Chapter 400: The Li Family Comes to Propose Marriage

The weather in Beijing in early May is warm but still cold. As long as it is cloudy, with the howling north wind, the same temperature is obviously colder than in the south.

But if it is a sunny day, if the north wind is not so strong, the warm sunshine will shine early under the vast blue sky, and the streets will be full of fresh green, spotless and full of spring.

Then your mood will be particularly clear and bright throughout the day.

People may not know, but Li Shengli's mood today is undoubtedly as bright as spring. The Li family has finally included his marriage on the agenda, which is undoubtedly a relief for him.

Six years have passed. From the moment Li Shengli first saw Liu Zhiruo, she was like a fairy who had fallen into the mortal world, and she was deeply imprinted in his heart. The excitement of the first sight was just like the old saying: "There is a beautiful woman, I can't forget her after seeing her, and I miss her like crazy after not seeing her for a day." Years have passed, but his love has not changed. Now, he is finally going to have the beautiful moment of tying the knot with his beautiful woman.

Even his stubborn brother-in-law, who had always been prejudiced against him, was touched by his unwavering love and finally agreed to entrust his sister to him. This long-running love will finally have a happy ending.

Li Shengli, only 26 years old, has already secured a position as a section-level cadre in the Beijing Municipal Propaganda Department. Four years have passed since he graduated from Beijing University. His lover Liu Zhiruo just graduated from university last year and is full of youth.

Li Shengli wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to quickly settle down, but Liu Zhiruo had two elder brothers, one of whom was studying at the Advanced Military Command Academy, shouldering the responsibility of the country; the other went to Germany to study medicine in order to save the world. Because of these two concerns, the marriage of the two families was delayed again and again.

Until recently, Liu Zhiruo's two brothers returned one after another. Li Shengli could not hide his joy and finally could not hold back and decided to take action.

Yesterday, he had made proper arrangements and asked for leave from his workplace leader, just to go home and discuss plans with his parents, vowing to finalize the marriage.

Chen Luoyang, deputy director of the Beijing City Propaganda Department, was a former subordinate of Li's father Li Quanyou and had a deep friendship with the Li family. Naturally, he regarded Li Shengli as his own son or nephew. He was also extremely anxious and concerned about Li Shengli's lifelong event.

Yesterday, Chen Luoyang said to Li Shengli with a smile on his face and sincere words: "Shengli, congratulations! When I heard your good news, Uncle Chen was so happy. I've been waiting for the day when I can sit down and taste your sweet wedding wine!" His words were full of love and expectations of the elder for the younger generation.

There were no outsiders in Chen's office, so the conversation between the two of them was rather casual.

Li Shengli said with a playful smile: "Uncle Chen, it's almost time, just wait for my wedding wine! But, I'm getting married, you have to show some support, right?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Luoyang responded with a smile and scolding, "Hey, kid, are you thinking about taking my heirloom again? No way, give up the idea as soon as possible. This is for your brother Daoming, hahahaha..."

"Look at what I've deducted from you. Give it to me first. When my brother gets married in the future, it won't be too late for me to pass it on to him..."

Chen Luoyang: "..., you stinky boy, get out of here right now!"

In a good mood, Li Shengli asked for leave and went home to discuss his lifelong affairs.

…………

From Gongzhufen all the way to the foot of the Western Hills in Beijing, you can see the Air Force Headquarters and the Naval Headquarters at Gongzhufen to the Railway Corps Headquarters on Yuquan Road... Almost every so often you'll see a gate with a sentry.

The sentry is a green wooden guardhouse to protect against rain. The whole street is quiet and mysterious. For a while, the common people called this place "New Capital".

There is everything here, from barber shops to convenience stores, from canteens to clinics, from kindergartens to primary schools and even middle schools.

Later schools like Peiying, Yuying, Qunying, Yuhong, Youyi, Yuxiang, Qiyi, Bayi, and Shiyi were all schools for children of the compound.

Most of these compounds have playgrounds where cadres and soldiers do exercises in the morning.

In the famine a few years ago, some playgrounds were “reclaimed” and vegetables were planted. It is said that someone was so hungry that he stole an eggplant to eat at night, and the result was…

There are two famous auditoriums in these courtyards.

One is the auditorium of the General Logistics Department, and the other is the auditorium of the PLA Political Academy.

These days, movies are shown in the auditorium almost every day.

From the earliest "Sister Jiang" to the later "Long March Suite", all of them were performed here for the first time.

The children and parents in the compound come from all corners of the country and speak in different accents. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand them, as you can get familiar with each other and quickly get together.

We played together and had all kinds of fun. Sometimes when we went out to play, but one of our friends was missing, a group of people would shout in front of that friend's house, and the scene was like an army marching to war.

We played until dinner time, and then went our separate ways when the adults called us to go home for dinner.

The military compound has its own living quarters. Each compound is a self-contained system: tall military compound gates and code names based on the compound numbers.

When classmates ask each other where they live, they will say: I live in Courtyard XX.

Children in the military compound have a sense of superiority from birth: they live in large houses allocated by the army and have military telephone lines at home.

I played with guns when I was a kid, and I loved to dress in military uniform wherever I went.

In winter, I wore a military coat and a fur coat. When there were few cars on the streets, there were Red Flag, Volga, and old Mercedes in the compound.

What's even better is that there are special supplies in the compound, including chocolate and White Rabbit milk candy, whole baskets of fruit, various war-preparation canned foods, compressed biscuits, and special cigarettes and alcohol that are impossible to buy outside.

The children of the military compound also formed their own circles

Generally, they don’t easily interact with people outside the compound, and children from different compounds often visit each other.

But he was ashamed to mingle with outsiders.
In the past, there were a lot of rural children carrying baskets and picking up manure outside the courtyard wall. When the children in the courtyard saw them coming, they liked to lie on the top of the wall and chop them with stones, saying that they were "beating the earthworms". Tell me, is that bad?

Children who grew up in the compound knew from an early age which family had a higher social status. Although everyone played together, children from families with lower social status basically had no say and were often teased.

For example, two kids were arguing about an activity, and one of the kids whose father was the chief of staff came over to mediate: “What’s your dad’s rank?”

"Colonel."

"What's your father's rank?"

"Lieutenant."

The chief of staff's son said decisively: "Listen to the colonel."

The children of each compound had their own identity symbols. The children of the navy wore blue and white socks, and their sneakers were polished to a white. They also had their own rules for riding bicycles, removing the back seat and letting their companions sit on the front beam.

The Air Force kids wear Army uniforms on the upper body and Navy uniforms on the lower body, that is, green on the upper body and blue on the lower body, and their flight jackets are very showy.

The more impressive army kids wore green uniforms and pulled their bicycle seats up to the highest position, with one in front and one in the back, and whizzed past.

When they grow up a little, they drive around in military vehicles. Children in the army compound cannot tolerate this the most. If their friends even wear military underwear and socks, and then put on a pair of military rubber shoes, they will be looked down upon as country bumpkins.

If the kids are classmates or buddies, the two courtyards may get along well with each other, and if there is something going on outside, they may even help each other.

If the children's leaders are not on good terms with each other, the two courtyards will become mortal enemies!
There are endless "Cha Bei Er"...

Li Shengli was a prominent figure among the children of the former compound. With his unique charm and prestige, he firmly sat on the throne of "Big Brother".

Later, as he entered society and began to mature, he gradually restrained his edge, stopped joking and playing with his former younger brothers, and instead focused on his own work.

His younger brother Li Yuanchao was like a tiger descending from the mountain. He not only inherited his brother's legacy, but also carried it forward.

After his brother "retired", he took up the banner of "leadership", quickly set a new benchmark among the children of the compound, and became a "boss" that everyone looked up to.

In the original drama, when Li Yuanchao first appeared, he was a big brother figure among the young people in the compound, and everyone had to give him some face.

Li Yuanchao's appearance in the book already has its own sound effects and cool effects. Let's first look at this dialogue to feel his aura:
Zhong Yuemin and his gang queued up all night to buy tickets at the Tianqiao Theater. They were waiting to see the fun: the gangsters from HD, East and West City, and CY districts would come to grab tickets, but they would definitely not queue up according to the rules.

Zheng Tong asked: "Why doesn't Li Yuanchao come to queue up?"

Yuan Jun replied: "With Li Yuanchao's reputation, would he have queued all night?" Zhong Yuemin said: "Even if he was the first to buy a ticket, no one would dare to say anything."

Li Kuiyong snorted and said disdainfully: "Why does he do that?"

Zhong Yuemin said: "Because he is Li Yuanchao."

The three words "Li Yuanchao" are his trademark. He is a leader in this circle, two levels higher than Zhong Yuemin. Later, he was elected as one of the leaders of the "Joint Action Committee".

For Li Yuanchao to have such power, one can imagine how extraordinary his family background must be.

…………

At the foot of the West Mountain, a solemn military compound stood quietly. Today, the Li family welcomed a rare reunion.

Li Quanyou, Li Quanpeng and Li Quanzhi, these three siblings rarely put down their busy work to work together to do business.

As the older generation of the family, they gathered together to reminisce about family life.

Among them, Li Quanyou, as the deputy director general, is not only the spiritual pillar of the family, but also the most prominent person in the Li family. His existence makes the Li family enjoy a very high reputation in the outside world.

Li Shengli, Li Yuanchao, Li Hongqi, Li Fang, Ai Zuopeng and other younger generations sat neatly on both sides of the living room, their eyes focused, waiting for the family's respected elders to start their lively conversation.

Although they are young, they have learned to remain silent at this critical moment, listen attentively, and draw nutrients for growth from the words and conversations of their elders.

After discussing the important matters, they started talking about family matters.

Li's father spoke slowly, turning the topic to Li Shengli's lifelong event: "Now that our whole family is gathered together, it is a good time to discuss Shengli's marriage. He is already twenty-six years old, but this marriage has been delayed for several years..." After he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room became subtle, and ripples appeared in everyone's heart.

When Li Shengli's aunt Li Quanzhi heard this, she sneered and said bluntly: "Brother, isn't this the result of you letting Shengli do whatever he wants? I've said it before, that girl's family background is ordinary and she's not suitable for Shengli. Look, the two of them dragged on for six years before they got married. Is this reasonable?"

At the beginning, in the Li family, Li Quanzhi was the one who was most opposed to the relationship between Li Shengli and Liu Zhiruo. She was not prejudiced against Liu Zhiruo herself, in fact, she also admired the gentleness and charm of this beautiful woman.

However, what worried her was not Liu Zhiruo's appearance, but her family background, which seemed quite ordinary at the time. This inequality in family background became an insurmountable obstacle in Li Quanzhi's heart.

What kind of family is the Li family? The three brothers and sisters are of high status. Even Li Quanzhi, her husband was one of the first outstanding figures to be awarded titles that year.

As the orthodox inheritor of the Li family bloodline, the eldest son and grandson Li Shengli is not only talented, but also an elite who graduated from Peking University, and is highly regarded by the entire family.

Li Shengli has been regarded by his family as the future leader, so his marriage is naturally a matter of great importance.

The elders of the Li family thought carefully and hoped to find a partner for him with a similar family background and who could fight side by side with him, so as to ensure a more stable future for the family. The two of them could also support each other in life and walk a more stable and broader path.

At first, the Li family was firmly opposed to this marriage, but with Li Shengli's persistence and the fact that the Liu family is no longer the same as before, the atmosphere within the Li family gradually changed, and most members nodded in agreement.

Only Li Quanzhi still had some grudges in her heart and could not let go of this marriage, and her emotions occasionally revealed a hint of reluctance and worry.

Father Li said with a smile: "Little sister, I understand that you care about the future of the family and Shengli, but the children have to walk their own paths. Since Shengli has fallen in love with him, we, as elders, should give him support and blessings."

"Besides, the Liu family is no longer the same as before. Their Liujia Village is well-known outside. How come you haven't heard of it?"

Li Quanzhi frowned and retorted: "Of course I know about Liujiazhuang, and I also know the relationship between the Liu family and it, but what can I do about it?"

Li Quanyou, the second brother who is the director of a department of the Government Affairs Council, took over the conversation and said with admiration in his tone: "Little sister, you may not know that Liujiazhuang is now very powerful economically. The higher-ups are keeping a close eye on it. You can't find another place in the country that has such a free economic development model. It's unique."

"Don't think that no one will have any objections to Liujiazhuang doing this. There are many people who object, but... in fact, this is all supported by the leaders behind the scenes..." He changed the subject and continued.

"In the final analysis, the Liu family is the one in charge of Liujiazhuang. To put it bluntly, the Liu family has the final say. Do you understand now?"

"The Liu family is not bad on the surface. They are now in great glory. The eldest is one of the four chiefs of the Beijing Garrison and holds great power. The second is a leader in the medical field and a future leader. His father-in-law He Zhiyan is the chief's health doctor and has a high status. Not to mention Liu Zhiruo, she is a rising star in the nuclear industry and a future scientific master with a bright future."

"With such a family background, how bad can she be?" Li Quanyou's words were full of admiration for the Liu family.

"This..." This sudden news made Li Quanzhi stunned for a moment.

The Liu family, a seemingly ordinary family, has immeasurable potential and future.

It is true that, for now, the Liu family may not be comparable to the Li family, but the world is unpredictable, and who can tell what the future will hold?
One day, the brilliance of the two families will shine on each other, and it is still unknown who will benefit from whom.

Li Quanzhi was not an unreasonable person. After realizing her mistake, her cheeks flushed and she sighed softly: "Oh, I really neglected these things, brother, look at what I have done..."

Then, she turned to Li Shengli, and said with some apology in her tone: "Shengli, auntie really let you down before. Bring Zhiruo back someday, and auntie will personally make amends and apologize to her."

Upon hearing this, Li Shengli stood up quickly, with a bit of helplessness and sympathy in his tone: "Oh, aunt, why are you doing this? I know you mean well, and she doesn't even know that you have a knot in your heart. Why don't we just lightly put this matter aside and turn the page, okay?"

Li Shengli knew that his aunt was not a bad person, just a little snobbish, so she didn't take the past events to heart at all.

Father Li also waved his hand and advised: "Little sister, there is no need for that. They are just a generation younger than you. You are not afraid of shortening their lifespans."

Then, the Li family formally discussed Li Shengli's marriage and decided to visit the Liu family.

When the Li family came to visit, the Liu family welcomed them with great enthusiasm. Even though Liu Zhiye was busy with work, he returned home to support his sister.

Facts have proved that Liu Zhiye's worries were unnecessary. The entire Li family, especially Li's father and mother, praised Liu Zhiruo and readily agreed to any conditions proposed by the Liu family, showing their sincerity.

As a result, the marriage of Li Shengli and Liu Zhiruo was successfully finalized. Both parties happily set an auspicious day for next month to get married. The good news spread and everyone was happy.

Afterwards, with the warm hospitality of several respected elders of the Liu family, the Li family members asked to visit Liujiazhuang after eating and drinking their fill.

Taking advantage of the good weather, Liu Jingzhai suggested that everyone go together to visit the Jingxi Ancient Road.

The Jingxi Ancient Road is located in the northwest of Liujiazhuang. It is a great place with a long history and beautiful natural scenery.

May, when spring is in full bloom, is a great time to visit the Western Beijing Ancient Road.

Longquan Gorge is a section of the ancient road in western Beijing, famous for its clear springs and steep cliffs.

Every May, the canyon is filled with water and the mountain flowers are in full bloom. Along the way, you can enjoy the spectacular sight of waterfalls cascading down and the beautiful sight of various wild flowers blooming.

The mountains here attract many people from the capital with their unique peaks and rich vegetation.

During this season, peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, rhododendrons and other flowers on the mountain bloom one after another, forming a sea of ​​flowers, which is very suitable for taking pictures.

In addition, there is an observation deck on the top of the mountain, which is a great place to watch the sunrise. If the weather is clear, you can see the skyline of Beijing in the distance.

Although the Li family is now from Beijing, they were authentic southerners before the founding of the People's Republic of China.

After so many years in the capital, the Li family has never really had the chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery around the capital.

Li's father and Liu Zhiye are particularly close. Perhaps it is because they are both active-duty military personnel that they have endless topics to talk about and can always find common ground.

"Zhiye, you are very good. I don't think there is anyone who can match you among the younger generation!" Compared to his son who is a politician, Li's father appreciates Liu Zhiye a little more.

He felt that this young man had a promising future and would become a great man in the future, which was the main reason why he strongly supported the marriage with the Liu family.

Liu Zhiye smiled modestly and said, "Uncle Li, you are too kind. I am just an ordinary person..."

(End of this chapter)