Year 1979: Eating meat with my wife and children

It's already around 4 PM.

Li Xiangdong walked into the state-run restaurant where Qian Bin worked. There were no customers eating inside, only two waiters at the front desk and an accountant chatting and laughing together.

When they saw Li Xiangdong come in, they didn't say a word of welcome, they didn't even acknowledge him, they just glanced at him and then went about their business.

These days, you have to be observant when eating at state-run restaurants. Don't wait for the waiter to ask what you want to eat; you must take the initiative to speak first after entering the room.

These people are all acting like big shots now. Expecting them to come and serve you is just wishful thinking. They'd rather no one come to eat, since they won't lose a single penny of their salary anyway.

As soon as Li Xiangdong entered the lobby, he called out to the kitchen, "Qian Bin~ Qian Bin~"

"I'm coming."

Qian Bin, with a cigarette in one hand and a slice of watermelon in the other, walked out of the kitchen with his large belly protruding.

Li Xiangdong couldn't help but laugh when he saw his appearance. "You're really living a comfortable life."

"Hey Dongzi, do you want some watermelon? I'll go get you a slice."

As he spoke, Qian Bin turned to go back to the kitchen.

Li Xiangdong hurriedly said, "No need, I won't eat."

Qian Bin walked over with a grin and asked, "Did you need something from me?"

Li Xiangdong nodded and said, "Okay, let's go outside and talk."

The two left the restaurant.

Standing on one side of the restaurant's main entrance, Li Xiangdong refused the cigarette Qian Bin offered him; he still had to take care of his child when he got home.

Are you not busy right now?

Qian Bin, munching on watermelon, mumbled, "Not busy at all. I'm so bored I could die. My dad's taking a day off today; he went home to play chess with someone."

Li Xiangdong smiled and said, "It's good that you're not busy. I'd like to trouble you to get me some meat and oil."

As he spoke, he took out the money and tickets he had prepared in advance from his pocket.

Qian Bin threw the watermelon rind he had finished eating on the ground, took the money and put it in his pocket.

"It's nothing. It's great to work at the train station. It's only been a few days, and you've already gotten so many tickets."

“I’m just wasting my time. I’m actually envious of you. Look at my dark circles. I hardly get any sleep when I’m out in the car.”

"Everyone has their own difficulties. By the way, Dongzi, could you help me get some milk powder coupons?"

Li Xiangdong exclaimed in surprise, "Your wife gave birth?!"

Qian Bin shook his head. "No, I was just worried that the street office might not have enough tickets, so I was letting you know in advance."

"I knew it, you scared me."

Li Xiangdong remembers clearly that Qian Bin's son was born on National Day, because his name is Qian Guoqing (meaning "Qian National Day").

He even thought that his rebirth had changed the course of some things.

"Don't worry, I've got the milk powder coupons in mind. I definitely won't let my nephew go hungry."

Qian Bin said gratefully, "Thank you, Dongzi."

Li Xiangdong waved his hand with a smile, "No need for all that. Just remember to send the meat and oil to my house once they've been replaced."

Qian Bin grabbed Li Xiangdong, who was about to leave, and said, "There's nothing going on at the restaurant right now. Wait for me here, and I'll take you there on my bicycle. I have something I want to talk to you about."

"Okay, then you go get your bicycle."

Qian Bin rode his old-fashioned bicycle with Li Xiangdong to exchange meat and oil.

Li Xiangdong thought Qian Bin wanted to talk to him about something, but it turned out he was about to become a father, and he was a little nervous.

Along the way, he kept asking all sorts of questions, and mentioned that his wife gets angry easily these days.

Sometimes he sleeps soundly at night, but then his wife often wakes him up by pinching him for no reason.

Sitting in the back seat, Li Xiangdong, having been through similar experiences, kept offering advice and comfort to Qian Bin.

According to Li Xiangdong, it is normal for a pregnant woman who is eight months pregnant to experience some emotional fluctuations.

Besides, she's already given birth to your child, so what's wrong with pinching her a couple of times?

It's just that times are different, so people have different views on these things.

In later generations, pregnant women were all treated like royalty in their families, and they were expected to be treated like royalty and waited on.

Nowadays, ordinary people have just had enough to eat, and each family has at least seven or eight children. People don't pay much attention to these things. They think that emotional instability is just being dramatic.

In rural areas, there are still people who give birth to their children on the ground.

When they arrived at the destination, Li Xiangdong did not go in with Qian Bin. People who do these kinds of things don't like to meet strangers. He waited at the door and kept an eye on the bicycles.

They replaced 10 jin of oil and 5 jin of meat. The meat was wrapped in oil paper and hung directly on the handlebars. The oil was stored in a ceramic jar, which Li Xiangdong carried from behind.

"Damn it! Binzi, watch where you're going!"

"We're here. I'll go put the bicycle back. Don't leave yet."

Qian Bin took the pork off the handlebars and placed it on the ceramic jar in Li Xiangdong's arms, then pushed the bicycle into the alley next to the restaurant.

When Qian Bin came out again, he was carrying two large watermelons in his arms. He didn't say a word and just followed Li Xiangdong.

After walking for a while, the two came to a fork in the road.

When Li Xiangdong realized that Qian Bin wasn't going home, he said, "You didn't give me these two watermelons, did you?"

Qian Bin laughed and said, "That's right. If I don't shut you up, what if you forget to prepare milk powder coupons for my son? Just kidding. This is a perk from our restaurant. My dad and I each get two. This is my share."

Li Xiangdong was carrying a ceramic jar weighing over ten kilograms, with a piece of meat on top. He had to keep an eye on the road and didn't have time for pleasantries.

"Alright, I won't stand on ceremony with you. Don't worry, I definitely won't forget about the milk powder coupons."

After arriving home, Li Xiangdong first placed the earthenware jar and pork he was carrying in front of the stove at the entrance of the main room.

"Third Uncle, this meat is so fatty!"

"Third Uncle, what's in the jar?"

"Dad, I want to eat watermelon!"

Li Xiangdong shooed the children who had gathered around to the side and saw Qian Bin put down the watermelon and was about to leave.

"Binzi, wait a minute, I'll go get you something nice, I guarantee you'll like it."

He asked Zhou Yuqin for the drawer key to the room, went inside, and took out all the remaining White Rabbit milk candies.

The kids in my family ate a lot of these milk candies, and now there's only about half a pound left.

When he came out of the house, Qian Bin was talking with Li's mother and a few others about his pregnant wife.

"We don't have any milk powder coupons right now, so let your wife have some milk candy first. If she's in a better mood, you'll get less scolding when you get home."

"Thank you, Dongzi. I'll take the milk candy home now. Aunts and sisters-in-law, I'm off."

Come visit us more often when you have time.

Qian Bin, carrying a bag of milk candy, was happily seen off by Li Xiangdong.

Li Xiangdong turned back into the courtyard and looked at the children gathered around the stove, feeling as if someone was missing.

"Mother, where is Li Xiaotao?"

"Xiaotao was taken home by his master."

"What did you say? I didn't hear you clearly, please say it again."

"Xiaotao went to his master Hou San's house."

Damn~!