Year 1979: Eating meat with my wife and children

Upon hearing Hou San's words, Wang Chenghao's face flushed with anger. "Hou Laosan, who are you insulting?!"

"Oh! It really is you! I thought I was dreaming."

Hou San shook his head, stood up, patted his butt, and said, "Don't wrong me, I didn't curse you just now."

Wang Chenghao glared at Hou San and said, "Hou Laosan, do you think I don't understand?"

"So what if you understood? What, you want to bite me?!"

Hou San stood in front of Wang Chenghao with his hands on his hips and provocatively said, "So what if I curse you? You son of a bitch, you bastard, I'm cursing you! Who told you to try anything funny with me, Lord Hou!"

"Alright, Hou San! If you're still sleepy, then go back to sleep. If you're not sleepy, then shut up and sit quietly."

Li Xiangdong got up and went downstairs to press Hou San onto the bed, then turned to look at Wang Chenghao, whose face was red with anger.

"If you have nothing else to do, go back and rest. Let's just stick to what we agreed on and not interfere with each other."

"Okay, I'm leaving now. We can talk again another time."

Wang Chenghao knew he couldn't afford to offend Hou San. Although his father was also a veteran railway worker, his family was far inferior to Hou San's.

Furthermore, what he was about to do was indeed somewhat unethical, so he had no choice but to swallow his anger and get up to leave.

As soon as Wang Chenghao left, Hou San picked up a lunchbox from the small dining table and gulped down two mouthfuls of water.

"Dong-ge, why are you wasting your breath talking to him? Next time he comes, just yell at him and he'll leave, right?"

"Hou San!"

When Hou San saw that Li Xiangdong's expression suddenly became more serious, he swallowed and asked, "What's wrong, Brother Dong?"

Li Xiangdong said very seriously, "Watch your mouth from now on, and don't say those swear words anymore!"

No one is lucky forever, and no flower blooms forever.

The Hou family is indeed powerful now, but that doesn't mean they can stay powerful forever.

Hou San is so brazenly provoking people and even hurling such foul insults.

What's the point of doing this other than just venting your frustrations?

Either kill someone with one blow, or try your best not to offend anyone.

What if the Hou family falls on hard times? Won't all these people come and kick them while they're down?

He had spent a lot of time with Hou San and genuinely considered him a friend. Moreover, Hou Jianshe and Aunt Hou treated him well, so he would definitely speak up when necessary.

Hou San nodded with a wronged look on his face, "I understand, Brother Dong."

Li Xiangdong was afraid that he wouldn't understand on his own, so he could only break it down and reason with him.

After listening, Hou San sat on the bed in a daze without saying a word. Li Xiangdong glanced at him and thought he was probably thinking about it on his own.

He didn't disturb Hou San, who was lost in thought, and sat back on his bed, picked up another lunchbox from the small dining table, and started drinking water.

I was worried that Hou San wouldn't understand, so I talked a lot, and now my throat is practically burning!

Hou San suddenly spoke up: "Brother Dong."

Li Xiangdong looked up at him. "What's wrong? Have you figured it out?"

“Brother Dong, although what you said earlier makes a lot of sense, after thinking about it, I still think there’s nothing to worry about with someone like Wang Chenghao.”

When Hou San spoke, he both nodded and shook his head.

Li Xiangdong put down his teacup and said with exasperation, "Why can't I explain it to you? Your uncle and your father will retire sooner or later!"

“If your two brothers-in-law can’t shoulder the responsibility of your Hou family, aren’t you just inviting trouble for your future?”

Hou San, acting as if nothing had happened, picked his nose and asked, "Brother Dong, how do you know my eldest and second brother-in-laws are good-for-nothings? But it's okay that they're not good-for-nothings."

After wiping the boogers off his finger onto the sheet, he continued, "My uncle's family has three sons, and my three older brothers are all very capable."

“My eldest brother is a regimental commander in the army, my second brother is a secretary to a high-ranking leader in the municipal government, and my third brother is even more powerful. I haven’t seen him in a long time. My dad said he went to contribute to the country and he doesn’t let me ask him about it. With them around, I’m not afraid of people like Wang Chenghao.”

What the hell!

Now it was Li Xiangdong's turn to sit blankly on the bed.

Why the hell does he have to worry about this?

Hou San, that bastard, is playing the lead role!

When Hou San saw Li Xiangdong get up and walk straight out without saying hello, he hurriedly asked, "Brother Dong, where are you going? I'll go with you."

"You don't need to follow me! I have some acid reflux, I'm going out for a walk."

Li Xiangdong walked out without looking back; he really wanted some peace and quiet.

As time slowly passed, the train finally came to its destination.

Li Xiangdong and Hou San remained hidden in the rest carriage until everyone finished their work. Then, they called out to A Zhe, and the three of them, carrying loads on their hands and shoulders, followed the crowd toward the guesthouse.

Ah Zhe nudged Li Xiangdong and whispered, "Dongzi, look."

"I saw it."

Li Xiangdong knew what A Zhe was going to say; it was that Wang Chenghao and his gang were carrying a sack just like them.

Wang Chenghao, who was walking ahead, seemed to sense something, turned around and saw Li Xiangdong looking at him, so he nodded and smiled at him.

Ah Zhe rolled his eyes. "Wang Chenghao is shameless. He even turned around and smiled at you."

Hou San agreed with A Zhe's words and nodded, saying, "A Zhe is right, he's really shameless."

Li Xiangdong laughed and said, "So what? He's thinking about making more money, is he going to cry or laugh?"

It was still three people sharing a room.

After they put their tools away, Li Xiangdong said to A Zhe, "You and Hou San go to Uncle Zheng's house now and confirm the time for tomorrow with him again."

“Okay, Hou San and I will go right away.”

"Don't go yet, Zhe, give me the money you have. Don't go out with money at night."

Upon hearing this, Ah Zhe nodded and took out 150 yuan from his satchel.

"No need to order anymore, we're all on the same side, why are you playing this game with me?"

Li Xiangdong took the money speechlessly and stuffed it into his satchel.

"Did you bring your things with you?"

"I brought it with me."

A Zhe and Hou San understood what Li Xiangdong meant. Whenever the three of them went out in a car, they would always carry a sharpened knife in their cloth bags.

Hou San said with a smile, "Brother Dong, why don't you come with us? It's no fun staying inside anyway."

Li Xiangdong explained, "I won't go with you. I felt that Wang Chenghao gave me a wink earlier, and I reckon he'll come looking for me later. I'll go get you some hot water first, so you can soak your feet when you get back."

"Alright, Dong-ge, then remember to bring plenty of hot water."

"Understood, go and come back quickly."

After Li Xiangdong and the other two left, he took two thermos flasks and went to get two bottles of hot water.

After returning to his room, he lay on his bed and waited for that kid Wang Chenghao to come and find him.

P.S.: Wishing all my book lovers a happy National Day!