OBS Chapter 540 Going to the market
Chapter 540 Going to the market
The family entered the house, and Li Wangchen rushed into Lin Zhi's arms, "Grandma, look! My dad raised a wolf named Xiaobai. It's so smart! It can shake hands and sit down!"
Li Xiaohua squatted down and reached out to pat Xiaobai's head: "So good, even more obedient than Xiaohu."
Li Xiaoyun came out of the kitchen, wearing an apron and beaming, "Mom, Xiaohua, you're finally back. The roads must be difficult to travel on in this snowy weather!"
“This little bit of snow is nothing. Back in the day, when Xiangyang’s dad and I went hunting in the mountains, we’d seen much heavier snowfalls.” Linzhi held her daughter-in-law’s hand. “Xiaoyun, you’ve worked so hard, taking care of everything at home and outside.”
"Mother, please don't say that. It's all what I should do." Li Xiaoyun quickly gestured for everyone to sit down. "The food's getting cold; I'll go heat it up."
“No need to heat it up anymore, it’s fine as it is.” Li Xiangyang placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder. “When our family is reunited, everything tastes delicious.”
The table was laden with braised pork, poached chicken, stewed fish, and various vegetables.
"Come on, let's have a drink first." Li Xiangyang poured wine for his mother and sister, and poured one for himself as well. "Wishing Mom good health, wishing Xiaohua success at work, and wishing our whole family harmony and happiness."
"May your business grow bigger and bigger, brother!" Li Xiaohua raised her glass and smiled.
"May our family achieve even greater success next year!" Li Xiaoyun raised her teacup as well.
Even little Li Wangchen picked up his small teacup: "Wishing Xiaobai grows up quickly!"
The family clinked glasses, and laughter echoed throughout the house.
"By the way, Mom, are you getting used to living in the house in the county?" Li Xiangyang picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mother's bowl.
"I'm used to it, so used to it," Lin Zhi said, beaming. "My colleagues at the Agriculture Bureau all praise my son for being so successful, saying that there aren't many people in the whole county who can build a business this big."
Li Xiaohua added from the side, "Brother, you have no idea how proud Mom is at work. She talks about her son to everyone she meets. All her colleagues are incredibly envious."
"Mom, please don't tell anyone. We should keep a low profile," Li Xiangyang said, somewhat embarrassed.
“What do you mean by being low-key? We earned this through our own hard work, what’s wrong with talking about it?” Lin Zhi said confidently. “Besides, my greatest pride in my life is giving birth to you two wonderful children.”
At this point, Lin Zhi's eyes reddened: "Thinking back to those hard times, and then looking at now, it feels like a dream."
Li Xiangyang felt a pang of sadness. In his previous life, his mother had died young because of his foolishness. Now, seeing his mother alive and well was more important than anything else.
“Mother, the hard times of the past are over, and things will only get better from now on.” Li Xiangyang held his mother’s hand.
"Yes, you and Xiaohua are both grown up now, things will only get better from here on out." Linzhi smiled happily.
“By the way, brother, there’s something I need to tell you.” Li Xiaohua put down her chopsticks, her expression turning serious. “I heard in the county that some people have been inquiring about your factory lately.”
Li Xiangyang's heart skipped a beat: "Who is it?"
“I don’t know exactly who it is, but I heard they’re from out of town, and they asked a lot of detailed questions,” Li Xiaohua said in a low voice. “I think you’d better be careful.”
Li Xiangyang nodded, already understanding the situation. It seemed that Li Zhihua's words were not unfounded; someone was indeed eyeing their business.
"Okay, I'll be careful." Li Xiangyang patted his sister's hand. "It's already very kind of you to tell me this news."
Linzhi noticed the worry on her son's face and asked with concern, "Son, is there some problem with your business?"
"It's alright, Mom. It's probably just a competitor trying to find out what's going on," Li Xiangyang said, not wanting his mother to worry. "That's normal in business."
Li Xiaoyun noticed the change in atmosphere and quickly changed the subject: "By the way, Xiaohua, how's your work at the Education Bureau? Any interesting things happening?"
“There are quite a few interesting things.” Li Xiaohua’s attention was diverted. “A new colleague joined us recently, and he’s been pestering me with questions all the time. I suspect he’s interested in me.”
"Oh?" Li Xiaoyun became interested. "What was that person like?"
"He's a nice person, but he's a bit..." Li Xiaohua thought for a moment, "...a bit of a bookworm."
Linzhi, standing nearby, grew anxious: "Xiaohua, you're not young anymore, it's time to think about your personal life. Your mother is waiting to hold her grandson."
"Mom, don't worry about it. When the time is right, it will happen naturally," Li Xiaohua said shyly. "Besides, I'm busy with work right now."
Looking at his younger sister's shy expression, Li Xiangyang thought to himself, "It seems that Xiaohua really has a crush on that colleague."
“Xiaohua is right, matters of the heart can’t be forced,” Li Xiaoyun chimed in. “But if it really is a good match, don’t miss the opportunity.”
The snow outside was falling heavier and heavier, but inside it was warm and cozy.
Li Wangchen lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) teasing Xiaobai. The little guy had completely accepted Xiaobai as a friend, and the two of them were having a great time playing together.
The next morning, the snow stopped, but the snow on the ground was still half a foot thick.
"I need to go to the market today; I'm still missing some things for the New Year's shopping."
After breakfast, Linzhi discussed the matter with her son while clearing away the dishes.
Hearing his mother's words, Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "Mom, the snow is so thick, let's not go. Just tell me what you want to buy, and I'll have someone deliver it."
"How can that be the same?" Lin Zhi waved her hand with a smile. "The market is so lively; there's only this kind of atmosphere a few days a year. Besides, Mother wants to buy Wangchen some little trinkets."
Li Xiaohua came out of the house, wearing a newly bought wool coat, looking particularly energetic: "Brother, I want to go see it too. It's been so long since I've been to our local market."
Li Xiaoyun, wearing an apron, came out of the kitchen: "I'll go too, I can buy some red paper to write Spring Festival couplets."
"Okay, let's all go."
The family went out happily, and everyone greeted Li Xiangyang warmly on the way.
"Xiangyang, I heard your factory's goods are sold in Hong Kong?" Old Zhang asked, leading his donkey with a look of envy.
"Just lucky," Li Xiangyang said with a modest smile. "Uncle Zhang, how was the harvest this year?"
"Thanks to you, I got a good share of wild boar meat, and I had a peaceful New Year," Old Zhang grinned. "By the way, if you organize a hunting trip again next year, you have to take this old man with you."
"No problem, as long as your body can handle it."
As we spoke, the market came into view in the distance. We could hear the lively cries of vendors and the laughter of children from afar.
The market was set up in the large square in the center of the town, surrounded by temporary sheds, with stalls lined up one after another. There were vendors selling candy, New Year pictures, firecrackers, and Spring Festival couplets—you name it.