Chapter 31: Pay What You Deem Fair; I Shall Not Complain If It Is Little

Mother Li, having been treated like a fool by her own grandson, gave Li Xiaotao a slap on the back in annoyance.

"Are you smart or just plain dense? Do you think I'm blind? Didn't you drink that yourself? You only get two spoonfuls, not a drop more!"

Li Xiaotao didn't even cry out in pain; he just stared wide-eyed at the small iron basin that had held the egg drop water. "Grandma, how come there’s nothing left?"

"There’s never anything left!"

Mother Li knew exactly how much water was needed for the egg drop soup every day. It was always just the right amount—two spoonfuls for the older children, one for the younger ones.

Seeing his plan fail, Li Xiaotao scratched his head, sat down, and fixed his gaze on his eldest brother, Li Xiaojiang.

Li Xiaojiang rejected him immediately: "Don't look at me. I don't even have enough for myself."

Li Xiaotao didn't dare provoke his two younger sisters, as making them cry would only lead to a beating. Because of their third uncle, he skipped over Li Xiaohai and leaned toward Li Xiaobo instead.

"Hehe, Little Five, you can't finish yours, right? How about letting your second brother have a couple of sips?"

*Ptooey!*

Li Xiaobo spat into his own bowl.

Having been bullied by his two older brothers since he was little, he didn't dare refuse outright for fear of being beaten later. He pretended not to hear and asked with a blank expression, "Brother Xiaotao, what did you say?"

Li Xiangdong couldn't help but laugh at the antics of his two nephews.

Mother Li picked up her chopsticks, walked over, and rapped Li Xiaobo on the head. "Are you disgusting or what? If you dare spit in your bowl again, I’ll have your mother slap the living daylights out of you!"

She scanned the four grandsons sitting at the small dining table. "All four of you, eat properly! If anyone acts up again, there won't be any egg drop soup for them starting tomorrow!"

"Grandma, I'm being very good." Li Xiaohai tilted his head and tried to curry favor.

"Hmm." Mother Li nodded dismissively. Although her youngest grandson hadn't been back in the city for long and was the youngest of the bunch, she knew he wasn't exactly an angel. He was just like her third son—full of crafty tricks.

Li Xiangdong sat at the main table, watching the children's pre-meal performance while happily slurping his corn porridge.

The family had grown used to it; if the children didn't stir up some trouble during a meal, it just wouldn't feel like a proper dinner. It was only Li Xiaobo’s spitting that was truly against the rules; otherwise, Mother Li wouldn't have bothered to scold them.

"Third son, I remember you had photos taken when you processed your return to the city. Remember to bring them when you go to report for duty, along with your job introduction letter and household registration booklet," Father Li reminded him. He was worried that his third son might be unreliable and mess things up with such a good job.

If he didn't have to go to work in the morning, he would have wanted to accompany his son to handle the onboarding procedures himself.

Li Xiangdong set down his bowl and replied, "I know, Dad. I’ve already prepared the photos and the letter; they’re in my room. I’ll ask Mom for the household registration booklet after I finish eating."

Old Man Li chimed in, "Dongzi, eat quickly then. Go tidy yourself up afterwards. It’s your first day reporting; you mustn't be late."

Old Lady Li didn't like her husband’s tone. "Why the rush? He’s in the middle of eating, what are you hurrying him for? What time do you think it is? Would he really be late?"

Li Xiangdong watched his grandparents bicker with a smile, continuing to eat at a leisurely pace.

"Mom, you don't need to make lunch for me today. It's my first day, and I don't know the situation yet. There will be plenty of paperwork, so I probably won't be able to make it back by noon."

"What kind of lunch are you expecting to come back for? You think it’s like your dad’s coal shop, with fewer than ten people? The unit you're going to is a proper, large state-owned enterprise—they'll definitely have a cafeteria."

Mother Li suddenly slapped her thigh and stood up. "I almost forgot to get your lunchbox ready. You won't even have anything to eat out of otherwise."

She didn't even finish her meal; she went into the room to find an aluminum lunchbox and took it to the courtyard to wash it.

Old Lady Li reminded her, "Don't forget the chopsticks."

Mother Li called back from the courtyard, "I've already prepared them. Do you think I'd forget that? You’re at your age, don't worry yourself so much."

"He's my own grandson. If I don't worry about Dongzi, who should I worry about? Strangers?"

Old Lady Li felt uncomfortable hearing her daughter-in-law’s response. Usually, she let whatever her daughter-in-law said or did slide, but when it came to Li Xiangdong, she took everything to heart.

The rest of the family was used to it and acted as if they hadn't heard a thing.

The second brother swallowed his mouthful of steamed corn bread and said, "Dongzi, remember to tuck a couple of packs of good cigarettes into your pocket. They'll come in handy when you're out doing business. Do you have any? If not, I'll give you two packs."

"Does the third one need you to remind him? He already swiped all my good cigarettes! And I must say, Second Son, you’re being quite generous this time. Your father hasn't even smoked those good cigarettes of yours."

Father Li still held a grudge about his third son’s thievery.

"Hehe, well, Dad, I'll bring you two packs in a moment." The second brother gave an awkward laugh. It wasn't that he didn't want to give his father his good cigarettes; it was just that Father Li usually looked down on the ones he smoked. He had no idea that all that was left in his father's drawer were the eight-cent 'Production' brand cigarettes!

"Dongzi, the clothes you're wearing won't do. Your eldest brother has a white shirt. I'll go get it for you in a minute. Try it on, and if it fits, wear it to report today."

"That's right, Dongzi. Your sister-in-law is right. My white shirt hasn't been worn many times; it looks brand new."

The eldest brother and his wife weren't stingy. They knew their third brother was going to work for the railway system, which was a job that brought honor to the whole family. Giving away a white shirt was nothing to lose sleep over.

Li Xiangdong politely declined the kindness: "No need, Brother, Sister-in-law. I already prepared my clothes yesterday."

The second sister-in-law laughed and said, "Third Brother, you've got your clothes ready, but remember to tuck some money and food coupons in your pocket. Don't go to the cafeteria dressed all sharp with your lunchbox, only to find you don't have the money or coupons to pay for your meal—that would be a laughingstock. If you don't have any, just ask Dad for some. You can always pay him back once you get your first paycheck."

Li Xiangdong thought his second sister-in-law made a lot of sense! He didn't have a single cent on him, and he was just wondering how to bring it up with his parents; she had laid the ladder out for him perfectly.

He suddenly felt his leg being nudged under the table by Zhou Yuqin, who was sitting next to him.

Li Xiangdong knew his wife was reminding him not to ask for money; they weren't so broke that they couldn't afford a meal. The thirty yuan his grandparents gave them yesterday—he had spent one, and the rest were still in his wife’s hands.

However, he didn't intend to spend that money; he had bigger plans for it.

He reached under the table, pressed his hand against his wife’s leg to reassure her, and then looked at Father Li, rubbing his fingers together with his other hand.

"Dad, I'll leave it to your discretion. I won't complain if it's not much."