After the conversation, Father Li and the eldest and second brothers finished their meal and hurriedly left for work.
The more honest a person is, the more they fear being late for work, always feeling like everyone's eyes are on them.
Mother Li and the two sisters-in-law cleared the dishes, returned to their rooms to continue their chores—sweeping the kang, folding blankets, mending clothes—and then started preparing lunch. In this era, women, though most didn't work outside the home, were never idle.
The kids at home didn't have to go to school since summer vacation had just started. They were well-behaved, staying within the courtyard without adult permission, running around wildly and shouting with joy.
Zhou Yuqin, holding her sleeping daughter, went to the west wing. The little one was at that clingy age, unable to be apart for even a moment.
"Dongzi, come here."
Hearing his grandma call, Li Xiangdong entered the east room and saw Old Lady Li pull an egg from under the kang.
He'd completely forgotten about it, but Grandma still remembered.
She stuffed the egg into his hand. "Throw the eggshell in the alley, don't let your mom see."
After instructing him, she turned and pulled a blue checkered handkerchief from under the blanket, revealing a stack of money.
"Take this money. Grandma knows you don't have any. This is your grandpa's pension, just received. If it's not enough, come back and tell me."
Li Xiangdong quickly refused. "I can't take this. You and Grandpa keep it for yourselves."
Old Man Li said, "Take it. How much can your grandma and I spend? My pension's been saved up in the bank for you."
Hearing this, Li Xiangdong felt a pang in his heart. The old couple always thought of him, and he could only repay their love by being even more filial in the future.
The Li family hadn't split up. Each month, the eldest and second brothers contributed five yuan for food, keeping the rest for themselves.
Most household expenses were covered by Father Li; Old Man Li didn't bother with these. Over the years, fixing up the courtyard had cost him a lot, and only recently had he been able to save his pension.
Occasionally, he'd buy treats for the great-grandkids, but the rest was saved in the bank.
Old Lady Li urged him to take the money. "Listen, put it in your pocket quickly, don't let your mom or sisters-in-law see."
With things said like that, refusing would hurt his grandparents' feelings.
Besides, he was worried that if he kept declining and someone saw, his mom might just roll her eyes at him, but if his sisters-in-law saw, it could stir trouble.
Leaving the room, Li Xiangdong had an egg in his left pocket and money in his right.
He instantly felt more confident. As the old saying goes, money makes a man bold.
With nothing else to do, he stayed with his grandparents, chatting at the big dining table in the living room.
"Huh?"
He hadn't noticed during the meal, but now Li Xiangdong stared at the table, examining its patterned surface. He bent down to look underneath, then stood and circled it.
An early Ming Dynasty rosewood Eight Immortals table.
In his previous life, he didn't understand these things when young. Only in his forties did he start dabbling for fun, learning a bit about various antiques, though never mastering any.
But he could still recognize something this obvious.
He recalled that in his previous life, when his nephew Li Xiajiang got married and moved into the front room, Father Li had given him this table.
Later, when Li Xiaojiang and his wife bought new furniture, they burned the table as firewood.
What a sin!
Thinking of it now, Li Xiangdong's heart ached.
This time, he'd take care of his nephew's wedding furniture and claim the table for him.
But then, looking at the willow bench under him, he wondered, where were the matching stools?
He asked, "Grandpa, Grandma, where'd this table come from?"
Old Man Li said mysteriously, "You noticed, huh? It's a good piece, right?"
Li Xiaongdong was surprised. "Grandpa, you know about this stuff?"
"Don't listen to your grandpa," Old Lady Li chimed in, teasing her husband. "He doesn't know a thing. Don't let him fool you."
"What's that, you old woman?" Old Man Li was annoyed. "If I don't know, how do I know where this table came from?"
Old Lady Li saw her beloved grandson's curious expression and urged, "Old man, enough nonsense. Tell Dongzi the story."
Old Man Li coughed lightly, putting on airs.
Li Xiangdong, quick on his feet, grabbed an enamel mug, filled it with water, and placed it in front of his grandpa.
Old Man Li took a couple of sips, then said with a smug look, "During the chaos, the family across our alley got raided by the Red Guards. I picked up this table back then."
"Those folks were particular about their things, so their stuff had to be good."
So that's like that...
Li Xiangdong was just starting middle school then, with classes canceled. He didn't join the troublemakers, instead spending his days messing around with his buddies, paying no mind to such matters.
He'd thought his grandpa knew about antique furniture.
But "picked up" might mean something else—had his grandpa taken it from someone's home?
"Dongzi, I didn't steal it," Old Man Li said, a bit upset. Having raised Li Xiangdong, he could tell what the boy was thinking without a guess.
Li Xiangdong gave an awkward laugh, not bothering to deny it.
Old Lady Li cut in, "Don't think so badly of your grandpa, Dongzi. Listen to Grandma. It was a mess back then. They raided homes along the alley, one after another, from day to night. The crying and shouting kept your grandpa and me awake."
She spoke with lingering dread, patting her chest before continuing, "They were old neighbors. Your grandpa, worried someone might get hurt, took your dad, Weiguo, and Weimin to check things out."
Old Man Li interrupted, not wanting her to dwell on it with their grandson. "You old woman, what nonsense? Dongzi, don't listen to your grandma. By the time your dad and I went out, those people had left on trucks."
"This table probably didn't fit on the truck, so they tossed it in the alley. I thought we needed a table, so I brought it home."
"Your dad and brothers didn't agree, saying it might cause trouble. Bunch of fools—what trouble could a table bring?"
In Li Xiangdong's memory, these events were too distant. Across two lifetimes, decades had passed, and much was forgotten.
But he knew Old Man Li's words were partly to brush him off.
True or not, he didn't care or dwell on it. After all this time, this rosewood table was now the Li family's heirloom.
Li Xiangdong spoke up, "Grandpa, Grandma, this table's mine. I'm moving it to the west wing."
It'd only be his if it was in his room. Leaving it here, with so many kids around, a scratch or dent would break his heart.
Seeing how much he valued it, Old Man Li asked, "Is it really that good?"
Li Xiangdong patted the table gently, whispering, "This is Ming Dynasty rosewood furniture."
"How much is it worth?"
Old Man Li wasn't surprised that Li Xiangdong knew this. His grandson might not care for studies, but he was sharp at everything else.
Li Xiangdong answered honestly, "Not worth much—just the price of a table."
Old furniture only gained value in the '90s when Hong Kong and Taiwan collectors got involved, driving prices up.
Now, it was just stuff nobody wanted, with everyone chasing new furniture.
"Dongzi, what's so great about this old table? Your room's too small for it," Old Lady Li said, puzzled by his talk of rosewood antiques. To her, it was just a dining table.
Li Xiangdong replied, "No worries if it doesn't fit. I'll swap it with the table in my room."
"But your table's new, made for your wedding. We can't trade it for this old thing," Old Lady Li said, worried her grandson would lose out.
Li Xiangdong smiled, "Grandma, don't worry. When have I ever made a bad deal?"
In his mind, he added, 'Except for my past life!'
After a busy morning and some family chatter, the old couple was worn out and went to nap.
Left alone in the living room, Li Xiangdong lifted the table, took two steps, and set it down before even reaching the door.
He had to.
It was too damn heavy—nearly threw out his back!