The twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month was the Little New Year. Li Xiu was up bright and early doing laundry and cooking. After helping his beloved wife and daughter wash up and eat, his little girl fell asleep again.
Zhou Lian lay on her stomach on the kang bed, watching Li Xiu busy himself with cleaning. Feeling quite bored, she said, "Li Xiu, I don't have anything to do. Want me to help you with something?"
Li Xiu, who hadn't stopped working since morning, saw his wife lying on the kang bed, bored to tears. He smiled and said, "Bao'er, you must be bored. How about I find a book for you to read? Just don't read for too long!"
"Thank you for working so hard, honey," Zhou Lian said, delighted that he was letting her read.
