Chapter 223 I Believe in Him

1975, the 21st day of the first lunar month, the 3rd day of the third lunar month.

Monday, sunny.

Gu Qingqing brought her two little ones, and together with Gu Canyang who was on vacation, sent Gu Qinglie, who was carrying a lot of bags, to the air force base.

"When you get to the Corps, remember to give the salted fish to Auntie Yu so she can dry it out. Don't you like shrimp? Keep the shrimp for yourself and don't give them to others. Also, I brought you a can of chili sauce and pickled radish strips. Put them in the small pocket on the side of the luggage bag..."

Gu Qingqing held Xiao Tuantuan's hand and muttered to herself.

Gu Qinglie was holding things in both of his hands, heavy just like his sister's concern.

"I know, I know. Just grow the peppers well so that I can eat them every day when I come over."

"As for me, after being transferred to the Southern Military Region, I no longer eat in the cafeteria like my big brother. I have to eat with our Tuan Tuan every day. How much do you think is appropriate for the meal expenses?" Gu Qinglie showed his two little fangs.

"It depends on how much allowance you get by then. It should be at least 100 or 200 a month. You have been promoted to battalion commander in the Construction Corps, so your salary must have increased a lot, right?" Gu Qingqing glanced at him.

Gu Qinglie knew that the girl was upset, so he stopped joking with her: "Not bad, not bad, one hundred and two. One or two hundred a month, that has to be added with the allowance from big brother."

Gu Canyang ignored the two bickering siblings and walked towards the hangar holding Xiao Niannian.

On the tarmac, six Y-5s are ready to go, supplies have been loaded, and the soldiers dispatched by the field army have boarded the planes.

Chu Zhao was in the radio technology unit in the Air Force. Because he had a good relationship with Gu Qinglie, he took time out to come and see him off.

"I don't know what my father is up to this time. It looks like we're going to have a war. Be careful out there, old man. When you come back, I'll treat you to a big dinner at the state-owned hotel."

Gu Qinglie smiled innocently: "Okay, save some more food coupons, I want to have a full meal."

"As long as you come back safe and sound, I'll take you to watch a movie at Nanyang People's Theater." Chu Zhao patted his shoulder: "Okay."

"good."

Gu Qingqing picked up Xiao Tuantuan and said, "Uncle is going to the war. Tell him to come home early."

"Chirp~ Let's go home!" The little dumpling fell on the tall man, put her little hands on his shoulders, and gave him a kiss on the face.

"Okay, uncle, please come back early to accompany our little Tuantuan." Gu Qinglie rubbed the little guy's furry head with his chin, feeling both sad and amused.

It turns out she really knows everything.

Xiao Niannian realized something and waved his little hands to rub against his second uncle. Gu Canyang held him closer. Xiao Niannian put his arms around his second uncle's neck and buried his head in his neck and rubbed it again and again.

Obviously reluctant to leave.

Gu Qinglie also couldn't bear to part with his two little nephews. These two little guys were very well-behaved and good at acting coquettishly. They would even save some for him after stealing food.

"What does Niannian want to say to uncle?" he asked.

Little Niannian raised his head from his neck and said in a baby voice, "I like it~"

Gu Qinglie's heart trembled, and he looked at the little boy for a long time, grinning: "Uncle also likes us Nian Nian, you have to listen to your mother and don't bother her. When uncle comes back, you can do whatever you want to him. Okay?"

Xiao Niannian nodded, not quite understanding.

Gu Qinglie felt warmed in his heart.

Gu Qingqing put Xiao Tuan Tuan down, walked over and hugged his waist, her face against her brother's warm chest, and said softly, "Come back safely, don't let me worry."

Gu Qinglie originally wanted to tease her with a smile, but Gu Qingqing quickly turned her head and turned her back.

A hot liquid splashed onto the back of his hand.

It burned straight into his heart.

His throat seemed to be blocked by something. He looked at her slender back but didn't know how to make a sound.

"Get on board." The man's cold voice sounded, and he said, "We'll be waiting for you at the military area."

"Okay." Gu Qinglie suppressed the emotions in his heart and grinned brightly.

At 09:30 in the morning, the Y-5 transport aircraft formation took off.

When the plane disappeared into the sky, Gu Qingqing withdrew her gaze and said to her elder brother, "Let's go home."

"Yeah." Gu Canyang held Xiao Nian Nian, said a few words to Chu Zhao, and followed Gu Qingqing to the military compound.

Halfway through the walk, Gu Qingqing suddenly asked, "Brother, are you worried about my second brother?"

"A little bit," Gu Canyang said honestly, "but I believe him."

Gu Qingqing let out a long breath and said with a bright smile: "I believe him too. He is very powerful. He even destroyed the enemy's command center. He also shot the general in the head and blew up the military depot."

"Emerson." The man's voice was light.

"Yes, yes, it's this old man." Gu Qingqing became interested and kept praising Goudan with her elder brother.

There was a faint smile in Gu Canyang's eyes.

Soon, it was the twenty-third day of the first lunar month.

The anniversary of Shen Sui's father's death.

Today is Wednesday. Chu Dai specially asked for two days off and went to school to ask for two days for Shen Sui. After reporting, he borrowed a car from the motor vehicle company.

He took his wife, children, and Shen Sui with him, and when he drove out of the military area, he showed his military officer ID and the motor vehicle company's vehicle dispatch order to the sentry for inspection before he was allowed to pass.

"Where is Sui Ning? Is it far from here?" Gu Qingqing asked curiously.

She took the two kids and sat in the back, Chu Dai drove and Shen Sui sat next to her, and he could point out the way when they arrived at their hometown.

"Not far, more than two hours' drive." Chu Dai glanced at the rearview mirror and said, "They are all cities under the jurisdiction of Nanyang. Suining is also on the coast, but I have never been there."

Gu Qingqing took out two soft and fragrant dried sweet potatoes from her bag and gave them to the two little guys to chew on: "Ah Sui, did you often eat seafood when you were a child?"

Shen Sui nodded. "There are a lot of seafood on the beach. When I was a kid, I went to the beach by myself and could pick up a lot with just a bucket."

His parents were from two neighboring villages. When he was a child, he seldom saw his father coming home. His mother had a moody personality and often lost control of her emotions.

Grandma didn't like his mother, but was just average to him and better to his aunt's children.

When he was a child, his mother would beat him after a quarrel with his aunt, but would regret it and cry while hugging him.

Then she had a quarrel with her grandmother, and after the quarrel she took him to her mother's house.

In fact, he could feel that his grandparents didn't like him very much, nor did his uncle and aunt. Most of his father's allowance was sent back to him, and in order to coax the allowance from his mother, he often instigated his mother to quarrel with his mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

His mother trusted his parents and brother and sister-in-law very much, and often gave them money and tickets when they lived in her mother's house.

Before my father died, at most he was looked down upon and beaten by his mother from time to time. My grandparents, uncles and aunt would also ridicule him at most for the sake of their money.

Four years ago, when he was ten years old, it was the darkest time.

His father died and he couldn't go to school, so his grandparents urged his mother to remarry.

Just to get a share of the betrothal gift.

His mother is very beautiful, and he looks 70% similar to her.

The red eyes were inherited from her.

"When I was a kid, I only ate small fish and shrimps from the river. If I hadn't married a man from Nanyang, I wouldn't have known there were palm-sized shrimps and all kinds of weird fish."

I am even less familiar with things like oysters, clams, clams and mussels.

Chu Dai held the steering wheel and chuckled, "Do you like seafood, Nanyang daughter-in-law?"

"It's OK. I think it would taste better if it wasn't steamed or blanched."

On the island, the stomachs of the two men, one big and one small, have been nourished to the point where they are less delicate and can even eat chili peppers.

Now that I'm back at the military area, I have to take care of two elderly people and two kids, so I mostly eat light dishes.

Only when Gu Canyang and Gu Qinglie are around will they stir-fry a few more chili dishes.

The man chuckled: "Actually, I can eat anything. You don't have to worry about our taste."

"You can, but not your father and godfather." Gu Qingqing wore a watch on her left wrist and a jade bracelet on her right hand.

She carefully kept the bracelet that Mr. Qin had given her, fearing that it might be accidentally broken while she was working.

The jewelry in her hand was a gift from a man. Chu Dai said that if it broke, he would buy another one. He also said that when he had free time, he would take her and her two children to a department store in the central city to buy her some jewelry.

"Then you'll just have to bear with it." The man looked ahead and asked Shen Sui, "Do you still remember the way back to the village?"

"I remember." Shen Sui's eyes showed some reluctance to recall, "Brother-in-law."

"Um?"

"In the past two years, I really thought I was a member of the Chu family."

"Your surname is Shen, and you are not a member of the Chu family." Chu Dai said.

Shen Sui's eyes were dim.

"But you, I and your elder sister are a family. You are not a member of the Chu family or the Gu family. You are just a member of our family." The man said with a smile, "Why are you so sad? Can't you see how your elder sister has treated you in the past two years? If she doesn't treat you as a family member, why would she bother with you so much?"

Chu Dai said: "Children should not be too thoughtful and should be cheerful from time to time."

"Do you have any new friends at school? Your teacher said there will be a parents' meeting next week. Do you want me to go or your sister?"

"Yes," Shen Sui's eyes brightened again, "They are in the same grade as me, but not in the same class. I want all of you to go."

"Okay, then let's see if big brother is free and leave the two kids with him. If he is not free, let your uncle lead the headquarters." Chu Dai replied.

When he was not in the army, his tone was very casual, just like at home.

"Okay." Shen Sui didn't know how to start the conversation, but he didn't expect his brother-in-law to speak first.

I had been thinking that I would be a little sad when my classmates' parents passed away, but after hearing what my brother-in-law said, I am now just happy.

Chu Dai also felt the change in his emotions and smiled at the woman through the rearview mirror.

Shen Sui has changed a lot in the past two years, from being cold and closed to slowly opening up his heart. He is now as energetic as other children of his age.

The only thing Gu Qingqing is worried about now is Goudan.

A two-hour drive is not too long. The roads in Nanyang are not as bumpy as those in Yancheng, with potholes everywhere and no way to avoid them.

The roads here are flat and passing vehicles are more common than in other cities. Occasionally, you can see members of the production team bending over and working in the fields.

They set out at around nine in the morning. The man stopped the car twice on the way so that the kids could eat and go to the bathroom. Gu Qingqing stuffed a handful of toilet paper into the man's pocket and asked him and Shen Sui to carry the two kids to the edge of the ditch.

She didn't get out of the car and didn't even open the window, for fear of smelling the suffocating odor.

Another time, he drank too much milk powder and vomited. As long as he didn't poop on himself, Gu Qingqing was very tolerant of them.

It was past eleven o'clock when they arrived in Suining. Chu Dai raised his wrist to check the time, found a state-owned hotel to park the car, and took his family in to have dinner.

He was not wearing a military uniform today, just a simple white shirt, black pants, and a black wool coat.

Gu Qingqing was wearing the same lotus-colored long dress and trousers that she wore on the day of the photo shoot. She had bright eyes and white teeth, and there was a mischievous and lively look of a young girl between her eyebrows.

If she wasn't with her two children, you wouldn't know she's a mother at all.

Pei Zhu said that she was well-brought up by her man and two brothers and had no worries, which was why she was just like when she was a girl.

Needless to say, Shen Sui, with the personal instruction of Master Qin, was gentle and graceful in his every move and had a gentle temperament.

Chu Dai, however, felt that this guy still had some anger in his heart, but he was very smart and hid it well.

I think Mr. Qin and the others like him more like this, so I selectively show myself this way.

"Comrade, would you like to have a meal?" a waiter greeted him with a smile.

"Yes, comrade, may I ask if there are any vacancies?" Gu Qingqing frowned, looking at the crowded lobby, a little surprised.

Nanyang is indeed more developed than Yancheng. In Yancheng, only workers from state-owned factories in the city would go to restaurants occasionally, and the rest of the locals rarely eat in hotels.

Most of them are passing travelers, and they are all on business trips to state-owned factories. Their travel expenses are reimbursed by the factories.

Or leading cadres who were inspecting from above and staying in the guesthouse would come to the state-owned hotel for a meal.

"Yes, please follow me to the second floor." The waiter led the way.

Chu Dai carried Xiao Tuantuan up the stairs first, followed closely by Gu Qingqing.

Xiao Niannian insisted on going up by himself. Shen Sui held up his hands and let him walk in front of him. The little guy lifted his feet with his short legs and struggled.

Shen Sui was very patient and spent time with him.

The waiter took them to a rectangular wooden table by the window. Chu Dai pulled out a chair and let Gu Qingqing sit down first, and then he sat down.

The waiter handed the menu to me, and I took out a small notebook and pencil from my uniform pocket and started taking orders.

Shen Sui and Xiao Niannian were still on the stairs. Xiao Tuantuan struggled to break free from his father's arms and ran over. He held the railing and tilted his head to look at his younger brother.

They were so adorable that the guests who went upstairs to eat couldn't help but take a few more glances at these two fair and tender little balls with kind smiles on their faces.

Twins, that's really rare.

Chu Dai didn't care about the two little guys because he felt relieved that Shen Sui was watching over him.

After ordering the dishes, I picked up two inverted blue and white porcelain cups, picked up the kettle and poured two cups of water. I touched them and they were still warm.

He handed a cup to the woman, picked up the cup and took a sip, then leaned back in the chair lazily.

"According to Ah Sui, it will take at least an hour to get from here to their village."

"Don't be anxious." Gu Qingqing touched the man's legs with her knees and looked out the wooden window: "Let's go to the street later to see if there is a candle shop. Do you want to buy another bottle of wine?"

"Let's go to the department store and buy a bottle of Bamboo Leaf Green."

Gu Qingqing looked at him sideways and raised her eyebrows, "I thought you would say buy a bottle of Moutai."

"I don't like drinking. They are all the same to me. If you think Maotai is good, then buy it." The man looked at her with doting in his eyes.

Anyway, he is not in charge of the family’s money.

Gu Qingqing chuckled: "Bamboo Leaf Green is pretty good. When Ah Sui's father saw that Ah Sui was fine, he was relieved. It doesn't matter what kind of wine it is."

The man smiled and nodded: "My wife is right."

"Come on, the kids are coming."

Chu Dai sighed, picked up a kid and let him sit on his lap.

The other one was held in Shen Sui's arms.

The waiter was afraid that the two kids might be hungry, so he told the chef to make the steamed egg with minced meat first.

Soon it was served on the table: "Here are the bowls and spoons for the children, comrade, call me anytime if you need anything."

"Okay, thank you." Gu Qingqing took the two blue and white porcelain bowls, scooped a few spoonfuls from the large bowl with a spoon and handed it to Shen Sui, asking him to feed the little guy.

The little girl in Chu Dai's arms smelled the aroma of the egg custard, slapped the table with her little hands, and her silver bracelets jingled, and urged: "Mother~Ci Dandan~"

"Okay, okay, let's eat the balls too." Gu Qingqing handed them to Chu Dai and told him, "Blow them and give them a blow."

It goes without saying that men are more careful than her.

After eating the tender egg custard, the little guy had a very satisfied look on his face, and his big watery eyes smiled into crescents. Every time they smiled, Chu Dai could always see the shadow of Gu Qingqing in them.

However, Gu Qinglie doesn't think so. He feels that the two boys' eyes are like his, as nephews resemble their uncle.

Chu Dai was too lazy to argue with him. There were different opinions on the appearance of the two little guys. The uncles and aunts even lied with their eyes open, saying that they looked like their grandfather.

Chu Yuan is always very happy anyway.