After leaving the house, I went straight to the train station to pick up the person.

Upon arriving at the station, they easily found Yu Li's aunt without much effort.

She was standing right under the bus stop sign. She looked to be in her forties, not very tall, of medium build, and her face was practically a carbon copy of Yu Li's!

Yu Li and her aunt embraced and wept bitterly. In those days, travel was slow and letters took a long time to arrive...

After they had vented their emotions, Yu Li couldn't wait to pull the fat man over and introduce him like a treasure: "Auntie, this is my man!"

The fat man introduced himself at the opportune moment: "Hello, Auntie, my name is Chen Kang, and I work at the Red Star Factory."

Yu Li's aunt is named Yu Wanlin, a very Mary Sue-like name; she is also carefully observing the fat man. The young man looks very energetic, and his chubby appearance suggests a good temper. Those two big earlobes indicate good fortune!

Yu Wanlin brought a lot of local specialties from home, filling two large bags. The fat man took them and effortlessly carried one in each hand up the car.

This niece's husband is in great health!

Only after walking to the car did Yu Wanlin belatedly realize that it was a car.

Only after getting into the car did Yu Wanlin ask Yu Li, who was sitting next to her, in surprise in a low voice, "This car..."

Yu Li felt extremely proud and happy as she said to her aunt, "I heard you were coming, so my husband specially borrowed this from his boss."

Yu Wanlin found the fat man even more pleasing to the eye now. So young and so capable, great!

The driver, surnamed Zhou, asked after driving away from the station, "Where are we going first?"

Without a second thought, the fat man said, "Let's go to Tiananmen Square."

When you come to the capital, you have to go to Tiananmen Square first.

This was Yu Wanlin's first time in Beijing, and everything was new and exciting to her.

At that time, photo booths appeared in the square. Each photo cost 75 cents, and nationwide mailing was available. This price left Yu Wanlin speechless...

The fat man spent a long time persuading and pleading before finally convincing Yu Wanlin to take a photo with him and her husband.

People in this era stand ramrod straight when taking photos, with their hands neatly placed against their trouser seams. The fat man then temporarily took charge, instructing Yu Li and Yu Wanlin to tilt their heads and make a heart shape with their hands in front of their chests. He also taught them how to smile before running over and taking this treasured photo.

The price of 75 cents per photo really hurt Yu Wanlin's heart. Even when the fat man suggested that she take another solo photo, she refused.

Taking advantage of the good weather, we headed straight for Badaling after leaving Tiananmen Square.

Upon reaching the Great Wall, Yu Wanlin exclaimed, "He who has not climbed the Great Wall is no true man; now I am a true man!"

Yu Wanlin's trip to Beijing this time was practically a "special forces-style tour" from another world.

I went to Tiananmen Square; visited the Great Wall; toured the Temple of Heaven; ate Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with soybean paste); bought Lv Da Gun (glutinous rice rolls) and Aiwowo (glutinous rice cakes); strolled along Wangfujing Street…

Finally, and of course, we can't forget Quanjude's roast duck.

The roast duck was for four people. Xiao Zhou accompanied them around for a while, and it would be really inconsiderate of him not to even treat them to a meal.

The roast duck cost 8 yuan a piece, and not only Yu Wanlin felt heartbroken, but Yu Li also felt extremely distressed.

However, what Fatty said made sense: "Auntie rarely comes to Beijing, so she has to eat Peking duck; we are only able to eat it because of her."

Yu Wanlin felt both guilty and touched, repeatedly saying, "This trip has cost you so much, it's really too much..."

It has to be said that Quanjude roast duck sells for 8 yuan, and there's a reason why it's so expensive.

Absolutely authentic force-fed duck, never fed any feed, even if it wanted to be fed, which is unheard of these days; the duck-slicing master's knife skills are superb, saying that 108 clove leaves are exactly 108 pieces, not a single one missing.

The lotus leaf pancake immediately springs back to its original shape when you grab it with your hand and then release it. Take 2-3 pieces of duck, wrap them in sweet bean sauce, and add shredded scallions. Cucumbers are only available in summer. Rolling it up is called a "roll".

Duck carcass is of course used to make soup with cabbage. One bowl and the delicious flavor goes straight from your throat to your belly button.

That evening, Yu Li joked that even her burps tasted like sweet bean sauce, and she couldn't remember what the duck tasted like.

I had already spoken with Chen Yan a couple of days ago, and told her to go home and stay for a few days while my aunt stayed in the courtyard house.

My aunt came over, and her niece and nephew were very pleased to see her. They rode in a car, took pictures, ate roast duck, and visited a temple... Knowing that the young couple wasn't well-off, they decided to leave the next day.

Although Yu Li was reluctant to part with her, Yu Wanlin insisted, and everyone knew the truth, so they could only see her off with tears in their eyes.

The fat man paid for her train ticket and packed her some food. Yu Wanlin, carrying the memories and joy of this trip, reluctantly returned to Taiyuan.

The train departed, and the fat man comforted Yu Li, saying, "Our aunt is still young; we'll have a chance to meet again someday."

Yu Li didn't say anything, but boldly grabbed the fat man's hand...

※※※※※※

With the Spring Festival just around the corner, Chief Zhang of the police station was determined to catch the thief who stole the bicycle wheels!

Yi Zhonghai explained the implications to Sha Zhu: "You know how capable Director Zhang is. If he finds out about you, you'll be disgraced throughout the compound and the streets, and you won't even be able to stay in the factory!"

Sha Zhu then realized he was scared and gave Yi Zhonghai all the 7 yuan he had earned from selling the wheel. Then Yi Zhonghai spent 16.5 yuan to buy Yan Bugui a wheel, which temporarily settled the matter.

Before the Spring Festival, Fatty became busy again. He, along with Aunt Fatty, Zhao Lao Er, Liu Lan, Chen Yan, and Yu Li, traveled around preparing banquets for people.

A year has passed, and he no longer takes on just any job. He's already overwhelmed with jobs introduced by acquaintances, so he doesn't have time for anything else.

The family's income was also booming. Fatty had planned to buy Yu Li another new outfit, but she advised him instead, "Don't flaunt your wealth, otherwise my family will come knocking and demand an exorbitant amount!"

The one who came to freeload was naturally Yu Haitang. Not only did she eat and drink for free, but she also mocked her own sister: "Look at the way you live, one year you're rustic, two years you're sophisticated, and three years you don't even recognize your father and mother."

Yu Li ignored her, and Yu Haitang herself felt bored and started talking about something else: "I'm in a relationship."

"She's dating someone?" Yu Li was now curious too. Her younger sister was always so arrogant, always playing games with fate. Had she finally found someone she liked?

Yu Haitang was also very proud: "He's really something, no one in our factory dares to mess with him!"

"Who is it? Could it be some shady character?"

Yu Haitang was displeased: "Sister, how could you say that?"

"..."

Today is the Little New Year. When Fatty was walking home from work, he saw Banggeng leading his two younger sisters, envious of other children setting off firecrackers.