Li Long did not head straight to Little Haizi, even though he knew Tao Daqiang, Xie Yundong, and the others must be breaking fishing holes in the ice by now. They might even have finished and already be catching fish.
He helped Li Jianguo and the others unload the meat and hang it in the Spare Room, then returned to the West Room to sit and chat.
Li Long said little, mostly listening.
"Son, find some time to take some of this meat to Juan's maternal grandfather's family. We have so much, so take them plenty."
"All right." Li Jianguo rolled a Mohé Tobacco cigarette and handed it to Li Qingxia, then rolled one for himself. After answering, he struck a match and lit his cigarette.
Li Long took out his lighter to light Li Qingxia's cigarette, but Li Qingxia stood and went straight to the stove in the outer room. He heated the poker red-hot, leaned in to light his cigarette, then returned to his seat to keep talking.
He could not bear to waste that match, or even one flick of Li Long's lighter, saying it wasted fuel and flint.
The older generation had lived through hardship and grown accustomed to being frugal.
Whenever Li Qingxia and Du Chunfang ate here, they never left a single scrap. That habit was gradually influencing Li Juan and Li Qiang, too.
"Xiao Long, are you still going to sell sheep? Your brother told me quite a few people in the team have bought sheep. The mutton your eldest brother and sister-in-law brought back was so fatty. I only had one piece, but oh, it tasted wonderful!"
Du Chunfang grinned as she spoke.
It had been so long since she had had a proper chat with Li Long. Now her youngest son