Zanthoxylum bungeanum

Chapter 9 Dad Won't Harm You
It was past five o'clock when dinner was ready, so Li Yan went to the room to help her mother come to the kitchen for dinner.

"Mom, where's Dad?" Li Yan asked who didn't see him.

Li Yan's mother sighed heavily, "Where can he go, isn't it to Wang Mazi's house to play cards."

Pingya Village used to be considered a medium-sized village, with eight or ninety households and several chess and card rooms. Later, the young people went out to work and were reluctant to come back. After earning money, they all bought commercial houses in the county and settled down.

Now there are only about [-] households left, and no one has opened a chess and card room. The men in the village who like to play cards gather at the home of the bachelor Wang Mazi, and the winners give him some money for tea.

"Lingling, go to the door and watch, mom and sister have a few words." Li Yan's mother was not in the mood to eat.

Li Ling responded with a cry and went out with the bowl in hand.

"Swallow, here you are." Mom took out a small bag wrapped in plaid from her pants pocket and handed it over.

Li Yan opened the cloth bag that was warmed by her body temperature, and inside was a stack of money.

"Swallow, there are more than 600 yuan in it. You can take the money and go. My mother gave birth to your two sisters. When your grandparents were alive, I did not suffer less. Your father beat me when he drank too much. Now he wants you to marry me. A person who is the same as him, I don't agree." Li Yan's mother thought about her past days, her nose became sour, and her eyes turned red.

Usually, my father manages the money at home, and I don't know how long my mother has saved the money. Li Yan wrapped the money again, "Mom, I took the money, and I planned it the same way. You take good care of your health at home. If the injury is not good, don’t go to the field. When I have money, I will buy a house outside and take you out to live.”

Li Yan's mother reached out and touched her daughter's head, "Son, you must take good care of yourself when you go out."

My mother is only 40 years old this year, and her face is covered with sunburn and wrinkles around her eyes due to excessive labor in the fields. Li Yan felt uncomfortable and leaned her head on her shoulder, "Mom, you must take care of her too." Myself, when I earn money, I will be filial to you."

Li Yan's mother rubbed her eyes, "You just need to live well outside. Mom will not die of hunger at home, so don't worry."

Li Yan knew that her mother was reluctant to part with her, and was thinking of comforting her when she heard Li Ling's voice.

"Dad, you're back."

Li Xiangming frowned and looked at his little daughter, "How old are you, do you want to drop by with your job?"

"Dad, my sister made scrambled eggs tonight. I was thinking about finding you for dinner." Li Ling rolled her eyes and made up a random excuse.

Li Xiangming became happy, "Ling'er has grown up, and already knows how much she loves her father."

Li Yan put away the money, stood up and filled the pot with noodles.

"Ling'er, go and get out Dad's wine, and bring some peanuts over to drink." Li Xiangming entered the kitchen, saw that there was indeed a bowl of scrambled eggs with leeks on the dining table, and opened the stool to sit down and order his little daughter to do things.

Li Yansheng handed over a bowl of noodles, "Dad, eat first." Li Xiangming didn't answer, took out a cigarette and lit it, "Put it on hold, Dad will discuss something with you."

After putting the noodle bowl on the table, Li Yancai looked at him, "What's the matter?"

Li Xiangming sighed, "Yanzi, everyone in the village says you're bad, you can't live here, Dad is thinking about finding a good family for you again, you should get married."

"I'm not married, so I can't live here, so I'll go out to work. Didn't you say, three or four thousand a month." Li Yan replied coldly.

Li Xiangming looked at his daughter, "Girls always want to marry. You have a bad reputation now, so you might as well get married while you are young."

Li Yan was secretly annoyed, but she didn't want to talk to him anymore, "I'll think about it."

Li Ling took the wine and poured a glass, Li Xiangming took a sip, "Swallow, don't worry, Dad won't hurt you."

Li Yan was silent.

(End of this chapter)