Chapter 35: Standing Up for My Niece

"Dad, let's keep this stuff at home and eat it ourselves." After warming up, Tao Daqiang grabbed a cornmeal steamed bun to tide him over, put on his clothes, and said to Tao Jianshe

"Don't let my brother take it again, and don't send it over there either. If you keep sending it, I won't be bringing anything back home from now on; there's no point in having it if we can't eat it. Chinese New Year is coming up; we can't just eat steamed buns for the holiday, can we?"

Tao Jianshe didn't respond, and Tao Daqiang left the house.

Tao Jianshe knew that if his eldest son went back, he would definitely get a scolding from his wife, but who was to blame?

Caught in the middle, he was in a difficult position, but he knew he truly couldn't send any more supplies to his eldest son.

His younger son had just started making something of himself; if his current approach discouraged him, that would be a real problem.

Although he said that once he was gone, Daqiang would have to rely on Dayong to help, thinking about his daughter-in-law's temperament, it was anyone's guess if that would actually work. He couldn't exactly go to Dayong's house with his face in the dirt, could he?

As expected, Tao Dayong returned empty-handed and was given a piece of his mind by his wife.

"You didn't bring anything back? I saw plenty of stuff on that sled, why didn't you bring any back?"

"I took the rice and flour; that's for my old man," Tao Dayong said while taking off his shoes. "I can't just bring everything home, can I? I brought the wood back. My father's house is freezing; he's out of coal. I'll bring some coal over in the next couple of days."

"Bring what? What is the family going to burn if you bring it there? Can't Daqiang follow Li Xiao'er to haul wood? Just have him haul some more!" Ma Chunhong was unwilling to take anything from their household to give to her father-in-law.

"Then we'll haul the wood back and deliver it there." Tao Dayong was getting angry. "That horse carriage was borrowed from the Li family, and the path was cleared by the Li family. Why should we just take it whenever you say? I told you at the time not to bring all the wood back, but you went and ahead—not a single piece was left, you brought it all back..."

"But my brother is getting married next year, and this wood looks good for making furniture..." Ma Chunhong's voice dropped significantly, knowing she was in the wrong.

"Is your brother going to just sit there and not work? I have no problem with you finding wood for your brother, but shouldn't we consider that my father is so old and his house is cold? We should send some coal over."

Ma Chunhong turned her head away without responding, clearly unwilling.

Tao Dayong felt frustrated with his own weakness. He put his shoes back on, preparing to head out again.

Ma Chunhong knew exactly what her husband was thinking, so she blocked the door and shouted

"Tao Dayong, if you dare take the household coal out, I'm going back to my mother's house!"

"Then get lost!" Thinking about the words his brother had said and what he had done over the past two years, Tao Dayong felt a sharp pang in his heart. He shoved Ma Chunhong aside and headed out toward the coal shed.

*Damn it, I really am a piece of work!*

Ma Chunhong was pushed to the ground by Tao Dayong. Seeing that her husband had no intention of yielding, she sat on the ground and began to wail.

When Li Long pulled the sled back home, he saw Li Juan and Li Qiang walking toward the house from the neighbor's in a huff.

"Juan, Qiangqiang, what happened?" Li Long asked hurriedly.

"Uncle, you're back?" Qiangqiang ran over. "My sister was playing *bishi* (stone game) with Lu Ni'er, and she insisted my sister's two stones were hers! My sister wanted them back, but she wouldn't give them up, and she even had her brother chase us out!"

In the past, Li Long would have generously said, "Never mind, forget it," but having lived two lives, he knew how sensitive children of Li Juan's age were. If their family didn't support them, it would create a rift in their relationship later on.

"Come on, Uncle will go get them for you!" Li Long steered the sled into the courtyard, didn't even go inside, and led Li Juan and Li Qiang toward the Lu family home.

Hearing the commotion, Liang Yuemei came out of the house. She saw the items on the sled but didn't see anyone. Seeing no one outside the gate, she began moving the items into the house first.

As she unloaded them one by one, Liang Yuemei was overjoyed to see so much stuff; they wouldn't have to worry about the New Year after all.

The five kilograms of vegetable oil, in particular, solved a major problem for the household.

The few kilograms of pork belly were equally important. If they only had chicken, fish, and mutton for the New Year, it always felt like something was missing.

When Li Long reached the Lu family's doorstep, he heard the sound of children laughing inside.

He knocked on the door, then faintly heard someone inside whispering

"It must be Li Juan coming again, hide them quickly..."

Li Long simply pushed the door open. He saw Lu Ni'er in the main hall trying to hide something behind the hearth.

"Bring them out!" Li Long said with a dark expression. "Li Juan's *bishi* were found by me in the mountains; they are a matching set, unlike the ones you have!"

"I didn't take them!" Lu Ni'er stood directly in front of the hearth and answered loudly, though her voice betrayed a hint of guilt.

"Then bring them out and let me see."

"Why should we show you?" Lu Ni'er's brother, Lu Tietou, who was fourteen, picked up a fire poker and said blusteringly.

The boy was tall and sturdy, likely relying on his physical strength to chase Li Juan and the others away. However, Li Long wasn't intimidated by such a kid.

"Not going to? Then don't blame me for being impolite." Li Long's voice remained calm, but it sounded quite menacing. "My Li Juan never lies. Since she was playing at your house, if they are missing, they must be here. It's best to bring them out now; if I have to search for them, things will get unpleasant."

He took two steps forward and shoved Lu Tietou, who was blocking his path, aside. Tietou was young after all; he had the size, but no real strength. Being pushed aside made him lose face, and as he tried to step forward again, Li Long swiped him aside once more. He lost his footing and landed hard on his backside.

Li Qiang couldn't help but laugh.

Hearing the commotion, Sister-in-law Lu, who was in the kitchen area of the side room, walked over holding a spatula. Seeing Li Long, she paused for a moment and then said with a smile

"Oh, Little Long is here. Come, come, sit down."

"I'm not staying; I'm here to get the *bishi* for my Juan," he said, pointing toward Lu Ni'er.

"Then just give them to Li Juan." Sister-in-law Lu, unaware of the details, hurriedly said to Lu Ni'er, "If you want to play later, just go to the Li house."

The two families lived across from each other and had always been on good terms, so Sister-in-law Lu didn't think much of it.

Lu Ni'er wanted to keep lying, but Li Long pointed behind the hearth and said

"You don't need me to take them, do you? If I have to get hands-on, it's going to be quite a hassle!"

Sister-in-law Lu sensed the tension. She glared at Lu Ni'er and said

"Bring them out! If they aren't yours, give them back to them quickly!"

Li Long breathed a sigh of relief. Sister-in-law Lu was a reasonable person, which made this easy to resolve.

Startled by her mother's voice, Lu Ni'er trembled. She slowly reached behind the hearth and pulled out a handful of *bishi*.

"Two of them are mine," Li Juan said, stepping forward.

"Give them to Juan, quickly," Sister-in-law Lu repeated, glaring at Lu Ni'er.

"It's fine. When you want to play later, you can come to our house or come here," Li Long said, his tone softening.

In this day and age, there were parents who were unreasonable and parents who had high moral standards; most were simply concerned with saving face, not wanting their children to be criticized for their character.

"Exactly." Seeing Li Long offer an out, Sister-in-law Lu smiled. "You all get along so well; it's better to play together."

Li Juan took the stones from Lu Ni'er and turned toward the door.

"Then, Sister-in-law Lu, we'll be heading back now."

"Alright, I won't keep you. Come visit whenever you have time," Sister-in-law Lu replied with a smile.

Leaving the Lu house, both Li Juan and Li Qiang had smiles on their faces.

"Uncle, you're really amazing!" Li Qiang gave a thumbs up. "We never would have thought of that before..."

"Things are different now than they were before," Li Long sighed softly.

Yes, things were different.

(End of Chapter)