Rebirth of Siheyuan: Starting from escaping famine in 42

After about twenty minutes, Li Qingfeng lifted the steamer onto the chopping board, took out the steamed buns to dry, then found two backpacks, put the salted duck eggs in the small baskets, and then put them into the backpacks.

The same goes for steamed buns. Put them in the basket first, and then put the basket of steamed buns into the backpack.

While his father was smoking with his head down and not paying attention to him, he took out two pieces of braised meat from the space, wrapped them in oil paper, and put them together with the steamed buns.

Li Qingfeng put all the remaining cigarettes at home into the backpack for his father, and wrapped 100 yuan in rags and put it in the backpack when his father was not paying attention.

I found two kettles, filled them with boiled water, and put them in the backpack. I also went to my brother's room, found a few good pairs of shoes and cotton-padded jackets and trousers for winter, and put them in a backpack.

Afterwards, Li Qingfeng thought about what else his father could take with him. He thought for a long time but couldn't think of anything. He decided to wait until his father left and then give him some change so that he could buy food on the way.

After a while, my younger brother Li Qingshan and his wife Wu Lirong also got up.

After everyone had finished breakfast, Li Qingshan still looked at his elder brother and everything in the yard with some reluctance.

Li Qingfeng smiled and said to his brother: "Qingshan, when you are in the team, you should listen more, talk less, and do more. And don't forget to study. Do you understand?"

Li Qingshan tried hard not to let his tears fall, nodded heavily, and said in a tearful voice: "I know, brother."

Li Chengman smoked a cigarette, stood up and said, "Okay, it's time to go." Then he said to his eldest son and daughter-in-law, "Qingfeng, Lirong, you two should live well. I believe that we will meet again in the near future."

Wu Lirong's eyes were red and she was speechless. She just nodded heavily.

Li Qingfeng smiled reluctantly and said, "Dad, Lirong and I are waiting for you and your brother to come back. Maybe when you come back, we'll have grandchildren." Then he took out 10 silver dollars and more than 300 French francs from his pocket and handed them to his father, saying, "Dad, take this little money. It will be used when you're away from home."

"Okay, Qingfeng, you are so thoughtful." Li Chengman put the money away, and after hearing what he said, he laughed and said, "Okay, I'll wait until I come back to hug my grandson."

After saying this, he picked up a backpack, went back into the house, put the bullets away, and placed the two Mauser pistols close to his body.

When he arrived at the yard, he nodded to his eldest son and his wife, then called out to his youngest son, "Qingshan, let's go."

After saying that, he walked out of the yard without looking back.

Li Qingshan first returned to his room with a backpack on his back, wrapped up his New Year's money and the money his eldest brother had given him, put it in the backpack, and stuffed a few picture books and his eldest brother's middle school books into the backpack. Then he left the room and said to his eldest brother and sister-in-law, "Brother, sister-in-law, I'm leaving."

Li Qingfeng said to his brother, "Qingshan, I put a hundred dollars in the basket that our father was carrying. Remember to tell him."

"I got it, brother." After saying that, Li Qingshan walked out of the house, trotted to catch up with his father, followed him with big strides, and looked back at his eldest brother and sister-in-law from time to time.

Li Qingfeng and his wife Wu Lirong stood at the door of their home, their faces filled with tears, watching their father and Li Qingshan slowly going away until they disappeared from view at the entrance of the alley. Only then did they close the door and go back into the house.

Wu Lirong snuggled in Li Qingfeng's arms and whispered, "Brother Qingfeng, Dad and Qingshan will be fine, right?"

Li Qingfeng hugged Wu Lirong tightly and said with certainty, "It will be fine. We are just waiting for them."

"Hmm!" Wu Lirong responded softly. After a while, she fell asleep in Li Qingfeng's warm and strong chest, and snored softly.

Li Qingfeng slowly picked up his wife Wu Lirong, gently put her on the bed, covered her with a thin blanket, kissed her on the forehead, and walked out of the room.

Li Qingfeng came to the yard, took out a cigarette and lit it, then looked in the direction his father and Qingshan were going, slowly becoming lost in thought.

 …

Li Qingshan has a really big heart. He was in tears when he walked out of the house just now, but now he is happily following Li Chengman, carrying stones on the road.

He suddenly remembered what his elder brother had said to him before he left the house, so he quickly came to his father's side, looked at the people passing by, and whispered to his father, "Dad, before I left the house, my elder brother told me that he put a hundred dollars in your backpack and asked you to keep it safe."

Hearing this, Li Chengman paused for a moment, then pretended not to care and continued walking. He said to his youngest son, "I see, Qingshan, hurry up. The road back home is still long."

After hearing this, Li Qingshan immediately thought of the route he and his elder brother had taken when they were fleeing famine. It was truly an tiring and hungry experience. Although they later took a train to Sijiu City, they also walked for several days before that. He said he really didn't want to walk back.

So he asked his father beside him with a forced smile, "Dad, shall we walk back to our hometown?"

Li Chengman smoked a cigarette, glanced at him sideways, and said unhappily: "If you don't walk back to your hometown, how else do you want to go back?"

Li Qingshan heard this and said as a matter of course: "Of course I'll take the train back home! If I walk back, it will take a long time!"

Li Chengman then asked: "You still want to take the train back? Do you have money? Why don't you say you want to take a plane back?"

Throwing away the shaking head in his hand, he continued, "Hurry up and go. If you don't want to walk, go home and find your brother."

After saying that, he strode forward, and soon he had left quite a distance between him and Li Qingshan.

Li Qingshan was dumbfounded. Seeing his father walking away, he quickly trotted to catch up, still shouting, "Dad, wait for me, wait for me!"

 …

Li Qingfeng finished a cigarette and came to his senses. While his wife Wu Lirong was asleep, he put the tables, chairs, benches, and bowls and chopsticks he had brought from his master's restaurant on a cart. He took three trips to bring these things back to the restaurant and put them back to their original positions.

Li Qingfeng left ten plates and six large bowls at home, just in case they might be needed in the future?

After finishing work in the restaurant, I returned home and saw Lirong was awake and feeding the two old hens in the yard.

When Wu Lirong saw Li Qingfeng coming back with the cart, she stepped forward to help push the cart into the carport and said, "Brother Qingfeng, the two old hens at home don't lay eggs anymore. Buy a few more when you have time!"

Li Qingfeng parked the cart, washed his hands and face, and then replied, "Okay! Take these two old hens with you when you return home tomorrow."

He lit a cigarette and continued, "After I get home, I'll go to the market to see if there's anything for sale. If not, I'll go to the countryside to look."

Wu Lirong heard that Brother Qingfeng said he would take both old hens when he returned home, and said with a smile: "Brother Qingfeng, you are so kind to me. I will make lunch for you."

As soon as she finished speaking, she hurried into the kitchen to make lunch for Brother Qingfeng.