Chapter 337 "Blue of Hainan Island" - A Bountiful Harvest

The tail end of 1969 was blown away by the sea breeze.

There was no snow on Hainan Island, but the festive atmosphere was just as strong as in the north.

In the family compound, the rows of clothes racks are now filled with bright red sausages and braised meat, except for children's diapers.

Zhang Huilan and Old Lady Chen were so busy they barely had time to breathe.

Cut the meat, mix the seasonings, and stuff the sausages.

The whole courtyard was filled with the rich aroma of Sichuan peppercorns mixed with baijiu (Chinese liquor).

Su Yue wasn't idle either.

She was directing Huo Wenxuan to move two large boxes of things into the house.

This was just retrieved from the dock.

In the sender's field, two words were written in a flamboyant style: Qin Zheng.

"This young master Qin is quite generous."

Huo Wenxuan slammed the box down on the ground, panting heavily. "This box is full of old ginseng and deer antlers from beyond the Great Wall, and the other box... well, it's all for the kids."

The lid of the box was lifted.

The colorful tin frog, the wind-up toy car, and two sets of exquisitely crafted Suzhou embroidered tiger head shoes and hats.

In this era of scarcity, this box of food was enough to feed an ordinary family for ten years.

Su Yue casually picked up a tin frog and wound it up a few times.

The frogs hopped happily on the octagonal table, making crisp "clattering" sounds.

Gu Beichen had just entered the room when he saw this scene.

He hung his military cap on the coat rack, unbuttoned his top button, and glanced at the things on the table.

The temperature in the air dropped several degrees instantly.

"Throw it out."

Three words: crisp and concise.

Su Yue was teasing Gu Ningjing in her arms when she heard this, so she looked up and put the tin frog into her daughter's hand.

The little guy grabbed the frog and chuckled happily.

Why throw it away?

Su Yue said casually, "Someone is offering money so readily, why not take it? Besides, this deer antler is perfect for Grandma to make soup to nourish her body."

Gu Beichen walked over and picked up the frog that was still hopping around.

It's made of sheet metal, with fine workmanship, and the words "Beijing Toy Factory No. 1" are printed on the bottom.

"I can buy it too."

He threw the frog back into the box with a loud thud.

Su Yue couldn't help but chuckle.

This man usually seems aloof and cold, but when it comes to Qin Zheng, he becomes incredibly petty.

"Okay, okay, you can buy it."

Su Yue patted his hand like she was coaxing a child, "Chief of Staff Gu is the best. But since these things have been sent, it would cost postage to return them, so let's keep them."

Gu Beichen didn't speak.

He turned and went into the inner room.

He came out again in less than ten minutes.

He was carrying a huge woven bag.

"What is this?" Su Yue asked, taken aback.

Gu Beichen dumped the bag on the ground.

Splash!

A bunch of things rolled out.

A hand-polished rosewood rocking horse, a wind chime made of seashells, and a miniature military jeep model that he personally welded in the logistics department workshop.

That jeep not only had a steering wheel, but even its tires were made from scrap rubber and could rotate.

This skill is absolutely amazing.

Gu Ping'an was still playing with the tin frog that Qin Zheng had given him, but as soon as he saw the imposing jeep, he immediately threw the frog away.

He crawled over on his hands and feet, clung to the jeep, and wouldn't let go, making "beep beep" sounds.

Gu Beichen was satisfied.

He glanced defiantly at the box of toys Qin Zheng had given him, then bent down, picked up his son, and put him in the jeep.

"How about it?"

He asked Su Yue.

Su Yue looked at the wood chips scattered on the ground and the man's arrogant profile, and shook her head helplessly.

"childish."

Though I said that, my heart felt like it was filled with something, soft and yielding.

...

With the year-end approaching, it's time for the lab to take stock.

Chen Xinyue sat opposite Su Yue, clutching a thick stack of account books, her excitement barely concealed.

"Sis, I've counted them!"

She started calculating on the abacus with a clattering sound, "This quarter alone, the net profit of 'Qiongzhou Blue' has exceeded this figure!"

She held out a hand and flipped it over.

Ten thousand.

In an era when the average wage was only thirty or forty yuan, ten thousand yuan was an astronomical figure.

That's enough to buy half a street.

Huo Wenxuan whistled from the side: "Sister-in-law, at this rate, we'll be able to open a branch factory in Beijing next year and squeeze that Huakang Research Institute out of business."

Su Yue stared at the number, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table.

"Keep two thousand as working capital, and use three thousand for our own bonuses."

She paused, then took a list out of the drawer.

There were dozens of names written on it.

That's the list of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the battle in the South China Sea.

And in recent years, there have been comrades who have fallen on the border.

"The remaining five thousand will be sent to each family according to this list."

Su Yue pushed the list to Chen Xinyue, "Don't use the name of the laboratory, just say it's... a pension subsidy issued by the military."

Chen Xinyue was stunned for a moment.

Five thousand yuan.

That's a huge sum of money.

"Sister, this..."

"You can never earn all the money in the world."

Su Yue stood up and walked to the window.

Outside on the parade ground, the new recruits were training and chanting slogans.

Those young faces were full of vigor and vitality.

"Without them taking the bullets in front of us, how could we have such a peaceful life counting money here?"

The room was quiet.

Huo Wenxuan put away his playful smile and nodded solemnly.

"Sister-in-law, I'll take care of this. I guarantee I'll handle it perfectly and make sure no one knows where the money came from."

...

The 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.

Two tables were set up in the Gu family's courtyard.

Gu Beixiao arrived with Chu Jingya.

Chu Jingya wore a red wool coat today, which made her skin look even whiter, and she was more beautiful than the flowers.

Gu Beixiao, that kid, I don't know if he was influenced by Gu Beichen, has even learned to peel shrimp while eating.

He peeled the whole plate of prawns so quickly that he piled them all into Chu Jingya's bowl.

"Brother, sister-in-law."

Gu Beixiao picked up his wine glass, his face slightly flushed. "Xiaoya and I have discussed it. We'll get our marriage certificate on the sixth day of the first lunar month, as soon as the Civil Affairs Bureau opens."

"puff--"

Gu Ningjing, who was drinking soup, sprayed it all over the table.

Su Yue quickly wiped her daughter's mouth and smiled as she looked at the perfect couple.

"Have you thought it through?"

"I've thought it through."

Gu Beixiao grasped Chu Jingya's hand, their fingers intertwined, "She's the one for me in this life."

Chu Jingya buried her head low in embarrassment, like an ostrich.

"That's a good thing."

Zhang Huilan was overjoyed, "Perfect! Double happiness! Our Gu family is going to prosper this year!"

"Auntie, you're being biased."

Gu Beixiao deliberately shouted, "When my brother got married, you emptied your savings. When it came to me, didn't you give anything in return?"

"screw you!"

Zhang Huilan laughed and scolded, "If you can give me twins like your brother, I'll give you all my savings for my funeral!"

The whole table burst into laughter.