bookbashuk Chapter 267 Liu Guangqi Returns Home
Chapter 267 Liu Guangqi Returns Home
The spring in the old city is like an old man whose sharpness has been worn away by time.
The sunlight always seems soft and weak, like an old veil. The layers of lead-gray clouds are like heavy shackles, firmly locking up the warm sun that should be freely shining.
After a long time, the sunlight finally penetrated the gaps in the clouds with difficulty, sparingly casting a few rays of light.
The light fell tremblingly on the green tiles of the courtyard, as if it had gently coated the old, mottled tiles with a layer of warm yellow gauze, adding a bit of vitality from the past to the ancient courtyard, and making the several old locust trees in the courtyard that had survived the cold winter seem to perk up a bit.
However, this faint light seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier and could not shine into the gloomy atmosphere of Liu Haizhong's house.
Liu Guangqi hummed a light tune, which was melodious and graceful, revealing the sweetness unique to young people in love.
His mind and eyes were filled with every little detail of his time with Qi Sihui. The girl's every smile, every soft word lingered in his heart, making his steps as light as if he were walking on clouds and his whole body felt light and airy.
He had completely forgotten the violent incident in his parents' room last night, which had already caused undercurrents in the house, like a raging whirlpool hidden beneath the calm surface of a lake.
As soon as he stepped into the house, Liu Guangqi was like a bird that had accidentally entered an ice cellar, and he keenly sensed the unusual atmosphere in the house.
In the past, my mother would always come to greet me with a smile, and habitually rub her hands on her apron, fearing that she would dirty the child. Then she would ask about my well-being, showing great concern, and asking about every detail: "Guangqi, are you tired outside today? Is the work going well? Are you hungry? I have saved a hot meal for you."
But today, the mother just glanced at him silently, with complex emotions in her eyes - helplessness, resentment, and a hint of imperceptible fatigue, which flashed by, and then she lowered her head to busy herself with the things at hand, threading the needle a little faster than usual, as if to relieve the boredom in her heart.
My father's face was even more stern, and he sat like a majestic sculpture, firmly on the old armchair in the middle of the main room.
The armrests of the chair were rubbed to a glossy shine. They had witnessed countless events in the family and carried the joys and sorrows of several generations.
The eyes behind the bangs are extremely deep, revealing an unfathomable deep meaning, as if hiding endless thoughts.
His eyes sometimes flashed with a hidden light, and sometimes were as silent as a pool of stagnant water, as if a violent storm was brewing.
Liu Guangqi naturally knew that his father's gloomy expression at this moment was due to the fierce quarrel he had with them yesterday after he was blinded by anger.
However, at this moment he did not take his parents' emotions too seriously and continued to do as he pleased.
Just then, Liu Haizhong coughed lightly.
The sound seemed extremely abrupt in this quiet and almost depressing room, just like an extremely heavy hammer suddenly hitting the ground, instantly shattering the already slightly awkward silence.
Although he was already filled with irritation, Liu Haizhong still tried his best to restrain the spread of this emotion.
His hands first unconsciously clenched the corners of his clothes, then slowly loosened their grip. He tried to regulate his breathing, trying to make his tone sound as calm and gentle as possible.
Then, he waved to Liu Guangqi and said, "Guangqi, come over here for a moment. Your mother and I have something to discuss with you."
Hearing this, Liu Guangqi's heart suddenly "skipped", as if a warning bell had suddenly rung. He subconsciously straightened his back and walked towards his father, while secretly guessing what was going on.
Before he could open his mouth to ask, Liu Haizhong continued, "Your mother and I want Qi Sihui to come home again, and everyone should sit down and discuss it calmly."
After saying that, he turned his head away as if he didn't want to face this matter. His brows were slightly furrowed, and several deep grooves appeared between his eyebrows. Anyone could see his reluctant look. Even the old vase placed next to him seemed to be affected by the low pressure, appearing even duller.
Second Auntie hurried to smooth things over, with a flattering smile on her face, the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes squeezed together, and she said softly: "Child, your father is doing this for your own good. This lifelong event can't be treated lightly. Marriage is not a game of house. You have to live a life of firewood, rice, oil and salt. Pots and pans bump against each other, and interpersonal relationships are complicated. Everything is a science. Let's talk it out, so that we can be open-minded and save the family from being embarrassed, don't you think?"
Liu Guangqi was a little confused about what his parents were trying to do. He scratched his head and wondered: Yesterday, his mother's attitude towards Sihui was not like this. Why did she suddenly change her nature? She was always picking on him and making sarcastic remarks, but now she took the initiative to invite her to come home again.
However, this did not hinder his normal plan. He had originally planned to bring Qi Sihui home again in the next two days to seriously discuss their marriage.
In his opinion, Sihui is gentle, kind, well-educated and reasonable.
She is also considerate in her daily life. When Liu Guangqi encounters troubles at work, she can soothe his worries with just a few words. She is a rare good girl.
Last time, Liu Guangqi was severely criticized by his leader because something went wrong at work. He was so depressed that he couldn't eat.
Qi Sihui comforted him softly, "Don't be discouraged, this is just a temporary setback. You are so capable, you will definitely do well next time."
Just this simple sentence helped Liu Guangqi regain his confidence.
Liu Guangqi was certain that if her parents spent more time with her, they would naturally discover her good qualities.
Thinking of this, Liu Guangqi's originally tense face suddenly relaxed, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised, outlining a confident and slightly complacent smile.
He nodded very readily and said, "Okay, Mom and Dad, I have the same idea! It's just right, I will bring her home in the next two days. But you must be careful with your words, and don't criticize her like you did yesterday. Otherwise, I will turn against you!"
These words were spoken in a decisive manner, without any room for hesitation or negotiation, and between the lines, they revealed the unique drive and stubborn character of a young man.
Liu Haizhong, who was sitting next to him, was furious when he heard his son say this. With a "clang", the anger in his heart exploded like a gunpowder barrel that was ignited in an instant.
Then, he slammed the table in front of him with such force in anger that even the teacup on the table was affected. With a violent shake, the tea in the cup almost splashed out.
Sure enough, a few drops of boiling hot tea splashed out and dripped onto the table, quickly soaking it and forming a small light water stain.
He widened his eyes and shouted angrily, "What are you talking about? What do you mean don't blame you for turning your back on me? We raised you with so much hardship, from the time you were born to the time you took your first steps to the time you are now this size. We went through wind and rain, and we worried about you so much and put so much effort into you. And you are threatening us with this?"
Liu Guangqi was not to be outdone. He stiffened his neck, with veins protruding slightly like little caterpillars, and replied, "Dad, I'm not threatening you. I really like Sihui and want to spend my whole life with her. You keep nagging that she's from another place, but times have changed. We no longer care about those outdated rules. With convenient transportation and advanced communications, distance is not a problem at all. I don't want to fall out with my family, but if you insist on not agreeing, I can't let her down. I have to have a conscience."
Seeing this, the second aunt was extremely anxious. She quickly stood up and grabbed Liu Haizhong, holding his arm tightly with both hands. Her nails dug into his flesh unconsciously. Her eyes were red with anxiety. She advised with a crying voice: "Stop arguing! We haven't even discussed this yet, and you are arguing like this. Guangqi, calm down first. Your father is just worried that you will have a hard time in the future. He has no other intentions."
Second Auntie turned her head to Liu Haizhong again, and said softly but with unquestionable determination, "Head of the family, the child is grown up and has his own ideas. Let's talk slowly. Getting angry won't solve the problem. Don't push the child further away. Have you forgotten that the Zhang family in the compound next door was so pressed that the child ran away from home in anger. There has been no news for many years, and now the old couple regrets it so much that they beat their chests and stamp their feet. We can't follow their old path."
Liu Haizhong stood in place, his chest heaving violently. He took a deep breath, as if trying to absorb all the anger in his heart into his lungs.
However, despite his anger, he still tried to suppress his emotions, clenched his teeth tightly, and squeezed out a few words from between his teeth: "Okay, fine! Let's not quarrel for now. Guangqi, if that's the case, then you should quickly set a specific time and bring the girl over. When the time comes, we can meet face to face and talk everything out. However, I have to say something ugly first. If her ideas and plans are far from my expectations and cannot meet my requirements, then I will definitely not give in easily on this matter!"
After hearing this, Liu Guangqi nodded slightly, indicating that he agreed with his father's proposal, and responded: "No problem, how about setting it for the day after tomorrow? Dad, Mom, I sincerely hope that you can treat her with courtesy and be polite to her. Don't let Sihui feel embarrassed or wronged. After all, she is a girl with a thin skin. If she is treated badly because of us, I will definitely not agree!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Guangqi turned around and walked quickly towards his room.
With a loud "bang", the door was slammed shut. The huge sound of the door closing was like a heavy hammer, hitting Liu Haizhong and Second Aunt's hearts heavily, making them both panic.
Liu Haizhong and the second aunt looked at each other silently, and where their eyes met, it seemed as if thousands of words were surging.
But in the end, they all turned into deep helplessness and worry, heavily engraved on the two weather-beaten faces.
Second Aunt sighed softly, the sound was very weak.
However, the sorrow contained in it surges like a tide.
She said worriedly, "Master, looking at the current situation, it seems that our Guangqi has made up his mind! We must think carefully about how to talk to that girl, and we must not make the situation awkward right from the start. Once this child is determined to do something, even nine old cows can't pull him back."
After hearing this, Liu Haizhong snorted coldly, and then crossed his arms tightly in front of his chest. His originally stern face looked even more serious at this moment.
He frowned and responded firmly, "Humph! I know this very well. When the girl comes the day after tomorrow, I will test her details to see what plans she has for the future. Especially regarding the issue of our retirement, what does she think? If I find that she is unreliable, no matter how much she talks, I will never agree to this marriage. You know, marriage is not a game for children to play around, but a major event that affects Guangqi's lifelong happiness. How can it be settled so casually and muddleheadedly?"
At this moment, the second aunt's face was full of worry, and she spoke again with a worried look on her face: "Boss, how about we discuss it in advance? When we meet that girl later, what should we say to her? But don't let the scene become quiet by then and cause something unpleasant to happen!"
As she spoke, she looked at Liu Haizhong with a worried look.
Liu Haizhong frowned tightly at this time, looking a little impatient. He waved his hand casually and said in a rough voice: "What are you discussing? Just watch how she behaves! If this girl doesn't have any idea at all, I can see it clearly at a glance!"
However, the second aunt did not seem to give up her idea because of Liu Haizhong's words. She continued to mutter in a low voice, "But boss, this is the first time that the girl has come to our house to discuss marriage. We must leave a good impression on her no matter what. Besides, Guangqi has been protecting the girl all the time. We can't make things too ugly, right?"
Hearing this, Liu Haizhong snorted heavily and said nonchalantly, "Protect him? Even if he does, what can he do? Can he still turn the tables? Don't worry, I know my limits!"
Although he spoke so firmly and resolutely, in fact, from his slightly flickering eyes, one could still see a hint of hesitation and uncertainty. It was obvious that he was also secretly pondering a countermeasure.
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