Chapter 36: Mom and Dad, Xiaoli Brought a Man Home (Please Vote and Follow)

After leading the two to the miscellaneous courtyard, Li Yousi stood at the entrance and watched them pack their things.

"Comrade Yongxi, please get some rest! I have some business to attend to, so I'll be off."

Just as he was about to leave, he took two steps back and asked, "By the way, is there anything you need me to bring back? I'm heading out of the troupe later."

"No, thank you~"

After seeing them off, Li Yousi walked to the entrance of the troupe and showed his identification before leaving. Not long after, he arrived at a state-run restaurant.

He walked inside and asked, "Comrade, do you have any bicycles for rent here?"

Bicycles cost hundreds of yuan and were a symbol of wealth, but they were inconvenient to carry when traveling. Thus, those staying in hostels or guesthouses would often rent a "Twenty-Eight" (the classic heavy-duty roadster) from restaurants or hotels to make getting around easier. If Xiangzi could rent a rickshaw, why couldn't one rent a bicycle?

"For how long?"

"Just a week."

The owner led him to the back door and let him pick one. Li Yousi quickly chose a Phoenix brand bicycle. Although he had never bought one, he had heard of it; it was the best brand in this era.

"The deposit is fifty yuan, fill in your information here..." After a flurry of paperwork, Li Yousi completed all the forms. Fifty yuan wasn't a high price; if he didn't return the deposit, he could just keep the bike—and a Phoenix wasn't exactly cheap.

Once everything was settled, the owner unlocked the chain.

Li Yousi rode the bike onto the road. The distance from the troupe to Jincheng Station was short—only five kilometers. In half an hour, he arrived at the entrance of the Chengdu station.

Jincheng Railway Station.

The station’s tracks had been increased to nine, and the platforms and tunnels were primarily made of brick and concrete. With their square lines and lack of complex ornamentation, they reflected the "practical over aesthetic" construction philosophy of the time, heavily influenced by the Soviet style. Many landmarks of this era, including the Beijing Film Studio, were built with Soviet assistance.

He had timed his arrival at the station precisely for one reason: Zhang Li’s last letter had mentioned the time she would be arriving back in Jincheng. Was that hint not obvious enough? This girl never spelled things out; she always expected Li Yousi to figure it out himself. It was a pity—if he didn't possess such extraordinary wisdom and emotional intelligence, he might never have guessed it.

Soon, the station doors opened, and a colorful crowd began to pour out; a train had just arrived. Zhang Li was likely among them. Li Yousi scanned the crowd.

Before long, he spotted a girl with a fresh and refined look amidst the throng. When Wang Fulin had held his auditions, he had primarily sought out faces that looked young and naive, so it was no surprise that Zhang Li, who had been cast, looked quite youthful.

Zhang Li spotted Li Yousi as well and began waving as she ran toward him.

"Comrade Li, why are you here?"

Li Yousi took the parcel from her hands and said with a smile, "Didn't you tell me to come pick you up in your letter?"

"Did I?" Zhang Li asked, looking perfectly innocent.

"Didn't you? Let's go." He took her luggage and shielded her, hurrying her away from the crowd.

Zhang Li cast a glance at Li Yousi’s neck and noticed the scarf tucked inside his coat, its thick, python-like bulk visible near the collar. Her heart warmed slightly. Though Li Yousi was incredibly duplicitous, he was at least wearing it.

Li Yousi led her to his Phoenix bicycle. He patted the back seat and said, "Hop on the back. Here, hold the bag?"

"Eh?" Zhang Li exclaimed in surprise. "How did you get a bike?"

"I didn't buy it, I rented it. Specifically to come pick you up!" Li Yousi declared righteously. It was definitely not because the troupe was on holiday for the Spring Festival and he wanted an easy way to ride around town!

Zhang Li suppressed a laugh and nodded. "Really?"

"Really. Haven't I always been this good to you? I even sent you letters to comfort you at the guesthouse every day, didn't I?"

Zhang Li blushed. "That wasn't comfort. You make it sound like I was scared..." Her tone wavered, clearly losing its conviction. She lowered her head slowly. "Then... are you unwilling to come back?"

"You're going in circles again. If I weren't willing, why would I have come to pick you up?" Li Yousi deflected.

Zhang Li rolled her eyes at him, climbed onto the back seat, and grabbed the edge of his coat. Li Yousi rode off, then looked back to ask, "Are we going to the troupe or home first?"

The question left Zhang Li silent. If they went home, she would have to introduce Li Yousi to her parents. But was the order wrong? Shouldn't they confirm their relationship before meeting the parents?

Wait... Zhang Li went through a mental storm for a moment before finally saying, "Let's go home first. My house is near the troupe, on Gulou South Street."

Gulou South Street was historically an area for officials and merchants, but after being "dealt a blow" decades ago, it had become government housing. Zhang Li rarely spoke of it, but her parents were government cadres in Jincheng. She didn't specify what kind, but they were high-ranking enough to live in official dormitories.

Following her directions, Li Yousi rode all the way to the street. He expertly parked and locked the bike—it would be a disaster if it were stolen. He then picked up Zhang Li’s things and prepared to follow her upstairs, but suddenly paused. "Wait, if you're worried about it, should I wait for you downstairs?"

"What would I be worried about? Are you the one worried?" she countered.

"I'm not worried either. I'm just afraid your parents might misunderstand," Li Yousi replied.

Seeing the look in her eyes, he sighed. "Fine, if you're not worried, I'll come up."

He followed her up the stairs. Zhang Li had been born into a traditional family and had become an artistic soldier at the age of twelve. Perhaps if she hadn't accompanied her friends to auditions, she would never have volunteered to try out for the role of Xue Baochai—that was just the girl's luck. In truth, she wasn't much like Xue Baochai; her nature was somewhat shy.

Zhang Li’s family lived in a forty-to-fifty-square-meter apartment. Li Yousi knocked on the door.

Soon, the door opened. Standing there was an older version of Zhang Li—her sister, whom she had mentioned before. The sister’s eyes first landed on the towering Li Yousi, then shifted to Zhang Li, who was nestling beside him. The sister gasped in shock.

Even though Zhang Li had turned eighteen this year, bringing a man home was truly startling. She shouted, "Mom! Dad! Little Li brought a man home!"