Chapter 285: Petty-Minded

In truth, Lou Xiaoe, who had grown accustomed to the life of a young lady, was hardly the type to eat leftovers; she had prepared them specifically for that scoundrel, Li Xuewu.

Like a stone statue waiting for her husband, she prepared them day after day.

She waited for Li Xuewu to knock, waited for him to arrive, terrified that if he showed up suddenly, he wouldn't have a meal to eat.

Today, Lou Xiaoe's waiting had truly paid off; it hadn't been in vain that she had eaten so many days of leftovers.

Li Xuewu squatted by the stove door, feeding firewood into the flames, watching with a smile as Sister Lou shredded potatoes.

"It's fine. Don't wait for me like this in the future. If I come over in the evening, I'll swing by here while I'm on duty and let you know."

"Don't flatter yourself. Who was waiting for you? As if I care~"

"Hehehe."

Li Xuewu laughed without refuting her, simply squatting there to add more firewood.

Although Lou Xiaoe scolded Li Xuewu with her words, in her heart, she truly enjoyed this time.

What made Sister Lou even happier was that Li Xuewu could understand what she said and grasp her thoughts; she would be willing to eat leftovers for another month, a year, or even a lifetime.

Especially when she watched Li Xuewu squatting there feeding the fire, she felt exceptionally at peace.

Sometimes, a woman is truly easy to satisfy; it isn't about money.

Why is it that in later generations, you see guys in bean shoes, tight-fitting cropped pants, cheap leather jackets, heads full of dyed yellow hair, and faces covered in acne?

It's not that men are belittling men; it's just that same-sex repulsion makes them jealous, claiming the other guy doesn't look good.

Even if you look at that face with the most objective eyes, a hundred normal men would still say it doesn't look good.

But then look at the girl he's holding!

That is your first love!

A girl with the face of your first love is someone you couldn't attain at his age, and someone you still cannot attain at your current age.

When you watch that first love of your heart looking affectionately at that bean-shoe-wearing youth who doesn't even care about her, you could rack your brain until you're bald, but you still wouldn't know where you lost.

This is because that bean-shoe-wearing youth can satisfy every one of that girl's fantasies about youthful rebellion.

Just like how you once thought a girl with smoky makeup, colorful hair waving about like a parrot, wearing a white T-shirt, denim hot pants, and white rubber shoes with black silk stockings was incredibly beautiful.

As Sister Lou watched Li Xuewu, who was wearing a white shirt under a dark ochre knit sweater with his hair parted in a three-to-seven split, squatting there, he fulfilled every fantasy she had about a soulmate.

The two chatted and laughed as they finished cooking; even the steam rising from the pot was filled with Sister Lou's happiness.

Once the table was set on the kang, Lou Xiaoe wouldn't let Li Xuewu lift a finger.

"Go wash your face and hands!"

Lou Xiaoe pushed Li Xuewu by the back, ushering him into the kitchen.

"I'll help you set the bowls..."

"You don't need to!"

Lou Xiaoe drew wash water for Li Xuewu and placed a towel on the basin rack.

"Use the soap and scrub well; it's all dust."

"Can't help it. Winter in this city of ours is just a dusty season."

Li Xuewu picked up the soap from the basin rack and looked at it: 【Green Tea Soap】, a product from a famous Shanghai brand.

He rubbed it in his hands and sniffed it; it really did smell like green tea.

This wasn't anything new; this stuff came in domestic and export versions. Our country had always been a major producer of soap.

"This soap of yours really is fragrant. Unlike me, I just use one bar of laundry soap for everything."

Lou Xiaoe set the bowls and chopsticks on the table, walked back to the kitchen, and said, "I bought three bars. You can take two home."

Sister Lou was truly generous with Li Xuewu; whatever he wanted, he could take.

"Hehehe, what would it look like if I took two bars of soap home? How much does this cost? I'll buy some myself later."

"Sixty-one cents and five mills a bar."

"What was that?"

Li Xuewu froze, holding the green soap in his hand, and asked in disbelief, "It's this expensive just because they added tea oil? My sister thought the ones at thirty-one cents and five mills were too pricey."

"Master Yang Er at that mouth of yours, wide open. You're going to eat the soap next."

Li Xuewu put the soap back into the box on the rack, lathering his face with soap bubbles as he said, "Now that you mention it, I really do want to eat it. This price is catching up to a jin of pork."

"Master Yang Er at you, so surprised by everything. You're just someone who doesn't work the fields or know the price of grain. Do you even know the price of firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea, and you're complaining about the price?"

"Hehehe."

Li Xuewu washed his face in the basin like a duck. Once he rinsed off the foam, he wiped his face with the towel on the rack and said, "Let's not have the pot call the kettle black. You aren't much better than me. I don't know the price of firewood and rice, but do you?"

Sister Lou snatched the towel from Li Xuewu's hand and helped him wipe the water from the back of his neck and ears.

"Common Lighthouse soap is thirty-seven cents, clam oil is ninety cents, a bottle of soy sauce is twenty-two cents and five mills, a jin of sugar is one yuan, twenty-six cents..."

Sister Lou rattled off the current prices like she was reciting a script, leaving Li Xuewu to smile bitterly.

"I surrender to you. It seems you really have started living a proper life."

"Hmph, eat!"

Sister Lou brought the dishes to the table, and Li Xuewu finished tidying himself up.

Looking at the water on the floor, Sister Lou was too lazy to scold Li Xuewu; that was just his nature.

He was the little man she had chosen, so she had to spoil him no matter what.

Yes, Sister Lou's feelings for Li Xuewu were ones of spoiling.

And Sister Qin's feelings for Li Xuewu were ones of reliance—pure, stubborn reliance.

As for Yu Li, her feelings for Li Xuewu were ones of concession; she yielded to Li Xuewu in everything, doing whatever he asked.

Li Xuewu noticed that the things at Sister Lou's place were gradually being updated.

The broken table and chairs Wen Saner had used earlier had all been replaced by Sister Lou with new ones, and a desk had been added to the room, with a radio sitting on top.

"What are you looking at? Eat."

Sister Lou brought over the steamed rice and called out to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu looked at the books on the desk; they were the ones he had bought for her last time.

"You've even started taking study notes? Not bad, my sister."

"Don't mock me."

Sister Lou snatched the notebook from Li Xuewu's hand and gave him a playful punch.

"I only finished middle school; my cultural level isn't as high as yours."

"Hehehe."

Li Xuewu put his arm around Sister Lou's shoulder and said, "You'd better hurry up and catch up; I'm already reading university-level material now."

"You and your attitude. Hurry up and get on the kang to eat."

Pulling Li Xuewu onto the kang, Lou Xiaoe served him rice and picked out dishes for him, spoiling him to the heavens.

She was just short of feeding the food directly into Li Xuewu's mouth.

Li Xuewu was quite capable, finishing every bit of the food, and after the meal, he even finished an apple that Sister Lou had washed and sliced for him.

"Back to my father-in-law's place again?"

"Get lost."

Sister Lou was slowly adapting to Li Xuewu's jokes and no longer objected to him calling her parents his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

As for Li Xuewu's request to meet her parents, she was actually more worried about it than her parents were.

Because she didn't know what would happen if Li Xuewu went to her house, and she couldn't control the situation, Sister Lou kept dragging the matter out.

The safest method now was to have a child first before bringing Li Xuewu home.

Once full, Li Xuewu let Sister Lou wash his feet and lay on the kang, patting his belly.

"How wonderful it would be if every day were like this."

"Have a conscience when you speak. Was it me who wouldn't let you come?"

Lou Xiaoe washed her own feet, and seeing Li Xuewu lying on the kang full and making flippant remarks, she angrily kicked him.

Li Xuewu didn't mind at all, shifting to the side, and said, "Who was talking about you? I was talking about myself; I'm not the master of my own fate."

Sister Lou carried the foot-washing water to the kitchen, poured it into the slop bucket, washed her hands, and then returned to the room.

"You and your attitude. You're not a big official, yet you have so much business."

Sister Lou complained to Li Xuewu, "What kind of cadre are you, being this busy? If you became the factory director, would I even be able to catch a glimpse of you?"

Seeing Sister Lou get on the kang, Li Xuewu laughed and said, "If I really became the factory director, I wouldn't be this busy. Haven't you heard that those at the top just move their mouths, while those at the bottom run their legs off? Once I'm director, I'll just have to move my mouth."

"That's twisted logic. Who says that? Does that mean my father only moved his mouth in the past?"

The two finished their meal, washed their feet, and lay on the kang digesting, their bodies still while their tongues wagged.

After chatting for a while, Li Xuewu slipped into the quilt.

Sister Lou pressed down on the quilt and asked with some surprise, "Is your body better?"

"Mm-hmm."

Li Xuewu nodded and smiled wickedly, "I can start eating meat again."

"Don't you go overexerting yourself."

Lou Xiaoe looked at Li Xuewu skeptically and said, "This isn't a joke. If you overdo it, it will affect your future."

"What a joke. Don't you know if you try it?"

Li Xuewu didn't give Sister Lou any room to bargain; he chose to act directly.

Ah, no, move...

"Aiya~"

Li Xuewu never relied on waiting to digest his food.

Sister Lou braced herself against Li Xuewu's shoulders, feeling that familiar strength.

"Let me tell you something."

Li Xuewu lowered his head, looked at Sister Lou, and said, "Wen Saner needs to borrow a sum of capital from you."

"Hm?"

Sister Lou heard the word "capital."

"Are you doing this on purpose? Do you have to say it at a time like this?"

Li Xuewu didn't mind at all.

"Idle is idle."

"Are you idle, or am I idle?"

Sister Lou gave Li Xuewu a slap and then asked, "How much to borrow?"

"I don't know."

Li Xuewu leaned over and hugged Sister Lou.

"Annoying~"

"You don't even know how much, so why did you think to bring it up with me?"

Li Xuewu replied unhurriedly, "How much could he possibly use? In front of Sister Lou, it's just a drop in the bucket."

Sister Lou braced herself against Li Xuewu's hand and said coquettishly, "Stop talking nonsense. I don't have any savings; I don't even know if it's enough for you to borrow."

Li Xuewu explained, "The recycling station collected a batch of furniture and appliances, and then there's the backlog of scrap. The scrap company won't start collecting until after the New Year, so the money is all tied up in that. We're temporarily short on cash."

"A small horse pulling a big cart; it's no wonder it's collapsing."

Sister Lou couldn't hold on anymore, her whole body arching backward.

Li Xuewu sat up and said, "Within a month, maybe half a month, the money will be back. At most, it's only two or three thousand, maybe three or four thousand."

Lou Xiaoe lay on the quilt, looking at the ceiling, and asked, "Do you think there's any business I can do? Ah~~"

Li Xuewu leaned forward, looking down at Lou Xiaoe, and said, "What business do you think can be done in an individual's name?"

After asking that, Li Xuewu followed up, "It wouldn't be that your old man is getting restless, would it?"

Lou Xiaoe blinked and said, "He doesn't dare do business anymore. I don't know why, but lately, he's always going out to visit friends."

Li Xuewu laughed, "Tell my father-in-law to stop asking around. Tell him to live his life peacefully. If he recovers his health, there might be a day when he can return to the world of business. If his health collapses, he'll only be left staring at the moon."

"Did you get some kind of news?"

Sister Lou held onto Li Xuewu's arm and asked, "If you have any, tell me, so my dad won't worry blindly. I don't know what he's thinking, but seeing him so troubled..."

Li Xuewu rested his arm on the windowsill, leaned over, looked into Sister Lou's eyes, and said, "Don't ask. I won't say. But if you trust me, do as I say."

Lou Xiaoe hesitated and said, "But what about my dad?"

Li Xuewu sighed and said, "Take it slow. There's still time."

The idea of Lou Xiaoe's father wanting to leave hadn't been a one- or two-day thought; he had wanted to leave since the day of the joint venture.

He couldn't leave for a while because he truly couldn't.

Whether it was the property here or the things in the warehouse, they were all things that couldn't be moved in a short time.

Later, they were able to leave by taking advantage of the chaotic situation. At that time, order had already collapsed, which was why they were able to get trucks from the city.

And they were able to use the trucks to transport furniture and precious metals to Jinmen to be shipped out.

It must be said that among the people Lou's father knew, there were truly capable individuals. It was just unknown why, when the Lou Xiaoe family went to Hong Kong, only she and her mother returned with the children.

Seeing that Sister Lou was having a hard time holding on, Li Xuewu got up, went off the kang, poured a cup of warm water from the teapot, drank it, and then brought a cup to Sister Lou.

Sister Lou drank the water, but she looked more like a fish out of water. She gasped for a long while, lay on the pillow, looked at Li Xuewu, who had come back up, and asked, "Do you know what my dad wants to do?"

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu looked into Sister Lou's eyes and said, "I can see it, and others can see it too."

Sister Lou stared at Li Xuewu for a while and said, "You really are the kind of person my dad said you were."

"Ah~~~"

Li Xuewu laughed and looked at Sister Lou, asking, "I have to ask, what did my father-in-law say about me?"

"I won't~ tell~ you~"

Sister Lou's voice trembled, her eyes closed, her teeth biting her lip, resolutely resisting Li Xuewu.

"Are you going to say it or not?"

Seeing that Sister Lou looked like she wouldn't confess even if she died, Li Xuewu decided to use "torture."

"Looks like I have to use the big punishment. Hehe."

"Ah~~~"

"Hehehe~"

"Are you a donkey!"

Wiping the sweat from Sister Lou's forehead, Li Xuewu looked at Sister Lou, who was lying on the pillow just gasping for breath, and said, "The seed is buried in the soil; the rest is up to you."

"Hmph~"

Sister Lou was too lazy to bother with this scoundrel now. After resting for a long while, she finally said, "My dad said you are very dangerous."

"Hm?"

Li Xuewu raised his head in surprise and asked, "Is your dad named Lou Airplane?"

"Get lost. Your dad is the one named Airplane."

"Hehehe."

Seeing Sister Lou's reaction was a bit intense, Li Xuewu laughed and said, "I haven't even met your dad. How can he say I'm dangerous? That's a bit unfair, isn't it?"

Lou Xiaoe glared at Li Xuewu and said, "I agree with my dad's point of view now."

"You're really using people when you need them and discarding them when you don't. Why didn't you say I was dangerous just now?"

"Get lost. Who said that?"

Sister Lou rested for a while, got up, went to the kitchen to get hot water, rinsed the towel, and wiped Li Xuewu's body bit by bit.

"My dad said he checked on what you've been doing these past few months and said you are a restless person."

"I've been wronged!"

Li Xuewu tilted his head, widened his eyes, and cried out in grievance, "I've been very dutiful. They were the ones who forced me. I'm an honest man; everyone says so."

"Forget it."

Sister Lou gave Li Xuewu a slap and said, "Listen to me finish."

Seeing Li Xuewu lie down again, she rinsed the towel in hot water, wrung it out, and wiped Li Xuewu's body.

"My dad said every time you advance, it's a storm in the factory, and you're too young, always stepping on other people's heads to get ahead. Sooner or later, you'll suffer for it."

"Mm-hmm, Dad is right."

Li Xuewu nodded, indicating that what his father-in-law said made a lot of sense. If it weren't for the things that were going to happen this year, his foundation really wouldn't be stable.

But he knew in his heart that this was something that couldn't be helped.

This was also why Li Xuewu and Dong Wenxue were constantly perfecting the boat they were both on.

When Li Xuewu was in the later generations, he was also hazy about the present and couldn't see anything clearly.

But now Li Xuewu understood a little; this was a reshuffling.

The people at the table had to leave, and it was time for others to take their place.

Li Xuewu and his teacher didn't want to be asked to leave the table, so they had been working hard.

Seeing Li Xuewu suddenly agree with her father's words, Lou Xiaoe felt sorry for him.

"Are you under a lot of pressure? Did I cause you pressure?"

Sister Lou threw the towel into the basin and then lay on Li Xuewu's body.

Li Xuewu patted Sister Lou's back and said, "Don't overthink it. I have arrangements."

It seemed as if it were destined by fate; every time they were about to act, they would pass through Sister Lou's place, and it would always be snowing—heavy snow.

The case of taking down Hu Zhengquan last time was the same.

Because he got up early, Li Xuewu put on his clothes, took a shovel, and cleared the snow from the doorway to the main gate.

By the time he returned to the room, Sister Lou had already finished cooking.

It was Sister Lou's signature dish, and also Li Xuewu's favorite: scallion pancakes.

Sister Lou had lived here for a long time, and her living supplies were gradually becoming abundant. Everything was fully stocked, and she even used sheep fat for the pancakes.

Well, of course, how could Lou Half-City mistreat his own daughter?

"Eat. Don't tidy up; I'll tidy up later."

Lou Xiaoe stood in the kitchen and called out to Li Xuewu, who was sweeping the snow from the windowsill, and then brought the pancake basin to the kang table.

By the time Li Xuewu entered the room, the wash water and towel were already prepared.

"I have a mission tonight, so I won't be coming over. Don't prepare my meal."

"Understood."

Lou Xiaoe agreed and served Li Xuewu a bowl of egg drop soup.

"My parents told me to go home and live there for the Little New Year."

"Mm-hmm."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Spend more time with my father-in-law and mother-in-law. I'll come pick you up after the New Year."

"Don't bother."

Lou Xiaoe glared at Li Xuewu, then couldn't help but look at him with a smile and say, "I'll tell you when there's a result."

Sister Lou didn't want to talk more about this topic; Li Xuewu didn't have much time this morning.

"Eat more. It's cold today; eat until you're full."

"Hehehe."

Li Xuewu was served his meal by Lou Xiaoe like a great master, then put on his leather jacket and was seen off out the main gate.

"Go back. I'll come again on the first day of the New Year."

"Mm."

Sister Lou stood at the doorway, watched Li Xuewu's figure disappear past the alley entrance, then turned back and latched the gate.

If it weren't for the fact that it couldn't be helped, Sister Lou would also have liked Li Xuewu to go home and meet her parents, even in their current relationship.

But Sister Lou knew that there wasn't a single topic that Li Xuewu and her father could agree on right now.

Touching her belly, Sister Lou returned to the room to tidy up, preparing to go home as well.

Before leaving, she still had to wait for Wen Saner to come and take the money.

Sister Lou had quite a few savings of her own, all given to her by her mother every time she went home; the previous money had all been scraped away by the Xu family.

If Li Xuewu hadn't returned that bag of gold and silver jewelry to her, Sister Lou would truly be penniless right now.

The reason Lou's parents could tolerate their daughter being in such an unclear relationship with Li Xuewu, besides the fact that Lou Xiaoe was divorced and unable to bear children, was that Li Xuewu had returned those yellow and white items to Lou Xiaoe.

Not to mention anything else, just Li Xuewu's magnanimity in treating money like dirt was enough to make Lou's father swallow more than half of his anger.

There weren't many young people left now who could resist such a great temptation and still have ambition.

Especially after experiencing the hurt from Xu Damao once.

Lou Xiaoe's divorce was a hurt to her, and also a hurt to her parents.

After Sister Lou's divorce, Lou's father was also blaming himself; it was all because he trusted the Xu family too much and wanted to wash his own background clean too much, so he sacrificed his daughter.

Lou's mother was the same, always pitying her daughter's bitter fate, but what she was pitying was also her own fate.

Don't look at "Lou Airplane" saying Li Xuewu was very dangerous; Lou's parents also knew where Li Xuewu's home was and where his workplace was. Why didn't these two go find Li Xuewu to talk?

If Lou Xiaoe hadn't received the tacit approval of her father and mother, how could she have kept living in the villa Li Xuewu found for her?

Lou's father always talked, and Lou's mother always pitied her daughter, but why didn't the two of them take Lou Xiaoe back from here?

In fact, Lou's father had also taken a fancy to Li Xuewu's status and demeanor, and Lou's mother had also tacitly accepted her daughter's fate, which was the same as her own.

If life could always be like the first meeting,

Why would the autumn wind grieve the painted fan?

It is easy for the old heart to change,

Yet it is said that the old heart is easily changed.

Li Xuewu tightened his cuffs, covered the sleeves of his leather jacket with his hand warmers, and pushed his bicycle toward home.

Because he had already told Yan Brother Jiecheng to bring the car back today, he still had to go home to switch vehicles.

Pushing a bicycle in this heavy snow was much more tiring than walking.

By the time he got home, Li Xuewu had hot sweat inside his cotton hat, which showed just how difficult it was to walk in this heavy snow.

Yu Li ran out to help Li Xuewu sweep the snow off his body with a broom.

"Thanks, sister-in-law."

Li Xuewu looked at the still-snowing sky; it was gray, and small snowflakes were drifting in the air, feeling cool when they landed on his face.

"Hurry inside and get warm. Master Yang Er at you."

Seeing Yu Li help him lift the door curtain, Li Xuewu pushed the door open and entered the south-facing room.

As soon as he entered, he saw several men sitting on the kang in the room.

Because of the heavy snow, the storefront wasn't open, and the tricycle couldn't go out, so they were all drinking water and watching the snow in the room after eating.

"This snow is really heavy. It looks like next year will be a good year."

"Mm, this is already the third snowfall. A timely snow promises a good harvest."

As soon as Li Xuewu entered the inner room, he saw a woman sitting on the kang, holding a child in her arms.

"Good morning, Third Aunt-in-law. Hehe."

"Hey, Xuewu is back."

Fei Shanying was also a bit embarrassed by Li Xuewu calling her Third Aunt-in-law, but she still replied to Li Xuewu heartily.

Yesterday, no matter how she asked Wen Saner, she couldn't get out of him what kind of relationship he had with Li Xuewu. Today, looking at the relationship between these people, it really wasn't simple.

Especially Wen Saner, who seemed to be in charge of things at this recycling station.

The grandfather sat on the kang, looked at Li Xuewu, and asked, "How are you going today? If it doesn't work, just ride a horse; I already fed the horse just now."

"No need, Grandfather. A car is coming to pick me up today."

Li Xuewu sat on the edge of the kang, took the cup of hot water Yu Li handed him, and leaned against the kang cabinet.

"The snow is heavy today, so don't go out. Tidy up the snow at home, and then get busy with the work in the north warehouse."

Wen Saner nodded and said, "Not going out today. I told the old uncle that after we finish clearing the snow, we'll work on those stools. But Xiaoyan and the others still have to open the storefront; that can't stop."

"That's the right way."

The second grandfather nodded and said, "You can't keep a business closed for a long time; it has a bad influence. Even if there are no customers, you have to keep it open."

Li Xuewu looked at Xiaoyan, who was sitting on a stool in the room, and asked, "Don't come over so early in this kind of weather in the future. Wait until the weather is better. I worry when you do this."

Xiaoyan smiled and said, "It's fine. It's not far; I just walked over."

Fei Shanying watched the few of them chatting and laughing; this was different from the collective enterprise Wen Saner had talked about.

There wasn't a single outsider in this room; it seemed like they were all close relatives.

Just as they were talking, the sound of a car came from the entrance of the west courtyard.

"That's for me."

Li Xuewu finished the water in his hand, put down the teacup, stood up, greeted the others, and walked out.

Because he knew it was Yan Brother Jiecheng coming to pick up Li Xuewu, Yu Li also followed him out.

Li Xuewu wanted to drive away directly, so he didn't go to open the west courtyard gate, but instead walked through the main courtyard gate.

Seeing Li Xuewu and his wife come out from the courtyard entrance one after the other, Yan Brother Jiecheng jumped out of the car.

"Don't turn off the engine. I'll drive it away directly."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and got into the car. Before leaving, he gave Yan Brother Jiecheng a reminder: "The snow is heavy, drive slowly."

"Hey, understood!"

Seeing Li Xuewu leave and Yan Brother Jiecheng not leaving, Yu Li asked, "Why aren't you going to work with him?"

Yan Brother Jiecheng pulled the Daqian Sect cigarettes Li Xuewu had given him from his chest and put them into his wife's hand.

"If I went to work, how would I go to your house? I asked Li Xuewu for leave."

Yu Li looked at the cigarettes in her hand and widened her eyes, saying, "Why buy such expensive cigarettes? My dad can't afford to smoke these; just buy him some Honghua."

Although she was complaining, she was also pleasantly surprised to see Yan Brother Jiecheng spending so much money on her family.

But as she spoke, she realized something was wrong and asked, "Where did you get the money to buy cigarettes? These are four yuan a carton, right?"

Yan Brother Jiecheng laughed and said, "My monthly pocket money is only 2 yuan. Even if I bought Honghua, it's 90 cents a carton; I still couldn't afford it. Li Xuewu gave these."

Yu Li looked at the cigarettes in her hand and instantly understood what was going on.

So that was why Li Xuewu had asked her the day before yesterday if she was going home—he had been preparing for this.

Thinking of Li Xuewu caring about her, Yu Li felt sweet inside, but she asked Yan Brother Jiecheng, "Why did you accept such expensive cigarettes?"

Yan Brother Jiecheng laughed and flattered her, "Didn't he say these were for our dad? If they were for me, I wouldn't have taken them no matter what."

"Don't accept them next time. My dad will show off these cigarettes all over the street."

"Hehehe."

Yan Brother Jiecheng laughed twice but didn't dare to respond to his wife's teasing.

Don't look at his wife saying a couple of things about her father; if he said them, it would be another round of war.

"Li Xuewu said to have you get a jar of wine and two fish from the south-facing room for my dad."

"You agreed?"

Yu Li carried the cigarettes and led Yan Brother Jiecheng into the courtyard. Seeing Yan Brother Jiecheng say this, she turned back and asked.

Yan Brother Jiecheng instantly knew how to answer.

"No, I didn't respond; I just thanked him. I was waiting for you to decide when you got back."

Yu Li turned back satisfied and continued walking into the courtyard, saying as she walked, "Keep it in mind. Let's go to Li Xuewu's house during the first month of the New Year to see their elders."

Yan Brother Jiecheng asked in confusion, "Isn't his house right across from ours? What are we going to see?"

"Are you a blockhead?"

Entering the outer courtyard, Yu Li saw two old ladies sitting in the entrance hall talking, so she lowered her voice and didn't speak until they entered the screen wall, "You took people's things; don't you have to return the favor during the New Year?"

"Oh, oh, oh."

Yan Brother Jiecheng nodded to show he understood and said, "You make all the decisions on this. Just tell me when to go; I'll do whatever you say."

Yu Li was satisfied with this point about Yan Brother Jiecheng.

Entering the south-facing room, Yu Li smiled and said to Wen Saner, "Third Uncle, Xuewu said to let me take a jar of wine and two fish home to visit relatives."

"Know, know."

Wen Saner nodded and smiled, "Xuewu told me yesterday. Just take them yourself; we're all our own people, don't be so polite."

"Good."

Yu Li smiled and agreed, then went to the east room to find a jar to draw the wine.

Yan Brother Jiecheng smiled, greeted the people in the room, and then went to the kitchen to boil water.

By the time Yu Li finished tidying up, Yan Brother Jiecheng had also finished adding hot water to the jeep.

Yu Li didn't ask if Li Xuewu had agreed that this vehicle could be used, because Yan Brother Jiecheng was now Li Xuewu's driver, so even Wen Saner didn't ask when Yan Brother Jiecheng moved that vehicle.

Because that vehicle was originally Li Xuewu's; even when Old Man Biao drove it, it was borrowed.

It was said to be registered at the recycling station, but it was actually still used by Li Xuewu.

After Yan Brother Jiecheng sent the water bucket back to the south-facing room, he saw Yu Li come out of the courtyard.

"What did you go get?"

Yu Li's ears were a bit red as she said, "Nothing. There was some fabric left over from what Li Xuewu gave last time, so I made a pair of cotton shoes for my parents."

Speaking of the fabric Li Xuewu gave, Yan Brother Jiecheng looked at the new cotton-padded jacket Yu Li was wearing; it really was beautiful, especially the white small floral fabric—one look and you knew it was good stuff.

Why else would they say a woman looks beautiful in white? Yu Li's white jacket with pink flowers was truly eye-catching.

Hearing Yu Li mention the shoes, Yan Brother Jiecheng's eyes inadvertently swept over Yu Li's shoes.

This could also be considered a conditioned reflex—when someone says something, the body inadvertently reacts by looking at that object.

He had originally just swept a glance and didn't think much of it, but just as he was about to walk toward the west courtyard, Yan Brother Jiecheng felt something was wrong.

Why was his wife wearing a pair of high-heeled leather shoes?

Yan Brother Jiecheng wasn't a fool; he knew that in this day and age, not just anyone could wear leather shoes.

What's more, one look at his wife's leather shoes told him they weren't cheap goods.

Seeing Yan Brother Jiecheng stop walking and look at her shoes again, Yu Li subconsciously pulled her feet back.

But then, as if thinking of something, she took a step forward again.

"Why aren't you walking?"

Yan Brother Jiecheng looked at Yu Li's normal expression, then looked at her leather shoes and asked, "When did you buy leather shoes?"

Yu Li showed the shoes to Yan Brother Jiecheng.

"Do they look good?"

Seeing Yu Li ask normally, Yan Brother Jiecheng felt a bit embarrassed.

What was wrong with him? How could he suspect his own wife?

"They look good. One look and you know it's good leather. You look even better wearing them."

"When did you learn to be so oily-mouthed?"

Yu Li smiled and said to Yan Brother Jiecheng, then explained, "Li Xuewu bought them."

"Hm?"

Yan Brother Jiecheng widened his eyes and looked at his wife.

"This...?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Yu Li showed Yan Brother Jiecheng the leather shoes and walked toward the west courtyard. After passing the small gate, she saw Yan Brother Jiecheng standing behind her, staring at her with wide eyes, and asked with a scold.

Yan Brother Jiecheng's face changed colors. Looking at the leather shoes on Yu Li's feet, he stammered, "These leather shoes... Li Xuewu... why did he buy them for you?"

Seeing Yan Brother Jiecheng ask, Yu Li became unhappy first, turned to look at Yan Brother Jiecheng, and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Yan Brother Jiecheng didn't look at Yu Li's eyes, just stared at the leather shoes on his wife's feet.

"I don't mean anything; I'm just asking."

He said he was just asking, but suspicion had already arisen in his heart. His face couldn't hide things, and what he was thinking had long been seen through by Yu Li.

"Are you suspecting me?"

"No..."

"You are suspecting me. Master Yang Er into my eyes."

The more Yu Li told Yan Brother Jiecheng to look into her eyes, the more Yan Brother Jiecheng didn't dare to look, but the stubbornness in his heart made him stare fixedly at those leather shoes.

"What happened to you trusting me?"

Facing Yu Li's question, Yan Brother Jiecheng was also struggling bitterly in his heart.

On one side was his trust in his wife; on the other side was his wife's sentence just now: "Li Xuewu bought them."

"Li Xuewu bought them."

"... bought them."

"... bought them."

This sentence kept lingering in Yan Brother Jiecheng's ears, his head buzzing.

"So you only see the shoes, right?"

Seeing Yan Brother Jiecheng not speaking, Yu Li raised her leg and kicked Yan Brother Jiecheng.

"Can't you hear me talking?"

Kicked by Yu Li, Yan Brother Jiecheng looked at Yu Li unnaturally, his eyes filled with deep doubt.

Seeing Yan Brother Jiecheng raise his head, Yu Li said amusingly, "Why are you so petty?"

Seeing Yu Li's expression, Yan Brother Jiecheng also became a bit doubtful.

Logically speaking, if something really happened, his wife shouldn't be wearing them so openly.

And it was impossible for her to tell him who sent them. Could there be a hidden story?

"Think about why Li Xuewu sent me shoes."

Seeing Yu Li look at him with a smile and ask this, Yan Brother Jiecheng asked uncertainly, "Is it because of me?"

"Hehehe."

Yu Li smiled and said, "Who else could it be for?"

Yan Brother Jiecheng was shocked by this answer.

So it was because of him!

He had scared himself; he wondered what it was for!

Yu Li held Yan Brother Jiecheng's arm and walked toward the car in the west courtyard, saying as they walked, "Li Xuewu said you've been working hard lately, always on duty, especially often driving at night, and following him around during the day."

"Isn't this what I'm supposed to do?"

Yan Brother Jiecheng laughed and scratched his head; he didn't expect Li Xuewu to praise him in front of his family.

This felt much more comfortable than being praised to his face.

Yu Li gave Yan Brother Jiecheng a nudge and said, "Silly. Li Xuewu told me you're not steady and he didn't dare praise you to your face for fear you'd lose your motivation, so he said he gave the reward for you to me."

Yan Brother Jiecheng thought about it; he was indeed that kind of person—he couldn't handle being praised.

"That's as it should be, wife. What's mine is yours; it's only right that my reward is given to you."

"I also didn't expect it to be a pair of leather shoes. If I had known they were such good shoes, I wouldn't have accepted them. I was afraid of causing you a burden."

Looking at Yu Li's understanding and the way she worried for him, Yan Brother Jiecheng felt a sense of "with a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?"

"It's fine, wife. Although I don't know how rich Li Xuewu is, he really doesn't care about this. From the moment he threw me the cigarettes, I knew he was truly generous."

As he spoke, Yan Brother Jiecheng said to Yu Li, "He is a good leader. He understands me, helps me, and even knows to give the reward to my family. Hehehe."

"Still suspecting?"

Seeing Yu Li bring up his reaction just now, Yan Brother Jiecheng was ashamed and said with a red face, "Not suspecting, not suspecting, hehe."

"Attitude. Do I not know you? I'm in the courtyard every day, spending the day with Xiaoyan during the day, and living in the middle courtyard at night. Your parents are also living in the courtyard. What do I have that's worth you suspecting?"

"Not suspecting, not suspecting, hehe."

Yan Brother Jiecheng explained with a dry laugh and helped Yu Li put the shoes she was holding into the back cabin and secure them.

"If you weren't suspecting, why were you feeling guilty? Master Yang Er at you. Am I worth you suspecting, or is Li Xuewu worth you suspecting?"

Yan Brother Jiecheng looked at the things in the back cabin of the jeep and felt that Yu Li's words were like a whip lashing against his body.

It was too inappropriate; he really was too inappropriate.

How could he suspect his own wife!

How could he suspect his good leader!

Back then, when he humiliated Li Xuewu in front of the rolling mill gate, he didn't retaliate against him. Back then, when his father humiliated Li Xuewu's father, Li Xuewu didn't retaliate against him. What was he thinking now!

His wife was working hard at home guarding the house for him, and his leader gave him such a back cabin full of care. He was a scoundrel.

Especially after hearing his wife explain the meaning of those leather shoes—this was a medal.

Yan Brother Jiecheng felt that Li Xuewu really understood him too well, knowing that delivering the medal to his family was his most glorious moment.

The most regrettable thing was that the surprise his wife gave him had been disrupted by his own overthinking.

"Wife, look at what you're saying. What was I suspecting? From the first day you came to work here, I said I only trust you and Li Xuewu. I don't even trust my own father's words!"

"Cough, cough, cough~"

Life is full of drama, and people living in drama play their respective roles.

These roles include the sheng, dan, jing, mo, and chou.

No one knows what role they are playing in their own drama, but every role has complex human emotions. ===== CHAPTER 286 =====