Chapter 35: Li Xiangbei Warns the Liang Family

It took Su Yue and Li Xiangbei a full half hour to finish tidying up the side room.

Su Yue nodded in satisfaction. “There are eggs in the kitchen. From now on, boil one every morning. Let me know when you run out and I’ll bring more.”

Li Xiangbei’s eyes sparkled as he looked at her, like a puppy eager to please. “Wife, you treat me so well.” Then he muttered to himself, “Back home, I never even got a turn with the eggs.”

Su Yue’s heart ached when she heard that. “Don’t worry. In our home, there will always be enough eggs.”

Li Xiangbei nodded vigorously.

“Alright, I should head back.” Su Yue said as she started walking out.

“Wife, I’ll walk you!” Li Xiangbei followed her closely, step by step.

Su Yue chuckled softly and didn’t refuse. The steel factory was right across the alley—just a few minutes’ walk.

After watching his wife go upstairs, Li Xiangbei turned and headed back into the alley.

He checked the time—7:30 PM. Dusk had already fallen.

The corners of his lips curled into a sly grin as he crouched in the shadows at the alley entrance, waiting quietly.

Ten minutes later, a figure approached from afar. Timing it just right, Li Xiangbei stepped forward and “accidentally” bumped into the man head-on. The man, in his thirties, stumbled and nearly fell.

“Ow! What the heck—something jabbed me!” Li Xiangbei exaggerated, raising his voice. “Hey, isn’t this Comrade Liang Youcai? Out so late—what’s the rush? Got something precious stashed in your coat?”

Liang Youcai’s face went pale instantly. His lips quivered, and he stammered, “Xiao Li… what are you doing out here at this hour? I’m just rushing home after a long day. Gotta go!”

Li Xiangbei stepped in front of him, blocking his path. He rubbed his fingers slowly, his voice laced with cold sarcasm:
“No need to rush. I accidentally touched something just now…”
He held out his hand, now blackened. “Coal, huh? Look—it stained my hand.”

Liang Youcai hurried to help him wipe it. “Let me clean that for you.”

Li Xiangbei pulled his hand back. “Liang Youcai, don’t play dumb. You sneak coal home like a hamster every few days. If the coal yard catches you, losing your job will be the least of your worries.”

“Sabotaging socialism—that alone could get you sent down to the countryside.”

Sweat beaded instantly on Liang Youcai’s forehead. He lowered his voice and tried to deny it, “Don’t say that. I didn’t steal any coal!”

“Oh really?” Li Xiangbei raised his voice and acted like he was about to shout for help. “Want me to yell and gather some neighbors to sort this out?”

“No, no!” Liang Youcai panicked, eyes darting around nervously. Seeing no one nearby, he relaxed a little and asked in a hushed voice, “What… what do you want?”

Li Xiangbei’s tone turned icy. “Me? I want to know why your mother keeps making trouble for us. What exactly is your family trying to do?”

Liang Youcai knew his mother’s temperament well and immediately started begging, “Brother, please let it go. I’ll talk to my mom—I promise she won’t bother your family again. You know my eldest brother passed early, and his widow remarried. The whole family relies on me. If something happens to me, how are they supposed to survive?”

His eyes reddened, voice choked with emotion.

Seeing that Li Xiangbei didn’t budge, Liang Youcai nearly burst into tears. “Brother, just one more chance! I swear, my mom won’t stir up trouble again!”

Li Xiangbei spoke slowly, “I may hold grudges, but I’m not heartless. I’ll let you go this time. But if your mom dares stir up trouble again, you’re going down with her.”

In his old days as a bit of a rogue, Li Xiangbei wouldn’t hesitate to call the police and have Liang Youcai caught in the act. But now, with Su Yue in his life, he just wanted peace.

After all, corner a rabbit and it’ll bite. If he got the only working member of the Liang family arrested, the old lady and her three grandsons would be at their doorstep every day raising hell.

People tend to side with the weak. Unless they could wipe the whole family out, it would be endless harassment. Better to keep Liang Youcai around as leverage.

Li Xiangbei’s eyes narrowed. If Liang Youcai couldn’t keep his mother in check, then he wouldn’t show mercy next time.

“Thank you, brother!” Liang Youcai breathed a sigh of relief and scurried home with his coal stash.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he slammed the gate shut and collapsed against it, gasping for breath like he’d just escaped death.

Hearing the commotion, his mother came out and saw him in that state. “Youcai, what happened?”

He pulled himself upright, leaned on the doorframe, and said, “Ma, let’s talk inside.”

She nodded but couldn’t help complaining, “Youcai, that young couple across the alley embarrassed me so badly today. I’m going to raise hell at their door every day from now on. Let them know this old woman isn’t someone to mess with!”

Once inside, Liang Youcai shut the door behind them and told her everything that happened with Li Xiangbei.

“Ma, if I get caught, that’s considered sabotage. We’d all be sent down. We’ll be stuck in a cowshed, starving and getting denounced day and night!”

The old lady’s arrogant face turned pale with fear.

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The next morning, sunlight bathed the courtyard. Li Xiangbei had just finished cooking porridge when there was a knock at the door.

His eyes lit up—could it be his wife already?

Smiling, he rushed to open it. “Ma? What are you doing here?”

Zhang Cuihua gave her youngest son a side glance and walked straight into the courtyard.

Li Xiangbei closed the door, unable to contain his curiosity. “Ma, how did you know where I live?”

She looked around while replying, “Didn’t you mention your wife’s place was across from the steel factory? I went to the alley entrance and pretended to twist my ankle. A kind lady came to help, and I told her I was looking for my son, Li Xiangbei. She brought me here.”

Then she raised her eyebrows and asked, “Was I supposed to say I came to find my son but didn’t know where he lived?”

Her gaze landed on a wooden box in the corner of the yard, which was growing scallions and some greens. She nodded approvingly. “Hmm, nice setup. Your in-laws made this box?”

Li Xiangbei nodded and mumbled, “Ma, it’s a shame you didn’t become a spy—you’ve got the talent.”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” She glared at him and stepped into the main room. The furnishings were simple but tastefully arranged.

“These pieces—your wife’s uncle made them? Her family really dotes on her.”

She scanned the room and noticed the kang bed was empty. “The kang’s bare—where are you sleeping?”

Li Xiangbei pointed to the side room. “I sleep in the ear room.”

Without waiting for a reply, he headed to the kitchen to check on his porridge.

Seeing the side room’s door ajar, Zhang Cuihua walked right in.

It was cozy and homey—floral cotton curtains, a neat mosquito net over the kang bed, thick bedding. She lifted the net, saw the tidy setup, and smiled in satisfaction.

This rascal of a son had truly found himself a good wife.