Year 1979: Eating meat with my wife and children

"father."

Li Xiangdong braked and stopped at the front gate of his own house.

Li's father turned back as he stepped over the threshold, his eyes filled with doubt. "What's this?"

Li Xiangdong carried his bicycle up the steps, stepped over the threshold, put it down, and took two receipts out of his pocket. "I just went to Donglaishun..."

As Mr. Li listened to his youngest son's story, he glanced at the dining number in the other person's hand, then shook his head and complained.

"If we go too late and there are no numbers left, we can eat at home. Why waste money like this? You can buy a pound of mutton for 1.5 yuan."

According to the "Beijing Price Records", in 1982, the average price of bone-in mutton in state-run vegetable markets in Beijing was 1.4 yuan, while the price of lean mutton was between 1.6 and 1.8 yuan.

Ordinary people are meticulous in their daily lives, and Li's father now only feels that his smiling youngest son is like a rich fool who has nowhere to spend his money.

"Don't look at me like that. They start issuing numbers at six in the morning, so I have to leave home at least by five. Just think of it as me paying someone to help me queue. It's so cold in the morning, and if I catch a cold, I'll have to take medicine. Now that I think about it, isn't it a good deal?"

Li Xiangdong believes there's nothing wrong with spending money for convenience; this is a difference in thinking between him and his father, and it has nothing to do with right or wrong. How one chooses to do something is entirely voluntary.

Since the money had already been spent, he didn't want to argue with Mr. Li any longer and decisively changed the subject, "What kind of wine did you bring?"

"Good wine!"

Mr. Li was not an alcoholic, but since he had no other hobbies, he liked to have a small drink when he got home after a tiring day at work.

Now that Li Xiangdong had shifted the topic to alcohol, his mind followed suit. He took the bottle from under his arm and proudly showed it to Li Xiangdong.

"A ten-year-old Tongzhou Laojiao is no worse than the Fenjiu in your study, is it?"

The family restaurant has a liquor supply agreement with Tongzhou Laojiao and Hongxing Winery. After becoming familiar with each other, Brother Li and Brother Li specially paid a high price to buy several cases of ten-year-old liquor from the two wineries, as well as some bulk liquor in jars and vats that are at least ten years old.

Li Xiangdong only took the bulk wine in jars and vats, which he stored in the cellar of the courtyard in Shichahai.

The several cases of bottled wine were divided equally among Li's father, Li's elder brother, and their son. They planned to follow Li Xiangdong's example and stock up on some good wine for themselves, as well as to give as gifts during festivals.

Thinking that it was a rare treat to go out for a nice meal today, Mr. Li generously took a bottle, something he wouldn't normally be willing to drink.

Li Xiangdong nodded in agreement, "Good wine, you're very generous this time."

"Look at what you're saying. When have I ever been stingy?"

Mr. Li expressed his slight dissatisfaction, and Li Xiangdong quickly apologized with a smile.

"Yes, yes, it's my fault. You've always been a generous and open-minded person."

Sensing the sarcasm in Li Xiangdong's words, Li's father probably recalled his past experience of bringing half a bottle of cheap liquor to freeload a meal, and coughed twice in embarrassment.

"Stop talking nonsense, what time are we leaving?"

"Around 10:30, let's go early to queue up."

When Li Xiangdong paid for a dining number, he had already inquired and learned that even if he had a number, he still had to go early to queue up.

Because Donglaishun has a number calling process, and if you miss it, you won't get a replacement.

As the father and son talked, they entered the inner courtyard. Li Xiangdong parked his bicycle and followed his father into the main house.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Li's father's voice rang out from inside the house.

Li Xiaozhu smiled and raised her head, holding an orange cat's front paw in one hand. "Grandpa, look, I'm teaching them to shake hands."

Mr. Li warned, "Be careful they don't scratch you."

Li Xiaozhu shook her head vigorously, "Xiaohua and Xiaobai won't scratch me, we're good friends."

Li Xiangdong stood aside without saying a word. His daughter had completely worn down the cats and dogs in the house. The sharp claws on the two orange cats' paws were hidden in their paw pads and they didn't dare to show them.

Li Xiaojiang, who was still playing chess, asked, "Third Uncle, have we gotten our number yet?"

"Ah."

Li Xiangdong handed the two dining numbers from his pocket to the curious Zhou Yuqin and Ge Youfu respectively.

Li Xiaojiang and the others stopped playing chess, and even Li Xiaozhu, who was playing with cats, went over and stood on tiptoe to watch.

Listening to the various questions from Zhou Yuqin and others, Li Xiangdong gave unified answers, repeating what he had just told his father.

"We can go queue up at 10:30."

When Li Xiangdong finally announced his departure time, everyone in the room felt that having a meal was such a hassle.

"Currently, beef and mutton are still subject to planned allocation, and the supply is limited. Donglaishun's reputation is too great, so it's normal for things to be a little complicated."

Li Xiaozhu, who was looking at the dining number over and over, nodded in agreement, "Dad is right. As long as it tastes good, I don't mind the trouble. Dad, I want to discuss something with you."

Li Xiangdong smiled and said, "You have something to discuss with me? That's rare. What is it?"

"Come with me."

Li Xiaozhu beckoned and led Li Xiangdong into the inner room.

"Can you tell me now?"

"Can I bring Sister Miaomiao along? Last time, her family had stewed meat and invited me over for some."

"I thought you were going to tell me something. Okay, no problem."

"Dad, you're so good to me."

"Words don't count; you'll have to wash my feet tonight."

"Huh? Okay then."

...

...

"Let's go!"

At 10:30 a.m., seven adults and eight children went out together, and Li Xiaozhu was the first to rush out of the yard.

The group, consisting of elderly people and children, walked to the bus stop, took a bus to Wangfujing, and then walked to Donglaishun Restaurant. It was a little after 11 a.m., and there were many customers queuing outside the restaurant.

Among the waiting customers, some were wrapped in military overcoats and leaning against the wall, dozing off; some were sitting on small stools, calmly reading newspapers to pass the time; and some were huddled together, smoking and chatting.

Li Xiangdong helped Old Lady Li and beckoned Zhou Yuqin and the others to walk to the back of the group.

"Comrade, which number are they calling?"

Li Xiangdong asked the middle-aged man in front of him in line.

"30."

"Thank you."

Li Xiangdong had two consecutive numbers, 38 and 39, in his pocket. He turned around and said, "It'll be soon. We'll be next in a bit."

One wave of customers after another came out of the store, and the staff of Donglaishun kept calling out numbers.

"Numbers 38 and 39!"

"I'm coming!"

Impatient, Li Xiaozhu took off running.

"Slower!"

As the staff called out number 40, Li Xiangdong and his group had already lifted the cotton curtain and entered the store.

A wave of heat and aroma wafted towards me, while a cacophony of noise filled my ears.

Guided by the staff, Li Xiangdong and his group sat down at two empty tables next to each other.

To take care of the children, Zhou Yuqin and Grandma Li sat at one table with Li Xiaozhu and her five siblings, as well as Zhang Miaomiao, while Li Xiaojiang and Li Xiaotao were moved to the table with Li Xiangdong and Li's father.

"Comrade, there is a purchase limit for mutton today. Each person can only order a maximum of one jin (500g)."

The staff member put down the menu and waited for Li Xiangdong to order. The staff member wrote down the menu in two copies, kept one copy, handed the other copy to Li Xiangdong, and then went to serve other customers who had just entered the store.

"Give it to me."

Li Xiangdong took the menu from Zhou Yuqin and went to the cashier to pay. When he received the change, he almost bumped into the tagalong behind him.

"Why did you come along with so many people?"

Li Xiaozhu smiled and held out her hand, "Count for me."

"Here, take it and don't drop it. Come with me."

Li Xiangdong handed over the change in his hand, and Li Xiaozhu followed closely behind, counting the banknotes in her hand one by one, her eyes narrowing into slits with joy.

"Hehehe, that was really fun."