With the old man back home, Li Luoyu slept especially well that night.
At dawn the next day, when the sky was just beginning to lighten, she easily slipped past the two guards. Her left foot pushed off the old locust tree in the corner of the courtyard, her right hand grabbed the bricks at the top of the wall—and she vaulted over in one smooth motion.
Old Master Liu had just begun his tai chi routine when, through the hazy morning light, he suddenly saw a fuzzy dark head pop up over the wall.
“Hey—!” Startled, his iron palm nearly came down on Li Luoyu’s head. “You little rascal! There’s a perfectly good front gate, yet you climb walls—just like your father back in the day!”
Li Luoyu shrugged. As he turned around, she dropped lightly to the ground, her small leather shoes making no sound on the stone pavement, like a sneaky little beast.
“Grandpa Liu, my grandfather wants to send me to the countryside. I don’t want to publicly sever ties, and I don’t want to go either. Help tie me to my grandpa, will you? You know I’m strong—if I’m there, the old man won’t suffer.”
Old Master Liu: “…”
He knocked his pipe against her head. “You little brat—what is this, tying crabs together?”
Grinning mischievously, Li Luoyu made a finger-gun gesture. “Just think of it as getting back at my grandpa for snatching those enemy kills from you on the battlefield. You’ve remembered it your whole life—if you don’t take revenge now, when will you?”
The pipe bowl nearly poked her nose, glinting in the morning light. “You little brat! If your grandpa hadn’t pinned me down in that trench, I would’ve beaten him for sure!”
Li Luoyu crouched down, looking up with a sly smile. “Then what about that half can of beef you hid back in Yuan City—didn’t my grandpa swipe that too?”
Old Master Liu slapped his thigh in frustration. “That was for Old Zhang from the kitchen squad! Your grandpa, that scoundrel—even snatched glucose meant for the wounded!”
The two old men loved bickering, and once they started, they’d dredge up everything—
“You stole my roast chicken!”
“And you stole my liquor!”
“You shameless thing, tricked me out of my military medal to impress your daughter!”
“You’re the rogue—you hid my captured pistol and never returned it!”
They’d argue until spit flew everywhere, yet when others tried to mediate, they would quietly refill each other’s tea cups with hot water.
Old Master Liu sighed helplessly. “If I dared do that, your stubborn mule of a grandpa would march straight to my house and cut ties with me. Believe it or not.”
Li Luoyu ignored him. “Doesn’t matter. If I’m sent to the countryside, I’ll just desert. Then you’ll have to clean up the mess for me…”
Old Master Liu felt a pang in his chest. “…”
“Oh right—and that old Li family residence in Hangzhou? It’s mine now. You’d better keep an eye on it for me. Don’t let anyone ruin it—that’s where you and my grandpa will retire someday.”
Old Master Liu: This little brat was born just to irritate people.
As Li Luoyu climbed back over the wall with her canvas bag, she heard him muttering, “Li the stubborn mule, oh Li the stubborn mule—your kid’s even more troublesome than you… Don’t blame me for this!”
“Huh? Are my ears really that sharp?”
Inside her space, Little Liuli was busy turning the soil and answered matter-of-factly, “Of course. You didn’t endure that marrow cleansing for nothing.”
“Then can we raise some small animals in the space too?”
“Sure! What do you want to raise, Sister?”
“Chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits… pigs, sheep, cows, deer… just thinking about it makes me hungry.”
As Li Luoyu planned to visit the black market later to gather supplies, an arm suddenly blocked her path home. Looking up, she met the surprised eyes of the two young soldiers who had escorted her grandfather back.
“Comrade Li, when did you go out?”
She had been so deep in thought—and so used to using the front gate—that she forgot she had climbed over the wall.
Li Luoyu chuckled awkwardly. “Well… just pretend you didn’t see me. I’ll climb back in myself.” With that, she turned and leapt over the lower wall beside her.
The two soldiers couldn’t take their eyes off her agile figure.
“When did she go out?”
“No idea. As expected of Old Master Li’s granddaughter.”
“Should we report it?”
“Report what? Did you see her leave?”
“No…”
“Exactly. Stand your post.”
As soon as Li Luoyu entered the house—
“Oh? Old man, you’re up so early! What do you want for breakfast?”
Old Master Li had walked around the house and couldn’t find Aunt Zhang. He had been about to make breakfast himself. Seeing his granddaughter return, he glared at her. “Where’s Aunt Zhang?”
“Oh, I told her to go back to her hometown yesterday. Let’s just have some porridge and side dishes this morning. I’ll reheat last night’s chicken soup for you—good for replenishing your energy.”
As she spoke, she moved briskly—washing rice, lighting the stove, everything in one smooth flow. The old man didn’t idle either, helping from the side—passing bowls, adding firewood. The two worked together seamlessly, and before long, breakfast was ready.
A pot of plain congee, a few boiled eggs, a plate of Aunt Zhang’s pickled radish, and the reheated chicken soup, now even more fragrant.
Li Luoyu quickly filled two bowls of porridge, grabbed four eggs, and carried them outside on a tray.
The young soldiers on duty stiffened immediately. “Comrade Li, we can’t accept this! It violates regulations!”
Li Luoyu glanced around theatrically. “No one’s watching. Eat.”
The two soldiers: “…”
Watching his lively granddaughter, Old Master Li felt a warmth settle in his heart.
“Old man, eat up. After breakfast, cover for me—I still need to go out again. I heard Heilongjiang is freezing cold. I’m worried we’ll freeze to death, so I need to get some quilts, cotton, and such…”
Old Master Li felt another pang in his chest. “…”
“You really have to follow me?”
Li Luoyu knocked on an egg with a loud crack. “Of course. You’re one of only two relatives I have left in this world—how could I not? Even in death, I’d be buried beside you…”
Old Master Li grabbed a feather duster and swung at her. “You little brat, what nonsense are you spouting? Do I need you beside me? Your father alone is enough to anger me back to life!”
But how could she let herself get hit? Bowl in hand, she dashed around the courtyard, sipping porridge between breaths.
“Hey, old man! What happens after death isn’t your concern—why worry where I’ll be buried…”
Old Master Li panted heavily, pointing at her as he scolded, “You unfilial brat—I’ll probably die of anger because of you!”
“Old man, don’t talk nonsense.” She swallowed the last mouthful of porridge. “You’re in great health—eat well, sleep well. Look at you, you chased me two miles and didn’t even stagger. Truly worthy of an old revolutionary.” She even leaned closer to check his breathing. “See? Your breathing’s steadier than mine! Stop pretending to be sick to scare people. Once things calm down, I’ll even find you the prettiest old lady in the west of the city for matchmaking!”
That sent Old Master Li chasing her for another two miles before he finally stopped. After pointing at her and calling her unfilial once more, he went back inside to finish his meal.
That chicken soup really is delicious—can’t waste it.
From the neighboring courtyard, Aunt Wang watched the commotion and couldn’t help but sigh to her husband, “Old Master Li has been unyielding his whole life, never bowing his head. Only in front of his granddaughter does he act a bit like a child.”
Old Master Wang nodded. “Good thing he has such a lively granddaughter to stir things up.”