Chapter 362: Kites

"Hahahaha."

Hearing Gu Ning's words, Li Li Xuewu laughed and asked, "Are you tired of me talking?"

Gu Ning knew what Li Li Xuewu meant and said with a smile, "You're just talkative; I really don't know why you have so much to say."

Li Li Xuewu didn't mind Gu Ning's words, knowing the girl didn't mean she disliked him talking.

"If you have something to say, just say it; you can't keep it bottled up in your heart."

Gu Ning stared at Li Li Xuewu and asked, "Aren't you afraid of saying the wrong thing and being embarrassed?"

"Not afraid."

Li Li Xuewu turned to look at Gu Ning and smiled, "As long as I don't feel embarrassed, it's others who will be."

"Hmm~"

Gu Ning couldn't help but laugh at Li Li Xuewu's words, but she covered her mouth with her hand and stared at Li Li Xuewu.

"Hahahahaha."

Li Li Xuewu laughed loudly without any restraint.

After parking the car in the west courtyard, he saw some boys swinging axes and chopping wood.

Gu Ning got out of the car carrying her bag and took a few glances at the increasing number of people in the courtyard.

Li Li Xuewu didn't mind, waved to Xiao Yan, who was looking over from the back door of the recycling shop, and took Gu Ning into the courtyard.

"Grandpa."

"Hey!"

Seeing Li Li Xuewu's car enter, Grandpa walked out and happened to meet the two at the gatehouse entrance.

"Cold?"

"It's okay, quite good."

Gu Ning said a few words to Grandpa and then had nothing left to say, standing there quietly.

Grandpa actually liked this granddaughter-in-law's personality; he found those who were loud and boisterous annoying.

Li Li Xuewu saw the door open, and Old Lao Biaozi and the others were busy in the east room.

"Grandpa, is the kang finished?"

"Almost."

Grandpa looked at the two with a smile and then said to Li Li Xuewu, "Hurry home; the third one is back."

Li Li Xuewu nodded to Wen San'er and the others looking over from the room, then asked Grandpa, "Is my big brother back?"

"Yeah."

Grandpa had already waved for the two to enter the front courtyard.

"Go home; it's smoky and dusty here."

As he spoke, he looked at the mud and dust on his hands and rubbed them with a smile.

Li Li Xuewu gently supported Gu Ning's shoulder, signaling her to walk into the moon gate.

"Then we're going home; come over when you're done here!"

"Go, go."

Grandpa was still smiling.

From the moment they entered the moon gate, Gu Ning's figure attracted the attention of everyone in the courtyard.

Although Li Li Xuewu had brought her once before, and she had come once by herself, the people in the courtyard still showed great curiosity about this newcomer.

"Is there a kind of pressure?"

Looking at Gu Ning's bewildered gaze, Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "There are many people living in the courtyard, so this kind of situation happens."

Gu Ning combed her long hair by her ear; this time she didn't have braids but had pinned her hair up.

"It's okay; there's this situation in our courtyard too. Everyone just cares about each other."

Looking at Gu Ning's clear eyes, Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Not entirely, but there's no extreme purpose; it's just curiosity, talking about things."

Gu Ning pinched the bag in her hand unnaturally and nodded, saying nothing more.

She knew Li Li Xuewu was giving her a heads-up that she might encounter the domestic trifles she rarely saw before.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu taking care of her, Gu Ning walked a little closer to Li Li Xuewu.

"You don't have to specifically take care of my feelings; it actually gives me a burden. I'm not anyone special."

This might be the first time Gu Ning made a request to Li Li Xuewu, and it was the clearest thing she had ever said.

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "That's best; it's only comfortable if we live our own lives."

"They're all waiting to see your joke."

"Why?"

Gu Ning looked at Li Li Xuewu in confusion.

Li Li Xuewu saw his mother walk out and smiled, explaining, "They think a princess might not be able to get used to the life of a commoner."

After saying this, Li Li Xuewu had already greeted his mother.

"Mom."

"Auntie."

"Hey!"

Liu Yin didn't pay any attention to her second son, who was being attentive, but ran toward Gu Ning.

"Cold on the road?"

"Not cold."

"Who asked you?"

Seeing Li Li Xuewu rushing to answer, Liu Yin glared at her son, then smiled and said to Gu Ning, "Let's go, let's go back to the room; it's a bit chilly now that the snow has melted."

After speaking, she didn't care about Li Li Xuewu and pulled Gu Ning into the room first.

When Li Li Xuewu entered the room, he saw his sister-in-law pulling Gu Ning and Ji Ji Yuxiu to sit on the east side of the north room's kang, chatting lively.

The old lady held Li Shu and Li Xue, smiling as she watched the three future sisters-in-law chatting lively.

Li Shu was staring with wide eyes, examining the two "newcomers"; seeing Li Li Xuewu enter, she tried hard to stand up with her little legs and ran to the edge of the kang.

"Ah~ Pa!"

"Yeah!"

Li Li Xuewu was pleasantly surprised; although the word wasn't accurate yet, he clearly caught his eldest daughter's address for him.

"Giggle giggle~"

Being swung around on the ground by Li Li Xuewu, she giggled with her little mouth.

But no matter how Li Li Xuewu teased or coaxed her, she wouldn't say that word again.

Watching the interaction between father and daughter, everyone in the room laughed, but they were more concerned with observing Gu Ning's expression.

The old lady was the most concerned, shifting her body slightly to observe Gu Ning's profile from her left rear.

Liu Yin, standing in the living room, could tell that Gu Ning didn't care much about the child, and there was no sign of pickiness in her eyes when looking at her son.

Li Li Xuewu carried Li Shu to the south room; Li Xue-wen, who was in the room, also put down the book in his hand, looked up, and smiled at his niece.

"Go, go bother your uncle, don't let him read."

Li Li Xuewu said, and had already placed Li Shu in Li Xue-wen's arms.

The young lecturer, who was eloquent on the podium, was in a panic because of his eldest niece.

Li Shu was clearly familiar with Li Xue-wen; sent by her father into her uncle's arms, she immediately reached out to grab her uncle's glasses.

This was something Li Shu had been curious about for a long time.

"Hahahaha."

Li Xue-wen hurriedly held his niece and said, "You can't grab this."

But the quick-handed Li Shu had already taken the glasses off Li Xue-wen's face and was trying to put them on her own face.

After a long time of effort, when she finally got them crooked on her face, everyone in the room laughed.

"Stop showing off!"

Liu Yin smiled, walked over, took the glasses off her granddaughter's face, put them back on her son, and then took Li Shu.

The eldest son really wasn't cut out for taking care of children; his hands were stiff, as if he were afraid of dropping Li Shu, and he didn't know how to hold her.

Zhao Zhao Yafang saw Ji Ji Yuxiu looking at Li Shu curiously and smiled, "When Li Xuewu brought her back, I said I wanted to adopt her as my daughter, but Li Xuewu wouldn't agree."

As she spoke, she glanced at the flustered Li Xue-wen and said, "Your big brother is really fond of this girl. He used to come home and sit in the south room for half a day without moving, but now he has to go see Li Shu first when he gets home."

Li Li Xuewu hugged his brother's shoulder, walked to the north room, and sat on the west kang, right next to Li Xuecai, facing the three people opposite.

"Today is a holiday and a family reunion, so no reading; we'll read when we have time tonight."

Li Xue-wen smiled and nodded; he had a hobby of reading, but he wasn't a bookworm who didn't want family affection.

If he were a bookworm, he wouldn't have been secretly dating Zhao Zhao Yafang at school.

This was the relatively conservative attitude of the university toward relationships, which was why Li Li Xuewu told Li Xuecai to keep his mouth shut.

Li Shun had been sitting in the living room watching the conversation; although he didn't speak, he looked satisfied.

Liu Yin didn't hold back, looking at Gu Ning and Ji Ji Yuxiu with satisfaction, unable to look at the two future daughters-in-law enough.

Li Li Xuewu smiled and asked Ji Ji Yuxiu, "Is your brother resting at home today?"

"Deputy Li..."

Ji Ji Yuxiu wanted to stand up to answer when she heard Li Li Xuewu's question, but was stopped by Li Li Xuewu's wave.

"At home, in private, call me Second Brother, but don't call me that at work."

"Yes, Second Brother."

"Hahahaha."

Seeing Ji Ji Yuxiu was a bit nervous, everyone laughed.

Ji Ji Yuxiu knew the Li family was kind, and they wouldn't be like this usually.

But ever since she learned Li Li Xuewu had been promoted to the branch bureau, and today meeting Gu Ning, she was a bit nervous.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu was still as kind and humorous as before, she tightened her shoulders and said with a smile, "My brother doesn't have time to rest; he's busy every day. He was on the phone when we came out, seems like there's something going on."

Li Li Xuewu looked at the sister-in-law he had chosen with a smile and was quite satisfied.

Her personality matched the somewhat simple Li Xuecai, and her temper was good too.

Most importantly, Li Li Xuewu could see the good family style of the Ji family from Ji Wang Weidong.

Of course, Ji Wang Weidong's craftiness didn't count; he grew crooked later.

No wonder Ji Ji Yuxiu had a good personality; given her parents' status and her brother's status, did she need to be afraid of Li Li Xuewu?

Of course, it might be because she saw Li Li Xuewu playing games with those little rascals who threatened Li Xuecai and Li Xue that night, leaving some psychological shadow.

But Li Li Xuewu swore that her brother definitely played more tricks than he did.

"Your brother isn't busy; he's just restless. If he's restless, he'll cause trouble."

"Hahahaha."

Ji Ji Yuxiu covered her mouth and giggled; seeing everyone looking at her, she explained, "My brother said the same thing about you, word for word."

"Hahahaha."

Everyone was amused by Ji Ji Yuxiu's simple cuteness and Li Li Xuewu's embarrassment, laughing loudly.

Li Li Xuewu helplessly shook his legs and said, "No choice, your brother and I are iron buddies; this is called heroes thinking alike."

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Was your brother on the phone when you left?"

"Yeah."

Li Li Xuewu rolled his eyes and asked, "Did he see you?"

"Hmm?"

Ji Ji Yuxiu also felt Li Li Xuewu's abnormality and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Heh heh heh."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "He's not busy with work; he's busy with personal matters."

"Ah?"

Ji Ji Yuxiu was surprised and said, "My brother didn't say anything!"

"Hahahaha, what kind of work does your brother do? Can he tell you this?"

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "I see your brother isn't young anymore, so I introduced him to a partner."

"Hmm?"

Looking at Ji Ji Yuxiu's curious gaze, Li Li Xuewu waved his hand, looked at Li Xuecai, and then smiled, "Can't tell you, or my brother will suffer, hahahaha."

Li Xuecai heard his second brother's words and thought of his brother-in-law, also smiling helplessly.

If you say his brother-in-law is mature, he's childish enough to drink too much and compare wrestling with him.

If you say his brother-in-law is childish, when he's with his second brother, his eyes turn faster than his second brother's, and you can tell he's plotting against people.

"Gu Ning and Ji Yuxiu, is there anything you want to eat? Our family has fish, meat, just say it!"

Liu Yin sat on the edge of the kang next to Ji Ji Yuxiu, looking at the two future daughters-in-law, unable to look enough.

"Mom! I'm still here."

Zhao Zhao Yafang said playfully, "If you want to be biased, wait until I'm not home!"

Then she said to Gu Ning and Ji Ji Yuxiu, "Take this opportunity to speak up! You won't have this treatment after you're married!"

"Hahahaha."

Liu Yin waved her hand with a regretful expression, "Don't tease, wait until I trick these two into the house before saying that, hahahahaha."

"Hahahaha."

There was another burst of laughter in the room, attracting frequent glances from neighbors passing by the front courtyard.

Seeing it was time for a meal, Liu Yin stood up and went to light the fire to cook.

Zhao Zhao Yafang also stood up with a smile to help.

Ji Ji Yuxiu looked at Gu Ning, and her little hand pulled Gu Ning's hem on the kang.

Gu Ning had received her mother's instructions at home; even if Ji Ji Yuxiu hadn't reminded her, she would have gone to help.

At this moment, the two were advancing together, getting off the kang, taking off their coats, and going to help.

While washing the rice, Liu Yin saw that the two had already taken off their coats, were wearing only sweaters, and were rolling up their sleeves to help.

"No, no, there's not much work."

The old lady sat on the kang, having seen the two's little actions long ago, and was smiling as she watched the future mother-in-law and daughters-in-law being polite.

Zhao Zhao Yafang stood by the stove and said to her mother-in-law, "Treat it as an internship today, let them understand our family."

Seeing the eldest daughter-in-law joking, Liu Yin smiled and let the two help.

But these two didn't know how to do anything at home.

Seeing Ji Ji Yuxiu holding a kitchen knife, Liu Yin was scared and hurriedly took it over.

Because there were many dishes prepared, there was work for these two who couldn't do anything.

For a time, the kitchen was lively, with Liu Yin's laughter and cries of helplessness coming out from time to time.

Li Li Xuewu stood up and went out of the room, while Li Xue-wen and Li Xuecai were sitting in the room chatting with Li Shun.

"Picked up your partner?"

"Yeah."

Just as he went out, he ran into the First Uncle walking in from outside; before Li Li Xuewu could greet him, the First Uncle spoke first.

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Happened to be my day off, so we're gathering."

"Good, good."

The First Uncle looked at Li Li Xuewu and nodded with a smile, asking, "Set the date?"

"Not yet, still early."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and replied, then pointed toward the gatehouse rooms and asked, "You want to talk about those boys, right?"

The First Uncle looked at Li Li Xuewu and said, "I'm not worried with you here."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and said, "They're all bitter children; I'm managing them strictly, so you help me watch them too. If they have bad character, you speak up; once they enter this courtyard, they have to listen to you."

The First Uncle also knew Li Li Xuewu's attitude toward these boys, so he nodded and said, "Okay, with your words, it's fine. Fine, you go be busy."

As he spoke, he waved his hand and said, "Tell me when the date is set!"

"Okay!"

Li Li Xuewu agreed, glanced at the First Uncle going to the middle courtyard, and turned to leave the second gate.

It had to be said, this First Uncle really knew how to conduct himself and do things better than the Second and Third Uncles.

At the very least, he wasn't annoying, and he was attentive to things in the courtyard.

Actually, without the First Uncle saying it, Li Li Xuewu knew what he wanted to say at a glance.

Maybe it was because he was wary of his status that he came to ask.

But it showed the First Uncle was a careful person.

Since people gave him face, Li Li Xuewu absolutely couldn't be ungrateful.

There were many people in the courtyard; having someone attentive to arrange things was better than being in a mess.

Entering the moon gate, he saw Old Lao Biaozi directing the boys to clear out dirt and bricks, and Li Li Xuewu dodged.

Taking advantage of the gap, he looked inside and saw Yang Erhai adding kindling to the stove.

"Finished tidying up?"

Li Li Xuewu walked into the room, looked at the brick kang smeared with yellow mud, and a stove that wasn't small.

This stove was also built of bricks, with only the grate and stove pipes bought.

This yellow mud stove was more practical than an iron stove; even if you accidentally touched it, it wouldn't hurt too much.

But if it were a cast-iron stove, it would turn red after burning coal for a while.

Touching it would make you cry, and brushing against it would make you howl; it was quite dangerous.

Grandpa was still squatting by the kang, checking if the yellow mud surface was flat; Wen San'er nodded and replied, "Done, just keep the fire burning this afternoon; it has to burn for a while."

At this moment, Yang Erhai had already used pine needles to ignite the wood, and a puff of white smoke shot out from inside the furnace.

Li Li Xuewu dodged to the back and reminded, "Watch this thing; don't get carbon monoxide poisoning."

"We're guarding against it."

Wen San'er knew what Li Li Xuewu meant by coal gas poisoning; many people had died from this before.

As he spoke, he pointed to one side of the window and said, "It'll be warm enough here later, so we won't even seal the windows tightly."

What Wen San'er meant by sealing was sealing the window cracks; not only did the Northeast have the habit of sealing window cracks, but the Four Nine City did too.

Because they were wooden window frames, if you didn't seal them, it would be like living in a wind tunnel, and the small cold breeze would be quite treacherous.

By the time they finished speaking, the fire in the furnace was already burning vigorously, and it no longer smoked.

Yang Erhai laughed and said, "Pine needles are really a treasure in winter; even if they're a bit damp, they can still be ignited."

As he spoke, he had already gone out to get coal balls.

Thanks to Li Li Xuewu letting Old Lao Biaozi get some coal before the New Year, and Grandpa and the others going to the suburbs to get dry trees.

With the gatehouse rooms, back courtyard, gatehouse, and his own front courtyard, who could afford to burn like this?

Li Li Xuewu distributed cigarettes to the people in the room, watching the white water vapor rise from the yellow mud on the kang as heat entered the kang tunnel.

"This kang is really not small."

Wen San'er laughed and said, "Just in case someone comes over later, since we're building it, we might as well make it practical; we can sit on the kang and eat when the weather gets cold later."

"Heh heh heh."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Still thinking about recruiting troops and buying horses? Even the First Uncle came to ask just now."

Wen San'er was stunned by Li Li Xuewu's words, then asked, "Ask what?"

"Asked if you were going to rebel."

"Go away!"

"Hahahaha."

Li Li Xuewu laughed and said, "Take it easy; if you take too big a step, you'll tear your balls."

Wen San'er knew what Li Li Xuewu meant, pulled Li Li Xuewu to the window, and whispered, "At first I didn't feel much, but once the business increased, I got a bit busy with the accounts and that pile of things."

Seeming afraid Li Li Xuewu would misunderstand, he waved his hand and emphasized, "It's not that I'm lazy, nor that I'm floating; I'm telling the truth."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I know."

Although Wen San'er saw Li Li Xuewu nod and say he knew, he didn't dare to be careless.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Li Li Xuewu, but that he was afraid Li Li Xuewu didn't trust him.

"I'm thinking of teaching a few people to take over the recycling business so I can free myself to manage the accounts and that pile."

Li Li Xuewu looked at Wen San'er and said, "You're thinking right; it's hard to lead a large team."

"Yeah."

Wen San'er laughed and said, "Don't look at us as not big, but the business is not small; without someone watching, I'm not at ease."

"You can slowly withdraw, but there can't be any more people."

Li Li Xuewu looked at Wen San'er and said, "And in these two years, use the ones you think are good, the ones you've taught, and the ones who are adults; don't keep adults here."

Wen San'er also understood Li Li Xuewu's meaning; although he didn't know what Li Li Xuewu was guarding against, Li Li Xuewu's words were the action guidelines for the few.

"I know."

Actually, Wen San'er rarely went out to collect scrap on the street now, and more of it was electrical appliances and things traded privately.

Old Lao Biaozi only managed going to the countryside to collect, and managed the contacts.

All private business had been handed over to Wen San'er, and only when he was too busy would he let Old Lao Biaozi and the three help.

After discussing with Wen San'er, Li Li Xuewu returned home with Grandpa.

The dishes were already prepared, and they were about to start stir-frying.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu and the Old Lady enter the room, Liu Yin began to stir-fry the dishes.

After sitting down and talking for a while, Liu Yin called Li Xuecai to set the table.

Today, it was just family, so they all sat together.

Braised carp, braised pork with potatoes, sea cucumber with scallions, stewed yellow croaker...

Today, the Li family table was full of hearty dishes. The aroma drifted to the opposite side, causing Third Uncle to frequently peek at the door across the way.

"Dad, why don't you go fishing anymore?"

Perhaps smelling the fish, Yan Yan Jiefang asked his father, "You used to go out early in the morning. How long has it been since we had fish?"

Yan Yan Fugui, of course, also smelled the fish, and the braised pork as well.

"The ice isn't solid anymore."

Making up an excuse, Yan Yan Fugui continued, "There are too many people fishing around the New Year; there are almost more people than fish."

Then there was the stove at the door, the coal fire strong, the furnace glowing red-hot.

"Sister Yu."

He He Yu Shui looked at the outline of Yu Li's face in the darkness. Ever since Yu Li mentioned her divorce last time, she had stopped calling her "sister-in-law" and started calling her "Sister Yu."

She felt she might be the only person in the courtyard who knew Yu Li was divorced.

So, feeling a bit of mutual sympathy, she asked, "Do you not plan to look for someone again?"

"Look for what?"

Yu Li laughed and said, "To find someone else to make me angry? It's so good living alone."

He He Yu Shui pursed her lips and tried to persuade her, "You're so young, how can you live alone?"

"Not looking anymore."

Yu Li lay on the pillow, looking into the void, and said, "I'm different from you; it's not that easy for a divorced woman to find someone."

"Someone with a good temper, capable, healthy—would they look at me?"

"What's wrong with a divorced woman?"

He He Yu Shui said, "You have your own job now, your own house; wouldn't you have your pick of partners?"

As she spoke, she looked up at Yu Li's face and said, "Besides, you're so young and pretty, how could you not find someone you like?"

"Hahahaha."

Hearing He He Yu Shui say she was pretty, Yu Li laughed and said, "You think a man you like is a soybean, just waiting to be picked?"

After teasing her, she sighed and said, "How many divorced women separate peacefully? It's all a mess, everyone has resentment, everyone is competing."

She reached out and touched the hand He He Yu Shui had stretched out to pull her, saying, "Don't look at me talking clearly now; if I were to marry again, I'd be confused. I'd always be comparing to the past, always making excessive demands, and I wouldn't be able to trust men anymore. Sigh~"

Finally, she sighed and said, "Rather than finding trouble for myself, it's better to live like this. Whatever is comfortable, I do. I earn my own money and spend it myself; who can say anything?"

Hearing Yu Li's words, He He Yu Shui didn't speak for a long time, and finally, she said with a choked voice, "I can understand you, Sister."

Yu Li felt He He Yu Shui's emotional change, turned over, and touched He Yu Shui's face; it was already wet.

"What's wrong? Didn't I say you're different from me?"

"What's different about it?"

He He Yu Shui sniffled and said, "People in my unit don't say it to my face, but I've heard what they say behind my back."

Yu Li wiped He He Yu Shui's tears and comforted her, "Don't bother with them gossiping."

Actually, without He He Yu Shui saying it, Yu Li knew what those people were saying.

It wasn't just He He Yu Shui's unit; the neighbors in the alley also gossiped. Yu Li had encountered people talking about He He Yu Shui several times.

No one knew who started it, saying the He family had no virtue, that He Daging was a bad person, leaving behind these two children.

He Yu Shui had grown up like a wild child, so it was hard for her to find a husband.

Then came the incident with Jing Jing Yongjie; they were already engaged, and they were about to get their marriage certificate and hold the wedding, but the reputation of being a "widow before marriage" spread.

Although it was already the new society, the old people were still there.

As long as these people were there, the old thinking, the old perspective, and the old customs couldn't be eliminated.

Just like Yu Li said, when a woman is divorced, the first thing people think of is: Is Yu Li infertile? Did she do something wrong? Is her character bad?

Anyway, the first thing they think of is always the woman's fault.

Regardless of the reason, when they want to find someone again, they can only find older men, men in poor health, or men who are also divorced.

They can't even hope for good conditions; those with good conditions wouldn't look for someone like that.

This kind of old thinking didn't change until the end of the family planning era, when more work opportunities opened up for women in society.

Yu Li's situation was like this, not to mention He He Yu Shui's situation.

Some families would rather choose Yu Li than He He Yu Shui; they looked down on her.

Even Sha Zhu was big-hearted, still happy all day, not taking his sister's matters to heart.

If there were parents, they would have been worried long ago.

He He Yu Shui was also used to it. Li Li Xuewu thought she would be sad for a long time, but she went to work normally after the New Year.

Yu Li was also able to continue working.

But Yu Li knew He He Yu Shui was swallowing her bitterness, and sometimes she could hear He He Yu Shui crying secretly at night.

Even if the people in the courtyard and colleagues were cautious, the discriminatory looks in people's eyes couldn't be hidden.

When Sha Zhu found a cart from the west courtyard to bring back the furniture He He Yu Shui had prepared for her wedding, people in the courtyard gossiped about it for a while.

The courtyard entrance's "CBD Business Center"—the gatehouse—was even more attentive to these domestic matters.

Because the old men and women on duty during the day had nothing to do, they would feel uncomfortable if they didn't gossip.

"Only those without ability pick this; we wouldn't give it to those who are poor and particular."

Yu Li comforted her, saying, "When the weather gets warmer, I'll ask Li Li Xuewu in the back courtyard to help you see if there's anyone suitable. He has many friends and broad connections."

"Yeah."

He He Yu Shui knew Yu Li was comforting her and didn't want Yu Li to worry with her, so she nodded along with Yu Li's intention.

The sun rises from the same place every day, and every snowstorm is always so sudden and overbearing.

Waking up in the morning, Li Li Xuewu sat up, looked at the dim room, and reached out to pull the curtains.

He saw that it was snowing heavily outside, and there was already half a foot of snow on the ground.

He folded the quilt on the kang, put on the clothes Yu Li had prepared, filled the stove with coal balls, and only then put on his leather shoes and went out.

The reason the fire in the room didn't go out during the day was that the heating in the room couldn't be turned off.

Another reason was that the old lady from the front courtyard and Li Shu would come to the back courtyard to stay during the day.

Sometimes when people came to the house, Li Xue would also bring her books to the back courtyard to study.

"Pat."

Li Li Xuewu had just stepped out of the room, and his foot landed on the snow, with slush being squeezed out.

"Uncle Wu."

Li Li Xuewu turned his head and saw Bang Geng wearing a cotton hat, standing at the chicken coop entrance looking over.

"Uncle Wu, this snow is fluffy; it's already melted underneath."

"Got it."

Li Li Xuewu agreed, picked up the broom leaning at the door, and swept the snow at the entrance away.

After sweeping the snow at his own entrance, he glanced at the old lady's entrance in the back courtyard, swung the broom, and swept the old lady's entrance as well.

Although it was still snowing, as long as it was swept away, the snow water would melt away once the sun came out from the clouds in a while.

The courtyard was paved with blue bricks, which absorbed water.

After finishing, he just looked up and saw the old lady standing behind the window looking at him.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu look up, the old lady smiled and nodded.

Li Li Xuewu also smiled, turned around, and swept along his own doorway toward the moon gate.

While cooking, the second aunt saw Li Li Xuewu sweeping snow in the courtyard, but she didn't pay much attention.

But seeing Li Li Xuewu sweep the old lady's entrance too, she curled her lip, served the meal, and said to the early-rising Liu Liu Haizhong, "Look, the awareness of a cadre is just different; he's even doing good deeds, just don't know who he's showing it to."

Liu Liu Haizhong didn't understand, but seeing his wife gesturing toward the door, he stood up and looked out through the glass.

He saw that Li Li Xuewu's entrance and the old lady's entrance were swept, but other places weren't.

"Heh, this is really 'everyone sweeps the snow from their own doorstep, don't worry about the frost on others' tiles'."

After muttering this, he turned and entered the inner room, and seeing Liu Liu Guangtian and Liu Liu Guangfu still snoring on the bed, he kicked the bed.

"Get up, all of you get up."

"What's wrong? Dad!"

"What's wrong? It's snowing!"

Liu Liu Guangtian squinted and looked outside, then said, "Let it snow; it's finally a Sunday."

Liu Liu Haizhong stood with his hands behind his back, gestured toward the window, and said, "Get up and sweep the snow. Our side is in the shade; if we don't sweep it, it'll freeze once the snow melts in the afternoon."

"Ugh~"

Liu Liu Guangtian widened his eyes, wanting to say why don't you sweep it yourself, but his brain was already clear, so he punched the upper bunk and said, "Third, hurry up and get up."

This quick reaction saved the brothers a beating.

Liu Liu Haizhong walked out with his hands behind his back, cursing, "Can't do anything right, can't eat enough."

Liu Liu Guangfu looked at his second brother from the upper bunk, who made a fierce expression behind their father's back, laughed, put on his clothes, and jumped down.

When the brothers went out, they saw Li Li Xuewu had already finished sweeping the snow to the moon gate and was carrying the broom back.

"Deputy Director Li, you're back!"

"Morning, Deputy Director Li!"

Li Li Xuewu also saw the brothers and greeted them with a smile, "Hey, morning."

As he spoke, he nodded, put the broom under the window, and asked Bang Geng, who was walking over, "Finished feeding?"

"Yeah."

Bang Geng's face was frozen red; he carried the empty bucket and said, "I cleaned the snow in the chicken coop before feeding them."

As he spoke, he looked at the soles of his shoes and said, "This chicken poop is really smelly; if it weren't for the snow water, I really couldn't get it off."

Li Li Xuewu reached out and patted Bang Geng's shoulder, hugged the big-faced cat, and walked toward the moon gate while asking, "Is the food ready at home?"

He was just making small talk to avoid the two brothers opposite.

Liu Liu Guangtian had originally wanted to chat with Li Li Xuewu, but seeing Li Li Xuewu talking to Bang Geng, he smacked his lips and went to sweep the snow with his brother.

After passing the moon gate, the snow here was all swept clean; because the water underneath was exposed, the snow melted as it fell.

"Uncle Wu, I'm going home!"

"Okay."

Letting go of Bang Geng, Li Li Xuewu glanced at the Jia family and walked toward the third gate.

Just as he turned, he saw He He Yu Shui coming out of the upper room.

"Finished tidying up?"

"Yeah."

He He Yu Shui no longer looked sad like last night and walked with a smile to Li Li Xuewu's side.

"You're up early enough. Why not sleep in on a Sunday?"

Hearing He He Yu Shui ask him, Li Li Xuewu smiled and walked out with her, saying, "I have things to do today; I have to be busy."

"You're really tired; I never see you resting."

He He Yu Shui looked at the energetic Li Li Xuewu, thinking of the dominance he showed last night, and couldn't help but sigh.

"That's because you haven't seen me being lazy, hahahaha."

Laughing, they entered the front courtyard and saw Yan Yan Fugui standing on the steps of his house, directing his three children to sweep the snow in the courtyard.

"Here, here, don't leave any dead corners."

As he spoke, he hung his book bag and said, "A day's plan starts in the morning; Sunday should be spent well."

Seeing Li Li Xuewu and He He Yu Shui coming from behind, he looked over.

He He Yu Shui was polite and greeted him first, "Third Uncle, busy?"

"Yeah."

Yan Yan Fugui nodded and said, "What busy? Everyone sweeps the snow from their own doorstep."

As he spoke, he looked at the Li family's entrance opposite and said, "We aren't officials, no one provides door-to-door service, so we have to sweep it ourselves."

Li Li Xuewu ignored him, took a look, and walked toward the gatehouse rooms.

He He Yu Shui saw the third uncle using her words to talk about Li Li Xuewu; seeing Li Li Xuewu's expression, she lowered her head in embarrassment and followed Li Li Xuewu out of the second gate.

The gatehouse rooms were lively; more than a dozen boys were putting tables on the kang and picking up bowls.

Before, they would put a table in the kitchen to eat breakfast.

But not anymore; there were almost twenty people in this room, and the kitchen couldn't fit them.

"Brother Wu."

"Hey."

Li Li Xuewu agreed, washed his hands at the door, and sat on the kang.

He wasn't used to eating breakfast on the kang yet.

"Just in time for the snow; after eating, tidy up the east room. Move whatever isn't needed to the west courtyard warehouse."

"Okay!"

Hearing Li Li Xuewu say that, Old Lao Biaozi agreed and said, "I was just thinking that. I took the boys to move the bricks to the east room this morning; I was afraid of the dust, so I used bags to carry the dirt to the east room from outside."

Hearing Li Li Xuewu say that, Yu Li smiled and said, "My furniture can go to the warehouse; I'll have to trouble you to move it."

"No problem."

Old Lao Biaozi laughed and said, "We have plenty of labor here now."

Breakfast was cornmeal pancakes, corn grits porridge, and the previously pickled salted vegetables.

Li Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Buy the stove pipes quickly; build the fire kang and stove first. It'll be easier to work once it's warm."

"Yes, there aren't many tasks, easy to do."

Old Lao Biaozi responded, "Grandpa knows how to leave the eyes for the kang; just connect the smoke duct to the fire wall here."

Old Lao Biaozi's idea was to place the kang on the south wall, running east-west, which would facilitate heat circulation once the windows were opened on the south side later.

"Yeah, you decide."

Li Li Xuewu finished his meal in a few bites and asked, "Is the car ready?"

"Yeah, yeah."

Old Lao Biaozi drank a mouthful of porridge and said, "The hot water is ready, and I put the things you wanted in the back trunk."

It was cold, and Li Li Xuewu really didn't want to drive that Willys, so he still used the GAZ-69.