Chronicle of the 70s

In the afternoon, when Qin Xi returned home, Li Xianglu had made two-mixed flour hand-pulled noodles, thicker than Saozi Noodles, stir-fried with dried vegetables to be eaten mixed together, plus two soy-braised pork knuckles cut into small pieces.

Qin Zhen, this guy, had come home early and, along with Li Jianqing, used a net to catch seven or eight carp in the thawing river, each weighing over three pounds, and now they were all in the water purging the mud.

There was no meat in the stir-fried veggies, and even with cornmeal mixed into the dough, the noodles weren’t tough, so everyone scooped up chili oil and drizzled vinegar over them, stirring well before eating.

Li Xianglu glanced at Li Jianqing, who was laughing merrily, and suddenly asked: "Third Brother, I heard Uncle’s family has a woman over?"

Li Jianqing’s smile disappeared instantly, and the taste of the food in his mouth became bland.

After stirring a few more times and slurping a few mouthfuls of noodles, he said: "Never mind them, I’m about to have my final exams soon, and I can’t manage the family affairs."

Qin Xi raised an eyebrow from the side.

Li Xianglu glanced at Grandpa Li, then at Qin Xi, took a sip of noodle soup from the table before saying: "I heard from Qu Yeyu that the news is all over the village. He’s planning to remarry, and the woman is a widow with a child."

Mr. Li usually only practices boxing, reads books at home, or goes to the neighboring village to chat with Xue Baimei or play chess. He doesn’t like to get involved with the village gossip. Hearing what Li Xianglu said, he was somewhat surprised.

Qin Zhen swallowed the noodles in his mouth, hurriedly took a sip of noodle soup, and looked at Li Jianqing: "Will your stepmom beat you up?"

Li Jianqing angrily slapped his shoulder and said: "You should worry about Uncle Qin getting you a stepmom instead. With your behavior, I bet you’d get spanked every day, three times a day, finish early and rest early!"