Chapter 58

Hai Cheng Lian Shui County, the administrative county farthest from the city center of Hai Cheng, is where Lu Li's hometown is located.

The Jianguo Residential Area is situated on the east side of the county, initially built in the 1970s. The buildings are worn and the roads are narrow, with no parking spaces between the buildings. It is said that the area is scheduled for demolition, but after many years of rumors, there is still no definite news.

After returning from the airport to the school, Lu Li, with his Adidas backpack, rushed to the bus station. After a hurried journey, he finally arrived in Lian Shui County before noon.

Lian Shui County has only two bus routes. Taking the No. 1 bus and getting off at the Jianguo Residential Area, Lu Li looked at the somewhat dilapidated neighborhood environment and took a deep breath, feeling a sense of peace and tranquility. Even the sadness of Shen Muqing's departure abroad seemed to fade.

In this life, his father is not mentioned, as he has long lost his memory. However, his mother is different. They have relied on each other for twenty years, and no matter how many cycles of life and death, the bond between them remains unbreakable and even more precious.

"Mom, I'm back."

Taking out the key to open the door, Lu Li shouted into the house before entering.

"You naughty boy, you only come back now."

Xiao Junlan, with an apron tied around her waist, came out of the kitchen and looked at her son, asking anxiously, "Tell me quickly, Mom, did you get a girlfriend?"

"Huh?"

Lu Li broke out in a sweat and smiled bitterly, "Is a daughter-in-law more important than a son? It's finally summer break, can't you show some concern for me?"

"What's there to be concerned about?"

Xiao Junlan walked back to the kitchen and said, "Wash your hands and get ready to eat. I made your favorite scallion oil fish because I knew you were coming back today."

"Okay."

Lu Li gave an "OK" and went to wash his hands. Then he sat on the sofa in the living room, looking around, feeling a warm sense of home.

Despite being decades old, the furniture was worn and the walls were peeling, but the place was kept clean and tidy.

Actually, since he was old enough to understand, Lu Li had never seen the house in a mess. Even when his mother occasionally fell ill, as long as it wasn't a serious illness requiring hospitalization, she would tidy up the house every day.

Seeing that the living room was still as it had always been, he suddenly stood up and turned to look at the wall behind the sofa, his eyes flashing with a keen light.

On the wall hung a calligraphy scroll, one meter wide and three meters long. The writing was elegant and serene, framed neatly and heavily, with the signature of Qichang.

This calligraphy had been hanging there longer than Lu Li had been alive. Xiao Junlan would carefully clean it from time to time, showing great care.

From a young age, he had always been curious about this painting.

If it were truly an antique calligraphy, wouldn't it be a waste to hang it in the living room, regardless of safety concerns? If it were just a print, it would be exaggerated to keep it for decades without changing it.

Although their family was not wealthy, Xiao Junlan, as a middle school teacher, had a decent living standard, and it was impossible that they couldn't afford any decorations.

But since he recovered and returned home, he no longer thought this way.

Because this calligraphy was clearly a genuine work by the famous Ming Dynasty calligrapher Dong Qichang, without a doubt. His previous doubts stemmed from a lack of understanding, but with his current expertise in art, he could easily be a calligraphy appraiser and would not make a mistake.

From his mother's attitude toward the calligraphy, it was clear that she knew its value, yet she neither sold it to improve their life nor kept it as a family heirloom. Instead, she hung it proudly in the living room, which was quite strange.

Moreover, the 80-square-meter old house had a separate study room, and Xiao Junlan practiced calligraphy for an hour every day. Even wealthy and influential people with time to spare might not do this.

Looking deeply at the calligraphy worth millions, Lu Li took a deep breath and smiled bitterly. It seemed his mother had her secrets too!

When Lu Li sat back on the sofa, the coffee table was already set with four dishes and a soup.

Scallion oil fish, garlic sprout stir-fried meat, tomato and egg, braised shrimp, and seaweed egg drop soup—these were all his favorites.

With the meal ready, Xiao Junlan specially opened a bottle of Snow Beer and handed it to Lu Li, smiling, "Xiao Li, you've grown up. If you want to drink in the future, Mom won't stop you."

Lu Li looked puzzled, "Mom, in front of you, how can I say I've grown up?"

Seeing Lu Li's hesitant expression, Xiao Junlan chuckled and pushed the bottle into his hand, "I didn't let you drink before because I was afraid it would affect your studies. Now, with a year left until graduation, drinking is inevitable, so you have to know your limits."

When her son saved someone and almost got hit by a car, Xiao Junlan felt proud. However, after he woke up, his personality changed dramatically. He stared blankly for a while, then acted as if he were crazy, talking to himself, shouting, and screaming, which made her very worried.

Lu Li had always been sensible, with excellent grades from a young age. He was even among the top ten in the city during the college entrance exam. If she hadn't strongly opposed it, he would have applied to the top university in the country, North China University in the capital. This matter made him gloomy for several days, but he never had any extreme reactions.

The idea that he went crazy after a heroic act left Xiao Junlan puzzled.

Fortunately, everything was over, and her son finally returned to normal, putting her mind at ease.

"It's getting cold, eat quickly."

"Wait a moment!"

Lu Li stopped her and took out a wooden carving from his pocket, "Mom, I have a gift for you. This is something I carved myself."

"Carved yourself?"

Xiao Junlan's eyes were full of doubt. She took the wooden carving and looked at it, her eyes lighting up, "What a beautiful carving. Whether you carved it yourself or not, I like it."

"Good, as long as you like it," Lu Li chuckled and then took out a paper envelope, "Mom, here's 50,000 yuan. Keep it."

"Where did you get the money?"

Xiao Junlan frowned and stared at Lu Li, saying sternly, "Explain clearly, or Mom won't take it."

Seeing Xiao Junlan's serious expression, Lu Li smiled bitterly.

The last time he met Xue Renzhi, he left with Xue Shouye, who brought an unlimited card. Lu Li had never used it, but this time, thinking of his mother's hard work, he withdrew 50,000 yuan.

More was possible, but it would be harder to explain.

"Mom, you know I'm studying economics and management. My mentor values me a lot, and this semester, he took me on a big project. This is my share of the project, and it's just part of it."

"Really?"

"Mom, I'm your son, don't you trust me?" Lu Li said, sounding indignant.

Trust finally overcame doubt. Xiao Junlan's eyes reddened, and she got up to go to the bedroom, saying with relief, "Mom will save it for you, to use when you find a wife."

When she returned from the bedroom, she saw Lu Li holding a wine glass in one hand and chopsticks in the other, enjoying his meal. After finishing all the food, he patted his stomach and burped, "I'm full."

"Wash your hands and take a nap!"

Just as Lu Li was about to get up, he suddenly had an idea, "You said I've grown up, so you should rest, and I'll wash the dishes."

Before Xiao Junlan could stop him, he quickly cleared the table and carried the dishes into the kitchen.

Xiao Junlan was taken aback by Lu Li's actions, then secretly wiped her eyes and left.

He slept until 3 PM. When he woke up, Xiao Junlan was practicing calligraphy in the study.

Lu Li stood at the door and looked in, not intending to go in.

Although Xiao Junlan's calligraphy was good, in his eyes, it was full of flaws. Seeing her practice with such dedication and interest, he didn't want to dampen her enthusiasm.

On the first night back home, the clock struck eleven, and the entire neighborhood gradually fell into silence.

In his sleep, Lu Li suddenly opened his eyes, jumped out of bed, and ran to the window. Opening the curtains and looking outside, he was startled.

"How can there be a Celestial Master in the Jianguo Residential Area? No, he's coming for me!"

Thinking of this, a fierce look appeared in his eyes.

No matter who it was, if they dared to come to his home, they would have to pay a price.

**

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Updated after drinking, not easy!

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