Year 1979: Eating meat with my wife and children

Li Xiangdong laughed and said, "You said we're on the same side, so let me get even closer to you?"

Upon seeing the raised hand, Hou San immediately shifted his stance, saying, "We only just met today, I don't know you well, okay?"

Seeing Hou San's pathetic state, Li Xiangdong couldn't help but laugh and said, "Nonsense! The moment I first met you, I knew that you, Hou San, would be my own brother, even though we're not related by blood!"

Ah Zhe laughed and said, "Haha, and so am I. We're three brothers."

Hou San completely gave in, "Brother Dong, you're in charge. You said we're good brothers, so we're good brothers. I know I was wrong, please forgive me."

"It's okay to know you were wrong."

Li Xiangdong and A Zhe pulled Hou San up from the ground. Seeing that he was covered in dirt, they said to him, "Don't move. Let me brush the dirt off you."

Hou San, enjoying Li Xiangdong's service, completely forgot about the beating he had just received. He started smugly again, saying, "Make sure you clean it properly! You need to be careful when you work, you know? What will you do on the train if you're this careless?"

"Hou San, are you still showing off?"

"I'm not saying anything anymore, okay, Dongzi?"

“I’m several years older than you, and you still dare to call me Dongzi? Do you need me to teach you a lesson again? But if you’re just itching for a fight, then forget it.”

"what?"

Hou San was completely bewildered. Why was he being asked if his scalp was itchy all of a sudden?

Ah Zhe laughed and said, "Dongzi asked if your scalp is itchy?"

Hou San asked in bewilderment, "It itches, Brother Dong, how did you know?"

Li Xiangdong nodded. "It's itchy, that means you're getting smarter. Hou San, am I right?"

"Yes, yes, Dong-ge, you're absolutely right. I've realized I've developed a brain too. I can't say things like that now, because it makes my scalp itch again!"

Hou San, that rascal, finally behaved himself this time.

This was the first time Ah Zhe had ever heard that an itchy scalp meant one had a brain. He laughed uncontrollably, "Hahahaha, that's hilarious!"

"Stop laughing, Zhe."

When Li Xiangdong saw Zhang Dajun come out, he went up to him and took the overcoat and leather shoes.

Zhang Dajun asked, "What were you three arguing about just now?"

Zhang Dajun heard the sounds of the three of them playing around inside the warehouse. "What's wrong with Hou San?"

Li Xiangdong and A Zhe followed Zhang Dajun's gaze.

Hou San stood there, his neck stiff, his hands behind his back, his slanted triangular eyes looking up at a 45-degree angle with a blank expression.

The clouds in the sky were somewhat gloomy, as if it were about to rain. A cool breeze blew by, and Hou San rubbed his nose, sneezed, and muttered under his breath, feeling nauseous.

"Little Dongzi, Little Dongzi, bah! I'll call you Little Dongzi! Do you really think I, your lord, am brainless? You're just an uncultured illiterate. Your scalp is itchy because I haven't washed my hair for a week!"

Although Li Xiangdong and the other man didn't hear what Hou San was saying, seeing his current appearance made them shudder and get goosebumps all over their bodies!

"It's okay, Brother Jun. The three of us were just joking around."

"Being young is great, you have lots of energy."

Zhang Dajun was envious. Unlike him, who was over thirty years old, every time he went home at night and lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), he felt like he was going through a tribulation when faced with his wife's demands!

He rubbed his lower back and took down the notebook hanging on the wall by the warehouse door.

The notebook has a blue cover with the words "Item In and Out Registration Form" written on it in red.

"Everything on the list is complete. Dongzi, you and Azhe double-check it."

Seeing Li Xiangdong and A Zhe nod, Zhang Dajun opened his notebook and began to transcribe the items and quantities received.

"Both of you take a look, and if it's correct, sign here as the recipient."

There were too many things, so Zhang Dajun kindly took out two hemp ropes from the drawer.

After taking the rope, Li Xiangdong and A Zhe began to repack.

They were now wearing summer work clothes. The clothes they had changed out of, along with three other sets of work clothes and a blue overcoat, were folded up, tied securely with rope, and carried. The rest were all stuffed into their shoulder bags.

Clothes make the man, and Li Xiangdong's current spirit and energy have changed a lot compared to before!

After thanking Zhang Dajun, he and A Zhe carried their things and walked over to Hou San.

"Stop spacing out, Hou San, where are we going next?"

Hou San snorted with his hands behind his back, then raised his right hand to look at his watch. "Let's go to the cafeteria for lunch first, and we'll talk about the rest this afternoon."

Seeing Hou San about to leave, Li Xiangdong grabbed him and shoved the clothes he was carrying into his hands. "We're family, shouldn't you help me out?"

Hou San rolled his eyes, snorted, grabbed Li Xiangdong's clothes and slung them over his back. His attempt to show off failed, and he nearly stumbled and fell to the ground.

He quickly looked around, saw no one, coughed twice, and swayed as he walked toward the cafeteria.

Looking at Hou San's retreating figure, A Zhe couldn't help but laugh and said, "Dongzi, Hou San is quite an interesting guy."

Li Xiangdong laughed and said, "He's not cunning at all, and he's a good friend."

"I need to hurry up and put in a good word for Hou San, and coax him into transferring the three of us together. That guy is too funny, it's sure to be interesting to be with him."

After Ah Zhe finished speaking, he quickly walked a few steps to catch up with Hou San.

......

When Li Xiangdong and his two companions arrived at the canteen, the bell for the end of the workday had not yet rung, and only the kitchen staff and a few scattered employees were eating.

There was a row of faucets at the entrance, and a dozen tables in the hall. The three of them randomly picked a table and put their things down.

Li Xiangdong and A Zhe went to the pool to wash the lunchboxes they had just received. Who knew how long the lunchboxes had been sitting in the warehouse? They wouldn't feel safe using them if they weren't clean.

Li Xiangdong looked at Hou San, who was following behind him, and asked, "Aren't you going to eat?"

Hou San said speechlessly, "Why shouldn't I eat? I've been running around with you two all morning, I'm starving!"

Li Xiangdong looked him up and down, puzzled, and asked, "You didn't even bring your lunchbox, how are you going to eat? Do you even have hand-grabbed rice in our cafeteria?"

"Fuck!"

Hou San slapped his forehead, only then realizing that he hadn't taken anything with him!