Chronicle of the 70s-Chapter 372 - 349: New Year’s Single Update

Li Xianglu immediately widened her eyes at Qin Xi’s words and swiftly climbed into bed, then found a comfortable position in Qin Xi’s arms, patting his chest as she said, "Alright, start telling the story."

Qin Xi let out a muted smile. His two naughty kids and their mother were cut from the same cloth, every time he was about to tell a story, both of them would lean on his chest, finding their spots, and only then would they allow him to speak.

Qin Xi laughed slightly and patted Li Xianglu’s upturned buttocks before he began to speak slowly.

Qin Xi had met Li Jianqing several times because of work, but Li Jianqing had never asked him to bring anything to Leng Qing or inquire about how Leng Qing was doing over there, as if he could not remember to.

He found it strange; if it were him, he surely would ask about his wife’s situation, or send something back with others if he had any money or food tickets. But Li Jianqing was strange. From last July to January, during the seven months apart, except for one time when Li Jianqing came back, Leng Qing also never went to visit him. The two of them were indeed odd.

Hearing Qin Xi say this, Li Xianglu also felt that the couple seemed to lack the intimacy normal among husbands and wives. She and Qin Xi seldom argued. She managed the household money, and Qin Xi never interrogated her on what she bought or used. For major events, like work-related decisions, he would discuss with her in advance. Besides, she was not very career-driven; someone already laid out a path for her which she felt was good, saving her the trouble of planning, so the two of them had hardly any conflicts.

But it seemed there was a big barrier between Brother Three and Leng Qing. Li Xianglu couldn’t help but think of Iro in France, wondering if it had anything to do with him. Brother Three couldn’t be foolish about this, as it was a matter of principle.

Just as the couple dozed off in haze, a commotion broke out in the backyard.

Leng Qing, pushing Li Jianqing sitting next to her, said, "If we can’t get along and are only settling for each other, with you keeping someone else in your heart, I really can’t bear it. Perhaps it’s better to get a divorce; at least then neither of us will suffer."

Li Jianqing rubbed his short crew cut, helplessly saying, "Leng Qing, can you be more objective? I’ve told you, there’s nothing between Iro and me; we no longer have contact. Why won’t you believe me?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Exhausted, Leng Qing leaned against the headboard and said, "Fine, even if you don’t have someone else in your heart, I still don’t exist there. Li Jianqing, can you stop acting like I’m creating drama for no reason, please? Do you think I am being unreasonable? You simply don’t love me. It’s been a year. I thought even a stone would warm up by now, but there’s been no effect. If I’m not in your heart, why are we even together?"

At this point, Li Jianqing fell silent, his hands fretfully rubbing together. Yes, what Leng Qing said was right. He didn’t know why, but he just couldn’t feel warmly towards Leng Qing. But did that mean they had to get a divorce?

The standoff between the two lasted until 2 a.m. When Li Jianqing turned his head back, Leng Qing had already dozed off, all drowsy. Li Jianqing sighed, moved forward to pull the quilt up for her, but when he touched Leng Qing’s face, it was burning hot. Startled, he felt her forehead and cursed silently as he realized she had a fever, and a high one at that. In his panic, not knowing what to do, he paced around the room before quickly putting on his jacket and rushing out.

Li Xianglu was awakened by the cold air as Qin Xi slipped back under the covers, her annoyance prompting her to slap at him. Qin Xi whispered, "Leng Qing had a high fever in the middle of the night. Your Brother Three drove her to the hospital."

Li Xianglu then became more alert, asking groggily, "Is it serious?"

Qin Xi held her close and whispered back, "It’s just a fever, nothing serious. You go back to sleep; we’ll just send some food over in the morning."

Li Xianglu was drowsily trying to fall asleep, but Qin Xi wasn’t behaving and quickly pulled off Li Xianglu’s underwear again. The lights went out, and the sound of panting filled the room.

The next day, Li Xianglu was woken up by the loud laughter of two kids. Her eyes were hazy as she saw the two little ones standing in front of her bed. Li Xianglu stretched out her arm, attempting to touch the kids’ heads, but she felt a chill and immediately remembered she wasn’t wearing anything, so she quickly retracted her arm.

Seeing this, the kids clumsily tried to climb up, but Qin Xi scooped them both up and said to Li Xianglu lying on the bed, "You sleep a little longer, Grandpa has already prepared breakfast."

Li Xianglu moved about, feeling sore in the back and waist, then fell back into a daze and slept again.

When Li Xianglu woke up again, it was already half past ten. Upon reaching the front yard, she saw Hu Zi returning from outside, carrying a lunch box. She asked and found out he had gone to take food to Li Jianqing.

Leng Qing actually came down with pneumonia, which was quite frightening.

Li Xianglu hurriedly ate a few bites and planned to make something nice for Leng Qing to take over, but the old man said, "Pneumonia calls for a light diet. You should just make some porridge to bring over."

Li Xianglu thought about it and agreed, quickly helped to cook the porridge, and then began to prepare for the big meal on the evening of the thirtieth, as the entire Qin Zhen family and Qin Shouren’s family of three had arrived.

There were many women in the house, so the cooking naturally went quickly. Initially, Li Xianglu wanted to deliver the meal herself, but Qin Xi suggested letting Hu Zi go to give the two some space. This bout of illness wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for Leng Qing; it might even help ease the tension between them.

So, Hu Zi went to deliver the meal, while Li Xianglu started to prepare the big meal for the thirtieth evening with Yang Huan and Lu Anna.

It had been decided beforehand that everyone would eat at Qin Xi’s siheyuan on New Year’s Eve, and on the first day of the new year, the families of Qin Zhen and Qin Xi would go to Mr. Qin’s place. On the second day, everyone would celebrate in their own way.

Dinner commenced at half-past seven, with two tables set up in the floral hall, which Old Geng had heated to a cozy temperature. Men at one table, women at another, just like every year. Qin Xi and Qin Zhen took the kids outside to set off firecrackers, then it was the grandfather who began with a few auspicious words, followed by Mr. Qin adding a few more with the kids. After that, the meal began.

Lunch had been simple, and with this meal set for seven-thirty in the evening, the kids, who played until they were wild, were famished. Li Xianglu soaked rice in meatball soup for the twins and Minmin, who were too busy eating to speak, chomping away ravenously.

Lu Anna commented with a chuckle, "It’s always such a struggle to get Minmin to eat her meals, but now she doesn’t even need to be fed."

After their meal, the three kids also devoured a sizable amount of meat, then quietly sat waiting for their parents to feed them fish.

It’s strange that the men of the Qin Family don’t really like fish much, but these three little ones love it the most. Ba Yi and Ba’er had their bellies round and full, yet they still wanted to have some fish before playing.

Hu Zi had returned early after delivering the food and reported that Leng Qingchu would be discharged from the hospital in the afternoon of the first day of the new year and was already feeling much better. Li Xianglu wanted to ask more about the two of them, but it was difficult to do so with everyone around.