Chapter 605
**Chapter 702: Son, Father is Unfilial**
A child travels a thousand miles, and a mother worries. Although Sister didn’t say much, she was still concerned, lingering at the market for quite a while, listening intently.
Thinking of this, Xiao Jiu couldn’t help but feel a bit sentimental.
The last time he saw Li Mo, he was still a frail, sickly boy. In the blink of an eye, he had become a renowned hero, and now, he was on the verge of getting married.
“Rumors in the jianghu, huh? Now that Xiao Mo is so famous, it’s only natural for people to make up stories about him,” Sister said.
“That’s true, but why hasn’t that brat come back yet?”
Gu Xueqin carried a basket of vegetables, leading her daughter Ying Bing to the market.
“...”
Ying Bing glanced at Huang Donglai, who had changed into a new outfit.
It seemed... not entirely fabricated.
Once they entered the market, Gu Xueqin, who had initially been disinterested, perked up, guiding Ying Bing through the stalls. When someone asked about the girl beside her, who was as ethereal as a cold fairy, her lips would curl into a slight smile.
As she introduced Ying Bing, she would seize the opportunity to bargain while the other person was still in shock.
Ying Bing had grown up in the Li household but had rarely gone out with them.
Now, whether she was meeting outsiders or following Gu Xueqin around the market, her once icy demeanor had softened, radiating a quiet beauty and grace.
She had even mastered the art of bargaining like the women of the Li family.
When Gu Xueqin finished haggling, the cold fairy would suddenly ask for extra green onions.
As the sun climbed high, the family returned home.
Gu Xueqin busied herself with household chores while chatting with Li Dalong about the rumors she had heard that day.
“Surely, our son will spend less and less time at home in the future, but that’s not a bad thing.”
Li Dalong noticed his wife’s longing and worry and comforted her, “That brat is not the same as before. He’s now a young hero, and soon he’ll be a big shot. What big shot spends all their time at home?”
“They say parents shouldn’t travel far while their children are still young. Who doesn’t want their children by their side?” Gu Xueqin sighed softly.
“You didn’t seem to feel that way when he left.”
“That’s just how it is. When he’s out, I miss him terribly, but when he’s home, I find him a bit annoying.”
Sons are like the double-slit experiment; you miss them when they’re gone, but when they’re around too much, they can be a bit bothersome.
“What about daughters?”
“Far or near, they’re both lovely.”
Ying Bing lowered her eyes, appearing like a delicate orchid in a quiet valley, serene and graceful, yet her heart was warm, and the tea she sipped tasted sweet.
“But little Bing can’t always stay by our side,” Gu Xueqin said, feeling a bit sentimental.
Perhaps women of this age, no matter where they are, are equally sensitive?
At that moment, Li Dalong suddenly asked, “Little Bing, do you prefer boys or girls?”
Ying Bing squinted her phoenix eyes, seriously contemplating.
Well, she didn’t need to think too hard.
When she heard the question, it was as if two little figures popped up beside her head: one was a little angelic ice dumpling, and the other was a mischievous little brat.
Ying Bing was momentarily lost in thought, unable to make a choice.
“I... like both.”
Li Dalong chuckled, “My dear, little Bing likes having both a son and a daughter. So, you don’t have to worry about us being lonely in our old age!”
“That would be great! If that brat doesn’t come back, then so be it.”
Gu Xueqin’s eyes sparkled, and just the thought of it made her glow with happiness.
“?”
Ying Bing realized that her uncle and aunt had somehow stopped talking about children.
Because she remembered the three volumes of Little Li’s books.
Looking back, the best strategy was indeed the best strategy; it had a remarkable impact on Gu Aunty...
“Then... should I leave?”
Just then, a familiar voice came from the doorway.
Ying Bing, who had initially looked bright and clever but was now a bit dazed, turned around.
When she saw who it was, she felt her own intelligence slipping away.
Little Li had somehow appeared at the door, accompanied by the round and jolly Qian Changlao.
He spread his hands, looking utterly bewildered as if he hadn’t boarded the carriage yet.
He probably never expected that even the law of distant fragrance and nearby stench would fail him.
He hadn’t even stepped inside, and already, he was unwelcome?
How infuriating! What had that ice dumpling been up to these past few days?
---
**Chapter 702: Son, Father is Unfilial**
Well, just a joke; Little Li still had his place in this family.
After all, if he didn’t come home, where would the little ice dumpling and the little brat come from?
“Did your journey go smoothly?” Gu Xueqin checked her son from head to toe, relieved to find he was unscathed and didn’t even look weary.
“Nothing happened. I just bought a few things and came back.”
Li Mo decided not to tell his parents about the Lingxi Sect. He hadn’t suffered any losses and had even honed his skills. Although the Lingxi Sect might not let things go easily, telling his parents would only worry them.
“Just as long as you’re safe. The East Sea isn’t peaceful; your mother may not say it, but she worries about you all the time.”
Li Dalong said, then nodded at Qian Bufen, “I told your mother that Elder Qian is a reliable person. With such a mentor by your side, what could go wrong?”
“Flattery, flattery...” Qian Bufen’s face turned slightly red.
So, Old Qian could only comfort himself that his trip with Little Mo wasn’t entirely useless; at least it put Li’s parents at ease...
“Dad, how do you know about the situation in the East Sea?”
“I heard it from a storyteller. He said there are many con artists over there.”
“True enough.”
Qian Bufen looked at the sunny and cheerful Li Mo, nodding in agreement.
“He also said that the place is a mix of good and bad, with bandits often taking advantage of the chaos after the exotic market ends. Some even said that the Lingxi Sect suffered a huge loss because of it.”
“... Who could argue with that?”
Qian Bufen glanced again at Li Mo, who was licking an ice pop, looking as carefree as a child, and nodded.
In the inner realm, one person chased after thousands, fearing the opponent wouldn’t be strong enough, even resorting to acting.
Li Mo: “?”
Gu Xueqin was taken aback, “Elder Qian, did you and Mo encounter bandits on your way back?”
“Not at all,” Qian Bufen waved his hand.
“Did you run into members of a demonic sect?”
Li Dalong’s expression turned serious.
“Uh...”
Just as Qian Bufen was about to nod, he felt a pat on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Little Li’s sunny smile.
Old Qian leaned back slightly, “No, the Lingxi Sect is quite prominent, so perhaps the bandits and demonic sect members went after them. We had a smooth journey.”
“Really?”
“Mom and Dad, look at what I bought.”
Li Mo took out a Xu Mi item and handed it to Li Dalong.
Then he watched as his father nodded, accepting it while sipping tea, only to suddenly freeze, spilling tea all over his pants.
As everyone knows, Little Li’s Xu Mi items are remarkably effective for treating claustrophobia.
But Old Li didn’t have claustrophobia.
It was only natural to react this way when given such a potent remedy without any ailment...
In fact, Li Mo had only brought back a small portion of what he had collected. The more precious items, like the three-thousand-year-old sea silk, he had stored in the system space, fearing his parents wouldn’t be able to handle it all at once.
But when Old Li saw just a small part of his son’s fortune, his head buzzed, and his knees felt weak, leaving him speechless for a long time.
After a long silence, Li Dalong finally asked, trembling, “Son, when you went to the capital, you didn’t do anything illegal, did you? If you did, I can’t cover for you this time.”
In his youth, Old Li had often cleaned up after the local troublemaker in Qinghe County, after all, he was the county magistrate, and his influence still held some weight.
Li Mo cleared his throat and took Ying Bing’s small hand, “It was mainly an investment, and the help from the ice dumpling was invaluable.”
“?”
Ying Bing’s phoenix eyes widened in surprise; she didn’t quite understand this investment talk. Did it mean business?
Invaluable... did that mean her contribution as the little brat’s boss?
“Yeah, that’s right.”
The ice dumpling squinted her eyes, nodding earnestly and gently.
“Now I see.”
Gu Xueqin sighed in relief. If little Bing was nodding, then there shouldn’t be any problems.
That brat might spout nonsense, but little Bing had never lied since she was young, which was reassuring.
“...”
Qian Bufen opened his mouth, then closed it again.
Wait, are you all even on the same wavelength here?
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