Li Yang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Yang (李阳)
Alias(es)	“Old Dad” (used by Zhao Meili); “Brother-in-law” (used by Yue Bufan) 86 203
Gender	Male
Age	23 at the beginning of the story 1
Affiliation	Jiamei Appliances (former employee); Lianyungang factory (former worker); tobacco and alcohol delivery business 3 75 171
Occupation/Role	Appliance salesperson and delivery worker; factory equipment operator; liquor and tobacco distributor 3 89 171
First Appearance	A New Year 1

Background / History

Li Yang grew up in a financially ordinary rural household. His father had long been unable to carry the family’s burden, while his mother scraped together money from relatives to build the family a single-story home. Li Yang’s relationship with his older brother, Li Guang, is cordial but distant after frequent childhood fights. 1

Before the main story, Li Yang spent nearly a year “messing around” in the city and became involved with gangs and street fights. His mother forced him to return home and pursue honest work after gossip about his conduct reached the village. 1 22

At the start of the story, Li Yang is unemployed, spending the Lunar New Year drinking, playing mahjong, and visiting his childhood friend Xu Rui. He soon begins work at Jiamei Appliances, where he handles appliance sales and deliveries. 1 3

Appearance

Li Yang is repeatedly described as handsome, healthy, and physically strong. Although he can appear honest and simple at first glance, his experience outside the village gives him a worldly, intimidating air. 24 48

• Has a strong build and appetite, traits admired by Wang Jingjuan. 24
• Carries himself with confidence around strangers and women. 48
• Possesses the demeanor of someone accustomed to violence and dangerous situations. 22 56

Personality

Li Yang is laid-back, sociable, and quick to recover from setbacks. Even after difficult experiences involving Yue Xiaodan’s family, he refuses to wallow in self-pity and maintains an optimistic outlook. 1 51

He is attentive in personal interactions: he remembers food preferences, buys meals and gifts, helps with grooming, and often steps in when people close to him need protection. 30 63 93 His ability to make conversation and adapt his manner to different people allows him to build rapport easily. 5 48

His protectiveness has a volatile side. Li Yang responds forcefully to harassment or perceived threats against women and family members, sometimes escalating conflicts into violence. 22 56 102 173 He is also capable of deception and tactical improvisation, such as feigning helplessness to lure opponents into a trap. 69

Abilities & Skills

Hairdressing and Grooming

Li Yang previously worked as a hairdresser before entering appliance sales.

• Styles Yu Hong’s hair into large waves during a delivery visit. 3
• Performs nail care and applies Yue Xiaodan’s nail polish carefully. 30
• Uses grooming knowledge to help family members and friends with styling. 155

Appliance Sales and Customer Service

At Jiamei Appliances, Li Yang proves adaptable as a salesperson and delivery worker.

• Delivers and installs household appliances, including induction cookers. 3
• Maintains customer relationships and assists buyers with purchases and trade-in arrangements. 9
• Is fired after fighting Liu Yueyue’s boyfriend, though he volunteers to leave so Zhao Tiantian and Shop Manager Wang can remain. 57

Factory Equipment Operation

While working in Lianyungang, Li Yang learns technical factory work under Wang Chao.

• Studies machine operation, adjustments, and mold changes diligently. 77 78
• Becomes capable of handling simple equipment adjustments independently. 78
• Repairs production equipment efficiently and becomes one of the more capable workers on his shift. 89

Fighting and Intimidation

Li Yang has prior experience with gang fights and is willing to use violence against aggressors.

• Uses a folding knife to frighten Yang Yanping’s harassers into backing down. 22
• Defeats Liu Yueyue’s boyfriend in a workplace fight. 56
• Defends Dong Mengmeng against Wang Ermao and several thugs before Wang Chao intervenes. 79
• Uses a wooden pole to stop a man harassing Mengmeng. 102
• Reacts violently during a dispute involving construction waste near his family’s new home. 173

Business and Negotiation

Li Yang gradually shifts from wage work toward independent business.

• Receives a liquor-distribution opportunity through Li Ziteng. 122
• Finalizes a business deal with Li Ziteng in Hangzhou. 154
• Purchases used vehicles with Wang Jingfang for their business. 163
• Secures a liquor-supply deal through Zhao Hongbing. 170
• Begins operating a tobacco and alcohol delivery business, learning to manage credit and delayed payments. 171

Equipment / Items

• Sanrenmu folding knife — used to intimidate Yang Yanping’s harassers. 22
• Dagger — regularly carried during his factory period, though Wang Jingjuan leaves it at home before his confrontation with Wang Ermao’s group. 79
• Electric tricycle — originally bought for Wang Jingjuan and later used by Li Yang for transportation. 203
• Car — ownership is transferred to Li Yang by Yue Xiaodan. 144

Relationships

• Xu Rui — Li Yang’s childhood friend, drinking companion, and early job-hunting partner. Their friendship persists despite diverging financial and family circumstances. 1 3 173
• Yue Xiaodan — Li Yang’s early lover and one of his most enduring emotional attachments. They later accept that they cannot be a legal couple, but continue to support one another and repeatedly reconnect. 13 53 144 199
• Wang Jingjuan — Li Yang’s wife and the mother of his son, Little Hongyun. Their relationship develops into a family life shared with Jingjuan’s daughters. 86 128 177
• Wang Jingfang — Wang Jingjuan’s sister. Li Yang moves in with her while establishing his delivery business, and they work together on its operations. 170 171
• Zhao Meili — Wang Jingjuan’s daughter, who calls Li Yang “Old Dad.” Li Yang becomes a protective father figure and helps confront her ex-boyfriend Zhang Zeyu. 86 88 94
• Dong Mengmeng — Li Yang’s factory coworker and fiancée during his Lianyungang period. He protects her from workplace harassment and supports her during the factory sports meet. 75 79 80 84
• Jiang Manman — A woman Li Yang meets on a bus; their relationship becomes intimate and emotionally complicated before she later moves on and marries Jiang Chen. 4 31 111 199
• Li Ziteng — A wealthy man Li Yang saves after finding him homeless. They become sworn brothers, and Li Ziteng later helps open Li Yang’s path into liquor distribution. 56 122 154
• He Junjun — A loyal associate who has been saved by Li Yang in the past and later assists him in confrontations and business matters. 50 70 125
• Wu Ya — Identified as Li Yang’s new wife; she becomes part of his household and family circle. 202 203

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Rural drifter to appliance worker: Li Yang begins as an unemployed young man in the village, then joins Jiamei Appliances alongside Xu Rui and enters city life through sales and home deliveries. 1 3
• Relationships and divided loyalties: His relationship with Yue Xiaodan grows from an uncertain introduction into an intimate partnership, while he forms attachments with several other women, including Zhang Yujie, Jiang Manman, Yang Yanping, Jing Jing, and Liang Shanjuan. 4 20 30 53 59
• Protector and street fighter: Li Yang repeatedly intervenes against harassment, relying on his past experience, physical courage, and willingness to intimidate opponents. 22 31 56 79
• Factory worker in Lianyungang: After leaving Jiamei Appliances, he takes factory work, learns machinery from Wang Chao, develops a relationship with Mengmeng, and earns respect for his technical ability. 57 75 77 89
• Family life with Wang Jingjuan: Li Yang becomes a father figure to Meili and Meimei, supports Jingjuan through pregnancy, and builds a warm household around their son. 86 87 128 177
• Independent businessman: Li Ziteng’s support allows Li Yang to move beyond factory work. He resigns, pursues liquor distribution, acquires delivery vehicles, and operates a tobacco and alcohol business with Wang Jingfang. 152 154 163 171
• Community organizer: As his circumstances improve, Li Yang brings friends and family together through the “Warm Family” WeChat group and seeks to help Yang Yanping find a stable partner. 171 172

Notable Quotes

“Although you're a beauty, I have principles. I will never get involved with a married woman.” 3

“If you encounter someone who bullies you in the future, don't confront them directly. You can ask me for help. I'll be there whenever you call!” 62

Trivia

• Li Yang wins sixty yuan playing mahjong during the Lunar New Year. 1
• He once left hairdressing because he found the work tiring. 3
• At the Lianyungang factory sports meet, Li Yang’s team places second in the Graduation Wall event. 80
• Li Yang’s early claim that he would never become involved with a married woman contrasts with his later relationship with Wang Jingjuan, who was initially introduced as Lao Zhao’s wife. 3 24 34