Chapter 24: Insatiable Greed? Li Junsheng Returns Home and Kicks the Eldest!

Xiaowei held the pear that Li Junsheng had given him, reaching out his arms for Li Junsheng to carry him over. This little boy, still clutching the pear, thanked Li Junsheng, calling him “Grandpa.” Li Junsheng felt both joy and sorrow—after all, it was just a pear. His eldest son’s family had eaten countless fruits from him, yet had never uttered a single word of thanks.

“Dad, it’s rare for you to come by. Why not stay for a bit? I’ll have Xiaocui prepare a couple of dishes, and we can share a drink together,” Li Guohua suggested with a smile, a rare closeness between father and son.

Li Junsheng readily agreed. Leaving the hospital, he bought a generous amount of groceries and returned with Li Guohua to the rented apartment the two of them temporarily shared. He bought chicken and fish, and some rock sugar with white fungus to make a sweet soup for Xiaowei’s lungs.

Li Guohua and Ji Xiaocui couldn't help but wonder how Li Junsheng had so much money on hand. Upon inquiry, they learned that Li Junsheng had sold his job at the factory.

He explained the factory’s impending layoffs to the young couple, but neither Li Guohua nor Ji Xiaocui said much about it, nor did they covet the money Li Junsheng now possessed.

Li Junsheng invited them over for dinner that evening, intending to discuss the matter of dividing the money. The couple nodded in agreement.

After lunch at Li Guohua’s place—having seen his grandson and strengthened the bond with his second son—Li Junsheng decided it was time to return home.

On the way, Li Junsheng couldn't help but contemplate: if he truly wished to earn money, he must first resolve the affairs at home, or he would never know peace.

His eldest son and daughter-in-law eyed his money with greedy intent, even willing to deceive their own kin. Li Junsheng had no doubt they would go to even greater lengths, crossing moral boundaries for the sake of money. With such people, he could not rest easy sharing a roof or a meal.

Then there was Ma Yulian—calculating, scheming, never at ease. With her presence, the household would never know tranquility.

These two major troubles needed to be dealt with!

Brooding over these matters, Li Junsheng returned home, his face dark and grim.

As he pushed open the door, Li Guojun approached him with his son and daughter in tow. “Dad, where have you been all morning? We were waiting for you to have lunch together!” Li Guojun accompanied his words with a smile. By his side, his young but already shrewd daughter, Xingxing, joined in to curry favor.

“Grandpa, have some candy! Grandpa from Mom’s side gave it to me, but I saved it for you specially so you could try it.”

Looking at Xingxing and his grandson, Xiaoming, Li Junsheng scoffed inwardly—indeed, it was his eldest son and daughter-in-law who had the foresight. Knowing that money would soon be divided, they had deliberately brought their son and daughter back from their maternal grandmother’s house to count more heads and claim a bigger share. They assumed he would divide the money according to the number of people in each child’s household.

His eldest granddaughter was behaving unusually today—typically, she would never be so attentive or affectionate. Children’s intentions are transparent, and Xingxing’s desire to please was written all over her face. Even without much thought, Li Junsheng could guess that his eldest son and daughter-in-law had repeatedly instructed Xingxing to ingratiate herself.

Looking down at Xingxing and Xiaoming, their faces still tender and innocen