Year 1979: Eating meat with my wife and children

"I'll pay half, and you two can take the other half."

"Big brother, I think it's better if the three of us split the cost equally."

Brother Li felt that as the eldest son, he should pay more for the expenses, but Brother Li Er suggested that the three brothers pay the same amount.

Although the two brothers said different things, they both agreed that neither of them intended to put all the expenses on Li Xiangdong's shoulders.

Since they started working, the two brothers have kept all their wages, except for the food expenses they gave to their family.

Unlike many of their neighbors who handed over all their wages, the two brothers were wealthy.

It would be unacceptable for them to have money but not spend it, especially since all three brothers are married and have their own families. They shouldn't cause further trouble over something like this.

Another point is that Li Xiaojiang was standing aside, listening intently. The two brothers were willing to spend the money just to set a good example for the younger generation in their family!

What could Li Xiangdong, who hadn't even spoken up yet, say?

He could only nod and say, "Big brother, second brother is right!"

"Let's do as the second brother says."

Old Man Li made the final decision, and Li's father nodded in agreement.

Mr. Li didn't intend to spend a single penny on the expenses of this trip to visit relatives in another city.

Firstly, he hadn't saved much money, and secondly, he still needed to leave his money for Li Xiangdong. He had previously promised to give Li Xiangdong some money when he moved out.

"Approximately how much will it cost?"

When Li Ersao spoke, everyone's eyes turned to Li Xiangdong. Travel expenses were the biggest concern, and everyone present knew that Li Xiangdong could give a general answer.

"Li Xiaobo and three others don't need to buy tickets, and Li Xiaojiang and four others need half-price tickets. So, in total, we need to buy ten adult tickets. Let's say the round-trip transportation costs are 1,000 yuan."

Li Xiangdong paused here, "The prices I mentioned are for hard seats, hard sleeper..."

"A hard seat is fine!"

Li's mother didn't give Li Xiangdong a chance to continue. She was already starting to waver. She had previously thought that all the expenses combined would only amount to a few hundred yuan at most.

Who would have thought that a round-trip train ticket would cost around a thousand yuan, plus other expenses, the total cost could buy a job!

"Third brother, why don't you three come with me? The rest of you don't need to go."

The moment Li's mother said those words, Li Xiaojiang was the most anxious, but he didn't say anything. He knew how much his father earned in a month.

Li Xiaojiang has made a lot of progress during this period. If it were half a year ago, he would never have held back what he wanted to say.

“Go, go! Let’s just say 1,500. Each of the three brothers gets 500, which is a year and a half’s salary. It’s a worthwhile investment!”

As Old Mrs. Li finished speaking, she looked at Li's mother and said, "Your mother is not young anymore."

Grandma Li didn't say the rest, but everyone knew that as she wiped away her tears, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat somber.

"Mom, listen to Grandma, let them all go. The kids at home have been eagerly waiting for half a year. If we don't let them go now, won't they throw a tantrum? They probably won't even be able to smile during the New Year, right, Xiaojiang?"

Upon hearing Li Xiangdong suddenly call his name, Li Xiaojiang exclaimed "Huh?" and then chuckled, neither confirming nor denying it, but conveying the same meaning.

"Stop arguing. What I'm about to say isn't for you. Get out."

Li Xiangdong pointed outside, and Li Xiaojiang walked out of the house, looking back every few steps.

Li Xiangdong glanced back to make sure Li Xiaojiang was far away before speaking in a low voice.

"Big brother, second brother, I don't have much money on hand right now. Can you two lend me this money first, and then we can settle the accounts between the three of us before the New Year?"

He didn't spell it out, but everyone in the room understood. Brother Li and Brother Li Er also spoke up one after the other, telling him not to worry, and that the three of them could settle the accounts when they had money.

As dusk fell, the most important matter for the Li family before the New Year was settled. Zhou Yuqin and her two sisters-in-law stayed behind to comfort Li's mother, while Li Xiangdong and his two brothers said goodbye to their grandparents and left the main house one after the other.

"Dongzi, all the money is tied up in silver dollars."

Li Erge couldn't help but ask softly, and Li Xiangdong nodded generously.

Brother Li, who was standing to the side, wanted to ask a few more questions, but after thinking it over, he suppressed his worries, sighed, and said nothing. He then walked straight into his own room in the east wing.

"It's alright, Second Brother, I know what I'm doing."

"As long as you know the number."

Li Erge didn't know anything about silver dollars, but since Li Xiangdong said he knew, he swallowed the rest of his words.

The two brothers went one to the left and the other to the right.

"What are you doing?"

When Li Xiangdong entered the room, he saw Li Xiaotao standing on the kang (a heated brick bed) pretending to choke on a steamed bun. Li Xiaozhu, Li Xiaohai, and the others were all amused by the sight of him standing on tiptoe, pounding his chest, and rolling his eyes.

Li Xiangdong walked over and kicked his butt. "Can't you teach me something decent?"

"Third Uncle, I was just teasing my younger siblings."

Li Xiaotao was not ashamed of his behavior at all; on the contrary, he even seemed to be boasting about it.

"Alright, that's enough playing around. Go back to your rooms and go to sleep."

Li Xiangdong chased away Li Xiaotao and the others, then looked at Li Xiaozhu, who was lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) with a flushed face from laughing.

"Look how happy you are."

Li Xiangdong rubbed her head and started making formula for his son and daughter, carrying a thermos.

Li Xiaohai finished drinking first, and Li Xiangdong prepared water for him to wash his feet. Li Xiaozhu, who was standing at the head of the kang (a heated brick bed), saw Zhou Yuqin return to the room and called out, holding a teacup, "Mom~ finished drinking~"

Zhou Yuqin went up and took the teacup, and was about to put it back on the table when she wondered what Li Xiaozhu was thinking.

In front of Zhou Yuqin, she began to imitate Li Xiaotao's actions, pounding her chest haphazardly with both hands, rolling her eyes upward, and panting heavily.

Li Xiaohai, who was sitting in a chair, and Li Xiangdong, who was squatting in front of Li Xiaohai and washing his feet, both burst out laughing when they saw Li Xiaozhu's appearance.

Only Zhou Yuqin was unaware that Li Xiaozhu was imitating Li Xiaotao, and was so frightened that she lost her mind!

"What happened?"

Zhou Yuqin hugged her tightly, almost crying with worry, "Tell your mother where you feel unwell? Your mother will take you to the clinic right away."

Upon hearing the words "health clinic," Li Xiaozhu, who was about to burst into laughter, stopped. She struggled to escape from Zhou Yuqin.

"No~ No~"

Zhou Yuqin was a little bewildered by Li Xiaozhu's sudden return to life, which had just looked like she was about to collapse.

"Mother, my sister is faking it."

Li Xiaohai exposed Li Xiaozhu's act, and Li Xiangdong told her the whole story with a smile. Zhou Yuqin's anger suddenly shot to her head!

"You little brat, how dare you scare me!"

Zhou Yuqin held down Li Xiaozhu, who was still struggling, pulled down her cotton pants, and slapped her.

Li Xiaozhu's buttocks were red from being spanked, and she lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) sobbing and shedding tears. After venting her anger, Zhou Yuqin sat on the kang and sulked. The mother and daughter suddenly felt a sense of mutual loathing.

P.S.: Here's the third update! Please urge me to update more and support me with your love!