June 1, 1982, Beijing.
Li Zhen's graduation ceremony.
Two rows of tall poplar trees lined the wide road, their green leaves providing shade. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, and the sweltering air brushed against the faces of every graduating college student.
Some of them were quite old, while others were still young. They were all dressed in large, gold-trimmed black academic gowns and black academic caps with black tassels that swayed as they walked.
They took graduation photos together, and then took photos with their respective teachers and classmates to commemorate the occasion.
Li Jin, Zhao Sufang, Li Lan, Li Ying, Li Xiangdong, Li Ping, Li Jiabao, and Li Yan, a family of eight, stood under the shade of a tree waiting for Li Zhen to finish taking photos.
Li Ping was also holding a large bunch of beautiful sunflowers in his arms.
A moment later, Li Zhen walked over quickly, and Li Ping went up to her first and presented her with flowers.
"Fourth sister, congratulations on graduating from university!"
Li Ping gave Li Zhen a particularly stylish hug.
Next came Li Yan, Li Ying, Li Jiabao, and Li Lan. They all followed Li Ping's example and took turns going up to hug Li Zhen.
Next was Li Xiangdong. He slowly walked up to his fourth sister, looking at her rosy cheeks and bright eyes. Slowly, the numb and disappointed eyes and thin, sallow cheeks of her from her previous life overlapped with Li Zhen's current appearance, and then disappeared again.
Li Xiangdong hugged his fourth sister tightly and sincerely wished her well, "Fourth sister, your future will be bright. I wish you happiness, good fortune, and all the best."
Tears welled up in Li Zhen's eyes as she hugged Li Xiangdong tightly, saying each word slowly and deliberately, "Thank you, Xiangdong!"
Li Jin and Zhao Sufang were too embarrassed to hug their daughter. The couple walked up to her, patted her shoulder with a sense of relief and pride, and said, "Daughter, you're amazing!"
The family's elaborate ceremony drew frequent glances from those around them, who all thought it was wonderful.
After the graduation ceremony, students will go to their dormitories to pack their luggage.
After putting her clothes in her bag and rolling up her bedding, Li Zhen's university life came to a complete end.
She glanced back longingly at the university gate before striding confidently into a new phase of her life.
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Because there are a lot of people coming this time, it's inconvenient to stay in Tianshui Hutong.
Just then, next to Old Lady Jiang's old house in Douzui Hutong, there was a courtyard house that had also been sold to Li Xiangdong, so Wu Jianjun cleaned it up as well.
They stayed in a house in Douzui Hutong this time.
Ever since Li Xiangdong presented Grandma Jiang's old house to her like a treasure, she has spent about half of each year living there in the last two years.
Grandma Jiang especially loved late spring and early autumn in Yanjing. She loved the crabapple blossoms and maple trees at the entrance of the alley.
In late spring, the crabapple trees are covered with pink and white flowers, and if you get close, your clothes will be covered with their delicate fragrance.
In early autumn, the maple leaves all turn red, and the maple seeds flutter everywhere like little butterflies.
Li Xiangdong once said he would plant these two kinds of trees in her house in Quanshui Village, but Grandma Jiang refused.
Li Xiangdong thought that his master probably didn't like crabapple trees and maple trees, but rather the crabapple trees and maple trees in Douzui Hutong in Yanjing City!
Grandma Jiang and her baby were waiting at the door early in the morning. As soon as they saw Li Jin's family return, the baby stretched out his little hands and babbled "Mama".
Li Lan quickened her pace, picked up Xiangxiang's little daughter, and kissed her. The little girl giggled, her two chubby arms tightly wrapped around her mother's neck.
Everyone entered the house chatting and laughing. Grandma Jiang took out a white jade bamboo bracelet from her pocket and gave it to Li Zhen, saying, "A graduation gift!"
Li Zhen instinctively wanted to refuse, but Grandma Jiang put the bracelet on her wrist and said, "Don't be so polite with me!"
Li Zhen smiled and thanked her, and Grandma Jiang said with satisfaction, "That's more like it!"
A short while later, Liu Junbo, who had just finished his thesis defense, rushed over. He was quite disappointed that he missed his fiancée's graduation ceremony.
Li Zhen tossed him a damp towel to wipe the sweat from his face, and smiled sweetly, "We can go to your graduation ceremony the day after tomorrow!"
Liu Junbo thought about it and realized she was right; his wife was the smartest!
Besides attending Li Zhen's graduation ceremony, Li Jin's family had another important reason for coming to Beijing: to help decorate Li Zhen and Liu Junbo's wedding room.
A newlywed couple needs to buy a lot of things to start their life together.
Li Jin and his group first went to see Li Zhenfen's single dormitory.
The dormitory was located on the top floor of an old four-story building. It consisted of a small bedroom that also served as a kitchen, and the toilet was shared. You had to go to a public bathhouse to take a shower.
Li Zhen thought it was pretty good, but Li Jin and Zhao Sufang couldn't stand it anymore and forced them to move their new home after the wedding to the three bungalows that Li Xiangdong had bought.
These three dilapidated bungalows are located very close to the earthquake bureau, but have been renovated inside.
The bathroom is tiled and has a toilet installed. There is a separate kitchen and bathroom, underfloor heating, sofa, and bed, all of which are brand new.
Li Zhen thought it was a bit too extravagant, but Li Xiangdong disagreed, saying that the purpose of making money was to enjoy life.
Does he expect his loved ones to live in poverty even though he's made sack after sack of money?
Zhao Sufang bought a dragon and phoenix auspicious silk quilt cover at Yanjing Department Store. There was one bright red, one emerald green, one royal blue, and one golden yellow.
We bought another twenty catties of new cotton and together with Li Lan, Li Ying, Grandma Jiang, and Zhou Hongmei, we made four thick quilts, which are now neatly stacked on the bed.
A bright red pillowcase depicting mandarin ducks playing in the water was placed on the pillow and neatly arranged on top of the quilt.
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