Chapter 360 Looking for Mom

Hu Meili is a decisive person. Once she made up her mind, she didn't hide it.

Mencius' mother moved three times for her child, so there's nothing she can't give up.

However, transferring schools requires a household registration transfer certificate and a transfer of grain and oil rations, which cannot be rushed.

So I focused my questions on the materials and fees required for enrollment at the Children's Palace.

"The required documents are simple; either a military certificate or a letter of introduction from your work unit will suffice."

Jiang Si recounted everything she knew: "The cost is similar to tuition, paid per semester, about three yuan per semester."

"Some things, like paints and paper for the painting group, film for the photography group, and materials for the model airplane group, need to be paid for by the students themselves."

Hu Meili nodded, now she understood.

"Sister-in-law, are you planning to... be transferred to Beijing?" Xu Mingjuan suddenly realized.

Given Commander Xiao's current situation, it is indeed quite difficult to transfer him to Beijing. However, if the requirements are lowered, such as not requiring military dependents to be provided with jobs, there is still room for negotiation.

Hu Meili took a deep breath. "It's not just a plan, it's a decision!"

"Then you'll lose your job?"

Hu Meili didn't care much about this. Over the years, she and her husband had saved quite a bit, and Lao Xiao's salary was enough for their family of five to live on.

Moreover, she invested a lot of money in the farm last year.

With these dividends, they don't have to struggle financially.

Of course, there's bound to be some reluctance, after all, I've spent so many years on the island, but with every gain comes a loss.

Looking at the two children, Hu Meili said, "For no other reason than the fact that the children were laughing so happily just now, I think it was all worth it!"

You know what, after hearing all that, Xu Mingjuan was somewhat tempted.

She felt a pang of sadness, mainly because they were old friends of many years, and now that they were leaving one by one.

So, after returning from the Children's Palace, the two sisters-in-law were in a hurry to make a phone call.

In the end, Jiang Si pulled her down, saying, "Sister-in-law, they'll be back the day after tomorrow. It's better to discuss things face-to-face than to have things left unclear over the phone."

She paused, then added, "Even if we were to do this, we'd have to wait until after the all-army competition."

If they can win an award in this competition, their chances of being approved for transfer will greatly increase, and they will have more units to choose from.

The two sisters-in-law agreed.

With the two little ones' first birthday party just around the corner, they got up early the next morning.

Tomorrow is National Day, and the streets are packed with people right now.

Wei Dong and Wei Min volunteered to stay and help their third uncle take care of the children, while Jiang Si and the others went to the nearby state-run vegetable market.

Besides relatives and friends, the people who came to visit the first birthday banquet were some families in the compound with whom I had a close relationship.

The specific guest list had been compiled by Huo's mother a few days ago, and the banquet venue was chosen to be a side hall of the auditorium in the family compound.

The head chef and his assistants had already given prior notice, and the head chef even prepared a menu.

This is the standard for every family in the compound holding a first birthday banquet: four meat dishes, four vegetable dishes, and two cold dishes. There's no strict rule about which dishes to choose; you just need to buy according to this standard.

After a busy morning, the group finally managed to buy all the ingredients.

After buying the items, I delivered them directly to the cafeteria.

Now we're just missing the pork for making Four Happiness Meatballs; Ninth Master will send someone to deliver it tomorrow morning.

There was no other way; the temperature was still quite high during the day, so I bought it a day in advance in case the pork spoiled.

If you get an upset stomach at a banquet, that could be a big problem.

That evening, the third uncle called Jiang Si into his room.

There will be a lot of people tomorrow, and some things are not suitable to be brought out openly, so we can only give them out in advance.

"This is from Ninth Master, you should accept it." Third Uncle first gave Ninth Master two red envelopes.

Next, he gave Jiang Si the things he had prepared.

Needless to say, each child received a red envelope.

In addition, the third uncle also prepared a set of gold jewelry for each of the two children.

Sui Sui received a gold necklace, while Zhao Zhao received a set of pure gold headdresses, which were surprisingly heavy to hold!

Judging from the craftsmanship and weight of these necklaces and headdresses, they are most likely antiques.

"You must keep these things safe," Uncle San instructed.

These days, anything related to gold can only be sold through places like the black market.

If someone finds out, it will have a bad impact.

Jiang Si nodded.

She had just gone back inside to put her things into her spatial storage when Hu Meili and Sister-in-law Xu came over together.

Both of them came to deliver red envelopes.

Not only them, but after Jiang Si returned to the old house that night, Huo's mother also gave her a box.

Although these were all reciprocal gifts, Jiang Si was still quite surprised when she opened the box.

The number of these red envelopes appears to be more than when she got married.

Jiang Si originally intended to unpack the red envelopes one by one and divide them equally between the two little ones.

Let's forget about it now, let's just split it in half.

Taking this opportunity, Jiang Si also divided the items in the space in two.

It took two or three hours just to count all these things.

No wonder people in ancient times would register anything they received.

Having too much of this stuff can be quite troublesome.

Just like now, she has no idea how many gold bars or pieces of jewelry she has.

She had only managed to organize about a third of it when Jiang Si was already incredibly sleepy.

While she was half asleep in the middle of the night, Jiang Si suddenly felt something pressing against her from behind.

It's warm and comforting.

She knew without even opening her eyes that Huo Tingzhou must have returned.

She rolled over and snuggled into his arms, muttering, "It's so late, why didn't you come back first thing tomorrow morning?"

"I wanted to come back to be with you as soon as possible." After a pause, Huo Tingzhou added, "You've been taking care of everything at home and outside all this time. Thank you for your hard work, my wife."

Jiang Si knew immediately that he had misunderstood.

She was a little tired, but not from preparing for the first birthday party; she was tired from counting money.

Of course, she's a very smart person; she certainly wouldn't say that.

"The children aren't just yours. It's perfectly normal for me, as their mother, to prepare for their first birthday parties. It's not like it's hard work!"

Huo Tingzhou didn't say anything more, but just hugged her even tighter.

How can it not be hard work?

My eyes are so sleepy I can barely keep them open!

"Go to sleep," Huo Tingzhou said softly.

Jiang Si had no idea that her words would cause him to overthink things, but she was genuinely very sleepy.

That night, Jiang Si slept very soundly, while Huo Tingzhou hardly slept at all.

The next day, before dawn, he heard footsteps in the corridor and tiptoed out of bed.

Last night, the two little ones slept with Mr. and Mrs. Huo.

The door opened, and the two little ones' eyes lit up when they saw their dad.

"Daddy~"

"Daddy~~"

The two little ones shouted louder and louder than the other.

Huo Tingzhou hadn't seen the children for over a week, and he certainly missed them, but the problem was, it was only 5:30!

Don't the two of them usually sleep until 6:30?

"Who can argue with that?"

Huo's mother followed behind and said, "He probably knew it was his birthday today and was so excited that he couldn't sleep. He woke up before 4:30 in the morning and wanted to get out of bed to find his mother. He wouldn't let her, and kept calling for his mother all over the room."

In the short time it took for Mrs. Huo to put on her clothes, the two little ones had already climbed several steps while holding onto the railing.

Startled, she chased after him without even putting on her shoes.

Huo Tingzhou sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Mom, did you tell them that little tadpole looking for its mother story again last night?"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Huo fell silent.

She went to bed early last night; it was Mr. Huo who coaxed the two children to sleep.

"Mom, you go ahead and do your work. I'll watch over them." Huo Tingzhou took the two little ones from him.

Mrs. Huo nodded, "Then you two sleep a little longer. I'll go cook the porridge and some red eggs."

Before leaving, she made a shushing gesture to her two beloved grandchildren.

"Mommy is still sleeping. You two be good and don't disturb her."

The two little ones, quite perceptive, covered their mouths and nodded vigorously.

They meant they understood and would definitely not bother their mother!

But it was quiet for less than a minute.

"Dad," Zhao Zhao suddenly pointed towards the wardrobe, "It has to be pretty!"

Because their first birthdays were approaching, Jiang Si specially found a time-honored brand in Beijing last month to have two sets of Chinese-style side-fastening suits made for the two little ones.

The dress is a bright peach pink, with a stand-up collar and gold buttons, and the bodice is embroidered with multiple layers of blue peonies.

The color of the succulent is royal blue, and the chest is also decorated with a peony pattern.

The clothes are roughly like this.

The day the clothes were brought home, the two little ones spent ages admiring themselves in the mirror.

But Mom said I can only wear this dress on my birthday.

Today is their birthday, so they can wear pretty clothes today!

When it comes to making promises, Jiang Si and Huo Tingzhou never take them lightly just because they are young.

I will always keep my promises.

So Huo Tingzhou put the two children in the outer room and told them not to run around.

Then he gently opened the cabinet door and took out the children's clothes and shoes.

They have beautiful clothes to wear, and the two little ones are getting along incredibly well.

When told to stretch out their arms, they stretch out their arms; when told to stretch out their calves, they stretch out their calves.

After putting on her shoes, Zhao Zhao pointed to her little head and reminded Huo Tingzhou to braid her hair.

Both children inherited Jiang Si's hair quality and volume; it felt incredibly smooth and silky to the touch!

Seeing her younger sister about to have her hair braided, Sui Sui instinctively poked her little head, "Want some..."