Chapter 54: I’ll Tickle You to Death!

Ah Zhe lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked up at Hou San, who was scratching his head with a bewildered expression. He had to admit that what Li Xiangdong said made a lot of sense.

He said to Hou San from the bottom of his heart, “You’re so lucky.”

Hou San didn’t understand what Li Xiangdong had said, but he understood Ah Zhe’s words.

“Everyone says so. Ah Zhe, are you jealous of me?”

Ah Zhe retorted, “I’m jealous of your grandpa!”

Hou San said with a “tch,” “My grandpa is the deputy station master of Beijing Railway Station. It’s no use for you to be jealous. It’s not like you can become one, can you?”

Ah Zhe said angrily, “Is that what I meant? Your grandpa!”

Hou San said anxiously, “Ah Zhe, are you cursing me? Your grandpa! Your grandpa!”

Seeing the two of them full of fighting spirit, looking like they could start a fight at any moment, Li Xiangdong quickly pushed them apart.

Although there was no one in the corridor now, given the Chinese people’s love for watching a spectacle, he dared to guarantee that if the two of them started a commotion, a circle of people would gather around them in less than two minutes!

Li Xiangdong didn’t want to be praised one moment and criticized the next.

He said in a low voice, “Don’t you two know what shame is? Both of you, shut up!”

Ah Zhe and Hou San both snorted, stood on either side of Li Xiangdong, and ignored each other.

Passing through the corridor and opening the door, they came outside the building.

A smell of earth rushed to their faces. The dry air of Beijing seemed to have been filtered and was now exceptionally fresh.

Although the rain had stopped, the sky was still a bit gloomy.

The three stood outside. Li Xiangdong took the Daqianmen cigarette that Ah Zhe handed him, lit it, and held it in his mouth. He took his bundle of clothes from Hou San’s hand.

He looked at Ah Zhe and sighed, “Your dad’s leg is more accurate than the weather forecast on the radio. It rains when he says it will. In the future, if your dad isn’t feeling well, remember to tell me in advance.”

Ah Zhe said with shame and annoyance, “Dongzi, if you have nothing to say, just shut up and go home!”

Hearing a topic that interested him, Hou San turned his head, forgetting the argument with Ah Zhe just now, and shamelessly sidled over to ask, “Ah Zhe, what’s wrong with your dad’s leg?”

Ah Zhe ignored him. Hou San then moved closer to Li Xiangdong, “Brother Dong, tell me, will you? If I don’t find out, I won’t be able to sleep tonight!”

Li Xiangdong smiled, “Don’t ask me. If you want to know, go ask Ah Zhe yourself.”

After speaking, he left directly. It was much better to go home and accompany his wife than to chat with two single men.

“Ah Zhe, quick, tell me, what’s wrong with your dad’s leg?”

“Say something! If you don’t, I’ll be itching with curiosity!”

“I’ll tickle you to death!”

“Ah Zhe~ I’m itching inside~”

“Then stand still, I’ll scratch it for you. Hey~ don’t run away!”

Listening to the conversation between the two behind him, Li Xiangdong marveled at the wonders of the Creator. The world was full of strange and wonderful things.

The diversity of species was vividly displayed in Ah Zhe and Hou San!

The distance from the train station to his home was all concrete and brick roads.

But now, with Beijing’s inadequate underground drainage system, the low-lying areas on the roadside were all filled with water.

Li Xiangdong was in a great mood at this moment. Wearing his rain boots, he deliberately looked for puddles to step in!

He swaggered all the way back to the alley where his home was located. After the heavy rain, many of the nearby neighbors came out to sweep the accumulated water at their doorsteps.

Since it was still working hours, most of the people doing the work were women who were at home.

When they saw Li Xiangdong wearing a brand-new railway uniform, carrying a coat in his hand, and with a bulging cloth bag and another bag whose contents were unknown, their faces showed expressions of surprise and envy.

“Dongzi, how come you’re wearing a railway uniform?”

“Dongzi, you’ve made it now. This railway uniform looks so sharp on you. This coat of yours is really nice!”

“How come you brought back so many things? Dongzi, are you tired? Do you need your auntie to help you carry them back?”

The women put down their brooms one after another and soon surrounded Li Xiangdong. Their various questions came one after another.

At this moment, Li Xiangdong couldn’t leave even if he wanted to. The key was that there were some who couldn’t keep their hands to themselves, coming up to touch his clothes, saying the material was good as they touched it!

Mother Li was at the entrance of her own home, sweeping the fallen leaves blown by the wind and the accumulated water at the doorway.

She heard the noisy chatter from not far ahead, looked up, and saw a lot of people gathered together. She thought there was some excitement to watch.

She quickly put down her broom and walked over. When she saw her third son surrounded by the neighbors from left and right, she exploded!

“What are you doing! What do you want, surrounding our third son?!”

The noisy women surrounding Li Xiangdong, after a brief silence, quickly moved closer to Mother Li and surrounded her.

“Auntie Li, your Dongzi has gone to work on the railway?”

“Didn’t Dongzi get arranged by the street office to pop popcorn? Sister-in-law Li, did your family pull some strings?”

“Dongzi’s personality is not the same as before. He’s as shy as a young girl now. He doesn’t say anything when you ask him.”

“What are you talking about? Dongzi has become sensible. He knows to avoid suspicion with us.”

When Mother Li was first surrounded, her head was still muddled. She thought her third son had gotten into some big trouble!

But when she heard the questions from her old sisters with whom she often chatted, she slowly understood what was going on.

“Our family doesn’t have that kind of ability to arrange for Dongzi to work in the railway system. This was originally arranged by the street office! You can’t just talk nonsense!”

“Who said our Dongzi was going to pop popcorn? I’ll see who dares to spread rumors again. I’ll go to their house and tear their mouth apart!”

Mother Li said these harsh words with a smile on her face. If this matter wasn’t cleared up today, who knows what it would be rumored to be tomorrow!

“Auntie Li, look at what you’re saying. We watched Dongzi grow up. How could we spread gossip about him?”

“That’s hard to say. Just the other day, Huaizi’s mom was telling me that Dongzi was unpromising and was arranged by the street office to pop popcorn.”

“Less of your damn nonsense! When did I ever say that? Sister-in-law Li, don’t listen to her nonsense.”

“If it wasn’t you, who could it be? It’s just that I didn’t believe it. I knew our Dongzi was clever since he was little and would definitely be arranged a good job. Now look, isn’t he working in the railway system?”

Just as Mother Li was surrounded by the crowd, Li Xiangdong took the opportunity to slip away, running all the way to his doorstep in one breath.

He looked back and saw Mother Li still standing in the crowd, enjoying the compliments from others with a smile on her face.

When she spoke to others, her voice was extremely high, and her tone was full of pride!

Li Xiangdong could hear clearly even from such a distance. His mother was saying that he had been an obedient, smart, sensible, and caring good child since he was little…

Hearing this, he himself felt flushed with embarrassment!

………

ps: Today is the God of Wealth Festival

Wishing all book friends great and small wealth, wealth from all eight directions!

A smooth career without worries, and happiness and good luck for the family!

Hope everyone can get rich and be loved!

Receiving the fortune of wealth~