"I know, Uncle Zhou told us all about it. Many people aren't skilled enough and are discharged after a few years in the army. Uncle Zhou is amazing, he's been in the army for over ten years and he's never been discharged!"

Chen Hong: "You two even talk about these kinds of topics? Your conversation is quite in-depth!"

"Of course! Uncle Zhou doesn't treat me like a child. We have an equal dialogue! He patiently answers any questions I have."

"Mom, you need to learn from him in this respect. I'm all grown up now. It's just the two of us in the family. If anything happens, you can't hide it from me, you have to discuss it with me."

Chen Hong found it amusing. "You little brat, you need to understand your place. Mom is the head of this family. On our household registration, I am the head of the household."

Legally, you are a minor, and your mother is your guardian. This means that until you reach adulthood, you have to obey me in everything.

“Mom, what you’re saying isn’t right. I’m a family member too, and I have the right to express my opinions.”

“I didn’t say you didn’t have the right. You can express your opinion, but whether or not it is adopted is up to Mom.”

Unable to argue with her mother, Yu Yang became a little annoyed. "Mom, you're being unreasonable and bullying a child. Anyway, I'm still young, and I can't win an argument with you."

Chen Hong, annoyed by her son's teasing, burst into laughter, "See? I told you not to speak, but you couldn't win an argument with me."

Son, let's focus on our studies from now on. Only when you've thoroughly mastered all the knowledge can you reason with me, and then you'll be able to succeed. Keep it up, young man! Mom believes in you.

Yu Yang glared angrily at his mother, but a sense of defiance arose in his heart. He was determined to study hard and strive to have a voice in this family.

He wants his mother to adopt his suggestions in the future, and when he grows up, he wants to be the head of the family.

Xiao Hao and Wang Xin listened dumbly to the mother and daughter's argument in the back seat. Finally, they understood, and Xiao Hao said dismissively:

"Yu Yang, I just don't understand. All we kids need to do is eat well, play well, and study well. The adults take care of things at home, so we don't need to worry about them."

Wang Xin also advised Yu Yang, "That's right, you can't go wrong by listening to Xiao Hao. We're still young! No wonder you're the thinnest of the three of us, it turns out you've been worrying too much at home!"

Chen Hong laughed heartily upon hearing the children's innocent words; it was so much fun being with them!

Hearing what they said, Yu Yang got angry and turned around to slap them. The three of them started hitting each other and playing around in the car, laughing and joking all the way.

Chen Hong drove the car directly to the hotel entrance. Xiao Hao and Wang Xin's mothers both work at the hotel, and now they always go back to the hotel to find their mothers after school.

Chen Hong led Yu Yang out of the car. When they came in together, Aunt Guo, Xiao Hao's mother, and Wang Xin's mother all pulled Chen Hong aside to talk.

Aunt Guo asked Chen Hong, "Comrade Zhou, have you returned to the army?"

Chen Hong nodded, "Yes, he went back to his unit. His leave was over, and he left in a hurry without having a chance to say goodbye to you."

He also told me to tell Uncle Village Chief that I'd treat him to drinks next time I'm on vacation.

Aunt Guo, "Still drinking? Your uncle can't hold his liquor but he's trying to be tough. He got drunk with Zhou Yi last time."

She wouldn't sleep last night, dragging me around talking about things from the past until midnight. It was so annoying!

Chen Hongguang smiled but didn't answer. The old couple had a good relationship. She herself said that the village chief was not good enough, so others couldn't be foolish enough to respond. Chen Hong was no fool either!

Xiao Hao's mother was very curious, "Chen Hong, how did you and Comrade Zhou meet? He's from Beijing, right? He's so far away, yet he still managed to come all the way to Rongcheng. That really shows his sincerity."

Wang Xing's mother was also the type who didn't talk much, but she stared wide-eyed and strained her ears, waiting to hear Chen Hong tell them about this matter. Her curiosity was no less than that of the others.

It seems that if I don't explain things clearly to them today, they won't be able to let it go and will definitely find another opportunity to ask her about it.

Although the families were close, Chen Hong didn't want to expose all her privacy to them, so she could only say to them:

“My brother-in-law is also in the army, right? They are comrades-in-arms. He seems like a good person, so my brother-in-law introduced them.”

Xiao Hao's mother suddenly realized, "Oh, I knew it! You live so far away and don't go out often, how could soldiers come looking for you? It turns out it was your brother-in-law who introduced them."

Your brother-in-law has good taste. This Comrade Zhou seems like a reliable person, much better than Yu Hai. How much does he earn a month?

When are you planning to get married? Where do you plan to live after the wedding? Will you go to Beijing with him, or will he come to Rongcheng with you?

See? That's how gossipy rural women are. At the slightest hint of trouble, they'll dig up your entire family history. Even Chen Hong, the person involved, didn't consult the I Ching about these matters.

But that couldn't stop the villagers' curiosity. Chen Hong dared not say that she knew nothing, or she would be laughed at to death.

Having no other choice, Chen Hong had to lie again, but luckily she knew her brother-in-law's salary level.

"We just started dating, and we haven't had a chance to talk about these things yet. His salary is only about eight or nine thousand yuan a month."

It might not be fixed; anyway, it's a mess, with all sorts of subsidies and stuff, we can't really explain it.

We haven't talked about marriage yet, but I won't leave Rongcheng.

Aunt Guo, who was standing nearby, secretly breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Chen Hong's words: It's good that she's not leaving!