Chapter 579: Chapter 210: Li Yuan Gets Lectured, Startup Base Begins Operations

When Empress Dowager Xia saw Xia Zhijin, she was incredibly enthusiastic. She immediately bustled over and pushed freshly washed apples and bananas into Xia Zhijin’s hands.

"Come, dear, have a seat on the sofa and start with some fruit."

Xia Zhijin sat upright, her posture as stiff as a student in a classroom. Her hands trembled slightly as she accepted the fruit from Xia Qin, her cheeks flushing as she shyly thanked her. "Thank you, Auntie!"

Xia Qin sat down beside Xia Zhijin, took her hand, and asked with a smile, "Dear, your name is Xia Zhijin. Is that the ’Xia’ from summer?"

"Yes." Xia Zhijin nodded lightly.

Empress Dowager Xia grinned broadly. "What a coincidence! My surname is also Xia. Who knows, maybe a few generations back we were from the same clan."

Xia Zhijin was startled. She looked at the plainly dressed woman before her and asked in a soft voice, "Auntie, your surname is also Xia?"

Li Yuan laughed and chimed in from the side, "Zhijin, my mom shares the same surname as you. If we trace the lineage back, we might actually be related."

Li Zixia giggled teasingly. "Hehe, Zhijin, my mom’s surname is Xia, and so is yours. My name is Zixia. What a coincidence! We’re so connected; it’s like we were always meant to be one family."

Xia Qin squeezed Xia Zhijin’s small hand, looking more and more pleased. "Exactly, exactly! Zhijin, the moment I saw you, I felt a strong connection."

"Now that you’re here, don’t be so reserved. Make yourself at home, just as if you were in your own house."

"Okay, thank you, Auntie!"

Warmed by the enthusiasm from Empress Dowager Xia and Li Zixia, Xia Zhijin’s tense body gradually relaxed.

Empress Dowager Xia, still holding her hand, continued to chat amiably. "By the way, I heard from Zixia that your hometown is in Shancheng. The scenery there must be lovely, right?"

Xia Zhijin looked a bit nervous and lowered her head slightly. "Yes, our hometown is in the mountains. There are mountains and rivers, but the transportation isn’t very good."

Empress Dowager Xia smiled. "Shancheng is quite far from Modu, so it must be inconvenient for you to go home. You should come visit us often. Zixia and I just moved to Modu this year, and we don’t know many people. We barely have anyone to talk to."

Xia Zhijin glanced secretly at Li Yuan, then smiled sweetly. "Of course, Auntie. I’ll come often."

Li Zixia also sat beside Xia Zhijin, hugging her arm affectionately as she spoke cheerfully.

"Hehe, Zhijin, I have some schoolwork questions I wanted to ask you about. The textbooks here are a bit different from the ones back home."

Xia Zhijin asked gently, "Zixia, do you want to work on them now?"

Hearing that Xia Zhijin and Li Zixia were about to do homework, Li Yuan quickly coughed to interrupt. He produced a gift box and said with a laugh, "Mom, Zhijin heard you were back in Modu, so she went with me this afternoon to pick out a gift for you. See if you like it."

With that, he handed the gold jewelry gift box to Empress Dowager Xia.

For a woman of her age and background, things like diamonds, bags, watches, and cosmetics held little interest. She was far more interested in gold jewelry, something that was seen as a way to "preserve value." In their Northern Anhui hometown, it was customary for the groom to buy the "three golds" for the bride during a wedding—a gold bracelet, a gold ring, and a gold necklace. Diamonds were only just starting to become popular.

When a complete set of gold bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings was placed before Empress Dowager Xia, she was visibly stunned. She stared blankly at each intricately designed piece of gold, her attention completely captivated.

Her voice trembled with shock as she stroked the jewelry. "Yuan, Zhijin, this is too extravagant! You can’t eat or drink gold jewelry, so why waste money on this?

"If you have some extra money, you should save it in the bank to earn interest or keep it for an emergency."

Xia Zhijin’s expression tightened. She glanced at Xia Qin with worry, afraid that Empress Dowager Xia would dislike her for this.

Li Yuan, however, just chuckled nonchalantly. "Mom, it’s only tens of thousands. It’s just a small token from me and Zhijin, so please accept it.

"Besides, gold prices are really low right now. I have a feeling they’ll increase significantly in the future. Buying more gold now is a sure investment—far more profitable than earning interest in a bank."

Hearing Li Yuan’s explanation, Xia Qin finally breathed a sigh of relief, her face breaking into a smile. No woman could dislike something so glittery and golden.

"You two are very thoughtful!"

After that, they settled into casual conversation. As a woman of the world, it didn’t take long for Empress Dowager Xia to get a clear picture of Xia Zhijin’s family and personal situation.

Xia Zhijin, for her part, was almost frighteningly pure-hearted, answering every one of Empress Dowager Xia’s questions without hesitation. Li Zixia frequently chimed in, and the three women created such a lively scene that the topics they discussed nearly put Li Yuan to sleep.

Li Yuan chatted along for a while before the effects of the alcohol began to set in. He let out a lazy stretch and laughed. "Mom, Zhijin, Zixia, you all keep talking. I’m going to take a shower."

Xia Qin glared at him and waved her hand in dismissal. "Go on, then. You reek of alcohol; it’s awful.

"You’re just like your father—both of you are booze hounds..."

Li Yuan smiled sheepishly. I wonder why Empress Dowager Xia has been so critical of me today.

By the time Li Yuan had showered, it was around ten o’clock at night.

Wearing his pajamas, he walked into the living room to find the three of them still talking. He cleared his throat pointedly. "Mom, it’s already ten o’clock. It’s time to rest!"

That evening, having been teased by Big Breast Girl at the restaurant, he was feeling rather aroused.