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"We need to stay in the city for a while. Can you help feed my dog and bear? The food is in the fridge," Pushkin said.
Andrei handed a pack of cigarettes to Pushkin, who was rubbing his eyes and wearing a coat. He patted Pushkin on the arm before getting into the car. Xu Li gently pressed the accelerator, taking his family towards Irkutsk, a place they had visited only a few times.
The road was covered in snow, and as the sun rose, the white snow reflected light, making it hard for him to see. He quickly pulled out his sunglasses and put them on. "Dad, what do you think we should buy for Big Brother as a gift?"
"Just get him a couple of bottles of liquor and some cigarettes," Andrei replied, leaning back in his seat, gazing out at the endless white landscape and the occasional buses passing by. "Peter and his crew are pretty good; they work hard and are reliable."
"That's true, but there aren't many of them," Xu Li chuckled. "If we had sixteen families here, Our Village would be lively, and the uncles and aunts wouldn't be so overworked."
"That would be nice, but we’re not at that point yet," Andrei said.
Feeling the urge to smoke, Andrei glanced at the rearview mirror where his daughter and granddaughter were sleeping. He took out some gum from the storage compartment, tossed three pieces into his mouth, and began chewing. "Your ranch is just starting out; having too many people isn't necessarily good."
"I plan to expand year by year," Xu Li replied thoughtfully. "To make money in livestock farming, you need scale. With just a few hundred cattle from Our Family, when will I break even? So I'm thinking of bringing in a batch of heifers each year along with some calves."
"In six years, the ranch will be sizable enough that our annual output won't be small. We won't have to pinch pennies or calculate every little cost; it won't wear us out as much."
Andrei chewed on his gum for a moment, realizing that his son-in-law had a point. How much could they really sell with just a few hundred cattle? After deducting taxes, costs, and labor wages, what they took home wouldn’t be much more than what the workers earned. "You should ask Lekshev for help; he’s a deputy mayor and might have some connections. At least he can help you save some unnecessary expenses."
"Sounds good!" Xu Li nodded as he continued driving. After about three hours, they arrived at an old gas station. Mother-in-law Natasha watched the kids while Xu Li accompanied Anna and Eva to the restroom. Andrei filled up the car with gas.
Once Xu Li and the others returned, Andrei and Natasha went to use the restroom as well. Xu Li parked beside the gas station in an empty lot while the family went into a small shop next door to buy snacks and drinks.
All along the way, they could hear Anna and Eva munching on chips and fries; it was astonishing how much they could eat!
By around seven in the evening, they drove their military-green vehicle into a hotel parking lot. They grabbed their bags of clean clothes and checked into their rooms to rest, placing their bags and personal items neatly.
The whole family gathered in the hotel restaurant on the first floor, ordering various dishes to enjoy together. At a diagonal table from theirs sat a large man who seemed to belong to a transportation company’s crew.
There were no dramatic scenes like those found in novels; everyone simply enjoyed their meals without bothering one another!
Xu Li got up to buy some soda, and the children couldn't help but steal a few glances at Heizi, who was so tall, strong, and rather unattractive. They had rarely seen anyone like him, so it was only natural to be curious!
After finishing their meal, Anna and Eva each took a bottle of orange soda, sipping through their straws. The children were being held by the Old Couple, while Xu Li devoured his food. It had to be said that the hand-pulled rice here was indeed delicious. If only there were more meat and it was stewed until tender.
A large plate of cucumbers and cherry tomatoes served as his post-meal refreshment. The family sat around the dining table chatting for a while before heading back upstairs to rest in their guest room.
After carefully cleaning the chubby Xu Weihua and Xu Weixia's little bottoms and applying some baby powder, he finally put them in their diapers. The two Little Guys grabbed cheese sticks, munching away while crawling around on the bed.
After a long day of driving, Xu Li finally fell into a deep sleep once Anna and Eva finished their baths.
Happy birthday to my big brother! Xu Li set aside some cigarettes and alcohol he bought earlier, along with a new outfit, next to the coffee table. He then embraced Ivan with a wide grin. Two years ago, he was much shorter than Ivan and quite skinny. Now, he stood a head taller than Brother Ivan, his physique far more robust. Looking at Brother Ivan felt like looking at a bean sprout: Where’s Sister-in-law? Oh, Yuliya took Xie Liaosha shopping.
Ivan cheerfully approached to hug his two plump nephews, giving each one a kiss on the cheek. The Little Guys turned their heads away to avoid being kissed by this quirky uncle, while Xu Weixia pouted: "No smelly kisses!"
Hahaha! Ivan burst into laughter at his little nephew's antics. He cherished having them on his lap while chatting with their parents. Xu Li stepped out onto the balcony for a smoke, taking a moment to think about things.
In the evening, Yuliya returned with the kids, accompanied by her parents and siblings, as well as Yuri and Vasily's families who arrived later. The not-so-large apartment was packed full.
Xu Li wanted to help in the kitchen but was pushed out by his sisters-in-law. Sophia stood on her tiptoes and pinched Xu Li’s ugly face: "You should spend more time with Anna and Eva."
Sure! He didn’t refuse; instead, he distributed cigarettes among the older men before they all went out to the balcony to chat while enjoying the cool breeze. Yuri squeezed his brother-in-law's arm.
The hard muscles made him raise an eyebrow: "Wow, it hasn’t been long since we last met, yet you’ve bulked up this much? Have you been using steroids or something?"
Ha! If I let you use one hand against me now, you wouldn’t stand a chance!
Xu Li remembered Yuri’s slap from back then and glanced back at him with a hint of caution: "How about we find an opportunity to spar?"
Forget it; I wouldn’t want to hurt you. My sisters would come crying to me.
Yuri compared their sizes and waved his hand dismissively, turning away to continue smoking without acknowledging him. Xu Li let out a smug hum before finishing his cigarette and returning to the living room, where six little kids were playing with his two sons.
The dinner was lavish; Ivan's family had cleared out the living room to set up several tables into one long dining table filled with sumptuous dishes. Andrei and Natasha sat at one end, with Ivan’s family on one side and Lao Yi’s family on the other side. Opposite them were Yuliya's brother's family.
They sat at the back of the dining table, squeezed in with a group of little kids. Xu Li didn’t have a strong tolerance for alcohol, and if Yuri, with his petty nature, started pouring drinks and coaxing him into revealing the secrets he kept buried deep inside, it would be a disaster!
After the dinner, everyone chatted for a while before heading off with their families. Andrei and Natasha stayed with Ivan's family, while Xu Li took his wife and children to the hotel where Lao San and the others were staying to get some rest.
Early the next morning, Yuri and Vasily hurried back to Bratsk. After all, work was waiting, and school was calling!
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