"Why are you doing this?"
Li Ziqing directly asked her doubts, then coldly questioned, "Putting on a show?"
"Putting on a show?"
Hearing these two words, Li Zigang was stunned into laughter. "What show am I putting on? I'm just trying to make a living..."
"You can't even make a living?"
Li Ziqing sneered upon hearing this. "Li Zigang, are you kidding me?"
"Alas, Ziqing, I know you've always resented us, and I can understand that. After all, not everything can be smoothed over by time."
Li Zigang suddenly sighed, acting as if he was opening his heart to Li Ziqing. "But you really don't need to have such great animosity towards me. As for why I'm delivering food now, it's a long story, too complicated to explain in a few words."
"But I don't think there's anything wrong with delivering food. It's honest work, down-to-earth, and I sleep soundly at night."
Li Zigang's apparent simplicity was so convincing that even Chen Xiao couldn't tell if it was an act.
This most likely meant that he was genuinely like this.
"How about this, I'll treat you to a meal, and we can talk while we eat. What do you think?"
Li Zigang tentatively suggested.
"No need for a meal."
Li Ziqing directly refused Li Zigang's invitation. "I want to see Li Dashan. Take me there."
Li Zigang's brows furrowed slightly, possibly because Li Ziqing had addressed his father by his given name.
However, he didn't show any outward reaction and readily agreed. "Alright, then follow me... But who is this?"
Li Zigang's gaze fell upon Chen Xiao.
"He's my man."
Li Ziqing's introduction was brief and to the point.
"So it's brother-in-law! He's quite handsome!"
Li Zigang said with a smile, it was unclear if he was being polite or genuinely thought Chen Xiao was handsome.
Chen Xiao smiled and nodded at him, his attitude quite friendly.
Li Zigang rode his electric bike ahead to lead the way, while Li Ziqing and Chen Xiao took a taxi, following behind.
Caught in the evening rush hour, traffic was extremely congested. Moreover, Li Zigang lived in a remote area, so the journey took a full two hours.
Li Ziqing now understood why Li Zigang had been so insistent on treating her to a meal earlier. By the time they arrived at Li Zigang's home, it was already dark.
Li Zigang, having worked hard delivering food all day, must have been hungry.
Suddenly, Li Ziqing felt a pang of sadness, a hint of sympathy for Li Zigang.
Li Zigang's home was not only remote but also in a very poor living environment, a typical "tongzilou" (dormitory-style building) from decades ago.
Similar buildings in the city had long since been demolished, and this area was a slum with little value for redevelopment.
The slums in the city were like scars on a gleaming body, and this area was no exception.
It housed a large number of impoverished people, mostly migrant workers. It was extremely rare for a legitimate local like Li Zigang to live here.
The "tongzilou" had no elevator. As Li Zigang led the way up the stairs, he apologized, "The environment here is a bit poor, please don't mind."
"The advantage is that it's our own old house, so we don't have to pay rent. In a place like the Imperial City, having your own place is already quite good."
Li Zigang was not only simple but also optimistic, exceptionally skilled at finding joy in hardship.
This was Chen Xiao's assessment of him.
"How did your family's life turn out this way?"
Li Ziqing asked with a frown.
There were some things she didn't say directly, to save Li Zigang some face.
After all, when Li Tianyou angered the five great families back then, his assets were all divided between the two brothers, Li Dashan and Li Dahai.
It was a colossal fortune, and even for ordinary people, it would be a challenge to squander it all.
Moreover, even without his father's money, Li Dashan's life shouldn't have been so miserable.
Ending up like Li Dahai was already considered quite difficult.
Li Ziqing hadn't expected Li Dashan's family to be even worse off than Li Dahai's.
This was probably retribution... Li Ziqing thought to herself.
Upon hearing Li Ziqing's question, Li Zigang's face immediately showed embarrassment.
He stammered, "Uh, this... why don't you let my dad tell you himself later."
Li Zigang seemed to have some unspeakable difficulty, so Li Ziqing didn't press further. She would soon meet Li Dashan anyway and see what he had to say.
Li Dashan's home was on the ninth floor. Without an elevator, for ordinary people, climbing the stairs every day was quite a feat.
As soon as the door was opened, a strong medicinal scent filled the air.
This home could be described as bare, but it was at least clean and tidy.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
A coughing sound came from the room, followed by a weak voice, "Gangzi, you're back. Why are you back so early today?"
Normally, Li Zigang would work until late to earn more money before returning home.
"Dad, we have a guest today. You'll never guess who it is!"
After speaking, Li Zigang turned to Li Ziqing. "My dad's health is not good, and he has difficulty moving. I'll take you in to see him."
Following Li Zigang into the master bedroom, an old man with a dejected face lay on the bed, his eyes cloudy.
"Who are these two..."
The old man sized up Li Ziqing and Chen Xiao, his face full of confusion.
"Dad, this is Ziqing, and the one next to her is her boyfriend!"
Li Zigang explained with a smile.
"Ziqing?"
The old man stiffened, and almost instantly, his eyes reddened.
"Child, you've finally come!"
"Uncle thought I wouldn't live to see that day..."
Li Ziqing bit her lip and looked coldly at Li Dashan, her emotions complicated.
Li Zigang's lips moved, and he ultimately stopped himself from speaking.
"Child, you still blame Uncle."
Li Dashan murmured, "You really should blame Uncle."
"Uncle was foolish and committed an unforgivable mistake back then."
"The worst thing Uncle could have done was listen to your third uncle and make that wrong decision... Alas, it's all in the past, and it's too late to regret it now!"
"But it's good that you're back. It's good that you're back. With your return, our Li family has hope."
"Back then, your father was the hope of our Li family. Now, it's your turn to inherit your father's legacy and carry the banner of our Li family!"
Hearing these words, Li Ziqing suddenly felt an urge to cry.
But she held back, her expression cold as she said, "I'm just a woman, what qualifications do I have to carry the banner of the Li family?"
"No!"
Li Dashan waved his hand with difficulty. "That's not how it should be said. Whether you're a man or a woman, you bear the surname Li, and that's enough!"
"Uncle is old and sick, and won't live much longer. But even if I were young and healthy, I wouldn't have the ability to carry the Li family's banner."
"I can't, and your eldest brother can't. Your father could, and you definitely can!"
"Gangzi, don't just stand there, quickly get the things out. Dad has kept them with him all these years, waiting for the day he could personally hand them over to you, his daughter!"