Liang Yuemei

Biodata

Background / History

Raising Li Long

When Li Long was twelve, his father, Li Qingxia, brought him from their impoverished hometown and entrusted him to Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei. The couple ate coarse grain themselves, reserving the household’s refined grain for Li Long and their children. Yuemei repeatedly argued with her husband when his efforts to feed his younger brother came at their children’s expense 1.

The family spent fifty yuan to secure Li Long a food-factory job. Yuemei initially regretted the expense after his dismissal, particularly because his return required heating another room during a winter of scarce fuel 1 8.

Original Timeline

In Li Long’s previous life, he took his brother and sister-in-law’s sacrifices for granted and continued eating at their home until Li Jianguo’s fatal fall. After her husband died because of Li Long, Yuemei regarded her brother-in-law as an enemy and refused to let him eat at her house again 1 7.

Reborn Timeline

Li Long’s return in 1981 initially prompted Yuemei to worry that the household would run out of coal and firewood. She insisted that Li Juan and Li Qiang must not be left freezing again. When Li Long offered ten yuan for coal, she first urged him to keep it, but his willingness to contribute reassured her 1 2.

His treatment of the children and his catches of sparrows, Gugu Chickens, and fish changed her opinion further. His proposal to send two Gugu Chickens to her father particularly surprised her: previously, he had not thought of the Liang family when he obtained something good. She began to feel that raising him as another son was worthwhile now that he appreciated the family’s efforts 4 5 7 8.

When Sister-in-Law Lu mocked Li Long’s attempt to haul mountain timber, Yuemei defended his willingness to improve. Her younger brother, Liang Wenyu, subsequently arrived with white flour and twenty yuan from their parents to help the household buy coal. By the time Li Long returned with firewood and mutton, Yuemei was looking forward to a comfortable winter and a proper New Year 15 20.

Later, Gu Ermao’s black-market arrest and attempt to report Li Long alarmed and angered her. Rumors that Li Long had also been arrested left the household worried until he returned with two wild boars. She then learned from him that land and production-team property would be divided in spring, and that the family should save for farming needs, possibly including a horse 45 48 49.

Yuemei helped prepare a boar-meat feast for the neighbors who processed the animals. She deliberately used normally rationed star anise, determined to make up for an earlier occasion when the family’s supposedly ill-omened New Year pig had been buried and the helpers received no feast 50.

Personality

Yuemei is frugal, but does not begrudge supporting family members who accept responsibility. Her objection to the old Li Long was his ingratitude rather than the duty of raising him. Once he began contributing, she defended him against gossip and judged his factory dismissal as a possible turning point rather than simply wasted money 2 8 15. Her instinctive complaint about purchased meat buns likewise reflects habitual thrift, not genuine hostility toward treating the children 41.

She is the stricter parent in the Li household: both children fear her scolding, and she challenges their noisy behavior and demands for food. Her care is nevertheless practical and attentive. She makes them change wet shoes, urges Li Long to rest after long journeys, and ensures that returning family members have hot food 4 22 26 36 49.

She also values reciprocity and fair treatment. She urges Li Long to thank Harimu’s family with tea after receiving a sheep, warns him to treat Tao Daqiang fairly, and takes the unfulfilled obligation to host the pig-slaughter helpers seriously 20 29 50.

Abilities & Skills

Cooking and Food Preparation

Yuemei prepares the household’s everyday meals and processes much of the food brought home by the hunters and fishermen 7 11 26.

• Pickled vegetables: The family makes a crock each winter. Li Long remembers her version fondly even decades later in his original life 7.
• Fish preparation: Cleans catches alongside her children, cutting fish open while Li Juan removes scales and Li Qiang helps remove gills 11.
• Meat and offal: Prepares sheep-offal soup and helps cook pork, innards, and pickled vegetables for communal meals 22 26 50.
• Travel provisions: Steams and packs sponge cake for Li Long and Tao Daqiang’s journey; encourages taking additional mutton for strength during work 14 22.

Shoemaking

• Makes cloth shoes with layered soles for Li Long 4.
• Regularly stitches shoe soles while talking with her husband or visitors 5 15.

Relationships

• Li Jianguo — Husband and partner in supporting their children and Li Long. She disputes his excessive sacrifices for his younger brother, while appreciating his dependable support of her natal family 1 34.
• Li Long — Younger brother-in-law whom she helped raise. Their relationship becomes hostile after Li Jianguo’s death in the original timeline; after Li Long’s rebirth, his contributions earn her affection and public support 7 8 15.
• Li Juan — Daughter. Yuemei expects her to help with chores and disciplines her exuberance, but softens when she sees her delight over Li Long’s gift of ankle bones 11 26.
• Li Qiang — Son. Frequently scolds his demands for meat and refuses to let him accompany the adults on one fishing trip 11 22.
• Liang Wenyu — Younger brother. Visits with flour and money from their parents; Yuemei understands his resentment toward the formerly idle Li Long 15.
• Her parents — Provide substantial material help to the Li household. Yuemei and Li Jianguo plan to return their generosity with Gugu Chickens, fish, and lamb for New Year 15 34.
• Tao Daqiang — Li Long’s hunting and fishing companion. She insists on feeding him, filling his second bowl with offal when his own household has neglected him, and asks Li Long to treat him fairly 26 29.
• Sister-in-Law Lu — Neighbor whose criticism Yuemei counters. When Lu later proposes her nineteen-year-old niece as a match for Li Long, Yuemei says she must ask him first 15 31.
• Gu Ermao — Li Long’s former companion, about whom Yuemei had warned him. His attempt to implicate Li Long after his own arrest makes her furious 45.

Notable Quotes

“Who hasn't made a mistake? As long as he can change and improve, that's enough.” 15

“Daqiang's an honest boy. Make sure you treat him fairly.” 29

“All that matters is you're back. Come into the courtyard!” 49