It rained heavily for several days in a row, and Li Nanshan was always soaked every time he got home from get off work.
"Next time it rains this heavily, don't come back to save yourself the trouble of running back and forth." Tao Xiaoxi handed him a clean towel and scolded him, blaming him for his inflexibility.
"I can't sleep well if I don't come back. I had no choice before, but now my home is right in front of me, how can I not come back?" Li Nanshan said while wiping his hair.
Tao Xiaoxi looked at the pouring rain with worry, "What has God done? Is it because of a broken heart or a loss at cards that he's so angry!"
"What you said is interesting. It's enjoyable to listen to you." Li Nanshan said.
"I'm serious, no joke." Tao Xiaoxi frowned.
"Yeah, it's been a week and it hasn't stopped. We had a meeting today and they said they've issued a notice asking us to be on the lookout for floods and landslides."
"If a flood really hits, old houses like those in Mantou Village will be the first to be affected, and they are right at the foot of the mountain."
"Yes, we didn't have money before, so we built houses with mud, which couldn't withstand disasters." Li Nanshan also showed his worry.
"I'll go cook, you help Beibei with her homework." Tao Xiaoxi said.
"Okay." Li Nanshan walked towards Beibei.
Tao Xiaoxi didn't remind him that some things can only be deeply remembered after he has experienced them himself.
Half an hour later, Li Nanshan, sweating profusely, went to the kitchen to get some water and asked quietly, "Is Beibei having such a hard time studying? Is it because she can't learn the teacher's method?"
"There are students in their class who scored 100 points." Tao Xiaoxi confessed that the blame was not on the teacher.
"I'll try again." Li Nanshan finished drinking the water and prepared to try again.
Half an hour later, he was defeated.
Beibei seemed to realize it as well. She lowered her head, held the pen in her hand and said nothing, tears welling up in her eyes.
When Li Nanshan stood up to leave, he noticed something unusual about Beibei, so he sat down again and said to Beibei, "Beibei, tell Uncle Nanshan that you've tried your best, right?"
Beibei nodded.
"That's all. When you go to school, try to learn as many words as possible. Listen carefully to what you can understand, and don't force yourself if you don't. Even if you don't get into college, your mother and I can support you for the rest of your life. But Uncle Nanshan hopes that you will become a happy, healthy, and kind child. That's all that's needed."
Beibei looked at him.
"Do you understand? Just like Uncle Nanshan, I am good at painting, but I am not good at treating patients. Your mother can treat patients, but she is not good at painting. You are just not good at reading. It is not your fault. There is no need to blame yourself." Li Nanshan said softly.
"Daddy~"
"What did you call me?" Li Nanshan was stunned.
"Daddy~" Beibei called again.
"Hey! My dear girl, go and play, go and play." Li Nanshan rubbed his trouser legs excitedly with his hands and could no longer force Beibei to study.
He went straight to the kitchen and found his wife. "Guess what Beibei called me just now?"
"Brother Nanshan?" Tao Xiaoxi asked with a smile.
Li Nanshan rewarded her with a chestnut and said, "Yes, Daddy, girl, call me Daddy."
Tao Xiaoxi was startled, then deliberately said, "It's not your first day as a father. Doesn't Manman call you dad too?"
"That's different, that's different. Manman had no choice but to call me dad. But Beibei calls me dad because she weighed the pros and cons and felt that I was a qualified father. So this proves that I am a qualified father who is respected by her!"
"Congratulations, I'll add an extra dish tonight." Tao Xiaoxi also smiled.
"I'll go buy a bottle of wine and we'll have a drink tonight." Li Nanshan said this and walked out without waiting for Tao Xiaoxi to reply.
"Hey, it's raining outside, put on your raincoat."
“…”
"What a fool." Tao Xiaoxi looked at him who was so excited that he lost himself in excitement and laughed from the bottom of his heart.
In the evening, the family of four gathered around the table. Even Manman had her own exclusive place, no longer having to rely on her mother for a seat. Li Nanshan had made her a dining stool as tall as the table itself. There were four dishes on the table, both meat and vegetables, along with wine and an extra plate of peanuts. She watched as her father poured wine for her mother, and then her mother for her father. Even Beibei was allowed to drink soda by her mother. This scene was familiar to her. The last time she ate like this, the family had run out of food. But today, the heavy rain outside was pounding down, sounding both scary and strangely beautiful.
"Mom, is our family out of money again?" Beibei asked worriedly, not even daring to eat the meat in the bowl.
"What nonsense are you talking about? How could our family be without money?" Tao Xiaoxi smiled. The fact was that she was planning to buy a piece of land in the county town and build two houses. One would be used as a factory warehouse, and the other would be a villa for them to live in. It was time to move to the county town.
But Beibei was still worried and asked her father again, "Dad, did you lose your job?"
"No, Beibei, Dad has a good job and is taking orders from outside. Don't worry, our family can provide more than enough for you two sisters." Li Nanshan also said.
Beibei felt relieved now. He took a piece of meat in his hand and started eating it with relish.
"Have you noticed that Beibei has a strong sense of crisis?" Li Nanshan said secretly.
"You've noticed it too, right? I noticed it a long time ago. She's suitable for being a housekeeper. Maybe she can manage the pharmaceutical factory in the future."
"Then you can study management."
"I think it's okay."
The couple toasted to finally find Beibei's skill.
The people of Mantou Village didn't believe that the Taoli couple really had no sons. Even though Li Nanshan had a sterilization, they were still a little skeptical, thinking it was all a cover-up by Tao Xiaoxi. But now that Li Nanshan had graduated and had a decent job, and still hadn't had any children, they knew they couldn't have any more. If they did, Li Nanshan's job would be in jeopardy. The people of Mantou Village had to reassess Tao Xiaoxi. From her initial forbearance, cowardice, and silent submission, she has now become a bold, decisive, and righteous woman who has helped her village become prosperous. This woman is truly amazing, like a bodhisattva.
They finally cast aside their suspicion of Tao Xiaoxi and their distrust of a woman, and began to truly respect and love Tao Xiaoxi.
The one with the most integrity is Old Man Li. He still guards his own three-acre land and digs for food in the fields. When others are trying their best to make money, he regards money as dirt. Not only does he not go there himself, he also does not let his wife go there. But the strange thing is that he does not stop the eldest and second sons from going to Tao Xiaoxi to make money, and pretends not to know.
"Actually, your father is very cunning. Look at how much money we give him every year during the holidays. He and mother can never spend it all. When he is sick, his three sons pay for him, so he will never bow his head." Tao Xiaoxi saw through it at a glance.
Li Nanshan gave a thumbs up and said, "You are right. I hope you can be more magnanimous and not argue with my stubborn father."
"Don't worry about that. But, you won't be as stubborn as your father when you get old, right?" Tao Xiaoxi said worriedly.
"No, I have read more books than my father." Li Nanshan immediately expressed his attitude.
"Forget it. If you are so stubborn, you will be the one who is disliked, not me." Tao Xiaoxi said with a smile.
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