Li Yun

Biodata

Background / History

Family and Livelihood

Li Yun worked in the fields from childhood and grew up to support himself through farming and hunting. Both his parents are deceased; his only surviving relative within five degrees of kinship is an aunt who joined the army, whose circumstances are unknown. Villagers regard him as an “unclean” man who brings misfortune to those close to him, leaving him without marriage prospects despite his practical skills 9 11.

His household is comparatively comfortable. He owns ten mu of land, cultivates one mu himself, and rents out the remainder. Harvests and rental income cover his ordinary living expenses, while hunting provides additional earnings. His tiled-roof house is larger than Su Yuhe’s and better than most village homes 10 11.

Courtship with Su Yuhe

Li Yun and Su Yuhe agreed that she would marry him if she had not taken a husband by the time she turned twenty. Su Yuhe considers him tall, handsome, capable, good-tempered, and well suited to sharing a life with her. Liu Xiaobo later tells Xubai that their involvement has lasted two years, although his account mixes village knowledge with his own assumptions 9 41.

After Su Yuhe takes in Lu Mingyi, Meng Zhixian, and Lu Mingxi, Li Yun continues bringing food and helping with household work. His first appearance sees him arrive with Ruan Puchuan, assist in the kitchen, and leave bamboo shoots for her. He later prepares pork-and-cabbage dumplings before departing on a mountain hunting trip 4 13.

Marriage cannot immediately follow their agreement: Li Yun’s father died two years earlier, and he must complete three years of mourning. Su Yuhe recalls that he cannot marry until the following November 12.

Wild Boar Sale and Reassurance

Li Yun returns from the mountains with a young wild boar and sells its meat in Su Yuhe’s courtyard, with Meng Zhixian collecting payment. The sale brings in one tael and three mace of silver, while he reserves pork collar and other portions for the household. He had originally intended the boar to feed the five of them for a month or two, but sells it after learning about compulsory contributions to the village and official granaries 29 31.

Village gossip and comparisons with Su Yuhe’s three city-born husbands leave him questioning his place in her life. When he tries to leave, she identifies him as her husband-to-be and promises to marry him as soon as his mourning ends 29 30.

Written Betrothal and Winter Preparations

Li Yun asks Su Yuhe to write a marriage contract. Dated the eighteenth day of the third month in the eighteenth year of Taihe, it names Heaven and Earth as both matchmakers and parents. He carefully stores it after the ink dries, then keeps it beneath his pillow and dreams of Su Yuhe wearing wedding robes 36 38.

As the predicted great cold approaches, he helps build the household’s food reserves. He buys more than five hundred jin of discounted sweet potatoes for one tael and organizes their transport and drying. Su Yuhe later confirms that wedding arrangements will wait until after his mourning period, with preparations against the cold taking priority 34 35 37.

Appearance

Li Yun is tall and muscular, with wheat-colored skin and sharply defined features that soften when he smiles 9.

• Build: Powerful limbs, broad shoulders and back, and a lean, firm waist 9 30.
• Hands: Callused palms and numerous small cuts from physical work 29.
• Contrast with local ideals: His sturdy physique and darker complexion differ from the soft, delicate appearance favored by many women in his society 10 30.

Personality

Li Yun is practical, industrious, and attentive to needs others overlook. After noticing that Lu Mingyi has eaten less rice to leave enough for the others, he suggests roasting sweet potatoes. His care for Su Yuhe can be firm: he insists on carrying hot bowls, cools her burned hands in water, and prepares nourishing chicken soup around her menstrual period 10 33 34 40.

Although Su Yuhe initially describes him as good-tempered, the arrival of her three husbands exposes his insecurity. Village gossip makes him dwell on his rough hands, complexion, and rural upbringing. He repeatedly belittles himself until Su Yuhe tells him that he is no worse than anyone else 9 29 30 36.

His generosity has limits. He previously gives Ruan Puchuan grain and intervenes when Liu Xiaobo abuses him, but stops lending food when he decides Su Yuhe’s enlarged household needs his support. He recognizes that Liu Xiaobo exploits his sympathy and never repays the grain. Later, he again offers Ruan Puchuan sweet potatoes, which Ruan declines 11 38.

Abilities & Skills

Hunting

Li Yun earns substantial supplementary income from hunting and can supply meat regularly 9 12 22.

• Hunts large game, including young wild boars, during mountain trips 10 29.
• Belongs to one of the few village households able to eat meat throughout the year 22.
• Hunting is explicitly described as risky; his return with the boar leaves him visibly exhausted 12 29.

Cooking and Food Preparation

Li Yun is a far more experienced cook than Su Yuhe’s newly acquired husbands, taking over kitchen work with little assistance 9 10.

• Prepares red-braised pork, dumplings, hand-rolled noodles, steamed buns, and chicken broth 9 13 33 36.
• Slices bamboo shoots evenly for drying and helps preserve vegetables and sweet potatoes 9 33 36.
• Sharpens knives and deftly slaughters chickens 13 38.
• Notices inexperienced knife handling and warns that it can cause injuries 9.

Farming and Household Provisioning

Li Yun combines lifelong agricultural experience with an understanding of food prices and seasonal supplies 9 34.

• Cultivates his own plot and receives rent from his remaining land 11.
• Recognizes an opportunity to buy discounted sweet potatoes when villagers need silver for granary payments 34.
• Encourages early food preservation in preparation for the great cold 35.
• Limitations: Cannot embroider or sew clothing 9.

Possessions

• Marriage contract — Written by Su Yuhe at his request; he treasures it and keeps it beneath his pillow 36 38.
• Sky-blue brocade robe and moon-white inner garments — Given to him by Su Yuhe. The robe came from Xubai’s manservant Lanxin, while the inner garments were taken from Xubai; Li Yun is delighted without knowing their provenance 30.
• Carrying basket — Used when departing for the mountains and transporting supplies 10 13.

Relationships

• Su Yuhe — Fiancée. Their relationship combines romantic commitment with substantial practical and financial support from Li Yun 9 30 36.
• Lu Mingyi — Prospective fellow husband. Their early exchange over kitchen safety is stiff, but Lu Mingyi later says Li Yun has treated them well and welcomes becoming family. He proposes letting Li Yun manage the money as principal husband; Su Yuhe keeps household administration with Lu Mingyi instead 9 37.
• Lu Mingxi — An affectionate younger member of Su Yuhe’s household who calls him “Brother Li.” Li Yun indulges his food requests and offers to handle chicken slaughter rather than have him learn it 32 38 40.
• Meng Zhixian — Prospective fellow husband who privately resents watching Li Yun attend to Su Yuhe. Despite this tension, they cooperate during the boar sale and winter provisioning 9 29 34.
• Ruan Puchuan — Neighbor and former recipient of his aid. Ruan describes him as kind and helpful; Li Yun believes they might have become friends if Ruan did not belong to Li Wenxiu’s household 11 22.
• Liu Xiaobo — Hostile neighbor who has mistreated Li Yun and his parents and repeatedly exploited his concern for Ruan Puchuan 11.
• Unnamed aunt — His only known surviving close relative; she joined the army, and her current situation is unknown 9.