Pursuing Her Best Friend after Confession Failed-Chapter 340 - 153: Don’t Make a Move Easily, But When You Do, Three Fall at Once_4

"Uncle, Second Uncle, Zhijin and I are planning to bring Ning to Modu for his schooling. What do you think?"

Hearing Li Yuan's words, the Chen brothers and the two men dining with them were all stunned. They hadn't expected Li Yuan to suddenly bring up this matter.

Chen Qiuhan frowned. If not for his decent first impression of Li Yuan, he would have been on the verge of losing his temper.

"Li Yuan, I don't think that's appropriate. Let's talk about this after you and Jin graduate from college, settle down, and get married."

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow. He detected the dissatisfaction in Chen Qiuhan's tone and was somewhat surprised. Before he could reply, he heard Chen Qiudong and Chen Qiushi also voice their opposition.

"Little Li, we appreciate your intentions. Jin is in Modu, and we'll be relying on you to take care of her. As for Ning, it's better if he stays in his hometown. He's a boy, and we brothers can look after him."

"Second Brother is right, Little Li. Jin just started college; her main priority is her studies. How would she have time to take care of Ning? Your grandma is at home and can look after him perfectly well."

Li Yuan paused, then said, "Uncle, Second Uncle, Zhijin wants to see Ning and Grandma more often. Besides, the quality of education in Modu is quite good..."

Li Yuan hadn't finished speaking when Chen Qiuhan ruthlessly interrupted him. "Li Yuan, you know Jin's family situation. You two have only just started college, so your futures are still very uncertain. If Ning goes to Modu now, our relatives and neighbors will gossip behind our backs."

Li Yuan frowned, understanding the subtext in Chen Qiuhan's words. It all came down to one thing: without the proper status, his proposal carried no weight. To the older generation, 'face' was more important than anything else.

The Chen brothers came from a modest, not wealthy, household. Still, they were deeply rooted in this remote mountain village. The entire Chen Family Village, with its dozens of households, was composed of their kinsmen.

At that moment, Xia Zhijin came over, leading Xia Zhining by the hand with the old lady. After the old lady sat down, she spoke up, "Li Yuan, let's eat first."

Xia Zhijin sat obediently beside Li Yuan, her head lowered in silence, her eyes slightly red and swollen. Li Yuan took her hand under the table, giving her a reassuring look that said, "Don't worry, I've got this."

...

After three rounds of drinks, four bottles of Maotai were empty. Xia Zhijin's uncles, their faces flushed red, began to slur their words incoherently.

"Li... Little Li, you can really hold your liquor."

"Second Brother, open another bottle! We have to drink our fill with Little Li today!" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Northerners really can drink."

"Jin, from now on, you get along well with Little Li. As your second uncle, I approve of this lad."

"Little Li, if Jin goes to your side and doesn't have a good life, we three brothers won't stand for it."

The old lady looked at her two sons, who were starting to talk nonsense, and frowned inwardly. What terrible manners. Spouting such drivel after just a few drinks. She then glanced at the composed Li Yuan and nodded in approval. His capacity for liquor and a demeanor as steady as Taishan—that alone reveals a man's dependability.

"Little Li, your uncles have had too much to drink and are talking nonsense. Don't take it to heart."

"It's alright, Grandma. What my uncles said is right." Li Yuan smiled, looked at the uncles, and then asked, "Grandma, Uncle, Second Uncle, here's what I'm thinking. Since you disagree with Ning going to school in Modu, I'll have him attend school in Shancheng. The quality of education there is also quite good."

"I'll buy a house there. That way, it'll also be more convenient for Zhijin and me to travel back and forth from Modu."

"What do you think?"