Chapter 26: Li Xiangbei’s Thoughtfulness

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

Su Yue smiled, took the key out of her pocket, and opened the door. With a creak, the small courtyard appeared before them.

Shen Qiuxia stepped inside, looking around, and said, “Why is this courtyard so small?”

Her words came out, and her brow furrowed slightly.

Su Yue smiled softly and explained, “This house, it was actually pretty lucky for Xiangbei to get it. It cost three hundred yuan.”

Shen Qiuxia was surprised, opening her mouth but saying nothing. Seeing this, Su Yue affectionately linked arms with her mother and showed her around the house.

It was only this big, and they finished the tour quickly.

Shen Qiuxia frowned and said frankly, “This house is too small. Once the furniture is moved in, there won’t even be room to step around.”

Su Yue smiled and explained, “Mom, it’s not small. You don’t know — city houses are really tight. Big families live together, separated only by curtains.”

Shen Qiuxia sat down pulling Su Yue along. “Yueyue, have you been to Xiangbei’s family recently?”

Su Yue nodded. “I have. Mom, let me tell you something. Xiangbei saved up money to buy this house. He was afraid his family would make a fuss if they knew, so he wrote me an IOU saying this house was bought by me.”

As she spoke, Su Yue took out the IOU and showed it to her mother.

Shen Qiuxia sighed. “Yueyue, tell me, are Xiangbei’s family hard to get along with?”

Su Yue smiled and took her mother’s hand. “Mom, both Xiangbei and I have jobs. After the wedding, we’ll live here. His parents are okay — not the type to make things difficult. As for his older brother and sister-in-law, well, that’s family now. It’s nothing to worry about.”

Shen Qiuxia listened attentively; her daughter always had her own mind.

But she couldn’t help asking, “Daughter, are you really set on Xiangbei?”

Su Yue tilted her head playfully. “Mom, it’s not about being set on someone. He treats me well now, so I’ll be with him. If one day he changes, your daughter won’t say a word — I’ll just kick him out!”

Shen Qiuxia was both annoyed and amused, lightly patting Su Yue’s shoulder. “You’re talking nonsense!”

The mother and daughter snuggled together and chatted for another half hour.

At that moment, loud noises came from outside the courtyard.

Su Yue smiled and stood up. “Mom, Dad and Uncle are here.”

They got up and walked out, seeing Li Xiangbei and Shen Dongxu dragging a flat cart, struggling to get it through the yard gate.

Su Yue was surprised. “Where’s Dad? Uncle, why are you dragging a flat cart here?”

Shen Dongxu wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed. “The ox cart isn’t allowed into the county. We unloaded it at the county gate, and your dad is watching the oxen grazing on the ridge by the fields.”

After untying the ropes, the four carried the furniture into the house.

Next-door neighbor Aunt Zhang passed by and saw Li Xiangbei helping carry furniture. She smiled and asked, “Xiao Xiang, what are you busy with?”

Li Xiangbei smiled, “Aunt Zhang, since I’m getting married soon, I can’t keep using the old furniture. My future wife, mother-in-law, and uncle specially helped bring the furniture over.”

Aunt Zhang nodded, “Looks like you two are getting close. The alley is small, and news can’t be kept secret. I’ve heard you bring your girlfriend here right after work and leave after a couple of hours. I was busy these past days and didn’t come to ask.”

Li Xiangbei smiled and said, “We’ll invite Aunt Zhang to the wedding.”

Then he pointed at Su Yue. “Aunt Zhang, this is my fiancée, Su Yue. My parents and hers have already met, and the wedding is set. Su Yue’s older brother is in the army, so we plan to wait for his leave to hold the ceremony. He should see his sister get married with his own eyes.”

“That makes sense,” Aunt Zhang said, thinking about how Xiangbei always brought Su Yue over so openly. What could they possibly be hiding?

Xiangbei turned and introduced, “Yueyue, this is Aunt Zhang, the head of our neighborhood committee. She’s really kind and has helped me a lot.”

Su Yue smiled gracefully. “Hello, Aunt Zhang, I’m Su Yue.”

“That girl looks sharp,” Aunt Zhang said, glancing at the time. “Alright, you guys keep busy. I should get back to cook.”

Xiangbei laughed and said goodbye to Aunt Zhang.

After they entered the courtyard, Li Xiangbei explained, “Since we come in and out of the alley every day, people will talk. Being on good terms with Aunt Zhang saves us a lot of trouble. Also, her eldest son is in the military, so she cares a lot about families like ours.”

Su Yue smiled and nodded.

Nearby, Shen Qiuxia and Shen Dongxu exchanged a glance, both with smiles in their eyes.

After the furniture was all arranged, Li Xiangbei smiled and said, “Uncle, Mom, it’s getting late. Let’s go eat at the Steel Factory State-Run Restaurant first. Don’t worry about Dad — I’ll bring lunchboxes and take food over to him. You can eat here in peace and then come over after you’re done.”

Su Yue saw how thoughtful Li Xiangbei’s arrangement was and nodded, “Uncle, Mom, let’s go.”

Shen Dongxu laughed heartily and patted his chest, saying, “Alright! But now that I’m earning money, this meals on me!”

Li Xiangbei immediately refused, “That won’t do, Uncle. This opportunity has to be mine. Later, I’ll still need your help delivering the furniture.”

Su Yue smiled and added, “Uncle, your niece is working now — you can’t not let me treat you to a meal.”

Shen Dongxu was about to refuse again when Shen Qiuxia spoke up at the right moment, “Alright, Dongxu, just listen to the kids.”

Shen Dongxu smiled and nodded, “Okay, I’ll go with the flow then.”

Li Xiangbei took four lunchboxes, locked the courtyard gate, and went to the flatbed cart, holding the handles firmly. The four of them chatted happily as they walked toward the Steel Factory State-Run Restaurant.

Just arriving at the restaurant’s entrance, a rich, savory aroma of food mixed with lively noise came rushing toward them.

Inside, the restaurant was brightly lit, with posters on the walls that read “Save Food” and “Work Hard and Struggle.” Under the bright lights, these signs stood out, reminding everyone to cherish the hard-earned meals.

Li Xiangbei found an empty table, invited Su Yue, Shen Qiuxia, and Shen Dongxu to sit down, asked what they wanted to eat, and then took the lunchboxes to the counter.

“Hello, please! I want a serving of dumplings, five steamed buns, a serving of ‘di san xian’ (three fresh vegetables stir-fry), and a serving of green pepper scrambled eggs, all packed in lunchboxes.”

He paused, then added, “Also one serving of stewed potatoes with beef, one of smashed cucumber salad, another serving of dumplings, a serving of chicken noodle soup, and one beef noodle soup. The three steamed buns are for that table.” He pointed to where Su Yue and the others were seated.

The waitress quickly wrote down the order and nodded, “We’ll call the number when the food is ready; they can pick it up themselves.”

After paying with both money and food coupons, Li Xiangbei sat back down beside Su Yue.
Shen Dongxu lifted his teacup and took a light sip. “Yue, is Zhichen and Zhiyu coming to the wedding?”

Shen Qiuxia nodded, “They’ll come on September 30th, and we’ll move into the new house on the 2nd. The old house will be left to the second brother’s family.”

Shen Dongxu teased, “Sis, you finally let Zhijiang live on his own.”

Shen Qiuxia gave him a side-eye and sighed, “The eldest has been independent since childhood, no worries there. The third brother was practically raised by the eldest. Only the second one, we raised hand-in-hand, and he stayed by us, so naturally, we helped more.”

Shen Dongxu smirked and said bluntly, “The crying child gets the candy. Sis, think about it — eldest, third, and Yueyue, who’s more filial than the second brother? In my view, you and your husband spoiled him too much.”

Shen Qiuxia sighed, “Yeah, over the years, that was our mistake. We wanted to help the second son have it easier, but it ended up spoiling his selfish nature.”

The atmosphere grew somewhat heavy.

Just then, the waitress loudly called out, “Number 16, your food is ready!”

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

Su Yue followed, and the two went to the pickup counter and brought the dishes back.

Li Xiangbei placed the dumplings and noodles in front of his uncle and mother respectively: “Uncle, here are the dumplings. Mom, the chicken noodle soup.”

Su Yue sat down holding her beef noodles.
Li Xiangbei also brought a serving of stewed potatoes with beef and smashed cucumber salad.

Shen Dongxu laughed, “There’s already meat in the dumplings — why order more meat?”

Li Xiangbei glanced at Su Yue and smiled, “Because Yueyue loves beef.”

Then he went back to the counter, packed the remaining lunchboxes in a cloth bag, and said goodbye to everyone. “Uncle, Mom, Yueyue, I’m going to deliver Dad’s meal now. You guys take your time eating. Oh, Uncle, I’ll push the cart away.”

Shen Dongxu got up quickly, “No, I’ll push the cart.”

“No need, Uncle, I’ll do it!” Li Xiangbei smiled cheerfully and pushed the cart farther away.

Su Yue watched Li Xiangbei’s retreating figure, a faint smile playing on her lips, her eyes full of sweetness.

Shen Dongxu nodded, “Yue, your uncle thinks this young man is really good.”

Su Yue smiled and softly replied, “Mm.”