Chapter 55: Artificial Rainfall
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Li Xiangdong knew well what kind of temper his mother had. When there was excitement at someone else’s home, she would eagerly linger for half the day just to watch. But now, when it was her turn to be praised—especially by her youngest son who had never really stood up for her—Li Xiangdong doubted she even remembered to come home and make dinner.
Stepping through the gate into the yard, Li Xiangdong saw his son and three nephews squatting under the jujube tree, picking up fallen fruit. Xiao Mei and Xiao Lan, the sisters, stood on either side of his daughter, Li Xiaozhu, who was stationed at the door of the west wing to watch her brothers play in the yard.
The rain had just stopped, and the jujube tree was already shedding ripe red fruit onto the ground. At this time of year, red jujubes were a prized tonic, and Li’s mother usually forbade the children from damaging the tree. But fallen fruit from the rain was fair game, considered their snack.
Xiao Mei spotted her third uncle’s return and was about to call out. Li Xiangdong quickly pressed a finger to his lips and gestured toward Li Xiaojiang and the others still bent over gathering jujubes. Xiao Mei smiled, whispered something to her sister, and even covered Li Xiaozhu’s mouth.
Li Xiangdong tiptoed closer, then suddenly quickened his pace and kicked the tree. Instantly, a cascade of rainwater mixed with jujubes tumbled down.
“Ah!”
“Run! Run! It’s raining again!”
Li Xiaojiang and the other boys under the tree scattered like headless flies, hunching as they fled.
“Thud!”
Li Xiaohai barreled forward and collided headfirst into Li Xiangdong’s thigh. The boy was pushed a meter back and landed on his bottom. Rubbing his head, he looked up and called out, “Dad!”
Li Xiangdong laughed heartily. “Get up quickly.”
“Okay.”
Li Xiaohai twisted his body, pressed his hands to the ground, and stood up.
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Originally, he had just dirtied a pair of split-crotch pants; now half his body was covered in mud!
The three nephews who had run a few meters away realized it was their third uncle’s prank.
Li Xiaojiang scolded, “Third uncle, how can you be so mean!”
Li Xiaobo whined, “Third uncle, my clothes are all wet.”
“Look what this is!” Li Xiaotao pulled a jujube from his collar and grinned, “It hit my head! Haha, it rolled right into my clothes.”
He rubbed the jujube in his hand, popped it into his mouth, chewed and swallowed, then spat out the pit. Scratching his head, he said sheepishly, “Jujubes aren’t easy to eat. Apples would be better.”
Li Xiangdong watched his silly second nephew and thought, “He’s trying to improve!”
The three brothers—Li Xiaojiang and the others—crowded around Li Xiangdong with curious eyes.
“What kind of clothes are you wearing, Third Uncle? They look so nice!”
“What’s in those bags you’re carrying?”
“Is it something tasty? I’ll trade you jujubes for it.”
Not only the boys, but Xiao Mei holding Li Xiaozhu and Xiao Lan also came over to inspect their uncle’s new look.
“Dad… hug me…”
Li Xiaozhu opened her arms toward her father.
“Little Seven, be good. Wait until I put these things away, then I’ll hold you.”
Seeing his son reaching with both dirty hands for the coat he was carrying, Li Xiangdong quickly lifted it higher. “You all better get back to picking jujubes. I kicked down quite a few just now. Xiao Lan, go fetch the broom from the door.”
“Yeah, let’s go pick jujubes!”
“Don’t fight me for them!”
The boys turned and ran back under the jujube tree.
Inside the house, Zhou Yuqin, along with two sisters-in-law and the grandparents, came out and their eyes lit up at the sight of Li Xiangdong in his brand-new railway uniform.
Li Xiangdong greeted his grandparents and was about to chat when Zhou Yuqin’s sharp voice startled him suddenly.
“Li Xiaohai! Come here right now!”
Seeing her son filthy and disheveled, Zhou Yuqin’s good mood vanished.
“Mom, what do you want?”
Li Xiaohai, just arriving at the jujube tree, glanced back timidly and slowly shuffled toward her.
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Zhou Yuqin strode over, pointed at his grimy clothes and dirty body.
“I just changed your clothes not half an hour ago. How did you get into this state again? Do you want a beating?!”
Li Xiaohai looked up and said, “Mom, it wasn’t me, it was Dad…”
“What does that have to do with me? Don’t blame everything on me when you’re the one who can’t behave.”
Li Xiangdong quickly interrupted his son’s complaint. Indeed, Li Xiaohai had been set up by him. He needed to get out of this trouble zone. After speaking, he turned and headed to his room.
Li Da Sao stopped Zhou Yuqin from striking the child. “Kids are always mischievous. A few words of discipline are enough. He’s still little; no need to hit him.”
Zhou Yuqin snapped, “You don’t know—he’s gone through three changes of clothes today. Where do we get so many clothes for him to ruin?”
“No worries. Xiao Hai, go with Second Aunt. We’ll wash you up first, then you can wear your brother Xiao Bo’s clothes.”
Li Er Sao came over, bent down to touch the drooping-headed Li Xiaohai, and led him by the hand toward the washbasin.
Old Mr. and Mrs. Li also came over to soothe Zhou Yuqin, and the group headed to the west wing.
Li Xiangdong had just put his things on the kang stove when he saw his grandparents and Da Sao following his wife inside.
“Why are you two still coming over? It just rained. The courtyard stones are slippery—what if you fall?”
He went over, helped support both, and invited them to sit at the kang’s head.
Old Mr. Li asked, “Dongzi, why are you home so early?”
“First day at work. The boss kindly gave me special leave to come back early.”
Li Xiangdong smiled without explaining further.
Mrs. Li took Li Xiangdong’s hand and touched his uniform. “So good. Our Dongzi has made something of himself.”
Tears welled in her eyes, making Li Xiangdong’s heart ache.
Old Mr. Li said, “Dongzi has a formal job now. We couldn’t be happier. Why is your mother crying?”
Mrs. Li wiped her tears, “I’m just happy, so what? Can’t a person cry when they’re happy?”
Old Mr. Li, unable to argue, picked up a bundle of clothes Li Xiangdong had placed on the kang. Untying the string, he stood, shook out the coat in his hands, and compared its size to his own.
“This is a fine thing!”