[{"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-962":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},2315012,4526,"Chapter 962: It","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-962",962,"\u003Cp>“Oh! When did you get back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Long time no see~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good afternoon, Comrade Li, Deputy Director!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since Li Xuewu stepped out of the car, from the alley to the courtyard, the greetings never stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some even rushed out in the bitter cold just to hear his footsteps, all to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People say folks in this era are simple and honest, that workers and cadres share the same status, with no high or low, noble or base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True enough, but in reality, cadres hold resources workers simply cannot match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, salaries are transparent—each rank gets its due benefits, each status its rightful rights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But cadres aren’t all the same; Qin Huaiju is a cadre too, a proper deputy section-level cadre—yet can you compare her to Li Xuewu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How old was Li Xuewu when he became deputy section-level? How old when he rose to deputy division-level?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, if there’s trouble in the courtyard, ask Director Ji Yuxiu at the Jiaodao Kou Office; if it’s factory business, ask Qin Huaiju.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But some matters can’t be resolved even by them—you really must treat Li Xuewu with care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my! Comrade Li, Deputy Director, I’ve been waiting for you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow~ Long time no see!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow, sizing up Liu Guangqi standing inside the ornate gate, and asked: “What wind blew you back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right to criticize me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangqi smiled sincerely and said: “I’ve neglected my parents in the past—truly wrong of me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I admit my fault, I repent, I mend the fold after the sheep are lost, I make amends for my sins…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—hold on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu frowned at him. “What are you talking about? You okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough, cough~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Liu Guangqi was about to explain, Yan Fugui, wrapped in a cotton coat, stepped out from his room, having eavesdropped at the door crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, Xuewu’s back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow! What’s going on in this courtyard today? Has the sun risen in the west?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu glanced at him again, lips curling slightly. “The prodigal son’s returned, the weekend fisherman’s come ashore—what happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, nothing unusual about me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Fugui squinted at the awkward Liu Guangqi, arms crossed. “It’s too cold to break the ice, no fish to catch—why suffer the effort? I’d rather do something else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave Liu Guangqi a knowing look. “Liu Guangqi’s back—must be about housing, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third Uncle, do you know why the blood vessels in your head exploded?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangqi sneered. “I’d say it’s because you meddle too much—too many unnecessary worries!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You! How dare you speak like that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Fugui’s teasing expression froze. He pointed at Liu Guangqi. “You? You expect to get housing from this courtyard?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mind your own business!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangqi shot him a scornful look, then turned to Li Xuewu with a smile. “Well then, today’s not convenient—can’t talk properly. How about dinner tonight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm~ I’m busy today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu declined the invitation, then asked: “What housing matter are you two talking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impossible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangqi widened his eyes. “The steel mill’s planning to build a collective apartment block and relocate workers together under centralized management!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That doesn’t sound right~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at Li Xuewu. “You’re factory leadership—this couldn’t have happened without your knowledge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, the rumors are everywhere—I checked, everyone says the same thing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Fugui stood by, eager, his small eyes fixed on Li Xuewu, terrified he’d say the news was false.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu looked at the two, gestured with his fingers. “So you’re both waiting to get housing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well!…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Fugui opened his mouth, then glanced at Liu Guangqi, who was about to speak—both clamped shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled at them, glanced at the other courtyard residents watching, then nodded. “No problem—it’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See! I told you it was real!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Li Xuewu spoke, excited murmurs erupted through the courtyard—muffled by windows, but unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Fugui was overjoyed, nearly jumping up to do a victory pose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others’ words meant nothing—just rumors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Xuewu’s word? That was as good as an official factory red-seal document.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He straightened his cotton coat, forgot to bicker with Liu Guangqi, and asked Li Xuewu: “How’s the housing allocated? I heard they’re all big—minimum forty square meters!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, the worker housing comes in three sizes: forty, sixty, and eighty square meters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu waved off Liu Guangqi’s offer of a cigarette. “Unlike current welfare housing, this is factory-funded and self-built—requires exchange and compensation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does that mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just Liu Guangqi and Yan Fugui froze—other neighbors who’d paused to listen also stared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangqi pressed urgently: “Isn’t it just giving housing directly to workers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dreaming too big?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu glanced at him. “Go ask around the whole city—has any factory ever given housing directly to workers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if one did, it’d be too few for too many—wait your turn by seniority.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The steel mill’s building a large residential zone—ever heard of a worker’s new village?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing some knew, some didn’t, Li Xuewu lit a cigarette. “Married families can skip the queue and directly apply for apartment buildings; single workers can apply for dormitory buildings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—no—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Fugui grabbed Li Xuewu’s wrist. “Does this mean both old and new workers can apply?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Theoretically, yes—any steel mill worker can apply for exchange and compensation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu casually pulled his wrist free, took a drag. “For example, your family—Ge Shuqin joined the factory—she can use her current housing to apply for exchange. If it meets forty square meters, she gets the forty-meter unit…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if it doesn’t?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Fugui glanced at his daughter-in-law’s tiny room—no way it added up to forty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then you get compensation for the construction value difference.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu exhaled smoke. “The factory’s still drafting the calculation formula—I don’t know the details.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what’s the point?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Fugui beat others to complaining: “That’s just like paying for housing yourself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu tapped him. “Right now—do you have the money to buy housing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to the others. “Worker’s new village housing has centralized free heating, guaranteed electricity, convenient commutes, and is a closed residential zone with full services—all within the compound…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, others began muttering, calculating their own costs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Fugui’s abacus beads flew wildly in his mind—comparing living costs here versus the new building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, heating: winter coal savings, no more stoking fires or buying firewood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, transport: the factory’s right next door—walk to work, save on bike or bus fares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third, living space: forty square meters in a building beats forty square meters in a courtyard—brighter, more spacious, more comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fourth, food: the factory canteen, plus a small kitchen at home…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey! Hey! Xuewu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Fugui shoved aside others who wanted to speak, interjecting urgently: “What if! I mean, hypothetically!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He emphasized: “If you exchange the housing but don’t live in it yourself—can you let family members live there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell instantly. Everyone stared at him strangely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially those nearby—they subtly stepped away, as if afraid of being splattered with filth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you said ‘hypothetically,’ I won’t say anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled faintly. “If you ever meet this ‘hypothetical,’ tell him—people should have conscience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone snickered first, then others laughed openly, ignoring Yan Fugui’s humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangqi laughed loudest, pointing at Yan Fugui: “Third Uncle, your abacus beads flew right into my face. I advise you—do good deeds!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s so funny?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Fugui, furious, snapped: “I said ‘hypothetically’! What’s wrong with asking?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and walked inside, but took two steps, then glanced back longingly—he was obsessed with housing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing his joke about Yan Fugui, Liu Guangqi himself asked: “Li Deputy Director, do you think my dad can apply?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not like you’re applying right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu glanced at him, knowing exactly what he meant—Liu Haizhong still had a probationary disciplinary mark; only after next year’s clearance could it be lifted and his steel mill worker status restored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right now we’ve only finalized the plan and formed the project team. Even if they break ground right after the New Year, you won’t see a building until late this year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh~ oh~ oh! I get it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangqi nodded with a smile. “I just told my mom and dad about this—if we can live in an apartment building, it’ll be easier for me to take care of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re serious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu eyed him skeptically. “Will your wife really live with your parents?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey~ who wouldn’t want to live in an apartment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangqi was candid in front of Li Xuewu: “There’s a kindergarten and elementary school in the residential area—our kid can stay with my mom, and we’ll have it easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the neighbors’ strange glances, he let out a dry laugh. “Every family has its own hard-to-sing song. When my younger brother was still home, if I hadn’t left, we’d have been fighting all the time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the others nodded understandingly and said nothing further to humiliate him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangqi had always been disliked in the courtyard—he was a wolf cub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how well Liu Haizhong and his wife treated their eldest son, they never got a word of care or attention in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he found work, he moved out early to avoid paying his share of household expenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if you flip it around, if he hadn’t left, even if all three men in the family were earning, the living space wouldn’t expand—they’d still end up fighting like cats and dogs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangqi’s words were harsh, but true—who among families with three sons doesn’t play their own games?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they grow up and have their own thoughts, they all just want to pull things into their own pockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Liu Haizhong’s elderly care problem suddenly became simple: the youngest son eats from the public trough, the second son was transferred to Gangcheng, and only the eldest remains nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guangqi is clever—he’d rather move himself back home outright than keep taking things away bit by bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His line of thinking was sound; no one could say he was wrong—it was his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t every other household in the courtyard have their own troubles?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now they were laughing at Yan Fugui—now think of themselves, maybe they’re worse off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, everyone fell silent, each scattering to find rulers and measure their own homes, estimating how big a new apartment they could swap for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Huaiju and Sha Zhu stood outside the ornate gate, waiting until most people had left before entering the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow~ you came back and blocked the courtyard gate—what a grand entrance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Deputy Director’s visit brings glory to our humble courtyard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu and Qin Huaiju bantered together, teasing Li Xuewu with broad smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu took a drag from his cigarette and asked them: “Why aren’t you rushing home to measure your rooms? Don’t you want to live in an apartment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t want to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu shook his head seriously. “Even if you spun flowers out of it, I won’t move into that apartment building!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re foolish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu exhaled smoke and smiled. “Everyone else wants an apartment—you’re attached to this patch of land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu raised his eyebrows and leaned close, whispering: “From the way you spoke just now, I knew something fishy was going on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get lost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu shot him an irritated look. “You need to up your meds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t need your reminder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu grinned, chin raised. “Do you know what your face looks like when you’re lying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop nonsense. Do you think I’d lie to my neighbors?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu gestured toward the courtyard. “What do you take me for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Definitely not a good person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu shook his head slightly. “I can’t see anything wrong here—you gain no fame or profit—but I just feel something’s off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pursed his lips and nodded. “You need to increase your dosage—you’re developing paranoid delusions now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu waved his hand and turned to Qin Huaiju. “Qin Jie, you tell me—is there something wrong here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh~ I think you’re the one with the problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Huaiju smiled at him. “They said it’s a housing exchange application—not forced. What’s wrong with that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re bullying me because I’m sick, right?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu shook his head and asked Qin Huaiju: “So, Qin Jie, will you swap?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He emphasized: “Now that the apartment building’s coming up, would you trade your house for the factory’s new apartments?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I would. Why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Huaiju looked at him. “Have you had enough of the coal smoke? Are you tired of the chamber pot yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone coughs at the front gate, and the whole back courtyard hears it clearly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know about you—I’m not attached to this place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She curled her lips, speaking seriously: “Houses are for living in. Why not choose better living conditions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there a gold mine under your house?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu was left speechless. He turned to Li Xuewu, who was smiling broadly. “Is there really nothing wrong here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes—there’s a big problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu dropped his smile, leaned close, and whispered solemnly: “I’ll tell you—but don’t tell anyone else!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay~ okay~ I won’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu nodded seriously, swearing: “Only I’ll know—I’ve got the tightest lips.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu tugged his arm and whispered: “Rumor has it your house sits atop a gold mine…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out, get out, go away, you jerk!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu, furious and stammering, shoved Li Xuewu hard—feeling even more humiliated as Qin Huaiju laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yin had seen her son enter the courtyard but was held up by others—she didn’t come out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that everyone had dispersed, she stepped out in her cotton-padded jacket, smiling: “Haiju, why aren’t you coming inside? It’s cold out here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then turned to Li Xuewu: “Son, why are you home today? Aren’t you busy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We were just talking about the housing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Huaiju smiled and gestured toward the back courtyard. “Alright, you two chat—I’ve got things waiting at home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need to go home too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu winked at Li Xuewu. “You free for lunch or dinner? Let’s have a drink?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lunch? How? Dinner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled. “After everyone’s gathered, we’ll have a proper drink.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s all I was waiting for.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu grinned and greeted Liu Yin, then headed toward the back courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yin studied her son. “Why are you home now? Something wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Gu Ning was still healthy, they’d always come home Saturday night, or Sunday night, or Monday morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that wasn’t possible—Liu Yin had to sneak over to Haixun Warehouse, or Li Xuewu had to rush home on Sundays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when he came home, it was usually afternoon or evening—rarely this early in the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu put his arm around his mother’s shoulders as they walked inside. “I came home to learn—carrying an important mission.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yin knew he was joking—she smiled. “You’re such a grown man, still acting childish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how old I am, I’m still your child, right, Ma?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What were you talking about with the folks next door? So lively.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diliya’s belly was big now—she no longer helped at the storefront, and with the cold weather, she preferred lying on the warm kang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Sha Zhu enter, she nudged the teacup beside her, signaling him to refill it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Xuewu’s back. The elders stopped him to ask about the factory’s new housing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, he took off his coat, picked up a teacup from the kang’s edge, and went to the cabinet to refill it with hot water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Liu Guangqi came back to discuss elderly care with his parents because he wants an apartment. Elder San is calculating how to swap Ge Shuqin’s house for one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’s that possible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diliya rolled onto her side. “Can houses really be swapped like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows? Don’t you know Elder San?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu placed the cup beside his wife, kicked off his shoes, and sat cross-legged on the kang. “He’s the master of petty calculations—so clever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diliya frowned. “If they swap Ge Shuqin’s house, where will the widow and orphan live?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The apartment might go to one of the sons—probably Yan Jiefang, the eldest, he should be getting married soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu took a sip from his teacup and said, “Forty square meters? You’d need a golden princess for that, haha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After letting out a cold laugh, he sneered, “Ge Shuqin will live with them anyway—they won’t let her move out easily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Dilinya’s personality was somewhat introverted, she was also open-minded and rarely harbored ulterior motives; for a moment, she truly didn’t see any problem here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why? For the money, of course~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu looked at his wife and said, “Old Man San couldn’t get Yan Jiefang to take over the job, but Ge Shuqin got hired at the factory—now she’s drawing a salary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Think about it—such a young widow, even with a child, making nearly thirty yuan a month—how easy would it be to find someone to take her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dilinya frowned slightly. “Why think so much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey! Am I thinking too much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu lowered his eyelids. “That’s exactly what he thinks—otherwise why ask if the housing swap could be for family members?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, the door to the east room creaked, followed by the sound of slippers shuffling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up just as Yu Shui, hair tied up, walked in wearing only a tight sweater and matching pants from her own room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just getting up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got up early.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shui sniffed, still half-asleep, leaned over to the kang and felt its warmth, then said, “Be careful—not too hot a kang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your brother knows—he won’t burn too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dilinya pulled Yu Shui onto the kang, pulled the quilt over her legs, and asked, “Hungry? Should I ask your brother to make you something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll just endure it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu pretended to be stern. “You don’t sleep at night, don’t wake in the morning—are you training a hawk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I like it~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shui rolled her eyes at him impatiently, then explained to her sister-in-law, “I’m not hungry—just sleepy. I was writing reports last night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, extremely diligent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu got up, shuffled off in his slippers toward the kitchen, muttering complaints under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shui knew her brother wouldn’t let her go hungry; she smiled and added, “Just keep it simple—no need to steam buns.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re so full of yourself your snot bubbles are popping! Eat your snot bubbles then!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu’s voice came from the kitchen, making Yu Shui giggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dilinya watched the sibling banter with amusement, took Yu Shui’s hand, and urged, “Why push yourself so hard? I wanted to say something when I got up last night, but didn’t want to disturb you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah~ I’ve been swamped lately—can’t even catch my breath.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shui sighed. “The workshop’s production just stabilized, and now we’re starting standardization and dual contingency planning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stretched wearily, then leaned sideways onto the kang beside her sister-in-law, murmuring, “The textile workshop is the most mature of the factory’s tertiary projects—the first to launch, the most fundamental. It’s meant to set the standard for all others—everything must be strictly controlled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regret it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dilinya didn’t understand textile production, but she could sense how hard her sister-in-law worked; she smiled and squeezed her hand. “If it’s too much, just go back to the textile factory—you’d still be working.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah~ I can’t go back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shui curled deeper into the kang, like a worm, gazing wearily at the ceiling. “One radish, one hole—I leave, someone else takes my place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to face her sister-in-law. “Besides, I don’t want to go back. Sometimes I complain about how hard it is, but when I think about it, this busy life actually feels full.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m worried about you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dilinya reached up and stroked Yu Shui’s head. “With this kind of schedule, when will you have time to think about your personal life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yeah~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shui let out a long sigh, her tone heavy with melancholy. “It’s been about a year now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She thought of herself a year ago—wouldn’t she have been busy with wedding plans, decorating the new home, buying household items, building her own little family?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, it felt like a dream—everything vanished. Where was the wedding? She was still alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dilinya and Yu Shui got along well; things Sha Zhu couldn’t say, she could say to Yu Shui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially regarding Yu Shui’s romantic life—whenever Sha Zhu brought it up, Yu Shui would fly into a rage; they’d argued over it many times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dilinya had scolded Sha Zhu many times about this—told him to watch his tone, his approach, not to blurt out everything, especially not to keep mentioning Li Xuewu. Just saying his name made Yu Shui furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You need to look forward—you can’t keep living in the past.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was younger than Yu Shui, yet spoke with the wisdom of an elder sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re not talking about finding a man to carry on the family line or to support you—but living alone is always harder, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shui leaned closer, listening intently, seriously considering her sister-in-law’s words, knowing they came from care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dilinya knew Yu Shui had lost her mother young, and her father had abandoned her later—she lacked parental love, just like herself, both stubborn in character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Think it over yourself. I’ve told your brother—he won’t force you to find someone, and he won’t pressure you to marry again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, sister-in-law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shui smiled faintly, gripping Dilinya’s hand. “You’re so good, sister-in-law~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced toward the kitchen and said loudly, “It’s a shame you’re stuck with him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey! I’m not good enough, huh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu stuck his head out of the kitchen, pretending to be fierce. “I’d feed this food to the dog before I give it to you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go—go cook!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dilinya laughed and shooed Sha Zhu away, then hugged Yu Shui. “Your brother’s heart is split in two—one half for me, one half for you. Don’t be mad at him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She coaxed Yu Shui further: “Even if you don’t want to find someone, that’s fine—stay with your brother and me. I’ll protect you. When you meet someone good, you can think about it then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shui’s voice cracked, her eyes wet, she pressed against her sister-in-law, feeling safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dilinya patted her arm like soothing a child, whispering, “Follow your heart—if you truly love him, tell him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want to be with him, be with him. If not, let it go. Your brother and I don’t care about appearances—let others say what they want. Just be happy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister-in-law...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shui lifted her head in surprise, looking at Dilinya—she hadn’t expected these words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dilinya nodded, seeing her sister-in-law’s tears, gently stroking her hair. “You’re holding back inside—you won’t be happy with anyone unless you let go of him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not stupid. A man’s worth is clear enough. You like him because you have high standards—that’s not a sin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She picked up a handkerchief and wiped Yu Shui’s tears. “That kind of man is like an eagle over the grasslands—who doesn’t fear and admire him? Even among the girls, they all compete to get close to him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who competes for him...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shui pouted, then buried her face in her sister-in-law’s arms—her heart was already in chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t a good man—he was a villain, a... a villain who stirred up her soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word “compete” had never entered her mind, never been in her plans. She even doubted whether that villain knew she liked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had tried so hard—tried to restrain herself, tried to stay busy, tried not to think of him, not to go near him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never imagined how to take things further, never dared to be vague with him like Qin Jingru or Yu Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it was different. At first, she hadn’t understood why Li Xuewu had that relationship with Qin Jingru.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She especially didn’t understand why it was Yu Li—especially when Yan Jie was still married.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life was a teacher with years of experience; time was the classroom with rich surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A year had passed—it seemed nothing had changed, yet everything had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now she worked at the tertiary factory beside the steel rolling mill; they shared the same facilities, so their paths crossed often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes she even walked to and from work with Qin Jingru, so she knew her work environment and living situation well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Jingru seemed to have broken off with that villain, yet seemed not to have—when they met, they still talked and laughed normally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Yu Li, she’d heard she worked near Dongsi Shitiao, but Yu Shui didn’t know if they’d broken up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was getting busier, coming home less often—even at the steel mill, she couldn’t even see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that relationship wasn’t the cause—her current life was the cause. That relationship was merely a flower that might wither at any moment along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Jingru had already withered; Yu Li was still hanging on—what cause did she want now...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has Big Brother not come back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu watched his sister-in-law walking around the room, her belly swollen, and asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yafang pulled her lips into a wry smile. “Says he’s busy—don’t know if he’s got someone else out there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu teased. “Your husband’s just that kind of man!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go—stop talking nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yin was jotting down a list for Li Shu to write: what to prepare before and after going to the hospital, and what to get ready at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night’s family meeting had been a mess—Qin Jingru had lots of experience raising kids, but none with childbirth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d made many demands; Li Xuewu had taken notes, but some were folk remedies that Gu Ning disagreed with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu chose to table the disputes, listing everything he could think of, and decided to ask his mother at home for clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yin blamed herself—she’d been so busy lately, she’d forgotten to remind her son to prepare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The timing was just awkward—not early enough, not late enough. Seven months to prepare was fine; eight months wasn’t too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu handed the note-taking to Li Shu and flipped through the ledger his sister-in-law had given him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the core ledger of all his assets, providing clear data comparisons to reveal experiential issues; he came here every month to keep a clear count in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ledger differed from the one Yu Li had shown him at the club; this one was financial, while hers was operational.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister-in-law, don’t you dare doubt it—look at how playful and frivolous I am, but that’s just surface deep; I’m the most honest person, unlike my brother!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu teased Zhao Yafang: “My brother’s so calculating—you can’t tell what tricks he’s hiding; he’s deeply concealed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, when my brother comes back, I’ll ask him—what else hasn’t he told me yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yafang wasn’t in a rush; she laughed and teased Li Xuewu: “I’ll ask him properly—how come he never told me about your honest character, only counted off all the little girls you’ve dated?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s slander and framing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu grinned: “Does he have fewer girls he’s dated? Maybe all the ones he listed for you were his own girlfriends!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu looked up and reminded Zhao Yafang: “I remember someone wrote him a love letter—he secretly kept it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh~? I never heard about that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yafang laughed: “Tell me—how’s he so charming?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft—nonsense!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Zhao Yafang could react, Liu Yin grew anxious—of their three sons, only the eldest had any honesty at all; don’t let it all be ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tapped Li Xuewu’s head: “Since you were little, you’ve never been easy to manage—now you’re going after your older brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey! I’m the wronged one here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu looked down at the ledger, muttering: “My brother isn’t really that honest—he just looks that way because I’m so mischievous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Zhao Yafang again: “Without me, my brother wouldn’t have done so well in school—he’d have played around and made mistakes, but I took all the beatings for him, so naturally he became the good kid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if you weren’t mischievous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yafang glanced at him: “Would you have gotten into university?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not the same thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu shook his head slightly: “If I hadn’t been a troublemaker, I might already have a kid in elementary school.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xue couldn’t hold back anymore; she burst into giggles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s hard to say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stood up, walked behind her second brother, and rested her hands on his shoulders: “I remember when you were in middle school, that girl with the twin buns—didn’t she say she’d marry you and have kids with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you put it that way, I can’t recall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu knew his sister was teasing; he didn’t mind the embarrassment and grinned: “There were plenty of girls with twin buns, and plenty who wanted to marry me—I can’t remember them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xue shoved his shoulder: “If I tell you where Dad beat you, you’ll remember that, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh~ oh~ oh~ I remember now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow: “Zhang Yanan, right?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No~~~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xue corrected him, pouting: “Zhang Yanan was the one with the bob cut—she was your girlfriend in first year of high school.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was she?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu turned back, still reading the documents, and shook his head: “Wasn’t my girlfriend in first year of high school named Dong Wenwen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was second year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xue sighed: “In the first semester of second year you dated Dong Wenwen; in the second semester you started dating Wang Yajuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Yajuan was in second year?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu flipped a page, still reading, and replied: “I thought I knew her since junior high?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was Wang Yamei…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xue stared at her brother, baffled: “You dated Wang Yamei too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu looked up and glared at his sister: “When she was in second year of junior high, I was already in second year of high school—how could I have gone after her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Xu Huizhi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xue smirked, looking at her brother: “You were in first year of high school then—wasn’t she still in first year of junior high?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ssshh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu heard Zhao Yafang nearly choking on laughter; he turned to Li Xue: “How do you remember all this so clearly? Were you dating them too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because they all gave me candy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xue raised an eyebrow: “They all knew I was your sister, so whenever they saw me, their pockets were always full.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! So this case is finally solved!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu reached out to grab her, complaining: “I’m struggling on the front lines, and you’re feasting in the rear!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xue jumped away, pointing at her brother: “You made up all those stories about my brother—but everything I said about you is solid, undeniable proof. I’ll tell your wife!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine! I’m done with this sister!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu slapped the ledger in his hand: “Tomorrow I’ll find you a husband—get married and get out of here before you keep framing me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not getting married!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xue wrapped her arm around her mother’s and stuck her chin out at her brother: “I’m going to take care of Mom in her old age.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh~ heh~ heh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pointed his pencil at his elder sister-in-law, who was strolling around the room: “Fine, you frame me—but don’t say my sister-in-law won’t take care of Mom! How can you say that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough! That’s framing yourself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yafang wrapped her arm around Li Xue’s other side and said to Li Xuewu: “We get along perfectly—no need for you to stir up trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at this! Being good is hard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu spread his hands toward the old woman sitting on the kang, watching the drama: “I told you—no matter how good your daughter-in-law is, she’s no match for your own daughter. Look—my sister-in-law’s hugging Li Xue, but not even hugging Mom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go~ go~ go~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yin laughed and slapped her son lightly, shooing him: “You’ve finished writing—take it home now. If you stay any longer, our whole house will be acting out Romance of the Three Kingdoms!”\u003C\u002Fp>",5376,"2026-06-20T13:47:03.676Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8926c930544865c305306616d0c5b21e6fa4c99dcc73d3235f731e919936ce96","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-963","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-961",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-cover.jpg"]