"Maybe we should invite Grandpa Jian to stay. Our family isn’t short of food anyway."
"Zhiqing pays 100 yuan a month for rent. Even with two more people, we’ll have more than enough."
"Then let him stay," Qin Xiangnuan didn’t care. Mr. Li’s behavior showed he just missed home. With so many people around here and Granny Lu being alone all the time, having Mr. Li would be nice. The two elders might enjoy each other’s company, and who knows, maybe even ignite some sparks.
Of course, these are modern times, not as feudal as before.
Partner in old age, a companion different from having children.
However, she soon realized she was overthinking and tapped her head, only to touch the spot where she had been wounded before. She couldn’t help but feel it—hmm, it seemed like hair was growing back, though she couldn’t see it herself.
"Brother Jian, Brother Jian," she quickly called for Jian Zhiqing to help her check.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want Granny Lu to look, but Granny Lu had hardly seen her wound, and she didn’t want to worry her. Moreover, Qin Xiangnuan had removed the gauze only after returning from Shenjia Village. Thus, Jian Zhiqing had seen the evolution of her wound from the beginning to the removal of the stitches.
Only Jian Zhiqing knew whether it had fully healed or if there was a scar left.
Jian Zhiqing had just washed his hands and face, and when he arrived, he saw Qin Xiangnuan fussing with her hair in front of the yard mirror.
"What’s wrong?" Jian Zhiqing pulled her hand away, thinking her scalp might itch—that big hole in her head couldn’t have caused a real problem, could it? He couldn’t help but get nervous, too.
"Brother Jian, do I have hair growing back?"
Qin Xiangnuan reached for her head again, but Jian Zhiqing slapped her hand away. "Stop touching, have you washed your hands? There are germs."
Qin Xiangnuan pouted but obediently stood still. Meanwhile, in the mirror, the handsome man slightly leaned over. His agile fingers parted her hair to take a look, then sighed with relief.
"Yes, hair is growing back, and it seems the scar has faded a lot. Once it grows out more, it won’t be visible."
Qin Xiangnuan, unconvinced, scrutinized herself in the mirror for a long while. However, she didn’t have an eye on top of her head, after all.
But since Jian Zhiqing said so, she felt relieved. The medicine was really effective; in such a short time, the scar had lightened significantly. She knew such a big wound wouldn’t leave just a small scar, and now that it had faded, it meant the medicine worked.
She believed as long as she kept applying it, the scars would eventually disappear completely.
Granny Lu brought over a new set of bedding and arranged for Mr. Li to stay in the room next to Jian Zhiqin’s. Jian Zhiqin’s eyes were full of complaints as if something terrible had happened. However, one glance from his grandfather made him hold his tongue. It seemed like he would have to behave better from now on. Without Eldest Son Jian around, he couldn’t be the king of the kids and do whatever he pleased anymore.
Jian Zhiqing was on the phone, apparently calling home to assure them that Mr. Li was here, well-fed and comfortably lodged, and they shouldn’t worry.
Qin Xiangnuan really felt the house become more lively. When everyone was around, there was laughter and conversation, making it feel like a true family. Sometimes she wondered how lonely and desolate it would be if she were here alone.
Indeed, people really can’t do without a family and are meant to live in groups. Living alone for too long could drive someone insane.
Mr. Li was not difficult to get along with. He had his principles and as long as you didn’t bother him, it was fine.
After a few days, Qin Xiangnuan roughly understood Mr. Li’s character.
The older generation of revolutionaries had all endured hardships. Thus, he disliked wasting, laziness, taking shortcuts, and flattery. In short, he was utterly old-fashioned yet amusing.
He was old-fashioned in character.
He was amusing, also in character.
Really, he was quite a chore to care for. He loved meat, yet the doctors advised less of it since he was older and his blood pressure a bit high, so eating lighter was better. The debates over food with the kids were sometimes comically frustrating.
It’s undeniable—Mr. Li had impressive calligraphy skills. Discovering Qin Xiangnuan could also write, he asked her to write a few characters. She could still recall his expression at that time, eyeing her as if she were a strange creature.
Qin Xiangnuan didn’t understand that at her age, her calligraphy was actually extraordinary. Without sufficient practice, it’s impossible for someone to produce such a natural spirit in their writing—indeed, it’s about the spirit of the characters.
Qin Xiangnuan’s writing reflected her personality and soul.
Of course, Qin Xiangnuan had seen Mr. Li’s calligraphy and quite liked his posture when he wrote.
One hand behind his back, the other holding the brush, eyes gazing forward, legs slightly apart, grinding ink, putting down the brush—all movements were immaculate and fluid.
His writing had its style.
People are like their handwriting; Qin Xiangnuan once again found proof of this in Mr. Li.
Upright, unyielding—sure, he had a peculiar and quirky disposition, but she really liked such an elder because they’re devoid of ulterior motives. Things like shrewdness had been cast aside decades ago. What more could he ask for at his age besides a family filled with descendants and some liveliness?
In the morning, Qin Xiangnuan would exercise with Jian Zhiqing and Jian Zhiqin and practice Tai Chi with Mr. Li and Mr. Sun. Being a young girl among old people was unique, but after a few days, her health had improved a lot compared to before.
After exercising, they would have breakfast at Granny Lu’s stall. After a couple of days, Mr. Li became acquainted with the regulars of the morning exercises, people whose names he had somewhat heard before. Now that he’d met them in person, there was a sense of regret for not having met sooner.
Sometimes they also held calligraphy exchange events, and Qin Xiangnuan would be pulled by Mr. Sun to write a few characters and share thoughts. Despite being a young girl, her exceptional handwriting was recognized by the locals, so she had a bit of fame among this group. But she had no ambition for this, and sometimes Mr. Li would poke her head and scold her for lack of ambition.
Exams were approaching in school, and Qin Xiangnuan was really busy. With evening self-study sessions, she planned to stay in the dormitory. Actually, staying at a dormitory made accessing the system inconvenient, but it was a teacher’s requirement, and there was nothing she could do about it.