Chapter 440: Brother, First, Watch My Skills

"Xiao Ye, it's almost nine—get up or you'll miss lunch! If you haven't slept enough, get up, eat, then go back to bed."

"Oh oh, Grandma, I'm getting up now, hey."

Li Ye rubbed his bleary eyes and finally dragged himself up.

After eavesdropping on Han Chunmei and her two younger sisters' whispered conversation last night, Li Ye lay in bed for a long time without sleeping.

Though he was technically dozens of years old across two lifetimes and had seen all manner of human suffering, Han Chunmei's tone of helpless despair still pierced his heart and left him unsettled.

Li Ye could roughly guess Han Chunmei's state of mind right now.

A woman, forced out of her husband's home with two children, rejected by her own family, had lived cautiously for over a decade, and finally, after marrying Li Kaijian, she'd finally changed her fate.

But this good life had barely begun—why was everything going wrong again? Was she truly, as others said, a bringer of bad luck?

Otherwise, why had Bi Hongwei immediately fathered a son after marrying his new wife? Why had Li Ye been taken to the police station just after taking his own daughter to a movie?

Actually, what had worried Han Chunmei most about yesterday's incident was Li Ye being dragged to the police station for questioning—Li Ye was the family's "absolute top guy."

In this era, most people still held deep fear of the police station; if a child was taken there, the neighbors would gossip endlessly upon his return.

"That guy's kid never behaved—he got hauled off to the police station and beaten up, and his family had to pull all kinds of strings to get him out."

Hey, good news never travels far, but bad news spreads like wildfire—any kid who'd been to the police station might forever struggle to find a bride.

If this had happened in Han Chunmei's former in-laws' home or her own natal family, Li Juan and Li Ying would've been beaten senseless, and Han Chunmei herself might've been beaten by nightfall.

But when Li Ye returned, he acted as if nothing had happened, and neither her husband, mother-in-law, nor father-in-law had scolded her a single word—this filled Han Chunmei with deep guilt, followed by intense dread.

What if this good life slipped away?

So after getting up, Li Ye planned to subtly reassure Han Chunmei that being taken to the police station wasn't a big deal.

The original owner had been in plenty of fights before—he'd been to the station more than once—and it was all familiar faces anyway; it didn't matter.

Li Ye put on his clothes and opened the door—immediately, his two younger sisters dashed in.

The older one rushed to make his bed; the younger one, unable to compete, tried to empty his chamber pot—but Li Ye never used one.

In 1980s Dongshan, having a chamber pot indoors during winter was normal—but Li Ye couldn't stand the smell, so even though it was freezing outside, he went out to relieve himself.

But Li Ying was a clever little girl—no chamber pot? What about a washbasin?

The girl snatched the basin, poured in alternating hot and cold water, tested it with her small hand, then called out to Li Ye.

"Brother, test the water—is it hot enough?"

"This soap is new."

"Here, brother, here's your towel."

Just watching Li Ye wash his face, one might think he was a spoiled landlord's son from the old days—if he were lazier or more selfish, his sisters would've washed and dried him entirely without him lifting a finger.

After washing, Li Ye looked at Li Ying seriously and said: "Xiao Ying, you don't need to be so careful around me—we're equals. This kind of service isn't right."

Li Ying blinked, confused: "Why isn't it right? Xiu Mei warms her brother's bed."

Li Ye choked on his breath, then said after a long pause: "I've got hands and feet—why should you serve me like this? If people found out, they'd laugh and say I'm bullying you. I'm a probationary Party member—I can't lord over others."

Li Ying stared wide-eyed and slowly shook her head: "Who'd laugh at you for bullying us? I'd fight them to the death!"

At that moment, Li Juan, having finished making the bed, chimed in: "Yeah, fight them to the death—they're just jealous of us."

There was no reasoning with them.

His affectionate, generous brotherly demeanor had won his two sisters' fanatical worship.

After breakfast, Li Ye had planned to take the two sisters out for a stroll, but his older sister Li Juan said she needed to work through practice tests.

Two years ago, Li Ye had given her a box of tests—she'd finished them all. Since then, Li Ye, Li Yue, and Wen Leyu had helped her gather even more—she could work nonstop and still never finish.

But these past few days, Li Juan had been enjoying the winter break with Li Ye—now suddenly she was studying hard again. Had last night's crying affected her?

Li Ye understood Li Juan's heart—she wanted to pass the college entrance exam, to give Han Chunmei some pride, to give her another anchor.

His younger sister Li Ying was a poor student; Han Chunmei's entire hope rested on Li Juan's shoulders. Now that Li Ye had given her the best possible chance, how could she not try?

Watching Li Juan return to her room to study, Li Ye turned to Li Ying and said: "I haven't asked about your studies since I came back. With these few days free, I'll set up a tutoring plan for you. Your sister's working so hard—you need to try too."

"Huh??"

Little sister Li Ying immediately pouted, squinting at Li Ye with pleading eyes, clearly begging him to let her off.

Li Ye found it amusing but kept a stern face: "Xiao Ying, you're not stupid. If you apply yourself, you can still get into college. You've got two or three years—there's still time."

Li Ying, seeing Li Ye's suddenly serious expression, hesitated, then suddenly said: "Brother, can I ask you a favor?"

Li Ye hardened: "No. Even for your mother's sake, you must take this seriously. You can't be first like your sister—but can't you at least get second or third?"

Li Ying's eyes welled up. She whispered: "What's the difference between first, second, third...?"

Indeed—for a poor student, first, second, third meant nothing; only second-to-last or third-to-last mattered.

But before Li Ye could explode, Li Ying quickly added: "Brother, that's not what I'm asking. I want you to take me to the big market."

"The big market?"

Li Ye looked at Li Ying, sweet and pitiful, and couldn't shake the feeling she was hiding something.

Since Li Kaijian had been on night shift last night, he was resting at home today—so the Happiness 250 motorcycle sat idle.

Li Ye put the helmet on his little sister and rode her straight to the Nancheng Big Market, over ten miles away.

In those days, rural markets were always bustling—and before the New Year, they were packed shoulder to shoulder.

Li Ye first found a spot to park his bike outside the market. Though the crackdown had punished many lawbreakers, there were still plenty who didn't understand the law.

The old man watching the bikes glanced at Li Ye: "Ten fen to park."

Li Ye reached for his wallet to pay—but his sister Li Ying stopped him.

The tiny girl bounced up to the old man and demanded loudly: "Ten fen? It's always been five fen! When did it become ten? Are you discriminating against us?"

The old man, a local elder from nearby villages, wasn't intimidated by a little girl.

He squinted and sneered: "What nonsense are you spouting? Bicycles are five fen—motorcycles are five fen too? You must be a terrible student—you can't even tell the difference?"

Li Ying got angry: "So what if it's a motorcycle? A cart's way bigger and still only five fen! We know Xiao Qiu and An Xiaoxu—don't try to fool us."

The old man paused, then softened: "Oh! You know them? No charge then—park over there, I'll watch it for you personally."

"No free parking—we won't take advantage of you. Here, five fen."

Li Ying handed the old man five fen without hesitation, then led Li Ye into the crowd.

Li Ye chuckled: "So An Xiaoxu's name carries weight now?"

Li Ying nodded eagerly: "Big time! Half the people here know him!"

"Huh. Didn't expect that."

An Xiaoxu was Hao Jian's younger brother-in-law; Xiao Qiu was one of the first to join Jin Peng's distribution network.

Since Hao Jian moved his family to Pengcheng, business in Qingshui County and even the provincial capital had mostly fallen to them—and now they'd become big shots.

"This way, this way."

Li Ying pulled Li Ye's arm through the crowd until they reached the northwest corner, where a long row of stalls sold cloth, clothing, and sundries.

There, Li Ye saw Han Chunlan, Han Chunmei's younger sister, and her husband.

Each had set up a massive stall, frantically busy, even employing someone to fetch goods and collect money—they looked like they were making so much money their hands were numb.

"Auntie, Uncle."

"Oh oh, Xiao Ying, what are you doing here? Weren't you at home? Oh! Li Ye's here! Come in, come in!"

Han Chunlan, busy at work, first spotted Li Ying, then noticed Li Ye—she quickly cleared a space and ushered them inside her stall.

"Da Li, Li Ye's here! Don't just stand there—get the cigarettes! Let Shuanzi watch the stall—you're clueless!"

Han Chunlan scolded her husband, and the simple Niu Dali hurried over, pulling out a cigarette and sheepishly offering it to Li Ye.

Li Ye waved it off with a smile: "I don't smoke much anymore. And I'd suggest you quit too—you're in clothing and fabric, you should ban fire completely."

"I don't smoke! I don't smoke at all! Hehe, want a drink? I'll get you one!"

Niu Dali tucked the cigarette away and moved to buy Li Ye a drink.

Li Ye quickly stopped the earnest man: "Don't bother—I just came with my sister to browse. We'll be leaving soon."

"Oh oh! You're buying for the New Year! What do you need? I know everyone here—I'll take you around."

Niu Dali was overly eager, rising to lead Li Ye on a bargaining spree.

But Li Ying leaned in and said to Li Ye: "Brother, can I ask you a favor?"

"Hmm?"

Li Ye stared seriously at Li Ying and said firmly: "Tell me what it is first."

Li Ying bit her lip: "Brother, first, watch what I can do—then I'll tell you what I want."

(End of Chapter)

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