Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

On the morning of the thirteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Xu Bei felt the temperature difference between his hometown and the provincial capital even more acutely as soon as he got off the train.

A biting cold wind swept over me, as if it could penetrate me instantly.

The exhaled white breath came out in clumps like strings of cotton candy, which were torn into pieces as soon as they floated out.

Moreover, the cold air travels from the nasal cavity all the way to the lungs, instantly waking up even a drowsy mind that has been on a train all night.

Xu Bei subconsciously stomped his feet hard on the cold, hard platform, then followed the flow of people out of the station.

He didn't immediately buy a ticket to take the train back to the Forestry Bureau. Instead, he found a place outside the station and ate a hot meal first.

Only then did I go to the baggage claim area to pick up the checked goods.

This time the order quantity was much larger than the last time, so the woven bags were also much larger.

The staff struggled to pull the bags out from the mountain of luggage.

Xu Bei confirmed that there was no damage, signed the document, and then went to catch the Sen Tie miniature train.

After an hour's drive, when we were almost at the Beishan Forestry Bureau, I was thinking of using the same trick again after getting off the bus to find a horse-drawn carriage to go back to the shop.

Unexpectedly, before the little train had even come to a complete stop, he saw his mother and sister on the platform outside.

Although Zhao Fengying and Xu Li were covered up quite tightly from head to toe, how could Xu Bei not recognize their familiar figures and clothing?

"Mom, Sis, why are you picking me up at the station in this cold weather? It's not like it's my first time going out!"

When Zhao Fengying saw her beloved son return safe and sound, the huge weight in her heart finally lifted. She smiled and said, "Even if it's not our first time going out, we can just come whenever we want."

Seeing that her younger brother looked tired but his eyes were still bright, Xu Li knew he was alright. "Little brother, it's good that I came to pick you up. Hurry up, stop dawdling, hurry back to the store, the goods are almost sold out, and we're waiting for yours."

Actually, Xu Bei was also observing his mother and sister. Not noticing anything amiss, he guessed that Xu Dashan and the others hadn't appeared, and laughed, "Really? Then my timing is perfect. Is Xiao Juan minding the shop alone?"

Xu Li spoke quickly, "Yes, she originally wanted to come along, but my mom and I didn't let her."

Zhao Fengying chimed in, "That's right. It wouldn't be good to close down so soon after opening, so even if there's not much to sell, the shop has to stay open. We can just tell the customers who come to buy something that they can definitely buy it this afternoon."

As she spoke, she helped move the bag onto the sled she had brought, just like her eldest daughter.

Xu Bei noticed that his mother's demeanor had changed drastically in just a few days since she became a boss. He was extremely gratified, feeling that he had made the right move. Indeed, career and money are what truly sustain a person.

"That's true, otherwise people would have thought we'd closed down when they heard our shop was closed."

The mother and her two children pulled the sled towards the shop, chatting along the way about their experiences going to the provincial capital to buy goods and the situation in the shop after Xu Bei left. Even in the bitter cold and snow, they didn't feel too cold.

During the conversation, Xu Li also mentioned Zhou Qingwan.

Like Zhao Fengying, she was very satisfied with the other party and hoped that her younger brother would pay more attention and seize the opportunity so as not to miss out on such a good girl.

"Brother, I'm not exaggerating, but I've never seen such a pretty and charming young lady in our forestry bureau in all these years. If you can win her over and marry her, I'll be very proud of you."

The goods have arrived this time too. My sister said you should get moving, treat some people to a movie or dinner, and try to make some progress before the New Year.

Xu Bei smiled helplessly, "Why are you and Mom even more anxious than I am? Haven't you heard the saying, 'Haste makes waste'? There are only ten days left until the New Year, and you two really know how to make arrangements for me."

Xu Li said matter-of-factly, "Little brother, how can I not be anxious? You'll be twenty-one after the New Year. When I was twenty-one, I was already dating your brother-in-law."

"Absolutely. Son, you still think you're seventeen or eighteen, taking it all in so slowly." Zhao Fengying sighed, "If I weren't in a hurry, I wouldn't be asking your Aunt Liu on the street to help me find a partner."

Faced with the mother and daughter's united front, Xu Bei, who was pulling the sled, made a gesture of surrender with one hand, "Okay, I will definitely find an opportunity to take action as soon as possible, alright?"

Zhao Fengying smiled with satisfaction, "That's more like it."

Xu Li smiled and agreed, "Yeah, right. Let's treat it as a serious matter."

As a result, the three of them, chatting and laughing, turned into the alley next to the Forestry Bureau store, but when they saw a group of people outside the store, their laughter stopped.

Xu Juan, who was wearing a cotton-padded coat but no hat or gloves, was waving a stove hook in her hand.

Standing opposite her were Xu Dashan, Xu Dahong, and the old lady with bound feet.

Only Xu Dashan remained calm and motionless, while the mother and daughter cursed and tried to attack him.

Upon seeing this, Xu Bei immediately untied the rope he was using to pull the sled and charged forward with a shout.

Zhao Fengying and Xu Li didn't care about anything else for a moment, and ran towards the store entrance with righteous indignation.

Hearing the commotion behind them, the onlookers immediately and tacitly made way for the person to pass.

Sister Liu, who owned the tailor shop two doors down, was also among them. She exclaimed, "Oh my god! You're finally back! Those three came into the shop trying to cause trouble, but the little girl beat them up and drove them out!"

The moment Xu Juan saw her brother rushing towards her, all the pent-up grievances and fear seemed to surge up instantly, and she burst into tears.

Xu Bei felt a pang of heartache and immediately put his arm around his little sister's shoulders, saying, "It's alright, Xiao Juan."

Then, he took the stove hook from her hand and glared at the three men.

"You actually dared to try and cause trouble? How shameless!"

Xu Dashan moved his lips as if to explain, but the old lady, with her triangular eyes, smacked him, "You little brat, who are you calling shameless!"

Before Xu Bei could retort, Xu Li interrupted, "We're insulting you, so what? Did we insult the wrong person? What kind of good person comes in and tries to destroy someone's shop right away!"

The slap mark Xu Dahong had received from Xu Li that day had long since faded, but she was still somewhat afraid upon seeing the other woman. She instinctively took a half-step back, then stubbornly shouted, "I'm your aunt, this is your grandmother, and this is your father. So when you found out the shop opened, you came over to check if there was anything wrong with it! Everyone, please be the judge! How can this be..."

Xu Juan forcefully wiped away her tears and loudly interrupted her, "Stop talking nonsense! Who was it that wanted to smash all the glass counters in the store? If I hadn't reacted quickly and stopped them, the glass would have shattered!"

Zhao Fengying hugged Xu Juan to comfort her, while simultaneously cursing the mother and her two children in a fit of rage, "Why don't you all just die a horrible death, or get hit by a car when you go out!"

Didn't we agree to get a divorce? I was waiting for them to come and finalize the paperwork! What gives them the audacity to vandalize my shop?

"Xu Dashan, you had your mother and sister poison you so badly you couldn't even utter a sound for ages!"