Year 1979: Eating meat with my wife and children

Upon hearing that Li Xiangdong no longer intended to keep him, Li Xiaohai angrily went to Zhou Yuqin's side seeking comfort.

Zhou Yuqin, who hadn't had enough rest, felt somewhat tired.

She didn't have the energy to coax Li Xiaohai, she just reached out her hand and let Li Xiaohai hold her hand.

Old Li's entire family came out of the train station and were on their way home.

Li Xiaozhu, who had just started walking on her own, followed her older sisters Li Xiaomei and Li Xiaolan with her short legs.

Taking advantage of this break, Li Xiangdong slung the bundle over his shoulder, freeing his hands to relax.

"Keep going straight ahead, do you hear me?"

He walked behind Li Xiaozhu, and whenever he saw Li Xiaozhu trying to leave the group, he would warn her.

"Got it~"

Li Xiaozhu pressed her face against the doll, tilted her head to glance at him, and turned to chase after the two older sisters walking ahead.

"Xiaomei, Xiaolan, you two put her between the two of you and don't let her walk into the middle of the road."

His two nieces listened to his instructions and stood on either side of Li Xiaozhu.

"Give me your hand."

"Sister~"

Li Xiaozhu looked at Li Xiaolan on her right and reached out her hand.

She was being pulled along by Li Xiaolan, but her eyes kept wandering, glancing at the middle of the road every now and then, as if trying to slip away.

"Third Uncle, give me the wrapping."

Li Xiaotao came over, took the bundle from Li Xiangdong, tossed it over his shoulder, and then stared at Li Xiangdong with a smile.

It implies that someone is being overly solicitous or has ulterior motives.

"Speak up, what do you want? Let's get straight to the point."

"Third Uncle, I don't want to do anything. I just wanted to ask you, since we've been away for so long, have you missed the fried dough rings, fried dough sticks, and tofu pudding from Beijing?"

"No."

Upon hearing Li Xiangdong's denial, Li Xiaotao became dejected.

"I want braised pork offal."

As Li Xiangdong changed the subject, Li Xiaotao's declining mood began to warm up and rise.

"I miss my third uncle too!"

"Hmm, keep thinking about it."

"..."

"The main problem is that I'm not used to eating braised pork belly so early in the morning. I still prefer the fragrant stir-fried liver."

"Yes, yes, yes! Uncle, fried liver tastes delicious!"

"But it still doesn't work. My mouth is dry and I'm a bit thirsty. I think drinking soy milk and eating fried dough sticks and sugar cakes would make me feel better."

"Uncle, you're absolutely right! Actually, I'm a little thirsty too; my lips are all chapped."

"Right? We, uncle and nephew, are thinking the same thing."

"Yes, yes, hehehe, Third Uncle, we think the same way."

"Oh, it's a pity. Your third uncle has already spent all the money on this trip to your great-grandmother's house. Taozi, let's go home and have some cornmeal. It's cheap and filling. You can eat as much as you want from the big bowl at home!"

"..."

The cold wind was blowing early in the morning, and Li Xiaotao's mood was fluctuating wildly, as if provoked by Li Xiangdong into a heartbeat.

Seeing that his expression was not good, Li Xiangdong suppressed a laugh.

"Taozi, what's wrong with you? Your third uncle doesn't have any money to treat you to something nice, and you're already giving him the cold shoulder? Is that right of you?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaotao shook his head repeatedly like a rattle-drum, "No, Uncle San, I'm not trying to give you a hard time, I'm just a little tired right now."

"I'm tired. Then hurry up and give me back my bundle."

Li Xiangdong said this, but he didn't even extend his hand, walking with his hands behind his back like an old man.

"No need, Uncle, I'm just tired."

"You're so young, why are you so stressed?"

Li's mother, who had been listening to their conversation from the side, smiled and patted Li Xiaotao on the shoulder.

She knew exactly what her grandson was thinking.

Because of this visit, Li's mother's long-standing resentment was resolved, and she spoke openly, which was quite rare for her.

"I won't make breakfast when we get home. If you want something to eat, just tell your grandpa. When we get home, have him go to the breakfast stall in the alley to buy it for you."

In the hearts of the Li family children, the most generous person is Li Xiangdong, followed by Old Man Li and Old Lady Li, and then their father.

Li's mother, Li's eldest brother and his wife, Li's second brother, and Zhou Yuqin were tied for last place.

This is why Li Xiaotao, when he had a craving, didn't go to anyone else but came to Li Xiangdong first.

Li Xiaotao was probably surprised by his mother's sudden generosity. His surprise flashed across his face for a moment, then turned into excitement and exhilaration!

"Grandma, you're so kind!"

"Taozi, if you say that, your third uncle will be heartbroken. So, if I don't have money to buy you food, then I'm the one who's bad off?"

"No, Uncle, you're great too. Once I start working and earning money, I'll buy you fried liver every day, oh, and sugar cakes and fried dough cakes too."

Although Li Xiangdong was pleased with what Li Xiaotao said, he still waved his hand.

If you eat like this every day, you'll develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar sooner or later!

Li Xiaotao ran around spreading the word to Li Xiaojiang and a few others that Li's mother had promised not to make breakfast today but to buy breakfast instead.

They quickly gathered around Li's father, told him what they wanted to eat, and kept reminding him not to buy the wrong thing.

"Stop yelling and walk properly. I can't remember all that you're saying. Come home with me."

Li's father shooed Li Xiaojiang and the others away quickly, like chasing chickens.

With delicious food to catch, Li Xiaojiang and his companions, who were originally slow and hesitant to take big steps, are now walking briskly.

The Li sisters felt that their younger sister, Li Xiaozhu's, shuffling steps, her stopping and starting, and her head swaying from side to side as she looked around were slowing her home.

The two sisters carried Li Xiaozhu until they got tired, then handed her back to Li Xiangdong.

...

...

"Great-grandfather, great-grandmother! I'm back!"

Li Xiaotao pounded on the door and shouted loudly. Soon there was movement behind the door, the whimpering of the two dogs and the sound of their claws scratching at the door.

"Little Black, Little Yellow."

Li Xiaotao pushed open a crack in the door and stuck his finger inside. He felt a ticklish sensation as the barbs on the dog's tongue licked him.

"Who is it? Is it Taozi?"

Suddenly, Old Man Li's voice came from inside the door. Li Xiaotao, who was outside the door, stood up and replied, "Great-Grandpa, it's me. I ran back first. My grandparents are behind me and will be back soon."

creak—

The courtyard gate was opened.

Old Li chased away the two dogs at his feet, looked at his great-grandson who hadn't been seen for almost half a month and walked over the threshold to his side, and touched his face.

"Are you cold? Have you eaten?"

“Great-Grandpa, I’m not cold. I haven’t had breakfast yet. My grandma said she’ll go buy breakfast later. Great-Grandpa, I’m going to go see my great-grandma first.”

As Li Xiaotao spoke, he strode into the courtyard, ran into the main room, put the bundle he was carrying on the table, and then strode into the east room.

"Taozi's back. Come on up and warm up on the kang (heated brick bed)."

"Great-Grandma, I'm not cold."

Li Xiaotao looked Li Laotai up and down. She had just finished dressing and was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed). Seeing that she hadn't changed much from half a month ago, he felt relieved.