The first news Li He heard when he got home was that Madam Feng, the rice wine seller, had passed away.
He sighed. "Wasn't she fine before the New Year? How did she pass away so quickly?"
Old Madam He hugged Li Lan and said, "It was on New Year's Eve. He probably ate too much and couldn't stand the cold in his old age. He had stomach problems for a few days and went to the hospital. I didn't expect that he wouldn't be able to come out of the hospital and stayed there for half a month. I even asked Longzi and his wife to take me to see him a few times, but he wasn't awake.
"She didn't even inform us." Old Madam Feng had always been good to Li He, so Li He felt that it was reasonable for him to come back.
"Don't rummage around." Madam He slapped away Li Lan's hand that was opening the drawer and continued to speak to her son-in-law. "Although the two families are getting along well, we are not relatives. How can they ask you to come all the way back? She's gone. What's the use of you coming back? I've asked Longzi to give you the money. It's not a bad favor. It'll be New Year's Day in two days. You can send two pieces of paper and two firecrackers. That's all. "
"That's all." Li He rubbed his stomach and smiled. "Auntie, get me something to eat."
"The rice is ready. We can eat when Longzi sends the dishes over."
He Long came in with a big basket just as Madam He finished speaking.
Li He lifted the cloth on the basket. It was still steaming. "This mutton smells so good. You've improved. Why did you make so much? You might not be able to finish it."
"I'm relying on this to make a living." He Long placed all the shredded mutton onto the plate on the table. "Shall we have a drink?"
"Rest for two days. Drink after a while." Li He had just gotten off the plane and his stomach was empty. He was not in the mood to drink. "Don't mind me. Go and do your work. The restaurant is so busy."
He Long's restaurant's specialty was roasted mutton. However, he kept up with the times and started selling mutton scorpion in winter. His business had built a reputation in this area.
"Including the child's uncle and my wife, there are five people in the shop now. It's very busy." He Long felt an indescribable sense of pride, but he knew that without his brother-in-law, he wouldn't have achieved what he had today. In this area, no one could bully him. Although he was grateful, he still couldn't call him "brother-in-law" so fluently.
Old Madam He brought the rice over from the kitchen. Li He scooped a bowl for himself, then rolled up Li He's sleeves and picked up a lamb bone for him, instructing, "Eat it slowly."
As expected, Li Lan hugged the bone and squatted at the door sill to gnaw on it. That was the most heated place in the house.
Old Madam He also scooped rice. While he was chewing on the bone, she stuffed a spoonful of rice into his mouth.
But halfway through the meal, his mouth was half open, and his eyelids were closed as he stared at Leng Zi. Old Madam He hurriedly picked him up, washed his hands, and put him back in the room to sleep.
He Long was bored drinking alone. He smiled and said, "You should drink less too. It'll keep you warm."
"Just one or two, not too much." He Long smacked his lips and drank with relish. Li He felt a little greedy as well. He reached his cup over and said, "That's enough, that's enough."
He touched He Long's cup and drank half of it in one gulp.
"This lamb soup is pretty good. I've been brewing it all day." He Long eagerly scooped another bowl of soup for Li He.
Li He felt uncomfortable wearing the jacket, so he took it off and only wore a shirt. He rolled up his sleeves and asked, "How's the business?"
"It's getting better every year. They're all brought over by old customers. Those who are brought over become old customers again after tasting it once." After these few years of training, He Long already had his own way of doing business. He was down-to-earth and growing up — although he hadn't fully matured yet, he was full of spirit. "Uncle Shoushan is right. Doing business is about building a brand. Once the brand is established, people will recognize your sincerity and work, so business can't be bad no matter what!"
Li He smiled and said, "Do you want to expand your business?"
"I'm already too busy with this business."
"Just make the shop bigger and hire more people. I'll find a place for you. If you don't have enough capital, I'll lend you some more." Although he was only a brother-in-law, he was still Li He's younger brother in name. However, compared to Li Long's wealth, the difference was huge. Li He couldn't afford to favor one over the other.
"No need. I've already owed you so many favors. The money I owe you has only been paid off for less than a year. I can't lend you any more. " He Long said resolutely, "You and my sister have already helped me so much. To be honest, even the locals don't have my luck even if they wanted it. What else do I have to be dissatisfied with? If I still can't pick it up, I might as well find a piece of tofu and knock myself to death. "
"Then add some oil." Li He raised his cup and finished it in one gulp. He refilled his cup unconsciously. The more he drank, the more fragrant the wine became.
The more he drank, the more he enjoyed it. He couldn't stop. The two of them drank half a liter of wine.
After drinking, he didn't have time to clean the table. He washed his face, soaked his feet, and went straight back to his room.
He touched the dressing table with his hand. It was spotless. It seemed that Mrs. He had cleaned it frequently. He looked at the quilt again. It was new.
He didn't think too much about it. He fell asleep on the bed.
For the first two days after his return, he had been eating and drinking every day. If Ping Song didn't treat him today, then Pan Song would treat him the next day. Even Feng Lei learned how to treat him and set up a table for him at the Shangri-La Lira Hotel.
He couldn't back down from anyone. Every day was like this. He wanted to find Zhao Yongqi, Gao Aiguo, and Aiguo Jiang, but he didn't have much time.
Finally, he had a free day. Just as he was about to bring Li Lan to Zhao Yongqi's place, Li Qiuhong came over with a red invitation.
Li He smiled. "Qiuhong, you're married?"
Li Qiuhong said bluntly, "Brother Li, don't make fun of me. I'm still young."
"Then who is it for?" If it was someone they knew, there was no reason for Li He to know later than Li Qiuhong.
"My brother."
"Who?" Li He didn't seem to hear her clearly.
"Li Aijun!" Li Qiuhong raised her voice. "It's my brother Li Aijun! You didn't hear me wrong! "
"So fast?" Li Aijun came back one day earlier than Li He. It was too fast. But he reacted quickly and asked, "You don't seem happy about your brother's marriage?"
I found a … "Li Qiuhong didn't know how to explain.
"What kind of person did you find?" Li He asked.
"I found someone with a burden!" Although the word 'burden' was inelegant and a little insulting, Li Qiuhong still said it angrily. "How can I be happy?!"
"What's going on?" Li He was curious. He didn't care what kind of person Li Aijun found. The key was that Li Aijun liked him.
"Once he came back from Hong Kong, he did nothing but work. We didn't think it was a big deal." Li Qiuhong continued, "But after two days, we realized that he was different from before. How should I put it? Anyway, he was talking and laughing, but something wasn't right. Then, Sister Fu Xia came back and told us about the situation. My mom couldn't help but say some sour words and asked my brother to go on a blind date again. "
"And then?" Li He didn't think there was a problem. "He went on a blind date?"
"He didn't go on a blind date! My brother said that he could get married, but he had to choose himself. My mom agreed a hundred percent! But I didn't expect him to meet such a woman. My mom was furious. "
"Your parents agreed just like that?"
Li Qiuhong said, "How could they not agree? It's better than my brother being a bachelor for the rest of his life. They still have a chance to have a grandchild. Otherwise, they won't have a grandchild in this lifetime. Who doesn't understand my brother's temper? He has a good temper, but when he starts to pout, no one can stop him. If not, we would have asked you to help persuade my brother. "
"It's fine as long as he likes it. He has to live his own life. Outsiders don't have to care so much." Li He knew that even if he wanted to interfere with Li Aijun's matters, Li Aijun wouldn't listen to him. He just didn't understand. From a practical point of view, most people wouldn't look for such a burden. In terms of material conditions, Li Aijun was definitely one of the best in Sijiu City. There were a lot of girls lining up for him to choose from, and he would be dazzled by the choices.
"Sigh, that's right." Li Qiuhong sighed helplessly.
"On the 15th. Just a few days. Why are you in such a hurry?"
"My mom is the one who's in a hurry. It's not easy for her to make a decision. If something happens in the middle, her little heart won't be able to take it. She wants to make sure that my brother can't regret it." Li Qiuhong started to tease her mom.
"I understand, I understand." Li He remembered that when Li Aijun was still repairing shoes, Li Aijun's mom had found a mute and handicapped person for him. Back then, they didn't even have a chance. A man with a broken leg and lost the ability to move was more handicapped than a handicapped person!
Even a girl from a remote village wouldn't easily give up her life for a city residence. This was very realistic.
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