Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 831 - 832: The Stubborn Father of Li Sijie

Chapter 831: Chapter 832: The Stubborn Father of Li Sijie

On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, Song Xiaodong and Li Sijie arrived at Li Sijie’s family home, where Li Sijie appeared somewhat nervous, lifting her hand but not daring to knock on the door straight away.

Song Xiaodong said softly, "Don’t be afraid, I’ll take care of whatever comes."

Li Sijie gave a wry smile and finally tapped lightly on the door twice.

The door opened quickly, and a woman in her fifties appeared before them—it was Li Sijie’s mother.

"Sijie!" Li Sijie’s mother exclaimed in surprise, then immediately gripped Li Sijie’s hand excitedly.

"Mom!" Li Sijie called out softly, and with her mother’s tug, entered the house.

Song Xiaodong followed suit, closing the door behind him.

"Sijie, Xiaodong, you’re back," Uncle Jiang Xueliang greeted them as he stood up from the sofa.

"Uncle, you’ve arrived so quickly," Song Xiaodong remarked.

"Is this your boyfriend?" Li Sijie’s mother scrutinized Song Xiaodong.

"Auntie, hello, I’m Song Xiaodong." Song Xiaodong hastily replied with respect, handing over the bag he carried, "I’ve come to pay New Year’s respects to you and uncle. This is a small token of my regard, I hope you and uncle will like it."

Li Sijie’s mother took it immediately, saying, "You shouldn’t have brought things, just coming back is enough, we lack nothing at home."

"Hmph! Still remember to come back!" growled an older man over fifty, seated on the sofa with bushy eyebrows and piercing eyes, sitting ramrod straight. His face was stern, his demeanor clearly unfriendly.

Song Xiaodong said, surprised, "Hello, uncle. To see you sitting like this, you’re truly a valiant soldier. Such a formidable spirit is really extraordinary; without battlefield experience, one certainly could not possess such a quality."

Li Sijie’s father, Li Jianguo, gave a grunt, "No need to come over here trying to curry favor with me after digging up a bit about me from Sijie. The kind of person I dislike is someone who’s all talk and no substance like you."

Li Sijie’s mother angrily retorted, "You stubborn old man, Sijie rarely comes back, can’t you speak nicely? Must you upset your daughter until she leaves?"

Li Jianguo’s face darkened as he said, "He brought this upon himself. Look at the man she’s brought—like that last smooth talker, I knew at a glance he was no good. She insisted on not listening to me, and then she was deceived, wasn’t she? Now she’s found another like this; don’t expect me to agree."

"Brother-in-law," Jiang Xueliang’s face darkened, "What you’re saying is not fair. How can Xiaodong be compared to Sijie’s previous partner? Didn’t I tell you, Xiaodong is very capable in Minghe."

Li Jianguo said displeased, "It’s exactly because he’s capable that I disagree even more. He’s so young and already so capable; why wouldn’t he find an unmarried girl instead of seeking out Sijie who’s been married before? This is clearly toying with her."

Although Song Xiaodong knew Li Jianguo was a very stubborn man, he did not expect him to be stubborn to this extent; he simply believed whatever he thought was right.

Song Xiaodong quickly responded, "Uncle, I know you doubt my feelings for Sijie, but time will prove everything."

"Time will prove everything? Hmph, you can afford to waste time, have your fill and then leave her, and find the next one. Rich men, even at forty or fifty, can still find unmarried girls, but what about our Sijie? In a few more years, will she still be able to find someone?"

Song Xiaodong frowned slightly and said, "Uncle, you are a soldier, and so am I. I can swear on my honor as a soldier that I will treat Sijie well, and I will never leave nor forsake her."

"You’re a soldier?" Surprise was evident in Li Jianguo’s voice.

"Indeed, I enlisted at the age of eighteen and have been a soldier for a full seven years, rising from the ranks to Colonel."

"Colonel?" Li Jianguo looked even more astonished and said, "That’s just nonsense. A Colonel is at the minimum a regimental commander, possibly even at the divisional level. How could you become a Colonel in just seven years of service?"

Song Xiaodong smiled proudly and responded, "Uncle, in regular units, becoming a Colonel would indeed be extremely difficult. But I believe you must have heard about the special departments, right?"

"Special departments? Which special department are you in?" Li Jianguo’s expression turned serious, albeit not with the same hostility as before.

"I am with Dragon Thorn," Song Xiaodong slowly articulated these four words.

"Dragon Thorn!" Li Jianguo’s complexion changed dramatically, and staring at Song Xiaodong, he said, "That’s impossible. At your age, how could Dragon Thorn possibly let you go?"

Song Xiaodong smiled faintly and said, "I will return to the unit in two years’ time. I am only back in civilian life for some special reasons at the moment."

"Then how will you prove it?" Li Jianguo narrowed his eyes, looking at Song Xiaodong.

Song Xiaodong replied, "I can’t prove it. When I left, I had already handed in my identification."

"Hmph, kid, you really do have quite the talent for bluffing. I wonder where you heard about this Dragon Thorn unit. But let me tell you, I also come from a special forces background, and I was almost part of Dragon Thorn. You can’t fool me that easily."

Song Xiaodong’s face darkened as he said, "Uncle, I truly come from Dragon Thorn."

Jiang Xueliang immediately interjected, "Brother-in-law, Xiaodong is not a liar. You know me, don’t you? Am I someone who makes baseless compliments?"

Li Jianguo snorted and said, "You’ve been an official for so many years, serving leaders all this time; do you think you’re still up to any good?"

Jiang Xueliang’s face darkened, and he said, "Brother-in-law, this is..."

Li Sijie gave a bitter smile. When her father became stubborn, it was like ten bulls couldn’t pull him back. If he had a bad first impression of Song Xiaodong, it would be very hard to change his mind.

Seeing Song Xiaodong in such a difficult situation also made Li Sijie feel distressed, and she said, "Dad, why can’t you trust others?"

"Trust others? In other matters, I’m willing to. But when it comes to you choosing a partner, I just can’t trust. Let me tell you, I’ve found a real soldier for you, someone from our own military unit. Kid, just wait and see what a true iron-blooded soldier is like, and see for yourself the gap between you and him."

Li Sijie said angrily, "Dad, how can you be like this? My own matters, I should be the one to decide."

Li Jianguo said sternly, "Hmph, the last time you made your own decision, you suffered a lot. This time, no matter what, I will be the one making the decision. He’s almost here. Hmph, far better than this kid."

Li Sijie really wanted to turn around and leave, but Song Xiaodong took her hand and said, "Since Uncle insists, let’s wait and see. I have to fight for Sijie’s honor and prove that her judgment isn’t poor."