A perfect life begins with changing the timeline.

Chapter 180 Starting Again

After the Lunar New Year, even the most unscrupulous companies will simply keep a few people on duty while giving everyone else a holiday.

Now that it's the 27th of the lunar year, Xu Jinglei actually had her assistant drive a long distance to deliver a jade carving, and she even spoke very frankly about it.

The kind of blessing that sounds auspicious.

Suddenly, the way the onlookers looked at Li Mu changed.

This mistress of the Li family... she's only just started working.

Why would someone driving a Mercedes-Benz come over to give a gift?

This "gift-giving" event, witnessed in the village, is destined to become a topic of conversation for many people in Lizhuang.

But for Li Dajiang and his wife... this gift was a little different.

"Knock knock knock".

Rough knuckles tapped against the koi fish, producing a dull sound.

Li Dajiang instinctively looked at his son beside him:

"Is it really jade?"

"This... I don't really understand either."

Li Mu shook his head; he really didn't know anything about jade.

But feeling the icy touch of the koi, he felt a strange sensation.

It's not that he can't afford it.

But... the feeling of someone coming from afar to give a gift, especially in front of so many people... gave him a strange sense of satisfaction that spurred his vanity.

After thinking for a moment, he took the initiative to send Xu Jinglei a message:

"Teacher Xu, you're too kind. Thank you so much for having someone make this trip."

Xu Jinglei did not reply.

Li Mu didn't pay any attention, put away his phone, and looked at his father.

For some reason, the old father's face also turned somewhat red.

At this moment, Zhang Xiuqin asked:

"Third brother, how much does this cost?"

"……have no idea."

"Shouldn't we find a cloth to cover it? It's jade; what if it gets dusty?"

As soon as Zhang Xiuqin finished speaking, Li Dajiang refused outright:

"Why are you covering it? Haven't you heard people say it's a blessing, like a carp leaping over the dragon gate? A good omen! Why are you covering it with a cloth? Just wipe it clean every now and then... Third brother, should we use water to wipe this?"

"That must be something."

"Okay, then let's wipe it down frequently and leave it here. It looks nice this way!"

For some reason, Li Dajiang's face turned even redder.

Xu Jinglei's text message was not replied to until almost 3 pm:

"Haha, why are you being so polite, Reporter Li? It's just a piece of ordinary green jade, not worth much money, but it has a good meaning. Beautiful jade is a perfect match for a gentleman, and it suits you just like Reporter Li."

Putting everything else aside, when Li Mu read the reply aloud to Li Dajiang, the old man's face was already full of smiles.

I was in a great mood all afternoon.

When he told his girlfriend about it, her response was quite simple:

"See? I wasn't wrong, was I? She's amazing."

"Yes, that's true. She's the only one who called me personally and even gave me this gift. Although we haven't met in person yet, my impression of her has immediately improved."

If this topic were brought up with anyone else, it might have caused a couple to sulk because of Li Mu's words.

But Fan Bingbing did not.

She understood exactly what her boyfriend meant.

Now that we understand, let's address the issue at hand.

"Think about it. Even though she's Wang Shuo's girlfriend, she can still get along well in Zheng Xiaolong's circle after Wang Shuo was blacklisted, which means she's definitely not simple. This kind of tactic is probably child's play for her. But... I've learned something. So this is how you give gifts!"

"I learned something too."

"You might not be able to use what you learn, but I'm sure I can."

"Hmm. By the way, do you eat steamed buns? I guess you don't eat these where you're from during the Lunar New Year?"

"You mean those fried meatballs and meatballs that are steamed in a pot?"

"Yes. Make your own sauce, steam it with the fried food, and the longer it steams, the better it tastes."

"I want to eat it! We don't eat this around here! But I heard that people in Heze, which is next to your area, eat this. I've never tried it! I want to eat it!"

"Okay, I'll ask my mom to make a lot more so I can cook it for you when we get back."

Hehehe, I love you!

After finishing discussing business, we naturally started talking about personal matters.

Just as rumors were beginning to circulate in the village that "Li's youngest son is really powerful now, someone drove a Mercedes-Benz with a Beijing license plate all the way to give him gifts," on the 27th day of the Lunar New Year, a rooster was slaughtered.

On the 28th, let the dough rise.

On the 29th, steam buns were made.

Thirty... It's Chinese New Year!

After her two older sisters got married, the house was a bit quiet. The three of them then set out various bowls on the table in a lively atmosphere. When Mingming was frying meatballs in the afternoon, she asked, "Mom, have you seen my socks?" and was scolded by her parents in the kitchen for "not talking."

Honestly, Li Mu still doesn't know why he's not allowed to speak.

It's as if making a sound would incur divine punishment.

But at the dinner table, Li Mu became his parents' little darling again...

only……

"Third brother, come here."

"……what?"

Seeing his father pour him a glass of wine, Li Mu's mind went blank for a second.

When the wine was half-filled, I remembered to quickly protect the glass with my hand.

"dad?"

From childhood to adulthood, let alone pouring wine, the father and son have only drunk wine a handful of times.

In Li Dajiang's words:

"You're still a student, why are you drinking? What if you ruin your brain?"

Then... at most, I'd just pour a tiny bit for my son, just to get a taste, and that would be it.

But now...

He looked at the full glass of wine in his cup.

This is truly the first time ever.

Li Dajiang, seeing his son's puzzled look, didn't offer any further explanation.

Through his son's words and actions over the past few days, to the koi fish that had been polished several times, and to all the changes in big and small details, the father, who knew that his son had truly grown up, poured his son a glass of wine.

At this moment, the son seemed to have returned to his student days, his innocent eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

If you don't understand, then don't understand.

He was tongue-tied and didn't know how to explain... but his feelings were all in this glass of wine.

Son, you've grown up.

He's become the pillar of the family, and he can now support the whole household.

There's not much to say; we have enough wine, though not enough words.

The father poured a cup of wine, and the son grew into a man.

Nothing more than that.

"Come."

"Uh... okay."

"Open your mouth wider and drink a couple more glasses."

"……what?"

Watching my father down a third of a two-ounce cup in one go...

Li Muxin said, "You really are my father."

You haven't even eaten a bite of food, and you've already started drinking?

Dad, what's wrong with you...?

So, let alone the Spring Festival Gala.

Li Mu started eating a little after 7 a.m., when the evening news was broadcast, but he didn't even stay until the Spring Festival Gala started.

I don't recall drinking that much.

However... Li Dajiang drinks a lot of alcohol, and in the time it takes to eat a few bites of food, Li Mu finished two ounces of liquor.

Perhaps it was the strong liquor, or perhaps it was the rapid drinking.

In short, his last impression was of his mother's complaints:

"Look at you, look what you've given the third brother... Third brother, go, go, go back to your room and lie down."

This was his last impression on Lunar New Year's Eve.

Then... I vaguely heard the sound of many firecrackers.

2001 quietly entered its final winter.

Hello, 2002.

Goodbye, 2001.

……

Happy New Year, baby! Wishing you great success in the new year...

"Hello, Reporter Li, this is Zhou Xun. Best wishes to you..."

"Zhao Wei wishes you a happy new year..."

"Happy New Year, Xiao Li..."

Early morning on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Li Mu then became engrossed in a busy series of "explanations".

He explained that he had drunk some wine with his father during the New Year's Eve dinner yesterday, and as a result, he didn't even watch the Spring Festival Gala and slept until early on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Then they offered their New Year's greetings.

After finishing all these tasks, all sorts of people came to offer New Year's greetings...

The first day of the Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year.

Li Mu is very busy.

He was even busier in the second year of junior high.

The eldest sister, Li Juan, and the second sister, Li Qing, along with their three children, went back to their parents' home.

I don't know why, but instead of cooking and entertaining your daughter and son-in-law when they come home for their wedding... early in the morning, Li Dajiang and Zhang Xiuqin took rags and feather dusters and started cleaning the koi fish...

I've been wiping that koi fish clean every day for the past few days, and it looks like it's been polished.

And the little bit of vanity on the faces of the two elders when their eldest sister asked, "Mom, who bought this koi fish?" made Li Mu roll his eyes.

When they heard that it was Xu Jinglei who sent it, Li Juan and Li Qing's eyes widened in surprise.

Then he started asking his younger brother which celebrities he had met, what these celebrities were like in private, and so on...

Even though Li Mu repeatedly emphasized:

"Sister, I'm an arts and sports reporter, not an entertainment reporter."

But... it didn't work.

I need your autograph!

A signature is required!

Can you believe that Li Juan, a mother of two, actually likes Jay Chou?

The singer who has risen to fame in the last two years has a distinctive style of unclear pronunciation... although his songs are indeed quite good.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the best news for Li Mu was actually his eldest sister saying, "Third brother, let me introduce you to someone," followed by his mother's words:

"Don't mess around with the third brother, he has a girlfriend!"

Just as Li Juan became interested and wanted to get to the bottom of things, Li Dajiang made the final decision:

"Why are you asking such silly questions? Just eat your food."

Li Juan was speechless.

Even her brother-in-law, Jinbo, was suppressing a laugh.

But for Li Mu, it was a huge relief.

With his father's words, he felt at ease. It seemed he would no longer force himself to go on blind dates.

In short, the second day of the Lunar New Year came to an end amidst the lively nursery rhymes sung by my two grandsons and granddaughter.

Before leaving that evening, Zhang Deli, the second brother-in-law, repeatedly confirmed that he really didn't need to take Li Mu to Zhengzhou.

Then, with Li Mu waving his hand, Changhe sped away.

When Li Mu returned home, he found that his mother had already started packing his luggage.

This set of rules, that set of rules.

The thermal underwear that his parents had bought for him for the Chinese New Year was packed into his suitcase.

Li Mu didn't refuse; he simply helped his mother pack her luggage and then piled it in a corner.

At this moment, Li Dajiang, who was sitting in the living room, spoke:

"Third son, keep working hard. Don't worry about anything at home, understand?"

Li Mu smiled and nodded:

"I know."

"You don't need to send money back every month... If your expenses are high and you don't have enough, just ask your family. They have enough!"

"……OK."

Under Li Mu's slightly strange gaze, the old father waved his hand:

"Okay, go to bed early, don't be late for work tomorrow."

"it is good."

A moment later, Li Mu lay back in bed and fell asleep.

On the night before leaving home.

Then, early on the morning of his third day of junior high, he unplugged the charger that seemed to have been plugged in just a few days ago, and embarked on his journey home amidst his parents' farewell.