[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji":3,"chapter-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-24":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Siheyuan: Food, Love, and Family in 1960s Beijing",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2314074,4526,"Chapter 24","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-24",24,"\u003Cp>Second Uncle scoffed, “You guys act like this and still think you deserve wild boar meat? You won’t even get to eat wild boar shit—don’t even dream of me making you look good. As long as I don’t have to keep feeding you, that’s already Buddha’s mercy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangtian mustered up courage and said, “Aren’t there still some pieces left? Why not give us a little?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Aunt quickly waved her hands. “That’s reserved for your older brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangfu rushed to say, “Why does everything go to the older brother? He married and drained the whole family dry—now that there’s meat, shouldn’t he get his share too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle snapped, “You don’t understand a thing. Your older brother’s an official now—he’s entitled to eat meat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangtian retorted discontentedly, “What official? Just a lowly clerk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle had always dreamed of holding some minor official position, but his failure to advance beyond elementary school had left him with a lifelong wound; now that his eldest son was a clerk, at least outwardly he could claim to have some official standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eldest son was the pride of the old couple—how could they tolerate Liu Guangtian speaking like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle slammed down his wine cup, kicked Liu Guangtian hard in the chest, sending him sprawling backward, then kicked Liu Guangfu too, who collapsed like a coward; the two brothers scrambled out the door in chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle stamped at the door, yelling, “You two brats—get out and don’t come back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Xuewu brought the meat to the deaf old woman, she was already asleep; hearing him knock, she pulled on her coat, leaned on her cane, sat up, and tugged the lamp cord to light the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when the lamp lit did Li Xuewu push open the door and enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old lady, I’m Xuewu from the front courtyard—I’ve brought you a piece of pork.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing it was Li Xuewu and the meat on the table, the deaf old woman hurried to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pressed her down, stopping her from getting up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old lady, rest. I’m leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then delivered meat to the two households next to the deaf old woman’s side room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he knocked on Xu Damao’s door, he waited two minutes before Lou Xiaoe opened it, wearing a red silk nightgown and a small cotton jacket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Xiaoe was truly well-endowed—her figure was curvaceous, and with her baby face, Li Xuewu felt his drunkenness surge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu quickly said, “Sister, you’re resting? We slaughtered a pig at home—I brought you and Brother Damao a piece of meat. I know your place doesn’t lack for it, just a taste of freshness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Xiaoe was just hesitating to accept when Xu Damao came out in his nightwear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xuewu, why say that? So formal—thank you very much. Tomorrow come over to my place, I’ll cook you two dishes, and your sister and I will have a drink with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu blushed. “Then it’s settled. You and Sister rest—I’m heading back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and walked home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Damao smelled the alcohol on Li Xuewu and didn’t notice his flushed face, assuming it was from drinking, muttering, “This kid’s actually thoughtful—looks like he can hold his liquor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Xiaoe pinched Xu Damao. “All you think about is liquor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s set aside their squabbles for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did Li Xuewu insist on delivering the meat at night?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he didn’t want this crowd to spend the whole night thinking and cursing—and besides, this was his formal return, a proper greeting to everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu carried his empty bucket home and saw Liu Guangtian and his brother running out; he paid no mind and kept walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the central courtyard, he met Qin Huaiju wiping her eyes and said, “Auntie Qin, feeding rabbits at midnight? These two rabbits—hey, so white!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Huaiju felt embarrassed; seeing Li Xuewu didn’t stop and just made small talk, she didn’t respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu ignored Qin Huaiju’s reaction, walked a few steps home, where the house was already tidied and everyone was preparing for bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pointed to the braised offal and said to Li Xuewen, who was reading, “Tomorrow, pack a bag of the braised bits, chop half the pig’s head, take twenty jin of meat, and deliver it to Big Sister’s place after work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewen replied softly, uninterested: “Got it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly absorbed in his book, he answered automatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yafang excitedly said, “No need for so much—just some meat is fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu ignored Big Sister’s words and turned to Li Xuewen again: “Also take two bottles of wine—buy bottled Fenjiu from the door’s supply store.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out two wine coupons and placed them on his brother’s desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Brother Li Xuewen put down his book, surprised: “What are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu ignored his brother and turned to Zhao Yafang: “Don’t mind what I said earlier. My brother’s a bookworm. As the new son-in-law, his first New Year visit can’t be half-hearted. You go back with him—it’s dark, hard to walk. Stay overnight and come back tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu knew married women always missed home; who wouldn’t want to return in glory and stay a night, to hear flattering words?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother Li Xuewen felt embarrassed and tried to return the coupons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xuewu, what’s this? I have my own coupons—how can I take yours?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yafang gratefully said, “Thank you, Second Brother. My family will finally see meat this year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pushed his brother’s hand back. “Yours are yours—this is my gift. Take it. I missed your wedding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yin added, “If your brother gives it, take it. Don’t be so formal with him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yafang had long wanted to send meat to her family, but her mother-in-law ran the household; she’d opened her mouth several times but never dared. Seeing her younger brother suggest it, tears welled up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yin wiped Zhao Yafang’s tears. “Why cry? I know your family struggles. Even if Xuewu hadn’t said it, Mother would’ve sent it tomorrow. He’s your brother—why thank him? Don’t cry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yafang’s family lived in a rural village; raising a daughter to university was extremely hard—they had three younger brothers, and her father was unusually open-minded, one of the rare men of this era who let his daughter attend university.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Liu Yin speak, Li Xuewu stopped being formal with his brother and sister-in-law and turned to his mother: “Think about how many leaders are in Father’s unit—big or small, deliver five jin to each household, three jin to close colleagues.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yin worriedly said, “Your father’s unit has many leaders—why give them meat? You’re not even related.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shun also frowned. “Nonsense. You can’t play favorites like this at work—what kind of person would I become?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu ignored Li Shun and continued to Liu Yin: “Father’s only forty—he still has room to advance. His medical skill is excellent, yet he’s been stuck at Fourth Grade, Level 12 for two years. Besides, colleagues always need to maintain ties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He patted Li Xuecai’s shoulder. “Mother, don’t worry. Make a list of names. You and Xuecai will go with Father tomorrow afternoon to deliver it. Xuecai will become a doctor—he needs Father’s connections. Start by getting familiar with the people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Xuecai staring at him oddly, he added, “Also, check if any households have girls around his age—bring one home as his bride. Hahaha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yin pinched her second son and scolded with a laugh: “How reckless you are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone laughed at Li Xuewu’s words; Li Xuecai broke away from his brother and ran to the north room, climbing onto the kang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his second son’s plan, Li Shun no longer objected.\u003C\u002Fp>",1290,"2026-06-20T13:46:54.288Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b2ef7db2903e9953fa27cffea1ce846e10b493738d2adcb90ecb24472ec8a3f6","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-25","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-23",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-cover.jpg"]