Chapter 164: Li Na

In the Jinshi Military District, Xu Yang received the package sent by Xu Ning and went to find his girlfriend, Li Na.

He had just been promoted to company commander this year and could get a small room for their wedding, but it was still not ready, so he was living in the dormitory for now.

When Li Na saw him, she hurried over and asked, “What brings you here? Have you eaten yet?”

Xu Yang smiled and replied, “Not yet. I came over right after my training. My sister sent a package with things for our wedding, and she also sent a hundred yuan for us. I brought it for you.”

Li Na said, “Why did she send money? Doesn’t she have three kids to take care of?

How much can she earn in a year as an educated youth? Let’s keep the things for now, and we can take the money to her when we go.”

Xu Yang smiled and said, “Since she’s already sent it, let’s accept it.

My sister’s husband works in a relatively affluent area, and my brother-in-law has a salary, so she doesn’t lack for money.”

Li Na replied, “Isn’t your brother-in-law also a soldier? How much can he make in a month? They have three kids to raise, and expenses are everywhere.

Together, our salaries add up to over eighty yuan, and we don’t have many big expenses, so let’s send them twenty yuan each month.”

Xu Yang looked at her and smiled, “We don’t need to send that much. Ten yuan will be enough.

My brother-in-law also sends back twenty yuan every month; that amount is already considerable in the countryside. If we send more, it might attract unwanted attention.”

Li Na took the package back home, and when her mother saw it, she curiously asked, “Na Na, what did you bring?”

“Mom, this is from Xu Yang’s sister. She sent it for our wedding, but I haven’t looked inside yet.”

Li’s mother scoffed, “What good things can come from the countryside? For a wedding, let me see what’s in there.”

Frowning, Li Na replied, “Mom, you shouldn’t keep saying things like ‘country people.’ What’s wrong with being from the countryside? Your mindset is problematic. If Dad hears you say that, he’ll lecture you again.”

Li’s mother rolled her eyes and opened the package, discovering the sheets and fabric inside.

She exclaimed happily, “Oh, these sheets are nice! Didn’t you say his sister is down in the countryside?

Her family background isn’t great; how did she manage to get these?”

Li Na looked at the bedsheets and duvet cover, noting that the patterns and fabric were excellent—clearly items from a big city.

She thought for a moment and said, “They must have bought these specifically for our wedding, probably from somewhere else.”

Xu Yang mentioned that his brother-in-law served in the military at the Nanshi Military District, so it was likely sourced from there.”

Li Ma ^[1]Li’s Mother/Mother Li examined the duvet cover and bedsheets for a long time before saying, “With such a good daughter like mine marrying into their family, they must have some consideration after all. You said his brother-in-law is in the military at the Nanshi Military District? What does he do?”

Li Na glanced at her mother in exasperation and replied, “Just a soldier, what else would he be doing? He didn’t enlist much earlier than Xu Yang, so they should be about the same, right?”

Li Ma pouted again, disdain evident in her voice as she said, “So he’s just a small company commander? If he can get these things, I thought his family was doing well.”

Li Na shot a glare at her mother, too lazy to engage with her. Her mother wasn’t actually malicious; she just had a bit of a snobbish streak.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have agreed to the marriage despite knowing Xu Yang’s family background.

She packed the fabric back into her bag, preparing to take it back to her room.

Li Ma hurried to stop her, saying, “Leave it here. I’ll wash it. Didn’t Xu Yang’s house get separated out? Once I clean it up, I’ll send these over to you two.

You can use this set of bedsheets for the wedding, and I’ll make each of you a new outfit from these pieces of fabric to wear when you go out.”

At that moment, Li Ba ^[2]Li’s Father/Father Li also came in. Seeing the mother and daughter examining the fabric, he asked, “Oh, you two went to the supply and marketing cooperative today?”

Li Na quickly took his clothes from him and smiled, “Dad, these were sent over by Xu Yang’s sister. She knows we’re getting married, so she specially bought these and even sent a hundred yuan.”

Li Ba nodded and smiled, saying, “That sister of his is quite nice. Once you and Xu Yang are married, make sure to look out for her. It’s not easy for someone so young to take her brother to the countryside.”

“Dad, I will,” Li Na replied.

Li Ma disagreed, saying, “Look out for what? His sister is already married, and her husband is a soldier, so she has a monthly salary.

Once Na Na and Xu Yang are married, they’ll have their own small family. In a couple of years, if they have kids, their expenses will increase significantly. How can they afford to look after anyone else?”

Li Na shot a helpless glance at her mother and said nothing, turning her head toward Li Ba, hoping he would chime in.

Receiving his daughter’s look, Li Ba said sternly, “Comrade Wang Suying, I need to criticize you right now. Your mindset is really too narrow. Do you think that once they’re married, they should stop caring for their younger siblings? Suying ^[3]“Wang Suying” must be Li Ma’s maiden name

Let me tell you, in the future, you shouldn’t meddle in their affairs.”

Li Ma glanced at the father and daughter, snorted in response, and then went into the kitchen.