Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Xu Bei was already used to Xu Dashan's sudden change of attitude.

At the same time, I guessed that something must have happened.

Otherwise, based on his understanding of his father, he wouldn't have ended the cold war so quickly, still maintaining a submissive and ingratiating attitude.

As expected, things turned out exactly as he predicted.

It turned out that Xu Dashan, who went to work yesterday, only then learned that there was a telegram from his hometown.

The old lady with bound feet and Xu Dahong are coming here again in a couple of days, so Xu Dashan should pick them up at the city train station in advance.

When Zhao Fengying saw that her husband had changed his attitude and seemed to be softening and making up, she thought she might as well go with the flow. After all, every couple has their disagreements.

However, the news that her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were coming completely shattered her soft heart and illusions.

"You, Xu Dashan, after all that, you were just trying to appease me because you were worried about your mom and sister coming over, and I was still angry and didn't want to be your slave! I even felt sorry for you working the night shift and saved you a lot of good ribs and frozen dumplings!"

Xu Dashan tried his best to defend himself, "Yingzi! You can't say that! I thought about it myself yesterday and realized it was wrong."

It's not easy for the family to have a decent meal, and all the food was given by the son's friend and bought by him. Then you tell Xiaoli and her husband that they came back to eat.

I invited Zhao Laosi and his whole family over, and they ate and drank to their hearts' content, leaving almost nothing. It really didn't look good. My son-in-law will probably think I'm not a very good father-in-law either…”

Zhao Fengying pointed at Xu Dashan and shouted, "Anyway, people's mouths are just words. Now you're saying whatever sounds nice to coax people! Let me tell you, I'm not buying your act!"

When your mother and sister arrive, do you still think you can act like you always do, taking advantage of others and eating their food? This time, I won't indulge them!

Xu Dashan was both angry and anxious, but dared not lose his temper. He could only force a smile and say against his will, "Fine, I won't spoil you then. Aren't you always the one in charge of the household now? You're the one who controls the money!"

"Stop making a scene! It's not like yesterday when you were saying I was taking advantage of your kindness and that we depended on you to support the family!"

Although Zhao Fengying spoke with a stern face, her tone had clearly softened.

Xu Bei, who had been watching the commotion from the sidelines, and Xu Juan, who had gotten up later, looked at each other in bewilderment.

The brother and sister both saw a lot in each other's eyes.

After having breakfast, Xu Bei felt much better.

At the same time, not wanting her mother to force-feed her painkillers, she got dressed, pushed her bicycle, and went out.

Xu Juan followed closely behind him, wanting to go to her close classmate's house to play.

Xu Bei rode his bicycle with his younger sister on the back, and soon they were out of their alley.

Sitting in the back, Xu Juan swung her legs and suddenly spoke up, "Brother, do you think it's meaningful for Mom and Dad to have such a noisy, constantly bickering marriage, one minute they're happy and the next they're not?"

Xu Bei gripped the handlebars tightly, gliding through the snow like a dragon, while explaining to his sister, "Whether it's interesting or not depends on their own feelings. After all, we, as their children, are just bystanders, not involved."

Xu Juan nodded gently, "That's true. Actually, I'm quite envious of my sister and brother-in-law. They've been dating for half a year and they haven't really argued much. My brother-in-law listens to my sister so much; if you tell him to go east, he'll never go west."

Xu Bei couldn't help but roll his eyes at the sky.

Even though I have a thousand words in my heart, I don't want to say too much at this moment.

He only said one sentence earnestly, "Xiao Juan, don't envy anyone, especially those who are married."

Xu Juan patted him on the back from behind, "Brother, what you're saying sounds weird, like you're married."

Xu Bei responded without any guilt, "You silly girl, haven't you seen pigs run even if you haven't eaten pork? How many of your relatives or acquaintances are happy after marriage?"

Xu Juan thought about it seriously for a moment, "That's indeed not much."

The brother and sister chatted all the way and soon rode onto the main road.

There were more pedestrians hurrying by bicycle and on foot, as well as more trucks carrying logs.

Xu Bei took his younger sister to a family living near the bureau building.

I watched her go into the hospital to find someone, and then, knowing that my female classmate was also at home, I left with peace of mind.

Having just delivered fifty of Lao Ba's orders yesterday, Xu Bei doesn't plan to go to the city today and will stay within the Forestry Bureau's jurisdiction.

Around noon, he picked up his sister and they went home together.

As a result, when they got home, they found that the couple had made up and were chatting and laughing as before.

Xu Bei was quite experienced and had been through many battles. He was so focused on eating that he couldn't be bothered with anything else.

He'd do whatever his mother wanted, as long as she was willing.

Only Xu Juan was still young and inexperienced, and she would occasionally exchange glances with Xu Bei to express her feelings.

After lunch, Xu Bei listened to the radio for a while, then went back to his room for a nice afternoon nap. When he woke up, he pretended to go pick up the goods again.

Xu Dashan now dared not provoke Zhao Fengying, nor did he dare to cause trouble for Xu Bei, so he pretended not to see what his son was doing coming and going.

This actually made Xu Bei feel much more comfortable.

After all, the father-son bond between them was truly limited.

Even though he kept thinking that his mother was still alive, that some things hadn't happened yet, and that he shouldn't harbor too much resentment, he would never indulge Xu Dashan.

Later that evening, after dinner...

Xu Dashan had just ridden his bicycle to work when Xu Bei took his mother and sister out of the house and headed straight for the movie theater on Beidao Road.

Xu Juan sat sideways on the car's main beam. Because of her petite stature, she did not obstruct Xu Bei's view at all, and at the same time, she also provided some wind protection.

Zhao Fengying sat on the back of the bicycle, chatting with the brother and sister from time to time.

When Xu Bei turned onto the north road, he could see from afar that there were even more people near the movie theater than when he watched a movie during the day last time. It was a huge, bustling crowd.

After all, many people have to work during the day and only have more free time after get off work in the evening. Others, like them, bring their families to watch movies together.

Zhao Fengying exclaimed, "Oh my god, there are so many people! Have Dahei and the others arrived yet?"

While maintaining a steady ride, Xu Bei searched the crowd with his eyes. "I don't know, I'll look for it when we get closer."

Because people are bundled up tightly in the dead of winter, it's only possible to see them clearly if you get close.

At this moment, he couldn't help but miss the days when he could connect with people using a mobile phone.

Fortunately, Dahei and Song Guodong had already arrived and were standing near where the bicycles were parked.

As soon as they saw Xu Bei and his group appear, they waved their arms and shouted loudly.

"Here, here!"

"Da Bei, over here!"

Xu Bei pedaled his bicycle hard, his voice preceding his arrival, "How long have you been waiting?"

"I didn't wait long, just a few minutes," Dahei said loudly. "Guodong and his sister, on the other hand, waited for ages."

Xu Bei looked in the direction indicated by Da Hei's raised hand.

Song Guodong was still wearing the same clothes he had worn when he visited their house yesterday, while his sister, Song Guomei, was clearly dressed up carefully...