Old Li was actually just over forty, but he looked older, appearing to be in his fifties, and furthermore, he had a severe case of baldness, was short, and looked like a little old man, so everyone in the village called him Old Li.
His wife had been dead for eleven years, and he had no children. He did have a pair of parents who were still healthy. The small grocery store was also opened with his parents’ support. Old Li wasn’t fond of farming and had a sweet tooth; he could eat almost half of the snacks in the grocery store himself.
Over the years, Old Li had thought about remarrying, but no one was willing to marry him.
Old Li’s home wasn’t close to the Xu Family’s, but he would still come over from time to time. No one knew what he was truly thinking.
Mainly because Xu Lin’s mother was beautiful and gentle, speaking in a soft and delicate manner, Old Li couldn’t help but want to be around her.
This time, hearing that Guan Qiue had worked herself to the point of vomiting blood, Old Li wanted to come and take a look. If he showed concern, Guan Qiue might remember his kindness, and later on, when the Xu Family father and son were out in the fields during the day, he could come over, and perhaps Guan Qiue would let him inside.
But as soon as he reached the doorstep, he heard the Xu Family father and son refusing the items from Chiang Songhai and mentioning Bai Gu Mountain. Old Li loved mushrooms, how could he resist? He immediately ran inside.
He grabbed a handful of mushrooms, his mouth almost watering.
When Chiang Songhai saw him, he also remembered the dirty water Niu Guiying had thrown onto Chiang Xiao, and he couldn’t help but frown.
"Old Li, how come you’re here?" Xu Canyuan looked at him, his expression somewhat unfriendly.
Last time, his wife had told him when he and Lin Zi weren’t home, Old Li came to visit, and despite her attempts to dissuade him, he insisted on entering the house. It was only because Sister-in-law Juan happened to visit that they managed to resolve the situation.
A man and a woman alone in a room was not proper, lest they be the target of gossip; Old Li wasn’t unaware of that.
"I ate dinner early, went out for a walk, and just happened to come here," Old Li said, as if he hadn’t noticed the unwelcoming attitudes of the people present. His eyes roved, and his gaze fell on Chiang Xiao.
"Yo, Little, why haven’t you been to my place these past few days?"
This Chiang Family’s Young Lady had a face that was particularly enticing, it was just that she was still young and a bit thin. Just a few years of proper nurturing and she was sure to be a bewitching beauty.
"My name is Chiang Xiao, Little is what my family calls me," Chiang Xiao replied without a hint of warmth, quite coldly in fact. She turned and tugged at Chiang Songhai, "Grandpa, let’s go back first, I’ll visit Auntie Qiue another day."
Chiang Songhai was also very annoyed by the way Old Li looked at Chiang Xiao, he shielded her and said to Xu Canyuan and his son: "We’ll be taking our leave now, if there’s anything, remember to come by and let us know."
"Okay," Xu Canyuan responded honestly, knowing now it wasn’t appropriate to continue refusing the items in front of Old Li.
They could only accept them; Qiue had ruined her health by overworking and now needed some things to nourish her.
"Lin Zi, take these things to the kitchen, you go and cook."
"Alright." Xu Lin glanced outside and saw Chiang Xiao’s retreating figure, feeling somewhat dejected. He hadn’t gotten an answer from Chiang Xiao just now, had she really gone with Uncle to Bai Gu Mountain?
But the changes in Chiang Xiao were truly significant.
Old Li craned his neck, "Hey, Lin Zi, let uncle take another look! Are these from Bai Gu Mountain? Could it be that there are no wild animals left on Bai Gu Mountain now? Otherwise, how could Chiang Songhai have taken that girl there..."
"Old Li, none of us have been to Bai Gu Mountain, so how would we know? We’re about to eat, you should head back first."
Old Li could be said to have been chased out by Xu Canyuan.
Once outside, he spat in disgust.
What the hell! They weren’t even welcoming him!
However, thinking about Chiang Songhai taking Chiang Xiao up the mountain, thinking about those mushrooms, thinking about the game, Old Li’s mind became lively again.