"What are you doing?"

Li Ziqing directly asked her question, then coldly questioned, "Putting on an act?"

"Putting on an act?"

Hearing those words, Li Zigang chuckled, "What act am I putting on? Just trying to make a living..."

"You can't make a living?"

Li Ziqing sneered repeatedly upon hearing this. "Li Zigang, are you kidding me?"

"Ah, Ziqing, I know you've always resented us, and I understand that. After all, not everything can be smoothed over with time."

Li Zigang suddenly sighed, appearing to pour his heart out to Li Ziqing. "But you really don't need to be so hostile towards me. As for why I'm delivering food now, it's a long story that can't be explained in a few words."

"But I don't think there's anything wrong with delivering food. It's self-reliance, it's down-to-earth, and you sleep soundly at night."

The simplicity Li Zigang displayed was so convincing that even Chen Xiao couldn't tell if it was an act.

Which likely meant he was genuinely like this.

"How about this? I'll treat you to a meal, and we can chat while we eat. What do you think?"

Li Zigang asked tentatively.

"No need for the meal."

Li Ziqing directly refused Li Zigang's invitation. "I want to see Li Dashan. Take me to him."

Li Zigang frowned slightly, possibly because Li Ziqing addressed his father by his full name.

However, he didn't show it and nodded in agreement. "Okay, then come with me… But who is this?"

Li Zigang's gaze landed on Chen Xiao.

"He's my man."

Li Ziqing's introduction was short and forceful.

"So, this is my brother-in-law. Indeed, a man of talent!"

Li Zigang said with a smile, it was unclear whether he was just being polite or genuinely thought Chen Xiao was talented.

Chen Xiao smiled and nodded at him, his attitude already considered friendly.

Li Zigang got on his electric scooter and led the way, while Li Ziqing and Chen Xiao took a taxi, following behind.

They ran into the evening rush hour, and the traffic was extremely congested. In addition, Li Zigang lived in a remote area, so it took them a full two hours on the road.

Li Ziqing then understood why Li Zigang had been so insistent on treating her to a meal, because by the time they arrived at Li Zigang's house, it was already dark.

Li Zigang had been working hard delivering food all day and must have been very hungry.

Suddenly, Li Ziqing felt a pang of sadness, and she even felt a bit of sympathy for Li Zigang.

Li Zigang's home was not only in a remote location, but the living conditions were also very poor, in one of those old tube-shaped apartment buildings from decades ago.

Similar buildings in the city center had long been demolished, but this area was a slum with no redevelopment value.

The slums in the city were like a scar on a glamorous body, and this area was no exception.

It was inhabited by a large number of impoverished people, mostly migrant workers. It was extremely rare for a genuine local like Li Zigang to live here.

There was no elevator in the apartment building. As Li Zigang led the way up the stairs, he said apologetically, "The environment here is a bit poor, don't mind it."

"The advantage is that it's our old family home, so we don't have to pay rent. In a place like Huangcheng, having a house of your own is already pretty good."

Li Zigang was not only simple but also optimistic and extremely good at finding joy in hardship.

That was Chen Xiao's assessment of him.

"How did your family's life become like this?"

Li Ziqing asked with a frown.

There were some things she didn't say explicitly, to save face for Li Zigang.

Because after Li Tianyou angered the five great families, his assets were all divided up by the two brothers, Li Dashan and Li Dahai.

That was a huge fortune, and it would be a challenge for an ordinary person to squander it all.

Moreover, even without her father's money, Li Dashan's life shouldn't be so miserable.

Becoming like Li Dahai was already considered quite difficult.

Li Ziqing didn't expect that Li Dashan's family would be even worse off than Li Dahai's.

This was probably retribution… Li Ziqing thought to herself.

After hearing Li Ziqing's question, an embarrassed expression appeared on Li Zigang's face.

He stammered, "Uh, well… let Dad tell you himself later."

Li Zigang seemed to have some unspeakable difficulties. Li Ziqing didn't press him, as she would be seeing Li Dashan soon anyway, and she would see what he had to say then.

Li Dashan's home was on the ninth floor. Without an elevator, climbing the stairs every day would be enough to exhaust an ordinary person.

As soon as the door was opened, a strong smell of herbal medicine filled the air.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe the home as sparsely furnished, but it was at least clean and tidy.

"Cough, cough, cough…"

A burst of coughing came from inside the room, followed by a weak voice, "Gangzi, you're back? Why are you so early today?"

On weekdays, Li Zigang had to work very late to earn more money.

"Dad, we have guests today. You'll never guess who it is!"

After saying that, Li Zigang turned to look at Li Ziqing. "My dad's mobility is limited right now, so I'll take you in to see him."

Following Li Zigang into the master bedroom, an old man with a weary face was lying in bed, his old eyes clouded.

"And these two are…"

The old man sized up Li Ziqing and Chen Xiao, his face full of confusion.

"Dad, this is Ziqing, and next to her is her boyfriend!"

Li Zigang explained with a smile.

"Ziqing?"

The old man was stunned, and his eyes turned red almost instantly.

"Child, you've finally come!"

"Uncle thought I wouldn't live to see this day…"

Li Ziqing bit her lip, looking at Li Dashan coldly, her mood somewhat complicated.

Seeing this, Li Zigang's lips moved, but he ultimately held back from speaking.

"Child, you still resent your uncle."

Li Dashan murmured, "And you certainly should resent your uncle."

"Your uncle was muddled and made an unforgivable mistake back then."

"Out of all the things I shouldn't have done, the worst was listening to your third uncle and making that wrong decision… Alas, what's done is done, and it's too late to regret it now!"

"But it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. With you back, our Li family has hope."

"Back then, your father was the hope of our Li family, and now it's your turn to take over your father's mantle and carry the banner of our Li family!"

Hearing these words, Li Ziqing suddenly felt an urge to cry.

But she held it back, saying with a cold expression, "I'm just a woman, what qualifications do I have to carry the banner of the Li family?"

"No!"

Li Dashan waved his hand with difficulty. "It's not about that, whether you're male or female, you're surnamed Li, and that's enough!"

"Uncle is old, riddled with illness, and won't live much longer, but come to think of it, even if I were young and healthy, and you asked me to carry the Li family's banner, I wouldn't have the ability."

"I can't do it, neither can your older brother, but your father could, and you certainly can too!"

"Gangzi, don't just stand there, quickly take out that thing. Dad has kept it by his side for so many years, just waiting for the day when he can personally hand it over to your sister!"