Chapter 1: The Li Family Farce

Early Morning, 1967

The Li family’s living room was filled with the aroma of corn porridge.

The family sat around a slightly worn dining table, eating a simple breakfast.

Li Xiangbei looked up at Zhang Cuiying, a hint of anticipation in his voice.
“Mom, my job’s all set. When are you going to help me propose?”

“What? Fourth Brother, you’re getting married?” Before their mother Zhang Cuiying could reply, the eldest sister-in-law Liu Lanxiang exclaimed in surprise.

She had just found a temporary job that cost 200 yuan. She and her husband had already agreed that the family would pay for it.

But if Fourth Brother was getting married, how would the family still have money to help her buy that job?

Li Xiangbei frowned, clearly displeased.
“What, I’m not allowed to get married? When my eldest and second brothers were my age, their kids were already running around.”

Then he looked back at Zhang Cuiying.
“Mom, you promised me. Once my job was settled, you’d help me propose.”

Thinking about the girl her youngest son liked, Zhang Cuiying couldn’t help but smile.
“Okay, I’ll go find a matchmaker later. You clean yourself up too—we’ll go together tomorrow.”

At first, when she found out that her youngest son had fallen for a girl from the countryside, Zhang Cuiying was not happy at all. But her youngest had always been stubborn since he was a child—once he set his mind on something, not even nine oxen could drag him back.

Later, she learned that her son had liked this girl for four whole years. Zhang Cuiying pouted—no wonder this kid insisted on repeating the school year after junior high, always mumbling about getting into the best high school in the county.

At the time, she was too busy to keep an eye on him and didn’t want him idling around all day, so she let him go back to school. Who would’ve thought he’d actually get into high school?

For those three years, she thought her son was ambitious. Only now did she realize—it was all for that girl.

Yesterday, Zhang Cuiying had specially gone to talk to her son’s teacher for more information. Teacher Wang praised the girl endlessly, saying she had always been academically gifted. If it weren’t for the suspension of college entrance exams, she surely would’ve gotten into university.

Though she was from a rural area, the girl was clever and capable. Teacher Wang also mentioned that last week the steel plant had been recruiting a records manager, and the girl passed the exam and had already transferred her household registration to the steel plant.

After hearing all this, what complaints could Zhang Cuiying still have?

As soon as she got home yesterday, she and Li Jianguo prepared the betrothal gifts for the girl.

Li Xiangbei, seeing how happy his mother was, figured she must’ve found out about Yueyue’s new job at the steel plant.

He grinned and leaned in.
“Mom, your son has good taste, right?”

Zhang Cuiying gave him a playful glare.
“The girl’s so outstanding—if she doesn’t agree, you’ll be the one crying.”

Li Xiangbei looked full of confidence. He’d waited for Yueyue for four whole years.

Liu Lanxiang, still unwilling to give up, pressed him:
“Fourth Brother, where’s that girl from?”

The youngest daughter of the Li family, Li Xiangxin, laughed and quickly answered:
“I know! The girl Fourth Brother likes is my senior. She’s from Hekou Brigade.”

“From a village?” Liu Lanxiang’s face flickered with disdain as she secretly kicked her husband under the table.

Li Xiangdong cleared his throat and looked at their parents, speaking with concern:
“Dad, Mom, Fourth Brother graduated high school and now works at the county supply and marketing cooperative. Shouldn’t he marry a city girl? There’s no rush—he can take his time.”

Li Xiangbei shot a glare at Li Xiangdong.
“I like her, and Dad and Mom already agreed. Big Brother, you don’t need to meddle.”

“Meddle? If you marry someone from the countryside, how will the monthly food rations work? And the kid’s household registration follows the mother—what, are your wife and kid both going to rely on our family to support them?” Li Xiangdong was getting more and more worked up, his face turning red.

Li Xiangbei snorted.
“Big Brother, don’t worry about it.”
Li Xiangdong wanted to argue more, but their father, Li Jianguo, cut him off:
“Eldest, your mother and I already agreed to this marriage. Besides, the girl’s household registration has already been transferred to the steel plant.”

Zhang Cuiying nudged Li Jianguo with her elbow and gave him a look. After all, the engagement wasn’t finalized yet, and the eldest’s big mouth had no filter. If it turned out that her youngest son was the only one eager while the girl wasn’t interested, rumors could spread and ruin her reputation.

Li Jianguo immediately understood, gave a couple of awkward chuckles, and silently shoveled in a few bites of porridge.

Their little exchange went unnoticed by everyone—except Li Xiangbei, who knew exactly what was going on.

But the others misread the situation entirely.

Li Xiangdong’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Mom, you gave your job to that girl?”

Liu Lanxiang jumped in, agitated:
“Mom, that’s way too biased! That village girl hasn’t even married into the family yet, and you’re already giving up your job for her?”

Li Xiangnan and his wife sat off to the side, also looking displeased, staring at Li Jianguo and Zhang Cuiying.

Zhang Cuiying slammed her chopsticks on the table.
“Who are you yelling at? This job is mine. None of you should get any ideas. And don’t keep eyeing our stuff every day. Wait until we’re dead—then** you can think about splitting it up!”**

With that, she stood up and headed toward the door.

“Mom!” Li Xiangdong quickly stopped her.
“Lanxiang found a temporary job that costs 200 yuan. We’re just a little short—we were hoping you and Dad could help us out.”

Zhang Cuiying turned back angrily:
“You have the nerve to talk about jobs? When you got married, we bent over backward to get Lanxiang a permanent position. And what happened? She handed it over to her own siblings! And now you want us to cough up money for a temporary job? You two—what a joke!”

She frowned, then questioned coldly:
“You’ve been married for seven years. Since day one, you’ve only paid ten yuan a month for food, and kept the rest of your wages to yourselves. After seven years, don’t tell me you can’t even scrape together 200 yuan?”

With that, she no longer paid them any attention and stormed out of the house.

Li Xiangdong and Liu Lanxiang exchanged a glance. Liu Lanxiang, clearly unwilling to give up, gave Xiangdong a meaningful look.

Li Xiangdong looked toward Li Jianguo, who was quietly finishing his porridge.
“Dad, this is such a rare opportunity. Little Brother’s only twenty—waiting a couple more years to marry won’t hurt. But this job opportunity? You couldn’t find one like it even with a lantern. Even if it’s just temporary now, there’s a chance it could become permanent. Just lend us the money for now, please?”

Li Jianguo drank the last sip of porridge, put down his bowl, and wiped his mouth.
“I have no money to lend you. Your father has never had more than a single yuan in his pocket.”

With that, he got up to leave.

Li Xiangdong wasn’t about to give up. He stood and called out,
“Dad—”

BANG!

Li Xiangbei kicked over Li Xiangdong’s chair.

“Have I been keeping too quiet these past two years and made you all forget what kind of temper I have? Li Xiangdong, listen carefully: if you dare to mess up my marriage, I won’t let it slide.”

He then gave a wicked grin.
“Big Brother—did you forget how you used to wet the bed every night when you were fifteen?”

Li Xiangdong gulped and took a step back, visibly shaken.

Li Jianguo frowned and scolded,
“Fourth! Watch your mouth. He’s your older brother, not your enemy.”

Li Xiangbei sneered and laughed coldly.
“Dad, are you sure he sees me as a younger brother?”

Li Jianguo was left speechless. After a moment, he said in a softened tone:
“Your mom’s already gone to find a matchmaker. You get yourself cleaned up. I’ll take you to propose tomorrow.”

Li Xiangdong clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white. Through gritted teeth, he growled:
“I knew it—you’re the one pulling strings behind the scenes. Li Xiangbei, I’m your big brother!”

“Big brother?” Li Xiangbei pointed to the prominent scar on his forehead, his gaze icy.
“When you shoved me into the corner of the table, did you remember you were my big brother?”

Li Xiangdong trembled slightly, his voice quivering.
“You… You’re making that up!”

Li Xiangbei glanced at his watch. It was getting late, so he walked toward the door.

“You know full well if I’m making it up or not.”