This way, we can avoid the villagers. Otherwise, we don't know how many questions they would ask.

"Fourth Brother, the chicken stew with mushrooms in the pot is ready. Ladle out a bowl and take it to the neighbor next door. They can have noodles when they get back."

"OK"

"Mianmian, you get along well with the two educated youths in the quarantine area?" Third Brother asked.

"They're alright. We were sent-down youths who came together, and neither of them are troublemakers. From the time we've spent together, we seem to get along well."

"That's fine, but we still need to be careful."

"Don't worry, Third Brother, I know what to do."

"As for what Dad mentioned in the letter about enlisting the battalion commander's son in the army, there's no rush. Dad said you should observe for another year or two, and if it's suitable, then we can proceed with it."

"What about Uncle Shen and the others?"

"Even if something happens to them, it's fine; it was decided by the military leaders."

"What's going on with the leader's decision?"

Shen Xi then recounted the matter of the mountain goods I had mailed to him last time, and also mentioned that the letters he had written to Uncle Shen and the others had been read by the military commander and political commissar, including letters from Zhou Jianbin, the county public security bureau chief, and Ma Dayong, the post office manager.

"This is a decision made by the higher-ups. By the way, these things weren't bought by Mom and the others. They were gifts from the military family compound, which were the mountain produce you delivered there."

"No wonder Fourth Brother said you were so popular when you went back! It turns out it was all for yourself!"

"Now that you're all alone here, and you've managed to get along well with the comrades in the military family compound, no matter what, not many people in this brigade would dare to do anything; they'd all have to think twice."

"I know that myself, don't worry, Third Brother."

"Mianmian, your brother's back! Is dinner ready? Your fourth brother's starving!"

"It's ready to eat."

"How old are you? Why are you so loud?"

"No matter how old I am, I'm definitely younger than you."

"Are you looking for a beating?"

"Fight if you want, who's afraid of who?"

"you?"

"Alright, Third Brother, let's ignore him and eat first."

"Hmph, who's afraid of you? I'm too tired right now. If you want to fight, you'll have to wait until I finish eating."

I can't be bothered with you.

"cut"

After finishing our meal, I took out the summer quilts that my parents and I used to use and handed them to my third brother, saying, "Third brother, you didn't tell me you were coming beforehand, and you didn't even air out the quilts properly. But these two were just aired out a few days ago, so you can take them and use them; they shouldn't be damp."

"It's okay, it's so hot outside, you don't need to cover yourself."

"That won't do. The weather in Northeast China is nothing like where we live, you know?"

"Alright, fourth brother, we'll listen to Mianmian."

"Fine, since Mianmian is the oldest in our family."

"Mianmian, pack your things up and find a safe place to keep them for yourself to eat slowly. Don't take these things out to exchange for other things."

"Understood, Third Brother."

"Okay, we'll go next door now. Come out and close the door from the inside."

"Okay, Third Brother."

After closing the door, he returned to the house, looked at the four burlap sacks placed to the side, put his hand on them, and in a flash, he appeared in the space along with the burlap sacks.

Turn on the solar light, find the scissors, and take out the contents of the burlap sack: canned meat, canned syrup, malted milk powder, biscuits, brown sugar, soap, hand soap, towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, Gala oil, face cream, and more than half a bag of cloth.

After reading the letter Aunt Zhou had asked Third Brother to bring, which contained a detailed record of all the gifts and favors given to me by people in the military compound in the past, Third Brother would see if there was anything else he could take back with him when he went home.

I took another look at the letter that Uncle Shen had written. It said that Ma Dayong, who worked at the post office, was a relative of Political Commissar Ma of the military region. They could keep in touch, and he could contact them if needed.

She also mentioned that the commander and political commissar were quite worried about her, and told her that if she had any problems in the future, she should call the military region. She added that even if they were no longer on duty, she could still call and say that she was Li Zilong's daughter, and they would take care of everything.

When I saw this, I couldn't help but shed tears. Although I lost my parents at a young age, the elders living in the military compound were my family.

The next day, after breakfast, my third and fourth brothers went into the mountains, while I went to work with Chen Enpeng and the other two. The women in the brigade were more enthusiastic than usual today. Someone said, "Li, I heard that two young men in military uniforms came to our brigade yesterday. I heard they are your brothers."

"Yes, Aunt Hua, is there a problem?"

"No problem, I'm just curious. Two good-looking young men suddenly came to our brigade, didn't you even come over to ask them what they were like? You know your Aunt Hua, I'm a well-known matchmaker for miles around. Don't you know your two brothers already have girlfriends? I guarantee I'll introduce them to girls who are both pretty and have great figures."

"Sure, Aunt Hua, my third and fourth brothers don't have wives yet. But we have some requirements for finding wives for our family."

"That's right, our guy is pretty good-looking too, so he definitely has requirements."

"Alright, since Aunt Hua has put it that way, let me tell you about my family's situation! My two older brothers, my third brother just graduated from university this year, and my fourth brother is also in university, and they're both in military academies, so they get a monthly stipend. Speaking of my third brother, he's graduated now and will be a deputy company commander in the army, so his salary must be quite good. We don't have many requirements for this daughter-in-law, except that she must be a university graduate or currently a university student, and her parents' political background must be good. Also, the bride's dowry must include 12 quilts and six large wooden chests, and the bride must bring back two-thirds of the betrothal gifts we give."

"Hey, Li, you're not making a marriage alliance, you're making an enemy! Where is your Aunt Hua going to find you a female college student? She'll need 12 quilts, six big wooden trunks, and you'll have to bring back two-thirds of the groom's dowry. Do you know that with these conditions, your two brothers can forget about ever getting married?"

"Aunt Hua, both of my older brothers are college graduates."

"College students don't have that many requirements."

"They all studied at military academies and received subsidies, more than 30 yuan a month."

"That's fine too..."

"After they graduate, they become military officers, and their salaries are quite good."

"That……"

"As things stand, both of my older brothers are highly educated and have great potential for advancement in the military; they should be able to reach at least the rank of division commander."

"this"

"Mianmian, is there anything else you want?" Aunt Cuifen asked from the side.

"Yes, it has to be someone my brother likes, and the whole family has to like her too. If even one person disagrees, she can't marry into the family."