Chapter 151 - No One Can Beat Li Yuan When It Comes To Sucking Up
'Things that are not under one's control'
The words were put on a repeat in Li Bai Yuan head
She replied with 'hmm' and 'oh' as Ye Zan tried to engage her in conversation whilst leading her through the lush garden, porch, through the entrance, and into the lounge.
Ye Zan paused, noticing Li Bai Yuan's detachment. "Mother is there something worrying you?"
"About the Buddhist monk you mentioned to me, is he really trustworthy?"
Out of a sudden, this question was asked. Ye Zan's smile became somewhat stiff. She looked over her shoulders, confirming there wasn't somewhat in the vicinity. Then cautiously, she asked. "Why do you ask this all of sudden?"
Li Bai Yuan sighed. "The wife of one of your father-in-law's golfing friends has a grandson who is somewhat renowned in media circle, running covert operations under a guise. Yesterday, we had a discussion. She said people are not as trustworthy as they were in the past. She urged me to be cautious. Especially the monks and spiritual teachers."
Ye Zan's expression didn't look good before she summed the courage to ask. "Mother di-didn't mention the monk's name to your friend?"
When Li Bai Yuan shook her head, the crease on Ye Zan's forehead smoothened.
Her smile returned before she explained. "It's just... Mothers know the true enlightened ones are not the same as those frauds. I know how to differ. Real ones abhor fame and fortune. I had to be a frequent visitor to the temple, offering prayers. That's why the enlightened one agreed to solve Mother-in-law's problem for me. If his name had been said out, he would have known. He might renege from his promise."
"Is that so?" Li Bai Yuan's suspicion lifted, layer by layer. "He didn't ask any recompense of you?"
"What is Mother saying. Of course, he didn't."
"Then... that's good I didn't say the name." She looked at Zha Ye, suspicion gradually replaced with gratitude. "If he is really the enlightened one, then to agree to your request, he must have seen your sincerity."
"Mother, I'm like you. I visit temples to enlighten myself, I have no selfish motives to ask for divination. The enlightened one must have seen this."
Li Bai Yuan felt that this daughter-in-law was more and more agreeable.
Li Fu Tong had asked her not to mention this. But when Li Bai Yuan looked at Ye Zan, who was an exact image of herself. With this increased sense of closeness, Li Bai Yuan considered Ye Zan her confidant. "Actually, there is something I want your opinion on."
"Mother, say it without hesitation."
"About this girl Li Luxian married, what do you think?"
Ye Zan was hesitant. "About this... I haven't met her yet. I don't want to wrong her by saying something."
"What are you scared of? It's just me, not your father-in-law. Just say your mind."
"Mother..." Ye Zan was nervous. At further encouragement from Li Bai Yuan, she finally sighed. "I just know that this girl did not know our Li Luxain for long. I also know Li Luxain really dotes on her, he did not even get his parent's permission before marrying her."
"He did not get his parent's permission?!" Li Fu Ting kept much of what happened to himself, saying the situation had settled and they did not need to meddle.
Li Bai Yuan, not knowing the detail beforehand, was not shocked and horrified.
"Even Li Guang wanted to marry Li Shanguaan, he did not do this before getting our permission."
"It's not that, it's just when brother-in-law married sister in law, they had known each other for at least I've year. But for Li Luxain case... for everything to happen this sudden..." After saying her piece, Ye Zan fell silent, too afraid to say presumptuous and implicit someone.
But even if she said those words, the situation would have been the same.
Li Bai Yuan had already understood what Ye Zan was implying.
And she clenched her chest, feeling faint in her head.
"Mother are you alright?" Ye Zan quickly supported her, patting her back.
"Ye Zan, what to do?"
Her dearest grandson didn't even take his parent's permission...
He was charmed by that girl in such a short amount of time...
Li Luxain couldn't be blamed for being disobedient.
He was under the influence!
...
Yawning and lazy-eyed, climbed the curved stairs down and stopped before everyone.
"Grandmother." He put his arms behind him and let on a small smile.
Ye Zan's gave him a meaningful look. Li Quang pretended to not notice anything. Driven mad with anger, Ye Zan stared daggers at him but Li Quang stood on his spot like a dead log replying to grandmother questions with short answers.
He did not take the initiative to go ahead and sit beside grandmother, acting all cute and sticky like his sister who was holding on grandmother's arm behaving like her most beloved grandchild.
She wasn't.
It was Li Luxian.
Li Quang scoffed at his sister before excusing himself.
Ye Zan was about to get up and beat her son to death. But she stopped at the last moment, recalling she had an image to maintain before Li Bai Yuan.
Before Li Quang left to receive guests, Ye Zan shot a fatal glare proclaiming 'Bastard, you let your Father come. You are in for an earful!"'
Li Quang didn't mind, he was used to it.
"Ah, isn't this my little Yuan'er?" Li Bai Yuan's eyesight wasn't so good but she strained her eyes to look finding Li Quang returning with Li Guang, Li Shanguaan, and her youngest grandson from a distance.
Li Shanguaan and Li Guang said their greetings. Li Yuan noticed how Li Min was clinging to Li Bai Yuan. Having something obviously evil in his mind, he jumped into the battle arena.
"Grandmother, how is this possible? You are getting more and more beautiful each day." Li Yuan had a big goofy smile on. Unlike Li Quang, he smoothly claimed the place beside Li Bai Yuan. He even had the audacity to beam at Li Min.
Sucking up to someone and acting cute, was there anyone who could beat him at that? Absurd!
Ye Zan somewhat irritated at Li Yuan's taunting pulled on grandmother's arm. "Grandmother was always beautiful, to begin with. Are you saying she was not beautiful before?"
Li Bai Yuan freed her arm from Li Min's hold. Facing Li Yuan and putting her back to Li Min, she touched Li Yuan's face. "Silly child, why are you so skinny? Does your mother not feed you well?"
"Grandmother, you always say this when you see me. What would you do if I got fat? Which beautiful girl would want to marry me?" Li Yuan pouted. "Or is it because grandmother wants to get me fat so no girl would look at me and grandmother would have me for herself?"
Li Bai Yuan laughed, all her worries from Ye Zan's words melted away at the sight of this endearing grandson. No matter what, the youngest grandson would have a special spot in one's heart, something no one could replace. "When will you grow up? Always acting so spoiled." Li Bai Yuan pinched his cheek.
"Grandmother, I'm not a child anymore. Don't embarrass me."
At the pair of grandmother and grandson exchange teasings and laughter, Li Min looked very uncomfortable.