Old Master Zhao was overjoyed. He had spent his entire life fighting on the battlefield, only to see his only son die young. Even his daughter-in-law had been overcome with grief after her husband's death, and within a few short years, she followed her son to the grave, leaving behind only the young Zhao Qingyun.
This was also the main reason Old Master Zhao had hung up his armor and returned to the countryside. He felt that he had to, at the very least, raise Zhao Qingyun to adulthood and witness him take a wife and father children before he could face the ancestors of the Zhao family with any dignity.
Qingshui Town was Old Master Zhao's hometown. The Zhao family's current estate had been bestowed by His Majesty, who took into account Old Master Zhao's illustrious military service and his lack of greed for power. This was also why Li Menglan felt the Zhao residence somewhat resembled the Grand View Garden—something gifted by the imperial family was bound to be... an immortal's fart—different from the ordinary!
The Li and Zhang families had given Old Master Zhao a feeling of "family" that he hadn't experienced in over a decade. He felt that this trip truly hadn't been in vain—it really was... the right decision to come!
"What?" Li Menglan had just seen the villagers off and returned home. Before her bottom could even touch the stool, she was greatly startled by Old Master Zhao's words.
"Lass Lan, this old man has decided to stay at your place for two days. What, are you not welcoming?" Old Master Zhao said to Li Menglan cheerfully.
Li Menglan was dumbfounded. Li Fujin, Li Dazhu, Old Man Zhang, Zhang Wenli, Zhang Yuniang, Lin Sanniang, and Wang were all dumbfounded as well.
"Brother Zhao, what is Grandpa thinking of doing now?" Having no other choice, Li Menglan cast an inquiring look toward Zhao Qingyun, who stood at the side smiling without speaking.
"Lan'er, if it's convenient..." It wasn't just Old Master Zhao; even Zhao Qingyun envied the warm atmosphere of Li Menglan's home.
Zhao Qingyun pondered for a moment, then carefully said, "Could you let Grandpa stay at your house for two days—is that alright?"
Old Master Zhao was Zhao Qingyun's closest living relative. If it was possible... Zhao Qingyun was willing to give up everything he had in exchange for his grandfather's peace and happiness!
When Li Menglan saw Zhao Qingyun's troubled expression... "Uh... alright then! Anyway, the house was just built, and there are plenty of spare rooms. Since Grandpa likes it here... then stay!" Li Menglan said, utterly without principle.
"Lan'er, thank you!" Zhao Qingyun sincerely expressed his gratitude to Li Menglan.
Old Master Zhao said with gleeful delight, "Lass Lan, you really agreed to let this old man stay?"
"Grandpa, you can stay." Li Menglan still had to get the unpleasant words out first. "Our family can't compare to your Zhao Manor. Three meals a day are nothing but ordinary home cooking. Grandpa... uh... Grandpa Zhao, you're not allowed to be picky. You have to eat whatever there is."
Uh... Looking across the entire Yunliang Kingdom, Li Menglan was probably the first little girl who dared to lecture Old Master Zhao to his face.
Did she even consider what Old Master Zhao's former status was? He was the renowned War God of Yunliang Kingdom. Even His Majesty treated Old Master Zhao with great respect.
"Lass Lan, why did this old man turn into Grandpa Zhao again? Wasn't I Grandpa?" Old Master Zhao said, blowing his beard and glaring.
Li Menglan casually pouted her lips in the direction of her own grandfather, Li Fujin. "Here... Grandpa Zhao, did you see? The one standing over there is my grandpa. Since you're staying at my house for two days... I definitely need to make a slight change to your title, so it's easier to distinguish and avoid confusing everyone."
"Good granddaughter, it's fine. Isn't it just a form of address? It doesn't matter." Li Fujin hurriedly waved his hand. In the eyes of Li Fujin, an honest countryman, his granddaughter being favored by a great figure like Old Master Zhao was a heavenly blessing that others couldn't beg for.
"Oh... Grandpa Zhao it is, then!" Old Master Zhao thought for a moment and felt that Li Menglan's words made some sense. After all, he would be staying in Shangliang Village for a few more days; having separate forms of address was for the best.
And so, the matter of Old Master Zhao staying at Li Dazhu's house was settled just like that.
"Brother Zhao, it's getting late. Why don't you also stay at Lan'er's place for the night and head back after breakfast tomorrow?" Li Menglan looked at the gradually darkening sky, somewhat worried that it would be unsafe for Zhao Qingyun to travel by night.
"That's right, Young Master Zhao. My daughter makes a good point. Traveling at night is indeed worrisome. Why not stay for the night?" Zhang Yuniang said to Zhao Qingyun gently.
"Auntie, you can just call me Qingyun. Don't call me 'Young Master' this and 'Young Master' that—I can't bear it." Zhao Qingyun straightened up and gave Zhang Yuniang a courteous bow, saying with a smile.
That smile truly had the effect of eclipsing all flowers. Even though Zhang Yuniang was already the mother of three children, she couldn't help feeling rather embarrassed. "How could I? This... this isn't proper."
"Mother, it's fine." Li Menglan inwardly called Zhao Qingyun a demon without reservation, but her face wore a bright smile as she said, "Your daughter calls him Brother Zhao, so you can just call him by his name directly. It's fine!"
"Auntie, Lan'er is quite right. Please just call me by my name." Zhao Qingyun said with a refined and courteous manner.
"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, go open the side door next to the threshing ground and drive Brother Zhao and Grandpa Zhao's carriage into the courtyard," Li Menglan said to her two older brothers.
"Alright, little sister!" Li Zhiming responded cheerfully.
Li Menglan affectionately linked arms with her mother, Zhang Yuniang. "Mother, let's go tidy up a room for Grandpa Zhao and Brother Zhao to stay in. Here... let Grandpa and Grandfather (maternal) keep Grandpa Zhao company with some conversation!"
"Lan'er, does Brother Zhao need to help as well?" Zhao Qingyun saw that everyone from the Li and Zhang families was bustling around the two of them and felt rather embarrassed, wanting very much to help with something.
"Brother Zhao, it's fine; I have Mother and my grandmothers here!" Li Menglan smiled and shook her head at Zhao Qingyun.
Shifting gears, she turned to Zhang Wenli and said, "Little Uncle, if you have nothing to do... keep Brother Zhao company with some conversation."
"Got it, Lass Lan!" Zhang Wenli had always obediently listened to his niece's words. He nodded his agreement very readily.
Li Menglan looked at the room with satisfaction. The floor was covered in green bricks. Mmm... truly not bad. Although there was no cement, ceramic tile, or wooden flooring, the room covered in green bricks looked no different from one paved with ceramic tiles; rather, it added a bit more rustic charm.
Her maternal grandmother, Wang, shook her head and sighed. "Sigh... who knows what's going on in Lass Lan's head, actually thinking of using green bricks to pave the floor. Goodness... that's something only wealthy families do. Such a waste—the green bricks used on this floor could build another house."
The elderly woman felt quite pained by such extravagant behavior. "Mother, my daughter's words make sense too. One's own house absolutely must be comfortable. Paving the floor with green bricks does seem wasteful, but it truly is much brighter and more comfortable."
"Grandma, silver is earned to be spent. Don't feel pained about it. In the future, Lan'er will earn even more silver for you, Grandfather (maternal), Grandfather (paternal), Grandmother (paternal)... and also Father and Mother to spend."
Li Menglan was small in stature, yet she walked in carrying a wad of cotton padding and a new quilt, both even larger than herself.
"That's right! From now on, all of us will be waiting for you to provide for us, Lass Lan!" Unable to maintain her composure after Li Menglan's interruption, Wang also couldn't help but laugh.
"Daughter, do we still have enough quilts and cotton padding at home?" Zhang Yuniang asked worriedly.
"Mother, it's fine! Didn't you see that today Grandpa Zhao and Brother Zhao sent our family several new wads of cotton padding? We have enough!"
Li Menglan even muttered inwardly, *Hmph... it's very likely that Old Master Zhao had exactly this idea in mind when he sent the cotton padding to our family.*