novelden Chapter 152 This money really can't be saved.
Chapter 152 This money really can't be saved.
"Well, that's too much trouble for you..."
Li's mother said somewhat awkwardly.
"Sister Lin, why are you being so polite with me? Sorry, I can't chat anymore, I have to get to work. It's settled then, wait for me tonight, I'll treat everyone to dinner."
Before Li's mother could reply, Wang Jingyun quickly left.
“Mom, look how enthusiastic Uncle Wang is. If we don’t go along with it, it will seem like we’re being distant,” Li Xiangyang said with a smile. “Look how happy Xiaohua and Xiaoying are playing together.”
Mother Li sighed, "It's convenient for us, but it's causing you a lot of trouble, Uncle Wang..."
"Mom, please don't think like that. Think about it, Uncle Wang is a bachelor raising a child alone, and he can't even cook. Who knows who will be more troublesome in the future? If you cook for them, would you find it troublesome and not give any to Uncle Wang and Xiaoying?"
After Li Xiangyang said that, Li's mother also came to terms with it.
As soon as they entered the room, they bent down and lifted the kang mat.
This was hard work, and the mother and son were sweating profusely.
After a flurry of activity, we swept away the cobwebs on the walls, tore off the torn window paper, scraped off the old paint from the window frames, and cleared away the clutter piled up in the corners...
By the time the two finished tidying up the new house, it was already getting dark.
"Finally all packed up." Li Xiangyang rubbed his sweaty face, looking at the newly renovated room. "Mom, this is great. We can just slowly move our things in over the next couple of days."
Li's mother leaned against the door frame, looking at the newly renovated house, her eyes narrowed into slits with a smile.
"By the way, Mom, although it'll be warmer soon, we still need to install heating in the house. We just don't have enough money right now, but I'm trying my best..."
"You silly child, don't you know how to manage money? Why install heating? How much will that cost? We've lived without it for so many years and we've still managed. We just bought a house, we should save where we can..."
Upon hearing this, Li's mother immediately frowned and scolded him.
“Mom, we really can’t skimp on this money. It’s fine if we don’t install it now, but what about next year? Xiaohua is still so young, and you’ll be exhausted after work, especially in the freezing winter. Besides, isn’t the money your son earns from hunting meant to give the family a better life?”
Seeing that his mother was about to say something, Li Xiangyang added, "Don't worry about money. These days, it's hard to spend whatever you save."
"This..." Li's mother thought for a moment, and there was indeed no way to refute this statement.
In the era of planned supply of materials, money was indeed not that important.
"Alright, Mother, it's getting dark. Let's go to Uncle Wang's house first," Li Xiangyang said, glancing at the sky.
When we arrived at Wang Jingyun's house, before we even opened the gate, we could hear Li Xiaohua chattering away in the yard.
"Brother! Mother!" The little girl skipped and hopped towards them as soon as she saw them. "Xiaoying taught me to read! And she taught me to draw! Look..."
Just then, Wang Jingyun returned, a gentle smile on his face: "Are you all hungry? Come on, let's go eat first."
……
Upon entering the state-run restaurant, Director Zhang immediately came to greet us.
"Teacher Wang is here!" he laughed heartily, then turned and saw Li Xiangyang, his eyes lighting up. "Oh, isn't this Xiangyang? It's been a while! Come visit often!"
"Okay, okay, I'll come when I have time."
Upon meeting the enthusiastic Director Zhang, Li Xiangyang quickly introduced his family: "Director Zhang, this is my mother, Linzhi, and my younger sister, Xiaohua."
"Hello, sister-in-law!" Director Zhang said with a beaming smile. "Your son and I are very close. Actually, I've wanted to visit him for a long time, but I've been too busy. Now that you're here, please make yourself at home. Order whatever you like; it's on me. This is your daughter? She's so beautiful, just like you..."
Li's mother looked a little embarrassed by Director Zhang's praise, but she was still very happy to hear someone praise her son.
"Alright, Lao Zhang, I can't let you treat me. This meal's on me. Try to take it from me, or I'll fight you!"
Wang Jingyun feigned displeasure and said.
"Alright, alright, I'll treat you next time," Director Zhang said, leading the way. "Sister-in-law, you've raised such a good son, your cooking skills must be excellent too. Come over often when you have time, and teach us how to make farm-style dishes."
Wang Jingyun chuckled, "Director Zhang, Sister Lin probably won't have the time. She'll be working at the Agriculture Bureau from now on."
"That's wonderful!" Director Zhang exclaimed even more enthusiastically. "From now on, we'll be neighbors. Our restaurant isn't far from the Agricultural Bureau. Sister-in-law, feel free to come anytime if it's mealtime."
After hearing this, Li's mother's initial restraint lessened somewhat.
After the group entered the private room and ordered their food, Director Zhang instructed the kitchen, "Old Zhao, we have important guests today, so you can't skimp on the dishes. Show us what you've got!"
In no time, the cold dishes were served.
One dish of stir-fried tofu strips, one dish of cooked meat with shredded radish, and one dish of stir-fried shredded potatoes with vinegar.
"Come on, let's eat, Sister Lin, don't be shy."
After the dishes were served, Wang Jingyun served everyone food, poured two glasses of baijiu (Chinese liquor), and handed one to Li Xiangyang: "Come on, let's have a drink, you and me."
"Uncle Wang, I have to go home to pack my things tonight, so I can't keep you company. I'll treat you another day."
Li Xiangyang took the wine glass and said somewhat embarrassedly.
"Okay, then let's just have a token gesture." Wang Jingyun nodded and didn't try to persuade him further.
Then several hot dishes were served: a plate of braised pork, a plate of stewed crucian carp, a plate of stewed pork ribs with potatoes, and a plate of stewed cabbage with glass noodles.
Finally, a bowl of rice cake and red bean soup was served.
At the dinner table, Director Zhang made a point of keeping Li's mother company, frequently serving her food while recounting how Li Xiangyang often brought her wild game, which made Li's mother beam with joy.
After the meal, Director Zhang brought the bill, and when Li's mother saw it, her heart sank.
But Director Zhang had already written a number that was folded in half on it.
"Director Zhang, you..." Wang Jingyun said somewhat embarrassedly.
"Of course, of course," Director Zhang waved his hand. "Xiangyang has been very supportive of our business, so we should give him this much face."
Stepping out of the restaurant, the evening breeze made me shiver.
Li's mother hugged Xiaohua tightly.
Back at Wang Jingyun's home, Wang Jingyun grabbed a few changes of clothes and headed to her workplace.
"Uncle Wang, it's so late, you should get some rest," Li Xiangyang said.
"It's alright, my workplace is nearby anyway. I'll head over early and tidy up my room," Wang Jingyun replied with a smile. "You don't need to make yourselves at home."
"Then drive carefully," Li's mother said.
Wang Jingyun nodded, turned around and left the courtyard.
"Xiangyang, it's already completely dark. Why don't you stay here for the night?" Li's mother quickly stopped her son as he was about to leave.
“Yes, brother, don’t go. It’s so dark outside,” Li Xiaohua also urged.
"I need to go back and tidy up; I have to move things first thing tomorrow morning," Li Xiangyang said, turning to leave. "I'm leaving now, don't bother seeing me off."
"Then be careful on the road, you're not familiar with the roads in this county..."
"Mother, don't worry, how could I get lost on such a short distance?"
Li Xiangyang smiled at his mother.
"Xiangyang, wait!" Wang Ying ran into the house, rummaged around for a while, and took out a flashlight. "This is for you to use for light."
"Okay, thank you Xiaoying, I'm off."
Li Xiangyang took the flashlight, patted the little girl's head, turned around, and rode away on his bicycle.