Chapter 5: The Affection Across Generations

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Hearing his grandmother’s words, Li Xiangdong couldn’t help but smile and then cautioned, “You really shouldn’t keep doing this. What if you bump into something in the dark at night?”

Grandma Li replied, “It’s fine, your grandpa is with me. Don’t worry, grandma won’t fall.”

Li Xiangdong was speechless—there was even a gang for stealing eggs.

“You still can’t keep doing this. I’m grown up now; I can’t be fighting with the kids at home over food.”

“Alright, alright, grandma will listen to you.”

Grandma Li nodded in agreement. Whenever Li Xiangdong spoke, she would always heed him, for in her heart, none of her grandchildren or great-grandchildren mattered as much as he did.

Grandma Li had lived through war and turmoil. She originally had several children, but in the end, only Li’s father survived.

After Li’s mother married in, she gave birth to two sons—the eldest and second eldest brothers of Li Xiangdong—but Grandma Li still felt uneasy.

Moreover, at that time, the government was strongly promoting having many children. Grandma Li often whispered in Li’s mother’s ear about how good the national policy was.

But Li’s mother couldn’t conceive any more, which worried Grandma Li deeply. She stopped talking about the policies and secretly prayed to the gods and Buddha.

Grandma Li was very stubborn; after praying for over ten years, Li Xiangdong was born.

So, all the special affection had its reasons...

Li Xiangdong lifted the cloth bag in his hand. “Grandma, you bought quite a lot. This meat must weigh about two pounds, right?”

Grandma Li thought he was craving meat too and sighed, “I didn’t get any. I only managed to buy a block of tofu. Grandma’s old, my legs can’t keep up. Even though I got up early, I missed the chance.”

Hearing this, Li Xiangdong worried she might be unhappy. “Tofu is good too, just like meat. A few years ago, we couldn’t even get this if we wanted.”

He then hummed softly, “Eating pickled vegetables with tofu, not even the emperor can compare to me.”

Grandma Li laughed heartily. “What nonsense are you talking? Some things shouldn’t be said recklessly.”

“No worries, no one cares about these things now. When the weather cools down a bit, I’ll take you to the Forbidden City to look around—see where the old emperors used to live.”

The grandmother and grandson were sharing a tender moment.

Old Li stepped over the threshold and came inside. Seeing the two of them smiling, he chuckled too. “Dongzi, it’s good to have you back. Your grandma hasn’t been this happy in a while.”

Although the old man’s hair was white, his voice was strong and spirited, much more robust than Grandma Li. Oddly though, he didn’t outlive her.

“What’s on your mind, grandson?”

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Old Li saw his grandson’s eyes darting around and knew he was up to no good.

“Nothing. Grandpa, grandma, let’s go back inside quickly. You haven’t had breakfast yet.”

Li Xiangdong supported Grandma Li and deliberately slowed his pace as he walked, saying, “Not to sound like a nagging junior, but you two can’t keep doing this. There are so many people waiting in line for meat. I was worried sick just now...”

Old Li watched as the grandmother and grandson entered the courtyard. Listening to his young grandson’s warm words, he glanced at his other son, Li Weiguo, standing foolishly nearby, and his anger flared.

He was already in his thirties, yet had no sense at all!

Don’t blame the elderly couple for favoring the youngest grandson. Li Xiangdong had always been sweet-tongued and perceptive, constantly finding ways to make them laugh.

As for the other two grandsons, they were nothing.

Old Li snorted and entered the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

Li Weiguo was honest and simple, and he didn’t take his father’s attitude personally.

His father had told him that ever since the third son learned to talk, his temper had been like this—no need to mind it.

Inside, Li Xiangdong helped Grandma Li sit at the large dining table.

Seeing Li’s mother carrying dishes over, Li Xiangdong said, “Mom, this is the tofu grandma bought.”

Li’s mother took the cloth bag and turned to leave the room.

When Li saw Old Li come inside, he hurried to pull out a chair for him.

Li’s father waited until his parents were seated before speaking, “Dad, there’s something I want your advice on.”

He roughly repeated what Li Xiangdong had said earlier.

Old Li nodded. “I understand what you mean. You want to find someone reliable to inquire about this. Just speak plainly next time—don’t play games with me.”

“I’ll handle Dongzi’s work situation. Keep your favors for yourself. You’re over fifty now; I’m too tired to lecture you.”

“I’ll follow your plan.”

Li’s father’s little scheme was uncovered, but he neither felt ashamed nor angry, calmly smoking his cigarette.

They were all grandfathers, after all. The affection between generations was natural, each taking care of their own grandchildren.

The daily necessities: firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea.

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In the capital, firewood meant coal.

One coal shop supplied coal for the entire neighborhood.

Coal coupons were issued per household—one coupon per month, allowing purchase of 120 pieces of coal, doubling to 240 in winter.

But if you had good relations with the coal shop staff, you could often get an extra twenty pieces.

In this era, those working at coal shops had extensive social networks, with acquaintances across all professions.

Li’s father had worked at the coal shop all his life, maintaining his own favors, but he thought his youngest son unreliable.

Moreover, his youngest son hadn’t passed the high school entrance exam and, due to age, couldn’t stay in the city to work. He had to go to the countryside for re-education through labor. To arrange a good spot for him, Li’s father had already used a major favor, intending to save the rest for his grandchildren.

Old Li had originally planned not to interfere with the youngest grandson’s work affairs, waiting until he matured.

But after hearing Li’s father, he felt his youngest grandson had ideas about work and was making progress.

After some thought, he said to Li’s father, “When you’re at work, take some time to visit the street office and ask Deputy Director Zhang. If this is true, maybe he can offer some advice.”

No one expected Old Li to know the deputy director of the street office—he really kept things well hidden.

The deputy director of the street office in the capital may sound like a minor official, but his rank was quite high—comparable to a deputy county magistrate in a county seat.

Li’s mother exclaimed, “Dad, you even have connections with the street office leaders? You really are hiding your talents!”

Old Li chewed on a soft steamed bun made from second-grade flour, accompanied by pickled radishes, and began to recount past events.

“When the rationed coal system first started, he was just a clerk. His wife was in confinement and a heavy snowstorm struck. The limited coal they had wasn’t enough to heat the house—it was as cold as an ice cellar. He was a university graduate from out of town with no family support. Eventually, he borrowed a coal coupon but lost it shortly after.”

“That man almost cried out of frustration. Luckily, I found out about it. But when it snowed, the coal shops were swamped; everywhere was short on coal, and everyone was running around non-stop. I was just a kind old man who worked overtime to make coal briquettes—two hundred pounds of them. The coal coupon was from our family.”

Old Li pointed with his chopsticks at Li Xiangdong and asked, “Dongzi, what do you make of what grandpa did?”

“Helping others when they’re in trouble—if we can lend a hand, we do. Who knows when the clouds might pour rain on us? That’s how we ended up asking for help at someone else’s door for your work.”

Li Xiangdong nodded, understanding that his grandfather was using this story to teach him life lessons.

However, he worried whether Deputy Director Zhang would still acknowledge the favor after all this time.