"Really, really! But it's a long story! Let's go home and talk about it first."

She watched as Aunt Zhang from next door leaned over the courtyard wall with her rice bowl, watching the commotion, and then lowered her voice.

"Keep your voice down."

Jiang Xiangyang was usually very mischievous and was often chased around the yard by Deng Cuixiang. Sometimes he would even be double-beaten by Battalion Commander Jiang and Deng Cuixiang, causing chaos and confusion.

In those days, there weren't many forms of entertainment, so this was the regular entertainment for the dozen or so households in their neighborhood.

By now, quite a few people have already poked their heads out.

"OK."

Battalion Commander Jiang naturally saw it too. Normally, he wouldn't care, but Zhou Qiqi and the others were there too, and it wouldn't be good if they were all made a laughing stock.

He nodded and quickly led everyone into the courtyard.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Deng Cuixiang deftly picked up an apron.

"We haven't eaten yet. This morning I went to the small market and bought a big bunch of alkaline noodles. I cooked them and made dan dan noodles for everyone."

Battalion Commander Jiang snatched the apron from her hand, "I'll go, you take care of the two girls and the children."

"OK."

Deng Cuixiang nodded.

Commander Wang, who was standing nearby, quickly chimed in, "Then I'll go help too."

Deng Cuixiang told Xiangyang to change her clothes and invited Qiqi and the others to rest for a while and have some tea.

The noodles cooked quickly, and there was plenty of sesame paste, pickled mustard greens, and other ingredients readily available at home. In less than ten minutes, the two men came to announce that dinner was ready.

Zhou Qiqi and Yingying helped set up the tables and chairs.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiangyang was teaching Zhouzhou how to play marbles under the grape trellis.