In the words of the child: Deng Chen knows how to make progress.

As someone who wants to join later, you often have to put in more effort than your predecessors and be better at showing it.

When contacting the family as usual to notify them of the exact date of return, the feedback from Li Sanjiang is that he happens to be taking Li Weihan and Cui Guiying to Wolf Mountain to burn incense for gratitude, so they might as well meet there and return together.

Considering Tan Wenbin's special situation, once entering the Nantong Territory, Li Zhiyuan let Yin Meng continue driving the others back to the village, while he got off alone in front of Wolf Mountain scenic area.

Not during festivals, there aren't many people coming to Wolf Mountain to burn incense or tourists, Li Zhiyuan saw three elderly people sitting on the flower beds from afar.

Today's incense burning is to fulfill the wish made when Li Weihan had surgery.

Cui Guiying: "Uncle Sanjiang, when do you think Little Yuanhou will arrive?"

Li Sanjiang: "Who knows about things on the road, what if there's a car accident blocking traffic, it's quite normal."

Cui Guiying's face turned pale in fright: "What, a car accident?"

Li Weihan quickly glared at Cui Guiying: "What nonsense, Sanjiang said it's other cars on the road having an accident, Little Yuanhou's car might get stuck on the road."

Cui Guiying quickly patted her chest: "Phew, so that's it."

Li Sanjiang scratched his chin and rubbed his belly, saying: "Han Hou, Guiying Hou, let's find a place to eat first."

Cui Guiying hurriedly took out a small package, opened it, and inside were dried buns and pickles.

"Uncle Sanjiang, you eat. I'll go ask the ticket seller for some hot water."

Looking at the hard buns, Li Sanjiang's old face frowned.

At home, he was used to having meals with wine and oil; chewing on hard buns when bored was fine, but eating them as a main meal when truly hungry was unbearable.

Cui Guiying bowed her head and went to get hot water.

Li Weihan scratched his head awkwardly, logically speaking, since Uncle Sanjiang accompanied them out, it would have been right to treat him to a good meal.

But outside isn't like home, eating at restaurants is expensive, and these restaurants in front of scenic areas are even more exorbitant.

It's not just about being unwilling; the truth is, the old couple simply doesn't have much leftover money right now.

Earlier, when paying for the surgery, all four sons' families contributed money.

Yesterday, the old couple just gathered some of the home's income to pay back the first batch to the four sons.

Right now, truly, they have financial struggles.

Li Sanjiang sighed helplessly; he had scolded them many times before and now had no energy to do it again.

The sons spend money on their father's illness, but the parents insist on paying it back; the money sent by their daughters is all saved without touching a dime.

In Li Sanjiang's view, this was foolishness—unable to enjoy blessings, destined to live a humble life.

"Han Hou, let's go. Uncle's treating."

"No, no, no, Uncle Sanjiang, this isn't appropriate. Wait until we return home, come to my place, I'll let Guiying prepare a chicken..."

Li Sanjiang rolled his eyes: "Do you still have chickens in your pen?"

Cui Guiying came back with the hot water.

Li Sanjiang waved his hand: "Come on, let's go to a restaurant. Uncle's stomach can't handle dry stuff."

During the tug of war, Li Zhiyuan's voice rang out:

"Grandmaster, Grandpa, Grandma!"

"Little Yuanhou!"

"My Little Yuanhou!"

After the warm hugs and affectionate squeezes, Li Sanjiang held Li Zhiyuan's hand and said:

"Let's go to a restaurant, my great-grandson is back and can't be fed this. The child needs to eat well for growing."

Li Zhiyuan: "Grandmaster, Grandpa, Grandma, I have money from my internship, I'll treat you."

When it's about the child, Li Weihan and his wife no longer declined, though their faces still showed some embarrassment, and they followed to a beautifully decorated restaurant in front of the scenic area.

The ingredients were placed on the plates for selection, anything not available could be asked from the owner to see if it could be made.

Li Zhiyuan consecutively chose two dishes, while Cui Guiying inquired about the price each time, only to grumble endlessly: "Heavens, so expensive, I could make this at home myself."

Li Weihan: "Little Yuanhou, just order for you and Grandmaster. Grandma and I will just have two bowls of noodles."

Then, Li Weihan asked for the price of noodles and was surprised too. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Cui Guiying: "How can anyone afford this, it's shockingly pricey, buying or making noodles at home costs a fraction."

Thus, after much back and forth, Li Zhiyuan spent a long time inside the restaurant without being able to finalize an order.

Li Sanjiang gathered his energy and shouted at the old couple: "Shut your mouths, the child earned money and is treating us, just eat what he orders, stop complaining mindlessly, don't let him spend money and not have a good time!"

Li Weihan and Cui Guiying, scolded, dared not say anything more.

Li Sanjiang pointed at the nearby table: "Go, sit over there and behave!"

The old couple obediently went and sat down.

Li Sanjiang then smiled at Li Zhiyuan: "Little Yuanhou, go ahead and order, Grandmaster is truly hungry, could eat a whole cow!"

Li Zhiyuan ordered potato stew with pork, braised hairtail, and scrambled eggs with chives.

"Grandmaster, want iron plate clams?"

"Yes!"

"How about a head lettuce soup?"

"Good!"

"Grandmaster, I've never had Wolf Mountain chicken, shall we try one?"

"Order it!"

"Grandmaster, shall I get a bottle of white wine for a drink?"

"Drink it!"

Li Zhiyuan: "Boss, that's all."

The owner looked at the list of dishes and reminded: "There seems to be a lot of dishes, are you sure you want this many?"

Li Zhiyuan: "It's fine, we can take it home if we don't finish, no waste."

The owner looked at Li Sanjiang, clearly waiting for the adult's confirmation.

Li Sanjiang placed both hands on Li Zhiyuan's shoulders and shouted:

"Why are you standing there? Serve the dishes as my great-grandson ordered. My great-grandson made money and is treating us to a feast, haha!"