Chapter 388: The Reckless One

It was originally called Huixian Ju, famous for its stir-fried liver.

At the peak of its business, it expanded from a single-story bungalow into a two-story building, with the second floor also selling wontons.

In the twenty-second year of the Republic, the same year the Japanese invaders entered Shanhai Pass, a shop called Tianxing Ju opened across from Huixian Ju, also selling stir-fried liver.

In '56, during the joint state-private ownership campaign, competition was banned; the two merged into one, operating at Tianxing Ju's location and keeping the name Tianxing Ju.

Since the manager was a descendant of the Sha family from Tianxing Ju, and the head chef came from Huixian Ju, the flavor became even better.

Wen San'er was also a food lover; otherwise, he wouldn't have come here to satisfy his cravings.

"Isn't that why I have you, my uncle, keeping me in check?"

Lao Lao Biaozi followed Wen San'er into the shop and sat down at a square table near the wall.

A shop attendant walked over and asked, "Comrades, what would you like to eat?"

Actually, they weren't called attendants anymore but waiters, yet it was still the same person, so the way they greeted customers always felt somehow off.

Seeing how warm it was inside, Wen San'er unbuttoned his coat, revealing the clean clothes underneath.

He did this for the attendant's benefit, since he had been out collecting scrap today and was wearing ragged clothes.

By now revealing the clean, tidy sweater underneath, he put the attendant more at ease.

It was the new society now; there were no beggars anymore, and anyone who walked through the door in whatever clothes had to be served.

But even the most noble attendant is still human, and guests dressed cleanly always receive a bit more respect.

"Two bowls of stir-fried liver, two plates of steamed buns."

Just as Wen San'er finished speaking, Lao Lao Biaozi, sitting at the table, shouted, "Three plates; I need two plates myself."

Wen San'er turned back and glared at his nephew, then turned again to the snickering attendant and said, "Two bowls of stir-fried liver, three plates of steamed buns."

"Got it, please wait a moment; they'll be right out~"

The attendant took Wen San'er's money and food coupons, called out the order number, and headed to the window to collect the food.

Wen San'er rubbed his coat pocket with a pained expression, then sat at the table, looking at his nephew across from him, and said, "I can't afford to support you; eating twelve steamed buns in one meal, is your stomach a bottomless pit?"

"When will you ever be generous just once?"

Lao Lao Biaozi knew exactly why his uncle had called him here today, so right now he was like a dead pig unafraid of scalding water, speaking in ways that deliberately struck Wen San'er's nerves.

"Me, generous?"

Wen San'er snorted twice, then said to Lao Lao Biaozi, "I'm already generous enough with you; do you think I'd willingly come here on my own?"

While they were talking, the attendant arrived carrying a tray with two bowls of stir-fried liver and three plates of steamed buns.

"Comrades, your stir-fried liver and steamed buns are ready."

Speaking as he worked, he deftly placed the stir-fried liver in front of each of them; when placing the steamed buns, although he had heard that the fat man with the scarred face wanted two portions, he still placed the third plate in the middle.

Since the other man was the one who paid, placing it in the middle was polite, allowing this thin, dry guest to courteously push it toward the person opposite.

The attendants in this restaurant were the most savvy about human relations; after serving the buns, they even exchanged pleasantries with the two men.

"Enjoy your meal, comrades; call me again if you need anything else."

Saying this, he stepped back, turned, and walked toward the entrance to greet newly arriving guests.

Wen San'er gave a slight nod to Lao Lao Biaozi, who was waiting for him, then lifted the bowl of stir-fried liver and slurped a mouthful.

"Hiss~"

Lao Lao Biaozi also slurped a mouthful along the rim of the bowl; perhaps the stir-fried liver was hot, or perhaps his stomach was still cold from just coming in from outside.

At that moment, one mouthful of stir-fried liver warmed him from his mouth all the way down to his stomach.

"Hey, it just has to be this flavor!"

Lao Lao Biaozi put down his bowl, picked up a steamed bun, placed it on the small saucer in front of him, and grabbed the vinegar bottle from the table to pour vinegar over it.

"Alright, Third Uncle, stop lecturing me; I know I was wrong."

Lao Lao Biaozi was straightforward; having eaten his Third Uncle's food, he took the initiative to admit his mistake.

Wen San'er, meanwhile, held the bowl of stir-fried liver, keeping his mouth near the rim as he squinted and watched his nephew.

He hadn't intended to scold Lao Lao Biaozi immediately; although earlier that morning he had scolded his nephew thoroughly regardless of onlookers, in private he was actually closest to this nephew.

"Did you go home after the New Year?"

"No."

Lao Lao Biaozi hadn't expected his uncle to suddenly ask about this; he raised his eyes to glance at his Third Uncle, then shook his head and asked, "Why do you ask?"

After asking, he lowered his head and began eating the steamed buns on his saucer.

Wen San'er remained just as before, rotating his bowl as he slurped.

"They are your parents, after all."

After advising Lao Lao Biaozi, Wen San'er saw his nephew's body stiffen slightly, then continued, "Even if there are issues, you still ought to go home and visit; that is your home, and no one can change that."

"Go back for what?"

Lao Lao Biaozi kept his head down, savoring the filling of the steamed bun; although Tianxing Ju's buns were delicious, right now his mouth was filled with a bitter taste.

"Sigh~"

Wen San'er let out a sigh, then repeated the same sentence he had spoken earlier over by the archway.

"You can't keep going on like this with no one to keep you in check."

Saying this, he looked at Lao Lao Biaozi and asked, "How about letting your Third Aunt look around for you? See if there's a suitable family?"

"Forget it!"

Lao Lao Biaozi shook his head; he knew his Third Uncle meant well, otherwise he wouldn't be thinking of introducing him to a partner.

But right now he was unwilling; he raised his head, reached under the table, pulled up the hem of his clothes, and wiped the corner of his eye.

"With my appearance, which Miss would ever take a liking to me?"

Seeing his nephew crying, Wen San'er reached into his own pocket, pulled out a neatly folded handkerchief, and handed it over.

"Our conditions aren't bad, so why can't I find a match?"

Lao Lao Biaozi lifted his head to glance at his uncle, then lowered it again to stare at the pristine handkerchief in his hands.

This must have been prepared by his third aunt for his third uncle; previously, his third uncle hadn't even owned such a thing.

"The conditions indeed aren't bad, but who dares to say so?"

Lao Lao Biaozi wiped away his tears, yet ultimately did not use the handkerchief in his hand, instead placing it back before his third uncle.

"I have the means; houses, cars, the Three Major Items, the Eight Major Items—I could procure them all, yet I dare not speak of it!"

Upon saying this, tears flowed from Lao Lao Biaozi's eyes once more.

Even though a belly full of words stifled him until it hurt, he still suppressed his voice while speaking, so that only the two of them could hear.

Wen San'er furrowed his brows, set down the bowl in his hand, picked up the handkerchief beside him, and reached out to wipe his nephew's tears.

"Stop crying; how old are you already?"

While speaking these words to Lao Lao Biaozi, his own face was filled with helplessness.

"If you have something to say, tell me; say whatever you like, but do not go out spouting nonsense, especially in front of so many young lads."

These words referred to the events of that morning; he had never intended to scold Lao Lao Biaozi.

Now, seeing his nephew in tears, he felt even more reluctant to reprimand him.

"Those lads were gathered solely for use; they cannot be trusted, nor are they worthy of our trust."

"Mm-hmm, I know."

Lao Lao Biaozi nodded and said, "Although you and Wu Ge haven't told me directly, I know; I understand what's happening."

While speaking, he pushed his uncle's hand aside and gestured toward someone glancing in their direction.

Wen San'er didn't even look, merely setting the handkerchief aside before telling Lao Lao Biaozi, "It's just that mouth of yours that never rests."

As he spoke, he pushed the plate of buns in the center toward the opposite side and continued, "Your Wu Ge has it hard; he was destined for glory and success, yet he couldn't bear to part with brothers like you, which is why he exerted such effort to gather us around him."

"Mm, I know."

Lao Lao Biaozi rubbed his face with a swipe of his hand, sniffled, then lifted the bowl of stir-fried liver beside him and took a bite.

Resting his hand on the table, Wen San'er whispered, "If you know, then you shouldn't speak to your Wu Ge like that; do you still think he's some small-time street loafer? He is a cadre, a high-ranking cadre, do you understand?"

Lao Lao Biaozi's hand paused mid-air while picking up a bun, then he immediately nodded, indicating he understood his uncle's meaning.

"Eat; eat more."

Wen San'er also lifted his own bowl to begin eating, muttering under his breath, "Your Third Uncle will always be your Third Uncle, but your Wu Ge is no longer the Wu Ge of before."

Hearing his uncle mention Li Li Xuewu, Lao Lao Biaozi swallowed the food in his mouth, lifted his head to look at Wen San'er, and said, "Wu Ge isn't as you describe; he hasn't treated us badly."

Wen San'er widened his eyes and retorted, "Did I say he was no good? What I'm saying is that you need to learn how to speak!"

Perhaps because Wen San'er got excited, his voice grew slightly loud, causing someone in the room to glance over at them.

Wen San'er also noticed someone paying attention to them, so he lowered his voice and said, "Why is your brain so stubborn? My meaning is for you to live more clearly; don't hang all your affairs on him, and don't always act like a child who never grows up."

Having worked all morning, Wen San'er was also hungry; seeing his nephew eating with such relish, he too picked up a bun and dipped it in vinegar.

"If you ask me, you should hurry up and find a partner; once you marry and start a family, you'll grow up."

After mentioning the previous topic once more, he lowered his head and began eating the buns.

"How could I be as fortunate as you!"

Lao Lao Biaozi glanced at the well-fed man opposite him and spoke with a mouth full of envy, "If I had a beautiful girl who knew when I was cold or hot, I would marry too; I'd bear ten or eight children, all sons preferably, and I would establish family estates for them."

"Hey!"

Looking at his nephew daydreaming across from him, Wen San'er laughed and said, "You might as well find a sow to birth that many."

While speaking, he had already eaten one bun; the flavor here was better than what his family made at home.

"Your family probably doesn't have a single creature with fur left; otherwise, they'd all be flying in the sky."

Wen San'er shook his head and, while eating the stir-fried liver, said, "Ten boys, and establishing family estates? That would tire you to death."

Although he mocked his nephew with his words, he knew exactly why his nephew spoke this way.

When he married before the New Year, no one from his eldest sister's family came, but his second sister's family—Lao Lao Biaozi's mother—did attend.

She brought along the son of Lao Lao Biaozi's elder brother; although she spoke a few words to Lao Lao Biaozi, her eyes were entirely fixed on her eldest grandson.

She hadn't even had the presence of mind to say anything to him, her younger brother, on such a joyous occasion.

Although the household had not yet divided its assets, Lao Lao Biaozi was currently in a state equivalent to leaving the family with nothing.

Lao Lao Biaozi's family knew he wasn't working and knew he was loafing around with his uncle, yet they didn't even bother to ask.

They seemed terribly afraid that if they asked, Lao Lao Biaozi would demand money from them.

Actually, after the New Year, Lao Lao Biaozi had once returned home persuaded by Wen San'er, but his family despised him as unreliable; riding a tricycle daily to collect scrap, no one was willing to associate with him.

Even his parents watched him with sighs and groans; wanting to admonish their son, they found he was grown now, no longer constantly asking for money or food, so whatever they said lacked force.

Wanting to persuade their son to find a proper livelihood, they lacked the capability; nowadays, even those on the streets with education were strutting arrogantly, let alone Lao Lao Biaozi, a primary school graduate.

"I just fancy sons."

Lao Lao Biaozi took a bite of the stir-fried liver in his bowl, then immediately began devouring the buns in large mouthfuls.

He was eating the six buns on his own plate; the six that Wen San'er had pushed over remained untouched.

"Don't worry about me; I'll find a wife gradually; with ability, why should I fear remaining a bachelor?"

"Hmph, hmph."

Wen San'er snorted twice, then said, "What ability do you have? In the future, learn to speak and act properly; don't let your eyes dart about recklessly, especially that smile of yours—it's too vicious!"

"Mm-hmm, only you are good."

Hearing his Third Uncle criticize his appearance, Lao Lao Biaozi became unwilling to accept it; when he was young, he had been quite handsome too.

It was just in recent years; in these recent years, he had gained only flesh, not height.

In this era, fat people were quite rare; if not for Lao Lao Biaozi's slovenly dress, others would surely assume his family was well-off.

He didn't eat meat or fine food at every meal; even when eating only steamed corn buns, he still gained weight.

"I'll just wait; I don't believe there isn't someone who likes a guy like me."

As he spoke, he ate the six steamed buns on the plate, then swallowed the rest of the stir-fried liver in the bowl in one gulp.

"Mm-hmm, there are; how could there not be?"

Wen San'er was verbally comforting his nephew, but his face showed he didn't truly believe any good young woman would be blind enough to like him.

Seeing his nephew stop after eating just one plate of buns, he snapped, "I said one plate per person was enough; you insisted on ordering more, then didn't eat it—what a waste of people's effort!"

Lao Lao Biaozi pushed the plate of buns in front of him toward his Third Uncle, saying, "These were ordered for Third Aunt."

This remark left Wen San'er stunned; he glanced at his nephew with some embarrassment.

Lao Lao Biaozi chuckled, pointing at the three buns remaining on the plate before his Third Uncle, and said, "Counting the ones you saved, there's enough for Third Aunt and my little cousin to have a meal."

Wen San'er hadn't expected his nephew to see through his intentions; he sighed with emotion and said, "You're not foolish, just blunt."

Saying this, he sighed helplessly again and added, "This is only possible in the new society; back in the old days, with your maternal grandfather's family fortune, I would never have let you go bare, and you could have found any girl you wanted."

"Oh, stop it already!"

Lao Lao Biaozi secretly glanced around, afraid someone might overhear his uncle's nonsense.

"Don't bring up those old, rotten tales; do you still think you're some young master?"

"Not saying it, not saying it."

Wen San'er lifted his bowl of stir-fried liver with deep emotion and began eating, his eyes squinted as he reminisced about the past.

Lao Lao Biaozi glanced at his Third Uncle and then said, "Just live your life properly; don't start indulging in wild thoughts just because conditions have improved a bit."

"Oh ho! Now you're lecturing me, huh?"

Seeing his nephew had finally understood, Wen San'er smiled and said, "Good, as long as you've figured it out, that's fine."

While finishing the stir-fried liver in his bowl, he continued, "What the hell is 'glory'? Your maternal grandfather once spoke of the glory of princes in earlier times, and of our family's glory too, but just look at now."

As he spoke, he tapped the rice bowl in his hand, smiling, "Don't mind that our outer clothes are shabby; inside, we lack nothing. We can eat whatever we want—this, damn it, is true glory."

While the two were talking, a group of young people chattered past outside the window.

The two couldn't hear what they were saying, but they saw some of them peering into the window, obviously hungry and wanting food.

Wen San'er signaled to Lao Lao Biaozi and continued, "See that? Those folks outside dress well, but they can't afford to eat. Even a good girl can't withstand hunger; once they're starving, they'll come rushing to find you."

"Oh, my dear uncle, please stop talking!"

Lao Lao Biaozi was startled by his uncle's reactionary remarks; how could one speak so recklessly? Even though only the two of them were here, walls might have ears.

Wen San'er was an old hand; he wouldn't have spoken unless he was certain no one could overhear.

At this moment, he smiled at Lao Lao Biaozi and said, "Don't disbelieve me; just wait and see. Back in '42, girls were everywhere to choose from; in '60..."

"I really want to stuff these buns into your mouth!"

Lao Lao Biaozi gritted his teeth and gestured threateningly with the buns beside him, scaring Wen San'er into stopping mid-sentence.

"No one heard; I'm just explaining the situation to you!"

Wen San'er signaled for Lao Lao Biaozi to sit properly, then whispered, "You've got eyes and ears now; you can't just muddle through day by day. Look at the current situation."

"I don't care."

Lao Lao Biaozi rested both hands on the table, looked at his uncle, and said, "On major matters, I follow Wu Ge; on specific affairs, I listen to you."

As he spoke, he specifically referred to the matter of those children mentioned earlier.

"I'm keeping an eye on those boys; I just don't know how you two plan to use them."

Lao Lao Biaozi knew his uncle had discussed matters with Li Li Xuewu; otherwise, those boys wouldn't have been kept.

"You don't need to worry about that."

Wen San'er squinted, set down his bowl, flipped the napkin on the table to wipe his mouth, then instructed, "Just be careful when dealing with them; nothing else requires your involvement."

After giving his instructions to Lao Lao Biaozi, Wen San'er stood up, walked to the counter, and took several sheets of oil paper.

As he turned to walk back, he also picked up a toothpick for Lao Lao Biaozi.

"Take a loop around this afternoon before heading back; we ventured far today."

He handed the toothpick to Lao Lao Biaozi, then used the oil paper to wrap the buns on the plate, put on his coat, and carrying the wrapped buns, headed out.

Both men were busy; this lunch break was their only rest before they had to pedal their tricycles through every alley again.

Following Wen San'er out the door, and escorted by the staff, Lao Lao Biaozi mounted his vehicle.

"So, I'm off?"

Today's meal had warmed both stomach and heart; Lao Lao Biaozi knew good from bad, and now spoke to his uncle with newfound politeness.

Wen San tucked the buns into the hidden compartment beneath the tricycle, then looked up at Lao Lao Biaozi and said, "Stay safe; don't always be so reckless."

"Understood!"

After replying, Lao Lao Biaozi exhaled a puff of white breath, pedaled his bike, and rode out beyond the archway.

He understood what his uncle had told him today, and he had thought it through clearly, but deep down he just wanted someone to talk to.

Wu Ge's official position kept growing larger, leaving less and less time for them to chat idly together.

He knew Li Li Xuewu was busy with serious matters, yet he still wished to talk with Li Li Xuewu, even if it was just joking around.

Good brothers living in the same courtyard; if they couldn't exchange a few words in a day, it always left him feeling uneasy.

Li Li Xuewu was not unaware of what Lao Lao Biaozi was thinking; otherwise, he wouldn't have chatted with Lao Lao Biaozi for a while that morning when getting into the car.

But his time was truly no longer his own; right after finishing lunch, before even going upstairs for a cup of tea, he was already preparing to take a car to Haidian to visit that regiment.

Before going to lunch, Li Li Xuewu had asked Zheng Zheng Fuhua's secretary to fetch Sha Sha Qizhi from upstairs.

Sha Sha Qizhi then went to the car squad to summon Han Han Jiankun; the two did not see Li Li Xuewu, and it was Zheng Zheng Fuhua's secretary who took them to eat.

However, they did see Li Li Xuewu when he came out.

At Li Li Xuewu's signal, Han Han Jiankun went to the car squad to fetch the vehicle, while Sha Sha Qizhi stood aside holding Li Li Xuewu's briefcase, watching Li Li Xuewu speak with Zheng Zheng Fuhua.

The sun was just warm at this moment; Li Li Xuewu and Zheng Zheng Fuhua stood in the bureau compound, chatting while waiting for the car, discussing how they should speak once they arrived there.

"You are the leader; naturally, you will handle the negotiations."

Smoking a cigarette with his hands in his pockets, Li Li Xuewu said to Zheng Zheng Fuhua, "That is a regiment-level cadre, someone you can speak to directly; I will just be responsible for serving tea and water."

"Heh, if I lacked someone to serve tea and water, why would I even look for you?"

Zheng Zheng Fuhua, however, ignored Li Li Xuewu; this kid was the type who wouldn't move when led but would step backward when struck.

Asking him to do something only made him hesitate and look around; could Zheng Zheng Fuhua possibly be harming him or something?

"There are some things I find difficult to say myself."

Zheng Zheng Fuhua flicked his ash aside, squinting as he spoke to Li Li Xuewu, "On the contrary, it would be more convenient for you to say certain things."

"Mm-hmm, I understand."

Li Li Xuewu said with a chuckle, "You are responsible for steering the general direction; I am responsible for charging into battle."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you make yourself sound so pitiful!"

Glancing at Li Li Xuewu, Zheng Zheng Fuhua clicked his tongue and asked, "When did I ever let you fight a lone battle?"

Li Li Xuewu was not afraid of Zheng Zheng Fuhua holding anything against him; grinning broadly, he said, "I don't care; anyway, the bureau gets the lion's share today, and I'm just tagging along to get a taste; if you want me to exert more effort, then I'll have to aim even higher."

"Hmph, hmph."

Zheng Zheng Fuhua looked at Li Li Xuewu with great disdain, then smiled and said, "The cake is quite large; if you want to eat, you can reach out and grab some yourself!"

"Really?"

Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and smiled, "I'll discuss it with Director Wu from Huaqing; with our two families plus the Investigation Department, we should be able to stuff ourselves full and still digest it."

"It won't kill you from overeating!"

Looking at this "bad kid" who bit the hand that fed him, Zheng Zheng Fuhua felt like kicking him.

But now they were in the bureau compound; with one being a deputy director of the bureau and the other a deputy division chief, starting a fight would be utterly undignified.

Yet he did not let Li Li Xuewu off lightly with words; after scolding Li Li Xuewu once, he saw the car arriving, so he tossed his cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it out with his foot.

"Let's go; let me test out how your car performs."

Speaking thus, he ignored the arrival of his own jeep, pulled open the door of the command vehicle, and climbed in.

Li Li Xuewu followed him into the car, caught between laughter and tears.

Because of the rapport established at noon, Zheng Zheng Fuhua's secretary discussed matters with Sha Sha Qizhi, arranging for Sha Sha Qizhi to ride in Zheng Zheng Fuhua's car while the secretary boarded this command vehicle.

Since they were going out on official business, the bureau dispatched only two people, Zheng Zheng Fuhua and Li Li Xuewu, and thus only two vehicles.

Because Li Li Xuewu would return directly to the Rolling Steel Factory from there later and not come back here, Zheng Zheng Fuhua had brought his own car as well.

Han Han Jiankun drove the command vehicle, following steadily behind Zheng Zheng Fuhua's car as they exited the main gate, turned left onto Di'anmen Avenue, and headed west.

Actually, Li Li Xuewu's workplace at the bureau was closer to his home; it was separated by only one street, and entering the Jinyu Hutong led straight to Sihe Academy.

Li Li Xuewu could now be said to be so busy that he passed his own doorstep without entering.

While he was not at home, Sihe Academy was currently lively because visitors had arrived at Yu Li's mother's home.

"Hey, who are you looking for?"

Yu Yu Bao Dong had just entered the courtyard gate when a voice from the gatehouse startled him; turning around, he realized someone inside the gatehouse was speaking to him.

Because the anti-theft effect was good, the gatehouse duty system at Sihe Academy had always been in place.

Nowadays, no one needed to be forced to duty since it was warm inside; sometimes a room full of old ladies would gather together to chat idly, and they never felt bored.

At night, however, it became the young people's battlefield; they would play poker until very late, and sometimes when the First Uncle encountered them, he would say a few words.

But the young people were in high spirits; unable to sleep, they loved to play, so no one had ever really managed them.

At this moment, it was Jia Jia Zhangshi on duty at the gatehouse, and several old ladies were sitting on the kang inside the room.

Seeing a stranger enter, Jia Jia Zhangshi noticed and spoke up to ask a question.

It was no wonder Yu Yu Bao Dong was startled; Jia Jia Zhangshi's voice was not loud, but the question was impolite and slightly eerie.

Seeing an old lady addressing him, Yu Yu Bao Dong leaned against the window and said, "I'm here to visit my in-laws."

Jia Jia Zhangshi sized up this man and asked, "Who are your in-laws? Do they live in this courtyard? Could you have the wrong place?"

Yu Yu Bao Dong found this old lady's speech extremely sharp; did those living in the city speak more aggressively than those in the countryside?

"My in-laws are Teacher Yan's family in this courtyard!"

Speaking thus, and fearing the old woman might not understand, he emphasized again, "It's Yan Yan Fugui's family!"

Jia Jia Zhangshi had understood clearly; she remained silent at this moment because the Third Aunt was sitting inside on the kang, and seeing the man speak so explicitly, she turned her gaze toward the interior of the kang.

The Third Aunt had actually seen Yu Li's father but had no intention of acknowledging him.

Previously, because Yu Li always missed her natal family and constantly tried to smuggle pork and fish back home, the Third Aunt had already expressed her displeasure.

But the anger she felt now was not about previous matters; it concerned what had happened between Yu Li and their family before and after the New Year.

In her heart, the Third Aunt resented Yu Li because her daughter-in-law was too domineering; her eldest son had grown estranged from them and had divided the household.

Now her eldest son did not even return home; if it wasn't instigated by his wife, then who was it?

Therefore, now that Yu Li's father had arrived, the Third Aunt had no intention of offering hospitality.

At this moment, seeing everyone in the room looking over, she knew she could not remain silent any longer.

Jia Jia Zhangshi, however, knew how to stir things up; instead of inviting the Yan family's in-laws inside, she simply opened one of the gatehouse windows.

Yu Li's father thus spoke to those inside through this window.

Without even getting off the kang, the Third Aunt asked Yu Yu Bao Dong, who was looking in, "You are here to find Yu Li, correct?"

Without waiting for Yu Yu Bao Dong to answer, she stated directly, "Yu Li is either in the inverted-seat room or in the door-curtain room of Bai Bai Xiyuan."

After saying this, she sat back down on the buttocks she had just raised, lowered her head, and continued darning the sock in her hands.

Standing outside the window, Yu Yu Bao Dong was left in an awkward position; he had already stated he was here to visit his in-laws, yet now he was being refused entry.

He knew little about what had happened here recently; Yu Li had not told her family anything during her last few visits home.

Before the New Year, Miss and her husband even returned home to visit him; this time, they had also intended to bring some gifts to see their urban in-laws.

Never did they expect that upon entering the gate, they would be met with a cold shoulder.

Jia Jia Zhangshi squeezed the thimble in her hand, her eyeballs spinning rapidly; today, she was certainly witnessing a spectacle.

Previously, everyone had seen that Yu Li and her mother-in-law did not get along; now, it appeared that the Yan family's relationship with Yu Li's natal family was also poor.

The old ladies inside the room all wore expressions of spectators, their gazes darting between the man outside the window and Third Auntie on the kang.

It was as if the man outside and Third Auntie had something going on between them.

Yu Yu Bao Dong's complexion shifted slightly; subsequently, he lifted the two bottles of wine in his hand and walked toward the courtyard, preparing to find his daughter as his daughter-in-law had instructed.

At this moment, Yu Li was busy at the Secondhand Goods Shop in the West Courtyard, never expecting her father to arrive.

During the busy lunch shift change, she first returned to the room to cook, ate with Second Uncle and the others, and then came out to relieve Chen Chen Xiaoyan.

After eating lunch, Chen Chen Xiaoyan was responsible for clearing the tables; this was the routine every day.

At this moment, Chen Chen Xiaoyan had just finished cleaning; wiping her hands, she was about to head out when she saw a man carrying wine enter through the screen gate.

This screen gate indeed had a door; Li Li Xuewu had previously enclosed this outer courtyard precisely to avoid disputes with the people in the main courtyard.

However, this gate was usually kept open; occasionally, the Li family from the front courtyard would come over to the row of rooms facing the street for a stroll, and besides, keeping it locked would be inconvenient for coming and going.

Therefore, when Chen Chen Xiaoyan saw someone entering at this moment, she paid it no mind, assuming they had taken a wrong turn.

"Who are you looking for?"

Chen Chen Xiaoyan did not let the person peek inside the room but instead blocked the doorway, saying, "This area is not open to the public; if you have business, you must go to the storefront over there."

Not seeing his daughter, Yu Yu Bao Dong frowned and asked, "Is Yu Li here? I am her father."

"Ah?"

Caught off guard by this, Chen Chen Xiaoyan was momentarily bewildered, then immediately broke into a smile, saying, "Oh, it's He Yushu; Yu Jie does work here."

While speaking, she reached back to close the door of the row of rooms facing the street, pointed toward the storefront in the West Courtyard, and said, "Yu Jie is at the storefront right now; let me take you over there."

"Good, good."

Yu Yu Bao Dong glanced toward the West Courtyard gate and followed Chen Chen Xiaoyan over to the West Courtyard.

Chen Chen Xiaoyan did not know Yu Li's father, so at this moment, she did not invite him inside to wait but instead took him directly to the storefront to let Yu Li receive him herself.

Yu Li had just seen a neighbor off who was looking at furniture; turning around, she spotted her father standing in the rear courtyard holding two bottles of wine.

Seeing her father's grim expression at this moment, Yu Li did not know what had happened.

"Dad, how come you're here?"

Hearing Yu Li call him 'Dad,' Chen Chen Xiaoyan smiled and said, "Yu Jie, you attend to He Yushu; I'll keep an eye on the shop for you."

While speaking, she had already entered the storefront and took the rag from Yu Li's hand.

Yu Yu Bao Dong looked at his daughter, then looked at this shopfront.

He had only been here once last year when his daughter got married; at that time, these buildings did not exist here, so they were clearly newly constructed.

Especially this courtyard; last time he visited, it was not here.

"Why are you working?"

Seeing Yu Li walk out, Yu Yu Bao Dong frowned and asked a question, then immediately followed up with, "What happened between you and your mother-in-law? Did you have a falling out?"

Yu Li pulled her father back, gesturing toward the row of rooms facing the street.

"Let's go, Dad; it's quite cold outside; let's talk inside the room."

He had originally thought that coming here to meet his in-laws would help maintain their relationship well, but he never expected that everything here seemed off.

As soon as he entered the West Courtyard gate, he saw his daughter-in-law coming from the gatehouse; seeing the two of them enter the outer courtyard, she paid them no heed and turned her head to enter the second gate.

Yu Yu Bao Dong turned again to look at his daughter, only to see her acting the same way; pretending not to notice, she turned and opened the door to the row of rooms facing the street.

"Dad, come inside."

"Mm."

Yu Yu Bao Dong knew the outside was no place for conversation; seeing his daughter lead him here instead of taking him home, he said nothing.

But as soon as he entered the room, he realized this was not his son-in-law's home, because the kitchen was large, and the stove was big too; it did not look like a place for a couple to live their daily lives.

Entering the inner room confirmed this; stacks of quilts were piled on the kang, clearly indicating that many people lived here.

"Whose home is this?"

Standing in the inner room, Yu Yu Bao Dong turned around and asked his daughter a question.

Yu Li walked into the inner room, took a teacup from the table, poured a cup of hot water for her father, and placed it by the edge of the kang.

"This is where I work."

While speaking, she took the wine from her father's hand and placed it on the table.

Yu Yu Bao Dong now had a belly full of questions he wanted to ask but did not know where to begin.

Yu Li also knew her father wanted to ask her questions now, but she too did not know where to begin explaining to him.

The father and daughter simply looked at each other in silence, at a loss for words.

After a moment, Yu Li finally asked, "How did you come to be here?"

Yu Yu Bao Dong looked at his daughter sitting in the chair opposite him and said, "I dropped your younger brother off at work this morning."

While speaking, he also frowned and asked, "Wasn't this arranged by you all?"

"What?"

Yu Li also frowned and asked, "Arranged what? Where did you send my younger brother?"

"Wasn't this arranged by you all?"

Yu Yu Bao Dong also frowned and explained, "The village accountant notified us, telling Yu Zhe to report to the Rolling Steel Factory, saying that a recruitment letter had come from there."

While speaking, he also said to Yu Li, "Accountant Zhang also said our family must have connections; even urban children cannot get this job arranged, yet our family managed to get one in; his questions left me completely baffled."

Yu Li shook her head, denying her father's words, but she already knew who had arranged it; at this moment, however, she did not know how to explain it.

Seeing Yu Li shake her head, Yu Yu Bao Dong asked in surprise, "Only your husband works at this Rolling Steel Factory, driving for the leaders; I thought he was the one who pulled the strings."

Seeing his daughter fall silent, he explained his itinerary for the past two days.

"I arrived last night; after the review, they issued uniforms, and we set off for training this morning."

As if sensing Yu Li was hiding something from him, Yu Yu Bao Dong glanced at the two bottles of wine on the table over there and said, "I was thinking of thanking my in-laws..."

"Dad!"

Hearing her father's words, Yu Li lifted her head and interrupted, "It wasn't Yan Brother Jiecheng, nor was it his family."

Yu Yu Bao Dong frowned as he looked at his daughter; clearly, she now knew who had helped.

"Are you hiding something from me?"

"No."

Yu Li shook her head; without explaining her unusual behavior, she lowered her head and said, "Yan Brother Jiecheng isn't driving for the leaders anymore either."

"Sigh! ~"

Yu Yu Bao Dong let out a sigh; from his daughter's attitude in answering his question, he knew something had gone wrong.

He knew his own daughter best: stubborn and willful, she had possessed a strong spirit since childhood.

"Tell me; it's just us father and daughter here."

Yu Li did not look at her father; instead, keeping her head down, she wiped away her tears with her hand.

Observing his daughter's state, Yu Yu Bao Dong tentatively asked, "Did you quarrel with your in-laws?"

"Did you quarrel with Yan Brother Jiecheng?"

No matter how her father questioned her, Yu Li's tears flowed endlessly, yet she never lifted her head to answer him.

Yu Yu Bao Dong grew anxious too; frowning, he asked, "You two didn't divorce, did you?"

At this, Yu Li finally lifted her head, looked at her father, and said, "Dad, please don't ask anymore."

"You are my daughter; if I don't ask, who will?"

Yu Yu Bao Dong stood up, frowning as he asked, "Did their family bully you? Tell your father, and watch me teach them a lesson!"

Yu Li knew her father was a reckless troublemaker, most concerned with saving face yet also the most shameless; he was notorious even in the village.

If she let her father make a scene now, who knew what kind of huge scandal might erupt.

So at this moment, she stopped her father, who was about to go out and cause trouble for the Yan family, saying, "Dad, can't you just let it go?"

But Yu Yu Bao Dong was heated now; pushing his daughter aside, he headed for the door.

With no other option, Yu Li said to her father, "Think about Yu Zhe; if you make such a scene, how will he ever continue working?"

Hearing his daughter's words, Yu Yu Bao Dong halted in his tracks, turned around, and looked at Yu Li as he asked, "Who arranged the job for Xiao Xiao Laosan?"

Yu Li did not answer this question; instead, she turned back and sat down on the stool again.

She truly did not want to face the Yan Brother Jiecheng family, nor did she want to face her own family.

The two of them had reached this point; it was unclear who was right or wrong, as if their initial pursuit of a better life had been the mistake itself.

Seeing his daughter in this state, Yu Yu Bao Dong no longer dared to go out and make a scene; instead, he jumped up and down, cursing the Yan family and Yan Yan Fugui under his breath.

He claimed he had been blind in the past to choose such in-laws, saying his daughter had been wronged and so on.

Yu Li's head felt like it was about to explode from her father's noise; at this moment, she no longer had the heart to cry.

"Dad, pack up and go home."

Yu Li stood up and said to her father, "I still have to go to work; I'll take care of Xiao Xiao Laosan, and when I have time, I'll come back to visit you."

"Daughter!"

Yu Yu Bao Dong frowned as he looked at Yu Li and said, "With you in this state, how can I feel safe going back? You're trying to kill your old father!"

Although Yu Yu Bao Dong had a reckless temperament, he was exceptionally good to his children.

Though the family's conditions were ordinary, he held the same devotion toward all these children.

One could tell from Yu Li's figure that she had never suffered deprivation in food or clothing while at her maiden home.

If she hadn't suffered in her maiden home, how could she be allowed to suffer in her married home?

"Speak; just tell me the truth!"

Yu Yu Bao Dong looked at his daughter and said, "I won't make a scene, but surely you must let your father come here with a clear understanding, right?"