Chapter 11: Building Two New Rooms

Li Xian could hardly contain his excitement.

Even before his transmigration, six hundred yuan was not a small amount for him. Moreover, with eggs costing only sixty to seventy cents per pound and building a room costing less than three thousand yuan in 1992, it was a significant sum.

More importantly, whether in this life or the previous one, this was the first money he had earned with his own hands and from his own city.

Carrying this joy, Li Xian headed back to the Eight-Nine Forest Farm.

After bouncing along the rugged mountain roads for over five hours, he arrived home just in time for dinner. However, when he returned the tricycle to Gao Ming and walked home with Li Pi, he found that dinner was not yet ready.

Only the old man, Li Daoyun, and Li Lingling were in the kitchen, eating vegetable soup with rice.

"Grandpa, where are my parents?"

Li Xian, who had rushed home and hadn't eaten lunch, grabbed a large bowl from the rack and moved next to Li Daoyun while scooping rice from the pot.

Li Daoyun pointed west with his chopsticks. "They went to fetch Wang Feng."

Li Xian held his bowl and suddenly remembered that his troublesome sister-in-law had been at her parents' home for almost ten days.

In fact, Li You and Zou Ni had already gone to the Wang family twice to fetch Wang Feng, but the goal of building a new house was clear, and Wang Feng was adamant.

Her demands were clear and rigid: without two new rooms, she would not return!

For this reason, Li You had gone personally twice with no results. The atmosphere at home had been very tense lately, but Li Xian had been so focused on his money-making endeavors that he hadn't paid much attention.

Realizing this, Li Xian put down his bowl and wiped his face with a towel.

"Grandpa, you eat first. I'll go take a look."

Seeing him stand up, Li Pi also set his bowl down. "I'll go too!"

…

Following the small path of the forest farm, Li Xian and Li Pi arrived at the Wang family's house in no time.

Although life had improved in recent years, the Wang family was still among the lower ranks in the forest farm.

Looking at the two-room thatched house where a family of nine lived, Li Xian couldn't help but think that Li Qing should have divorced and remarried by now. With everyone squeezed into one bed, it wasn't that they hadn't endured hardship. Now, they still needed to build a new house.

From this perspective, Wang Feng did seem, as Li You said, to be too spoiled by a few days of full meals!

Accompanied by the barking of dogs, Li Xian and Li Pi entered the courtyard. Before they even reached the house, they could hear the commotion inside.

It was Wang Feng's voice.

"Dad, Mom. Stop talking, it's useless! Yes, Li Lingling is being supported by you now. But how many years can you support her? I'm not mocking anyone, but your second and fourth sons are grown-ups. They should have their own families, and it's enough for you.

By the time Li Lingling goes to school, won't it still be me paying for it? As a grown-up daughter, if I'm going to be a stepmother in your house, shouldn't I plan for myself?

I'm not afraid of being laughed at. Let them laugh. I just want two new brick rooms. If they're built, I'll go back to live with Li Qing. If not, you can give me the paperwork; I don't see any future in this life.

By the way, if you don't have money, that's fine too. Although the old house is a bit old, it has two rooms, and the courtyard is spacious."

Inside the house, Li You and Zou Ni were speechless for a long time, followed by two sighs.

Hearing this, Li Xian's anger flared up instantly!

He might not be fully aware of the details of his elders' lives due to time, but he was very familiar with Li Lingling, his own cousin.

Since Li Lingling was two years old, and Li Qing and Wang Feng remarried, Wang Feng had never cared for Li Lingling even a little, not even with a needle and thread!

It was now 1992. After a little over a year, when Li Qing and Wang Feng's two sons were born one after another, Li Lingling had completely faded from this family. Although they lived in the same place, Li Lingling could only see Wang Feng and Li Qing during festivals at Li You's home.

Even Li Lingling's wedding dowry was prepared by Li You.

Despite being a stepmother, human feelings are not so easily ignored. Wang Feng's harshness and indifference towards Li Lingling made Li Xian feel cold-hearted back then.

But even though he disapproved, Li Xian was just a younger generation at that time.

Now, in this era, having changed his position, Li Xian could no longer tolerate it.

He kicked open the Wang family's door and, with the equally angry Li Pi, walked in.

This startled everyone in the room.

Seeing Li Xian's grim expression, Wang Feng's brothers jumped up in surprise. "Li Er, what are you doing?"

"Second, Fourth, why are you two here?" Li You and Zou Ni were also unexpectedly tense.

Li Xian directly ignored the farmers and nodded to his parents. He then turned to Wang Feng, who was sitting cross-legged on the kang. "Sister-in-law, have you made up your mind not to go back?"

Wang Feng looked at her younger brother-in-law with clear displeasure. "Whether I go back or not is not up to me. It depends on what your eldest brother and your family decide. Besides, why are you asking? Since when has it been your place to decide things at home?"

Li Xian chuckled and didn't respond to her retort. Instead, he turned to Li Qing. "Eldest brother, I'll ask you once. Do you want to continue living this way or not?"

Faced with his younger brother's public questioning, Li Qing's square face turned red to his neck. He struggled to say anything, only avoiding eye contact with Wang Feng.

Li Xian sighed inwardly.

Pathetic!

But thinking about it, in the relatively closed environment of the forest farm, Li Qing, who was already on his second marriage and not wealthy, actually had little choice.

Li Xian took a deep breath and understood from Li Qing's unspoken meaning: "Alright. I'll take charge of this family from now on!"

"You brat, what are you planning to do?" Li You, growing alarmed, got up from the kang.

"Sister-in-law, pack your things. The two old rooms in our house will be yours. Our two families will swap houses!" Li Xian declared, speaking clearly in front of everyone.

"Second Brother, you're crazy!" Li Pi, on the side, was panicked. "Our family of seven, excluding you and me who are at school, leaves five people. How are we supposed to live in one room at the eldest brother's house?"

Wang Feng was stunned for a moment, then a smile appeared on her face. "Old Second, you really mean to take over this house? Dad, Mom, what do you say?" She turned her gaze to Li You and Zou Ni.

Li You was about to speak when Li Xian cut him off. "Dad, just agree with me."

Li You looked at Li Qing, who was standing aside with a red face, and then at Li Xian, who was determined. He stomped his foot angrily and turned to leave. "Fine, do as you please!"

This helplessness and powerlessness made Li Xian feel a tinge of sadness. But it wasn't the time for such thoughts. He looked back at Wang Feng. "It's settled then!"

Wang Feng, overjoyed, jumped up from the kang. "Alright, you all go back and pack your things. I'll move tomorrow morning!"

…

All night, Li You and Zou Ni, both in tears, packed their belongings. Clearly, the whole family was resentful about moving.

Li Xian, who made this decision, became the target of most of the family's resentment. Even Li Pi, who usually sided with Li Xian, was grumbling as he swept the house he had lived in for years.

Old man Li Daoyun also sighed and complained, "Grandson, moving to the west end, the road to my coffin will be too long."

The old man was willing to part with the house but couldn't let go of his coffin.

Facing the family's misunderstanding, Li Xian quietly packed his things without saying a word.

The next morning, as soon as day broke, the sound of a tractor engine echoed outside.

Several of Wang Feng's brothers, along with Wang Feng, arrived with a truckload of pots, pans, and luggage. Seeing that the house had been packed up, they quickly began moving the items.

Seeing Wang Feng's delighted expression, Li Xian walked over to Li You, who was pushing the tricycle with a reluctant face.

"Dad, find a carpenter and a bricklayer."

Li You had not spoken to him since returning the previous day. Seeing Li Xian's new plan, he couldn't help but scold, "What do you need them for?!"

Li Xian smiled, "The eldest brother's house is too small for our family of seven. We need… to build two more brick rooms!"