"Please make a set for me first. Make the rest slowly if you can still make them.
However, I need this set for the seventh day of the first lunar month. My mother will be coming to attend a wedding banquet for relatives. "
"Certainly, Mr. Guo. I will have it ready for you that morning, and it won't interfere with your filial duty to your mother."
"Then I thank Master Li in advance."
"You're too kind. I'll go see how to approach the carving now," Old Li said as he withdrew.
"Mr. Wu, if it's done by then, can you help me bring it over?"
"No problem. I'll have Aili keep a close eye on it these two days. Since Old Li said so, it will definitely be made," Wu Youzhi replied.
"That's good. I need to go to Kyoto tomorrow. Are you two going back?" Guo Xuyang asked.
"What's the matter? How many days will you be gone?" Pi Xiaoqian asked.
"Mr. Jiang found me a job, and I need to go there tomorrow. I'll be back the day after tomorrow."
"I'm not going back. Two days would be wasted on travel. I can help out at your place here," Wu Youzhi said.
"I'm not going back either. Traveling back and forth is too much hassle," Pi Xiaoqian said.
"If you're not going back, then that's fine. I'll take the high-speed train tomorrow morning. It's fast and convenient," Guo Xuyang said.
"I'll have Wu Bing pick you up."
"No need. Mr. Jiang should have it arranged. I'll call him later to let him know."
"That's fine too. Don't leave yet. Let's have dinner together with your wife. We haven't had a private meal since our last gathering in Kyoto."
"Certainly. Should we invite Mr. Cheng as well?" Guo Xuyang asked.
"No, he's also busy these days. It will just be the four of us. Come to my place, and let my wife cook a few of her specialties."
"Okay. I've actually never been to your place before. It's a good opportunity to visit."
"Then shall we go? It's getting late," Pi Xiaoqian said, checking the time.
"Let's go. I'll drive my car. After dinner, I'll have my wife drive you back," Wu Youzhi said.
"I'll drive myself. I'll find a designated driver to take me and Fatty back to the villa later, so my wife doesn't have to make an extra trip. Besides, if we go to your place, won't my wife want to have a drink or two?" Guo Xuyang reasoned.
"Alright. Then let's head back," Wu Youzhi said, standing up and walking towards the door.
Wu Aili walked out of the boutique with everyone.
Wu Youzhi lived in a high-end residential complex, but they were all low-rise buildings. He had bought two apartments, one on each side of the floor, and knocked down the connecting wall. As a result, the living room alone was over 100 square meters, making it very spacious.
Guo Xuyang entered the living room and couldn't help but exclaim, "Mr. Wu, your living room is huge! Why haven't you sold these decorations?"
"We need to leave some heirlooms for the younger generation. It's hard to buy good things again once they're sold."
"You're right. But why don't I see your children? Is Mr. Wu's child a son or a daughter?"
"To be honest, my wife and I have always wanted a child, but we just can't conceive."
"Can't conceive? Have you been to the hospital for checks? What did they say? Is it your issue or your wife's?"
"We've checked everywhere, but we just can't find the cause. Both my wife and I are perfectly healthy."
"Are you going to see that Xu Liping in Shanghai?" Guo Xuyang asked quietly, glancing towards the kitchen.
"We've been taking precautions with them, so I haven't dared to ask her."
"This situation won't work. You're both getting older, and your chances of having children will only become slimmer."
"I've accepted it. If it doesn't work out, we can adopt one," Wu Youzhi said.
"Have you considered IVF?"
"My wife is unwilling to do it. She says it's not guaranteed and fears there might be problems with the child."
"Have you discussed adoption with your wife? What are her thoughts on it?"
"No. I'm still conflicted. I still want to have a child of my own. But if I were to ask Xu Liping, our relationship would likely end. She's been with me since she was young, building this business together. I truly can't bring myself to divorce her."
"I think there might be an issue with what you're saying. If both of your bodies are fine, then the problem might be with your wife. She might not want a child, or she might be resistant to having one."
"That shouldn't be the case. Our relationship has always been very harmonious. She has also been very cooperative with the check-ups."
"May I ask, have you two been using contraception all along?"
"Yes, we have. When we were just starting our business, we didn't have the energy to have children. Later, as the business grew, we wanted a child, but then we couldn't conceive."
"When you wanted a child later, did you try all the methods the doctor recommended?"
"We tried everything, like standing on our heads or putting pillows under our bottoms. We also went for check-ups and took medication, but nothing worked."
"That's strange. It shouldn't be like this."
"When we eat later, I'll ask you about the children again, and you can tell me all this. I'll help you figure out what the problem is."
"Brother, if you can help with this, if we have a son, I'll let him recognize you as his godfather. If we have a daughter, we can arrange a marriage between our children," Wu Youzhi said emotionally.
"We'll talk about that later. I'll try to find the cause first."
As they were talking, Wu Aili brought out the dishes she had prepared. There were two cold dishes: stir-fried peanuts with celery sticks and cucumber salad with jellyfish. The four hot dishes were spicy fried chicken, clear-stewed red grouper, stir-fried kidney blossoms, and Mapo tofu. There was also a tomato and egg soup.
"Come, come, let's have a toast," Wu Youzhi said, filling the wine glasses and picking one up.
"Sister-in-law, have a drink," Guo Xuyang said.
"Brother, I can't drink. The doctor told me not to," Wu Aili said.
"The doctor told you not to? What's wrong, Sister-in-law?"
"My body is weak. I can't eat spicy food, let alone drink alcohol."
"You look perfectly fine. Quack doctors cause harm. Eat what you want, drink what you want. Sister-in-law, listen to me. I guarantee you it will be fine."
"Aili, why don't you have a drink? Brothers Guo and Pi are visiting our home for the first time. Have a drink," Wu Youzhi said, looking at Guo Xuyang.
"Alright then. I'll pour it myself, brother."
As soon as Wu Aili agreed, Pi Xiaoqian poured the wine for her.
"Come on, brothers, let's have a toast. Home-style cooking, try your sister-in-law's skills." Wu Youzhi raised his glass and drank it down in one gulp.
"This wine is potent," Guo Xuyang said after drinking, and then picked up a piece of kidney blossom with his chopsticks. "These kidney blossoms are cooked just right, very chewy, and without any fishy smell."
"The wine is high-proof sorghum liquor, a local specialty. It's genuine grain liquor. I usually drink this at home. My wife's cooking is excellent. I rarely ate out before."
"This wine is as good as Erguotou," Pi Xiaoqian commented.
"This wine doesn't give you a hangover. It's made from pure grains and isn't harmful to the body. Eat some first. We have plenty of time, so let's drink and chat slowly. If you want, you can stay here. I have bedding in my west-facing room, which has been empty all along."
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