The sun climbed higher, and the temperature rose with it, waves of heat shimmering in the air.
In his previous life, as an old man, Li Xiangdong was used to basking in the winter sun with the neighborhood's elderly folks. That habit made him sit on the stone steps by the door until the heat got to him, snapping him out of it.
He cursed himself inwardly for being foolish. Reborn as a young man, why the hell was he sunbathing? In this scorching summer, no less—what was wrong with him?
His mindset needed to stay young. He wasn't an old man anymore!
"Third Uncle, the table's clean."
"Me and Sister worked hard, got all the snot off the back."
His two nieces, faces flushed from working under the sun, came up to him, bragging about their efforts, worried he wouldn't be satisfied. They were still counting on that cream ice cream.
"Is that so?"
Li Xiangdong went to check. They'd done a thorough job.
"Alright, I'll head to the co-op later to get you two some cream ice cream."
"Sweet, Third Uncle!"
Li Xiaomei and Li Xiaolan were overjoyed, thrilled to get what they wanted.
Li Xiaotao and his two younger brothers were cooling off under the jujube tree, squatting together and chattering about poking at ant nests for fun. Hearing Li Xiangdong mention the co-op, they all turned their heads.
Only Li Xiajiang stayed under the pomegranate tree across the yard, still sulking.
Seeing his second nephew staring, Li Xiangdong said, "Xiaotao, come with me inside."
"Coming, Third Uncle!"
Li Xiaotao jumped up, grinning as he followed Li Xiangdong into the west wing.
Inside, Li Xiangdong saw his daughter sprawled out on the kang, still asleep.
"Why's Xiaoqi still sleeping? Shouldn't you wake her? She sleeps so much during the day, she'll be up all night making a fuss."
Zhou Yuqin gave him a look. Her husband always talked big . They'd had two kids, and she'd long seen through him. When the kids were sweet and playful, he'd mess around with them for a bit. When they threw tantrums, he'd vanish faster than anyone.
Their daughter was sleeping soundly now. Waking her would mean crying, and he wouldn't help—leaving her to deal with it.
Ignoring him, Zhou Yuqin's gaze shifted to their nephew, worried he'd pick up bad habits from her husband. She couldn't face her brother- and sister-in-law if that happened.
"Xiaotao, don't always hang around your Third Uncle. You're on summer break—spend some time with your books. Study hard, and you'll make something of yourself."
"No big deal, Third Aunt. I like hanging with Third Uncle. He's great to us—promised me a milk ice pop, too. Plus, I don't like studying. Books make me sleepy, and I can't remember what the teacher says. Mom says I'm built for hard labor, born to deliver coal."
Li Xiaotao grinned carelessly, blurting out even what his mom said, completely unguarded.
Reading between the lines, Li Xiangdong knew his wife was aiming that at him, afraid he'd lead their nephew astray.
Looking at his dim-witted nephew, he thought being a bit slow wasn't so bad—at least he lived carefree.
Unlike himself, too smart for his own good and always weighed down.
"I asked Xiaotao to help move the table."
Li Xiangdong explained briefly. They had plenty of time ahead—his wife would come to see him differently.
Clearing the teapot and cups off the table, he gestured for his nephew to help lift.
"Third Uncle, I got this. Watch me."
Li Xiaotao hoisted the table with both hands, no help needed, and huffed his way toward the living room.
Watching his goofy nephew, Li Xiangdong silently admired his sister-in-law's insight. She knew her kid best—this boy's build was perfect for hauling coal.
And so it went. Li Xiaotao stumbled through middle school, and Father Li pulled strings to get him a job at the coal shop. But his slow mind couldn't handle delicate tasks, so he ended up delivering coal.
With brute strength, he earned a decent living for a few years, but when the coal shop closed, he had no skills and worked as a laborer on construction sites. His parents, worried he'd ruin his health young, had him join his brother Li Xiaojiang.
Li Xiaojiang didn't have steady work either—tough luck, caught in the layoffs of the '90s'. Even the capable Li family were just ordinary folks, powerless against history's tide.
Li Xiajiang turned to reselling, shuttling clothes from the south to the capital. He was happy to bring his brother along. Traveling far with money was safer with two, and Xiaotao could carry the heavy loads.
Li Xiangdong strolled leisurely out of the room to the rosewood table, waiting for his second nephew to help move it to his room.
"Third Uncle, let me help."
Li Xiaojiang shuffled over, head down.
Li Xiangdong had been curious how long his eldest nephew would hold out. Seeing him come around, he said, "If you did it, Hold your head up. No shame in admitting it. If you care about your pride, don't do gross stuff."
"Got it, Third Uncle."
"Come on, let's finish up. Third Uncle's treating you all today."
Done, Li Xiangdong was sweaty. He went to the tap, wet a rag, and wiped himself down.
Feeling the kids' eyes on him, he knew what was up and headed out.
The kids followed as he walked toward the gate.
"Stay home, don't leave the courtyard, got it? I'm going to the co-op to get your ice pops."
"Got it, Third Uncle."
"We won't leave the gate. We'll wait here."
"Third Uncle, don't forget—mine's a milk ice pop."
The kids stood inside the gate, dancing with excitement.
"Third Uncle, I'm coming with you."
Li Xiaojiang shooed his siblings back into the yard, closed the gate, and jogged to catch up.
"Third Uncle, can you not scold me in front of the others?"
Li Xiangdong said casually, "What, I can't say a word to you now?"
"No, it's just… I…"
Li Xiaojiang stammered, unsure how to explain.
"Alright, I get it. I'll save your face next time."
Li Xiangdong noticed his nephew's Adam's apple—puberty had hit.
As someone who'd been there, he knew too well. Parents back then relied on force—spare the rod, spoil the child. He'd been raised with his dad's beatings.
"You're growing up. If you've got thoughts you can't share with your parents, come talk to Third Uncle."
"Got it. Thanks, Third Uncle."
Li Xiangdong switched gears. "Any girls you like at school?"
Li Xiaojiang's face turned beet red, stuttering, "N-no… Third Uncle, what're you talking about?"
Li Xiangdong smirked. His nephew clearly had a crush—his face gave it away.
"What's her name?" he pressed.
Li Xiaojiang hesitated but finally spilled his secret.
Li Xiangdong listened. It wasn't the name of his future niece-in-law.
Tch, tch…
So this girl was his nephew's teenage sweetheart, his white moonlight.