Siheyuan: Grassroots Counterattack

After a few busy days, everyone felt exhausted, but they finally buried Li's mother peacefully.

After returning to Li Tian's home, Xiaoxue went to the kitchen to prepare the banquet. It was a rare occasion for the family to get together, so they had to have a meal, and also to thank relatives and friends. This was the custom here.

After arriving home, Mr. Li returned to his bedroom. Li Tianyi was worried that the old man would be upset, so he asked Li Haoran and Li Zhiyuan to bring his younger sister's grandchildren to Mr. Li's bedroom to accompany him.

Li Tianyi called Li Tianhu to the study room, and sat down in the study room. Li Tianyi asked, "Tianhu, are you going back this time?"

Li Tianhu looked at his elder brother. In his impression, his elder brother was still that energetic, young and energetic young man. However, before they knew it, both he and his elder brother had grown old, and his elder brother's hair had turned gray.

Li Tianhu looked at Li Tianyi apologetically, "Brother, I have to go back. My grandchildren are all over there, and I am worried about them!"

Li Tianyi also sighed. His mother's death made him understand the impermanence of life. Maybe one day he would also be gone.

"Okay, since you can't let it go, then go back. If you have time, come back to visit China. Anyway, transportation is so convenient now."

Li Tianhu nodded and said, "Brother, I'm sorry to you and my parents. I have lived for myself all my life and have never fulfilled my obligations as a child." As he said that, Li Tianhu covered his face with his hands and started crying.

The death of Li's mother dealt him a great blow. When he was young, he was a bad boy and always wanted to escape from his parents' protection as soon as possible. But when he got older, he began to miss his parents. However, there were always things happening around him that made it impossible for him to show filial piety to his parents.

Li Tianyi looked at Li Tianhu who was crying like a baby. He knew that his second brother felt guilty towards his parents. The sudden death of Li's mother made Li Tianhu vent out the guilt in his heart all at once.

Li Tianyi didn't need to persuade, and Li Tianhu didn't need to persuade either, he just needed to cry.

After a long while, Li Tianhu calmed down and smiled embarrassedly at Li Tianyi. Li Tianyi didn't say anything, but patted him on the shoulder and walked out of the study.

After dinner, my younger sister and her family went back to their home to rest. They had to visit Li’s mother’s grave the next day, so they didn’t waste any more time.

Li Tianhu lived with Li Tian's family. Li Tianyi had originally prepared a room for him, but he insisted on living with Li's father. Li's father disagreed, but Li Tianhu went straight to Li's father's bedroom carrying a quilt. Li's father had no way to deal with his second son.

Li Haoran and Li Zhiyuan went home with their parents. It was a rare opportunity for them to come back, so An An and Dou Dou both wanted to get closer to the children.

Li Tianhu's children also lived in Li Tian's house. Since there were many rooms at home, Li Tianhu originally wanted to let them stay in a hotel outside, but Li Tianyi disagreed. They were already home, so how could they stay outside?

The next morning, my younger sister and her family came over, followed by An An and Dou Dou's families. They still had to have a meal at noon, so they started preparing the ingredients early.

Near noon, Li Tianyi and his friends drove to Li's mother's grave. There were also many paper-made objects. Although burning objects is not allowed in the old city now, the common people still burn them secretly.

The government also turned a blind eye. When we arrived at the cemetery, we cried again. By the time we finished burning everything, it was already past noon.

Li Tianyi and his friends drove home. The nanny at home had already prepared the cold dishes and was waiting for them to come back to prepare the hot dishes.

After Li Tianyi and his family arrived home, Xiaoxue took the two daughters-in-law to the kitchen, and soon a table full of food was ready. Because there were so many people, they sat at two tables, one for the adults and one for the children.

After dinner, Li Tianhu and Li Tianyi said they wanted to go out for a walk. Li Tianyi did not object, so Li Tianhu took Li's father and children out. This time he wanted to go and take a look at his old house. When he came back a few years ago, he wanted to sell the house, but Li Tianyi persuaded him that the housing prices in Beijing had been rising in recent years, and he might have to wait a few years before selling it.

Sure enough, the housing price at this time has more than doubled compared to previous years. He didn't want to sell the house this time, he just wanted to see what the house was like.

Because the house was rented out, they could only look at it from the outside, and then took Li's father to the vicinity of the courtyard.

This time, Li Tianhu did not go to see Yan Bugui. He brought Li's father with him just to let him relax. If he stayed alone in the room all the time, he would always have wild thoughts.

After Li Tianhu left, Li Tianyi called his two grandsons over and first talked to them about school matters. Then Li Tianyi said to them, "Haoran, Zhiyuan, what are your future plans?"

Li Haoran and Li Zhiyuan looked at each other and said cautiously, "Grandpa, we want to finish our doctorate in Country M first, and our advisor has high expectations for us. He wants to introduce us to his laboratory."

"Then will you return to China to develop?" Li Tianyi asked this key question.

Li Haoran and the others hesitated for a moment, then said, "Grandpa, you also know what the scientific research environment in China is like. If the country hadn't been protecting you, your results would probably have been stolen by those people who were seeking fame. We have many senior brothers and sisters who went to Qingdao University. They just couldn't stand the scientific research environment in China, so they chose to go abroad."

"Yes, Grandpa. In China, researchers are no longer just researchers. They have to handle interpersonal relationships, flatter, and cater to their superiors' hobbies. They simply can't focus on research. In foreign countries, researchers are just researchers. They don't pay attention to other things."

Li Tianyi sighed helplessly. He had reminded his superiors about this matter before, but what was coming still came.

"Grandpa still hopes that you can return home. Of course, the decision is up to you, but there is one thing you must remember: keep yourself safe."

Li Haoran and Li Zhiyuan nodded. They have not decided yet to stay in Country M. They just talked about the chaos in the domestic scientific research circle. They need to wait and see. Maybe after they graduate with a doctorate, they will choose to develop in China?

A day passed quickly. An An and Dou Dou went to work. Li Tianhu and his wife were also preparing to return to Country M. Li Tianhu originally wanted to take Li's father with him, but Li's father refused to agree no matter what. He said that he was already old and might die someday. Why should he suffer in a place where he couldn't speak the language?

In the end, Li Tianhu could only board the plane to Country M with his children, Li Haoran and Li Zhiyuan.