Year 1979: Eating meat with my wife and children

‘Dingling bell~’

The crisp sound of bicycle bells echoed through the alleyways in the early morning.

Li Xiangdong rode the bicycle he borrowed from A Zhe's house to buy cigarettes, alcohol, and candy first, before going home to get the pork he bought yesterday.

Put whatever fits in your shoulder bag in your shoulder bag; if you really can't fit it in, hang it on the handlebars.

After telling my family, I rode off at a breakneck pace, taking a detour to the train station first.

He was out of tea at home, so he wanted to take the box of Longjing tea that Uncle Hai had given him home.

After leaving the office, I went straight to Hou Sanjia's railway family compound.

The railway family compound is quite unique; it was built in the 1950s and is called "Gan Da Lei".

In the 1960s, the family compound was transformed into a row of single-story houses with red bricks and red tiles.

Hou Sanjia is a typical three-story red brick building from the 1970s. In another two years, brick-concrete buildings with more than five stories will also appear.

Li Xiangdong asked around and found out where Hou Sanjia lived. Just as he parked his bicycle and was about to take the gifts to Hou Sanjia's house, someone suddenly patted him on the shoulder from behind.

Gao Xinmin chuckled and joked, "You're carrying all this stuff, are you planning to corrupt the leaders?"

"Uncle Gao, please don't wrong me. I have a pure heart."

Li Xiangdong was quite surprised when he turned around and saw Gao Xinmin. "You were there when I was three feet off the ground, how come I still run into you now that I'm on solid ground?"

"Uncle Gao, what's wrong?"

"Wherever you go, I will go."

After Gao Xinmin finished speaking, he walked into the building in front of him with his hands behind his back.

Li Xiangdong followed closely behind Gao Xinmin, carrying his belongings. Noticing the military water bottle in Gao's hand and his bulging lower back, he asked, "You're not here to tattle, are you?"

Gao Xinmin stopped and stared straight at him, saying, "You're using the wrong words. I'm here to discuss the education of our children with the Hou family."

After he finished speaking, he stepped onto the stairs and went upstairs.

Li Xiangdong's lips twitched slightly. Wasn't this all saying the same thing? "Did you have something to do yesterday?"

Gao Xinmin glared at him. "You just want to know why I didn't come yesterday, right? We're going away for several days. Shouldn't I let Hou San get some rest and a good night's sleep first?"

Li Xiangdong followed along as they climbed the stairs, laughing as he said, "I think your good intentions have probably been wasted. Hou San probably didn't sleep well last night since you didn't come."

Upon hearing this, Gao Xinmin clicked his tongue and said, "What you said makes some sense. Alright, stop talking nonsense and knock on the door."

'dong dong'

"Who is it? Here we come."

A middle-aged woman opened the door.

"Old Gao, what brings you here? Please come in."

The middle-aged woman welcomed the two people at the door into the house. She glanced at Li Xiangdong, who was carrying a lot of things, and then turned to Gao Xinmin and said, "You're welcome to come, but why bring so much stuff? Don't be so formal."

Gao Xinmin hurriedly waved his hand, "He and I are not on the same side."

When Li Xiangdong saw the middle-aged woman finally look at him, he said, "Aunt Hou, my name is Li Xiangdong, I'm here to..."

Before he could finish speaking, Aunt Hou exclaimed in surprise upon hearing the name, "You're Li Xiangdong! Are you here to pick up Taozi? Our Lao Hou and San'er have mentioned you quite a bit when they're home. Why are you carrying so much stuff? Take it back with you when you leave."

After putting down the apprenticeship gifts in his hand, Li Xiangdong explained, "Aunt Hou, I can't take these things back. They are Li Xiaotao's apprenticeship gifts."

“If that’s what you mean, then I really can’t let you take him back. Your Uncle Hou doesn’t even have a single apprentice, but he’s always been envious of the gifts others receive for taking on apprentices. Please have a seat, I’ll make you some tea.”

Aunt Hou asked the two to sit on the sofa in the living room and then began to pour them tea.

"Let me do it, Aunt Hou."

Li Xiangdong reached out and took the thermos flask, placing it on the table in front of him. He then picked up the tea box on the table, preparing to brew tea for Gao Xinmin.

Gao Xinmin put down his military water bottle and said, "No need to pour me tea. I just came to say a few words and I'll leave after that."

Aunt Hou laughed and said, "Don't tell me what you want to say. My husband will be back soon. You can talk to him later. Dongzi, quickly make some tea for your Uncle Gao."

Gao Xinmin asked in confusion, "Old Hou isn't at work?"

Aunt Hou glanced at Li Xiangdong, who was making tea, and then explained, "We had a little guest at our house yesterday, and Old Hou is resting today."

Gao Xinmin said "Oh," and then said, "I'll wait for Lao Hou to come back before we talk about it."

"Okay, you guys sit down first, I'll go get you some food."

Seeing Aunt Hou turn to leave, Gao Xinmin said, "No need, sister-in-law, don't trouble yourself."

Li Xiangdong then said, "Aunt Hou, don't bother. I'll pick up Li Xiaotao and we'll head back."

Aunt Hou didn't reply and walked straight into the house.

Gao Xinmin picked up his teacup, took a sip, and turned to Li Xiangdong, who was sitting next to him, asking, "What's the deal with this apprenticeship ceremony?"

Li Xiangdong explained, "My nephew is now Hou San's apprentice."

Gao Xinmin laughed and said, "You're quite shrewd, kid."

Li Xiangdong shrugged. "I just want to find a way out for my family's children."

Gao Xinmin nodded. He could understand this common human sentiment; who wouldn't think about their own child's future?

He glanced at the apprenticeship gift Li Xiangdong had brought, "Dongzi, you don't have a master, do you?"

Li Xiangdong shook his head and said, "No."

Gao Xinmin's eyes gleamed as he said, "Since you're so generous, how about you become my apprentice? You can treat me to the same level during holidays and festivals."

"Please don't use me as a cymbal."

Li Xiangdong was startled by Gao Xinmin's words. Being his apprentice was not easy; he would be kept under Gao's tight control from now on.

"Look how scared you are, you're so spineless."

Gao Xinmin rolled his eyes at him, and seeing that he didn't understand his joke, he stopped talking.

Li Xiangdong sat quietly to the side, still afraid that Gao Xinmin might actually do something.

If they really become apprentices, and the two become master and apprentice, father and son, and if Gao Xinmin tells him to focus on his work and not mess around, and he doesn't listen, then he would be considered disobedient and unfilial.

"Why are you two like wooden figures? There are cigarettes on the table. Smoke if you want. My family doesn't care about that."

Aunt Hou came out of the house carrying a plate of peanuts and melon seeds. After placing it on the table, she pushed the cigarettes in front of the two of them.

Gao Xinmin picked up a cigarette and lit it. Li Xiangdong asked, "Aunt Hou, aren't Hou San and Li Xiaotao home?"

"They're not here. They went out after breakfast, and I don't know where they went."

Aunt Hou sat to the side, cracking sunflower seeds and laughing, "Although your nephew looks a bit dull, he's actually very honest. Yesterday, as soon as your Uncle Hou came home, he kowtowed three times, which really scared him."

She talked and laughed, and Gao Xinmin couldn't help but laugh too.

Only Li Xiangdong seemed a little embarrassed; his hand holding the water glass paused for a moment.

He'd bet that this kind of shady tactic was definitely taught by Hou San!