Chapter 26: Li Xiangbei’s Thoughtfulness

Warm sunlight slanted into the alley as the mother and daughter walked side by side to Li Xiangbei’s home.

With a faint smile, Su Yue pulled a key from her pocket and opened the door with a creak. The small courtyard came into view.

Shen Qiuxia stepped into the courtyard and glanced around, frowning slightly.
“This place is so small!”

Su Yue chuckled softly.
“Mom, this house was actually really hard to come by. Xiangbei got lucky and managed to buy it. It cost 300 yuan.”

Shen Qiuxia’s eyes widened in surprise. She opened her mouth but didn’t say anything. Su Yue affectionately took her mother’s arm and led her on a brief tour.

The house wasn’t big, so they finished looking around quickly.

Shen Qiuxia frowned again.
“This house is really too small. Once the furniture’s moved in, there won’t be space to walk!”

Su Yue patiently explained,
“Mom, this is already considered decent. You have no idea how tight housing is in the city. Entire families are crammed into single rooms, with only a curtain to separate spaces.”

They sat down together, and Shen Qiuxia asked,
“Yueyue, have you visited the Li family this week?”

Su Yue nodded.
“I have. Mom, let me tell you something—this house was bought with money Xiangbei saved up since he was a kid. He didn’t want his family to know and cause trouble, so he wrote a loan slip and told them I bought it.”

As she spoke, Su Yue took out the loan slip and handed it to her mother.

Shen Qiuxia sighed.
“Tell me honestly, Yueyue, are the Li family hard to get along with?”

Su Yue smiled and reassured her,
“Mom, both Xiangbei and I have jobs. Once we’re married, we’ll live here. His parents are okay—not the kind who make things difficult. As for his older brother and sister-in-law, we’ll be separate households. No big deal.”

Shen Qiuxia could tell her daughter had her own ideas. Still, she couldn’t help asking,
“So, you’ve truly set your heart on Li Xiangbei?”

Su Yue tilted her head and replied playfully,
“Mom, it’s not about ‘setting my heart.’ He treats me well now, so I’ll live with him. If he changes someday, your daughter won’t hesitate to kick him out!”

Shen Qiuxia was amused and exasperated, giving her daughter a gentle pat.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”

The two of them nestled together and chatted for another half an hour.

Then, a noise came from outside the courtyard.

Su Yue stood up, smiling.
“Mom, Dad and Uncle Dongxu are here!”

Sure enough, Li Xiangbei and Shen Dongxu were struggling to move a flatbed cart toward the courtyard gate.

Su Yue exclaimed,
“Where’s my dad? Uncle, why are you pulling the flatbed cart yourselves?”

Shen Dongxu wiped sweat from his brow and explained,
“Ox carts aren’t allowed into the county town. We had to unload everything at the gate. Your dad’s watching the ox and letting it graze.”

The four of them began untying the ropes and carrying the furniture inside.

Just then, their neighbor, Aunt Zhang, happened to walk by and saw them moving things.

“Oh, Xiao Li! What are you up to?”

Li Xiangbei smiled,
“Hi Aunt Zhang! I’m getting married soon. The old furniture had to go, so my future in-laws brought me new stuff.”

Aunt Zhang nodded,
“Ah, so the big day is near.” The alley was small, and word traveled fast. She’d already heard how Li Xiangbei brought his fiancée over almost every day after work, staying for a while before leaving. She had just been too busy lately to ask about it.

Li Xiangbei added with a smile,
“I’ll be sure to bring you wedding candy, Aunt Zhang.”

Then he pointed to Su Yue,
“Aunt Zhang, this is my fiancée, Su Yue. Our parents have met, and the engagement’s set. Her older brother is in the military, so we’ll wait for him to get leave before holding the wedding. It’s only right for him to see his sister get married.”

“That’s true,” Aunt Zhang nodded. She had figured as much—Li Xiangbei always brought his girlfriend over openly, nothing sneaky about it.

He turned to Su Yue and introduced her,
“Yueyue, this is Aunt Zhang, our neighborhood committee director. She’s been a big help to me.”

Su Yue greeted her gracefully,
“Nice to meet you, Aunt Zhang. I’m Su Yue.”

“What a lovely girl,” Aunt Zhang said warmly. She glanced at the time and said,
“Alright, I’ll let you get back to it. Time for me to cook.”

After Aunt Zhang left, Li Xiangbei explained to Su Yue,
“We come and go in this alley every day, so people talk. Clearing things up with Aunt Zhang avoids trouble. Plus, her eldest son is also a soldier—she really cares about military families.”

Su Yue nodded with a smile.

Nearby, Shen Qiuxia and Shen Dongxu exchanged looks, amusement in their eyes.

Once the furniture was in place, Li Xiangbei said,
“Uncle, Mom, it’s getting late. Let’s go eat at the state-run restaurant near the steel factory. Don’t worry about Dad—I’ve got food containers and will bring him dinner. You just enjoy your meal first.”

Su Yue saw that everything was well planned and nodded.
“Uncle, Mom, let’s go.”

Shen Dongxu laughed and thumped his chest.
“Alright! But I made money today—this meal’s on me!”

Li Xiangbei quickly shook his head.
“No way, Uncle. Please let me treat this time. I’ll still need your help with the rest of the furniture later.”

Su Yue joined in,
“Uncle, your niece is working now too. Can’t I buy my uncle a meal?”

Shen Dongxu wanted to refuse, but Shen Qiuxia chimed in,
“Enough, Dongxu. Just listen to the kids.”

Shen Dongxu chuckled and nodded,
“Okay, okay. You win.”

Li Xiangbei grabbed the four lunch boxes, locked the courtyard gate, and cheerfully pushed the flatbed cart as they all headed to the steel factory’s state-run restaurant.

As they neared the restaurant, they were greeted by the savory aroma of food and the hum of bustling customers.

Inside, the lights were bright, and banners on the walls read “Save Food” and “Work Hard and Endure Hardship.” The slogans were a constant reminder to cherish hard-earned comfort.

Li Xiangbei found a table and invited the others to sit. After asking what everyone wanted, he took the lunch boxes and went to the counter.

“Hello, comrade! I’d like one serving of dumplings, five buns, one plate of stir-fried eggplant and potatoes, and one scrambled egg with green peppers. Please pack them in these boxes.”

He paused and added,
“Also one plate of braised beef with potatoes, one smashed cucumber salad, another order of dumplings, one shredded chicken noodle, and one beef noodle. The three buns are for that table.” He pointed to Su Yue and the others.

The female attendant quickly jotted it down.
“Wait for your number to be called—they’ll pick up the food themselves.”

After paying in cash and food stamps, Li Xiangbei returned to sit next to Su Yue.

Shen Dongxu took a sip of tea.
“Yueyue’s getting married. Will Zhi Chen and Zhi Ming come back?”

Shen Qiuxia nodded,
“They’ll be back on September 30. We’ll move into the new house on the second. The old house will go to our second son.”

Shen Dongxu teased,
“So, Sis, you finally let Zhi Qiang live on his own, huh?”

Shen Qiuxia rolled her eyes.
“Zhi Chen was independent from the start. Zhi Ming was mostly raised by him. Only Zhi Qiang stayed by our side—naturally, we doted on him more.”

Shen Dongxu didn’t hold back,
“Crying kids get candy. Sis, think about it—Zhi Chen, Zhi Ming, and Yueyue—aren’t they more filial than Zhi Qiang? You and brother-in-law spoiled him too much.”

Shen Qiuxia sighed,
“You’re right. We tried to make things easier for him, but we ended up raising him into someone selfish.”

The mood turned a little somber.

Just then, the staff called out,
“Number 16, your food’s ready!”

Li Xiangbei jumped up.
“Mom, Uncle, let’s eat first.”

Su Yue followed him. Together, they picked up the dishes and brought them back.

Li Xiangbei placed the dumplings and noodles in front of them.
“Uncle, your dumplings. Mom, here’s your shredded chicken noodles.”

Su Yue carried her beef noodles and sat down.

Li Xiangbei also brought the braised beef with potatoes and the cucumber salad.

Shen Dongxu chuckled,
“The dumplings already have meat. Why buy more?”

Li Xiangbei looked at Su Yue and said with a smile,
“Yueyue loves beef.”

Then he returned to the counter, packed some food into a bag, and said goodbye.
“Uncle, Mom, Yueyue—I’ll bring food to Dad now. Take your time eating. Oh, and Uncle—I’m taking the cart.”

Shen Dongxu quickly stood up.
“I’ll push it!”

“No need, Uncle. I’ve got it!” Li Xiangbei grinned as he pushed the cart and walked away.

Su Yue watched his departing figure, the corners of her lips curling into a smile, her eyes full of affection.

Shen Dongxu nodded approvingly.
“Yueyue, your uncle thinks this young man’s a keeper.”

Su Yue smiled and responded with a firm, happy “Mm!”