Chapter 21

At the Li family’s table, cups and chopsticks clinked in exchange, and it wasn’t just Third Aunt watching this side.

At the dinner table, Li Xuewen and Li Xuecai quickly finished eating and put down their bowls and chopsticks.

Li Xuewen had always been simple-minded, introverted, and had a domineering younger brother, so he lacked the ability to dominate the wine table.

After finishing, both Li Xuewen and Li Xuecai said to Shazhu, “Zhu Ge, eat well,” then pulled their stools back to sit with the others.

Li Shun looked at his two college-student sons, then at his second son who kept inventing new toasts, and felt a pang of emotion—dragon’s nine offspring each differ.

Da Lao didn’t want the two boys to stay here, so she said, “Xuewen, Xuecai, go to the south room. Zhu isn’t a stranger—you don’t need to stay and keep him company.”

Shazhu looked at Li Xuewen and the other and said, “No problem, little brothers, don’t be formal with your brother—go rest if you want.”

Only then did Li Xuewen and the other politely respond and head to the south room.

The northern room’s table had also finished eating, but no one cleared it, since they had to wait until the outside guests were done before moving anything; so the eldest sister sat with Grandma and Liu Yin chatting, while Li Shu went to the south room to read.

Shazhu looked at the three reading in the south room and sighed, “Uncle Li, your family really deserves to produce talent—this drive to read, no neighbor in the alley has ever seen anything like it.”

Li Shun was proud but still humbly replied, “The kids just like reading; there’s nothing else to do, so they stay home and read—nothing special.”

Li Xuewu knew Li Shun was both praising his sons and subtly showing off, but he didn’t care—he himself now read too, but he could no longer study professional texts or do scholarly work; he lacked the energy.

Li Xuewu muttered awkwardly, “I’m the only one in our family who’s useless—I can’t match my older or younger brothers, and I won’t even match my sister someday.”

Watching his second son, whose face had turned red from drinking, Li Shun said nothing and offered no reprimand.

He’d said all the necessary words, given all the scoldings hundreds of times; he’d struck, he’d been harsh—he could only do one thing now: help them onto the horse and see them off.

loubiqu.

Da Lao slowly sipped her wine and patted Li Xuewu on the shoulder.

Shazhu said carelessly, “Xuewu just likes to have fun—he’s a high school graduate, and in this neighborhood, that’s top-tier already. What more do you want?”

As he spoke, Shazhu turned to Li Shun and said, “Uncle Li, don’t set your standards too high—give us some breathing room too. Why must the Literary Star always land in your house? Shouldn’t your family produce at least one worker?”

Finding Shazhu’s remark amusing, everyone in the inner and outer rooms burst into laughter; even the eldest sister in the inner room took a careful look at her younger brother for the first time.

Thick eyebrows, large eyes, a high nose bridge, clean skin, chiseled cheeks, and a faint beard revealed the vigor of a true man; though the scar on his face marred this beauty, it added a different kind of heroic aura.

And this younger brother, standing nearly one meter eighty, was a standard fine man wherever he went—his reputation and scar had simply misled people’s impressions.

This time, the family’s view of Li Xuewu had shifted—he no longer looked like a thug, nor carried that careless, lazy air; his conduct and actions now had discipline.

Although Li Shun still disapproved of him, he no longer lashed out as he used to.

The three siblings in the south room were reading, but they could still hear the conversation in the main room; today’s firewood and wild boar had completely reshaped their understanding of the Li family’s second son.

Actually, Li Xuewu hadn’t been home today—Li Xuecai had secretly taken out Li Xuewu’s medals to look at; he’d never dared touch his second brother’s things before.

Li Shu went over first, carefully examining them; then Zhao Yafang and Li Xuewen also came close to look. When they saw the official certificates of merit and awards, their minds completely revised their perception of Li Xuewu.

This Li family member was just as fierce wherever he went.

Halfway through drinking, Li Xuewu and Shazhu rose to go to the toilet; as they stepped outside, they saw a fat, round figure crouched by the frozen meat, holding a small knife, preparing to cut off a piece—facing away from the door, he hadn’t noticed them emerge.

Li Xuewu, reeking of alcohol, walked up behind the fat boy, crouched down, and grabbed his nape.

“I don’t care who your family is—if you cut off even one piece of meat today, I’ll cut off your balls and sew them on top. If that’s not enough, I’ll cut off your thigh and use that instead.”

The fat boy froze in terror, the knife in his hand but dared not strike the man—everyone had heard how Second Li the Scar had torn apart a wild boar with his bare hands, and the meat was right before his eyes.

Shazhu chuckled, “It’s Qin Guafu’s eldest son—nickname Banggeng. Don’t tease him—let’s go to the toilet, come back and keep drinking.”

Li Xuewu released his grip, patted Banggeng’s head, and smiled.

Banggeng finally dared to look up—and gasped in fright, urine flooding his pants.

When Li Xuewu’s face was stern, he looked normal—but now, grinning wickedly, he resembled a demon from a picture book that devoured children.

Banggeng shot upright with a shrill “Aaaah!” and ran crying home, wailing as he ran.

Li Xuewu and Shazhu both burst into loud laughter.

The two walked out the gate together to use the toilet.

When they returned, they saw Qin Huaiju standing in the central courtyard, holding Banggeng, who was wailing loudly; faint curses from Jia Dongxu drifted from inside.

Qin Huaiju didn’t say anything to them, only softly comforted her son, wiping his tears.

Qin Huaiju: “Why did you take the knife? Why did you provoke that living bandit? You deserved to be scared—stop crying.”

The more Qin Huaiju spoke, the more Banggeng cried; seeing his mother wouldn’t avenge him and was scolding him, he threw a tantrum in her arms, twisting his body and slapping her with his arms.

Jia Dongxu, lying on the bed in the small room, screamed: “That damned bastard—he eats his fill and shouts like a king, yet won’t help a widow and orphan! I took two pieces of meat—what’s wrong with that? My grandson’s hungry, and I haven’t even taken it all yet—I’m being generous enough!”

Her voice carried through the entire courtyard; lucky for her, she had a powerful voice—her house was in the central courtyard, and nights were especially quiet; her scream was as loud as the factory’s public address.

Shazhu patted Li Xuewu’s back and pushed him inside.

Li Xuewu wouldn’t stoop to arguing with that old hag—he wouldn’t retort; it would only make him look foolish, and whether he won or lost, he’d be bullying a widow and orphan.

Qin Huaiju standing in the courtyard soothing her child was waiting for him—he wouldn’t step into that trap; even without Shazhu pushing him, he went inside.

Inside, everyone’s mood remained unaffected—they were used to it—and kept drinking until past nine before finishing.

Li Xuewu’s face was bright red now, but he wasn’t dizzy at all—he always drank like this: half a catty felt the same as a full catty—face flushed, sweat on the back of his head, body perfectly steady; perhaps because of his reincarnation, his physical strength had improved—he could tell just from the endless energy in his body that he hadn’t come here for nothing.

Shazhu was done—he was swaying; his outer coat, taken off earlier from the heat, had been laid by Liu Yin on the south room’s kang to dry, and when he put it on again, the warmth made him burp from the alcohol. He bid farewell to Li Shun and Da Lao and headed out.