Chapter 32: A Temper That Comes and Goes as Quickly as It Arrives
Page 1 of 3
Father Li slapped away his third son’s outstretched hand. Seeing the boy’s careless, good-for-nothing manner, he said irritably, “Go ask your mother. I don’t have any money on me.”
“Dong is going to take care of something important, not waste money fooling around. What’s wrong with giving him a little?” Grandma Li was deeply dissatisfied and stared fixedly at Father Li.
Under his mother’s piercing gaze, Father Li felt uncomfortable all over. “Mother, I really don’t have any. You know that, don’t you? How many years has it been? Ever since I started a family, when have I ever had money or ration coupons on me? My wages have always been in Dong’s mother’s hands.”
Seeing her son’s spineless appearance, Grandma Li felt he was utterly hopeless. It had been one thing when his wife had kept him under control while he was young, but now he was already over fifty and still completely ruled by her.
“You good-for-nothing! At your age, you can’t even keep your own wife in line.”
Father Li complained, “How can you blame me? Wasn’t this wife of mine the one you found for me in the first place?”
Mother Li entered the room carrying the aluminum lunchbox she had just washed. She happened to hear what he said, and the lunchbox in her hand came down onto the dining table with a loud bang.
She marched up to Father Li and immediately began scolding him. “You old fool, what did you just say? What’s wrong with the way I’ve been your wife? In what way have I failed to satisfy you?”
Father Li hurriedly defended himself. “What are you talking about? That wasn’t what I meant. Don’t misunderstand me.”
“If that wasn’t what you meant, then what did you mean? I heard your tone perfectly clearly just now. Don’t think you can fob me off!”
As Father Li and Mother Li bickered, none of the three brothers, including Li Xiangdong, said a word to stop them. The younger generation had long since grown accustomed to this.
They knew their parents well. Father Li and Mother Li had spent their whole lives quarreling, and none of their previous arguments had been any quieter than this one.
They all knew that Mother Li’s temper flared quickly and faded just as quickly.
Only Father Li, caught by his own careless words, sat as if on pins and needles. He opened and closed his mouth several times, not knowing what to say, his face full of embarrassment.
Page 1 of 3
Page 2 of 3
His face turned dark, then red, then dark again. In the end, he said nothing. With a dissatisfied snort, he rose and returned to his room without even eating.
Li Xiangdong thought his father looked rather pitiful, but he did not feel sorry for him.
His father certainly would not go hungry. This was hardly the first time it had happened, and his eldest brother would remember to bring him something to eat when he came back from work.
“Watch what you say from now on,” Grandpa Li told Grandma Li.
Grandma Li fell silent. She knew she had caused her son trouble this time.
Mother Li put away the aluminum lunchbox she had slammed onto the table and said, “Father, Mother, I wasn’t directing that at either of you just now. Please don’t take it to heart. You both know what my temper is like. When I heard him muttering about me behind my back, I simply couldn’t stop myself from saying a few words to him.”
Grandma Li said nothing. Grandpa Li gave a chuckle. “It’s all right, all right. Your mother and I didn’t take offense. Still, when the whole family is together, it’s best to live in harmony. If we can avoid quarreling, then we should.”
At that moment, Little Bamboo Li, who was being held in Zhou Yuqin’s arms, propped both hands on the table. Not only was she not frightened, she opened her mouth to reveal several tiny milk teeth and slapped the table ferociously.
“Hit…”
“Grandma… hit.”
The moment Mother Li heard Little Bamboo’s words, a smile spread across her face. Her beaming expression made her seem like an entirely different person from the one who had been arguing moments before.
She came over and sat beside Zhou Yuqin, then reached out to touch the little topknot on Little Bamboo’s head.
“My darling little Seventh is the one who knows how to feel sorry for Grandma. You’re so young, yet you already know how to speak up for me.”
Once the small commotion had passed, the atmosphere in the room relaxed. The children around the little dining table began chattering again.
Li Xiangdong sidled up to his mother and ingratiated himself with her. “Could you give me a little money and a few ration coupons? If I can’t make it back at noon, I’ll need them to eat outside.”
Mother Li pulled out a handkerchief and asked, “How much do you need?”
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
Li Xiangdong said with a broad grin, “Just give me whatever you think is right. Whether it’s too much or too little, it’s not as if I can complain about you the way Dad did, can I?”
Mother Li shot him a sidelong glance. “Third Son Li, are you deliberately stirring up trouble?”
“How could I? I’m taking your side. Didn’t you hear that?”
“I certainly didn’t! Here, take this, and clear out as soon as you’ve finished eating!”
Mother Li took out several bills and ration coupons and stuffed them into her third son’s hand. Then she ignored him; she had not yet finished her own breakfast.
With no one saying anything else, breakfast soon came to an end.
Before leaving, Eldest Brother Li took two coarse corn buns from the bamboo basket. Mother Li merely glanced at her eldest son without saying anything. Quarrels were one thing, but she would never let her husband go to work on an empty stomach.
Li Xiangdong returned to his room and changed his clothes. He packed everything he had prepared into a cloth shoulder bag, intending to ask his mother for the household registration booklet.
When he came back out, he saw his grandfather pacing around the courtyard. Realizing that the old man had been waiting for him, he went straight over.
Grandpa Li asked, “Did your mother give you enough? If not, I can get you a little more.”
Li Xiangdong glanced toward the main room. No one was there, so he lowered his voice. “It’s enough. My mother would never bear to let me go hungry. She has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. You and Grandma mustn’t get angry with her over this.”
Grandpa Li shook his head. “Of course not. After all these decades, how could your grandmother and I still not know your mother’s temper? Stop worrying about it and go report for duty with peace of mind. Make sure you get the matter of your job settled as soon as possible.”
Li Xiangdong nodded. “I understand, Grandpa. I’ll go ask Mother for the household registration booklet now.”
Page 3 of 3