Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

On both sides of the outer room, there was a large stove made of bricks and plastered with cement.

Two large iron pots were inlaid on top, and wisps of steam rose from the sides of the aluminum pot lids.

The water vat next to it was covered with a wooden lid, on which sat a cutting board, a knife, and a water ladle made from half a gourd.

Next to it is a sauerkraut vat, weighed down by a large blue stone, and you can see a layer of white stuff in the bottom of the vat.

After the mother and son entered the east room one after the other, Xu Bei quickly looked around again.

The newspapers pasted on the walls were yellowed by smoke, and a kangqin (a type of heated brick bed) with neatly stacked quilts sat on the kang. There were hand-painted flower and bird glass paintings on the cabinet doors.

Next to it, on a red camphor wood chest, sat a Red Lantern brand radio and an old-fashioned Polaris brand clock, which ticked rhythmically as the pendulum swung.

Behind it, in a glass frame, are more than a dozen black and white photos of various sizes with jagged edges.

Among them are photos of his elderly family members, as well as childhood photos of him, his sister Xu Li, and his younger sister Xu Juan, and some individual photos.

Xu Bei remembered that his older sister, Xu Li, was already married and working at a woodworking factory with her husband, Zhu Wenliang, but their jobs were more like temporary work.

My younger sister, Xu Juan, is in high school, I forget whether it's her first or second year, but she lives in the city and comes home once a week.

He didn't rush to get closer to examine the photos. Instead, he sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and stared intently at his mother, feeling that he couldn't get enough of looking at her.

Even with Zhao Fengying's strong mental fortitude, she still felt uneasy under her son's overly eager gaze.

"You little rascal, what's wrong with you? One minute you're about to cry, the next you're laughing, like you're having some kind of problem! Get to the point! Otherwise, I'll go to your workplace and ask your dad!"

The father and son work at the same company, so they probably already know the news.

So Xu Bei didn't hide it anymore and simply explained it to him.

"...Later, I got into an argument with Lao Zhang. He was using such vulgar language, and I definitely couldn't tolerate that. No one can insult my mother!"

After hearing this, Zhao Fengying couldn't help but reach out and poke her son's forehead twice with her finger.

"You kid, it's wrong of you to sleep during work hours, and it's not wrong for people to scold you!"

You and Dahei didn't get back until well past midnight, and then you struggled to get up for work this morning. I told you you'd be sleepy, but you wouldn't listen! And look what happened! Did you do exactly what I predicted?

Because it was so long ago, Xu Bei could hardly remember these trivial matters. He rubbed his forehead and laughed, "My mother was indeed incredibly insightful, a veritable little Zhuge Liang."

"Stop your nonsense!" Zhao Fengying said with a laugh, then changed the subject, "But, Old Zhang also has his faults. Why can't we talk things out properly? Why does he have to hit people and speak so rudely at the same time!"

That organization isn't his family's business, and he thinks he's all that just because he's a minor official, he can act all high and mighty!

Xu Bei was about to speak with a smile when he heard someone coming into the courtyard.

The mother and son looked out into the yard through the frosted glass of the window, almost in unison.

When Xu Bei recognized the figure wearing a thick cotton coat and heavy boots, propping up the bicycle, as his father Xu Dashan, his feelings became complicated.

As the saying goes, with a stepmother comes a stepfather. It's normal for a father to change after marrying a new partner, but he shouldn't change in a way that's too disheartening.

But now that he has been reborn, his mother is still alive and well, and his father has not remarried, much of his resentment has dissipated.

Zhao Fengying exclaimed, "Oh dear, your dad got off work early too."

He then patted Xu Bei on the shoulder and instructed him, "Son, you're probably going to get a scolding. Remember to say some nice things and don't argue with him."

Xu Bei twitched the corner of his mouth in response, knowing from his father's accusatory stance that peace was unlikely to be achieved.

Xu Dashan returned with a stern face, his anger and pent-up frustration having accumulated on the way. As soon as he entered the house, he pointed at Xu Bei and began shouting:

"You little brat, you think you're so tough now! Sleeping at work and you think you're right? You made a mistake and not only don't admit it, but you even dare to tell people you're quitting!"

"Let me tell you, this afternoon you'd better come back to my workplace with me to apologize and admit your mistake..."

If Xu Bei were truly twenty years old, he might be intimidated by his father's authority, but having changed inside, he would certainly not be afraid at all.

"I'm not going! Since I said I wouldn't do it, then it's a promise! I'd rather find something else to earn money than bow my head!"

Zhao Fengying was surprised that her son hadn't listened to her at all, so she quickly gestured with her eyes and nudged Xu Bei a couple of times.

Xu Bei might compromise on other things for his mother's sake, but this was something he absolutely could not do.

Even if he hadn't been reborn with any cheat codes, he still wouldn't be able to go to work.

Xu Dashan, furious, put one hand on his hip and pointed at Xu Bei, cursing, "Damn it, why is your head so precious? If it weren't for the fact that I work here, would I have gotten you a job in the workshop?"

How many of your classmates are still working in the mountains, braving ice and snow, logging? Don't you have any self-awareness?

If you don't go, you can forget about taking my shift anymore. I'd rather give it to your older sister or younger sister!

Xu Bei said nonchalantly, "Sure, it's fine with either of them, I have no objection!"

Xu Dashan was so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged.

Because of the old-fashioned idea of ​​valuing sons over daughters, even if the worker's son doesn't take over the job, his nephew will. They never consider that their two daughters will eventually marry into other families. What I just said was just an angry outburst.

"You little brat, I think you're asking for a beating!"

Xu Bei looked at the fan-like slap that was swinging towards him, and he knew he couldn't just stand there and wait to be hit.

Especially since he's already over sixty years old, older than my father is now, if he gets beaten up again, we're doomed.

However, someone was faster and blocked his way.

Looking at his mother's thin yet powerful figure, Xu Bei felt a warmth in his heart.

No matter what, as long as his mother is there, she will protect him.

Zhao Fengying grabbed her husband's arm, glaring at him coldly, "Alright, Lao Xu, I haven't said a word since you came in. If our son did something wrong, you can scold him a few times, but why hit him!"

Those who knew about it only knew it because my son had accidentally dozed off; those who didn't might have thought he was up to no good and had set the factory on fire!

Xu Dashan glared at Xu Bei, who had missed, before raising his voice and shouting, "I was just angry at this brat! He's at work, but he thinks he's at home on his kang (heated brick bed), and he's even dozing off!"

The worst part is that people say a few words, but instead they're yelling about quitting, and now the matter has reached the director!

Zhao Fengying glared back without any politeness, "Reason doesn't lie in raising your voice, and you don't need to yell at me! Let's talk things out. If it weren't for that old Zhang talking to his mother, my son wouldn't have been able to argue with him!"

That's enough. If you keep going on like this, I'll go to your workplace this afternoon and ask Old Zhang face-to-face if it's okay to curse his mother! If it's okay, I'll go find his mother!

Xu Dashan knew his wife's fiery temper; it wasn't just talk, she was truly capable of anything. Immediately, as if his weakness had been exploited, his arrogance subsided by more than half.

"How can you be so unreasonable, you old woman... Spoiling a child is like killing a child, don't you know that?"

"I gave birth to three sons, and only this one survived. I'm happy with that!"