第十二章 (Chapter Twelve)

Old Li As soon as he entered the yamen, he saw Little Zhao making faces over there. Elder Brother Zhang came over and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Old Li, you look well today." Old Li forced a smile, but in his heart, he was thinking about the brief conversation he had with Young Mrs. Ma last night.

In the office, everyone was discussing the director's new policy. Wu Taiji was boasting about his Tai Chi again, while Mr. Qiu buried himself in writing reports. Old Li sat at his desk, feeling that everything was so dull.

During the noon break, Elder Brother Zhang dragged Old Li out for a meal. In the restaurant, Elder Brother Zhang brought up the matter of matchmaking for Tianzhen again. Old Li responded perfunctorily with a few words.

In the afternoon, Old Li left work early to buy something at the market. On the way, he met Young Mrs. Ma, who was carrying a basket to buy groceries. They exchanged a few simple greetings. Old Li felt a flutter in his heart.

When he returned home, his wife was scolding Ying and Ling because the children had made a mess of the room. Old Li said nothing and went straight into his study. He picked up a book, but he couldn't concentrate on reading it.

At dinner, his wife complained that there wasn't enough money. Old Li remained silent in response. After the meal, he smoked alone in the courtyard, gazing at the starry sky, lost in thought.

Late at night, Old Li returned to the room. His wife was already asleep. He lay in bed, tossing and turning, feeling that something was missing in his life. The image of Young Mrs. Ma lingered in his mind, but he knew it was just a fantasy.

The next morning, Old Li went to the yamen as usual. Elder Brother Zhang told him that Little Zhao had been up to something new recently, seemingly scheming against someone. Old Li listened and only responded faintly, but he became more alert in his heart.

The work was still tedious. Old Li handled the documents, but his mind wandered. He thought about his marriage, his children's future, and the various injustices in society. But he was powerless to change any of it.

After work, Old Li didn't go straight home. Instead, he wandered aimlessly on the street for a while. He saw a young couple walking hand in hand, their faces beaming with happy smiles. This made him feel even more lonely.

When he returned home, Ling ran over and hugged his leg, and Ying showed him a new toy. Old Li's heart softened. He crouched down and played with the children for a while. His wife came out from the kitchen, her expression softening a bit, but there was still little to say between them.

In the evening, Old Li read under the lamp, while his wife did needlework beside him. The room was quiet, with only the ticking of the clock. Old Li suddenly felt that this tranquility might also be a kind of happiness, even though it was dull and lacked passion.

Before going to bed, Old Li looked out at the moon and sighed. He knew that tomorrow would be another repetitive day, but he had to carry on.