Chapter 754: Little Sister

Today, these people wouldn't have any problems even if they had a marriage certificate.

The problem is that none of these people have one.

Lai Lai Shanchuan had already figured out the ins and outs of the matter before coming to the First Detention Center; Li Li Xuewu truly didn't leave him any flaws.

So he borrowed the phone in the duty room at the entrance of the First Detention Center and called Li Li Xuewu's home.

He knew Li Li Xuewu's home phone number, and he also knew that Li Li Xuewu must be waiting for his call at this time.

It's very simple; sometimes masters compete with just a few moves; winning is winning, losing is losing.

Can afford to win, can afford to lose; the sky hasn't collapsed.

So Li Li Xuewu came.

A Willys, the kind that was kept very neat; Old Lao Biaozi smashed the new GAZ-69 to pieces, smashed the new large truck to pieces, but kept the smashed-up Willys neat and tidy for Li Li Xuewu.

This world is unreasonable, and there's nowhere to reason; the guard standing at the gate of the First Detention Center saluted Li Li Xuewu first when he got out of the car, and then returned to his post.

Li Li Xuewu's car didn't turn off the engine, indicating he didn't want to stay here long, and didn't want to chat with Lai Lai Shanchuan for long.

After getting out of the car, he took a cigarette out of his pocket, put it in his mouth, and lit it with a lighter while walking toward Lai Lai Shanchuan's jeep.

His movements were very dashing, his expression very natural, without the slightest pride of a winner, let alone the hypocrisy of being eager for quick success.

Before Lai Lai Shanchuan's driver could get out, Li Li Xuewu had already sat in the back seat of the jeep.

Lai Lai Shanchuan's driver was very sensible; after getting out, he walked forward, glanced at Li Li Xuewu's car as he passed, saw it was fine, and walked a few more steps without looking back, standing with his back to the station.

In the jeep, Li Li Xuewu took a puff of the cigarette; he didn't close the car door, put his hand on the back of the passenger seat, turned his head and glanced at Lai Lai Shanchuan in the dark night.

It wasn't very dark in the car, because the gate light of the First Detention Center was very bright; the light entered the car, illuminating Lai Lai Shanchuan's side face, half bright, half dark.

From the half of the face that could be seen, Li Li Xuewu didn't see the regret and loss of a loser, only a bit of stiffness and unnaturalness.

People are old, staying up late is always haggard, very normal.

Lai Lai Shanchuan looked at Li Li Xuewu's face, which was clearly visible; there was no wantonness of being playful, only a mature temperament and the vitality of a young man.

"Not asleep yet?"

Lai Lai Shanchuan let out a long breath, then asked in a dry voice.

He didn't need Li Li Xuewu's answer, because this was his last persistence and unwillingness.

Li Li Xuewu smiled, and he truly didn't answer this question, but took another puff of the cigarette; Gu Ning didn't like him smoking anymore, so he had to quit.

It was truly a rare opportunity to come out.

Raising his hand to gesture to the gate of the First Detention Center, Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and asked: "Went in?"

Lai Lai Shanchuan's side face in the light twitched slightly; he wanted to say something, but held back.

He knew Li Li Xuewu wasn't someone who would yield; he mocked him, and Li Li Xuewu immediately returned it.

If he could really go in, he wouldn't have to invite Li Li Xuewu here.

"Heh~ truly."

Li Li Xuewu shook his head helplessly and said: "Don't know who taught him, they all play this set; as soon as they handle a case, they come here; they really treat this place as a connection house."

After saying this, he took another puff of the cigarette, exhaling smoke toward the front of the car, making the light in the car look very illusory.

"I only said people could be sent here, but I didn't say the interrogation was here too."

"Let's go, go in and see."

Li Li Xuewu didn't talk nonsense with Lai Lai Shanchuan anymore, jumped off the jeep by stepping on the pedal, flicked the cigarette butt in his hand, slammed the car door, went around the back of the car, and walked into the gate of the First Detention Center.

Lai Lai Shanchuan, like an old man, got off the jeep slowly, watched Li Li Xuewu enter the gate he couldn't enter even after getting angry, his skin twitching as he followed inside.

Sure enough, this time the people at the gate didn't stop him again; they truly treated him as air.

If it were usual, when he came here, Huang Gan would always come out to greet him; although they weren't in the same system, they were always in a cooperative relationship.

But tonight, he knew he absolutely couldn't enter this gate, unless Li Li Xuewu came.

It was truly like this; Li Li Xuewu came, and this gate opened for him.

Entering the gate, following Li Li Xuewu's figure as he walked inside, he always felt that Li Li Xuewu was more familiar with this place than going to the branch bureau.

Until he passed a bend, Li Li Xuewu's footsteps stopped, looking at the window on the door of the bungalow; when he reached it, he pushed the door open and walked in.

"Li Chu~"

"Li Ge~"

There were three people in the room; they called him whatever they wanted when they saw Li Li Xuewu, because they weren't people from the same system.

With people from the First Detention Center here, Lai Lai Shanchuan didn't hear anyone greet him after entering the room, so he stood silently at the door.

Li Li Xuewu, however, squinted his eyes and looked at the young man handcuffed to the chair under the big light bulb.

"Why aren't you letting him wear clothes?"

"He wasn't wearing any when he came~"

Old Sun from the First Detention Center spread his hands and said: "Where do you want me to find clothes for him? That piece of cloth on his butt is the one that was on his face when he came."

Li Li Xuewu tapped the table with his hand, ignored Old Sun's nonsense, picked up the interrogation record and read it, asking: "All done?"

"Hehe~ they confessed faster than the four-sixes on the street."

Old Sun smoked a cigarette Li Li Xuewu threw on the table, lit it with a match and smiled: "The more people, the better to interrogate; they all want to push the responsibility to the other side; whoever confesses first gets the advantage~"

When he said this, he also glanced at Lai Lai Shanchuan standing at the door; it wasn't that he didn't recognize Section Chief Lai, but tonight he was playing dumb and didn't recognize him for the time being.

Li Li Xuewu, however, didn't care, threw the signed and fingerprinted interrogation report on the table, and signaled the young man sitting on the chair who was pursing his lips and wanting to speak: "You want to speak?"

The young man looked anxiously toward the door; he wanted to open his mouth, but the person at the door was shaking his head slightly; he knew he couldn't speak.

But... but he had many words he wanted to say to his father.

Li Li Xuewu stood in front of the table, looking down at the young man; his face was hidden in the lampshade, looking very dark.

"Anything you want to say?"

"No... nothing anymore."

The young man finally lowered his head, his body bent, looking decadent and spiritless.

Li Li Xuewu knew this young man was ruined, just like Yan Yan Jiefang; once the backbone is broken, it's truly broken.

Nodding, Li Li Xuewu didn't say anything more, but waved at Xing Xing Yichun standing by the wall, and gestured to the young man's hands.

There was a pair of handcuffs, handcuffs locked to the back of the chair the young man was sitting on.

Xing Xing Yichun took the cigarette from his mouth, frowned slightly, took the key from his waist, and unlocked the handcuffs for this young man.

The young man looked at Xing Xing Yichun in disbelief, then looked at Li Li Xuewu, and finally looked toward the door, but there was no one there anymore.

"Get up."

Li Li Xuewu said, then turned around and walked out, saying: "Find him clothes to wear, what kind of look is this~"

After saying this, he had already walked out the door, looked at the courtyard, saw no one, and went to the office he had just passed.

When Li Li Xuewu came out again, the young man had already put his clothes back on, standing in the courtyard with his head down, with two people watching him.

The clothes were all there; it wasn't like what Old Sun said, that they didn't give them their clothes.

Xing Xing Yichun knew that the clothes collected from the scene weren't just clothes, but also the face of their parents.

This face was lost by themselves, and it was also picked up by Xing Xing Yichun, so from now on, these people owed Jiaodaokou.

Li Li Xuewu didn't say anything more to the young man, turned around and returned the way he came, walking toward the main gate.

The person behind the young man pushed him, and seeing him look back, this person raised his chin, signaling him to follow Li Li Xuewu's figure.

The young man hesitated, tried to follow with his steps, and seeing there were no footsteps behind him, knew the two didn't follow, and unconsciously quickened his pace; he wanted to escape this devil's den quickly.

Li Li Xuewu's pace wasn't fast, not enough to make the young man unable to catch up, but after he caught up with his pace, Li Li Xuewu didn't pay attention to him either.

Just at the main gate, seeing him still following behind, Li Li Xuewu gestured to his father's jeep, watched him trot over, and then walked toward his own car.

The driver who was guarding here had already returned, and Li Li Xuewu also had to go home.

Getting in the car and turning the steering wheel, he didn't have the slightest intention of staying to say a few more words, stepped on the accelerator and left.

The driver in the GAZ car looked at Lai Lai Yide who had jumped into the car, ignored his question of "Where did Dad go?", and stepped on the accelerator to rush forward.

His order was to send Lai Lai Yide home.

Lai Lai Yide must be the first to go home, and must be the first to go home; when Li Li Xuewu chose to take Lai Lai Shanchuan into the room where Lai Lai Yide was being interrogated, Lai Lai Shanchuan knew this result.

Do the whole play; he had to admit defeat, and he had to admit it completely; he had to accompany Li Li Xuewu to finish this play; he couldn't do otherwise even if he wanted to.

Today's arrest mission was presided over by Lai Lai Shanchuan of the Public Security Section, and the release of the people was also decided by Lai Lai Shanchuan; in that office, Lai Lai Shanchuan signed his name, and the responsibility had nothing to do with Xing Xing Yichun.

Tomorrow, before dawn, these people would all be released, but the confession statements they signed would still be at the First Detention Center, and the decision Lai Lai Shanchuan signed would also be at the First Detention Center.

What did Li Li Xuewu do?

He didn't do anything; he was just a... innocent passerby.

"What did you do?!"

"Didn't do anything~"

"Didn't do anything and got caught in the detention center!"

"I said I didn't do anything~"

Wang Wang Yamei replied to her sister's words impatiently, her gaze sweeping left and right at the gate of the First Detention Center.

Yes, it was agreed to do the whole play; they wouldn't come to pick her up.

Wang Wang Yamei knew even more that this was protecting her, not letting this matter implicate a small fish like her.

Although she understood in her heart, there was still an inexplicable sense of loss; she had been looking forward to it for a long time, but in the end, it fell through.

Just don't know if he saw her last night.

"I'm talking to you!"

Wang Wang Yamei's sister, Wang Wang Yajuan, poked her sister angrily, stood up her eyebrows and said: "Mom and Dad are already tired enough, can you let them worry less!"

"Got it~~"

Wang Wang Yamei saw her sister was angry, had words in her heart she couldn't say, and had to promise helplessly.

Wang Wang Yajuan looked at her, then looked at the young people who were picked up together, and knew that her sister was hanging out with those people again.

This time it seemed to be getting worse, hanging out with those who bullied her parents, which made Wang Wang Yajuan feel even worse.

Now her sister is grown up, working and earning money, and she can't control her anymore.

Plus her own work had problems, and now she had no mind to say more to her, pushed the bike and walked forward, not wanting to pay attention to her sister.

Wang Wang Yamei also looked at those little brats she was crazy with last night; someone even raised their eyebrows at her, making her twitch the corner of her mouth and wave her hand, indicating not to say anything, the parents were here.

These kids wouldn't suspect that it was Wang Wang Yamei who had a problem here; they discovered that Lai Lai Yide was missing.

After meeting with their parents, they knew that Lai Lai Yide had gone home to sleep last night.

Damn it!

Knew someone was playing tricks; it turned out to be this grandson Lai Lai Yide!

Wang Wang Yamei walked behind her sister's bicycle like a wronged little daughter-in-law.

Seeing her sister was about to ride away, she shouted "Sister, wait for me~" and ran a few steps to get on the bike.

Wang Wang Yajuan was angry at her for not being competitive, but she couldn't just leave her alone after picking her up in the middle of the night. Although the bike was ridden, it was slow.

Once she felt her sister get on the back seat, she pedaled toward home.

Wang Wang Yamei waved at those kids in the distance from the back seat, her face full of irrepressible triumph.

But when she turned back to look at her sister, she said carelessly: "Sister, just send me to work, save me an extra trip."

"I truly don't know what to say to you anymore."

Wang Wang Yajuan rode the bike; it would have been fine if her sister hadn't spoken, but as soon as she mentioned work, the fire in her heart grew even stronger.

"Asking you to go to work is like begging you; you don't work steadily, just thinking about playing!"

Wang Wang Yajuan became angrier as she spoke, and the tone of her lecture became much stronger: "Dad is now in the workshop, Mom was transferred to the labor team, worried and tired; don't you think about their bitterness?"

"Sister~"

Wang Wang Yamei hugged her sister's waist, her voice filled with tears, and said: "I know, I know the family is difficult now, I truly know~"

Wang Wang Yajuan let out a long breath; this sister had been spoiled by the family since she was a child, and always had that mischievous spirit.

In the past, the family conditions were good, so she was naturally allowed to make trouble; but now it's not the case. Her parents are about to have problems, and if she is allowed to play like this, what will happen in the future?

Receiving the news from the station tonight that Wang Wang Yamei was at the First Detention Center and asking the family to pick her up.

Wang Wang Yajuan was too familiar with this job; every time it was her who went to pick her up, either at the street office or the police station.

This time it was even worse, directly entering the detention center.

If she continued to let her sister develop like this, maybe she wouldn't even have the chance to pick her up.

"If you really don't want to work, then get married."

Wang Wang Yajuan said ruthlessly: "Aunt called and said that the child in her uncle's family should be..."

"I'm not marrying!"

Before Wang Wang Yajuan could finish, Wang Wang Yamei shouted, then clamored: "I'm not marrying out; what kind of place is that? She went to eat sand, and she wants me to go eat sand too? She has no good intentions!"

After saying this, Wang Wang Yamei shook her sister again and begged: "Sister, I'll truly change, there won't be a next time; this time I'll truly work hard, I definitely won't cause trouble for you again."

Wang Wang Yajuan naturally couldn't bear to see her sister marry out; in this era, marrying out basically meant seeing each other once every ten or twenty years, and even writing letters was a trouble.

There were only two sisters in the family; if they didn't support each other, their parents' retirement would be a problem.

Her aunt's phone call had already been rejected by her mother; the family knew the meaning on that side. Her aunt was just trying to curry favor with her in-laws, and although the bride price was higher, their family had no intention of selling their daughter.

Today was also just to tease her sister, to make her worry less.

Listening to her sister's sigh, Wang Wang Yamei used some strength in her hands and asked: "Sister, is your troupe going to disband?"

"Don't know, none of your business."

Wang Wang Yajuan scolded her sister angrily and continued to ride the bike.

Wang Wang Yamei didn't pay attention to her sister's angry words and continued to ask: "If it disbands, what will you do?"

Yes, what should she do?

The professional art troupe she worked so hard to get into back then, it was said to disband just like that.

They weren't rehearsing anymore, the gate was sealed, the office leaders were arrested, and they were forced to shout slogans before being released.

Her sister's words made her heart chaotic too; above only said to wait, but no one could say how long to wait.

She only had two paths now: either participate in activities, or stay at home and not go out.

Neither path was what she wanted; as a dance actor, if she really wasted half a year at home, she wouldn't feel good psychologically if she wanted to go on stage again.

She had also asked, but no one could say when this wind would pass, and when the art troupe would recover.

If it was really like her mother's art troupe, sending them all to sweep toilets, she wouldn't even be able to find the tune to cry.

Wang Wang Yamei saw her sister was silent and didn't ask any further; if she really made her sister anxious and threw her down, walking back would be tiring.

Her sister hadn't done such a thing before, and she didn't want to be tired again.

The two sisters remained silent, worrying about their respective futures, moving forward in the dark night before dawn.

The first ray of sunlight in the morning just passed through the white curtains, shining on the desk, stinging the forgotten open pages of the book she had been reading last night.

It was Li Shu who discovered the silent cry of the Red Book; she turned her little body, propped up her head to look at the sunlight on the desk, and then fell powerlessly onto the pillow.

Morning, time to get up, time to go out and play~

Li Shu rubbed her eyes with her little hands, then propped herself up with her little pillow, stuck her butt out and climbed up to look at Dad and Mom.

Hey! Sleeping so soundly!

"Dad~"

"Dad~"

"Hmm..."

Li Shu swayed and went around Mom to Dad's side, habitually sitting on her father's belly, calling "Dad" over and over again with her little mouth.

She didn't dare to wake Mom, but she wanted Dad to hold her and take her out to play, so she couldn't be too quiet.

This little guy is smart and has a good eye for things.

But why does Dad answer but not wake up?

Li Li Xuewu had a dream; he dreamed he went mountain climbing, accidentally fell, and a huge rock fell on his belly, which he couldn't move no matter how he tried.

Strangely, this rock could call "Dad"!

"Dad~"

"Dad~"

"Hmm?"

Li Li Xuewu's nightmare was pushed awake by Gu Ning; he opened one eye, looked, saw Gu Ning turn over and continue sleeping, and then looked at his daughter who was crawling over in confusion.

Fine, no need for Zhou Gong to help him interpret the dream anymore; the big rock that could call "Dad" rolled down by itself.

"What for?"

"Dad, play~"

Li Shu widened her eyes, her face still blurry; her little mouth could speak very well; she could say clearly what she wanted, and she would mumble what she didn't want.

Li Li Xuewu opened his eyes, looked at Gu Ning helplessly, knowing that Gu Ning woke up first but didn't want to get up, so she pushed him awake to let him take Li Shu out to play.

Truly good at arranging!

Li Li Xuewu yawned helplessly, raised his head to look at the clock on the wall; it wasn't even five o'clock yet; where did this bear child get so much energy?

"Daughter, let's discuss something; let's sleep a little longer, okay?"

Li Li Xuewu tried to use a gentle tone to discuss with his daughter, but Li Shu didn't want to listen to him; her little hand kept pointing outside, saying "go, play."

After nagging for a long time, Gu Ning lost patience first, turned around and glared at Li Li Xuewu; Li Li Xuewu finally had no choice, got up to put on clothes, and also put clothes on his daughter.

This morning, the little guy wanted him to wash her face; once a week, sometimes twice a week, depending on how many nights she slept here.

At home, she didn't need him; Li Shu slept with the old lady, so naturally, the old lady took care of her.

"Close your eyes."

Li Li Xuewu held his daughter and stood by the sink, finished saying this, and used water to wash Li Shu's face.

He washed his own face like a duck playing in water, and it was the same when washing Li Shu's.

Fortunately, he knew what he was like, and knew to wrap a white towel around his daughter, otherwise, this set of clothes would have to be changed again.

After washing her face, he wiped her with fragrance, and then held her and walked out.

Li Shu had a smile on her face again, the same smile as when she stood by and watched Dad wash his face; she was happy.

"Play~"

"Hehe, play."

Li Li Xuewu smacked his lips, learned his daughter's words, held her and strolled around the courtyard, and when she wanted to make a fuss, he walked outside.

In the middle courtyard, he happened to meet Bang Geng coming out of the house, and First Grandfather was squatting by the sink washing his toothbrush cup.

"First Grandfather."

"Hey, Li Xuewu, up so early."

"No way, she's up, so I have to be up."

Li Li Xuewu helplessly bounced his daughter, smiled and nodded at Bang Geng who was greeting him.

Bang Geng smiled and pinched Li Shu's little feet; seeing she didn't want to, she pulled back hard, and then said to Li Li Xuewu: "Little Huaihua was like this when she was little, hehe."

Li Shu widened her eyes, her little fist clenched, as if she would punch him if he dared to tease her again.

Bang Geng didn't notice this, puffed up his big fat face, greeted First Grandfather, and went to the backyard.

When the rooster crows at dawn, it doesn't just mean reporting the dawn, but also means telling the family to let them out quickly.

So Bang Geng had to open the chicken coop in the backyard, and then open the one in the front; after finishing all that, he had to carry an iron bucket to scoop fish and shrimp.

Li Li Xuewu didn't plan to stand in the middle courtyard, and Li Shu wouldn't let him, but First Grandfather took the initiative to talk about work.

"The workshop is preparing to hold a safety production standardization training class."

First Grandfather stood by the sink holding his toothbrush cup and introduced to Li Li Xuewu: "Mainly because there are too many people coming to the factory to inspect, and just bringing them to look isn't satisfying their requirements anymore."

After saying this, he looked at Li Li Xuewu and explained: "The director's meaning is, I should take the lead, pull the team together first, and the section will contact the class, and then carry out learning and training work."

"That's a good thing."

Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said: "Section Chief Kuang gave the order?"

"Should be."

First Grandfather said: "The director only said it was a notice from the section, trying to prepare the first batch, and let me prepare the training outline."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and asked: "First Grandfather, what do you mean? You wouldn't think I want to monopolize all the training work in our factory, would you?"

"No."

First Grandfather smiled; although he said no, it sounded like he did.

Perhaps their workshop director was playing tricks again; this safety production standardization was an idea Li Li Xuewu gave First Grandfather, afraid that Li Li Xuewu also wanted to do it in the Security Section, and it wouldn't be good if they collided.

"Handle it well, it's famous and profitable, it's a good thing."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said to First Grandfather: "You might as well take this opportunity to standardize the teaching procedures in our factory."

Li Shu saw Dad standing there without moving, and she became lazy and wanted to walk outside.

Qin Qin Huairu came out of the house, saw Li Li Xuewu and First Grandfather standing there talking, and walked over while gathering her hair.

After greeting the two, seeing they were talking about business, she took Li Shu and coaxed her.

What Li Li Xuewu was telling First Grandfather was still about training, but not just training for people coming from outside, but also training within the factory.

"Now masters teach apprentices, everyone has their own way, doing whatever they want, and there's no unified textbook, a thousand people have a thousand ways."

Li Li Xuewu thought for a while and said to First Grandfather: "You should also tell your director that while doing safety production standardization, you should also unify the textbooks and teaching materials for apprentices."

"The benefits are naturally understood by everyone; teaching is standardized, the apprentices taught will definitely be standard, and it can achieve quick understanding and quick graduation."

"This..."

First Grandfather frowned, then looked at Li Li Xuewu and said: "If you want to make it for all production positions, I'm afraid it's a big project."

"Why? You want to do it all by yourself?"

Li Li Xuewu smiled and explained: "Let Kuang Kuang Yusheng and Xia Xia Zhongquan take the lead, set up a working group, find a few old masters like you to list the outline, let the masters in the positions fill in the content themselves, and then review and compile it, wouldn't that work?"

Qin Qin Huairu stood on the side and said with a smile: "First Grandfather is thinking from the perspective of a worker, and you are thinking from the perspective of a leader; the directions of considering problems are different."

First Grandfather also smiled and said to Li Li Xuewu: "This is truly a big project."

Earlier he said it was a big project, meaning the work difficulty was great; this time he said it again, meaning the credit was great.

If it really realizes the standardization of worker training, then this credit is even more than the honor brought to him by safety production standardization.

Li Li Xuewu didn't care about this; this wasn't his profession, and there was no need to go to the workshop to find credit; truly leading the workshop to realize production reform wouldn't bring him any benefits.

This kind of work is better done by people like First Grandfather who came from professional workers; if he did it, he would only be called a dog catching a mouse, not attending to his proper business.

Qin Qin Huairu saw First Grandfather happy and smiled to remind him: "You know your own body, you have to pay attention, don't work your life away just because the director says something."

At this time, First Grandfather's wife came out with an apron; she had heard what was said outside just now, and now she smiled and said: "He doesn't remember this at all, a person who doesn't want his life when working."

First Grandfather just smiled and didn't speak, gestured to the room with his teacup and said: "Eat at home in the morning, let your First Grandfather's wife make pancakes."

"No, there's something in the inverted room in the morning."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and explained: "My mom and Third Sister-in-law went up the mountain to see my dad and the others; my sister-in-law is alone at home, and she would feel embarrassed if we didn't go to the inverted room."

"Liu Yin said it yesterday."

First Grandfather's wife smiled, handed the pastry she had just taken from home to Li Shu, and signaled her to eat.

"Your dad and the others have been gone for a month, right? It's time to go see them, two old men."

"Say thank you, Grandma."

Li Li Xuewu teased his daughter to make her say thank you; Li Shu looked at the pastry in her hand, then looked at First Grandfather's wife, and only a "milk" sound came out of her little mouth. 【754

Aunt Yi smiled and touched Li Shu's little face, praising her for growing so fast; it was rare to see a one-year-old child grow so big.

As for women, praising children was always in this direction, and their love for children was also genuine, especially for Aunt Yi.

Li Li Xuewu took Li Shu from Qin Qin Huairu's hands, said a word to Uncle Yi, and walked toward the front while holding her.

Although Li Shu had gotten the pastry, her desire to go out and play hadn't changed, and she kept reaching outward.

Qin Qin Huairu had originally wanted to talk to Li Li Xuewu, but now she could only watch the father and daughter leave through the second gate.

"Giddy-up~ giddy-up~ giddy-up~"

Li Shu kept muttering in her little mouth, wanting her father to walk faster; she had even said the command for riding a big horse that she had learned from the old lady.

"It's so early in the morning, where are you two going?"

"Just out for a stroll~"

Li Li Xuewu smiled and greeted Wang Laoqi's wife, looked into her room, and asked with a smile: "Is Brother Seven not up yet?"

"He's up, he's been up for a long time~"

Wang Laoqi said he was up, but in reality, his body was still under the covers, and he was lying on the edge of the kang smoking.

Their family lived in the entrance hall, which was the bad thing about it; people coming and going knew everything they were doing if it weren't for the lattice screen blocking the view.

"Then you're up earlier than me~"

Li Li Xuewu teased with a bit of small talk and walked into the front courtyard without stopping, holding Li Shu.

When greeting people in the courtyard, Li Li Xuewu was still accustomed to using the seniority among neighbors and did not use their job titles.

Gradually, the people in the courtyard had also gotten used to Li Li Xuewu's temperament, and most of them addressed him this way when calling him.

Only on formal occasions, or when really handling business, would they call him Section Chief Li.

For a lazy person like Wang Laoqi's family, how could he not feel comfortable being called Brother Seven by Li Li Xuewu?

Getting along among neighbors was just about these little things; if you respect me an inch, I'll respect you a foot.

If you try to scheme against me an inch, then I'll hit you with a stick.

The morning in the front courtyard wasn't lively because fewer people lived there, and since the Li family didn't have anyone with a loud voice, it couldn't compare to the chattering of the women cooking in the middle courtyard in the morning.

Like Gu Ning, the pregnant Zhao Zhao Yafang also liked to sleep in, and the door to their house was still closed; Li Li Xuewu knew his sister-in-law wasn't up yet.

The old lady had returned home and might be up, but she didn't dare make any noise for fear of disturbing Zhao Zhao Yafang's morning sleep.

The neighbors across the way were all up, and they were propping up a table at the entrance to paste matchboxes.

It was dark inside the room in the morning and hot during the day, so pasting matchboxes in the summer was always done in the courtyard.

Uncle Three's family was also facing away from the sun, so setting up a table at their door to work was just right.

Li Li Xuewu recognized this table; it was the one used when the courtyard held large meetings in the past, and no one knew what antique year it was from; it looked like it had been tidied up by Uncle Three.

It wasn't that the Yan family liked to put on airs by setting up an eight-immortal table to paste matchboxes, but the main person pasting them, Yan Yan Jiefang, had bad legs, and he wasn't comfortable squatting or sitting on a low stool, so they had gotten the bench and the eight-immortal table.

No one knew which nerve had been crossed, but Yan Yan Jiefang had been quiet for many days and had actually learned to earn money to support the family.

By this time in the morning, Uncle Three was already gone, and his bike was gone too; it looked like he had gone fishing.

And sitting by the table were Yan Yan Jiefang and his sister-in-law, while Aunt Three was cooking breakfast in the kitchen.

The two little cubs of the Yan family wouldn't do this; they were glorious little cubs now, and it was the time for them to shine for the revolution, so how could they do such trivial things?

Li Li Xuewu walked past the entrance holding the child, and Yan Yan Jiefang lowered his head and pretended not to see him, but Ge Ge Shuqin nodded at Li Li Xuewu with her thin little face and even smiled at Li Shu.

Li Shu was also curiously looking at their family, wondering what they were busy with.

Li Li Xuewu knew her situation; it looked like she had the heart to live a good life, so he nodded, held Li Shu, passed through the hanging flower gate, and went toward the inverted-seat room.

The inverted-seat room was up early in the summer; the boys were up early reading books, and Da Lao and Second Uncle had already been busy for a while.

Because Shen Shen Guodong and Xiao Yan didn't live here, they would be a bit later, but they would still come here to be busy for a while before breakfast.

White steam was rising in the kitchen, with Seeing Sha Zhu instructing Diliya on how to braise pig offal, while Yu Li was making breakfast; the division of labor was clear and orderly.

The Bai Bai Xiyuan was originally yellow earth because it used to be the open-air warehouse of the supply and marketing cooperative, and it was packed solid; every morning, Second Uncle and Grandfather would sweep through it with brooms to tidy up the trash and debris.

When the boys heard the pots and pans moving in the kitchen, they all put down their books and went to the Bai Bai Xiyuan to help with the work.

Cleaning the horse pen, loading scrap onto the cart, tidying up the tricycle, checking the tires and the condition of the vehicle—there was plenty to keep them busy.

They also had to fill their own large water cups with boiled water; pedaling a tricycle was physical labor, and it wouldn't do without water.

Li Li Xuewu just watched while holding the child, and Li Shu also curiously observed everyone being busy.

She could rest for half a day after taking one bite of the pastry Aunt Yi had given her; it had been all morning, and she hadn't even eaten a corner.

Everyone was busy, and no one greeted the father and daughter; Li Li Xuewu was afraid she would eat the smoke from the Bai Bai Xiyuan, so he took Li Shu to play in the outer courtyard.

Perhaps it was cooler this morning; Li Shu didn't fuss about being held after being put on the ground by her father, walking and playing on her own, observing with her big eyes and learning.

Children are just like this, curious about everything; it is also the process of her touching the world and understanding the world.

"Brother Wu"

"Hmm, when did you get here?"

Li Li Xuewu asked when he saw Wang Wang Yamei coming over from the East Courtyard while yawning.

Wang Wang Yamei rubbed her face, squatted down beside Li Li Xuewu, clapped her hands at Li Shu to signal for a hug, and replied: "A little after three this morning, my sister sent me over."

Li Shu didn't want to be held; she had finally managed to come out to play on her own, so she twisted her little body to dodge Wang Wang Yamei's hands.

Wang Wang Yamei moved her feet to catch up with her and circled her in her arms.

"Give Auntie a bite"

"Ya~"

Seeing someone wanting to grab her food, Li Shu raised her hand to show her pastry, babbling in her mouth as if telling Wang Wang Yamei that what she had in her hand wasn't tasty and she shouldn't eat it.

Wang Wang Yamei smiled and teased her: "Why are you so stingy? Did you forget that Auntie bought you something good?"

Li Shu was teased by Wang Wang Yamei, dodging with her little body, and scrambled back into her father's arms.

Li Li Xuewu looked at Wang Wang Yamei's expression and asked: "Your sister went to pick you up?"

"Yeah, the station sent someone to notify her; she's the one who goes every time."

Wang Wang Yamei didn't seem to care about this, or perhaps she was deliberately hiding the panic deep in her heart, using the act of teasing Li Shu to cover up her own misery.

Li Li Xuewu straightened his daughter's clothes and asked: "Did she scold you?"

"No~"

Wang Wang Yamei understood now; Brother Wu knew she had gone to help Brother Biao last night.

"She just kept nagging, like an old lady."

Helping Brother Biao do things, helping Brother Wu do things, and entering the detention center—she didn't feel she had suffered a loss, nor did she feel anything uncomfortable.

It was the same recording of statements last night, but she knew she was fine; when she pressed her fingerprint, she saw that the name written on the statement wasn't her name at all.

Brother Biao had also said that everything was arranged; she was only responsible for the first half, just don't suffer a loss, and after giving the signal, find a place to doze off and wait to be taken away together.

The only trouble was picking people up; Brother Biao wasn't convenient to go pick her up, so it could only be her family, which would make it seem normal and she wouldn't be suspected.

The photos taken by the people at the station would be used as evidence, but the photos she had taken had already been taken away by someone.

One bright, one dark; even if someone deliberately destroyed those things in the files, it would be useless, as everything, including the interrogation records, was in duplicate.

Since she wouldn't leave a criminal record, what did Wang Wang Yamei have to worry about? She would just treat last night as revisiting the excitement of the past and experiencing the current nightlife.

As for her sister's reprimand...

"Brother Wu, I... I want to tell you something."

Wang Wang Yamei lowered her head in embarrassment and whispered while squatting beside Li Li Xuewu.

She was embarrassed because saying this to Brother Wu at this time felt like she was leveraging a favor to demand a reward.

Li Li Xuewu patted his daughter's bottom, letting her go walk and play on her own, turned to look at Wang Wang Yamei, and said: "Speak, don't put on airs with me."

Regardless of whether Wang Wang Yamei had helped Old Lao Biaozi last night or not, Li Li Xuewu hadn't changed his view of her.

She was just a little sister, someone he had played with since childhood; if she were in a difficult situation, how could Li Li Xuewu not help?