Li Jianghai walked slowly with his hands behind his back, the soles of his gray cloth shoes making a rustling sound as they rubbed against the stone pavement.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Wang Qinglai hanging around behind him. He deliberately turned to the side of the road and spat, "Old Wang, why are you always sneaking around behind me?"

Wang Qinglai pulled his brand new blue cloth jacket up to his shoulders and stiffened his neck, saying, "In broad daylight, on such a long road, you go your way and I go mine. Who says I'm following you?"

"Since we left the restaurant, you've been like a hanged ghost. I went east, but you didn't go west. And you're saying you weren't following me on purpose?"

Wang Qinglai threw the net bag he was holding to the ground. "Okay, okay, okay, I'm going to follow you and push you into the river, okay? Why did you kick me just now?"

"Who told you to have a stomach ache? And you dare to laugh at me? Aren't you afraid your front teeth will get cold? I'm kind enough to take you to eat something good, and you're blaming me?"

Wang Qinglai thought about the six dishes and one soup just now. Who is such a good person to do this?

The two of them were arguing with each other, and before they knew it, they had reached a fork in the road.

On the left is the direction of the supply and marketing cooperative, and on the right is Mule Alley, where bed sheets are hung out to dry.

Li Jianghai turned right, and Wang Qinglai subconsciously followed his pace.

"Ouch!" Li Jianghai suddenly stopped, his cloth shoes slipping on the moss. "I've got you this time! I'm going to Guifangzhai to find my wife, and you're not coming home, and you're still saying you're following me!"

Wang Qinglai slapped his thigh and grinned, "What a coincidence! I'm also going to Guifangzhai to look for my wife!"

Today is the fifteenth, and it's their group's turn to work the early shift. I'm going to pick her up from work!

Li Jianghai then remembered that Wang Qinglai’s wife Huang Xiuying was indeed working as a helper in Guifangzhai.

He touched the back of his head awkwardly, and suddenly quickened his pace. Humph, he was the first one to pick up his wife from get off work!

Wang Qinglai reacted immediately and started to compete with him.

Li Jianghai stomped his cloth shoes, threw his arms wide and rushed forward.

Wang Qinglai was not to be outdone. He tucked the net bag under his armpit and started chasing after him with bow legs.

"Old Li, slow down!" Wang Qinglai shouted as he ran, his teeth gaping. "Be careful not to knock out your old front teeth!"

"Pah!" Li Jianghai said without turning his head, his grey cloth jacket puffed up by the wind, "You old fellow, hurry up and get your hands on some, or you'll fall and I'll have to take you to the doctor for injuries!"

The sheets hanging out to dry in the alley rustled in the wind they created.

The old lady who was sewing shoe soles at the door ran in the direction they were going. She took a quick look and said, "Two old fools, they're fighting over who will be reincarnated first!"

Li Guifang was counting on the abacus at the counter when she looked up and saw her old man rushing in, followed by a breathless Wang Qinglai.

She narrowed her old eyes and understood about 70% of it!

This is a response to what happened last night.

"Hey, what wind is blowing today that brings you two brothers here together?" Li Guifang pushed the abacus beads and wiped her hands on her apron.

Li Jianghai rubbed his hands and glanced upstairs: "Well... I have something to tell you..."

Li Guifang understood and glanced at Wang Qinglai who was still looking around.

Li Jianghai hurriedly explained, "That... is also here!"

Li Guifang understood and deliberately raised her voice: "Old Wang, are you here to see Xiuying? Perfect, let's go upstairs and talk."

Wang Qinglai was stunned. Before he could reply, he heard Li Guifang shouting towards the kitchen: "Xiuying! Stop wiping! Your Old Wang is here!"

Huang Xiuying put down her things and ran out. Seeing her old man's appearance, she chuckled: "Is he in a hurry to reincarnate? He's sweating profusely."

As he spoke, he used his elbow to wipe the sweat from Wang Qinglai's forehead.

So, the four of them sat together in the small living room on the second floor!

Li Guifang lowered the door curtain, turned around, and took out a red lacquer food box from the cabinet: "Eat while you talk, freshly steamed osmanthus cake."

Li Jianghai and Wang Qinglai pushed and shoved each other and squeezed onto the sofa at the side, while Li Guifang and Huang Xiuying sat opposite each other in rattan chairs.

Outside the window came the sound of neighbors calling their children home for dinner, making the house especially quiet.

"Tell me." Li Guifang picked up a piece of osmanthus cake. "What happened today?"