Chapter 8 Even Dogs Would Shake Their Heads

“There’s nothing to consider.”

“Our family decisions rest with Grandfather.”

“As long as he approves of you, everyone else will have to swallow their opinions no matter how opposed they are.”

After a brief pause, he continued, “Besides, my fiancée is fair-skinned, beautiful, enthusiastic, and cheerful. Anyone with eyes would surely like her.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi’an thought for a moment before responding, “Everything that happened today was very sudden. Neither of us was prepared.”

“If you take me home rashly, it might shock your family.”

After another pause, she added, “How about you go back first and talk to your family?”

“If they’re prepared, I can go back with you next time there’s an opportunity?”

Detecting the hesitation in her tone, Li Beichen knew she hadn’t fully accepted everything that had transpired today.

But that was understandable!

She should have been an enviable university student with a bright future ahead.

Yet due to someone else’s schemes, she suddenly gained a fiancé out of nowhere.

Although he believed himself capable and fully able to shoulder family responsibilities…

He should give the young girl some space to think. Pushing too hard wouldn’t be good.

Thinking this, Li Beichen raised an eyebrow in amusement. “Alright, whatever you say.”

After a moment, he continued, “Have you completed the school withdrawal procedures?”

“When are you leaving?”

Seeing that the man wasn’t insisting on taking her home, Shen Yi’an relaxed and answered, “I’ve already bought a train ticket home for the day after tomorrow.”

Li Beichen nodded. “What time? I’ll see you off.”

“3:10 PM,” Shen Yi’an replied without hesitation this time. “I called home a few days ago. My fourth brother will be waiting at the station exit.”

Knowing someone would be there to meet her, Li Beichen felt relieved. “Good, I understand.”

He glanced at his wristwatch. “It’s getting late, you should head back now.”

“You have no classes tomorrow, so rest well in your dorm.”

Shen Yi’an nodded. “Alright, I understand. You should go home early too.”

After saying goodbye, she greeted the security guard and entered the school campus.

Once her figure disappeared from view, Li Beichen nodded to the curious-looking security guard, turned around, and rode away on his bicycle.

He first returned the bicycle to the dance hall, said goodbye to his still-partying childhood friends inside, then took the last tram back to the military compound.

When he arrived home, a light was still on in the living room.

“Grandfather, you’re still awake?”

Entering and seeing Old Master Li sitting on the sofa, Li Beichen raised his eyebrows slightly.

Was he waiting up for him?

Hearing the voice, Old Master Li, who had been resting with his eyes closed, glared at him irritably.

“How could I possibly sleep?”

“You’re 26 years old now. Forget grandchildren, when are you even planning to get married?”

“After the New Year, I’ll be 70. I don’t know if I’ll live to see you…”

“Stop, stop, stop!” Before the old master could finish, Li Beichen decisively raised his hand to cut off the nagging.

“Grandfather, rest assured. I’ll definitely be married before the New Year.”

His visit to the dance hall earlier had been largely due to his grandfather’s relentless pressure about marriage.

The old man kept saying he would die without seeing his great-grandchildren born, that he’d be too ashamed to face the Li Family ancestors in the afterlife.

He also mentioned dreaming of his grandmother scolding him from the underworld, saying that at his age, he still couldn’t find a wife. If it really came to it, he should go to the hospital for a check-up to see if there was something wrong with his body.

Whenever he heard these clichéd remarks, he felt sorry for his three older brothers at home.

His eldest brother had four sons in a row, his second brother had three sons in a row, and his third brother also had three sons, making a total of ten grandsons.

In any other family, they would be cherished beyond measure, practically treated like ancestors.

But in their family, it was different.

At first, when the newborns were grandsons, Old Master Li would also boast to everyone, convinced that the Li Family was about to prosper.

But after three great-grandsons in a row, the look in his eyes grew increasingly complicated.

For the seven great-grandsons born afterward, Old Master Li, aside from treating them without favoritism, devoted the rest of his energy to him.

There was only one goal: to hope that he would marry soon and have a soft, adorable great-granddaughter.

Before, when he had no intention of settling down, he would casually brush off such remarks.

But now it was different!

He had a fiancée, and the joy rising from the depths of his heart was impossible to hide.

However, having been brushed off before, Old Master Li was now unwilling to believe what he said. “Cut it out!”

“That line might fool others, but you can’t fool me!”

“Before, when people introduced you to Female Comrades, you absolutely refused to meet them.”

“How could a young girl suddenly appear and take a liking to you?”

By the end, the old master’s voice was filled with resignation. “And getting married before the New Year? I think you’re daydreaming.”

Seeing how upset the old master was, Li Beichen bent down to pour a glass of water and placed it in front of him. “Grandfather, I’m serious this time.”

“I originally arranged for her to come to the house tomorrow, but the young girl was worried about startling you all, so she didn’t agree.”

“She said to let me prepare you all first.”

Hearing this, Old Master Li’s dejected expression brightened with hope. “Really? You’re not lying?”

Then he immediately doubted himself. “I think you’re probably lying to me again.”

“With that cold face of yours, even dogs would shake their heads, let alone a young girl.”

Even as he said this, the hope in his eyes was unmistakable.

Seeing this, Li Beichen leaned back on the sofa with a smug expression. “Grandfather, you’re wrong again this time.”

“Your future granddaughter-in-law is a recent university graduate, and she graduated from Jingshi Normal University.”

“In the future, she’ll also be the first university graduate in our family.”

“So, what do you think? Is your grandson impressive or not?”

Seeing that he didn’t seem to be lying, Old Master Li’s eyes grew brighter and brighter. “Really? You’re not tricking this old man, are you?”

At his age, other elderly folks in the neighborhood were already taking their great-grandchildren out for walks.

Like the Sun Family and the Yin Family in the compound—their great-grandchildren were running all over the place.

It wasn’t that he didn’t have great-grandsons, but what was so special about a bunch of rowdy boys?

At home, they were always running around and making noise. How could an old man like him handle that?

Fortunately, there was still one grandson who hadn’t married. Before he died, he had to hope for a great-granddaughter.

Li Beichen didn’t know that his grandfather was hoping for a great-granddaughter. He simply thought the light in his eyes was because his marriage was finally settled. He immediately smiled and nodded. “How could this be fake?”

“As long as you’re ready, I’ll bring her back for you to meet.”

With things said to this point, Old Master Li didn’t hesitate for a second. “Then what’s there to hesitate about!”

“You go, go right now and bring my granddaughter-in-law home.”

“I’ll go change clothes first—this outfit isn’t formal enough.”

Seeing the old master about to get up and change, Li Beichen quickly stood to stop him. “Grandfather, haven’t you noticed what time it is?”

“Even if I could go pick her up, the school would have to let her out first.”

Hearing this, Old Master Li glanced at the wall clock. The hands pointing to 11:55 made him sit back down on the sofa. “Ah, I forgot it’s the middle of the night.”

He shook his head with amusement.

Only after the initial joy of learning he had a granddaughter-in-law had passed, and he had calmed down, did he bring up the serious matter.