Chapter 623

When Li Long came back swaying, what he saw was a courtyard full of children playing.

This... who are all these people?

Li Juan, Li Qiang, Hongqin—there's more? Aren't these Li Xue Qin and Xueping?

Hey!

Li Long slapped his forehead; he had forgotten about his second brother's family!

He had been busy with Sister Yang's matter these days, and after finishing that, he considered it a relief of pressure, and then he was busy processing medicinal materials, so he ended up forgetting his second brother's family completely.

Hearing the laughter in the room, Li Long knew his second brother had come.

Not only had his second brother come, but his sister and brother-in-law had also come. A few days ago, Hongqin stayed here for a week and was then sent back. Hongqin missed her mom and dad.

Now that she was back, she must have come with her sister and brother-in-law.

Li Long took three ten-yuan bills out of his pocket and stuffed them into the hands of the three children:

"Take these, this is your New Year's money from your little uncle!"

The three children knelt down and kowtowed to Li Long directly; he couldn't stop them even if he tried. After climbing up, they ran into the room—they were going to give the New Year's money to their mother.

To save.

All the big bills were saved. It seemed Li Qiang's New Year's money didn't belong to him to spend until he was in the fifth or sixth grade.

When the door opened, the first person he saw was his sister, Li Xia. After seeing Li Long, Li Xia smiled and made room at the doorway:

"Xiao Long is back! Hey, you've drunk quite a bit?"

"Yeah, had a few cups." Li Long said with a smile, "When did you arrive, sister?"

Behind Li Xia was his second sister-in-law, Chen Li Rong. Li Long greeted his second sister-in-law again: "Second sister-in-law, Happy New Year!"

Chen Li Rong was thin-skinned, smiled, and said: "Happy, happy."

In the inner room, there were the voices of his second brother, Li Anguo, and his brother-in-law, Chen Xingbang; they had clearly been drinking, and their voices were quite loud.

Li Long saw his eldest sister-in-law busy in the kitchen, so he asked:

"Eldest sister-in-law, where is Xiaoxia? Did she go to the front courtyard?"

"Yeah, I let her go rest. A person in her condition shouldn't be busy here; the kitchen has strong smells, and there's the smell of alcohol in that inner room."

Liang Yuemei pampered Gu Xiaoxia like a daughter and wouldn't let her touch any of those messy smells at all.

When she was pregnant and giving birth, she didn't have those conditions; she was still working in the fields a few days before giving birth to Li Juan, and she gave birth at home without so many fussy requirements.

Now that the family's conditions were better and she had heard and said more, she knew that one should pay more attention to certain things when giving birth, so she was especially attentive to Gu Xiaoxia.

"Xiao Long is back? Come, come, come, hurry in." This was the voice of his brother-in-law, Chen Xingbang.

Li Long entered the inner room, and several children slipped out of the room. Li Long vaguely heard Li Juan saying to Xueping and Li Xue Qin:

"You two, stop speaking that Mandarin. It's fine to speak it at school, but why are you putting on airs at home?"

Alright, maybe Xueping and Li Xue Qin were already attending school in Kuitun. The schools there weren't like here; they required Mandarin for answering in class. These two children must have gotten used to it, right?

Hey, he was being reverse-snubbed...

Entering the inner room, he saw the square table had been moved to the middle of the room. His father, eldest brother, second brother, and brother-in-law were each sitting on one side. His father and eldest brother were calm, his second brother Li Anguo's face was a bit red, and his brother-in-law Chen Xingbang's face was flushed red.

"Second brother, brother-in-law, Happy New Year. How did you get back?"

"Your second brother called the team early in the morning when you left. Mingwa ran over to tell me, and I drove the tractor to the county to pick them up."

"You should have looked for me." Li Long felt a bit regretful, "I drive faster."

"You should have looked for you. Your jeep has a bit of style, but sitting in this tractor doesn't have as much face, right second brother?" Chen Xingbang actually followed Li Long's words.

Li Long's expression changed slightly.

Was this a change in status, and after drinking too much, he couldn't control himself?

"Hey, that's true, a jeep has more face than a tractor." Li Anguo also nodded, "But a tractor is fine too; we still can't afford to buy one. Anyway, although eldest brother is a farmer, his life isn't worse than ours."

The smile on Li Long's face faded even more.

This was truly getting carried away! Did they really think of themselves as city people and look down on villagers?

"Your jeep couldn't fit that many people." Li Jianguo didn't care and said with a smile, "Anyway, I didn't have anything to do. Have you been drinking?"

"Had a few cups." Li Long smiled.

"That's nothing!" Chen Xingbang said loudly, "Come, come, come, sit! We've been busy for a year, and it's not easy for our family to sit together. Come, brother-in-law, let me measure your drinking capacity!"

This brother-in-law, Chen Xingbang, had clearly drunk a bit too much.

His second brother was the same; he pulled a stool and placed it between himself and Chen Xingbang, signaling Li Long to sit there.

Li Long could feel that whether it was his brother-in-law or his second brother, they were much more confident than when they first arrived early last year.

After all, one had become a construction worker and the other a food factory worker; both were eating commodity grain, had come wearing new clothes, and had brought their families to their sides. Their lives were clearly much better than before, so their spirits were naturally high.

This high spirit was expressed toward his eldest brother.

Because his eldest brother was still a farmer.

Li Long shook his head slightly. Human nature hadn't changed; although circumstances had changed, personality was truly hard to change.

Seeing the wine bottle was with his eldest brother, he knew his eldest brother was in charge of the wine. Li Long stood up and said to his eldest brother:

"Eldest brother, I see you all must have drunk a few cups. I'm the youngest, is it okay if I take charge of the wine bottle for a while?"

Being the "wine commander" wasn't something one could just do. Fortunately, at home, Li Long didn't have to be so formal; otherwise, he would at least have to toast everyone before he could get the bottle from the wine commander.

"Xiao Long, if you've drunk too much, don't drink anymore." Li Qing Xia said.

"Exactly, that wine is spicy, what's good about drinking it?" His mother, Du Chunfang, sat on the sofa and added. Although she drank a cup of wine every night now, she still felt it was better for her youngest son to drink less.

After all, there was a daughter-in-law over there who was pregnant.

"Father, mother, it's fine." Li Long intended to let go a bit today, and he said with a smile, "I'm happy today, our whole family is together.

Father used to say our family repaired the genealogy in our hometown. To be honest, when we repair the genealogy in the future, we can bring the old genealogy over, and we can actually start a new branch here in Northern Xinjiang. Look at our whole family, how prosperous!"

"Hehe, exactly!" Li Qing Xia had such thoughts in his heart, and Li Long had spoken his mind.

"That's easy to handle!" Li Jianguo smiled, "When I have time tomorrow, I'll go back to my hometown and bring the genealogy back!"

As he spoke, he handed the wine bottle to Li Long.

Li Qing Xia was considered the person with the highest seniority in the village in his hometown. Once the genealogy was repaired, at least his branch would inevitably get a set.

Once brought back, just tracing it down from the ancestors for this branch was enough. Besides, in a few decades, who would care about this?

"I'm happy today, and my second brother and brother-in-law haven't been back for a long time, so I have to accompany them to drink well." Li Long continued, "It's not easy for my eldest brother to support this family. It's the New Year, so drinking enough is fine. I'm young, so you two shouldn't say I'm bullying you.

Forget about the finger-guessing game. Come, as the youngest, I'll toast you first, one cup each! Second brother, in the new year, peace and safety!"

As he spoke, he filled his own cup to the brim, filled the cups of his second brother and brother-in-law with wine, and raised his own cup.

His second brother and brother-in-law might say big words and might be a bit proud, but his eldest brother saw it in his eyes and heard it in his ears, so it was impossible for him to haggle with them.

But Li Long had been raised by his eldest brother and sister-in-law since he was twelve or thirteen. Usually, it didn't matter, but now that they had drunk too much and his second brother and brother-in-law had some disrespectful words, his eldest brother wouldn't care, but he couldn't not care.

Li Anguo and Chen Xingbang didn't expect Li Long to take the initiative as soon as he sat at the table.

They weren't very old, and although they couldn't be considered young and vigorous, it was impossible for them not to accept the challenge.

Li Long clinked glasses with his second brother and drank the wine in one gulp.

Not far behind him was the fire wall, and his back was roasted warm, so he simply took off his overcoat, filled his cup again, and said to Chen Xingbang:

"Brother-in-law, you're also amazing. You became a formal employee of the food factory in less than half a year. If you really said this in your hometown, it would make many people jealous. Come, let's clink glasses, wishing you a big fortune in the new year!"

Chen Xingbang was stunned for a moment, raised his cup to clink with Li Long, and wanted to say something, but Li Long had already finished his wine.

"Eat something, don't just drink!" His eldest sister-in-law placed a plate of braised meat on the table, removed two empty plates, and said to Li Long.

"Eldest sister-in-law, this little bit of wine is nothing." Li Long wiped the sweat on his forehead.

The fire in the stove was strong, the room was hot, and Li Long saw sweat on his head, so he knew this was stable.

He picked up his chopsticks, picked up a piece of pickled vegetables, ate it, suppressed the taste of the wine, and said with a smile: "I eat too much meat, I still like eating the pickled vegetables my eldest sister-in-law makes."

"What's good about that?" Chen Xingbang said casually, "Meat is still better."

"That's different." Li Long waved his hand, "If you eat meat every day, there will always be a time when you get tired of it... In this winter, I just like eating these pickled vegetables. Brother-in-law, come, let's have another one. Hongqin should be going to school, right? Your food factory over there should have arrangements, right?"

Seeing Li Long's frequency of drinking was so fast, Li Jianguo raised his hand to persuade him, but was nudged by his father, Li Qing Xia, next to him.

"Let him come." Li Qing Xia whispered, "Cure these two! Xiao Long's drinking capacity is very good, he knows what he's doing!"

Li Jianguo actually didn't need Li Long to stand up for him. His younger brother and brother-in-law had both become workers eating commodity grain, and their families were the same; this was a good thing.

Young people, being proud is normal. He had experienced more than Li Anguo and Chen Xingbang, and although he wouldn't be indifferent to favor or humiliation, he would be more tolerant toward his own family.

Otherwise, with his drinking capacity, the two of them taking turns wouldn't be his match.

After all, when he first came to Northern Xinjiang and served as a logistics officer in the Corps, a specialty of the company at that time was wine—distilled spirits brewed from excess corn and sorghum.

His drinking capacity was trained!

So he didn't want Li Long to drink too much—subconsciously, he still treated Li Long as a child.

When his father said this, Li Jianguo smiled. Li Long was grown up, had his own home, was an adult, and could stand up—even if it was against his own second brother and brother-in-law.

People have closeness and distance, even in their own home.

It was impossible for his parents to treat everyone equally, let alone brothers and sisters?

Reading the original text!

Alright, then let's see Xiao Long's ability. With him here to cover, he wasn't afraid of any jokes. Anyway, the home was large, and there was a courtyard in front, so it was impossible not to be able to settle them.

"Eldest sister-in-law, should we persuade them?" In the kitchen, Chen Li Rong could see it was inappropriate. She couldn't grasp it, so she asked her eldest sister-in-law, Liang Yuemei.

"Persuade what?" Li Xia said angrily from the side, "After becoming a worker in the food factory, their tone is boundless. It's just right to let Xiao Long teach them a lesson! Do they really think being a worker is their own great ability? Without Xiao Long helping at the beginning, what could they do?"

These words not only spoke of Chen Xingbang but also brought Li Anguo in. Chen Li Rong's face was a bit red, and her expression was a bit awkward.

When their two families came over, they brought a lot of things, and whether it was Li Anguo or Chen Xingbang, they had thoughts of returning home in glory.

Chen Li Rong also had a feeling of turning over. Thinking about how humble her thoughts were when she first arrived, she could finally breathe now.

But in fact, they all knew that whether in the past or now, their eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, and Li Long didn't treat them as outsiders. Whether before or after becoming workers, they were treated as their own family.

It was just their own mentality that had changed.

Liang Yuemei smiled and said:

"No need to persuade, they are all our own people. The men are drinking over there, come, let's set up the table too. We've been busy for a year, and we haven't talked properly. Today, we in the kitchen will also have a good New Year."

Liang Yuemei supported Li Long's approach in her heart, and she was also very gratified. This little brother, he hadn't been pampered in vain; he was already able to help his eldest brother vent his anger, which was quite good.

In this regard, Liang Yuemei was more sensitive than Li Jianguo; she had long heard the ostentation in Li Anguo and Chen Xingbang's tone.

Although she felt uncomfortable, as the eldest sister-in-law, she really couldn't say anything.

This ostentation was deserved, but it couldn't be directed at family members.

Her own man sat there listening, but she felt a bit indignant.

At this time, Li Long came over, and when he said this, Liang Yuemei heard it. She also knew Li Long heard it, and he also had the intention to teach them a lesson.

Alright, men's business, let the men solve it themselves.

Over here, Li Long had already raised his wine again:

"Come, eldest brother, second brother, brother-in-law, let's toast father and mother together. One of you is in Kuitun, one is in Shicheng, and father and mother are staying here. Look, today you have arrived, how happy they are!"

This wine should be drunk, and Li Qing Xia raised his cup happily. Li Long poured half a cup for his mother and handed it over with both hands.

Du Chunfang took the cup and said to Li Long again:

"They say what they say, you drink less!"

"Mother, it's fine, how far is this?"

No one had anything to say about this wine; the old couple was happy, and Li Jianguo was also gratified. This Xiao Long really knew how to talk.

After drinking the wine and eating two bites of food, Chen Xingbang felt it was his turn to speak, but he didn't expect Li Long to raise his cup and speak again:

"The elders' words just now are finished. Now, let's talk about our generation. I'm the youngest, so I have no scruples when I speak. If you think what you hear is right, then drink."

"Hey, if you say something wrong, can we blame you?" Li Anguo's face was even redder, and he said with a smile.

"That's true, that's true." Chen Xingbang also said.

"Then I'll say it. It's mainly about second brother and brother-in-law, and by the way, me too." Li Long filled the cups of Li Anguo and Chen Xingbang while speaking, "It's been a year. Before, I won't say, but this year, father and mother have been with eldest brother."

"Eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law have to plant fields, take care of father and mother, raise two children, and there are pigs at home. The work is much more than what we have in the county or city."

"But father and mother are well taken care of by eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law. I see them from time to time, but you haven't seen them for several months. Look, have father and mother gained weight, and is their complexion better?"

"That's true, that's true!"

"Yeah, there's no doubt about that!"

"Then shouldn't the three of us toast eldest brother? Eldest brother, drink as you please, this is to express our feelings. The three of us should have taken care of father and mother equally, but we didn't fulfill our hearts. This is to toast you two—eldest sister-in-law, eldest sister-in-law!"

Liang Yuemei was actually listening. Hearing Li Long's words for a moment, she felt that the dedication of this year was worth it.

When Li Long called, she hurriedly responded:

"I'm here, I'm here. You brothers drink over there, we are eating over here too."

"Then eldest sister-in-law, I'll let my brother represent you!"

"Alright! Haha, it's fine if he represents me." Liang Yuemei laughed very happily.

She used to hate Li Jianguo drinking too much, but today, if he drinks too much, let him drink too much; who made her happy?

Over here, Li Xia whispered:

"Xiao Long is truly amazing, the way he says this... Eldest sister-in-law, then should we two toast you too?"

"Hey, alright!"

Li Long raised his cup and drank the wine first. Li Anguo and Chen Xingbang also had to feel that this wine should indeed be drunk.

At this time, filial piety was truly practiced, and the matter of taking care of the elderly was all pressed on the eldest brother. To put it bluntly, don't look at Li Anguo and Chen Xingbang living well in Kuitun and Shicheng; if they really took the two old people over, they would immediately be in a shortage.

After all, the salary was only that much, and they still used grain coupons. If two more old people ate, then don't talk about eating well at home; being able to eat their fill would be good enough.

Besides, Li Jianguo also brought rice and flour to both families.

This favor had to be acknowledged.

After drinking the wine, neither Li Anguo nor Chen Xingbang had the spirit to take the initiative.

Li Long, however, couldn't see any sign of drunkenness; his eyes were bright, his complexion was normal, he was very energetic, and he was still greeting the two:

"Second brother, brother-in-law, eat food, eat food. You are in the city, you won't eat less meat, but that might not be better than the food at home."

"That's true, it can't compare." Li Anguo said honestly, "If it weren't for that yellow sheep you brought, my family wouldn't have been able to eat meat every day this winter."

"By the way, has Yongqiang returned?" Li Long just remembered the others.

"Yongqiang and the others came back with me. Yesterday, the holiday was until the afternoon, and there were no cars then. Junshan asked for leave a few days ago and went back to his hometown. His matter with that girl is almost settled, and it's estimated they will get married in the spring. He said he wants to invite you over to drink."

"Hey, not bad." Li Long smiled.

Truly, everyone had a bright future.

"Come, second brother, I'll drink another one with you. You are a city person from now on. But no matter what, you are still a Li family member. It's not possible now, it's not easy to come back, but in the future when transportation is convenient, you must come back often."

Li Anguo didn't speak and silently drank the wine.

Li Long looked toward Chen Xingbang again.

Chen Xingbang was a bit scared; his brother-in-law had drunk so much, why wasn't he drunk? (End of chapter)