Chapter 896: Innate Nature

So Wang An's purpose was to give Wang Li a few pointers, hoping the kid would act a bit more maturely—or at the very least, be more proactive.

Once Li Xiuyu entered the room, Wang An spoke softly to Wang Li

"Look at how you were acting just now, like a total klutz. You couldn't even manage a single word? You don't even know how to give a simple greeting?"

After Wang An finished speaking, Wang Li scratched his head, his face flushing deep red, and said

"I... I didn't know what to say. And Xiuyu is so... so... whatever, so I... I really didn't know what to say."

Wang Li spoke so stutteringly that Wang An was nearly driven to laughter by sheer frustration.

It had to be said that many boys Wang Li's age, when facing the opposite sex—especially someone they liked—would exhibit this kind of bewildered, lost state.

It was as if they were terrified that saying one wrong word would make the girl unhappy.

In reality, this was completely unnecessary. Women are emotional creatures by nature; no woman would ever fall for a block of wood.

Wang An gave Wang Li an annoyed look and said

"You useless brat. Bring out that energy you have when you're bickering with Brother Mu. Don't just stand there like a mute who can't even fart. There's nothing to be scared of! Xiuyu already agreed to date you, so what the hell are you afraid of?"

Pausing for a moment and seeing that Wang Li still looked clueless, Wang An said helplessly

"Don't you know how to brag? Though you don't even need to lie. Just tell her your family has money, that you have a walk-behind tractor, that the big tiled house is built, and that there's a pile of ginseng at home..."

As he spoke, Wang An trailed off, mostly because he was too lazy to continue.

Thus, Wang An gave Wang Li a nudge and said

"Go on. If you don't know what to say, just do as I told you."

Having said his piece, Wang An ignored Wang Li and turned to lounge halfway across the sofa chair.

Wang Li nodded with a half-understanding expression and turned to walk toward the east room.

Although Wang An had lowered his voice, everyone in the living room—except for Li Xiuyu, who had already entered the east room—had actually heard the conversation between the two brothers.

Once Wang Li entered the east room as well, Yao Ping said to Liu Guilan with a look of helplessness

"Look at my little Li. He doesn't have half the social grace of little An. He's got a head like a block of elm; he understands nothing. If little An weren't leading him, this child wouldn't amount to much."

It had to be admitted that the second mother, Yao Ping, really knew how to speak; she always managed to say things without causing any resentment.

As soon as Liu Guilan heard her son being praised, a flicker of pride appeared on her face. Changing the subject, she glanced at Mu Xueqing and said

"Sigh, isn't it just because little An found himself a good wife? Before he started a family, little An didn't give me or his father a moment's peace. It's only after getting married that he finally settled down."

Although Wang An hadn't stopped fooling around solely because of Mu Xueqing, Liu Guilan wasn't wrong. In terms of timing, Wang An had indeed started focusing on his life and home after marriage.

As for the old Wang An, any parent stuck with a son like that would have found it impossible to have peace of mind.

Mu Xueqing looked at Wang An with a smile but said nothing, because she also believed that Wang An had begun to change because of her.

Of course, Wang An would never explain himself. This kind of misunderstanding was the sort that made everyone happy.

While the people in the living room chatted, Wang Li and Li Xiuyu were getting along reasonably well in the east room.

Although Wang Li had never dated and didn't know how to please a girl, he had one great advantage: he was very obedient, especially to Wang An.

Wang Li spoke to Li Xiuyu clumsily

"Xiuyu, if you stay with me, you won't suffer. Look at my house now; the big tiled house is almost ready for move-in. Once everything is finished, it'll be exactly like Fourth Brother's house."

Li Xiuyu simply nodded without speaking.

Seeing that Li Xiuyu's expression didn't change, Wang Li realized she wasn't very interested in this.

So, Wang Li continued

"My family also has a walk-behind tractor and a rice transplanter. I'm telling you, Xiuyu, that thing transplants rice so fast..."

It must be said that no matter what a person does, practice makes perfect.

Previously, Wang Li didn't know what to say to Li Xiuyu. Just a moment ago, even though he knew what to say, he was stuttering. But now, the more he spoke, the smoother he became, almost reaching the point of eloquence.

Unfortunately, after Wang Li finished, Li Xiuyu still only nodded, clearly still lacking interest.

Consequently, Wang Li said somewhat anxiously

"Oh right, Xiuyu, my family has those ginseng roots. When the time comes, I'll give a few to my mother-in-law—no, I mean to your family, to my Auntie, to nourish her body. Don't worry, as long as your Auntie's body is properly nourished, she'll definitely be fine in the future."

Surprisingly, these final words from Wang Li finally made Li Xiuyu lift her pretty little face.

Mainly, Li Xiuyu didn't mind Wang Li's slip of the tongue—the words "mother-in-law"—which was a very positive sign.

Li Xiuyu said with some excitement

"Will my mother really be okay? When I left, my mother was lying on the kang and couldn't even get out of bed."

Finally knowing what Li Xiuyu wanted to hear and what she needed, Wang Li immediately promised her

"She'll definitely be okay. Don't worry, Xiuyu. I have money. If it really comes down to it, we'll go to the hospital. If the county hospital can't treat her, we'll go to a big hospital in Harbin. Either way, we'll definitely get your mother cured."

It had to be said that perhaps all men—or more accurately, all male animals—possess an innate instinct.

They cannot bear to see their woman sad or wronged; they want to strive to hold up the sky for their woman.

Wang Li's words had absolutely nothing to do with the romantic sweet talk used when courting, but these words were undoubtedly exactly what Li Xiuyu most wanted to hear at this moment.

Successive family tragedies had already pushed the seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl to her limit, and a woman's nature is to rely on a man.

It was evident that Wang Li's words struck Li Xiuyu's heart directly, instantly opening the closed door of her heart to him.

Li Xiuyu said, her face full of emotion

"Mm, Wang Li, I believe you."

At this moment, what Wang Li should have done was pull Li Xiuyu into his arms to further deepen their bond.

Unfortunately, Wang An hadn't taught him that. Mainly, Wang An hadn't expected that the kid would accidentally stumble upon the key to Li Xiuyu's heart.

So, looking at Li Xiuyu's touched little eyes, Wang Li simply scratched his head with a rustic, honest expression.

(End of Chapter)