Year 1979: Eating meat with my wife and children

Li Xiangdong was busy all noon, not only secretly delivering food to his grandparents and his father.

He also had to keep watch, and the most tiring thing was that his mouth was always busy while he was keeping watch.

One cigarette after another, not even reaching the lungs, just to mask the smell in the house.

When he finished his work, he realized he hadn't even had lunch yet!

Lunch is hand-rolled noodles. Right now, there's only broth and some hand-rolled noodles in the pot that haven't been cooked yet.

These are prepared for Old Man Li and the others who might decide to eat at any time.

Li Xiangdong had no choice but to ride his bicycle to find Qian Bin again. Under Qian Bin's strange gaze, he ate two bowls of noodles before he felt much better.

Qian Bin smiled and pulled out a cigarette. "Want one?"

"Don't smoke!"

Li Xiangdong smoked enough this afternoon!

Qian Bin was curious as to why he had returned. "What are you up to? Didn't they cook for you at home?"

"Stop worrying about other people's business. You should spend more time caring for your wife. I'm not going to argue with you anymore. I'm going back now."

Li Xiangdong wiped his mouth, lifted his buttocks, and prepared to leave.

"Don't leave yet."

Qian Bin jogged to the back kitchen and came out with a paper package in his hand.

He slipped the item into Li Xiangdong's satchel when the waiters in the lobby weren't looking.

"Let's go, remember my son's milk powder coupon."

"I know, I won't forget."

Li Xiangdong left the restaurant, rode his bicycle a distance away, and then stopped.

He took out the paper package that Qian Bin had stuffed into his satchel, opened it, and found ten quail eggs inside.

Hmm, good stuff!

He carefully put the cloth bag back in his handbag, then stepped on the pedals and hurried home.

When he got home, his two sisters-in-law were in his room, trying to persuade Li's mother.

Li Xiangdong put down his cloth bag and took the quail eggs out of it, placing them in the drawer.

"Dongzi, where did you go?"

Brother Li was standing at the door. Li Xiangdong looked up at him and replied, "Something came up. What's wrong, brother?"

"Come to my room."

After Brother Li finished speaking, he turned and left, and Li Xiangdong followed him into the house.

The three brothers sat at a table, each on one side.

Brother Li said while smoking, "I think our parents are determined to split up the family property. They won't eat if we don't agree, especially our grandparents. If they keep going hungry, something bad will happen to them."

After he finished speaking, he looked at his two younger brothers and said, "Second brother, third brother, you two should also share your thoughts."

Li Xiangdong nodded and said, "Brother, you're right."

Li Erge sighed and continued, "After I finished lunch, I lay on the kang (heated brick bed) and thought about it. If it doesn't work out, let's agree to our parents' request to separate the family."

"Our mother is getting old now. Let's not let her worry about the whole family all the time, and risk ruining her health. My suggestion is to separate."

Brother Li thought for a moment with a cigarette in his mouth, "Then let's divide it up. But even if the three of us brothers are separating, we still have to be filial to our parents and grandparents."

Li Erge agreed, "That makes sense. Even though we'll be cooking separately after the family splits up, we should still get together for a meal from time to time, except during holidays. We can't let our parents and grandparents feel that the house is lonely."

Li Xiangdong continued nodding, "Big brother, second brother, you're right."

Brother Li slammed his fist on the table in anger, “Yes, yes, yes! After you sat down, besides saying ‘yes,’ can’t you say anything else?”

Li Erge looked at his third brother, who was sitting opposite him, with a suspicious gaze. "Dongzi, are you thinking of living a quiet life from now on and not taking care of our parents and grandparents anymore?"

Li Xiangdong hurriedly defended himself, saying, "No! What you said clearly makes sense, and I really can't think of anything else. What else can I say if I'm not right?"

"You'd better think that way!"

Brother Li glared at him and said, "I'll go tell Dad. Second brother, you go find Mom. Dongzi, you go to Grandpa and Grandma's."

After the three brothers divided the tasks, Li Xiangdong went to his grandparents' room.

"My eldest and second eldest brothers have agreed to divide the family property."

When Old Man Li and Old Woman Li heard their grandson's words, they breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help feeling a little sad.

"Alright, let's get out of here quickly. We need to finalize this matter as soon as possible; we can't afford any more back and forth."

As Old Man Li put on his shoes and got off the kang (a heated brick bed), Li Xiangdong walked behind him, supporting Old Woman Li.

He saw that Old Man Li, who was full of energy when he got off the kang (a heated brick bed), suddenly slumped down as soon as he opened the door, and leaned his upper body against the back of the chair after sitting down.

He looked exactly like someone who hadn't eaten two meals and was completely listless.

Except for the children, all the members of the Li family were present. Mr. and Mrs. Li bickered back and forth, and settled the matter of dividing the family property.

The houses were not divided, and everyone started their own fires.

Bowls and chopsticks were distributed according to the number of people. Li Xiangdong and his second brother's small kitchen had never been used and was completely empty. Their father gave the two brothers 20 yuan to buy things.

After his parents finished speaking, Brother Li said, "Father, Mother, I am the eldest son. I will take care of you in your old age."

Sister-in-law Li nodded, indicating her opinion.

Li Ersao laughed and said, "Brother, we all live together. How can the responsibility of taking care of our parents fall on your shoulders alone? I think it would be better if the three of you lived together. In the future, any expenses can be split among the three families."

Li Erge echoed his wife's sentiments, saying, "I think my wife makes a good point. Dongzi, what do you think?"

"No problem, do as Second Sister-in-law says."

Li Xiangdong naturally wouldn't say anything against it; he was willing to pay for his parents' retirement himself.

He looked at Old Man Li and Old Woman Li and said, "Grandpa and Grandma, you will live with me."

In response, Zhou Yuqin expressed her agreement with her husband's words.

Mr. and Mrs. Li exchanged a glance. Although they felt warm inside after hearing their son and daughter-in-law's words, they had already discussed the matter.

Mr. Li waved his hand and said, "You don't need to worry about your grandparents' affairs. Your mother doesn't cook anymore, so I'll do it from now on."

"When did I say I wouldn't cook? What will my parents eat if I don't cook?"

"Didn't you say you've been serving this family for decades and wanted to take a break?"

"Did I say that? When did I say that?"

Li's mother glared at her three sons with a shameless look and asked, "Do you think I said that?"

"No, I didn't hear it. My dad must have misheard."

Li Xiangdong, the straight man, naturally wouldn't let his mother's words fall on the ground.

The eldest brother and his wife, and the second brother and his wife, said against their will, "Mother, you didn't say anything, we didn't hear it."

Mr. Li snorted, said nothing, and continued to wear a dark expression.

"Alright, alright, that's settled then. You three brothers can go and eat on your own. Your grandma and I will eat with your parents. That's all."

After finishing his sentence, Old Man Li looked weak and listless as he prepared to go back into the house.

Actually, his worries had subsided, and he had enjoyed the two sesame seed cakes with braised pork head meat at noon, so he planned to go back to his room for a nap.

After watching his grandparents go back into the house, Brother Li instructed his wife, "Go and make some noodles. Grandpa and Grandma haven't eaten yet. Remember to cook them soft."

"I'll go right away."

Sister-in-law Li got up and walked out, and Sister-in-law Li Er followed her out.

Looking at her eldest and second sons, Li's mother said, "You two go and check on the children, don't frighten them."

"Yes, Mother."

After Li's mother and her two sons came out of the house, she pulled Zhou Yuqin aside and whispered, "Go and tell your two sisters-in-law that we haven't eaten for two meals and we can't eat too much at once."

Zhou Yuqin nodded, suppressing a laugh.

"Dongzi, I ate your lunch. Are you still hungry? You can eat my noodles later."

Before Li Xiangdong could speak, Old Man Li opened the door and said softly, "Dongzi, your grandma and I are too full to eat. You need to figure out how to finish our noodles too."

After finishing his sentence, Old Man Li closed the door.

Li Xiangdong swallowed hard, then turned to his father. "Dad, I've already had lunch outside. Why don't you..."

"Don't come to me! Figure it out yourself. I'm still feeling full from those two meat-filled sesame flatbreads!"

Li Xiangdong: "..."