Chapter 35

"Dad, keep this stuff at home, we'll make it ourselves." After Tao Daqiang warmed up and had a few cornmeal buns to pad his stomach, he put on his clothes and said to Tao Jian She:

"Don't let my brother take it away again, and don't send it over there. If you send it over, I won't bring any more back in the future; it's a waste anyway since we don't get to eat it. It's almost New Year's, we can't just be eating cornmeal buns for the holiday, right?"

Tao Jian She didn't respond, and Tao Daqiang went out.

Tao Jian She knew his eldest son would definitely get an earful from his wife when he got back, but who could he blame for that?

Being caught in the middle was difficult, but he knew he really couldn't send things to his eldest son's place anymore.

His youngest son had just started to show some promise; if his own actions dampened his spirit, that would be real trouble.

Although he kept saying that after he was gone, Daqiang would still have to rely on Dayong for help.

But thinking about his daughter-in-law's personality, it was hard to say if that would even work out. He couldn't really bring himself to shamelessly go to Dayong's house, could he?

Tao Dayong returned empty-handed and, as expected, got an earful from his wife.

"You didn't bring anything back? I saw there was plenty of stuff on that sled, why didn't you bring any back?"

"The rice and flour were left for Dad," Tao Dayong said while taking off his shoes. "I can't just bring everything home, can I? The wood is all back, but Dad's room is freezing and he's out of coal. I'll take some coal over there in the next two days."

"Take what? What will we burn at home if you take it over there? Isn't Daqiang able to haul wood with the Li family's second son? Just have him haul some more!" Ma Chunhong was not willing to take her own family's things to her father-in-law's place.

"Then haul the wood back and send it back," Tao Dayong said, getting a bit angry. "That horse-drawn carriage was borrowed from the Li family, and the road was broken by the Li family too. Why should they haul it just because you say so? I said back then not to bring all the wood back, but you—you didn't leave a single piece, you hauled it all back..."

"Well, my brother is getting married next year, and this wood looks like it would make good furniture..." Ma Chunhong was in the wrong, and her voice dropped significantly.

"Then does your brother just eat without working? I don't have an opinion on you finding wood for your brother, but shouldn't we consider that my dad is so old, his house is cold, and we should send some coal over?"

Ma Chunhong turned her head and didn't respond, obviously unwilling.

Tao Dayong thought about how he was a bit angry at himself for being spineless, and he put his shoes back on, preparing to go out.

Ma Chunhong naturally knew what her husband was thinking, and she blocked the door, shouting:

"Tao Dayong, if you dare take the coal from this house, I'm going back to my mother's house!"

"Then get lost!" Thinking of the words his younger brother had said, and then thinking about what he had done over the past two years, Tao Dayong felt a stabbing pain in his heart. He shoved Ma Chunhong aside, went out, and headed toward the coal shed.

Damn it, he really wasn't a decent person!

Ma Chunhong was pushed to the ground by Tao Dayong. Seeing that her husband had no intention of pulling her up, she sat on the ground and wailed.

When Li Long pulled the sled home, he happened to see Li Juan and Li Qiang walking home from the neighbor's house, looking furious.

"Juan, Qiangqiang, what's wrong?" Li Long asked hurriedly.

"Uncle, you're back?" Qiangqiang ran over. "My sister and Lu Ni'er were playing with knucklebones, and she insisted that my sister's two knucklebones were hers. My sister wanted them back, but she wouldn't give them up and even had her brother chase us out!"

In the past, Li Long would definitely have said "forget it" very generously. But having lived two lives, Li Long knew how sensitive a child of Li Juan's age was. If her family didn't support her, a rift would definitely form in her relationship with her family.

"Let's go, Uncle will help you get them back!" Li Long drove the sled into the courtyard. Without even entering the house, he took Li Juan and Li Qiang and headed toward the Lu family's house.

Liang Yumei, inside the house, heard the commotion. When she came out to look, she saw the things on the sled but didn't see anyone. After walking outside the courtyard gate and still not seeing anyone, she started moving the things into the house first.

Moving them piece by piece, Liang Yumei was overjoyed to see so many things; she wouldn't have to worry about the New Year now.

Especially that five kilograms of vegetable oil, which solved a big problem for the family.

And those few kilograms of pork belly were equally important. If they only had chicken, fish, and mutton for the New Year, it would always feel like something was missing.

When Li Long arrived at the Lu family's gate, he heard the sound of children laughing inside.

He knocked on the door, and then vaguely heard someone inside whisper:

"It must be Li Juan coming back again, hide them quickly..."

Li Long simply pushed the door open and entered, seeing Lu Ni'er hiding something behind the fire wall in the main hall.

"Take them out!" Li Long said with a dark face. "Li Juan's knucklebones were found by me in the mountains. They are all a set, and they are different from yours!"

"I didn't take them!" Lu Ni'er blocked the fire wall directly and answered loudly, though her voice was inevitably a bit guilty. "Then take them out and let's see."

"Why should I show them to you?" Lu Ni'er's brother, Lu Tie Tou, was fourteen years old. He picked up a fire poker from the side and said blusteringly.

This guy was big and tall, and he probably relied on his physical strength to chase Li Juan and the others away. However, Li Long wouldn't be afraid of a kid like that.

"You won't take them out? Then don't blame me for being impolite." Li Long's voice remained calm, but it sounded quite intimidating. "My Li Juan never lies. Since she was playing at your house, if they're missing, they're naturally at your house. It's best if you take them out now. If I have to search for them, it won't be pleasant."

He took two steps forward and shoved Lu Tie Tou, who was blocking his way, to the side. Lu Tie Tou was young after all, and while he had the height, he lacked strength. Lu Tie Tou was pushed aside and felt he had lost face. He tried to step forward again, but was shoved aside by Li Long with a slap again. He didn't stand steady and sat down on the ground with a thud.

Li Qiang couldn't help but laugh.

Lu's eldest daughter-in-law, who was in the kitchen in the side room, heard the commotion. She walked over with a spatula and, seeing Li Long, was stunned for a moment before smiling and saying:

"Oh, Xiao Long is here. Come, come, come, sit down."

"I won't sit. I'm here on behalf of our Juan to get back her knucklebones," he said, pointing to Lu Ni'er's location.

"Then give them to Li Juan." Lu's eldest daughter-in-law didn't know what had happened and hurriedly said to Lu Ni'er, "If you want to play later, just go to the Li family's house to play."

!.

The two families lived across from each other and had always had a good relationship, so Lu's eldest daughter-in-law didn't think much of it.

Lu Ni'er still wanted to lie, but Li Long pointed behind the fire wall and said:

"You don't need me to get them, do you? If I have to do it myself, the trouble will be quite big!"

Lu's eldest daughter-in-law sensed something was wrong. She glared at Lu Ni'er and said:

"Take them out. They aren't yours, give them back to them quickly!"

Li Long breathed a sigh of relief. Lu's eldest daughter-in-law was reasonable, so this matter would be easy to resolve.

Lu Ni'er shivered at her mother's voice, and her hand slowly reached behind the fire wall, pulling out a handful of knucklebones.

"Two of them are mine," Li Juan said, stepping forward.

"Give them to Juan quickly," Lu's eldest daughter-in-law repeated, glaring at Lu Ni'er.

"It's fine. When you want to play later, you can go to my house or come here," Li Long's tone softened a bit.

In this day and age, there were parents who were unreasonable, and there were parents who had higher standards, but there were even more who cared about face and didn't want their children to be criticized by others for their character.

"Exactly." Seeing Li Long say this, Lu's eldest daughter-in-law knew he was giving them a way out, so she smiled. "You have such a good relationship, it's great to play together."

Li Juan took the knucklebones handed over by Lu Ni'er and turned to head to the door.

"Well then, Lu's eldest sister-in-law, we'll be heading back first."

"Alright, I won't keep you. Come over and sit when you have time," Lu's eldest daughter-in-law responded with a smile.

After leaving the Lu family, both Li Juan and Li Qiang had smiles on their faces.

"Uncle, you're really amazing!" Li Qiang gave a thumbs up. "We never thought of that before..."

"The past is different from now," Li Long sighed softly.

Yes, it was different.

(End of chapter)