Rebirth of Siheyuan: Starting from escaping famine in 42

An hour later, Li Qingfeng leaned on the head of the kang and lit a cigarette comfortably.

Wu Lirong, covered in sweat, lay in Li Qingfeng's arms, shyly burying her head in Li Qingfeng's arms, her little rosy face looking so pretty.

Wu Lirong said weakly, "Brother Qingfeng, after dinner, you told our father that you were leaving, but I didn't understand."

Li Qingfeng exhaled a puff of green smoke from his mouth and continued, "Lirong, I told you, don't tell anyone."

"Yes!" Wu Lirong said, and then said: "Brother Qingfeng, don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

Li Qingfeng then told Wu Lirong about how his father was drafted into the army and how he joined the Red Party. He also explained to her how his father had asked for leave to attend their wedding and would leave after the wedding.

Upon hearing this, Wu Lirong leaned tighter into Li Qingfeng's arms and said softly, "Brother Qingfeng, the Japanese have surrendered now, and there is no war anymore. Our father will be safe."

When Li Qingfeng heard what Wu Lirong said, he just nodded slightly and did not respond to her.

She thought, the Japanese have surrendered now, but it won't be long before the civil war begins. This is Chinese people fighting Chinese people! Li Qingfeng couldn't tell her openly.

After finishing a cigarette, Li Qingfeng suppressed his annoyance and said softly to Wu Lirong: "Lirong, it's late, go to bed!"

"Yeah!" Wu Lirong responded softly, hugging Li Qingfeng's arm, and they both fell asleep in a short while.

 …

Early the next morning.

Li Qingfeng opened his eyes and saw that it was already bright outside. This was the first time Li Qingfeng got up so late.

Turning his head to look at Wu Lirong, he saw that she was still nestled in his arms, sleeping soundly. Li Qingfeng stared at her lovely sleeping face infatuatedly, as if he could never see enough of it.

Li Qingfeng watched for a long time before he slowly stood up. Seeing Wu Lirong moaning and about to wake up, he quickly stuffed his pillow into Wu Lirong's arms.

Looking at Wu Lirong hugging her pillow, rubbing her little face on the pillow, then turning over and falling asleep again.

Li Qingfeng got up, dressed, and went to the yard. He found that his father and brother were already up and were making breakfast in the kitchen.

He greeted the two and said, "Dad, why are you up so early?"

Seeing his brother's red and slightly swollen eyes, he asked, "Qingshan, what's wrong? Your eyes are swollen."

Li Qingshan did not respond to his elder brother's question, but just lowered his head to help light the fire.

Li Chengman lit a cigarette and said with a sad face: "Qingfeng, your brother told me last night that he wanted to follow me and join the army."

After hearing this, Li Qingfeng thought he had misheard, so he asked his father again: "Dad, Qingshan said he wants to join the army?"

Li Chengman nodded while smoking a cigarette, indicating that it was true and you didn't hear it wrong.

After confirming that his brother really wanted to join the army, Li Qingfeng lit a cigarette, took two deep puffs, and then asked his brother, "Qingshan, what do you think? Don't just do it on impulse."

After hearing his elder brother's question, Li Qingshan looked up after a long while, and said with red eyes: "Brother, I really want to join the army, it's not a spur-of-the-moment idea."

Li Qingfeng was a little annoyed when he heard this, and asked in a heavy tone: "But, Qingshan, do you know that war means death?"

Li Qingshan said with a firm look in his eyes: "Brother, I know that people will die in war, but I don't want to live a boring life all my life."

"I think you don't know how to appreciate your good fortune." Li Qingfeng looked at his father and asked him, "Dad, what do you think about Qingshan joining the army?"

Li Chengman finished smoking one cigarette, then lit another and said, "Qingfeng, I agree that your brother should join the army. He will be fine in the team with me taking care of him."

When Li Qingfeng heard that his father agreed to let his brother join the army, he didn't know what to say and went back to his room in a hurry.

Wu Lirong had already woken up, dressed and sat on the kang, folding the quilt. When she saw Li Qingfeng walking into the room angrily, she asked him, "Brother Qingfeng, what's wrong with you?"

Li Qingfeng sat down at the table, lit a cigarette, and then replied, "I was pissed off by Qingshan."

Upon hearing this, Wu Lirong asked curiously, "Isn't Qingshan very obedient and sensible? Why did he make you angry?" As she said that, she poured him a glass of water and placed it in front of him.

Li Qingfeng picked up the water cup and drank the water in one breath, then said, "He wants to go with our father and join the army."

"Ah!" Wu Lirong exclaimed, and then said: "No, why would Qingshan want to join the army when he is fine?"

Li Qingfeng said unhappily: "He said he didn't want to live a boring life."

"This, this." Wu Lirong didn't know what to say after hearing this, so she asked, "Brother Qingfeng, did our father agree that Qingshan should participate?"

"Yeah!" Li Qingfeng responded, and then he heard his father calling them to eat outside the house. He stood up and said to Wu Lirong, "Lirong, let's go out and eat first!"

When Wu Lirong heard that it was time to eat, she remembered her mother's instructions that the new daughter-in-law should offer tea to her father-in-law as soon as she got home, and also prepare the meal in advance. She had forgotten both of these things, so she carefully said to Li Qingfeng: "Brother Qingfeng, I didn't get up early to cook, and I haven't offered tea to my father yet. Do you think my father will blame me?"

Hearing this, Li Qingfeng looked at Li Rong's cautious look and laughed out loud.

Wu Lirong saw Li Qingfeng laughing at her, so she gently patted his arm twice and said shyly: "Brother Qingfeng, stop laughing and give me some advice."

Li Qingfeng looked at Li Rong's lovely appearance, gently rubbed her hair, and said with a smile: "It's okay, my father won't blame you. Besides, my father also knows what happened between us last night. Didn't you see that I got up late?"

When Wu Lirong heard this, her face turned red with embarrassment as she thought about what they had done in the room last night.

"Let's go and eat." Li Qingfeng took Lirong's little hand, walked out of the house and came to the kitchen.

Wu Lirong limped into the kitchen, blushing as she whispered to Li Chengman, "Dad."

Li Chengman looked at his eldest daughter-in-law and said happily, "Lirong, eat first."

"Yeah." Wu Lirong replied in a low voice.

After everyone finished breakfast, Wu Lirong and her younger brother Li Qingshan were cleaning up the dishes. They pushed the responsibility to each other, both wanting to go to the yard to wash the dishes.

It was Li Qingfeng who said, "Lirong, let Qingshan wash the dishes. You are not feeling well today."

"Oh!" Wu Lirong watched Li Qingshan carry the dishes and chopsticks out of the kitchen, and then she took a rag to wipe the kitchen. After wiping the kitchen, she went to clean each room. She was never idle at all.