That day, their courtyard was the subject of much gossip, the sound of children crying and adults scolding. Jiang Ruyu felt very sorry, as she felt embarrassed that she had caused other people to beat their children.

Fortunately, food was precious these days, let alone meat. Each household only had three to five ounces of meat coupons per person per month. The Jiang family must have used up all their meat coupons for the month.

Everyone knows that the Jiang family's grandson is going to join the army, so no one dares to come to their door asking for meat—it's such a precious thing!

Knowing that Jiang Lin was about to leave, Jiang Ruyu took her grandmother to take a family photo and also took a solo photo of everyone. She asked them to print several copies, but they couldn't wait until Jiang Lin left to have them printed. Jiang Lin told his sister that she must send him a few copies.

Zheng Yang went on a long trip, quite a long one. He left on Monday and didn't return until Friday night. As soon as he got back, he heard his father and sister talking about Jiang Lin going to join the army.

Zheng Dali looked at his son with a hint of regret and said, "If you hadn't insisted on not joining the army back then, you would be an officer by now, wouldn't you?"

Zheng Yang countered his father's question: "If I marry a woman from another place and she doesn't come back for three to five years at a time, and we have children, you won't be able to see your grandchildren. Would you be willing to do that?"

Zheng Dali thought for a moment and shook his head like a rattle drum: "It's good not to join the army. It's tiring to be a soldier, and you're away from home for long periods of time. It's better now. Sigh, if you and Ruyu get married soon and have a child, I'll be even more satisfied. Hahaha, just thinking about it is wonderful."

Zheng Yang shook his head with amusement. His father was becoming more and more open-minded. He had been very angry with him back then because he didn't want to join the army, and hadn't spoken to him for a month.

"I'm going to visit Ruyu's family. Dad, please drink less."

"Go on, go on." Zheng Dali had a habit of having a little drink, and he didn't care what his son said. Only Xiaoyue, seeing that he had drunk enough, confiscated the bottle. Zheng Dali glared at her but didn't dare to say anything to his daughter.

Zheng Yang went to Ru Yu's house and saw that the kitchen light was on, so he went straight in: "Grandma, what are we having for dinner tonight? Can you give me a bite?"

Grandma Jiang chuckled, “Great! Let’s have something nice tonight. Ruyu bought a bighead carp. We’ll make a tofu soup with the head and slice the body into pieces to make Sichuan-style boiled fish slices. This girl can’t cook proper dishes, but she loves to come up with things we don’t have here. All three of them, siblings, have a sweet tooth.”

“That’s great. I also have a big appetite, so we can definitely eat together.” Zheng Yang held the good stuff he brought back from Jiang Province this time: “I went to Liancheng this time. They are by the sea, so I went to their fishermen’s houses to buy some seafood. Da Linzi is going to join the army, so I’m giving it to him. These dried fish and shrimp can be stored for a while, and they’re all cooked, so they can fill his stomach when he’s hungry. Some of the other ones need to be cooked, so we can keep them at home.”

Jiang Ruyu didn't stand on ceremony with him: "Let me see what I have. Hmm, what's this?"

Zheng Yang looked at the white, dried-out thing in his partner's hand, thought for a moment, and then said, "The uncle said it's called dried cuttlefish, and it's very nourishing when used in soup."

Zheng Yang ate at the Jiang family's house that evening. Grandma Jiang wanted to invite his father and Xiaoyue over, but Zheng Yang told her that they had all finished eating before she gave up. Zheng Yang was also quite full at the meal and felt a little embarrassed: "I ate a bit too much."

Grandma Jiang laughed: "What's the big deal? Driving is also physical work, it takes a lot of energy, so you have to eat more, otherwise your body can't take it."

After dinner, Jiang Ruyu didn't let Zheng Yang, who wanted to wash the dishes, show off. She saw him out, and Zheng Yang smiled helplessly: "I just wanted to show that I can do housework, but you won't even give me a chance to show off in front of Grandma."

Jiang Ruyu rolled her eyes: "Our two families live in the same compound. Everyone knows whether you can do housework or not. The key is not whether you can do it or not, but whether you do it or not. Even if you can't, you can learn."

Zheng Yang glanced at his partner and nodded: "You're right. My job means I'm not home much, so I need to learn how to do housework. I can't let you do it all by yourself."

Jiang Ruyu's favorite thing about Zheng Yang was never his good job or high salary, but rather that he didn't have the uncomfortable idea that women should do laundry, cook, and clean, which is common among most men these days.

Every time she said something, Zheng Yang would listen carefully and then offer his own thoughts, making her feel respected and that their status was equal, with neither of them wanting to be superior to the other.

The next morning, Grandma Jiang and Jiang Ruyu got up early. Neither of them said anything. Grandma Jiang sat in front of the stove and started a fire. Jiang Ruyu first boiled about ten tea eggs. The weather was still cool, so they could be stored for a while.

She then kneaded the dough and rolled out the wrappers, preparing to steam some water-baked flatbread for Jiang Lin. This was a way of eating it from her grandmother's hometown; it was delicious rolled with vegetables, and she could eat three at a time.

Jiang Ruyu rolled out more than twenty dough sheets, then started stir-frying vegetables, including shredded potatoes, which were sour and spicy and very appetizing. She also added mung bean sprouts that her grandmother had grown herself, seasoned with vinegar and chili peppers—it was delicious too.

Finally, Jiang Ruyu took out a few sheets of kraft paper, which she had brought from her workplace. Each sheet contained a steamed bun filled with vegetables, which she could ask the chef to heat up when she wanted to eat. As long as it wasn't exposed to wind, it wouldn't dry out.

The tea eggs were cooked and put into the lunchbox. Jiang Ruyu then started packing other things her younger brother could take with him: candy (a piece of this can keep him occupied for a while if he gets hungry), peach shortbread, dried meat, dried fruit she got from signing in, and fried sauce. She packed all of these tightly for him. Jiang Lin watched from the side, tears streaming down his face without him even realizing it.

Jiang Ruyu paused for a moment, her throat feeling like it was stuffed with cotton, and coughed twice before saying, "Go eat, what are you standing there for?"

The family of four ate breakfast in silence. Zheng Yang came in when the atmosphere was very somber: "It's getting late. I heard the announcement on the street. Hurry up and go."

Jiang Lin stood up, wearing the military uniform issued by the government. Looking at that uniform, both Grandma Jiang and Jiang Ruyu seemed to see the person from their memories. Jiang Ruyu had almost forgotten what her father looked like, and the tears she had been holding back all morning finally fell.

After finishing his meal, Jiang Jianguo walked over and saw his nephew. His eyes flashed with nostalgia and sadness. Seeing his mother and Ruyu, he knew they were thinking of Jianjun. He walked up to his nephew, who was now almost as tall as him, and patted him on the shoulder with relief: "Dalinzi, do well in the army. Obey orders and bring honor to your grandma and sister. Of course, take care of yourself too, okay?"

Jiang Lin stood at attention and saluted his family: "Grandma, Uncle, Sister, Brother, I will definitely not let you down. I will make you proud, bring honor to our family, and not embarrass my dad."

Jiang Lin left. Jiang Ruyu and the old lady held back their tears as they watched him put on a big red flower on his chest, get into a military truck, and be taken away with a group of young men of similar age.

The children have grown up and are about to spread their wings and fly away. What awaits them is the vast blue sky and the youthful spirit of living up to their years. Their families are their support and their haven.

Time is the most fleeting thing. It wasn't even February when Jiang Lin left, and in the blink of an eye, it was the end of the recruit training period. Jiang Hui was also about to graduate. What would he do next?