Chapter 174: Liu Guangqi Gets Into Vocational College

Autumn deepened, the jujube trees in the backyard of the siheyuan were laden with red fruit. That evening, a burst of firecrackers suddenly exploded, startling sparrows into flight.

Liu Haizhong strutted from the front courtyard to the back courtyard, belly protruding, waving the admission notice: My son Guangqi got into vocational college! Mechanical manufacturing major!

He deliberately stopped at Yan Bu Gui's doorstep: Graduating from this vocational college means a cadre position, far better than a high school graduate!

Yan Bu Gui was grading homework, his pen drawing a long line on the paper. He pushed up his glasses and squeezed out a smile: Congratulations, Old Liu, your son Guangqi also brings honor to the family.

Same joy, same joy! Liu Haizhong shook the admission notice until it rustled. To say studying depends on talent. Some people act as their own teachers, yet their children can't even get into high school...

Yan Bu Gui's face stiffened, and he shut the door.

San Dama looked puzzled at her husband closing the door, asking: Why close the door in broad daylight? Who were you just talking to outside?

Yan Bu Gui: Liu Haizhong, his son Guangqi got into vocational college, he's showing off in the courtyard!

San Dama: Guangqi got into vocational college, they ought to set up two tables to celebrate!

It's not that families don't intermarry; they're all thinking of taking advantage.

Liu Haizhong announced again in the central courtyard: Tonight we'll set up two tables, all the neighbors are welcome!

Li Ping'an was teaching his younger sister Tai Chi in the backyard; hearing this, he lowered his posture: Tonight I'll take you to eat stewed delicacies.

Li PingLe wiped his sweat: Uncle Liu, are you trying to show off?

Liu Haizhong always wanted to be an official, but his own education was low; in the factory he couldn't even become a small group leader. He placed high hopes on his eldest son getting into vocational college, after graduation to work in an office, so he had to show off! Li Ping'an gave a faint smile.

The next day the Liu household bustled with activity; Liu Haizhong took out all the meat coupons saved at home to buy two fish, two pounds of pork, potatoes and cabbage in abundance. He also hired Sha Zhu to cook, Sha Zhu charging five dollars per table. Liu Haizhong still wanted to show off his authority, but Sha Zhu was a reckless youth, caring only for whether he liked the food, completely disregarding the elder's dignity; in the end Liu Haizhong agreed.

Two Eight Immortals tables were pushed together, laden with braised pork, braised carp, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, overflowing. Liu Haizhong wore a new Zhongshan suit, offering cigarettes to everyone he met.

Guangqi, follow me, quick-witted! Our family's Guangqi got into vocational college, bringing honor to the ancestors; please everyone celebrate together. Though there aren't many dishes, eat and drink well! His voice was especially loud.

Liu Haizhong spending meal money on cigarettes was already an overachievement; normally he'd be stuck early on.

In the corner, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu squatted on the doorstep; the two brothers weren't even qualified to sit at the table, only able to longingly stare at the braised pork.

Brother, I'm hungry. Liu Guangfu whispered.

What hunger! Liu Haizhong turned and glared: Your elder brother brings honor to the family, and all you know is to eat!

Liu Guangtian objected: Why the elder brother...

A slap flew over.

Your elder brother will become a cadre; can you compare? All you know is to play, still thinking about food—get out of the way, don't interfere with our meal!

The two brothers slunk back to the room. Liu Guangfu rubbed his stomach: Brother, I'm really hungry.

Liu Guangtian pulled half a cold steamed bun from under the bed: Here, I'd hidden it.

Why... Liu Guangfu gnawed on the steamed bun, tears falling; the elder brother always has eggs, while we have to sneak steamed buns...

Liu Guangtian also wondered why, as children, their statuses differ so greatly—could it be they were picked from a trash heap?

Laughter drifted up from downstairs, making the place feel especially desolate.

At that moment Li Ping'an was bringing his younger sister to eat stewed delicacies at Back Sea.

Uncle Liu is also too biased. Li PingLe picked up a piece of fat intestine.

Li Ping'an added chili oil: Every family has its own way; Liu Haizhong dotes on his eldest son, beating Guangtian and Guangfu with fists and kicks, they'll suffer his harshness later—parents unkind, children unfilial, parents all favor the eldest son, making old-age support troublesome! Every family has its own hard-to-recite scripture.

The stall owner brought over soy drink: Chief Li, it's on the house! Thanks to you for clearing out those protection‑racket collectors.

Li Ping'an: This is our duty anyway; we're just doing what we should. You can't let me make a mistake, otherwise if people find out the Security Section eats without paying, I'll have no excuse.

After eating well, Li Ping'an still paid an extra dollar before leaving.

Back in the siheyuan, the feast hadn't ended. Liu Haizhong, face flushed, gestured: Guangqi will at least be a technician after graduation, his monthly salary will be this amount!

Yan Bu Gui had disappeared. Word was he went home and scolded his three sons until they were covered in dog's blood.

In the room, Liu Guangtian stared outside through the window crack, his fists clenched white.

Wait and see... he gritted his teeth at his brother: One day they'll grow old, we'll grow up, and today's everything will be repaid...

The next morning Li Ping'an pushed his cart out and happened to see Liu Guangtian heading to school. The boy had dark circles under his eyes, his shirt cuffs worn through.

Haven't had breakfast? Li Ping'an took two buns from the cart basket, for you and Guangfu.

Liu Guangtian stared for a moment, then lowered his head to take the bun and walked off quickly.

At noon in the factory, Wang Dahu brought this up: Liu Haizhong couldn't be prouder, bragging everywhere in the plant that his son got into vocational college, which means a technician position—now the whole factory knows his eldest son Liu Guangqi got into vocational college.

Li Ping'an flipped through the documents: I hope he remembers the other two are also his sons, don't let joy turn to sorrow.

That night the siheyuan was unusually quiet. The Yan family in the front courtyard had already turned off the lights, while the Liu family in the backyard transmitted suppressed sobs.

Why... Liu Guangfu hid under the covers, sobbing.

Liu Guangtian patted his brother's back: When I grow up, I'll take you away from here.

Moonlight revealed the determination in the boy's eyes.

Meanwhile, Liu Haizhong was foolishly grinning at the admission notice, flipping through it over and over, completely failing to notice the crack opened in the doors of his other two sons' rooms.

Li Ping'an practiced in his own courtyard; his divine perception swept over the Liu family and he slightly shook his head. The warm and cold feelings in this courtyard were cooler than an autumn night.

The next day off, Li PingLe was embroidering in the courtyard when she suddenly heard the Liu family cursing again: Two debt‑collecting ghosts! All they know is to eat!

She lifted her gaze to her brother. Li Ping'an was deeply absorbed in his book, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

In the evening Liu Guangtian washed clothes by the well; the deep‑autumn well water was icy enough to pierce the bones. Liu Haizhong passed by holding a teapot, snorted: What's the dawdling over washing clothes?

Li Ping'an came out to pour water, saw the boy's hands frozen red, his steps paused, but in the end he said nothing.

That night Li Ping'an was reading under the lamp. Suddenly he heard movement in the backyard; his divine perception swept over and discovered Liu Guangtian sneaking over the wall.

He pondered, then closed his book. The drama in this courtyard, there's still more to be sung.