable here. As long as you’re fine, I’m fine. But the handsome young man who came with you doesn’t seem too happy about staying here—maybe...?”

Old Li, anxious that Tang Wei might try to send him away, waved his hand. “Ignore him. That’s my youngest grandson, Li Changfeng. He’s pampered rotten by his parents. I brought him here to toughen him up, let him experience a bit of life’s hardships. Otherwise, he’ll turn out to be a wastrel sooner or later!”

Li Changfeng protested at once, “Grandpa, how can you talk about your own grandson that way?” He turned to Tang Wei. “Ugly duckling, if you try to drive a wedge between me and my grandpa, watch out or I’ll give you a beating!”

With a thump, Old Li rapped Li Changfeng on the head and scolded, “Show some respect to Miss Tang! You think you can beat her? After two years of learning that foreign martial art, you think you’re something. Let me tell you, Miss Tang practices traditional Chinese martial arts—you’re just showing off in front of her. I should never have let your father move to B City—all of you have become so infatuated with the West and look down on your own heritage.”

Seeing his grandfather’s scolding intensify, Li Changfeng tugged at his sleeve and whispered, “Grandpa, please save me some face in front of outsiders. This is embarrassing.”

Old Li only grew more spirited. “Face? You care about face? Don’t think I don’t know what you get up to, running around with those garish girls all day—”

“Grandpa!” Li Changfeng cut him off angrily. “Can’t you talk about something else for once?”

Old Li glared at him. “You ungrateful child, am I not allowed to discipline you now?”

Tang Wei watched from the side, nearly laughing out loud at the eruption about to unfold. She hurried over to mediate, “Doctor Li, please calm down and have some water. Since you plan to study internal martial arts for your acupuncture research, please make yourself at home. I’ll prepare a room for you, but my house is simple and space is limited—you and your grandson will have to share a room for now.”

“No problem at all, sorry to trouble you!” Old Li replied quickly, still flustered.

Tang Wei smiled, “It’s no trouble. Since you’re here, make yourselves comfortable. I’ll go set things up. Mom, would you mind entertaining our guests? I’ll tidy up Zixuan’s room so he can share with Xiaojun for a few days. Once the bamboo house is ready, you can move to the valley.” With that, she headed upstairs.

That night, when Zixuan returned and learned that his room was gone, he stormed into Tang Wei’s room, indignant. “Weiwei, this is too much! How could you give my room to that arrogant rooster? Do you like him or something?”

Tang Wei burst out laughing. “Arrogant rooster? Only you could come up with that! But it does suit him, actually.”

“Exactly! He spent the whole evening with his head held high, looking superior. If that’s not an arrogant rooster, what is?” Seeing Tang Wei still laughing, Zixuan grabbed her hand and pleaded, “Weiwei, please stop laughing—at least wait until later. You haven’t answered me yet. My room’s gone. How about I stay with you?”

Tang Wei’s expression immediately turned serious. “Zixuan, have you forgotten what I said this morning? Do you want me to ignore you from now on?”

“No, no, I’ll just sleep on this lounge chair, I won’t bother you. I just don’t want to share with Xiaojun.” Zixuan pouted, flopping onto the chair.

“Alright, alright. You’ll be in the space training at night anyway—sharing with Xiaojun is just for appearances, it’s nothing to fuss about. Do you want me to give my room to them instead?” Tang Wei soothed him gently. “We’ll be heading into the space soon. I need to ask Xiaoling how to settle the two of them, and also think of a plan for Granny Yao’s illness. You go on to Xiaojun’s room. We’ll meet in the space later.”

Zixuan sat motionless on the lounge chair, pouting even more than before. Tang Wei walked over and nudged him. “Why are you still here?”

“You said you’d give me a kiss on the cheek once I finished setting up the valley’s formation, and now you’re going back on your word!” Zixuan grumbled.

Tang Wei’s face instantly turned red. After a moment’s hesitation, she walked over and planted a quick kiss on his cheek, whispering, “There, satisfied? Now out you go!”

Zixuan nodded vigorously, grinning foolishly as he touched the spot on his left cheek and made his way out the door.