Nianzi Mountain Village. The Li Family’s New House!
When Li Yi saw Wang Anguo and Li Gang off and returned to the room, he overheard Tang Xue and Third Sister whispering to each other about something.
Seeing him walk in, the two stopped talking in perfect unison.
Li Yi asked curiously, “What were you two whispering about? Why did you stop the moment I walked in?”
Tang Xue didn’t answer his question, but instead said to Li Yi, “Why don’t you go visit Second Sister’s place today?”
“Why?”
“Could you bring Second Sister and Ningning over to stay with us for a few days? I miss them!” Tang Xue said.
“Um… since when have you gotten so close to Second Sister?”
Tang Xue blushed slightly, then said, “Isn’t it natural that we’re close? Second Sister and Ningning have been here with me all summer, helping me pick mushrooms. Just tell me—are you going or not?”
“I’ll go! I’ll fill up the water jar, then go home to hitch up the cart, and head to Yaogou Village!”
With that, Li Yi put on his cotton gloves, hoisted the carrying pole with the tin bucket, and headed out the door.
As soon as Li Yi left, the two women in the room started whispering to each other again!
By the time Li Yi returned with the water, Third Sister had already left, and only Tang Xue remained in the room.
After pouring one bucket of water into the water jar, Li Yi carried the other bucket to the corner of the room, where it would be easier to use.
After warming himself up a bit, Li Yi finally asked, “Why did you suddenly decide to have me pick up Second Sister and Ningning?”
“Can’t I miss them?” Tang Xue retorted.
“I know you too well. You’re always afraid of bothering others. Even if you really missed them, you wouldn’t have asked me to go pick them up on your own!” Li Yi said with a smile.
Tang Xue pouted and said, “You’re just too clever—you see right through everything. You’re definitely going to have me wrapped around your little finger from now on!”
“Heh, even the smartest people have a weak spot—and you’re mine!”
As he spoke, Li Yi glanced at Tang Xue’s prominently rounded belly and added, “And so are they!”
Tang Xue couldn’t handle such blatant sweet talk; her pretty face instantly flushed crimson.
“You’re such a smooth talker!”
“Alright, what’s the situation?” Li Yi asked again.
“It’s nothing much. You’re going to Beijing in a few days, so I thought I’d have Second Sister stay with me for a while!” Tang Xue said.
“Why Second Sister? Isn’t Third Sister still at home?” Li Yi asked curiously.
“Na… Na wants to go to Beijing with you!” Tang Xue said.
“What’s she going to the capital for? Just to buy clothes? I can just buy them for her when I get there…”
Before he could finish, Tang Xue immediately cut in, “What do you mean, buy clothes? Na Jie is going to find a man!”
“Snap!”
Li Yi felt like his whole world was shattering. Third Sister looking for a man—and in the capital, no less? Was this some kind of joke?
His third sister was definitely a progressive, modern woman. She hadn’t married once in her previous life—so why had she suddenly decided to look for a man now?
Besides, why did she have to go all the way to Beijing to find a man? Couldn’t she just find one in the village?
“What’s really going on?” Li Yi asked immediately.
“It’s really nothing much, it’s just that Third Sister…”
Then, Tang Xue explained in detail to Li Yi that Li Na had fallen for Long Zhanjun.
After hearing Tang Xue’s story, Li Yi felt completely dumbfounded!
Third Sister actually has a crush on Long Zhanjun?
How on earth did that happen? In their past lives, they were as different as chalk and cheese. In this life, they’d barely met once, and yet his own older sister had already taken a shine to him?
Seeing Li Yi’s furrowed brow and silent expression, Tang Xue asked nervously, “You… you don’t oppose Third Sister liking Brother Long, do you?”
“Uh… no, I’m just a little taken aback right now!”
Then Li Yi asked again, “Is Third Sister serious? Does she know about Da Long’s family situation?”
“She does. I’ve already told her, but Sister Na doesn’t seem to mind. I think she’s serious!” Tang Xue said.
Hearing this, Li Yi fell deep in thought.
Come to think of it, the two of them actually made a pretty good match. Third Sister had a stubborn and feisty personality, and in her previous life, she’d carried a lifetime of guilt over Tang Xue’s death.
After leaving home, she never returned and never married, living out her life in solitude.
Long Zhanjun was much the same. Dragged down by Wu Dabaozi, he ended up behind bars.
Upon his release, he found that both his mother and younger sister had passed away. Deeply tormented by guilt, he too remained unmarried for the rest of his life—a man of profound passion and integrity.
Most importantly, Long Zhanjun had been by Li Yi’s side for decades; Li Yi knew his character well. If Third Sister were to be with him, she wouldn’t be at a loss!
“What exactly do you mean? Do you approve of them being together?” Tang Xue asked again.
Li Yi shook his head and said, “What difference does it make whether I agree or not? They have to be interested in each other first!”
“That’s true, which is why Third Sister wants to go to the capital. If you don’t object, you should create the right conditions for them!” Tang Xue said.
“I don’t really object… Never mind. Since Third Sister has her heart set on it, I’ll make it happen for her!”
Hearing this, Tang Xue smiled happily. “That’s the spirit!”
Li Yi chuckled and said, “I knew it. Why else would she suddenly ask me to bring Second Sister back? This must be Third Sister’s idea!”
“Hmm, but I really do miss Ningning too!”
“Alright then, I’ll go pick up Second Sister right now. You stay home and take it easy—if anything comes up, just wait for me to get back!”
Then Li Yi added, “There’s still snow on the ground that hasn’t melted yet. Don’t go outside unless you have to!”
“Okay!”
Li Yi then added some large pieces of coal to the stove, poured Tang Xue a cup of hot water, and set off toward the old house.
Back at the old house, Li Yi saw his third sister feeding the big yellow dog.
When she saw Li Yi, she immediately set down the dog bowl and started to go inside.
“Wait, come here. I need to ask you something!”
To be honest, this matter had genuinely startled Li Yi, so his tone grew much more serious as he spoke.
Hearing the tone in his voice, Li Na stopped immediately and said nervously, “What do you want to ask?”
“Long Zhanjun—are you serious?” Li Yi asked sternly.
“If I’m not serious, do you think I’m just messing around?” Li Na retorted immediately.
“I know Long Zhanjun pretty well. His character, personality, and abilities are all top-notch. If the two of you really end up together, that wouldn’t be a bad thing,” Li Yi said.
“So you agree to let me go to Beijing?”
“If you want to go, then go!”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Yongzi will be here in a bit to arrange a ride. He’ll take Zhang Xinyao and Feng Qian to the commune to get their letters of introduction. You should go with them and get yours too!” Li Yi instructed.
“Alright!”
Seeing his third sister’s delighted expression, Li Yi shook his head without saying a word. Instead, he turned and walked straight to the front gate, pulling the bright red mule tied under the big elm tree inside.
After harnessing the mule, he said a quick goodbye to his mother and set off for Yaogou Village, where his second sister lived!