Living Like Uncut Jade, Li Qiyu

Welcome Inn, third floor, guest room.

After a day of being tossed about, little Carefree had curled up on the couch and fallen asleep, while Li Xinge sat cross-legged on the windowsill, cultivating.

At his level, sleep had become optional.

Elsewhere.

Green Maple Valley, the Li Family, at the residence of Third Elder Li Xuanyong.

It was already deep into the night.

Yet Li Xuanyong's whole family had no mind to sleep, because tonight was the night his grandson's wife was due to give birth.

Li Xuanyong, dressed in a purple robe, sat upright in a grand chair. Though his face was calm, he could not conceal the excitement in his heart.

His branch of the family had few descendants.

He had only one son and one daughter.

His daughter had married far away for the sake of the Lineage. His son had sacrificed his life for the Lineage years ago. When his daughter-in-law heard the dreadful news, she had followed her husband in death, leaving him only a seven-month-old grandson, whom he and his wife had raised with great difficulty.

Now his grandson was married and about to have a child of his own.

Even if Li Xuanyong died now, he could close his eyes in peace.

As they waited anxiously,

A loud, resounding cry suddenly rang out from the courtyard. The entire family perked up at once and looked toward the delivery room.

"Congratulations, Master! Congratulations, Young Master! It's a little Young Master!"

The midwife emerged with a beaming smile, cradling an infant in her arms.

Li Xuanyong slapped his thigh. His usual composure had vanished without a trace, and his excitement spilled over his face.

Usually so stingy, he shouted, "Good! Wonderful! Reward her—reward her handsomely!"

"Thank you, Master."

The midwife beamed from ear to ear.

Li Xuanyong looked at the infant in her arms, already unable to wait any longer. Just as he was about to take the child...

Smack!

"What does a big man like you know about holding babies? Don't frighten my precious great-grandson."

Beside him, an old woman with silver hair and a kindly face spoke with a dissatisfied expression.

Li Xuanyong smiled awkwardly.

The servants and maids beside them desperately held back their laughter, doing their utmost not to let a sound escape.

Who in the Li Family did not know that Third Elder was most afraid of his wife?

The old woman took the infant from the midwife. Looking at the sturdy baby, her eyes narrowed into smiling slits.

"Xingdong, come take a look at your son."

The old woman called out.

Yet there was no response for a long while. When she turned around, she saw that her grandson had already run into the delivery room.

"This brat only knows how to worry about his wife. He can't even spare a glance for his own son."

The old woman muttered softly.

Though her voice was low, Li Xuanyong still heard her.

He said smugly, "Isn't that just like me? Every man descended from Li Xuanyong is a hopeless romantic!"

The old woman rolled her eyes.

"Old woman, I want to discuss something with you."

Li Xuanyong rubbed his hands together and chuckled.

The old woman teased the infant in her arms and said irritably, "If you have something to say, say it. If you have to fart, let it out."

"Xingdong has grown up now and has a child of his own. It is time for him to do his share for the Lineage. I want Xingdong to join the Enforcement Team."

The old woman's face stiffened, and then she cursed, "I knew this old thing of yours hadn't been holding in anything good. No! Don't even think about it!"

"Dong'er is also a member of the Li Family. Why can't he?"

Li Xuanyong retorted.

"You old fool, you know better than anyone what kind of place the Enforcement Team is. All day long, it's nothing but fighting and killing. If anything happens to Dong'er in the Enforcement Team, what are we supposed to do?"

The old woman raised her voice.

"Keep your voice down. What is wrong with fighting and killing? Without them fighting and killing, where would you get these carefree days of food and clothing? I say it's settled. Tomorrow, Dong'er will report to the Enforcement Team!"

"You dare!"

The old woman glared at him.

"Why wouldn't I dare? Serving the Lineage is the duty every child of the clan must fulfill!"

Li Xuanyong said, craning his neck stubbornly.

"There are so many vacant positions in the Lineage, so why must it be the Enforcement Team? Wouldn't the mines do? Wouldn't the marketplace do? I have already lost one son and one daughter to the Lineage. Now I have only this one grandson left. Do you still want me to watch my black-haired grandson die before my white-haired eyes?"

The old woman's eyes reddened.

"What is wrong with joining the Enforcement Team? Other people's children can join it and risk life and limb for the Lineage, but my Li Xuanyong's child is special? He can cling to life and fear death? The resources the Lineage has spent over the years might as well have been fed to a dog. At least a dog knows to guard its master's gate!"

Li Xuanyong roared.

"I don't care whether you agree or not. This matter is settled. No matter how much you say, it will be useless. I am first the Third Elder of the Li Family, and only then your husband!"

Li Xuanyong, who had yielded to his wife for an entire lifetime, was incomparably forceful at this moment.

"Li Xuanyong, you bastard!"

The old woman was beside herself with anger, gritting her teeth as she cursed him.

"Grandmother, don't be angry with Grandfather. I was the one who brought this matter up to Grandfather."

A deep, muffled voice rang out, interrupting their quarrel.

It was a sturdily built young man with the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear. His thick brows and large eyes made him look somewhat honest and simple.

The old woman froze at first, then tried to persuade him. "Dong'er, do you know what kind of place the Enforcement Team is? Back then, your father..."

"Grandmother, don't say any more. I know very well what choice I have made."

"Besides, Father sacrificed himself for the Lineage. I have never blamed him."

"Even though I do not even know what he looked like, I have always been proud to have such a father ever since I was young."

"Truthfully, I have always wanted to join the Enforcement Team and serve the Lineage."

"But I was always worried that if something happened to me, Grandfather's branch would be left without descendants. Then, even if I died, I would have no face to meet my father."

"Now that I have a son too, if anything happens to me, let him take my place and be filial to Grandmother. Please grant me this!"

Li Xingdong dropped to his knees with a thump, tears welling in his tiger-like eyes.

The old woman stood there in a daze for a long time. In the end, she let out a long sigh.

Her voice choked as she said, "The three generations of you are all the same. Your father was like this back then, and now you are the same. What else can I say? If you want to go, then go!"

"Thank you, Grandmother!"

Li Xingdong's eyes were red.

"Why are you still kneeling? Hurry up and look at your son."

Only then did Li Xingdong rise to his feet and look at the infant's flushed, wrinkled little face.

He frowned. "He's really ugly!"

"Didn't you look the same when you were little?"

The old woman rolled her eyes.

"Right, I still haven't checked my great-grandson's bone structure!"

Li Xuanyong slapped his forehead.

The old woman came to her senses as well and hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes! Hurry and check my precious golden grandson's bone structure. Don't let him take after you and end up achieving neither in letters nor martial arts!"

"You!"

Li Xuanyong's eyes widened in fury. He pointed at the old woman, trembling for a long while without being able to say a word.

"What about you? Try flaring your nostrils and glaring at me again!"

Li Xuanyong's mouth twitched.

"I refuse to lower myself to the level of a woman like you."

"Hmph."

With that, Li Xuanyong reached out and began feeling the infant all over, probing his body again and again.

Li Xuanyong's expression gradually became grave.

Seeing Li Xuanyong like this, Li Xingdong and the old woman's hearts instantly leaped into their throats.

Could it be that this child's bone structure was extremely poor?

"Xingdong, go invite the First Elder immediately."

"Grandfather, could it be...?"

Li Xingdong's breathing suddenly quickened.

"Why are you still standing there?"

"Yes!"

The old woman at the side seemed to understand something as well and dismissed all the servants around them.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the First Elder arrived.

"First Elder, examine this brat's bone structure. I'm not entirely certain."

Li Xuanyong said in a low voice.

The First Elder nodded solemnly, took the infant, and began examining his bone structure.

"First Elder, how is it?"

Li Xuanyong asked impatiently.

The First Elder stroked his grizzled beard and burst into laughter. "Heaven truly wishes to raise up our Li Family! Third Brother, you did not sense it wrongly. This child has Seventh-grade talent!"

"Seventh-grade talent, Seventh-grade talent..."

Though he had already suspected that this child's talent must be extraordinary,

When that suspicion became reality, he still could not suppress the excitement in his heart.

Li Xuanyong had been limited by his aptitude. This was all he would ever amount to in his lifetime.

But his great-grandson possessed Seventh-grade talent. He knew very clearly what a child with Seventh-grade talent meant to the Li Family.

"Xingdong, you and your wife have rendered great service to the Li Family! If the Patriarch learns of this, he will surely be delighted and reward you handsomely."

The First Elder patted Li Xingdong's shoulder with a smile.

Li Xingdong scratched the back of his head and smiled foolishly.

He did not care about rewards. He only hoped that his child could grow up safely and become someone useful to the Lineage in the future.

"First Elder, since you are here, why not give this child a name?"

Third Elder spoke.

The First Elder nodded and fell into thought.

Before long, he said, "For this child's generation, it should be the Qiyu generation. He is a piece of uncut jade, so why not call him Li Qiyu? What do you think?"

"Li Qiyu!"

Third Elder rubbed his hands together and laughed heartily. "A good name. From now on, this child will be called Li Qiyu."

"Qiyu's talent is anything but ordinary. The Li Family is already standing at the eye of the storm, and now all the pressure rests on the Patriarch alone. We should seal off this news for now, lest it provoke the jealousy of those with ulterior motives!"

The First Elder suddenly said.

"That is reasonable. We will do as you say. If anyone leaks this news, they will be dealt with according to the clan rules."

"Agreed."