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A group of barefoot teenagers with childish faces were playing in the woods on both sides of the compound. They danced, sang, and when they were tired, they climbed up the trees, crossed their legs, and picked a leaf at random.
Fold it inwards to the same width, flatten the other end with your hands, and place it near your mouth. Soon, a clear, resonant, and rustic tune began to play in the grove.
"Xiao Ming, I heard that the big devil has found a partner. Is that true?" Shunzi thought about all the things her mother had told her before she went in, and she felt a little confused.
His sister was so scared last time that she went home crying and refusing to go on a blind date with the big devil. Now she heard that he had found a partner, and it was a pity to stay at home again.
In his opinion, these women are really idle and have nothing to do. If they don't like or can't get it, they should just ignore it. But when someone else finds it, they start complaining and making trouble. It's so annoying.
Xiao Ming had a leaf covering his face. He curled his lips and said unhappily, "A few days ago, my mom and grandma accompanied me to a blind date."
"Did your brother come back and tell us what it was like? Was it done?" The children sat up on the branches and looked at Xiaoming curiously.
Ever since Xiao Li lost control of himself in his sleep and was caught, the children secretly nicknamed him the Big Devil. Normally, these children were timid around others and couldn't speak clearly, but when they couldn't see Xiao Li, they loved to catch Xiao Ming and ask him all kinds of questions about him.
Xiao Ming, the new brother-con, is now Xiao Li's loyal fan. Whenever his friends ask him about it, he exaggerates and says that Xiao Li in the story has become a hero who can save the world, and even turns his friends around him into his fans.
Xiao Li happened to pass by and heard it once, and found out that he could fly in the story and perform some light skills.
It really is a situation where one dares to speak and a group of people dare to listen!
So cute.
"Don't mention it, I don't like her."
"Why? Is it because that woman is not good-looking and not worthy of the devil?"
Xiao Ming shook his head to indicate that he didn't want to talk.
When talking about Xiao Li's blind date, Xiao Ming had a lot to say. Although he didn't go at that time, he heard their discussion when he came back. Just by listening, he felt that the lesbian was not worthy of his brother.
His brother is so good, tall, handsome and capable. Wouldn't it be better for him to find a gentle and beautiful girl? Why did he have to find a tigress who is said to be very strong?
If he gets married in the future, he doesn't know if he will be bullied.
Oh, what a thing his grandma is... old people just have bad taste!
After hearing this, Xiao Ming raised his objection on the spot and stood on the same front with Wang Han, trying to persuade Xiao Li, but was unfortunately ruthlessly rejected by Xiao Li.
Even Grandpa Xiao liked Wang Xuemei very much. The results of the family democratic vote showed that Xiao Li won. Then Xiao Li happily started his journey to pursue his wife.
"Doctor Wang, your boyfriend is here to pick you up again." The young nurse in the hospital was full of envy when she saw Xiao Li, who always showed up on time.
Since Wang Xuemei returned to Beijing and started working at the Military Region General Hospital, she has always been a talked-about figure, not for any other reason but because she is old and has not yet married.
There aren't many people in the hospital right now, and people don't like coming when they're sick, so the hospital isn't very busy. So, when people are just chatting about nothing, Wang Xuemei becomes the subject of gossip, with some believing she was abandoned by her fiancé because of her health problems.
But just a few days ago, Xiao Li quietly showed up at the hospital, picking her up from get off work every day. A young nurse was curious and approached Xiao Li and asked him, "I see you've been picking up Doctor Wang from get off work every day these days. What's your relationship?"
"What do you think our relationship is?" Xiao Li's ambiguous attitude caused the young nurse to misunderstand instantly.
After they left, gossip spread in the hospital that Dr. Wang had finally found someone to marry. When Wang Xuemei tried to explain after finding out, no one believed her anymore.
After Xiao Li knew that his goal had been achieved, he secretly rejoiced for a long time.
Anyway, at least it has a name.
Wang Xuemei looked helplessly at Xiao Li, who was standing at the door of her office with a smile on his face, and said with a hint of embarrassment: "Why are you here again? Didn't you say not to come to pick me up again?"
Ever since the blind date, Xiao Li has come to the hospital to pick her up from get off work every day. Even after she clearly rejected him, he still did his own thing and kept trying to make his presence felt in the hospital, causing the girls in the department to keep asking, "Doctor Wang, does your boyfriend have any brothers?"
She is not a fool, so how could she not see Xiao Li's intention? If she couldn't explain it clearly, she could only ask Xiao Li not to come to the hospital again, but Xiao Li just wouldn't listen!
In the end, Wang Xuemei was so angry that she lost her temper.
The two of them started getting along just like that.
"Hey, I'll treat you to dinner today." Xiao Li took out a dollar from his pocket and shook it, acting like a rogue who is a rich man.
"It's so expensive to eat at a restaurant. Let's go home and eat."
"That won't work. I haven't even had dinner with you alone. Dating is always about having a date, right? I've made up my mind. Let's go for a walk in the park after dinner."
This was the first date in his two lifetimes, and Xiao Li was full of anticipation. He even wore a new military uniform for the occasion.
In the end, Wang Xuemei and Xiao Li went to Gengji Restaurant, a century-old restaurant at the entrance of her alley.
Gengji Restaurant is named after the owner's surname, which is simple, crude and easy to remember. The owner has good cooking skills and the restaurant serves authentic old Beijing flavors.
The restaurant is not big. There are pictures of important leaders on the walls. There are not many decorations inside, only a few tables and chairs.
When Xiao Li and his friends arrived, it was dinner time. There were no customers in the restaurant. The bald-headed boss was sitting on the steps at the door smoking a pipe.
"Uncle Geng, please serve us some dishes, and some steamed buns." Wang Xuemei grew up in this area and knew everyone in the alley. She walked into the restaurant with Xiao Li in a familiar manner and found a place to sit.
Geng Xin looked at Xiao Li with a gossipy look on her face, then nodded: "Hey~ This is our son-in-law, right? When are you going to treat Uncle Geng to a drink?"
Wang Xuemei was about to open her mouth to say something when Xiao Li interrupted her with the next words: "It will be soon. I will definitely invite you to the wedding banquet at some time."
Geng Xin laughed heartily and patted Xiao Li on the shoulder: "Well, you are a good boy."
Xiao Li then ordered a lot of dishes, including meat dishes, vegetarian dishes, soup, and six white flour buns.
The dishes came up one after another. Xiao Li considerately helped Wang Xuemei wash the dishes with boiling water, then poured her a glass of boiled water, and used the chopsticks he had never used to pick up a lot of dishes and put them in Wang Xuemei's bowl.
Wang Xuemei, who was taken care of so carefully, was a little dazed. Her parents were very traditional people. They were always serious with their children and were very particular at the dinner table. They had never picked up any food for her or her brother even once. She had been taught to do things by herself since she was a child. This was the first time since she was sensible that someone had helped her do these things. She couldn't help but feel a warm feeling in her heart.
Xiao Li looked at her dazed look and said with a smile, "Eat quickly, or it will get cold."
"good."
Wang Xuemei didn't have a big appetite, so she couldn't eat any more after just one steamed bun. She looked at the remaining dishes and steamed buns on the table and said to Xiao Li, "I'm done. I'll leave the rest to you."
Soldiers all have big appetites. Wang Xuemei is quite aware of Xiao Li's big appetite. She was afraid that Xiao Li would feel embarrassed to eat too much, so she reminded him.
Xiao Li wasn't embarrassed. In his heart, Wang Xuemei would be his wife sooner or later, and there was no need to hide how he treated his wife. So, he nodded and ate the dishes on the table frantically. In a short while, he had finished the whole table.
This action made Geng Xin, who was sitting not far away and secretly watching them, gasp in amazement, thinking that being able to eat is a blessing.
The dishes at Gengji Restaurant are very substantial and generous in size. The steamed buns are large and plump, and very chewy. A normal adult man would only eat two or three, but Xiaoli ate five by himself.
After dinner, Xiao Li was going to go for a stroll in the small park. He generously took out a large sum of money and said, "Uncle Geng, check out."
The table was full of meat, vegetables and rice, and it cost Xiaoli 80 cents in the end.
Before leaving, Xiao Li glanced at Geng Xin, who was squatting on the steps at the door smoking, and said, "Uncle, society is in recession now, and every household is poor. Do you still plan to come to your restaurant?"
Geng Xin took a puff of his cigarette, looked into the depths of the alley and said slowly, "Open! As long as I'm still breathing, this little restaurant will stay open. You two should come often."
"Okay." Xiao Li answered straightforwardly. He knew that there would not be many opportunities left for him to taste this authentic old Beijing flavor.
It is now 1954, and the country has not yet started to implement the public-private partnership reform. There are still many small restaurants like Geng Xin Restaurant operating on the streets of Huaguo. Although they don’t make much money, they can still support a family.
Xiao Li clearly remembered that the first wave of reforms after the founding of the New China in early 1956 would begin with these time-honored establishments. These establishments, like the Gengxin Restaurant, were all privately owned. After China's socialist public-private partnership, the "capitalists" of these established establishments would have their property confiscated, leaving them with no funds to operate. Others would be taken over by state-owned enterprises, and due to lack of knowledge about the restaurant industry, they would eventually close due to poor management.
Sensing Xiao Li's change in mood, Wang Xuemei asked, "What's wrong?"
Xiao Li touched his nose awkwardly and said with a smile, "It's okay, I just feel a little sad when I think that I might not be able to eat Uncle Geng's cooking in the future."
"What's the big deal? We'll come over when we have time."
"Okay." Xiao Li nodded heavily.
I hope I can eat when I want to...
While chatting, the two of them slowly strolled to the park.
This park is not too big, but the tree-lined paths are very beautiful. There is an artificial lake about ten meters from the entrance of the park, surrounded by colorful flowers. The breeze blows gently, blowing away the haze in Xiao Li's heart.
When passing by the tree-lined path, there were several stone tables and stone benches beside it. A group of old men and women were gathered together playing chess. They had white hair but looked energetic.
Xiao Li said with a smile: "When we are old, I will take you to play chess."
Wang Xuemei rolled her eyes at him and asked, "Do you know how to play chess?"
She still remembered how his father wanted to play chess with him and he scratched his head and said he didn't know how.
Xiao Li said embarrassedly: "At worst, I can learn. We still have 50 or 60 years to spend together."
This script is wrong!
Xiao Li used to write novels that were all cool and refreshing.
In his book, the male protagonist says, "When we get old, this and that," and the female protagonist blushes and says, "Who would hate to grow old with you?" That way, he can hold her hand or something!
Why doesn't Comrade Wang Xuemei play by the rules... I'm so tired!
When can I trick him back home?
The two of them strolled around until around eight o'clock. Feeling the night wind was a bit chilly, Xiao Li offered to take Wang Xuemei home.
Wang Xuemei followed Xiao Li's footsteps and walked forward step by step in the darkness. She looked up at his seemingly thin but exceptionally tall back, and a bright smile appeared on her lips.
She didn't get along very well with Xiao Li, but when they did, it always gave her unexpected surprises. With her strong personality, she could always give in and never lose her temper when Xiao Li behaved like a rogue.
He does not have the machismo of modern men, and does not think that women are weak in life. He tolerates everything about her, including her shortcomings.
Wang Xuemei feels that life is really wonderful. As long as she meets the right person, marriage, which she had no idea about before, will be put on the agenda, and she will occasionally start to fantasize about the future.
If possible, she hopes that the two of them can continue to get along like this...
In the darkness, she took a few steps forward with a smile and took Xiao Li's hand.
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