Chapter 109

"Auntie..." Liu Zhiliang, who had been holding back his tears, suddenly had red eyes. Although he didn't know how far the County Revolutionary Committee was from the Armed Forces Department, the person Auntie was looking for was the deputy director of the Revolutionary Committee, and that person could be found easily. Ordinary people couldn't even enter the door of the County Revolutionary Committee.

It's not certain whether the other person is willing to see you, but you still have to make a trip for him. You don't know how many nice things you have to say to him and how many smiles you have to put on. It's the same for your own son.

The recruiting comrade naturally thought of what Liu Zhiliang could think of. He looked at the watch on his wrist and smiled at Xia Juhua: "Okay, I'll wait for you here."

Xia Juhua ran to the bicycle, unlocked it and got on. She got on too hastily and the bicycle twisted twice before it finally came off. The recruiting comrade looked curious and asked Liu Zhiliang:

"Didn't you say that your parents were arrested by the Red Squad and put in the study class because they framed your aunt? You don't hate her in your heart, and she never made things difficult for you because you were the son of the person who framed her?"

Liu Zhiliang had just pretended to look at Xia Juhua, but he had quietly wiped away the tears from his eyes. Now he said to the recruiting comrade with red eyes, "I don't hate Auntie. The people of Ping'an Village can live the life we ​​​​have now, and everyone says that it is Auntie who brought us up well. She is such a good person, and my parents were wrong to frame Auntie. My Auntie never made things difficult for me. Although my parents framed Auntie, she treated me like her own son."

After hearing this, the recruiting comrade looked at Liu Zhiliang seriously and found that his eyes were clear and his tone was sincere. It was obvious that he said these words from the heart. He couldn't help but nodded secretly in his heart. He was really a child who could distinguish right from wrong. No wonder his aunt was so concerned about his future.

"The troops are not here to just eat steamed bread and sit there doing nothing. The training is tough every day. You may have to go to the battlefield someday. When you go to the battlefield, you will see blood." The recruiting comrade seemed to be advising Liu Zhiliang: "You are so young, I am afraid you can't stand the hardship."

Although Xia Juhua had just left on her bicycle, Liu Zhiliang's eyes were fixed on the gate of the Armed Forces Department. When he heard the recruiting comrade say that the army was tough, he turned around and said as a matter of course: "I know the army is tough, but if it's not tough, how can you develop good skills? How can you kill the Japanese on the battlefield?"

The comrade who was recruiting soldiers was amused by him: "We won't kill the Japanese devils now."

"But there are still the Russians and the American imperialists." Liu Zhiliang finally turned around and said to the recruiting comrade seriously: "We must fight against imperialism and revisionism, and soldiers must have skills."

Well, it seems that the ideological propaganda of the Ping'an Village Brigade is quite effective. Even the children at such a young age know who the enemy is. The recruiting comrade had an idea in mind, so he asked Liu Zhiliang to wait for Xia Juhua here by himself, and he went into the house to continue to observe others.

Liu Zhiliang suddenly became anxious: "Comrade leader, please wait a little longer. My auntie's words are the most trustworthy. She said she will be back in 20 minutes, and she will definitely be back." If you leave, who will my auntie go to when she comes back?

The recruiting comrade couldn't help but patted Liu Zhiliang on the head and said, "You know which room I am in. When your aunt comes back later, you can take her to find me."

Liu Zhiliang then watched the people enter the Armed Forces Department, and then turned his head to stare at the gate. He waited, but Xia Juhua didn't come back.

"Zhiliang, where's your aunt?" After Liu Zhijun finished his physical examination, he saw that Liu Zhiliang was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, with lifeless eyes and no one knew what he was looking at at the gate. The aunt who brought them for the physical examination was nowhere to be seen, so of course he had to ask.

As soon as he saw Liu Zhijun, Liu Zhiliang felt like he had seen his backbone: "Brother Zhijun, my aunt said she went to the deputy director of the county revolutionary committee to ask where my parents are, but she has been gone for a long time and has not come back yet."

Liu Zhijun was stunned for a moment, and only after asking did he know why Xia Juhua went to the deputy director of the county revolutionary committee to inquire about Liu Sizhuang and his wife. His thoughts were similar to Liu Zhiliang's, but he still comforted him: "Don't worry, Auntie never does anything without confidence."

Indeed, Xia Juhua, who does not give up easily, thinks before she speaks, and would rather not say anything if she is not sure. Today was no exception, she did not come back alone pushing her bike, but followed by Liu Sizhuang and Sun Guizhi, whom Liu Zhiliang had not seen for more than two years.

If they had not followed Xia Juhua, Liu Zhiliang would have hardly recognized these two people as his parents: now the members of Ping'an Village have received more dividends, and they have the mood and ability to tidy up themselves. It's not to say that doesn't patch clothes for everyone, but the patched clothes are all washed clean.

Liu Sizhuang and Sun Guizhi were still wearing the same clothes they were in when they were taken to the training center. I don't know how many patches they had on them. Maybe they just wanted to throw away the old clothes, or maybe they just didn't have the time. The dust and spots on their clothes made it hard to tell their original colors…

Even though it was just winter, they already had frostbite on their faces, red and black, looking scary. The most important thing was that they didn't dare to look anyone in the eye, even when they saw their own son, their eyes were evasive, and they would shiver uncontrollably when they heard someone loud talkingly.

This made Liu Zhiliang, who was already resentful towards them, finally shed tears after holding back his tears for who knows how long: "Dad, Mom, why are you..." What happened?

Sun Guizhi finally saw her son, tears streaming down her face, but she didn't dare to scream at the top of her lungs as she did in Ping'an Village. She went forward to pull her son back, but when she looked at her rough and black hands, she rubbed them hard on her clothes twice, but still didn't have the nerve to pull him back.

Xia Juhua felt that now was not the time for them to reminisce. She had just looked around and didn't see the recruiting comrade, so she naturally asked Liu Zhiliang: "Where is that comrade? Why did he leave? I just checked the clock, it should be less than 20 minutes."

Liu Zhiliang then remembered the important matter and said to Xia Juhua, "Auntie, the leader said you are back and asked me to take you to see him."

"Then hurry up." Xia Juhua was anxious: "Maybe this also counts as time." Seeing that Liu Sizhuang and his wife had not caught up, she turned around and shouted at them: "What are you doing standing there, let's go." The two of them lowered their heads and followed quietly.

Liu Zhiliang found the office where the recruiting comrade was staying. Just as he was about to push the door open, Xia Juhua grabbed him and knocked on the door herself. After someone inside agreed to let him in, she opened the door and said, "Comrade, I'm back. I hope I didn't waste your time."

The recruiting comrade raised his wrist to check his watch. In fact, more than five minutes had passed. However, he smiled and said, "No, the time is just right." After that, he saw Liu Zhiliang leading two people in. The air in the room suddenly had a strange smell. He couldn't help but look at Xia Juhua strangely.

Xia Juhua explained to him that these two people were Liu Zhiliang's parents. She had just gone to the Red Team to pick them up. They would return to Ping'an Village to engage in agricultural production in the future. They were not class enemies and would not hinder Liu Zhiliang.

Listening to Xia Juhua speaking well of Liu Zhiliang without any expression, the recruiting comrade believed Liu Zhiliang's evaluation of Xia Juhua just now: If Xia Juhua did not really care about Liu Zhiliang, she would have done her utmost by just telling him about the current situation of Liu Sizhuang and his wife, and there would have been no need to bring anyone to him.

When the army recruits new soldiers, in addition to physical fitness, the political review is also very strict. Although everyone knows that those imprisoned in the Red Team's study classes are not necessarily those who have done evil, Liu Sizhuang and his wife are obviously not among those "not necessarily".

Xia Juhua brought the two people back directly from the Red Team and explained to them in person that they would re-participate in agricultural production. This was to tell the recruiting comrades that these two people were no longer a stain on Liu Zhiliang.

To be honest, the recruiting comrades all admire Xia Juhua's magnanimity.

It is refreshing for a person to vent his anger for a short time, but it does not mean that everything is over after venting his anger. For example, Liu Zhiliang in front of us, knowing that his parents entered the study class because of framing Xia Juhua, has been praising Xia Juhua all the time, and his words are full of gratitude to her. This is what makes people admire him.

Look at Liu Sizhuang and his wife again. Do they still dare to say no to Xia Juhua? They don't even have the courage to look her in the eye.

The most important thing is that Xia Juhua really found the person within 20 minutes (although it took a few minutes longer, and the recruiting comrade might have automatically ignored the fact that she found the person and brought him to her in such a short time). Not only did she find him, she also brought him to him, which shows that she is a capable person.

A truly capable person is respected wherever he goes. The recruiting comrade was also moved by Xia Juhua's character and said to Liu Zhiliang: "Go for a physical examination. If your physical condition does not meet the requirements, you will not be accepted."

It turned out that his initial questioning of Liu Zhiliang was just a preliminary political review, not a physical examination as Liu Zhiliang thought. Of course, the recruitment should be carried out in the village, but after seeing Xia Juhua's ability, the recruiting comrades felt that this step could be omitted: Liu Zhiliang was obviously deeply influenced by Xia Juhua, and he had a spirit of not admitting defeat. Such a child could not be wrong.

A young man who is capable, resilient and unwilling to admit defeat is a good candidate for military service. For a promising young man, age is not a factor that cannot be ignored.

Therefore, those who returned to Ping'an Manor with Xia Juhua were not just the twenty-one young men who had initially passed the physical examination, but also Liu Sizhuang and his wife Sun Guizhi, which immediately caused a sensation in Ping'an Manor.

Who are those two? They are Liu Sizhuang and Sun Guizhi, who can't stand Xia Juhua's good life and find all kinds of reasons to frame her, almost forcing Xia Juhua into despair! Xia Juhua actually brought them back. Did she feel that she had lived a good life for too long and wanted to make herself uncomfortable?

Even Sun felt upset when she saw Liu Sizhuang and his wife: Are these her son and daughter-in-law? They are obviously beggars. You can go farther away to beg, but why do you have to come back to cause trouble for her?

It has to be said that Liu Zhiliang has had a great influence on Sun in the past two years. In addition, without Liu Sizhuang and his wife causing trouble, Liu Erzhuang and Li Daya are still very caring towards Sun. Even the relationship between her and Liu Sanzhuang has eased a little, making Sun unwilling to disrupt her peaceful life.

Fortunately, Liu Sizhuang and his wife were really scared in the study class, especially since the Red Team was disbanded. They didn't even know who to ask for food there, and they were almost begging for food. So when they entered the old house, they knelt down to Xia Juhua in front of the crowd, "Sister-in-law, we were not human beings before, and we will never dare to do it again."

Liu Zhiliang also wanted to kneel down to Xia Juhua, but she pulled him back. He only had one thing to say to Liu Sizhuang and his wife on the ground: "If it weren't for Zhiliang, I wouldn't have gone to pick you up. If you love your son in the future, don't hold him back. If you don't love your son, I can only help him this time."

The people in Pingan Village understood immediately that Xia Juhua did not forgive Liu Sizhuang and his wife, but brought them back for Liu Zhiliang. They said, the captain is not a bad person, but Liu Sizhuang and his wife are like this, why would he bring them back without a reason?

Many people secretly made up their minds that the captain did not have the time and energy to keep an eye on Liu Sizhuang and his wife all the time, so they had to keep an eye on the two of them for the captain. If they dared to do the same thing again, they would not be able to live in Ping'an Village.

Not only outsiders thought so, but in the evening, both the families of Liu Erzhuang and Liu Sanzhuang came to Xia Juhua's house, but they were silent and did not say what was going on.

Xia Juhua knew they were in a difficult position to speak up, so she spoke first: "Zhiliang is a strong-willed child. We have all seen how he has been through the past two years. I don't want to delay the child, and I don't want him to be looked down upon by others for the rest of his life because of his parents."

Liu Erzhuang looked up at Xia Juhua, his lips moved twice but he didn't say anything. An Baoling was a straightforward person, and seeing that her second uncle and her husband were silent, she said:

"Sister-in-law, I'm here for no other reason than to ask how long it will take to get approval if I apply for a homestead."

Seeing that Liu Sanzhuang did not refute An Baoling's words, but was looking at her as anxiously as she was, Xia Juhua said, "You might as well apply for a homestead, but now is not a good time to build a house." It's almost freezing, can the house we build be sturdy?

An Baoling smiled and said, "It's fine as long as it's approved. I thought there would be less work in winter, so I'd better remove some of the bricks if possible, and it would be best if the bricks and tiles can be fired."

They are both hardworking. Their two sons Zhijun and Zhiguo have already earned their work points. In the past two years, the work points in Ping'an Village have been getting higher and higher. They want to build a tiled house directly.

Liu Zhishuang got excited when he heard this: "Auntie, if you are in a hurry, just take the adobe I took off. I also have some tiles that have been made. You can take them too. I am not in a hurry to build a house."

Liu Zhiquan, who was beaten to the punch by his brother, asked Li Daya, "Aunt, do you guys want to build a tile house too? I have some ready-made adobe and tiles. You can use them."

Xia Juhua was so angry at her two sons that she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Are you so unwilling to go out and build the house by yourselves?

Liu Erzhuang also blushed at Liu Zhiquan's question. Just as he was about to open his mouth to refute, Li Daya spoke up: "Zhiquan, thank you for thinking about my aunt, but we want to build a house after the spring ploughing. A winter is enough for your uncle and Zhifu to make adobe bricks."

Well, Liu Erzhuang was completely stifled, so Xia Juhua could only smile dryly and ask, "Bricks and tiles are easy, but are the wood ready? That's not easy to buy."

"Why else would I come to see my sister-in-law?" An Baoling didn't even look at Liu Sanzhuang, and said directly: "I heard that Xiaoqi helped Zhiquan and his friends to arrange the wood. If Xiaoqi comes next time, can you help me pass on a message, sister-in-law?"

Liu Zhishuang was about to open his mouth to sell the wood again, but his mother glared at him and he dared not say a word. However, his eyes were not honest and he winked at An Baoling.

An Baoling found it funny. She knew that Xia Juhua wanted to divide the two sons when Liu Zhishuang got married. As a result, the two sons made adobe bricks, tiles, and wood, but they refused to apply for a homestead, which made Xia Juhua angry and she had no idea what to do. Now seeing Liu Zhishuang playing tricks on his mother again, how could she not be happy.

Thinking about the mess in the old house again, An Baoling couldn't be happy anymore: the mother-in-law was the one who brought up her son and daughter-in-law. On the one hand, the daughters-in-law wanted to move as far away as possible, and the sons acquiesced. On the other hand, the sons tried every means to avoid moving, and the daughters-in-law obeyed their mother-in-law more than their own mother. The contrast was so obvious that one had to wonder why.

No matter why, An Baoling has decided that she will be a mother-in-law like her sister-in-law in the future. She has the ability to make money and save enough for retirement. When the day comes when she can't move, she will not let her son feel that he has served her in vain. At the same time, she will be careful not to interfere in how her son and daughter-in-law get along. She doesn't believe that her son and daughter-in-law will be like her, wishing to stay ten miles away from their mother-in-law.

The mother-in-law didn't do as much as her sister-in-law did, but she just complained about her daughter-in-law being unfilial. How can she be so shameless?

An Baoling, who was thinking about something, was awakened by Xia Juhua's words: "Although the date for the volunteers to leave has not been determined, you still have to prepare things for the children." Building a house is a long-term plan, but sending her son to join the army is an immediate matter and cannot be delayed.

An Baoling, who had been very supportive of her son's military service, was now completely overwhelmed by the impending separation: "Sister-in-law, what do you think I should prepare for him? We haven't had any soldiers from Ping An Village for several years, and I don't know what the military can use."

"The troops have issued clothes and quilts, so you can make him a new set of clothes so that he can have a change of clothes when he rests. Also buy him some toothpaste and other small items - I heard that the troops don't allow people to go out casually, so don't leave your child without any."

An Baoling nodded repeatedly, and became absent-minded when she spoke again. Seeing this, Li Daya did not sit for long and soon said that she wanted to go home and look after her own things.

These words were not said behind Liu Erzhuang's back at all. Liu Sanzhuang didn't react much, but Liu Erzhuang's old face turned red: "What are you talking about? Aren't Zhifu and the others still at home?" There was no need to be on guard against thieves.

Li Daya and An Baoling looked at each other without saying a word, but they became more determined to apply for a homestead to build a house.

After the people left, before Xia Juhua could get angry, Liu Zhishuang found a topic to divert his mother's attention: "Mom, if Zhijun and Zhiliang go to the army, do we still need to give them something?" After all, they have been called brothers for so many years and they get along well. Now that they are gone, we don't know when they will come back, so we should show some appreciation.

This is indeed a problem, but Xia Juhua already had an idea in her mind: "Giving them money is more practical than giving them anything else. With money, they can buy whatever they need themselves, so we don't have to prepare them at home, which will be useless if the army doesn't allow them to use them." No matter what the army uses, it is all unified, and they all adhere to the rules.

Liu Zhishuang deliberately complained to her, "Why did you let Third Aunt prepare those things when she asked just now?"

Xia Juhua sighed: "When a son travels a thousand miles, his mother worries; when a mother travels ten thousand miles, her son does not worry. Your third aunt is only thinking about Zhijun leaving home. If you don't find something for her to do, she will be even more restless."

Forget it, now that the difference between mother and son has come out, let's not talk about it anymore. Feeling a little guilty, Liu Zhishuang stopped talking while he was ahead. He stood up and wanted to take Xiaoman back to the house. Xia Juhua could let him go: "Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, when you are free, go to Xiajiazhuang and ask your third uncle. If he is not busy, he will burn out the bricks and tiles for both of you."

Liu Zhishuang said hurriedly: "My third uncle is very busy. Now their brick kiln is working all day long." After saying that, he didn't even care about his wife and ran out of the door in one step.

Wang Caifeng also smiled and pulled Liu Zhiquan out, and did not forget to ask her mother-in-law to go to bed early so that she would not be tired when she woke up the next day.

Xia Juhua wanted to tell her that she was so angry that she had no energy left. She called Wang Caifeng and asked, "Someone from the county agricultural machinery station came to ask Deputy Director Qi today. They also want to fry some peanuts. Can you spare the time?"

Wang Caifeng smiled even more brilliantly: "Of course I have time. I have to work hard even if I don't sleep. Besides, I still have Xiaoman. I can ask her to help me. If we make money, we can split it in half."

"Sister-in-law, I can only help you light the fire, no need to share the money." Xiaoman, who was abandoned by Liu Zhishuang, now followed behind Wang Caifeng and Liu Zhishuang, slowly stating her position.

Xia Juhua couldn't bear to listen any longer, so she waved her hand and asked them to leave quickly, so that she wouldn't get more angry the more she listened - are you pretending to be harmonious with each other, so as to soften her heart and give up the idea of ​​dividing the family? Dream on.

Xia Juhua, who never daydreams but always faces reality, was unable to move in the brigade headquarters the next day: the families of the new recruits, who were as worried about their children as An Baoling, all came to consult her, wanting to know what they should bring for the new recruits so that they would not forget their homes and would not violate the army's regulations.

Xia Juhua, who couldn't come up with an answer, finally gave them an idea that wasn't really an idea: "When children are away from home, what do they miss the most? Isn't it the food at home? Why don't you each bring them some vermicelli, which is leaked from our Ping'an Village Brigade. It is definitely different from those made elsewhere. When the children miss home, let them go to the kitchen to ask for some seasonings, soak some and make a bowl of food for themselves. Isn't that more effective than anything else?"

It must be said that this idea sounded quite reliable, especially when it came from Xia Juhua's mouth. Everyone agreed with it and said that they must teach their children how to make hot and sour noodles within a few days so that they can eat their fill and not miss home.