Chapter 164

In the summer, it is rare to have such weather in Rainbow Island.

The sun is hiding behind dark clouds and the sea breeze is cool.

After work in the evening, the beach is very lively.

Warriors surfing or playing volleyball.

Children chasing and playing on the beach.

The sisters-in-law are sitting on the beach chairs doing handwork.

Everyone was laughing and chatting, and from time to time their eyes would fall on the children in the distance.

At times like this, Xu Wen is naturally indispensable.

In fact, she is the center.

Xu Wen was half lying on one of the beach chairs, with three sisters-in-law sitting on each of the lounge chairs on both sides.

Some were sewing shoe soles, some were making baby clothes or shoes, and some were crocheting some knitting things.

And sister-in-law, prepare the cucumbers and beans for pickling.

"It's really comfortable to be on this island in weather like this."

"Isn't it? It would be nice if every day was like this! I really want to live here forever."

"Isn't that easy? When your husband Liu retires from the army, you can just stay here instead of going back to your hometown!"

"If I didn't worry about my parents-in-law at home, I would really like it. How good is it here? There are no such troubles as at home."

"What's good about it? The only reason you feel happy here is that your eldest brother Liu gets a monthly allowance of several dozen yuan, you get a ten-yuan allowance, and you can make some handicrafts to earn some pocket money. Your children can go to school for free, and they have food and accommodation, and you don't have to spend money, so of course you feel comfortable. When your eldest brother Liu retires, his allowance will be gone, and his allowance will be gone, will you be able to stay here?"

The sister-in-law who said she wanted to live here for a long time was immediately persuaded to leave. "If you say so, I really don't want to stay. After all, no matter how beautiful it is, you still have to fill your stomach! Here, at most you can satisfy your hunger."

"Honestly. If I could work part-time here like in Pengcheng, I would want to stay."

Everyone was chattering about the pros and cons of the island, and Xu Wen just listened quietly.

"Ask my sister-in-law."

Xu Wen, who was called, opened her eyes and looked blankly at her sister-in-law who called her.

It was the sister-in-law who spoke soberly and persuaded people to leave.

Xu Wen thought for a few seconds and recalled her name from his memory. It seemed to be Jiao Mulan.

It should be my sister-in-law who came to Rainbow Island with the army for the first time this year.

Xu Wen had little contact with these sisters-in-law and was not very familiar with them.

Jiao Mulan is as her name suggests, and if I were to describe her in one word, it would be cool.

It is said that he comes from a martial arts family.

Xu Wen didn't know whether she was good at martial arts, but she was an excellent embroidery worker.

She joined her sisters-in-law in making money not because she was short of money, but simply to fit in.

It's the kind of mentality that if everyone else is doing it, I might as well do it too.

But she didn't know how to do anything else but embroider some simple patterns. After thinking for a long time, she came up with a shortcut.

I bought some square white handkerchiefs with blue edges in Pengcheng and embroidered words on the corners with colored threads.

Only one character is embroidered on each corner, such as the Hundred Family Surnames, or popular names for children these days.

For example, Zhao Qian Sun Li, or characters like Peng, Long, Kai, Hong, Cui, and Juan.

There is a saying that goes, "If you plant a tree intentionally, it won't grow; if you plant a willow tree accidentally, it will grow into a shade."

The sales of such a foolproof handkerchief were surprisingly good.

Xu Wen thinks that this is probably because although disposable items such as toilet paper were available in the 1980s, they were not so popular among ordinary people.

At least when the Xu family went to the toilet, they mostly used old newspapers or the exercise books that Xu Qie and Xu Wen had used before.

Normally, when I wipe my mouth and hands after eating, or when I wipe Chunsheng’s saliva and his dirty face, I usually use a hand towel.

There are only a few styles of hand silk ties commonly used by ordinary people on the market, and it is easy to confuse them.

A simple sign like this can distinguish them.

That's why it's so popular, right?!

Xu Wen said "hmm" and looked at Jiao Mulan.

"Sister-in-law, what do you think? Will you return to your hometown after you are discharged from the army?"

Xu Wen thought for a moment and shook his head. "Lu Yuanzheng is a military officer. Generally speaking, there is no such thing as retirement. It is possible that he can change his career, but given his passion for this profession, it is unlikely unless his body does not allow it."

Jiao Mulan exclaimed, "So military officers are different from soldiers?"

It was the first time she knew about it, and she thought they were all the same.

Xu Wen nodded. "If an officer no longer serves, he is transferred to another job but not retired. Ordinary soldiers will be retired only when they reach the required age..."

Xu Wen didn't understand these things at first, but after following the army for a long time, he gradually understood them.

It seemed that it was Mrs. Li and others who first introduced these to her.

After listening to this, Jiao Mulan thought for a while and concluded: "Officers are paid by the government, and soldiers are temporary workers, right?"

Xu asked: "..."

She was so stunned by what was said that she couldn't refute it for a moment.

After thinking for a while, Xu Wen corrected her: "It's not a temporary worker, it's a contract worker."

Jiao Mulan certainly didn't understand what a contract worker was.

"Contract workers are not employed for life, but for a certain period of time. For example, they may sign a contract for three or five years. During this period, they are paid the same as employees, including allowances, vacations, etc. However, when the contract expires, the employment relationship will be terminated automatically if it is not renewed."

"As expected of a college student!" Jiao Mulan gave Xu Wen a thumbs up, "What you said is really knowledgeable."

Xu asked: "..."

Talking about this, Xu Wen suddenly remembered that in three or four years, the Type 85 military uniform will be released, and the military title will be reactivated at that time.

The sister-in-law who said she wanted to stay longer is called Li Yulan.

She pressed Xu Wen: "Ask sister-in-law, you said you were waiting for the contract, but after we are discharged from the army, can we still stay on the island? Can we still support ourselves if we stay on the island?"

"Of course you can." Xu Wen said affirmatively, "Everyone is so hardworking. You can earn a living with your own hands no matter where you are."

Li Yulan frowned, "But like Sister Mulan said, there is nothing here, how can we support ourselves?"

She really likes the beach.

"Why is there nothing? It's just that it hasn't been developed yet. You should have noticed from reading the newspapers that many places have already started to subcontract land to households. Gradually, many places will also start leasing land.

When the time comes, you can rent a piece of land on the island to grow crops. You can also make a living by fishing in the fishery."

"Wow! How come you know everything?"

Xu asked: "..."

You can't live two lives in vain, right?

Of course, sometimes the truth cannot be told.

Xu Wen smiled and said, "I couldn't do anything when I was pregnant. I just read newspapers and books when I had nothing to do."

"No wonder!" Li Yulan sighed, "I really hope that our Rainbow Island will develop sooner. Comrade Wang Bin of our family will be discharged from the army this year. I like this place so much that I don't want to go back to my hometown."

"It will get better and better." Xu Wen said with a smile.

Suddenly, an idea came to my mind.

The sisters-in-law chatted for a while, just gossiping about other people's affairs.

Xu Wen closed her eyes, letting the news go in one ear and out the other, while she was thinking about her business plan for Rainbow Island in her mind.

After a while, it suddenly started raining.

The beach was suddenly in chaos.

The soldiers were fine; getting wet in the rain was just a minor incident. They packed up their things and walked back calmly.

The military families were not so calm.

The sisters-in-law were busy cleaning up their own household chores, glancing around at the beach and anxiously calling out the children's names.

The children also searched for their parents separately like headless flies.

Although Xu Wen did not shout, he stood up immediately and searched for Dongsheng in the crowd.

At the same time, Dongsheng was also looking for her.

The mother and son's eyes soon met in the air. Dongsheng ran towards Xu Wen and squeezed with her under the umbrella that Xu Wen had just opened.

The lounge chairs and umbrellas on the beach were made by the officers and soldiers on the island themselves and are quite waterproof.

Like Xu Wen, other sisters-in-law called their children under the umbrella as soon as they found them.

But there were too many people and not enough umbrellas, and it seemed that they were not enough.

There was a family of three coming out. The man took off his shirt and held it over the heads of his wife and children, and the whole family rushed to the family area.

But people like Xu Wen and his mother are a bit helpless.

It's okay for men to be shirtless, but not for women.

Besides, many sisters-in-law have to work hard, and the things in the basket cannot get wet.

Xu Wen had no work to do, just her and Dongsheng.

Xu Wen lowered his head and discussed with Dongsheng, "We didn't take anything, so we can just run back. Are you afraid of getting wet in the rain?"

Dongsheng shook his head and nodded, "I'm not afraid of getting wet in the rain, but you can't get wet in the rain. Before we left, Dad told us to wait for him and he would pick us up if it rained. Dad also said that you just came out of confinement and your health is not very good yet. It's easy to catch a cold if you get wet in the rain."

Xu asked: "..."

Xu Wen was touched by such kindness and couldn't bear to refuse it. He reached out and rubbed Dongsheng's head, "Thank you."

Only after this comparison did I realize that Dongsheng had grown taller again.

When they first met, Dongsheng was only as tall as Xu Wen's waist.

In just two or three years, Dongsheng grew so much that he now reached Xu Wen's chest.

Xu Wen gestured again and said with emotion: "In two years you will be taller than me!"

Dongsheng looked up at Xu Wen and nodded: "Then I will be able to protect you like Dad!" After saying that, he corrected himself, "Dad will protect you, and I will protect my sister!"

Xu asked: "..."

She smiled and said, "We will protect each other. Dad and I will protect you, and when you grow up, you will protect us too."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Wen saw the people going against the flow in the crowd, her family’s camp.

Lu Yuanzheng was holding a raincoat and rain boots in his hands, holding an umbrella in his hands, and moving quickly towards this side.

Jiao Mulan practiced martial arts and had better eyesight than most people. She also saw it and sighed, "I didn't expect Lu Ying to be so caring. My old Wang doesn't have this kind of awareness."

As she spoke, she unceremoniously put the handkerchief she had just embroidered on her head, sighed, "It's better to rely on myself than on a man!" and rushed out.

Xu asked: "..."

Lu Yuanzheng came over quickly, handed the raincoat and rain boots to Xu Wen, and then gave Dongsheng a snakeskin bag with a folded corner.

Dongsheng took the snakeskin bag, looked it over and over, and asked Lu Yuanzheng: "Dad, why does Mom have a raincoat and rain boots, but I only have a bag as a raincoat?"

"My mother is a lesbian. She just gave birth to my sister and her body is not well yet. She will get sick easily if she is caught in the rain. You are a little man, are you afraid of such a small amount of rain?"

Dongsheng: “…”

Under the umbrella, the others burst into laughter.

Xu Wen handed the raincoat to Dongsheng: "I can do it. Do you want to wear it? It may be a little big."

Dongsheng sighed like a little adult: "Forget it! After all, she is a girl!" Then he rushed into the rain with his woven bag raincoat on his head.

Lu Yuanzheng hesitated for a moment and did not chase after her. He held an umbrella for Xu Wen and put his other hand around her waist to prevent her from falling.

At this time, more "reversers" were coming in this direction, all to pick up their wives and children.

Xu Wen also saw Wang Bin among them.

Although he didn't know why, it was obvious that he missed Jiao Mulan.

Xu Wen told Lu Yuanzheng, and Lu Yuanzheng stopped Wang Bin and asked him to go back.

Later, when they talked about this, Xu asked Jiao Mulan: "Does this prove that your husband Wang is still reliable? He still went to pick you up."

Jiao Mulan disagrees with this view. "He didn't pick me up, so it proves he's unreliable."

Xu asked: "..."

All I can say is, there is only one road like this, and it is fate that the couple went astray.

After returning home, Lu Yuanzheng cooked some brown sugar ginger water for Xu Wen and Dongsheng.

Xu Wen wanted to say that he was fine, but before he could open his mouth, he sneezed twice.

Dongsheng held the bowl and shook his head, "Dad really didn't lie to me. You can catch a cold wearing a raincoat, rain boots and holding an umbrella! My grandfather and I came back in the rain and nothing happened."

It was raining heavily, and Dongsheng's simple woven bag raincoat was of no help at all, it could only cover his head.

Lu Yuanzheng came back mostly soaked from taking care of Xu Wen.

Xu asked: "..."

Lu Yuanzheng pointed at Dongsheng and said, "Drink your brown sugar water and stop talking." He turned to Xu Wen and said, "After drinking, take a hot bath. I'll go see my daughter."

In order to let Xu Wen have a good rest, he just stayed at home to take care of the children.

Seeing it was raining, he left Xiao Xiachu at home and rushed out to bring an umbrella to Xu Wen.

Xu Wen held a steaming cup of brown sugar ginger water and thought about the possibility of hiring a nanny.

This is not a question of money, it is a question of nature.

Especially given Lu Yuanzheng's position, hiring a nanny is a bit sensitive.

Xu Wen had no choice but to give up and go upstairs to take a hot bath. He also told Dongsheng to drink quickly and take a hot bath after drinking.

When Xu Wen came out, Lu Yuanzheng had just finished serving his younger lover. He washed his hands and took a towel to wipe the hair of his older lover.

Xu Wen sat by the window, letting him mess up his hair, looking at the rain curtain outside the window, and said, "It's a long journey, let's also attract investment, right?"

Lu Yuanzheng said “Hmm?” “Haven’t we discussed this issue?” It’s not very realistic. What can we use to attract capital to settle in?

"That was before. I chatted with my sisters-in-law today, and one of them named Li Yulan gave me some inspiration. She said her husband will be discharged from the army this year, but she likes Rainbow Island very much and doesn't want to go back to her hometown for the time being."

Lu Yuanzheng reacted quickly and immediately understood what Xu Wen meant. "You mean, to encourage veterans to stay on the island?"

"Yes." Xu Wen nodded. "They are all excellent workers! Not only are they hardworking, but they will also have no problem passing the political review. If they bring their families with them to become the first batch of islanders, it will at least save you a lot of work."

Lu Yuanzheng thought about it and agreed with Xu Wen's point of view, but it was not very realistic.

"Only a few people want to stay. In the eyes of outsiders, our place is a poor place with bad water. The most important thing is to leave your hometown. You can't do it during your military service, but now that you have been discharged, how many people don't want to return to their parents and fulfill their filial duties?"

"Have you brought your parents here?"

"We are different from your previous life. Most of us are not only children. There must be other brothers and sisters in the family. Unless you move the whole family like you did when you brought the Xu family here."

Xu Wen stopped talking.

This is not realistic.

Most of the soldiers were ordinary people who depended on their small piece of land for survival.

Moreover, most people's ancestors and relatives live nearby. Why would they abandon so many relatives and friends and move their families to such a faraway place?

After a while, Xu Wen said unwillingly, "There are always people who like this place and are willing to stay. For example, Sister Li Yulan. Besides, if you can earn as much money in a month here as you can in a year back home, I don't believe that no one would want to stay."

Lu Yuanzheng did not object to this, "Then you have to work harder to help them achieve this monthly income."

Xu Wen rolled his eyes. "Why is it my job? Shouldn't it be yours and Shi Lei's?"

Lu Yuanzheng did not refuse: "I will try my best! But I still need your help!"

Xu asked: "..."

The two of them did not continue the topic. After Lu Yuanzheng wiped Xu Wen's hair clean, he had to get Dongsheng out of the bathroom and wipe him clean.

After cleaning the Dongsheng, I have to take a bath and then cook.

Rather than solving the issue of whether other people should stay or leave after retiring, he had to solve the problem of food and clothing for his own family first.

Xu Wen held his chin with his hand and already had an idea.

Her first target was Luo Zemin.

It just so happens that tomorrow is Saturday, and I can go talk to Luo Zemin.