Chapter 175: Chapter 174: The Banquet Celebration
Li Jain left Li Zhang’s room with a complicated feeling in his heart.
Although he had managed to calm the child down, the image of Li Zhang crying in his arms still stayed in his mind. He had only wanted to prepare a pleasant surprise, but because he was too focused on keeping the banquet a secret, he had forgotten that children don’t always understand silence intentions.
Especially children who had been abandoned before. He had tried his best to make the children forget the unpleasantness of being forgotten. It’s normal for children to cry, but it’s never normal when his children do it.
Li Jain sighed quietly and walked toward Li Cheng’s room. When he arrived, the door was already half open. Li Cheng was sitting on the edge of his bed, fully dressed, with his bow placed beside him. His expression looked calm as usual, but his eyes were a little red.
Li Jain noticed, but he didn’t ask why. Earlier, when he was talking to Li Zhang, he saw Li Cheng standing silently outside the door. The child had probably heard the conversation and understood what had happened.
Li Jain walked in and smiled gently: "Happy birthday, Cheng’er."
Li Cheng looked up, then he lowered his eyes slightly and said: "Thank you, Father."
Li Jain sat beside him.
Li Cheng’s fingers rested on his knees, and after a short silence, he spoke again: "Father, thank you for preparing a banquet for us." Li Cheng continued quietly: "I didn’t know it was for us."
Li Jain’s heart softened: "I know."
Li Cheng’s voice became even lower: "I thought... Maybe Zhang and I had done something wrong. Father was busy. Everyone was busy. I thought perhaps we were being punished without knowing the reason."
Li Jain felt another sharp ache in his chest.
Li Cheng was not like Li Zhang, he didn’t express himself and only carried his worries alone until he found an answer.
Li Jain reached over and held his hand: "Cheng’er, I’m sorry. Daddy did not think carefully enough. None of you did anything wrong. The banquet is for you and Zhang’er because Daddy wants to celebrate your birthday properly."
Li Cheng’s fingers tightened slightly around Li Jain’s hand: "Okay."
Li Jain pulled him into a hug.
....
Since the surprise had already been revealed, there was no reason for the other children to keep it in the dark any longer.
Not long after, the brothers all came one after another.
Li Yujian was the first to enter: "Happy birthday."
Li Cheng nodded: "Thank you, Eldest Brother."
Li Yuhan came after him with a smile and patted Li Cheng’s shoulder: "You are eleven now. You need to become more mature."
Li Cheng looked at him calmly: "Look who’s talking."
Then Li Jingsheng came in with Li Juanxin.
Juanxin was holding Fluffy in his arms, but his face was bright: "Third Brother, happy birthday, We’ve already said happy to fourth brother."
Li Cheng’s expression softened. "Thank you."
Li Jingsheng also said, Happy birthday.
Then Li Jingxuan rushed in: "Third Brother, happy birthday!" Then he added with a disappointed expression: "Father really couldn’t help himself."
Li Jingsheng rolled his eyes: "What are you going on about?"
Li Jingxuan crossed his arms: "He revealed the surprise too quickly. Only a few more hours remaining and our hard work for the past few days were all in vien."
"Whether now or later, doesn’t make much of a difference. How do you expect them to get dressed without knowing what’s going on?" Li Yujian said.
Li Jingxuan thought about it for a moment and felt that his brother was right, so he drop it.
....
An hour later, Li Xinyue arrived with a hair stylist.
The stylist was a young woman with several storage boxes, she bowed politely to Li Jain, then opened the boxes one by one.
Inside were hair ornaments, ribbons, jade clasps, small crown pieces, fragrance sachets, and several accessories.
Li Zhang’s eyes brightened the moment he saw them.
He had already washed his face and changed into a clean robe. He was just about to do his hair before putting on his birthday after. After all, when it comes to his hair, he can’t depend on his father. Now, seeing the stylist’s tools, he immediately had more hope.
"Aunt Xinyue," he said excitedly: "Is she a professional?"
Li Xinyue laughed. "Of course. She’s the most sought after stylist in the city."
Li Zhang sat down quickly. The stylist was very efficient. She began fixing his hair carefully, smoothing the loose strands, tying them properly, and placing a dark jade hair ornament near the top. She chose a red and gold ribbon that matched his formal robe, then adjusted the collar so he looked more upright.
Li Zhang looked into the mirror several times: "You’re not half bad."
The woman was amused by him and smiled: "Thank you young master, I’m still learning."
"Don’t worry, you get there. Once my birthday is over, I don’t mind torturing you."
Everyone was speechless.
Li Xinyue laughed and changed the topic: "You look very handsome. Today, no guest will be able to ignore you."
Li Zhang smile, showing off, while the stylish style Li Cheng’s hair
...
The Li residence was preparing inside, when two women arrived at the main entrance carrying gift boxes.
The guards stopped them as soon as they entered: "This is the Li Family resident, you can’t just enter as you pleased. Who are you here to see?"
One of the women bowed and said: "We are here to bring gifts for little Master Li Cheng and little Master Li Zhang from young master Li Jain’s household, on behalf of our Madam."
The guard looked at the boxes, then asked: "Do you have an invitation?"
The two women exchanged a brief look. Then the older maid said: "Our Madam is Wen Qiaoling, the mother of the two little masters."
The guards didn’t know much of the family relationship and they were qualified to intervene either, so they let the women in.
The two maids followed the servant through the gate to Li residence. They were stunned when they entered the courtyard.
The courtyard was completely different from what they expected.
Everything had been carefully arranged; and the entire residence carried a warm festive feeling. It did not look like a small casual birthday meal. It looked more like a proper family celebration where the hosts had truly put their hearts into every detail. If they didn’t know, they would have thought that the Li family was hosting a former gathering.
The younger maid whispered: "Madam was right. Young Master Li really prepared a big banquet."
The older maid nodded slowly: "It seems the rumors are true. Li Jain has changed."
Li Jain had just finished checking the kitchen preparations when he saw the gift boxes in their hands. The two women bowed immediately when they saw him.
"Master Li, these are gifts for Young Master Li Cheng and Young Master Li Zhang. Our Madam asked us to bring them."
Li Jain looked surprised: "Who’s your Madam?"
The older maid answered: "Our Madam is Wen Qiaoling."
Li Jain paused. He knew that Wen Qiaoling is the twin’s mother, but only through scattered memories and what he learned from the children’s past. He hasn’t met her before and can’t make up her image. He didn’t expect her to send gifts on their birthday. But that was very thoughtful, the twins would be very happy when they found out.
Li Jain looked at the boxes carefully: "They are from Cheng’er and Zhang’er’s mother?"
"Yes," the maid said.
Li Jain asked gently: "Why did she not come herself?"
The maid lowered her eyes slightly: "Madam is busy with family matters. She asked us to bring the gifts and send her blessings. Also, she said it’ll be best for the young masters not to know until after their banquet."
Li Jain was puzzled. Since she was their mother, why would she not want the children to know that she had sent the gifts herself? Why not come and see them, even for a short while?
But Li Jain had learned that human feelings were complicated.
The more he tried to understand them, the more the strange cultivation method inside his body reacted. His Seven Emotions and Six Desires cultivation art had always been linked to understanding people, relationships, love, regret, desire, and fear. Sometimes, even a small emotional realization could shake his cultivation.
Right now, he did not have the right pill prepared for another advancement. So Li Jain stopped thinking about it.
He nodded and said: "Please thank Madam Wen for me."
The maids looked surprised by his calm reaction. They had expected Li Jain to ask more questions or perhaps show some displeasure. Instead, he simply accepted the gifts politely.
Li Jain turned to a nearby servant and said: "Bring three dessert boxes."
The servant quickly brought out beautifully packed desserts.
Li Jain gave the two maids two boxes of fresh pastries, and another bigger box of pastries.
"These are for you both." He said: "And please bring this box back for Madam Wen as thanks."
The two maids were startled: "Master Li, we cannot accept so much."
Li Jain smiled: "You came a long way to bring gifts. It is only right to thank you."
The older maid accepted the boxes with both hands.
"Thank you, Master Li."
By the time the two women left, their impression of Li Jain had changed completely.
They had also heard many stories about the old Li Jain. An irresponsible young master, who couldn’t stay with one woman and ignored his children.
A person who wasted money and caused trouble.
But the man they saw today was calm, polite, and thoughtful. The rumors of his change were not exaggerated.
...
Outside the Li residence, a carriage was waiting. Inside the carriage sat Wen Qiaoling.
When the maids returned, Wen Qiaoling lifted the curtain slightly and looked at them.
"Did you deliver the gifts?"
"Yes, Madam," the older maid said.
Then she handed over the dessert box that Li Jain had prepared: "He sent these for you as thanks."
Wen Qiaoling looked at the box. The scent of fresh pastries drifted faintly from inside.
The younger maid said softly, "Madam, Young Master Li’s residence is beautiful. The banquet decorations are impressive, and I’m sure it’s going to be a grand celebration. He gave two boxes of pastries and asked us to thank you for the gifts you sent."
Wen Qiaoling lowered her eyes, thinking that Li Jain’s change was really drastic in just three years.
Wen Qiaoling smiled faintly. Li Jain was very good now, but some people are not meant to walk the same path.
She’s already married and has a child in her current household.
Her attention, responsibilities, and future was already there.
She was happy that Li Cheng and Li Zhang were living well now. Although she felt guilty about the past, she didn’t think of returning to their side.
Wen Qiaoling held the dessert box in her hands and said softly: "This is good. Young Master Li Jain is really thoughtful. Get in, let’s return."
The maids climbed into the carriage and the carriage slowly moved away from the Li residence.
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