Chapter 252: Once You

As Ding Wanqiu spoke, he pointed to the kid following behind and said: "It's just that, there's nothing to do in the middle of winter, so I'm taking my nephew to practice wrestling."

Li Xuewu sat on the chair against the wall as Ding Wanqiu led him, raised an eyebrow, looked at the kid standing to the side, and asked Ding Wanqiu: "Brother, this kid is your nephew?"

Ding Wanqiu saw that Li Xuewu's meaning was that he knew his nephew, and the tone was unkind, so he tilted his head and looked at the young man behind him: "Did you go to the Steel Rolling Mill to mess around?"

The young man beside Ding Wanqiu shook his head embarrassedly, then glared at Li Xuewu: "No, just met him by the lake in Jiaodaokou."

As soon as Ding Wanqiu heard this, he knew there was a situation, so he hurriedly turned around and asked: "Did he provoke you?"

Li Xuewu laughed "hehe" twice, then looked at the kid and said: "Your nephew learned from others to rob the road, wanting to grab my clothes and bicycle, and was slapped in the mouth by me."

Ding Wanqiu frowned and turned to ask: "Is your skin itching? Want to learn from the heroes of the green forest and go up the mountain to be a bandit?"

This round-faced, big-eyed kid was Zhou Changli, who had led people to walk like crabs by the lake in the beginning.

"No, it was just Old Four and the others messing around, just joking with him."

Li Xuewu smiled and didn't pay attention to him. This was in Master Ding's house, and he was a guest. There was no reason to slap the host's face.

The nephew of the uncle was also a senior, and hitting the nephew was hitting the uncle.

Ding Wanqiu said shamefully: "Brother Li, this is really embarrassing. My senior brother was my father's apprentice and died carrying corn a few years ago."

"You might also know about that matter back then. Many people died. This is my senior brother's apprentice. After my senior brother died, he was entrusted to me to practice martial arts. It's my failure to discipline him."

Li Xuewu waved his hand: "Hey, it's been a long time." As he spoke, Li Xuewu asked Zhou Changli, who was standing to the side: "How about it, man? You don't hold a grudge against me for hitting you, right?"

It would be strange if he didn't hold a grudge, but even if he did, he didn't dare to say it. Not to mention that this person was a sworn brother of his uncle, Zhou Changli himself had gone to the Jiaodaokou station to check on Li Xuewu.

He saw Li Xuewu's photo on the leadership wall and thought the name was hung wrong at the time. Only now, seeing his uncle call him Brother Li, did he know he had been deceived.

Seeing Zhou Changli not saying a word, Li Xuewu smiled and said indifferently: "It's fine, it's fine to hold a grudge, but you have to keep it in your heart. You're not allowed to say it or show it. Still the same sentence: you can come to Jiaodaokou to play, but you can't carry weapons, and you can't play dirty."

Ding Wanqiu looked at Zhou Changli and reprimanded: "Did you hear that?"

Although Zhou Changli was unconvinced, he still nodded.

Li Xuewu laughed "hehe": "Brother, it's not that I'm overbearing. I don't let him play near my house because I'm lazy to deal with him."

Only then did Ding Wanqiu understand why the easy-going Li Xuewu was so overbearing.

"Oh my, brother, I didn't see that. You're so capable. I remember you're only twenty this year."

Li Xuewu laughed "hehe" twice and didn't reply, but pointed at Zhou Changli and said: "Are you guys called 'Wanzhu' (masters of play)?"

"Hehe, I have no prejudice against people who live by playing. That's your freedom."

"But I'm quite disgusted by you guys bringing a group of so-called 'Buddhas' (thieves) to serve you. I don't call you to Jiaodaokou to play because I'm lazy to deal with you."

Li Xuewu stood up and said: "If you dare to be active in Jiaodaokou, I can guarantee you won't live past this year, even though there aren't many days left."

After finishing his words, Li Xuewu cupped his hands at Ding Wanqiu: "Brother, it's not that your brother talks too much, but we have a real fate meeting each other. If you really cherish this child, you must watch him strictly. If one day he eats my bullet, it won't be easy for us men to meet."

After finishing his words, Li Xuewu walked while Ding Wanqiu sent him out: "Originally, I wanted to practice a few moves with you, brother, but today it's considered no fate. How about this, when I have time next time, I'll come to find you. I've always wanted to learn our traditional martial arts."

"Hey, brother, I'm really sorry today. Next time you come, brother will treat you to a restaurant."

"Alright, go back." Li Xuewu laughed "hehe" and got into the Willys, started the engine, waved at Ding Wanqiu at the door, and headed home.

Ding Wanqiu watched Li Xuewu leave the Sixth Alley of Dongsi before glaring at Zhou Changli and taking him back into the courtyard.

As soon as he entered the room, Ding Wanqiu frowned and said: "How did you provoke him?"

Zhou Changli didn't take Li Xuewu seriously now. According to his uncle's meaning just now, this Li Xuewu was a person from the Steel Rolling Mill and was also working part-time at the station here.

That Steel Rolling Mill was outside Dongzhimen, and it wasn't close to them, so there was no need to pay attention to Li Xuewu.

Seeing his nephew's attitude, Ding Wanqiu pointed at Zhou Changli: "Stay away from him in the future. He's a dangerous person with murderous aura; he's someone who has killed people."

As he spoke, he took his nephew and set up a posture, engaged hands, and with a stride, pushed Zhou Changli with an elbow to the heart.

Fortunately, Zhou Changli had taken many moves from his uncle, so he cushioned it with his arm, but still sat on the mat.

Ding Wanqiu said while pulling his nephew up: "People who have seen a lot of blood have problems in their brains. They like to move their hands. If they don't agree with a word, they'll hit you. If they have a knife, they'll use a knife; if they have a gun, they'll use a gun. They don't reason at all."

Zhou Changli was stunned by his uncle's analysis and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes, Uncle, you're absolutely right. This bastard was pointing a gun at Old Four and cursing last time, then turned around and gave me a big slap, like a lunatic."

"Hehehe."

Ding Wanqiu set up a starting posture and sneered: "There was such a person who came to our door before."

"Wearing a Beiyang Army uniform, carrying a short gun, wearing big leather boots, he came to visit and said he wanted to learn martial arts."

"And he brought money, but your grandfather looked at him for a while, then set up a banquet and sent him away. He wouldn't dare to accept it even if he died."

During the conversation, he entangled the hand of Zhou Changli who was attacking, and with a sudden pull after a backward step, he put him down again.

"According to your grandfather, that person was full of murderous aura, and he must have killed dozens of people. His eyes were glowing."

Zhou Changli stood up and asked: "This Li Xuewu looks a bit fierce, but I can't see any murderous aura."

Ding Wanqiu set up the starting posture again: "That's because you can't see it. I saw it the first time I met him. This guy was ready to pull the gun on his waist and kill me at any time. I even saw where he was prepared to hit me. Damn his grandfather, it was my brow center."

As he spoke, Ding Wanqiu retracted one hand and pointed at his own brow center, recalling Li Xuewu's eyes at the time, and still felt a chill on his forehead.

Zhou Changli had been put down three times and didn't want to be thrown anymore, so he put his hands on his hips and played the rogue: "Anyway, I can't see it."

Ding Wanqiu didn't attack, so he retracted his hand and said: "The person I mentioned was just a chaotic soldier in the rivers and lakes. Can he compare with this Li Xuewu? This kid speaks in sets, clearly having received higher education. His murderous aura is covered up by culture."

"People have brains and limbs. Brains learn to think through cultural education and have thoughts. Limbs learn martial arts through exercise and have ability."

"People who don't use their brains and have no thoughts, but have martial arts and ability, are just knives for others to kill and lick blood. Such people are sharp and not terrible."

"People like Li Xuewu, who have ability and thoughts, are more terrible. What's terrible is that you don't know how much ability he has."

As he spoke, Ding Wanqiu walked to the table and chairs to drink water: "The ability that is covered up doesn't mean it doesn't exist. If you really provoke him, he really dares to kill you."

Looking at his thoughtful nephew, Ding Wanqiu said: "You have a father, and I'm not your master, so I can't say much to you. But I tell you, you must remember what he said today. Don't fall into his hands. If you really fall into his hands, hurry up and beg for mercy."

After giving the instruction, he went out to the backyard to boil water and take a bath.

Li Xuewu drove the jeep into the west courtyard and saw grandfather and the others still tidying up. He wanted to throw off his clothes and help, but was chased out by grandfather.

No way, now in grandfather's eyes, Li Xuewu was a national cadre; how could he waste time on carpentry?

This was the reason grandfather didn't let Li Xuewu tidy up the chicken coop and rabbit hutch.

Li Xuewu could only drain the water from the car and then walk home.

Entering the second gate, he saw his mother standing at the door picking cabbage.

It wasn't picking small cabbage, but brown spots that would appear on Chinese cabbage if stored improperly in winter.

Although it was fine to eat, it looked uncomfortable, so it needed to be picked off piece by piece like picking flowers.

"Why did you get off work so early today?"

Li Xuewu looked at the bustle in the middle courtyard and replied softly: "Field work. Nothing else, so I didn't return to the factory. What's going on in the middle courtyard?"

Li Xuewu had seen it when he came in. Jia Zhangshi and the Second Mistress were scolding each other.

This wasn't fresh. Neither of them was a person who would yield; they quarreled from time to time.

"Hey, it's Jia's turn to watch the faucet today. It wasn't watched, and it backflowed again. The Second Mistress wanted to get water to cook, and that's how they started quarreling."

This courtyard shared one faucet. Water was only released during meal times every day, and someone had to watch it constantly. If it froze, it would be troublesome.

It was fine if the faucet froze, but if the main pipe froze, heh, they would have to go into the pipe well to roast fire, which was very troublesome.

Li Xuewu laughed "hehehe" and turned into the room, because he had already seen Li Shu looking at him through the window glass.

"Daughter, come, let Daddy hold you."

As soon as Li Xuewu entered the room, he threw his bag and clapped his hands to beckon Li Shu.

Li Shu could barely stand by holding the windowsill or the wall now, but still needed someone to support her.

Seeing Li Xuewu, Li Shu grinned and laughed "giggle," reaching out to grab Li Xuewu, but there was a *kang* in between, and she couldn't walk yet, so she could only be anxious.

Grandmother held Li Shu and sent her into Li Xuewu's arms, muttering: "Don't know how many months this child is."

Li Xuewu picked up Li Shu and swung her in his arms, making faces to play with her, while answering grandmother's words.

"Born on the eighth day of the fifth lunar month, almost seven months old. Looking at this, she'll be able to walk by herself before the New Year."

Grandmother's eyes were all on Li Shu, calculating the days: "It's still early. She just learned to stand by holding the wall, but she crawls very fast on the *kang*. She doesn't want to sit by herself either; she lies down after sitting for a while."

Li Xuewu made Li Shu laugh "giggle," and used his beard to poke Li Shu's little face, making Li Shu anxious, using her long-nailed little hands to grab and scratch Li Xuewu.

"Hahaha." Li Xuewu had seen his daughter crawl; it was like crawling forward to blow up a bunker, both hands controlling the direction, little legs kicking hard.

"Grow up quickly, so Daddy can buy new clothes for my big daughter."

Looking at Li Shu laughing at him, Li Xuewu sighed again: "Daddy doesn't want you to grow up so fast, because when you grow up, Daddy will be old."

"Hey, you're only 19 and you say you're old. What am I, an old demon?"

"Hahaha."

Seeing Li Shu trying hard to reach the big carp on the *kang* while being held by him, Li Xuewu placed Li Shu on the *kang*.

Li Shu crawled to the big carp with her four limbs, pointed at the key and switch of the big carp, and said to Li Xuewu: "Ah!"

"Asking you to wind it up. This little thing is very smart. I wound it twice and she saw it. When she wants to play, she calls someone to wind it up."

Li Xuewu picked up the big carp whose head had been dented, wound it up, and placed it in front of Li Shu, letting Li Shu grab the fish tail and laugh "giggle" at the shaking fish head.

Grandmother pointed at the fish head and looked at Li Shu, saying to Li Xuewu: "If she's not happy, she throws things. Maybe she was hungry that day; she grabbed the big carp and threw it on the ground. That's how the fish head got dented."

"Ah!" Seeing grandmother pointing at the fish head and talking, Li Shu also said "ah" seriously, as if asking innocently who broke it.

"Ah, who broke this?"

Seeing Li Shu's expression, grandmother also pointed at the fish head amusingly and asked Li Shu.

Li Shu pointed at the fish head with her finger and said "ah, ya! giggle" with her drooling little mouth.

"Just play dumb with me, you little smart ghost. What don't you know?"

Grandmother scolded while pointing at Li Shu's little hand, but Li Shu just had an expression of not knowing.

Li Xuewu patted his daughter's butt and said: "Maybe she's growing, eating more. Add some more appropriately."

Grandmother said nonchalantly: "Do I need you to tell me? I started adding long ago. I even boil millet porridge in the morning. Look at this little belly, almost eaten into a little piglet."

Li Xuewu played with his daughter for a while, then returned to the backyard to tidy up the furnace. This work was done by grandfather or grandmother every day. Since he returned early today, he did it himself.

When entering the middle courtyard, the two people scolding each other had already stopped. Liu Guangfu was watering the water pipe with a hot water kettle. Seeing Li Xuewu enter, he even greeted Li Xuewu.

Perhaps he heard his second brother bragging and also wanted to get benefits from Li Xuewu.

How could Li Xuewu pay attention to such a young kid? He nodded and went to the backyard.

Along the way, it was either "You're busy" or "Off work."

Opening the door and entering the room, he tidied up the furnace ash, and dumped the ash into the ash trough at the door, which was a wooden box without a lid.

It wasn't big, and sometimes garbage was put in it. This was newly made by grandfather.

Before he could turn around and enter the room, Banggeng walked over from the moon gate carrying a broken bucket. Seeing Li Xuewu standing at the door, he asked in surprise: "Why so early today, Wu Shu?"

Li Xuewu looked at the bucket in Banggeng's hand, which contained cabbage leaves that the courtyard didn't want.

"I'm free today, so I came back early. Is there any rice bran left?"

Banggeng looked at Li Xuewu and said: "There's still half a bag, enough for ten more days. It won't last until the New Year."

Li Xuewu nodded: "I'll tell Uncle Biao tonight and see which day we can go to the countryside to collect two bags."

"That would be great. Just feeding cabbage leaves isn't enough. My grandmother said if we don't feed them well in winter, they'll lay eggs late in spring."

Li Xuewu nodded: "That's true. You grandmother was arguing with the Second Mistress just now, why didn't you follow?"

"Heh, a group of old women arguing is really boring. They just spray saliva from far away and don't really fight. Heh, it's my fault."

As he spoke, Banggeng tilted his head and said: "My grandmother told me to watch the faucet, but I saw it wasn't early anymore. If I don't feed the chickens quickly, they'll go on the shelf. That's how it froze."

Li Xuewu smiled and tapped the iron bucket in Banggeng's hand with a strip: "Wouldn't it be fine if you fed them earlier next time?"

"I wanted to, but if I had a jeep like yours, I wouldn't have to spend half an hour from school to home, right?"

"Once I get home, I have to do homework. By the time I finish, it's already almost five o'clock. Look, how early the sun sets."

Li Xuewu looked at the sun hanging in the west: "It really is."

"Are you guys going on vacation?"

Li Xuewu didn't know why he popped out such a sentence, then asked again: "Today is Tuesday, that is the 31st, the last day of 65. Oh my, tomorrow is the solar New Year."

Banggeng looked at the dazed Li Xuewu and said: "Still talking, do you know it was Laba Festival yesterday?"

Li Xuewu patted Banggeng's big head: "How could I not know? Didn't you drink Laba porridge?"

Banggeng curled his lip and said: "I dare to bet you don't know."

As he spoke, he shook his head helplessly and said: "Heh, don't mention it. My grandmother was busy and messed up this morning, and the porridge was burnt. I'll definitely have frozen ears this year. Thanks to my Aunt Yu giving me a bowl when I arrived at the side room, I don't know if this second bowl counts."

"Hey Wu Shu, does frozen ears count as the first bowl of porridge or the second?"

Li Xuewu pretended to think formally, then frowned and asked: "This kind of thing should be asked to your grandmother; your grandmother knows a lot."

"Heh, don't mention it. Every time I ask my grandmother, she says we can't be superstitious."

Li Xuewu nodded: "Then count it as the first bowl. You have to be careful this winter."

"Sigh, that's all I can do." Banggeng sighed and carried the iron bucket toward the chicken coop.

Li Xuewu smiled and returned to the room to calculate the time. The New Year was around the corner. Tomorrow was January 1st, and the New Year was on January 20th. He had to find time to prepare New Year goods.

Sitting at the desk, he wrote a few articles, then put them in envelopes in order, preparing to mail them out in chronological order.

When he finished tidying up and raised his head, he saw it was already dark, the sun was long gone, and the lights were on in the Ye Ye Erye's house opposite.

He stood up, stretched, pulled the curtains, put on his clothes, and walked out, preparing to go to the side room for dinner.

As soon as he went out, he saw the First Mistress carrying a thermos toward the backyard. This must be to send hot water to the deaf old lady.

This deaf old lady was a five-guarantee household, all supported by the government, and the neighborhood committee entrusted the First Mistress to take care of her. The First Mistress was truly attentive.

"Sending water, First Mistress?"

Seeing Li Xuewu come out, the First Mistress also smiled and replied: "The old lady's hands and feet are not nimble anymore, so I don't let her boil water in that room."

Li Xuewu nodded: "It should be. If the tap water is inconvenient, you can go to my room to get it. I prepared two vats, and they are full every day."

"Understood. Hey, Xuewu." Li Xuewu had just passed by and walked two steps when he was stopped by the First Mistress.

"What's wrong, First Mistress?" Li Xuewu turned around and looked at the First Mistress.

The First Mistress walked closer and asked softly: "How are you and that girl from last time?"

Not expecting the First Mistress to ask about this, Li Xuewu's breathing paused, then he smiled and said: "Her family didn't agree, so we broke up."

The First Mistress said regretfully: "Oh my, what a pity. Let me tell you, it's not that the First Mistress likes to meddle, but I saw that girl the day before yesterday."

Li Xuewu frowned, not knowing how the First Mistress saw Lin Tingting.

The First Mistress continued: "I said I was going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy fabric for your First Master to make clothes, and I happened to meet her. I wanted to say hello, but I heard her colleagues chatting with her about marriage."

"As soon as I heard it, it didn't taste right. You can't not say anything if you're getting married at the end of the month. I listened carefully and found out she was marrying a disabled retired soldier. Oh my, I bought the fabric and walked back, wanting to ask you, but you weren't at home. Only today did I see you."

"Alright, I'm relieved that you have nothing to do with that girl. We'll find a better one." The First Mistress said and went to the old lady's room, but Li Xuewu frowned.

He didn't know why Lin Tingting was in such a hurry to get married, and why she found such a husband. She was such a proud person.

Li Xuewu frowned and walked two steps, then steadied his expression and hurried toward the west courtyard.

When passing the side room screen door, Yu Li spoke to Li Xuewu, but he didn't pay attention. Pushing his bike at the west courtyard, he hurried out.

When he rode to the large supply and marketing cooperative on the street, he saw the supply and marketing cooperative had turned off the lights and was chasing people away. Li Xuewu jumped off the bike and tried to squeeze in.

"Don't squeeze, off work. Come early tomorrow. Hey! Why is it you?"

The big sister who usually collected money at the door was pushing customers out. Seeing someone squeezing in, she reminded him.

When Li Xuewu squeezed to the front, the big sister saw it was Li Xuewu and couldn't help but ask.

Li Xuewu looked at the big sister and asked: "Where is Lin Tingting getting married?"

The big sister stared and asked: "She's already married, why are you still looking for our Tingting? We want to ask you, what's going on? Tingting suddenly told us she was getting married, and we were waiting to drink your wedding wine. Heh, I heard she married a lame man. Where have you been?"

Li Xuewu frowned: "I can't explain the detailed situation to you. Can I go see her?"

"What's there to see? Why didn't you go earlier? Going at this time isn't it just causing trouble for Tingting?"

Seeing the big sister who collected money speaking harshly, the big sister at the watch counter pulled Li Xuewu and said: "We are going to attend Tingting's wedding. We'll bring your intentions, but meeting her—it's not appropriate tonight, young man, don't you think?"

Li Xuewu looked at the sky that had already darkened outside, then looked at the room where only the last light remained.

"I'll buy something, please trouble the big sister to bring it to her."

The big sister who collected money wanted to speak, but was pulled by the big sister at the watch counter, who then said to Li Xuewu: "What are you sending? I'll bring it."

Li Xuewu entered the room and walked to the watch counter, looking at the Roman ladies' watch in the dim glass cabinet. The big sister also entered the counter. This scene seemed to be the second time he met Lin Tingting.

Before the big sister could question him, Li Xuewu said with a hoarse voice, pointing at a Roman watch: "Wrap this one up."

The big sister asked hesitantly: "You mean you want to send Tingting a watch?"

This Roman watch was also imported, and the price tag was 145 yuan, so the big sister hesitated.

Li Xuewu didn't bring a watch ticket. He took out 400 yuan from his pocket, put his station ID card on top, pushed it to the big sister, and turned to leave.

"I'll bring the watch ticket tomorrow morning to take the money and the work ID."

"Hey, young man!" The big sister wanted to call Li Xuewu, but Li Xuewu went out the door, pedaled his bike, and rushed into the night.

"Oh my, you say what's going on." The big sister at the watch counter looked at the money and ID in her hand, then looked at the watch in the cabinet, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

The big sister who collected money was also shocked by Li Xuewu's wealth. It wasn't strange to send a watch to a new wife, and she had heard of sending a watch to a girlfriend, but she had never heard of sending a watch to an ex-girlfriend.

"Keep it, wrap the watch too, don't issue a receipt for now, give it to Tingting and let her decide."

Li Xuewu returned home and saw Old Biaozi and the others had returned, unloading the car in the courtyard. A big girl was surrounded by Old Biaozi.

Seeing Li Xuewu return, the girl walked to Li Xuewu very happily and shouted: "Wu Ge!"

Li Xuewu looked carefully before recognizing it was Dazhuang's sister, Chen Xiaoyan.

"Little Yan, girls change eighteen times, you're a big girl now."

Seeing Li Xuewu's low mood, Chen Xiaoyan was a bit afraid, but seeing Li Xuewu reveal a smile, her tension eased.

"Wu Ge, you've changed too, you've become ugly, giggle."

Li Xuewu pretended to be angry and rubbed Chen Xiaoyan's head: "I just praised you for being a big girl, and this is how you repay your Wu Ge?"

Old Biaozi finished unloading the car, walked over, and smiled: "I said wait until tomorrow to open for business, but Little Yan insisted on coming to take a look today."

Chen Xiaoyan was afraid of Li Xuewu, but not Old Biaozi, and wrinkled her nose: "I've long wanted to come help, but my Brother Biao wouldn't let me."

Li Xuewu laughed "hehe": "That's your Brother Biao feeling sorry for you. Is my aunt doing well?"

As he spoke, he led Chen Xiaoyan to the side room, and Chen Xiaoyan followed behind Li Xuewu, answering questions.

"Heh, the textile factory is just like that. Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, every day is the same."

"Hehe, if it's not the same, what do you want it to be?" Li Xuewu entered the room, greeted Sister Yu Li, and led Chen Xiaoyan into the inner room.

Chen Xiaoyan was clearly a flower raised in the "deep boudoir" by Dazhuang. At sixteen, she still had innocence.

This was only after Dazhuang died and Chen Xiaoyan came into contact with the outside world more that she understood more, knowing her mother was hardworking and wanting to come out to earn money to support the family.

Old Biaozi had always supported this pair of mother and daughter, so the Chen family's life was still passable.

Since the recycling station slowly made money, the money given to Dazhuang's family had increased to 20 yuan.

It wasn't that Li Xuewu was stingy, but he didn't dare to give more. The reason he didn't dare to give more was that he was afraid the child would go bad.

"I want to be like you, contacting new things every day."

"Pfft." As soon as Chen Xiaoyan finished speaking, Old Biaozi, who was following behind, sneered, then said: "Yes, we collect scrap and contact new things every day, all kinds of scrap, but are you willing to dress like this?"

Old Biaozi pointed to the clothes on his body while speaking to Chen Xiaoyan.

Chen Xiaoyan frowned looking at the dirty coat, but seeing Li Xuewu's playful look, she nodded heroically: "As long as there is a need, I can wear it."

"Forget it, you wearing this is like wanting to go to the execution ground to die heroically. Stay at home and help."

Chen Xiaoyan also knew that the work here wasn't easy, and she wanted to work well, but she wasn't willing to wear broken, dirty clothes like Brother Biao and the others to go out and shout to collect scrap.

"I listen to Wu Ge. Whatever Wu Ge tells me to do, I'll do."

Seeing Chen Xiaoyan kick the ball to his feet, Li Xuewu flicked Chen Xiaoyan's forehead: "If you used this cleverness in your studies, why would you come here to collect scrap?"

As he spoke, Li Xuewu pointed to Yu Li, who had moved the *kang* table into the room: "This is Sister Yu Li. From tomorrow on, you'll follow her to work. Whatever she does, you follow."

Li Xuewu introduced to Yu Li: "This is the sister of my childhood friend, Chen Xiaoyan. From tomorrow on, you'll take her to work. The child is young and doesn't know anything, so be diligent in ordering her around."

Yu Li smiled and said: "This is your sister; I wouldn't dare to order her around."

Chen Xiaoyan looked at Yu Li, called Sister, then jumped off the *kang*: "Sister, just order me around. I didn't come here to be a guest, I came to earn money to support the family. If you don't order me around, you're chasing me away. Let's go, I'll help you pick up the bowls."

As she spoke, she walked toward the kitchen, and Yu Li also looked at this little girl with new eyes.

What kind of work could there be in this recycling station that could tire Chen Xiaoyan out? So Li Xuewu wasn't worried.

"Yo! I'm going to eat ready-made food today. This feeling is really good."

Li Xuewu knew it was Seeing Sha Zhu entering by the sound.

"Brother Zhuzi, do you envy this life with lights in the house, rice in the pot, and people on the *kang*?"

Li Xuewu saw people entering the side room one after another, so he buried his emotions; there was no need to make everyone feel uncomfortable because of his own affairs.

"Heh, don't say that. I really like this kind of life now, carefree, everyone is lively."

Seeing Seeing Sha Zhu being stubborn, Li Xuewu laughed: "Sister Yu Li is stewing chicken today, not duck. You don't need to learn to be stubborn."

"Hahaha." Seeing Sha Zhu laughed for a while, went to the kitchen to wash his hands, then entered the room and said: "What's the use of me envying? This marriage matter is not something that can be forced."

These words happened to match Li Xuewu's mood. Thinking about it, it was really the case. He and Lin Tingting had fate but no share, and it couldn

Seeing people coming into the guest room one after another, Li Xuewu buried his emotions; there was no need to make everyone feel uncomfortable because of his own affairs.

"Hey, don't say that, I actually really like this kind of life now, carefree and unburdened, and everyone is lively."

Seeing Seeing Sha Zhu being stubborn, Li Xuewu also laughed and said, "Sister-in-law Yu Li is stewing chicken today, not duck, you don't need to follow suit and be stubborn."

"Hahaha," Seeing Sha Zhu laughed for a while, went to the kitchen to wash his hands, and then entered the room saying, "What's the use of me envying others? How can matters of marriage be forced?"

These words actually resonated with Li Xuewu's state of mind; thinking about it, it really was just like that. He and Lin Tingting were destined to have no future together, so it couldn't be forced.

"It was only when Banggeng told me the time today that I remembered, today is the last day of '65. Time really flies, there are only 20 days left until the New Year."

Seeing Li Xuewu feeling sentimental, Seeing Sha Zhu lay on the quilt on the kang like a boneless monster and said, "Isn't that so? Yushui came back last night and told me she's getting married the day before the Little New Year. Hey, I didn't expect my sister to be getting married too. Why do I always feel like she's still a child?"

Li Xuewu tossed a cigarette to Wen Saner and the others who had entered the room, and asked with a smile, "Yushui is a year older than me, still a child? By the way, she didn't get angry about borrowing the house from Sister-in-law Yu Li, did she?"

Seeing Sha Zhu didn't smoke, and he didn't feel envious seeing Li Xuewu and the others puffing away.

"Hi, we're all from the same courtyard. Besides, she doesn't really live here much anymore. She only comes back when she thinks of it. She's busy at the new house; her dormitory is closer to that side."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "You can use the wood left over from building my house to make furniture. Don't let Yushui get mistreated over there."

Seeing Sha Zhu nodded and said, "You're still the thoughtful one. Alright, I'll tell Yushui later, there's a part of your kindness in this too."

"Forget it, it's just a few pieces of wood, not worth mentioning. Just remember it is enough."

Speaking of his sister, Seeing Sha Zhu thought of Li Xuewu's part-time job, so he sat up and asked, "Hey, you're also in the police station system, you should know Yushui's partner. He's also at a police station, Beixinqiao, named Jing Yongjie. Have you heard of him?"

Li Xuewu laughed bitterly, "You really think I'm a full-time station chief? It's just a part-time job. I don't even recognize everyone in the Jiaodaokou station, let alone the one in Beixinqiao."

Seeing Sha Zhu nodded, this was normal. Li Xuewu worked at the steel mill every day, how could he know so many people, not to mention his future brother-in-law was just an ordinary police officer.

"It's okay, we'll know each other when we meet later."

Speaking of police station matters, Old Biaozi, who was bringing wine to the table, said, "The streets are very lively today, police are running all over the place. I only found out after asking around that they are catching those people who fought at our gate, saying someone's head was smashed."

"Did it really turn into a serious incident?"

Qin Huairu mentioned it this morning, but Li Xuewu didn't take it seriously, thinking Qin Huairu was exaggerating. He didn't expect something really happened.

"Isn't that so? A hole was opened above the ear. It was done by Little Liuzi from the front alley leading people."

Old Biaozi sat on the edge of the kang and distributed bowls and chopsticks while saying, "The other party came from outside the city, it seems because of a girl. The two groups of people met at our gate, I don't know how, and started fighting directly. That group from outside the city suffered a loss and threatened to stab Little Liuzi."

"What's this all about? Just because of a girl, is it worth fighting? Are young people nowadays so irritable?"

Seeing Li Xuewu's interest, Shen Guodong laughed and said, "It's different now from our time. When we were hanging out, the streets were full of old hands, who would be willing to suffer a loss?"

"Who doesn't know that a thousand pieces of gold for friendship isn't worth four ounces of breasts?"

Old Biaozi also agreed and said, "Now, hehe, if one word is wrong, they'll stab you. Remember the fight I told you about last time? Someone died."

Li Xuewu frowned, remembering what Li Xuewu asked when the Ye Ye Erye came for the first time, and the incident Old Biaozi told him about, which was also because of a girl.

This must be one hell of a beautiful girl!

"Let me tell you, Monkey's partner was passing by the street. A hooligan from Beixinqiao was sitting on the side of the road playing, and he whistled at the girl, hey."

Old Biaozi shook his head while talking and said, "Monkey led people to block the hooligan, and it wasn't enough to beat the hooligan down, hey, such a huge rock, crack, it smashed onto the hooligan's head."

Old Biaozi gestured with his hands while talking, and when his hands fell, everyone seemed to see a big rock smashing onto someone's head.

Li Xuewu was also dizzy listening to this, what kind of ruthless people are these, they really dare to kill.

"The hooligan didn't last three days and died in the hospital. Monkey was caught that night after smashing the person."

Wen Saner let the Great Uncle and Ye Ye Erye get on the kang first, sat inside the kang table, and then got on the kang himself.

"You think this is a theft case? Cases involving death are handled overnight, he couldn't run."

Old Biaozi poured wine for them and sighed, "I'm not saying whether Monkey should be caught or not, I'm talking about this matter, it's not worth it. Third Uncle, you don't know, today I saw Monkey's partner in the alley, hey, she was holding hands with a young brat and hiding in the corner of the wall being sweet, damn."

"I told you not to hang out on the streets back then, but you complained about me. Now you know, right?"

Hearing Wen Saner mention the theft case, Seeing Sha Zhu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"The Third Master's bicycle in the front courtyard hasn't been found yet. Now when he stands at the gate and sees anyone riding a bike in the alley, he looks at it carefully. Earlier, Aunt Zhou was stared at until she was flustered, and without paying attention, she hit the wall. She stood at our gate and cursed the Third Master for a long time, hahaha."

Li Xuewu looked at Yu Li who was bringing dishes up, and said to Seeing Sha Zhu, "Don't gloat, Sister-in-law is still here. Do you hate the Third Master that much?"

Seeing Sha Zhu picked up his wine glass and took a sip, saying, "Hey! I just hate him. If he hadn't delayed my business, I could have been married this year and holding a child next year."

"You just said that marriage shouldn't be forced, and now you're feeling resentful?"

Seeing Yu Li finish tidying up and sit at the table to eat, Seeing Sha Zhu swallowed his words. No matter what, he couldn't speak ill of someone in front of their daughter-in-law.

After the meal, the group drank tea. Li Xuewu told Old Biaozi about buying two bags of rice bran, asked Wen Saner for a watch ticket, instructed Old Biaozi and Shen Guodong to send Xiao Yan home together, and then prepared to go back to his room to sleep.

When he came out of the guest room, he saw the gatehouse under construction. There were old ones like the Great Uncle, Ye Ye Erye, and Third Master, and also young ones like Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangfu, and Yan Jiefang.

Good brothers:

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