It didn’t hurt, but she was tired.
Yin Li checked the time—it was already late again. If this kept up, how was she supposed to study?
It was all Li Hanting’s fault. How could he do that kind of thing again and again? He had no self-control! She absolutely wouldn’t do it tonight.
Having silently resolved this, Yin Li slowly got out of bed.
The weather wasn’t as hot as before. Autumn was deepening, which also meant the start of the school year was approaching.
Even though she had woken up late, she recited her vocabulary words first before going out to eat with Li Hanting.
Seeing Li Hanting dressed in his work clothes and noticing he had cleaned up the truck yesterday, Yin Li knew he was going out on a haul.
“Where are you going this time?” She felt a little disappointed but understood that to make a living, she couldn’t keep him tied down at home.
“Hong Kong.” Li Hanting lowered his head and took a sip of congee, then added, “I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, why don’t you go stay at your father’s place?”
“That’s exactly what I was planning.” School was about to start. She didn’t know any of the neighbors here, and staying would be boring. She also wanted to go back and see how her father and Aunt Li were getting along.
Only then did Li Hanting drop the subject. He always traveled light. He first drove her to the courtyard of her family’s apartment building before setting off on his own.
Watching her bounce happily into the courtyard, he started the truck and drove away.
Having been away for just a few days, Yin Li already felt both familiar and strange. What she didn’t know was that Yin Jianguo had just come home moments earlier.
It was the busiest time in the courtyard. The women were washing vegetables and chatting by the communal sink, while a few familiar old masters squatted by the wall smoking.
They nodded to Yin Jianguo in greeting as he passed.
As he neared his building, he overheard some neighbors who hadn’t noticed him, talking in voices that weren’t particularly low.
“Old Yin’s daughter is really accomplished. I hear she’s going to report to the university in a few days. In the old days, that would be top scholar material.”
Yin Jianguo slowed his pace, his ears perking up.
“Exactly,” another voice chimed in. “But the marriage was awfully rushed. She just got her acceptance letter, didn’t she? Then right after, they held the ceremony… And that guy looks so fierce, so hasty about it. Anyone would think the family…”
The speaker didn’t finish, pausing meaningfully. Someone nearby murmured in agreement, “That’s true. He and Old Li haven’t been married long. Once the girl goes off to school, it’ll be several years.”
“Sigh, being a stepmother is hard. These days, who doesn’t want some peace at home? Having a teenage girl around means you have to watch everything you say and do. Finding her a good home early settles the girl down and keeps the household harmonious. Don’t you agree?”
“Exactly. But Old Yin as a father has done right by his daughter. He really went all out with the ‘Three Turns and One Ring’ [dowry items].” This person’s words sounded like praise but took a sharp turn. “But if he pours so much into his daughter, how’s he supposed to get by with Old Li? Who knows, maybe Old Li is thinking about…”
The implication was clear. Yin Jianguo felt the blood rush to his head, his ears ringing.
He wanted to turn around and yell at these idle gossips: “Nonsense!”
But instead, he just pushed hard on his bicycle pedal and sped up.
In this courtyard, once you openly feud with people, gossip can drown you. The ones who would suffer most would be the women in his family and his married daughter.
When he reached his door, he shoved it open with a bang and slammed it shut behind him. The noise was so loud it startled even himself.
Inside, the light was on.
It illuminated the dishes laid out on the table: a small plate of finely shredded pickled vegetables drizzled with sesame oil, a steaming bowl of cabbage and tofu stew with slices of pork belly, and two white steamed buns in a basket.
Li Wenyue had just walked out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of rice. Seeing his grim expression, she paused for a moment before saying, “You’re back? Wash your hands and come eat.”
She didn’t cook often. Judging by the food, she had put in some effort—normally, she’d just grab something at the work unit cafeteria.
So Yin Jianguo felt a bit warmed by it. But the words he had just heard slithered into his mind like venomous snakes.
Could it be that they were right? His daughter had only been married a short while, and already she had time to cook.
With his daughter married off, she was happy.
Yin Jianguo didn’t reply. Grim-faced, he tossed his satchel onto a chair and walked to the washstand to wash his hands.
Li Wenyue’s smile froze.
She had finished work early today and thought she’d come home to make Yin Jianguo something to eat. After all, with Yin Li married, any father would feel a bit reluctant to let go.
But he came home in a foul mood. Li Wenyue swallowed her irritation and asked patiently, “What’s wrong? Did Old Zheng give you another night shift?”
“No.” Although Yin Jianguo was easygoing, he wasn’t one to suffer in silence—he would speak up against unfair treatment.
But seeing Li Wenyue’s gradually lightening expression these past few days, he still felt unsettled. He said crossly, “Don’t bother anymore. Now that Li Li is married, there’s even less reason for you to put yourself out like this. I’ll do the cooking from now on.”
Li Wenyue, who was skilled at dealing with people, could hardly miss the insinuation in her husband’s words. The irritation she had been holding back flared up instantly. She slapped her chopsticks down on her bowl. “Yin Jianguo, if you have something to say, say it properly. Don’t be so sarcastic! What do you mean, ‘now that Li Li is married, I’m putting myself out’? Explain yourself!”
“Don’t you already know? If it weren’t for—”
“Dad! Mom! Open the door—I’m back!” The door was knocked on, and Yin Li’s cheerful voice rang out.
Almost simultaneously, they both looked up, their angry, stiff expressions still frozen on their faces.
Yin Jianguo walked over and opened the door. Yin Li stepped in with a bright smile, holding a mesh bag containing a few apples and a package of pastries wrapped in oiled paper.
“Li Li? Why are you suddenly back? Have you eaten?” Yin Jianguo asked flatly.
“I have. Li Hanting cooked.” Yin Li seemed completely unaware of the unusual atmosphere in the room. She casually placed the mesh bag on a cabinet. “He’s gone out on a haul, so I came back to mooch off Mom and Dad’s cooking. Oh, this definitely looks like Mom’s handiwork—lucky me.”
Their cooking skills were worlds apart. Li Wenyue was always busy and usually just grabbed a quick bite herself. When did she ever have time to cook? She had only made these dishes because she happened to finish work early today.
Yin Jianguo was silent for a moment, then said, “Then eat up. Dad will go fry a couple more dishes.”
Looking at his daughter, she seemed to have lost weight. He needed to fatten her up!
“Dad, don’t bother. I’m staying for a few days—there’ll be plenty of time to eat. I just wanted to try Mom’s cooking.” Yin Li wasn’t really hungry, but she could tell before even stepping inside that the two of them had definitely been arguing.
They had probably been fighting quite a bit these past few days. Yin Li was glad she had come back when she did. If she had let things fester any longer, they would repeat the mistakes of her dream.
“Sigh… I’m so annoyed.” She said suddenly, while eating.
Yin Jianguo immediately tensed up. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Did someone mistreat you?”