[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji":3,"chapter-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-90":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Siheyuan: Food, Love, and Family in 1960s Beijing",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2314140,4526,"Chapter 90: Examination","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-90",90,"\u003Cp>Watching the four fools clowning around, Li Xuewu chuckled and tapped his ledger: “Since we’ve split it up, I’ll set the shares—my courtyard and house count as seventy yuan; adding my original capital of a thousand yuan, I’m taking half the shares.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Each of you four gets 12.5%—meaning if we make a hundred yuan profit this year, you each get twelve yuan and fifty fen. But this time, we won’t distribute the profit; we’ll keep it on the books to renovate the West Courtyard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them listen intently, Li Xuewu continued assigning tasks: “We need four tricycles, five scales. Third Uncle, go find tricycle tickets and scales—if you can’t find new ones, buy secondhand. Once you get the paperwork, ride the tricycle to collect scrap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lao Biao, go to the neighborhood office tomorrow and find Director Wang—be polite, she’s my adoptive mother. She’ll handle the paperwork. Once you have it, come to the steel mill and find me—I’ll take you to sign the contract.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guodong, pick out the customers you can reliably contact and whose purchasing power is guaranteed. List them separately in a notebook, one household per entry, with high standards. After this batch is sold, we’ll pull out of here entirely and only deliver Shangmen  to clients we’re confident in—use your scrap collection as cover.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Erhai, I’ve arranged a contact in the Northeast—he’s also our supply partner. He’ll communicate with you via coded letters, not often—maybe two or three a year. I’ll show you how to decode them. When you have time, drop by the street post office and check if there’s a letter from your big brother. If there is, decode it and tell me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For now, that’s all. Until the paperwork comes through, handle the leftover supplies. I’ll bring another truckload tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Checking his watch, Li Xuewu saw the three were dozing off again, so he didn’t disturb them, called out a farewell, and stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mounted his bicycle and sped all the way home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing from his mother and the old lady that the powdered milk he’d bought was good and the baby loved it, Li Xuewu felt reassured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little one was easy to care for—only cried when needing a diaper change or upon waking; otherwise, anyone could soothe him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu checked the time, hurried to the cellar, grabbed twenty-five jin of meat, then took some wood ear mushrooms, golden needle mushrooms, and fungi from his space, wrapping each in small bundles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He packed some red dates, walnuts, hazelnuts, and pine nuts into a cloth sack, then stuffed everything into a woven bag, tied it to the rear rack, and rode off toward Dong Wenxue’s house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d promised to visit the Dong household on Sunday—couldn’t break that promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sped all the way and arrived at the Dong residence around ten-thirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dong family lived in a two-story Western-style villa. This neighborhood had once been housing for Japanese and puppet regime spies’ families; the villa was still quite pretty, with gray bricks and gray tiles. Now, intellectuals and cadres mostly lived here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pushed open the small courtyard gate, parked his bicycle, picked up the gifts from the rear rack, and moved to knock on the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could, a group of children suddenly burst out, shoving the door open and running off, laughing and shouting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the children had passed, Li Xuewu stepped through the open door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the living room, Dong Wenxue and Sister Xie’s families sat chatting on the sofa. Seeing Li Xuewu carrying gifts, Dong Wenxue stood up: “Xuewu, come over—I’ll introduce you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu quickly set the gifts down beside the entry table, apologizing repeatedly: “Sorry, sorry, Teacher—I’m late. Something came up at home, and I ran around all morning. Made you all wait for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>slkslk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Xie smiled: “You’re at your teacher’s home—no need to be formal. Come in, warm yourself up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Wenxue pulled Li Xuewu over to a refined middle-aged woman and said: “Comrade Han, this is the student I told you about—the one I recruited from the steel mill. Upright, progressive in thought, outstanding in ability—and remarkably, his literary foundation is strong too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Wenxue then introduced Li Xuewu: “This is your mistress, Teacher Han. This is Director Ren, Sister Xie’s husband—he works at the Municipal Committee.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu quickly bowed slightly to Teacher Han, greeted Director Ren, and offered cigarettes. Director Ren smiled, accepted one, but didn’t light it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Ren waved the cigarette in his hand and laughed: “Hah! At Teacher Dong’s house, it’s Teacher Han who runs things. She’s unwell and can’t stand smoke—this house is a no-smoking zone. If you want to smoke, go outside!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu laughed along: “So your teacher and you are both exemplary husbands who respect women! I must learn from both of you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added, apologizing to Teacher Han: “Forgive me, Mistress—I didn’t know you couldn’t tolerate smoke.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Han embodied the classic traits of a Republican-era educated woman: gentle, poised, cultivated, and graceful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xuewu, Teacher Dong has praised you highly. Don’t be shy—make yourself at home. Sit down and talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu sat beside Dong Wenxue on the long sofa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of them were curious about Li Xuewu and asked about his past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Han clearly intended to test him, so she asked: “Xuewu, Teacher Dong says you love reading and writing. Share your recent thoughts on what you’ve read.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu knew this was an examination. He smiled at Teacher Han and Sister Xie and replied: “Teacher Dong has been too kind—his praise stems from a teacher’s fondness for his student. I still need guidance and support from all of you elders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Wenxue smiled, waved his cigarette-laden hand, signaling Li Xuewu to relax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You come from an educated family—no need to be nervous. Speak freely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His cigarette remained unlit—he truly respected Teacher Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu paused briefly, then continued: “My father inherited our family’s medical tradition. I won’t claim he saved countless lives, but he was a kind and honest physician. My grandfather taught my father: ‘If you cannot be a good minister, be a good physician. In turbulent times, pass down learning and medicine—practice healing, relieve suffering.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My father taught us the same way—hold lofty ambitions, don’t confine yourself solely to medicine, but read widely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Wenxue and Sister Xie knew Li Xuewu’s background and nodded at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled wryly: “But as a youth, I was ignorant. Our home had many books—I read only a small portion with my father as a child. Later, when I joined the military and saw the world, I realized I’d started reading too late. All I could do was never stop learning while serving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, he added: “As a barely educated person, I rarely get opportunities to share my thoughts with comrades. Today, grateful for Mistress Han’s invitation, I’ll share my reflections. I can’t claim to have read every book under heaven—but I’ve read enough to fill a small wheelbarrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three laughed at his humor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lightened the mood with a small joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu continued: “Combining what I read in the military with childhood studies, I’ve come to understand one truth: a scholar must have ambition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The moon’s lack of fullness doesn’t dim its light; an arrow broken doesn’t lose its steel. The ambitious are self-reliant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A gentleman’s heart holds more than the sea; the ambitious have distant horizons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A true man sheds no tears except in parting; the ambitious cherish deep bonds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seize the moment, for time waits for no one; the ambitious never waste their years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Life demands righteousness—what do fame and glory matter? The ambitious see through vanity and dare to think of serving the nation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rising from the wilds with sword in hand—the ambitious are the most reliable force.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wish to learn from you all to become a towering pine—not a peach or plum shut away in isolation.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1319,"2026-06-20T13:46:54.288Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","96f5f9477d644c8459521456053a6b3e703aa8975cbef922c97c4faba62a447d","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-91","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-89",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-cover.jpg"]