Chapter 111: Higher Expectations

Seeing his wife eating with such delight, Li Sheng beamed.

"Do you like it that much?"

"Yes. It's a little spicy, but it’s packed with flavor."

"Don't worry. I'll catch them for you often so you can eat your fill."

It was a pity, however, that Li Sheng would soon have to break his word. That morning, he received notice that the transport team would be fully operational after the Lunar New Year, and he had been assigned a new route. The round trip would take about a month. So much for catching fish for his wife every day—or having fish soup, for that matter. In truth, they hadn't even had the chance to do that since that first day.

The children had returned to school, his older sister had long since gone back to her husband’s home, and now his eldest son was heading out on the road. Suddenly, the entire Li household felt much quieter and more desolate.

In the past, Li Sheng had always felt calm before setting off on a haul. Every trip lasted months, and while he would miss his family, he was never overly distressed. After all, this job was hard to come by and had essentially saved the Li family, so he had always been diligent and truly passionate about his work. But now, he had a wife. Particularly over the last two months—from before the New Year until now—the two had been inseparable, glued to each other’s side. The sudden prospect of leaving for over a month stirred an indescribable, unsettling emotion within him.

When he told the family he was leaving the next day, his mother simply nodded and turned quietly to pack his belongings. Tang Xin, however, was clearly stunned. "Didn't you say there would be a month of rest after the New Year before work officially started?"

"That's right," Li Sheng explained gently. "But it's already been almost a month. In previous years, we’ve always hit the road after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month."

Tang Xin understood the reality of it; in the future, most units went back to work by the eighth day, and companies rarely gave more than a week of holiday. But the young couple was so deeply in love that, upon hearing he would be gone for over a month starting tomorrow, she couldn't help but feel dispirited. Pouting, she hugged her husband’s arm and acted spoiled. "Brother Li Sheng, I don't want to leave you. I don't want to be apart from you for even a single day."

Hearing this, Li Sheng felt a rush of sweetness in his heart, though he whispered, "I don't want to either, but there's nothing we can do."

Tang Xin suddenly said willfully, "Then I'll go with you."

Li Sheng just looked at her steadily, saying nothing. Setting aside the fact that there was no such rule, he wouldn't have agreed to it even if it were possible. The journey involved sleeping in the truck and eating at irregular hours, exposed to the elements. He had to endure it for the sake of his job and his family, but how could he bear to let his wife suffer such hardships?

Tang Xin realized her words were unreasonable. She sighed, but held his waist even tighter. Though the couple stopped speaking, the atmosphere between them remained thick with emotion.

Mother Li had intended to help her eldest son pack, but remembered he was a married man now; as a sensible old woman, she wouldn't intrude on their room. She prepared other items, leaving the personal things like clothing for his wife to handle. Yet, she had something to tell him. Seeing the two of them clinging to each other, she finally had to play the villain. After a cough, and once they had separated, she said, "Li Sheng, go tell the Captain and the others to come over for dinner tonight."

Every year before he departed, Li Zhirong and his wife would host the Captain for a meal, as Li Sheng’s work was under his leadership. This year, it was even more necessary, given that the Captain and his wife had brought over dozens of catties of grain—and more than once. Mother Li had tried to decline, but the Captain's wife insisted it was for the Li family’s educated-youth daughter-in-law, to thank her for saving their grandson. Mother Li couldn't refuse; the fine grains were clearly meant for Tang Xin. So, she wanted to prepare a proper feast. Besides, Hong Juhua’s child was now fully recovered and lively, so he should be invited too.

When Gu Laosan came to deliver vegetables and heard Li Sheng was leaving, he offered his usual earnest advice: take care of himself on the road, as money was secondary and personal safety was what mattered most. Father Li invited Gu Laosan and Gu Nan to join them for dinner as well. The father and son had spent the New Year with the Li family, but Gu Laosan was a proud man who felt they had already eaten too much of the Li family’s food and had refused to come over since the fifth day.

It was only a matter of two extra sets of bowls and chopsticks; a large family like theirs could certainly spare a meal for two people. Mother Li felt the house had been less lively lately and was glad to set two tables tonight. Thinking again that her eldest son would be gone for one or two months, her mood clouded over. She had been hoping the couple would be inseparable every day, and such a long separation would surely delay the birth of a grandchild.

Li Kai was also having a hard time. During the New Year, his older brother had taken him to the city to meet Chen Liguo. Because a sister-in-law couldn't easily discuss certain matters, his brother—who had a solid bond with Chen—had taken the lead. Li Sheng had entrusted Li Kai to Chen Liguo to learn the ropes. Surprisingly, his younger brother, who always tried to slack off when working the fields, was quite capable when it came to business. He was also studying hard, learning to read and use an abacus, planning for his future in earnest.

Suddenly, Li Sheng recalled what his wife had said: The current state of the country was surely temporary and would change. A nation as large as theirs could not rely solely on agriculture. The old goal was just to be fed and clothed, but now people demanded more. To be better fed and better clothed, the country’s economy would need significant progress, and the market would eventually open up to meet those needs.

His wife had been subtle, but Li Sheng understood, having heard similar sentiments from his friend. Now that he knew of Li Kai’s progress, he checked in with his friend again. There were 365 trades, and a master in each; perhaps his younger brother really could become a businessman. Li Sheng did not know that Li Kai possessed a natural aptitude for business and would eventually build a vast corporate empire from scratch.

Of course, that was for the future. For now, Li Kai knew his brother was leaving. Fearing that he, as an outsider, might not be able to visit Chen Liguo as frequently, he felt a bit anxious. At the same time, having matured significantly of late, Li Kai patted his chest and said to Li Sheng, "Brother, when you’re gone, I’m the man of the house. Don't worry, I’ll be a real man and look after everyone."