Chapter 159: Prosperity 159: The iron tree will bloom sooner or later

"Okay, do you want to chop some meat, or just eat shepherd's purse?" Xu Nian also pulled her arm and stood up, patting the dirt on his trouser legs.

"Let's eat pure shepherd's purse." Gu Qingqing thought of the big fish and meat at noon and couldn't help grinning: "I'm a little sick of it."

"Me too."

"Sister Taozi, why don't you stay here and eat first? Or wait until our dumplings are cooked and bring a bowl back?" Gu Qingqing saw dust behind Xu Nian and brushed it off.

"No, Xiaoyang is waiting at home. Luckily I bought some New Year's goods to prepare at home. He can eat even if he is hungry. Otherwise, he really can't stay here." Bai Tao also picked up the basket and put away the shovel. "You guys go back and get busy. I'll come to chat with you in a few days."

"Okay." It was windy outside. This place is close to the sea, and the wind is unbearable from time to time in winter. Gu Qingqing was already eager to go home and warm herself by the fire: "We'll steam some steamed buns tonight and send some to you."

"Will this be too much trouble for you?"

"No, I'll let Ah Sui run for a while. He runs every night now, saying it's for exercise."

"Okay, I'll go home and steam some jujube flower cakes first, and then I'll have Ah Sui bring some back for you. They're soft and delicious, and they're a specialty of our southern region."

"Sure."

After Bai Tao disappeared at the intersection, Gu Qingqing and Xu Nian each carried a basket and entered the yard. Xu Nian said, "Don't underestimate Bai Tao because she has a soft personality. She is quite capable. Fortunately, you have good relationships with people and can get along with others wherever you go. Otherwise, people would bully you behind your back without you even knowing it."

Gu Qingqing closed the gate and said, "I'm not completely popular. I'm only better in the South and North Districts. The people in the North District are all from the Corps. Although they are divided into several places, not all of them are from the Construction Corps. After all, they have some face. There are many acquaintances of Chu Dai in the Southern Military District. In addition, my father is in the military district... Well, they are afraid that the news will get out, so they won't say anything behind my back."

After bolting the door, Gu Qingqing continued, "It was those in the East and West districts who said I couldn't have children. Now that I have Tuantuan and Niannian, they still say it was Ah Sui who brought them here."

The general meaning is that before the birth of the child, she said that she could not have children so this nominal brother was actually raised as a son. Later, after the birth of the child, she said that she raised Shen Sui to bring good luck to the family and that's why she gave birth to two sons.

Anyway, they can talk about anything they want. Sometimes, the men will not tell her about the rumors because they are afraid that she will be angry. It is not right to go to Instructor Jiang about such groundless things, and it is even more outrageous to complain to their men.

"You know everything." Xu Nian was obviously stunned for a moment, and said sincerely: "I also heard it when I was eating in the cafeteria before. They sat there and talked blatantly. Anyway, they were all familiar with each other. Maybe they didn't take me seriously because they saw that I didn't talk much to interact with others."

"It's also possible that he did it on purpose. He knew we had a good relationship so he told me through you." Everyone that Gu Qingqing had come into contact with had a good personality, from Aunt Yu to Xu Nian, to Bai Tao, Xiao Huan Niang, and Er Pang Niang. Even Zhang Jianshe's wife had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Zhang Ta's mother is just unforgiving with her words. She is the type who likes to take advantage of others but doesn't like others taking advantage of her. They are all trivial problems, nothing serious.

Xu Nian also told her that Gu Qingqing had already helped her scold her gossiping sisters-in-law several times without her knowing it.

It is really rare to find those gossipers in the East and West districts who like to secretly wish bad things for others.

The two of them walked into the living room while talking. The men were already busy making dumplings. They were talking about their time in the Corps. It was obvious that they were bored on the island over the past year.

The hands that carry guns to kill people are now using shovels to dig holes every day, and he must be depressed.

Seeing that Chu Dai was still chatting with his brothers, she knew that the two kids were not awake yet. She went to the kitchen with Xu Nian and they washed and dried the shepherd's purse together, leaving the space for Xu Nian to chop the stuffing.

"Qingqing, has your Captain Chu told you about leaving the island?" Xu Nian suddenly asked.

"I mentioned it at noon," Gu Qingqing leaned against the counter at the back, rubbing her still numb legs, "She said we'll be leaving the island in a year, and I'll order fresh milk for the kids every day."

"I've heard about this from Brother Ze. He has sounded me out. We don't plan to leave the island. No one can control you on the island. It's troublesome to come and go and no one wants to bother. We can live in peace and comfort." She had nothing to worry about. Her family hadn't replied to her letters, and her husband's family were all thinking about the allowance their husbands would receive.

Anyway, her husband and son are on the island, and she is planning to buy a TV. Unless she is transferred from above, she has no choice but to follow the army. She is unwilling to leave the island now.

"What about you? What are your plans?" Her best friend on the island is Gu Qingqing. If she really leaves, Xu Nian will have a hard time adapting.

"He said he would leave the island, so I had to follow him," Gu Qingqing said with a smile, "He said one year, but it's a little uncertain. It depends on how fast the base is built. I also want to go back. The island relies on the supply ships for food. It's better in winter because the vegetables don't spoil easily. In summer, we can only eat meat for two days when the supply ships come over, and it can't be stored at all."

"We'll see if we can buy a refrigerator when the time comes. We can afford one if there's enough electricity on the island, but it's okay for you to go back." Xu Nian chopped the shepherd's purse into very fine pieces and said, "I think your family is looking forward to seeing your two grandchildren. In a year or so, Tuantuan and Niannian will be able to walk, and they will definitely miss you."

Gu Qingqing nodded. "My father, Chu Dai's father, would send us meat coupons and money from time to time on the supply ship. Honey and canned fruit were never absent. He sent a telegram last time saying that the house was ready, including the children's room, and they were just waiting for us to return."

Xu Nian shook his head and laughed: "I never thought that the head of the military region would have such a side." Just like any other old man who is eagerly looking forward to his children and grandchildren.

"Dad is just an ordinary person. He had a very pleasant chat with my grandfather when he came to my house before." Gu Qingqing smiled: "It's just that my Chu Dai took great pains to partition off several rooms upstairs, but they are no longer used."

"There is still more than a year left. During this period, Tuantuan has to be carried by an adult to sleep every year. It is indeed a bit of a waste. When you leave the island, this building will definitely become a hot commodity. There are many families on the island with three or four children who are too lazy to live in separate rooms. It is just right to take advantage of this ready-made house."

"How about I give this building to you?" Gu Qingqing showed a brilliant smile: "You and Brother Zhao must be planning to have more children, right? It will be more lively if you have more children."

"Just one more will be enough. It's too noisy. If Xiaoyuer wasn't available for his dad to hug now, I would have abandoned him." Xu Nian put the chopped shepherd's purse in a bowl and started mixing it with the stuffing. Gu Qingqing watched attentively.

"I am willing to give it to the sisters-in-law in the North District," she said, "When the time comes, I will directly ask Xiao Huanniang and Er Pangniang if they want it."

"Okay, they all have three or four children, and Erpang's mother should be giving birth soon. She got pregnant later than you." Xu Nian said, "The family should also be hoping for a daughter-in-law."

"There are really few ladies on the island. They are so rare that you can't even see one after walking around."

"Isn't it?" Xu Nian began to worry now: "Do you think it will be difficult for Xiaoyuer to find a wife if he is still on the island when he grows up?"

"Puff—"

There was laughter coming from the door, and the two women turned around and saw that it was Yang Xin.

"Doctor Yang Jun, why did you come just now? Brother Jiefang said he saw you a long time ago." Gu Qingqing smiled and pulled her into the kitchen to chat. Outside, there were only men bragging.

There was a large kettle on top of the small wood-burning stove in the kitchen. The water wasn't boiling yet, but the wood was burning brightly, so the kitchen was warmer than the living room outside.

Yang Xin was holding a bag of apples in her hands and put them on the stove. "The sisters-in-law asked me to chat for a while and asked me if I had a date." Her face turned redder than the apples. "Did Comrade Chen Jiefang say anything else?"

Gu Qingqing and Xu Nian looked at each other. It was clear what this military doctor Yang was thinking, but Brother Jiefang just couldn't figure it out. The people in the Corps must have been made of blocks. Why didn't they understand?

"He didn't say anything," seeing her disappointed look, Gu Qingqing said slowly, "He just said that you are a southern girl and you probably can't eat spicy food, so let me make something light."

"Really?" Yang Xin was a little embarrassed, but she was straightforward and honest: "Actually, I can eat anything. My mother is from the central region, and she also puts spicy food in her cooking at home."

Hearing her words, Gu Qingqing couldn't help but laugh, and even looked forward to some sparks that could be created between the northern man who always called her "mother" and the southern girl who was used to calling her "mom".

After thinking for a while, she asked again: "Doctor Yang Jun, I know what you are thinking, and I want to ask you a question."

"You say."

Xu Nian was holding a large bowl with stuffing in his hands and looking at Gu Qingqing.

"It's like this. Brother Jiefang said that he didn't have much education since he was a child, and his family is all from the countryside. He is afraid that girls from the city will not like a rough guy like him..."

"No!" Yang Xin said firmly, "I just like this kind of soldier who has been through the ups and downs of life. I don't mind him being rough or uneducated, and I certainly won't despise a middle- and lower-income peasant brother."

Gu Qingqing was stunned when she heard this, and Xu Nian had the same expression. They obviously didn't expect that Doctor Yang Jun had such a high level of ideological awareness. The two looked at each other with smiles in their eyes.

"Don't worry, Doctor Yang Jun, I will definitely get Chen Jiefang for you!" Gu Qingqing knew that Brother Jiefang wanted to find a wife, and he had a good impression of Doctor Yang Jun, so she made the promise.

The iron tree will bloom sooner or later.

Because she opened her heart to them, Yang Xin became closer to them and busied herself in the kitchen with the two of them.

Judging from how efficiently Yang Xin works, she knows how to manage her life, and Gu Qingqing feels more relieved.

The fillings for the dumplings had already been taken out for the men to make. They ate a lot, so they made more dumplings, with a variety of fillings.

Gu Qingqing took the kettle off the wood stove, filled the thermos with boiling water, and then placed the large iron pot on the wood stove to prepare cooking dumplings.

A wood stove works better than natural gas. There are dry branches all over the hill behind, so you can just pick up some firewood to burn.

After adding water to the pot and bringing it to a boil, Gu Qingqing poked her head out from the kitchen and asked, "How many dumplings have you made? Bring some over to cook first."