Chapter 452: Spit Out What You Ate of Mine!

Li Li Xuewu, looking at Gu Gu Weijie's hesitant expression with furrowed brows, said, "To pull this off, we must get Deputy Factory Director Li's approval; likely, all profits for the next few years will have to be poured into it."

Gu Gu Weijie looked at Li Li Xuewu, then at the diagram he had drawn on the table with water—was this really a case of revealing the dagger once the map was exhausted?

Drawing a diagram out of the blue, only to tell me afterward that I must do this together with Li Li Huai De.

Hadn't this kid been waiting for this very moment all along?

Ignoring Gu Gu Weijie's astonished expression, Li Li Xuewu continued, "This residential district won't be built all at once; we'll first allocate some funds to construct a few buildings to solve the housing problems of the most distressed workers."

At this point, Gu Gu Weijie found it hard to criticize Li Li Xuewu, because what he was saying now seemed to be the most prudent and easiest goal to achieve.

"Aren't there many idle hands in the factory right now, many people waiting to take over posts? Let's implement a work-relief program."

Looking at Gu Gu Weijie, Li Li Xuewu said, "Everyone will participate in construction labor; we'll calculate a score based on family circumstances, another based on labor performance, and yet another based on their conduct as factory workers."

Under Gu Gu Weijie's amazed gaze, he lightly tapped the table and said, "Aggregate the scores according to a reasonable baseline standard, then allocate housing from the top of this list downward."

"You should be the one serving as this Deputy Party Secretary."

Gu Gu Weijie looked at Li Li Xuewu and smiled, saying, "You're more formidable than I am."

"Hehe, I'm just offering you ideas; don't make me feel awkward."

Somewhere along the line, the relationship between Li Li Xuewu and Gu Gu Weijie had ceased to be so needle-sharp against awn-sharp.

Gu Gu Weijie smiled and shook her head, saying, "I speak from the heart; when we sit in the conference room, sometimes a hot-headed impulse or a table-slamming decision isn't necessarily correct."

Li Li Xuewu smiled but did not voice the thought that all leaders were good-for-nothings.

It was rare enough to finally find common ground; breaking into a bloody fight now would not reflect well on Han Laoshi's face either.

"I'm used to it; I've grown accustomed to being battered by grassroots operations."

Holding his teacup, Li Li Xuewu chuckled lightly, "I tend to overthink everything; no wonder they say my Seeing Yan Yan Jie is narrow. Sometimes, the way I act and speak tends to offend people."

"Hehe."

Gu Gu Weijie glanced at Li Li Xuewu but offered no comment on that remark.

For the Tiger of the Security Division to utter such words, she decided that her visit to see Li Li Xuewu today had not been in vain.

She had never expected to gain so many tangible benefits today; in her heart, she had already accepted Li Li Xuewu's words and formed a new understanding of him.

Beyond the impression of him acting domineeringly and treating people ruthlessly, she now recognized him as someone capable of getting things done and possessing intellect.

Someone like this would ultimately not remain at the deputy division level for long; once a certain rank is reached, age becomes an advantage instead.

Bully the old, but not the young; she would rather clash head-on with Yang Yang Fengshan than go toe-to-toe with Li Li Xuewu.

"Finished talking?"

Han Shu emerged smiling, carrying a large sea bowl; Li Li Xuewu hurriedly stood to take it, but Han Shu told him to go wash his hands first.

"Everything's ready; hurry up, wash your hands and come to the table!"

Smiling, Li Li Xuewu gestured for Gu Gu Weijie to go first, while he stood at the kitchen doorway and took a look.

"Smells so good."

"Hehe, this was rushed together!"

Speaking, Han Shu glanced toward the washroom and said to Li Li Xuewu, "Seeing you two were in the thick of your discussion, I didn't dare interrupt."

"Master's wife, spare my life!"

Smiling, Li Li Xuewu signaled to Gu Ning and said, "I came bearing gifts today!"

Gu Ning knew Li Li Xuewu was referring to her; she twitched the corner of her mouth and turned her head away.

Who are you calling petty-minded!

Han Shu, however, teased Li Li Xuewu with a smile, "The meat you brought is all right here; eat more in a bit. I haven't hidden any of it."

"Then I also brought chocolate for Dong Mengyuan!"

"Then there's even less need to thank you."

Han Shu handed the dishes to Gu Ning, then told Li Li Xuewu, "All the chocolate has already gone into your little junior brother's mouth; go demand a favor from him."

"Dong Mengyuan, spit out what you ate of mine!"

"Giggle giggle giggle~"

Dong Dong Mengyuan had actually slipped out earlier, but seeing her senior brother talking, she hadn't dared to make a sound, sitting aside and listening the whole time.

No wonder so many children of leaders' families enter politics; they've been immersed in it since childhood. Entering politics is what only the most hopeless people do—basic operation!

Only after Gu Gu Weijie washed her hands did Li Li Xuewu go.

When he returned, the dishes were already on the table; Han Shu had opened the red wine Li Li Xuewu brought and poured a little into everyone's glass.

Gu Ning had not intended to drink, but Han Shu pressured her into accepting the glass.

"It's red wine; it won't get you drunk."

"Hehe."

Li Li Xuewu really wanted to tell Gu Ning that Master's wife Han, teaching gambling and now teaching drinking, was hardly a good teacher.

With the main business concluded, no one mentioned factory matters at the dinner table.

The atmosphere now was better than at the mahjong table; after all, the gambling field is like a battlefield.

Have you not seen how many people have died at the gambling table, or how many families have been ruined and friendships severed over a few mao lost in a card game?

Gambling is about taking; you try to take the money from the other person's pocket.

The drinking table carries a different meaning; drinking is about yielding, urging the other person to drink more.

This single contrast between taking and yielding distinguishes the atmosphere.

"This red wine truly doesn't taste the same."

Han Shu took a sip and praised, "The product from the Jingcheng Fruit Wine Factory is sweet, with almost no alcoholic taste."

"I don't really like drinking this stuff."

Li Li Xuewu shifted his cup slightly and smiled, "One factor is the alcohol content; the other is the mellowness."

"You certainly have quite a few refinements."

Han Shu looked at Li Li Xuewu and asked, "If you don't like drinking it, why did you go to all this trouble to get the stuff?"

"For you all to drink, hehe."

Li Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Just because I don't like it doesn't mean others won't, right?"

"No wonder Deputy Director Li is so well-liked."

Gu Gu Weijie, sitting to the side, remarked with a laugh.

Li Li Xuewu retorted with a grin, "When you're drinking my wine, you're not allowed to talk about me like that."

"We're praising you!"

Gu Gu Weijie glanced laughingly at Li Li Xuewu, then at Gu Ning, raised her wine glass, and said, "Come, let's toast to Deputy Director Li's contribution."

"Cheers!"

The wine was flowing and the dishes were rich; Mother Han's culinary skills were indeed excellent.

A person who possesses culture, knowledge, breeding, refinement, cooking prowess, and entertainment skills—what kind of family could possibly raise someone like that?

It was probably only a family with deep roots that could cultivate such a person; the nouveau riche of later generations, built solely on piles of money, could absolutely never foster such an aura.

In any case, Li Li Xuewu felt he could never raise his own daughter to possess Han Laoshi's demeanor.

Nowadays, his daughter did show traces of his own shadow, possessing a domineering side; she even threw her toys as if they were hand grenades.

Gu Ning took a sip of wine but still found it unpleasant.

This red wine tasted slightly astringent, and the flavor of alcohol was still a bit too strong.

However, once in the mouth, the fruity aroma of the grapes could indeed be discerned.

"Try the dishes."

Han Laoshi was busy arranging both the wine and the food; although she hadn't spoken much today, her objective had already been achieved.

After the meal, the few of them sat together, drank tea, and chatted about matters of culture.

Gu Gu Weijie, true to her background emerging from the school system, spoke about literary matters with clear logic and eloquence.

At this time, one should not assume that just because someone studied the humanities, they wouldn't understand the sciences; in fact, they knew those too.

Look at her studying the sciences, yet hey, she was proficient in poetry, lyrics, songs, and fu prose alike.

If it were someone like Han Shu, perhaps they would also understand the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

This was the "wealth" of this era; it was truly a golden age.

"Please don't see us off; hurry back inside."

Li Li Xuewu waved his hand, signaling Han Laoshi not to come out to see them off, got into the car, started the engine, and drove out of the courtyard with Gu Ning and Gu Gu Weijie.

Yes, this was Han Shu's arrangement: having Li Li Xuewu drive Gu Gu Weijie home.

Li Li Xuewu's route was well-planned: first deliver Gu Gu Weijie, then deliver Gu Ning.

Regardless of whether it was out of the way, and regardless of whether delivering Gu Ning first would have been more appropriate, it had to be done this way.

Perhaps due to the alcohol, Gu Gu Weijie's talkative nature had been unleashed.

She had already spoken quite a lot at the dinner table, but now, blown by the wind, she spoke even more.

Li Li Xuewu, however, was the type who could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk; since he never wanted to drink red wine in the first place, well, the colleagues at Zhagang Steel Factory were in for a treat, as slowly they too would get to drink red wine.

After Gu Ning helped support Gu Gu Weijie, Li Li Xuewu used Gu Gu Weijie's key to open the courtyard gate, and only then did they help Gu Gu Weijie into her home.

Gu Gu Weijie's home was also a villa-style independent courtyard; it was unclear whether it belonged to her or her spouse.

Li Li Xuewu hadn't looked closely at the layout, and Gu Gu Weijie was not entirely unconscious, merely a bit unsteady.

Once they had helped her inside, Li Li Xuewu and Gu Ning took their leave.

After coming out, Li Li Xuewu led Gu Ning back; on the road, Li Li Xuewu finally voiced the questions that had troubled him for quite some time.

"Can you tell me what's wrong?"

Gu Ning looked at Li Li Xuewu, who was driving while turning his head to look at her.

"Drive properly; it's dangerous."

"Hehe, just tell me."

Li Li Xuewu turned his head back; listening to Gu Ning's words, he focused on driving properly.

"Nothing..."

"Really?"

Hearing Li Li Xuewu's words, Gu Ning swallowed her reply back down.

She hadn't drunk little wine herself; perhaps Han Laoshi, sensing something between the two, had given Gu Ning some alcohol so that they could speak their minds openly.

When they were leaving, Han Shu had even exhorted the two of them to get along well.

Perhaps there was a bit too much alcohol today, or perhaps there were simply too many words in their hearts; Han Laoshi had things she wanted to say, but today was just not the right time.

Gu Ning hesitated for a moment, then stammered, "That... what you gave..."

"It was a gift, right!"

Li Li Xuewu slapped his forehead and said distressedly, "I knew it was a gift."

Speaking, he turned to look at Gu Ning and asked, "You didn't like those books?"

"No."

"Then you didn't like the perfume?"

"No."

"It couldn't be that the chocolate was a mistake, could it?"

"..."

Gu Ning knew there shouldn't be such a barrier between the two of them; it seemed this person wasn't...

"Did you put anything else in the box?"

"What thing?"

Seeing no one on the street at this moment, Li Li Xuewu parked the car by the roadside, turned to look at Gu Ning, and said seriously, "I only prepared a few books, a box of chocolates, and a bottle of perfume for you."

"Really?"

"Of course it's real!"

Li Li Xuewu stared wide-eyed at Gu Ning and asked, "Could there be something else inside?"

Gu Ning looked into Li Li Xuewu's eyes; it seemed he truly did not know.

"I bought that box from the black market."

Li Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning and said, "I thought the box was exquisite, and the books inside were all ones you like to read; the perfume was already in the box, and I put the chocolates in later."

"So, you gave me the box without opening it?"

"Yes."

Li Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning and asked, "Does that box have a secret compartment? Gold bars? Or what?"

"It's nothing."

Gu Ning pressed her lips together in a smile and said, "Let's go, let's go home."

"???"

Li Li Xuewu widened his eyes, looking at Gu Ning, and said, "You haven't explained yet; what's this about going home?"

"There's nothing at all; let's go~"

At this moment, Gu Ning's smile was truly hard to suppress; she didn't know whether to be relieved that Li Li Xuewu wasn't the frivolous type or relieved that her embarrassment hadn't been discovered.

It was Li Li Xuewu's first time seeing Gu Ning speak to him with such an expression, and he could only smile helplessly.

"Alright, the gift is already yours; everything in it belongs to you now."

Li Li Xuewu started the engine and drove back, saying as he went, "Even if I wanted to find the answer, I couldn't; the person who sold me the box is gone."

"Gone?"

Gu Ning didn't quite understand Li Li Xuewu's choice of words.

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "It means he's no more."

"Oh."

Gu Ning responded with a sound, feeling even more relaxed in her heart, knowing that she was the only one who knew this secret.

With the psychological burden lifted, Gu Ning began talking to Li Li Xuewu again.

No matter how slowly Li Li Xuewu drove, there was still a time when they would arrive.

After escorting Gu Ning into the courtyard, Li Li Xuewu rubbed his chin, thinking he should ask Seeing Seeing Gelin when he got back.

By the time Li Li Xuewu arrived home, it was already past nine o'clock; unlike yesterday, the courtyard had quieted down today.

Since tomorrow was Monday, a day for work and school, who would dare stay up this late without sleeping?

After storing the car in the garage, Li Li Xuewu looked at the finished coffin shells parked in the courtyard.

They had been painted at this time and were currently resting on trestles to dry.

Actually, once one takes such matters lightly, looking at these things no longer feels frightening; everyone faces birth, aging, sickness, and death, and all must reach this step eventually.

Handing a cigarette to Seeing Lao Lao Biaozi, he asked, "Is everything ready?"

"Mm."

Lighting his own cigarette with a match, Seeing Lao Lao Biaozi reported to Li Li Xuewu, "Everything is prepared; the burial clothes were made by Third Aunt Yu Li and a few others, and my aunt from your family also helped out."

"That's good."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and asked again, "Did you go see her tonight? How is she?"

"Just like that."

Smoking his cigarette, Seeing Lao Lao Biaozi said, "Just like Li Shu said, it's pure suffering; she can't eat anything, vomiting up whatever we try to feed her."

"Who is there right now?"

"Yang Yang Erhai."

Seeing Lao Lao Biaozi replied, "We're taking turns; it looks like only a few days are left."

Li Li Xuewu felt a bit sad in his heart; taking a hard drag on his cigarette, he said, "I don't have time; you all work a bit harder, and if anything comes up, call me."

"Understood."

Seeing Lao Lao Biaozi understood Li Li Xuewu's words; this old woman wouldn't pass away in just a moment or two, so one couldn't just quit work and wait at home—that would be absurd.

Furthermore, she was his dry grandmother, not his biological one; if he really quit his job to wait, it would become a joke.

Relationships between people are just like this; one cannot be too distant, nor too close.

As they spoke like this, they walked into the courtyard.

At this moment, the southern row of rooms had lights on; no one in the east or west rooms was asleep yet.

Upon entering the west room, they saw Seeing Seeing Gelin holding a money punch, stamping spirit money; he was so strong that one hammer strike nearly punched straight through.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu enter, he glanced up, grinned, and continued working.

Li Li Xuewu nodded, sat by the edge of the kang, looked at the items on the ground like Bai Bu and hemp rope, and chatted for a while with Second Grandfather and Grandfather Hearing Da Lao.

What they spoke of was nothing more than sighing over life, also intended to ease the emotions of Hearing Da Lao and Second Grandfather.

The two of them were quite open-minded; Second Grandfather even joked that he would be content if he received such treatment when his time came.

Li Li Xuewu also smiled and said he would definitely make it happen.

Hearing the joking words, the people in the room all stretched the corners of their mouths in smiles.

There is a type of funeral called a joyful funeral; when an elderly person passes away from old age, it is called a joyful funeral.

Although Grandma Shen had been startled by the earthquake, Li Shun observed that she had simply reached the end of her days, her body utterly exhausted like a lamp running out of oil.

In this era, where did the elderly ever find good fortune? Grandma Shen had lived through all the difficult times; surviving to such an advanced age was already a blessing of long life.

Li Li Xuewu still had to work tomorrow, so after exchanging a few words with the others and casting a glance at those reading in the east room, he returned to the rear courtyard.

By the time he entered the front courtyard, the lights at home were already out, so he did not go in to disturb anyone, yet he happened to meet Brother Brother Jiecheng in the front courtyard.

For some reason, he was sitting right outside his own door late at night.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu enter, he stood up somewhat embarrassedly and offered a greeting.

"Director."

"Mm, what are you doing?"

"Nothing."

"Mm."

Li Li Xuewu responded with a sound, assessed Brother Brother Jiecheng's condition, and said, "Pay more attention to your family; your father's health is poor, and your younger brother has gotten into this trouble—you need to act like the eldest son."

"Ah, understood."

Brother Brother Jiecheng replied, watching Li Li Xuewu enter through the third gate.

Li Li Xuewu added those extra words only because they lived in the same courtyard; it was best if things in this courtyard remained peaceful.

Upon entering the middle courtyard, he found that only the Jia family's house and the main room had their lights on.

It was normal for the main room to be lit; usually, at this hour, He Yushui was at home reading, while Yu Li waited for him in the rear courtyard.

Has something happened again at the Jia family's?

Then I must leave quickly.

As soon as Li Li Xuewu spotted the lights on at the Jia family's, he quickened his pace; by the time Qin Qin Huairu chased out, Li Li Xuewu had already entered the moon gate.

Qin Qin Huairu stamped her foot, glanced back at her younger sister who was secretly watching her, frowned slightly, and then chased after him anyway.

This matter could not be discussed at the factory; that living King of Hell did not allow official business to be discussed at home.

Correspondingly, private matters could not be discussed at the factory either.

"Why are you running? Are you afraid of me?"

Qin Qin Huairu entered the room, saw Yu Li helping Li Li Xuewu change his clothes, and made that remark.

Li Li Xuewu smiled and stubbornly retorted, "Nonsense! How was I running? I was clearly just eager to go home and sleep."

While speaking, he had already started changing into his sleeping trousers, but seeing Qin Qin Huairu staring at him with wide eyes made things feel somewhat awkward.

"Wait, I'm changing my pants here!"

"Tch~ Scared of being looked at?"

Qin Qin Huairu laughed and chided him playfully before turning toward the living room.

"This woman!"

Li Li Xuewu muttered under his breath, then took the sleeping trousers Yu Li handed him and put them on.

After Li Li Xuewu went out, Yu Li pursed her lips; without even thinking, she knew what the other woman had come for.

"If you have something to say, say it quickly; I'm really sleepy."

Li Li Xuewu waved his hand, signaling Qin Qin Huairu not to bother brewing tea or showing excessive courtesy.

"So there must be something, right?"

"If there's nothing, I'm going to sleep."

Li Li Xuewu stood up to retreat, but Qin Qin Huairu blocked his path.

"There is, there is~"

Speaking thus, disregarding Yu Li who had just emerged from the back, she pushed Li Li Xuewu down onto the sofa.

Yu Li glanced over, ignored her, and went to the washroom to wring out a Mao Jin for Li Li Xuewu to wipe his face.

"It's about my younger sister's matter."

As soon as Qin Qin Huairu finished speaking, Li Li Xuewu's brows furrowed.

But upon seeing Qin Qin Huairu's aggrieved and distressed expression, he transformed his annoyance into a sigh.

"I bear her no grudge nor resentment."

Looking at Qin Qin Huairu, Li Li Xuewu said, "This city of Four-Nine is not mine, nor is this Sihe Academy mine; how could I possibly stop her from entering?"

"I know."

Sitting on the armrest of the sofa, Qin Qin Huairu looked at Li Li Xuewu and said, "I'm just asking for your opinion."

"Can't chase her away, can you?"

Li Li Xuewu raised his eyes to look at Qin Qin Huairu, wearing an expression that said 'I knew it,' and remarked, "Stumped now, aren't you? Didn't listen to advice, did you? Now you're stuck with this burden, aren't you?"

"Sigh~"

Qin Qin Huairu sighed helplessly, saying, "You may have heard; currently, I have a home but cannot return to it, spending every day here just wearing down my mother-in-law. What do you say to this... Sigh~"

"What do you want to do?"

Looking at Qin Qin Huairu, Li Li Xuewu said, "Although the city of Four-Nine is not mine, and although this Sihe Academy is not mine, as for the Rolling Steel Factory... at the very least, you shouldn't even think about it."

"I wouldn't dare think about it~"

Looking at Li Li Xuewu, Qin Qin Huairu said, "If you don't give the word, would I dare~"

As she spoke, seeing Yu Li bring a hot towel, she reached out and took it.

Seeing her attempt to show courtesy, Yu Li handed it over anyway, then turned to fetch water for washing feet.

Qin Qin Huairu shook out the Mao Jin and began wiping Li Li Xuewu's face; Li Li Xuewu tried to do it himself but failed.

"Today, it was my mother-in-law who spoke."

While busy with her task, Qin Qin Huairu continued speaking her piece.

"My mother-in-law wants Qin Jingru to hatch some chicks here to sell, and later she can raise chickens to sell eggs."

"Heh~ Their village is so big, is there no place to raise chickens? Does she have to come to the courtyard to raise them?"

Li Li Xuewu glanced at Qin Qin Huairu and said, "Don't talk to me about hardships; I'm already having enough hardships myself."

"I didn't say anything~"

After wiping Li Li Xuewu's face, Qin Qin Huairu said seriously, "She's injured right now and can't do any work for a while; I just thought since she's idle anyway, she might as well earn a couple of coins rather than just sitting around until she goes to waste."

"So you do know!"

Taking the towel from Qin Qin Huairu's hand and setting it aside, he said, "Hurry up and find her a match; marry her off somewhere far away."

While speaking, he gestured toward the Xicheng direction and said, "Best not in Dongcheng."

"Are you never leaving Dongcheng in the future?"

Qin Qin Huairu said with some complaint, "You're a big division chief; are you really looking down on her?"

"I'm looking down on you!"

Li Li Xuewu tapped Qin Qin Huairu's thigh and said, "If you don't listen to me, this sister of yours will sooner or later cause you trouble; in her eyes, it's not just about these few chickens of yours—her heart wishes she could raise every chicken in all of Si-Jiu City."

"What do you mean?"

Qin Qin Huairu looked at Li Li Xuewu, not understanding what he meant.

"It means your sister is too ambitious~"

Yu Li brought over a basin of foot-washing water, placed it beside Li Li Xuewu's feet, and knowing Qin Qin Huairu was on duty today, took the towel to the bathroom to wash it.

Qin Qin Huairu naturally moved to help Li Li Xuewu take off his socks, but he refused, signaling that he would do it himself.

Seeing Qin Qin Huairu frown from Yu Li's remark, he pointed at her and said, "Your sister came to the city to live a good life; does she know how to raise chickens? What a joke! ~"

While speaking, he put his feet into the water and added, "A golden chicken, more like."

"She won't; she said herself she wants to do it this way."

Qin Qin Huairu looked at Li Li Xuewu and said, "I won't indulge her recklessness either; she'll raise only ten chickens at most."

"What about the extras? Strangle them to death?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at Qin Qin Huairu and said, "Human greed has no limits; will she be content earning just seven or eight yuan a month in the city?"

While speaking, he glanced at Qin Qin Huairu and said, "Does she know your salary yet?"

"Yes."

Qin Qin Huairu nodded, pondering it in her own heart as well.

Li Li Xuewu continued, "I'm not afraid to speak plainly with you: if she doesn't live better than you, she will never be satisfied."

"What does that have to do with me?"

At this moment, Qin Qin Huairu didn't know how the topic had turned to herself.

"Because you are her role model for entering the city, and also the knot in her heart that shatters her city dream."

Li Li Xuewu looked at Qin Qin Huairu and said, "Unless she lives better than you, that knot in her heart will never untie; no amount of persuasion will help."

"Stop overthinking; even if she lives better than you, it won't help."

At this moment, Yu Li walked out, stood beside Li Li Xuewu's sofa, looked at Qin Qin Huairu, and said, "If she lives better than you, she'll shame you to death."

"Don't believe it?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at the dumbfounded Qin Qin Huairu, smiled, and said, "Why don't you try it then? Let's bet your son's shares in those three chickens at my chicken stall."

"Sigh~"

Qin Qin Huairu glared at Li Li Xuewu; she naturally knew what he meant.

Sitting there, she thought for a long while, then finally let out a sigh.

She finally understood; there was no need to try—it was as obvious as the lice on a Monk's head.

With Li Li Xuewu and Yu Li trading remarks back and forth, they had made the matter perfectly clear to her.

They had also torn through the rice-paper window covering the truth she had been unwilling to face.

The way these relatives had been treated up to now was actually her fault; she had meddled too much.

Sometimes relatives are just like this: if you treat them too well, it may backfire and they might even poison you in return.

"What should I do?"

"What do you want to do?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at Qin Qin Huairu and asked, "You're not thinking of managing her for the rest of her life, are you?"

"Oh, stop teasing me!"

Qin Qin Huairu patted Li Li Xuewu and said, "Just tell me quickly what you have to say!"

Taking his feet out of the basin, Li Li Xuewu took the foot-drying cloth that Qin Qin Huairu handed him.

"If you ask me, she should go back to where she came from!"

Seeing Li Li Xuewu say this, Qin Qin Huairu was about to speak, but he waved his hand to stop her.

"But if you can't bring yourself to say it, then you'll just have to patiently wear her down."

While speaking, Li Li Xuewu dried his own feet and muttered, "Doesn't she want to hatch chicks? Then let her be; she can earn her own eggs and gather her own materials."

As Yu Li carried the basin away, Li Li Xuewu stood up, looked at the pondering Qin Qin Huairu, and said, "However much money she can earn, that's how much work she should do."

"Isn't she pasting matchboxes? Then for every ten cents she saves, she buys ten cents' worth of eggs."

"Whether it's one chicken or two, they're all hers; whether she earns more or less, she bears the consequences herself."

Qin Qin Huairu stood up, squatted down, and pulled Li Li Xuewu's trouser legs down over his calves.

"Calculate clearly the cost of her food and drink at your home, let her keep the accounts, and when she earns money, she must repay you."

Li Li Xuewu stopped, looked at Qin Qin Huairu squatting beside him, and said, "Even between brothers, accounts must be kept clear; when I eat at home, I still have to give my parents food coupons, which doesn't stop them from doting on me."

"Sigh~~~"

Qin Qin Huairu supported Li Li Xuewu as he stood up, looked at him, and said, "It's not that I pity her; I pity my second uncle."

"Let her suffer!"

Li Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Only when she has tasted all the bitterness of city life and witnessed the full range of human warmth and coldness in the city will her feet finally touch the ground; only then will she see what true city life really is."

Qin Qin Huairu nodded, touched Li Li Xuewu's pajamas, and said, "These are fine to wear, aren't they? Now that the weather is warming up, I'll make you another set."

"Heh heh."

Li Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "Don't bother; your family's fabric allocation isn't even enough for yourselves, so don't worry about me."

"If you know our family doesn't have enough, then buy the fabric yourself."

Qin Qin Huairu walked halfway around Li Li Xuewu, pinched his measurements with her fingers, and mentally calculated his build against the amount of fabric needed for clothes.

"My small quota really isn't enough; to tell the truth, I simply cannot produce any."

Yu Li came out of the bathroom after washing her hands, glanced at Qin Qin Huairu, and said, "Make him an outer jacket; it's getting hot soon, and he doesn't have anything to wear for spring or autumn yet."

Li Li Xuewu turned around, looked at Yu Li, and asked, "Didn't you already make some?"

"Those were shirts and trousers."

Yu Li went into the inner room, brought out the jacket Li Li Xuewu had worn back from the Rolling Steel Factory, and showed it to Qin Qin Huairu.

"I think this set makes him look quite young."

"Understood."

Qin Qin Huairu looked at the clothes, then narrowed her eyes with a smile as she glanced at Yu Li; she understood Yu Li's meaning.

Was she really talking about clothes?

Or was she talking about a woman?

She knew what Yu Li meant by bringing out these clothes; the workmanship clearly was not her own, nor was it that of the previous person—so who?

Qin Qin Huairu knew exactly who it was, but she simply refused to say, raising her eyebrows as she examined the garment.

Li Li Xuewu glanced at the two women, then shuffled his steps into the inner room.

Yu Li's eyes remained fixed on Qin Qin Huairu, waiting for her reply, but at this moment Qin Qin Huairu's demeanor was utterly infuriating.

"I'll bring the fabric back tomorrow."

From the inner room, Li Li Xuewu said lazily, "Cotton cloth, silk—I have both."

"Cotton is fine for pajamas, but isn't silk a bit too precious?"

Qin Qin Huairu released her hand, looked at Yu Li, and asked the question.

Yu Li, however, lowered her brows and cast down her eyes as she turned around and went back inside to put the clothes away.

Although Li Li Xuewu had not sensed this silent battle between the two women, he could already smell the atmosphere of war.

"Make whatever you can."

Li Li Xuewu kicked off his slippers and climbed onto the kang bed; right now, he only wanted to lie down.

Qin Qin Huairu pursed her lips, walked to the doorway of the inner room, and said to Li Li Xuewu, "You rest; I'm leaving now."

"Mm."

Li Li Xuewu gave a lazy response, looking as though he could fall asleep at any moment.

After hanging up the clothes, Yu Li watched Qin Qin Huairu leave through the door and muttered under her breath, "She only knows how to talk."

Li Li Xuewu heard it but paid no heed; where could there ever be true friendship between women?

Only between men and women does true friendship exist!

Yu Li turned off the light in the inner room and asked, "Do you want some water?"

"No need; go rest."

Yu Li made no reply; she walked into the living room, turned off the light, then changed her shoes at the entryway before heading out the door.

Li Li Xuewu's mind was perfectly clear; he simply lay on the kang bed thinking, and as he thought, he gradually fell asleep.

On Monday, before dawn had even broken, Yu Li entered the room to wake Li Li Xuewu.

"What's wrong?"

Li Li Xuewu squinted and looked toward the edge of the curtains; there was no light yet, clearly indicating it was not time to get up.

"Shen Guodong's grandmother seems to be nearing her end."

"So quickly?"

Li Li Xuewu frowned as he asked the question, then moved to rise, but Yu Li pressed him back down.

"Take a moment to compose yourself; I'll get your clothes."

Yu Li turned around, went to the wardrobe, and fetched a woolen overcoat for Li Li Xuewu; it was still a bit cold outside at this hour, and wearing just a jacket might not be enough.

Meanwhile, Li Li Xuewu lay on the kang bed to collect himself and asked, "Who came to notify us?"

"It was Yang Yang Erhai."

Yu Li replied, then walked to the wall and reminded him, "I'm turning on the light, okay?"

"Mm."

Li Li Xuewu closed his eyes, waiting for them to slowly adjust to the light before opening them again.

"Have Ye Ye Erye and the others gotten up?"

"Mm; Lao Lao Biaozi has gone to pick up Chen Chen Xiaoyan."

Seeing Li Li Xuewu sit up, Yu Li handed him his clothes one piece at a time.

"Are we closing the shop today?"

"We'll see; Shen Guodong's intention is to keep things as simple as possible."

Li Li Xuewu put on his clothes and stepped down from the bed; allowing Yu Li to help him finish dressing, he tapped the briefcase on the table and said, "Once you've packed it, just leave it in the side house; if I come back for dinner, I'll take it with me."

"Mm."

Yu Li nodded, handed a cup of warm water to Li Li Xuewu, and said, "Be careful when you kneel; don't let your knees get cold."

"Understood."

Li Li Xuewu drank a large cup, felt his stomach warm up, and only then changed his shoes before heading out the door.

It was currently the darkest part of the night just before dawn; no one knew when, a fine wind had started blowing, making people feel chilly.

Li Li Xuewu tightened his overcoat, frowned, and entered the front courtyard.

Perhaps Yu Li had gotten up, for at this moment He Yushui also walked out from inside the room.

"So early?"

"Mm, they're too busy today to handle it."

Seeing Li Li Xuewu walking in a hurry, He Yushui reminded him, "It's dark; be careful."

"It's fine; I've got a gun on me."

Li Li Xuewu gave a response and headed toward the third gate.

Old sayings tell that when an elder is about to pass, some unclean things tend to roam about.

This was exactly what He Yushui meant, and Li Li Xuewu's reply was not wrong.

He said the gun he carried was not just to scare the living; the unclean things feared it too.

It wasn't that they feared physical attacks, but rather magic—specifically, gunpowder, which wards off evil.

Of course, all this was just what the elders said; Li Li Xuewu had never tested it himself.

With his fierce appearance, he had indeed never encountered any.

Upon entering the front courtyard, the living room at home was lit, clearly indicating that his father had been woken up.

At this moment, everyone's thought was to let Li Shun see how much longer the old lady could hold on, so they could prepare, without expecting the doctor to perform a miraculous recovery.

Li Shun was most unwilling to examine such cases; usually, he would just take the pulse and leave immediately, absolutely not wanting to witness such scenes.

However, today there was no choice; whether he wanted to or not, he had to look.

Li Li Xuewu waited a few minutes at his doorstep before seeing his father walk out with a frown.

"Dad."

"Mm."

Seeing his son waiting for him, Li Shun waved his hand, signaling they should talk while walking.

"When the person passes, do not crowd forward; did you hear me?"

"Understood."

Li Li Xuewu responded and followed his father toward Bai Bai Xiyuan; at this point, they met up with Hearing Da Lao and Second Uncle, then exited the main gate and walked toward the Shen family residence.

Li Li Xuewu did not know what the Shen ancestors had done for a living, and Shen Shen Guodong had never mentioned it, likely not knowing himself.

The old lady had only mentioned matters concerning Shen Shen Guodong's parents, and even then, only briefly; since he was young, she rarely spoke much about it to him.

Now that the old lady was departing, Shen Shen Guodong still did not know where his family originally came from or why they lived in these side-houses.

In these times of war and chaos, having a place to settle down was already a blessing worthy of chanting "Amitabha."

The road was very dark; occasionally, a few sounds could be heard, but they were all masked by the night.

Apart from these, there was only the crunching sound of everyone's footsteps.

Li Li Xuewu held a flashlight in his hand, though it wasn't very bright, it was enough to see the path.

Several people held cigarettes in their hands, so there was no lack of smoke.

Before even entering the main gate of the Sihe Academy where the Shen family lived, cries of wailing could already be heard.

Li Li Xuewu bit down on the cigarette holder in his mouth, knowing his father no longer needed to check.

"Ah! ~~Wuwu~"

When they reached the main gate, they saw the recycling station's van parked outside with its door open; Seeing Lao Lao Biaozi was carrying spirit money into the house.

"Grandpa, Second Grandpa, Li Shu."

Seeing Lao Lao Biaozi greeted them one by one, then looked at Li Li Xuewu and the others, saying in a low voice, "She just breathed her last."

Li Li Xuewu said nothing; frowning, he lifted a stack of spirit money and joss paper from the vehicle and walked into the courtyard.

The others also began unloading items from the vehicle.

The Shen family had few members; it was just an old lady raising her grandson, and they were extremely poor.

Therefore, there were no social obligations involved; now that the old lady had passed, there was no commotion in the courtyard.

Even the household living next door kept their doors shut, pretending not to hear anything.

Seeing Lao Lao Biaozi was indignant and wanted to stir up trouble, but Li Li Xuewu scolded him.

However, this actually saved trouble, as the people from the recycling station could handle everything themselves.

At this moment, Li Li Xuewu carried the stack of spirit money into the room, where Chen Chen Xiaoyan and her mother were busy preparing the old lady's body.

Shen Shen Guodong was kneeling on the ground, wailing loudly.

Li Li Xuewu looked at the cramped space inside the room, frowned, and discussed with Second Uncle nearby; once the old lady was dressed, they would move out the bed and furniture to clear space for laying out the body.

After all, Shen Shen Guodong did not live here anymore; future matters could be dealt with later.

While these few were busy working, the sound of firecrackers rang out from outside the door.

Seeing Lao Lao Biaozi and Seeing Sha Zhu were fierce indeed; they directly set off two strings of five hundred crackers each, plus ten double-kickers.

Well, none of the surrounding neighbors needed to sleep anymore; this alarm clock was quite powerful.

Li Li Xuewu did not blame Seeing Lao Lao Biaozi and the others; this was an old custom, and even if others couldn't sleep, what harm would it do? Could they stop the funeral proceedings?

Li Li Xuewu went outside and instructed Yang Yang Erhai to make another trip; they needed to call the Thirteen Protectors over to help, and also ask Yu Li and the others to come pay their respects.

Shen Shen Guodong had already discussed with Grandpa and Second Uncle that, no matter what, the body would only lie in state for one day, with the funeral procession departing at dawn the next morning.

He said the old lady did not like liveliness; it was better for her to depart quietly.

Li Li Xuewu exchanged a few words with Lao Lao Biaozi at the entrance before being called away to help.

The old lady, now dressed, shuffled toward the ground.

Upon entering the room, they saw Chen Xiaoyan kneeling beside Shen Shen Guodong, while Chen Xiaoyan's mother stood by the bedside waiting.

Several men lent a hand to lift the old lady onto the stretcher, allowing the weeping Chen Xiaoyan and her mother to cover her with the Bai Bu.