Witty Wife, Better Life
Chapter 403 - 393 Get Lost, Don’t Think You’re Educated Just Because Your Wife is a College Graduate

Chapter 403: Chapter 393 Get Lost, Don’t Think You’re Educated Just Because Your Wife is a College Graduate

After everyone returned, Li Xianglian had already prepared the meal, just waiting for their arrival.

Of course, the family then happily had a reunion dinner. After the meal, Li Xianglian hurried to clean up the dishes and bowls, making room for her second brother and his wife.

Shen Yunfang found clothes for Li Hongjun, urging him to take a good bath in the bathroom.

Originally, Shen Yunfang had knocked through the wall separating the toilet from the storeroom, then had someone install a wooden bathtub inside. She also had someone rig up a water heater—the kind soon to become popular, named "Essence of Life." The heating coil was quite long and, when placed in the tub, it could warm the bathwater to over forty degrees within about ten minutes.

Of course, such a device wasn’t considered very practical at the time because it was a power guzzler; few families could afford such a waste as Shen Yunfang did, using high wattage to heat water.

After Li Hongjun finished his bath, he took the two kids and Taxue to visit the Ma Family.

Having been away for a year of study, he felt obliged to greet his old comrade.

Back at home, Shen Yunfang also explained to Li Xianghe why Li Hongjun had come at this time. Li Xianghe was delighted to hear that her younger brother was going to a military academy.

Shen Yunfang didn’t correct her older sister’s mistake. Military academies and party schools are different, but for Li Xianghe, there was no essential distinction.

At the Ma Family, Ma Liguo was extremely surprised to see Li Hongjun at his doorstep, wondering if something was amiss. After giving it some thought, he couldn’t find a reason for concern; his sister was doing fine here, and even after the incident with Pangpang hitting someone, his side hadn’t suffered. So why had Li Hongjun hurried over so anxiously?

When he learned that Li Hongjun had come for party school training, Ma Liguo pursed his lips tightly, taking a while to exhale his frustrations. Indeed, comparing oneself to others can be maddening.

"Not bad, kiddo, aiming for another promotion?" Ma Liguo said with a hint of sourness.

"There’s no certainty," Li Hongjun replied, trotting out the line his wife often used. Seeing Ma Liguo’s expression, he had to hold back his laughter. The old rascal had missed out on a training opportunity in the army and had been so angry he’d discharged. Hmph, if only he had persevered. Now, even if there were a chance, it wouldn’t be his turn.

Ma Liguo lifted his foot and kicked over, "Are you even speaking human language? ’Take advantage while you’re young’? You think you haven’t provoked me enough, is that it?"

Li Hongjun was just twenty-seven this year, and could maybe stretch it to say he was twenty-eight. At this age, he had already become a deputy battalion commander, which was quite an accomplishment in the military. If he completed this training session, he would likely become a battalion commander, a thought that would make anyone envious.

Dodging the smelly foot that flew towards him, Li Hongjun grinned at Ma Liguo, "You know, without motivation, how can a person strive to climb higher? I’m doing this for your own good."

"Get lost, you brat. Don’t think you’re an intellectual because your wife went to college. Let me tell you, you’re just basking in your wife’s light. If she was uneducated, I doubt you’d be feeling so smug right now," Ma Liguo was well aware of Li Hongjun’s abilities. Although smart, his educational level wasn’t very high. Well, that depends on who you compare him to. They had grown up together after all; who didn’t know whom? Li Hongjun had always been focused on developing his skills but never on learning cultural knowledge—probably influenced by his wife.

Not only did Li Hongjun understand the meaning behind his words, but Mu Huazhen also grasped it and immediately retorted with hands on hips, "What are you implying, Ma Liguo? Do you despise me for not having a high level of education? Fine, you’re great; let’s see how I deal with you."

"Oh my, wife, wife, it’s a misunderstanding! I didn’t mean that, really. I was just being sour at Li Hongjun, why are you taking it personally?" Ma Liguo immediately turned submissive, following behind Mu Huazhen, trying to appease her.

Li Hongjun looked at his grandson with such delight.

After chatting for a while at the Ma Family’s, he finally took the kids and rescued the very popular Taxue, then they all walked home in the moonlight.

On the way, Manman comfortably sat in his father’s arms, and his little mouth began to tattle.

He told his father all about the bullying he had suffered at the daycare recently.

The more Li Hongjun heard, the darker his expression became, furious that someone dared to bully his daughter. It was something he could endure, but his wife would not.

"Dad, I knocked that stinky kid down," Pangpang said, seeking praise.

Li Hongjun patted his son’s head, "Son, you did the right thing. If someone dares to bully your sister again, you beat them hard, and dad will cover for you." Thinking of his soft and delicate little daughter being bullied to tears, his heart ached, and he wished he could beat up not just that kid, but their whole family.

"Mhm, but Dad, Mom says it’s wrong to hit people, and that we should convince people with virtue," Pangpang understood ’convincing people with virtue’ as regaining face without using violence. That was exactly what he did this time; otherwise he could have knocked that little brat down in a minute.

Although Pangpang was young, he had not skimped on Shen Yunfang’s Essence of Life. Combined with the nurturing from Li Hongjun, he was in great shape. Even at two and a half years old, he could take care of any child under three and a half.

Li Hongjun couldn’t directly say his wife was wrong, so he hinted instead, "What your mom said isn’t wrong, but she also said that we have to be flexible in life, and being inflexible with books won’t do. So, you need to know how to adapt. Do you understand adapting?" Suddenly, Li Hongjun realized his son was only two and a half years old. He probably understood the word ’adapting,’ right?

"I understand, I’m not a little kid anymore," Pangpang puffed out his chest, pretending to understand even if he didn’t. Dad had said that a man’s honor must not be lost.

"Ah, my good son." Li Hongjun, content, picked up his son as well. Holding one in each arm, he gave them kisses freely.

Once home, Shen Yunfang took the kids to bathe, giving the Li siblings some space to have a good talk.

No one knew what they discussed in the living room, but when Shen Yunfang led the children out, she saw Li Xianglian’s eyes were red, obviously having cried.

She pretended not to notice, had the kids say goodnight to their aunt, and then took them to their room.

At night, Li Hongjun came back to the room and overpowered his wife. Since the children now had their own rooms, it was convenient for Li Hongjun to steal some intimacy.

Of course, before he began his feast, Li Hongjun still shared some things with her, like how he had just given his older sister twenty bucks, and how she wrote him an IOU, which he tore up.

Shen Yunfang kept quiet; the two really had the same thought, both giving Li’s elder sister some money. Although they gave double, adding up to only fifty bucks, Shen Yunfang didn’t mind. Also, about the IOU, Li’s elder sister had said the same thing to her, but she didn’t agree. She didn’t expect Li’s elder sister to still be persistent, secretly writing an IOU. However, Li Hongjun wouldn’t want the sister’s IOU, so in the end, she didn’t get anything and lost several tens of bucks.