Chapter 2: Uncle, I Want to Eat Meat

I don’t have any money either.

No money? How could you not have any money? Gu Ermao looked astonished. You work at the food factory, even as an apprentice, you must get ten or twenty yuan a month, right? You haven’t saved any money in three months? Impossible, absolutely impossible! Xiao Long, we are brothers. How can you not help when your brother is in trouble? In the past, you were always the first one to rush over whenever something happened. Aren’t my problems your problems? Let me see, where is the money…

As he spoke, he reached out to rummage through Li Long’s pockets.

Slap! Li Long swatted his hand away and spoke bluntly:

What are you doing?

Gu Ermao used to rummage through Li Long’s pockets often, and he was used to it. Li Long had never refused him either. Whenever Gu Ermao said a few nice words, Li Long, unable to bring himself to be stern, would always go along with what Gu Ermao wanted.

Today, unexpectedly, Li Long turned hostile. Gu Ermao was stunned for a moment before his face flushed red and he asked:

What’s wrong? I already told you, I want to borrow some money. Don’t worry, I will definitely pay it back!

I already told you I don’t have any money! Li Long raised his voice. It’s true that I earn a wage, but do I not have to spend it? I live in my brother and sister-in-law’s house and eat their food; shouldn’t I give them some money? Besides, if you have trouble, why don’t you look for your own brother? Why look for me? I’m not your real brother!

This merciless outburst left Gu Ermao bewildered. Then, his face turned bright red, and he said angrily:

If you don’t want to lend it, then don’t! Why all that nonsense! Li Long, I really misjudged you! From now on, don’t say you’re my brother! You only have this much capability; no wonder you got fired, I think you deserved it! If you have the guts, don’t ever come looking for me again! Let’s see if I’ll still bring you along to play with Mao Dan and the others!

After finishing his sentence, he slammed the door in anger and left.

As Gu Ermao walked out, he counted silently in his heart.

One, two, three…

In the past, whenever he got angry, Li Long would usually come chasing after him within ten counts, trying to coax him with a fawning smile. He knew Li Long was a very vain person who didn’t want others to speak ill of him. After all, Li Long was not a native of this village and hoped to gain the approval of other peers in the village. And he, Gu Ermao, was the first person to recognize him.

But today, he counted all the way to fifty, and Li Long still didn’t come out. Gu Ermao couldn’t understand it. Has Li Long changed? Or does he really have no money left?

But the words had already been spoken; it was impossible for him to turn back and look for Li Long. Since he hadn’t borrowed the money, he would have to think of another way. However, he wouldn’t let Li Long have an easy time either.

Since you don’t give me any face, then don’t blame me for being unkind and exposing your business to Wu Shufen!

Actually, Li Long knew that tomorrow, Gu Ermao would spread the news of his firing, and tomorrow, Wu Shufen, upon hearing the news, would come to ask for a breakup.

That was just fine.

In the west room, the couple Li Jianguo and his wife exchanged a look, both feeling puzzled.

Because both parties had been loud, they had vaguely heard the conversation between Gu Ermao and Li Long. They just couldn’t figure out why Li Long, who used to obey Gu Ermao in everything, had such a violent reaction today.

Did getting fired from the food factory change Xiao Long’s temperament? Liang Yuemei guessed.

Maybe. Xiao Long isn’t stupid either. Experience brings wisdom; perhaps he figured it out and decided he couldn’t let others use him anymore. In any case, it’s a good thing.

Then the money…

Let him decide about the money himself. Li Jianguo shook his head. He’s a young man, and he’s seeing someone; how can he manage without money?

Just as they were talking, the door to the east room opened, and both of them immediately went silent.

The door to the west room was pushed open, and Li Long walked in.

He took out ten yuan and handed it to Liang Yuemei:

Sister-in-law, my return was rather sudden. There probably isn’t enough firewood at home; use this money to buy some coal. I’ll go find some firewood in the next two days, so don’t worry.

What are you going to find? Li Jianguo glared at him: On a cold day like this, minus thirty-plus degrees, where are you going to find firewood?

Yes, yes, you put the money away. A young man needs to have some money on him. Liang Yuemei didn’t actually have much of an opinion about Li Long, and she was quite satisfied that her brother-in-law had this attitude.

Sister-in-law, please take it. Li Long shoved the money into Liang Yuemei’s hand. I can’t just keep spending your money. I’m an adult, after all… Brother, he said to Li Jianguo:

I’m almost twenty. I haven’t used my brain much before and did some wrong things. Now I know those things weren’t right. It’s cold, that’s nothing, just dress warmly. Don’t worry about that. Anyway, there’s nothing to do in the winter… Alright, I’m going back to my room.

After saying this, he turned around, left the west room, and returned to the east room.

Breathing a long sigh of relief, Li Long felt that he had at least taken the first step.

In the second half of his previous life, whenever he recalled the stupid things he had done in the past, he felt regret. Now that he had the chance to do it all over again, how could he possibly repeat the same mistakes?

But right now, he was a little hungry.

In the countryside, people usually ate two meals in the winter. The amount of physical activity wasn’t high, the food rations were limited, and in winter, one had to budget carefully.

Now, with him added to the household, he feared it would be difficult for his brother’s family to last until spring.

He really was a nuisance. In the past, he only knew how to ask his brother for food and clothes, and he did it with a sense of entitlement, never bothering to think about where those things came from.

Thinking about it now, it was infuriating!

He was still blaming himself when the door rattled.

Looking up, he saw his five-year-old nephew, Li Qiang, pushing the door open.

Uncle, I’m looking for you… to play. Li Qiang was dressed warmly, and he wiped his nose with his sleeve and said, You came back from so far away, did you bring anything fun?

Li Long felt a bit ashamed. He really hadn’t bought anything when coming back from Wucheng. Never mind things for his brother and sister-in-law, he hadn’t even bought any gifts for his niece Li Juan or nephew Li Qiang.

He rummaged through his bag and only pulled out a box of glutinous rice paper.

This was used to wrap candy at the food factory. After milk candies were processed, they were wrapped in this rice paper and then wrapped in candy wrappers.

Rice paper was common at the food factory, but in this day and age, it was almost unseen in the village.

Li Long picked up a piece and said to Li Qiang:

Stretch out your hand.

Li Qiang followed instructions and stretched out his hand.

Li Long placed the rice paper on his hand and said to him:

Don’t move, watch closely, the paper will move in a moment.

Li Qiang was very obedient; he held his hand straight, not moving an inch, his eyes fixed firmly on the paper.

Sure enough, the rice paper moved, slowly curling up.

It’s moving, Uncle, it’s moving!

Li Qiang shouted in surprise.

Li Long smiled. Having lived two lives, he knew the principle behind the rice paper moving. But not many people knew it now, so Li Qiang was amazed.

Li Qiang’s voice was very loud, and before long, Li Juan also pushed the door and entered. She looked at Li Long with suspicion.

Li Juan was ten years old, in primary school, and often helped out with work at home—even doing work that Li Long wouldn’t do.

This made Li Juan dislike Li Long quite a bit. If Li Long wasn’t there, she didn’t mind the work. Children of similar ages all helped their families with chores. But when Li Long was there, he wouldn’t do any work while demanding that she do it, which naturally felt unfair.

Sister, sister! Look, this thing can move… Huh? Why did it melt? Li Qiang was just about to show Li Juan, but saw the rice paper in his hand stick to his palm.

It’s okay, there’s more. Li Long put another piece on Li Qiang’s hand. Li Qiang, like a curious baby, talked to his sister about it.

Li Long also placed a piece in Li Juan’s hand. She didn’t refuse, but she didn’t speak either.

Although the ten-year-old girl had her feelings, she was at a curious age. Seeing the rice paper in her hand moving, she was also amazed, though she didn’t ask about it.

Uncle, why? Li Qiang didn’t care about that; he asked Li Long directly, Why does it move?

Because this thing is very sensitive to temperature. It means that because it’s hot in the room, it shrinks and melts. Like plastic meeting fire. Li Long explained briefly, You can also eat this.

You can eat it? Hearing that, Li Qiang’s eyes lit up, and he lowered his head and licked it.

Yeah, it melted. But it doesn’t taste as good as meat. Li Qiang glanced at Li Long:

Uncle, I want to eat meat.

[End of Chapter]