Middle-aged tycoon: Twins come knocking on his door when he goes home for Chinese New Year

Two cars, one in front of the other, were driving on a country road.

Soon, the car drove into the town.

This town is called Xinpu Town, and it's located in front of Xihe Town.

Li Ze was very familiar with this place.

When he married Zhang Ruoran, it was in accordance with local customs.

The wedding procession first went to Zhangjiazhai to pick up the bride, and then, with music and fanfare, passed through Xinpu Town.

Finally, they returned to Lijia Village to hold the banquet.

Back then, the elders said that walking down this road would symbolize a smooth and long-lasting life for the young couple.

Looking back now, the allegory is ultimately just that—an allegory.

Li Ze gripped the steering wheel, gazing at the scenery outside the window, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Eighteen years have passed, and the changes are truly remarkable.

In my memory, this road used to be a muddy, potholed road.

On a sunny day, you are covered in gray, on a rainy day, you are covered in mud.

Back then, wedding processions had to drive very carefully when they reached this spot, for fear of damaging the chassis.

But now, this place has been transformed into a wide and smooth asphalt road.

The low, mud-brick houses that used to line both sides of the road are gone, replaced by rows of neat two-story buildings.

The exterior walls are covered with white tiles, making it look clean and impressive.

Only the big trees by the roadside, though much thicker now, still vaguely resemble their former appearance.

Just as I was marveling at this, the Volkswagen in front of me suddenly turned on its brake lights, then slowly pulled over and stopped in front of a small roadside shop.

This is a grocery store that looks like it's been around for a while.

Bright red lanterns hung at the entrance, and all sorts of fireworks and firecrackers were displayed in the open space outside.

They completely blocked the already narrow entrance.

It looks like it's part of the Chinese New Year.

Even after eighteen years, this little shop seems to have remained unchanged.

It's the same location, the same old, worn-out sign, and even the way the goods are displayed at the entrance is exactly the same as it was back then.

Li Ze also stepped on the brakes and parked the Audi on the open ground next to him.

Zhang Ruoran got out of the car, and Li Menghan followed her out.

The mother and son walked to the store entrance and began to select from the pile of bright red New Year's goods.

It seems they plan to buy some things for the Chinese New Year here.

After all, tomorrow is the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. According to the customs of my hometown, we must visit the graves of our deceased elders and burn paper money before the New Year.

Fireworks, firecrackers, paper money, incense, and candles are essential items for every household.

Li Ze unbuckled his seatbelt and said to Li Mengli beside him:

"Come on, honey, let's go down and take a look."

Li Mengli nodded and got out of the car with Li Ze.

Zhang Ruoran was bending over picking out couplets when she looked up and saw Li Ze following her. Her brows immediately furrowed.

She merely glanced coldly at Li Ze, then turned away, deliberately keeping her back to him.

He pulled Li Menghan toward the boss and began asking about the price of fireworks.

Li Ze didn't seem to care about this at all; instead, he cheerfully straightened his collar.

Now that you've decided to pursue your wife, what's a little cold shoulder?

Even if it's a knife, you have to take it.

Li Ze led Li Mengli slowly over.

As he walked, he whispered to his daughter beside him:

"Mengli, did you see that?"

"Your mom is ignoring me now, but that's only temporary."

"To win over a wife, you have to be thick-skinned."

"As the saying goes, even the fiercest woman can be won over by a persistent suitor. As long as I keep at it and stick to her like glue, one day she'll soften."

"Although the road to winning back your wife is long and arduous, I am destined to be the man who gets your mother back."

"How could we possibly give up after encountering such a small difficulty?"

Hearing her father's bold words, Li Mengli couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

This was the first time she had ever seen someone describe shamelessness in such a refreshing and elegant way.

She looked at Li Ze and teased him:

"Dad, I didn't realize you were so determined."

"To be able to laugh even when your mom dislikes you so much, that's some nerve. No wonder you can make a lot of money."

Li Ze raised an eyebrow smugly:

"Of course."

"How can I be a warrior of pure love if my will isn't strong?"

Upon hearing the words "pure love warrior," Li Mengli couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Haha, Dad!"

"Where did you learn that word?"

"You know that?"

Li Ze said with a smile:

"Your dad isn't some old-fashioned person. I surf the internet all the time, you know."

The father and daughter chatted and laughed as they walked to the store entrance.

The shopkeeper was a woman in her sixties with gray hair, but she was very energetic.

Wearing a dark blue padded coat, he was smiling and talking to Zhang Ruoran.

"Is it the same as in previous years?" Aunt Wang asked while taking things.

Zhang Ruoran nodded, her tone very gentle:

"Yes, Aunt Wang, it's the same as always."

"Two pots of kumquats, with lots of fruit."

"A large couplet, two 'Fu' characters, and a few paper-cut window decorations."

"Also, there's paper money and incense for grave sweeping, two strings of 1,000-shot firecrackers, and two large fireworks."

Aunt Wang worked quickly, tidying up her things while sighing:

"Okay, your auntie will pick out the best for you."

"Sigh, another year has passed in the blink of an eye."

"Since your parents passed away, for the past ten years or so, you've been the only one coming back every year to handle all these things."

"You've had a tough life, being both a father and a mother, and taking care of two little ones."

"Fortunately, Mengli and Menghan have both grown up and become more sensible. You've finally made it through."

Zhang Ruoran smiled but didn't say anything, though a hint of melancholy flashed in her eyes.

She took the things from Aunt Wang and asked Li Menghan to carry them to the car first.

The items were ordered quickly.

The kumquats are bright yellow, and the couplets are bright red; it looks festive.

Zhang Ruoran tidied up her things, wiped her hands, and prepared to pay.

Just then, Li Ze strode up.

He glanced at the pile of things first, then said to Zhang Ruoran with some dissatisfaction:

"Why didn't you prepare some for me too?"

"I'm going to visit the graves too."

"Even if I don't go back to Zhangjiazhai, I still have to go back to Lijiacun to burn some paper money for my parents."

Zhang Ruoran took out her phone, scanned the QR code, and paid the money.

Then she turned her head and gave Li Ze a disapproving look.

She really didn't want to talk to this man; she felt it was a waste of breath to say even one more word.

However, considering that Aunt Wang, an acquaintance, was present, it was not good to make the scene too ugly and give outsiders a reason to laugh at them.

So, suppressing her anger, she coldly retorted:

"You're a grown man, do you expect me to buy you things?"

"Don't you have hands or a mouth?"

"Tell the boss what you want to buy yourself. Don't expect me to wait on you hand and foot."

Li Ze wasn't angry when he was rebuked; instead, he nodded, looking like he had learned a lot.

"That's right."

"I really shouldn't have troubled you."

After saying that, he turned directly to Aunt Wang and waved his hand generously:

"Okay then, boss."

"I'll buy everything that this lady just bought."

"I'll pay for it."

"How much was it again?"

Aunt Wang paused for a moment, looked at Zhang Ruoran, and then at Li Ze.

Although the atmosphere felt a bit strange, there's no reason for a businessperson to push money away.

She glanced at the calculator and said:

"The total is one hundred and fifty-four yuan."

"Okay, 154."

Li Ze took out his phone, intending to transfer the money directly to Zhang Ruoran to offset the amount she had just paid.

But then I realized I hadn't added Zhang Ruoran on WeChat yet.

And even if it were included, given her stubborn nature, she definitely wouldn't accept the money.

They might even return the money and give him a piece of their mind.

That would be even more awkward.

Li Ze's eyes lit up, and he had an idea.

He transferred 154 yuan directly to Li Mengli.

Then he raised his head, looked at Zhang Ruoran, and said confidently:

"Alright."

"I've transferred this money to Mengli."

"This is something I bought for my mother-in-law and father-in-law, and also for my two children to use during the Chinese New Year."

"Mengli hasn't earned any money yet, so it's only right that I, as her father, should pay for it."

"You're welcome, it's nothing."

Zhang Ruoran's hand holding the phone froze in mid-air.

She was so angry at Li Ze's shameless attitude, as if he had already made all the arrangements.

He had to make such a complicated matter out of something that only cost a little over a hundred yuan.

Moreover, she used the child as a shield, making it impossible for her to refuse.

After all, the money had already gone into his daughter's pocket, so he couldn't very well ask her to return it to him, could he?

"boring!"

Zhang Ruoran glared at Li Ze and uttered two words.

Then she put away her phone, picked up the remaining pot of kumquats, turned around without looking back, and got into the Volkswagen.

With a loud "bang," the car door slammed shut.

Watching her mother storm off, Li Mengli gave Li Ze a thumbs-up and whispered:

"Dad, you're amazing!"

"That's a brilliant indirect approach!"

"My mom is stubborn but soft-hearted. If you're thick-skinned enough, she can't do anything about it."

"Dad, you're so good to me!"

Li Ze smiled and patted his daughter's shoulder:

"That's right, don't you even know who I am?"

"Alright, you should get in the car now, don't keep your mom waiting."

Li Mengli nodded, picked up another pot of kumquats, and ran towards the Volkswagen.

After all, she needed to send these things back to Zhangjiazhai first, so she had to help her mother move things.

Li Ze stood there, watching the Volkswagen slowly start, a faint smile on his lips.

Although it was just a small matter of a little over a hundred yuan, this was the first time he had successfully "paid the bill" for his family since returning to China.

This is a good beginning.

Just as Li Ze was about to turn around and get back into his car.

Aunt Wang, who had been standing behind the counter, did not rush to greet other customers.

Her somewhat cloudy eyes were fixed on Li Ze.

From the moment Li Ze walked over, she felt that this man looked somewhat familiar.

Although Li Ze now dresses very elegantly and has matured a lot.

But the facial features and the way he spoke always reminded her of things from the past.

Especially the tug-of-war he had with Zhang Ruoran just now made Aunt Wang's suspicions even clearer.

Finally, just as Li Ze was about to leave, Aunt Wang couldn't help but call out to him:

"Hey, boss, wait a minute."

Li Ze stopped, turned around, and looked at Aunt Wang with some confusion:

"What's wrong? Is there anything else?"

Aunt Wang squinted, looking Li Ze up and down, and tentatively asked:

You look somewhat familiar.

"You just said you're Mengli's father..."

"So, do you know Zhang Guoqing's daughter, Ruoran?"

"Why do you look so much like the young man from Lijia Village that Ruoran married back then?"