Bonnie brought Yu Haiyan to the seaweed farm and introduced her to the others.
Han Weidong and his colleagues had already heard about Haiyan and her siblings' situation. As children of soldiers, they felt deep sympathy for them and would take extra care of them.
Haiyan and her brother were arranged to stay next to Yaru's sister-in-law so they could look after each other.
Sister-in-law Ya Ru raises three children on her own. She plants everything she can in the yard and also raises three chickens. Bao Ni traded some grain for her. The mother and children aren't lazy, and they're doing quite well.
The house Haiyan lives in was lent to them by Bao Ni's father. It's two small seaweed houses, one for Haiyan and one for her two younger brothers. When they came, they brought all their belongings with them, and the women in Bao Ni's family compound added some daily necessities.
Haiyan was also a capable homemaker. Her father had passed away, and her mother was in poor health, so Haiyan was the one who took care of most things. Therefore, after settling on the island, Haiyan did not panic but quickly got things going.
The two younger brothers are only ten years old, but they still go to school. After school, they go home to help their older sister with chores, such as collecting firewood on the mountain and catching insects to feed the chickens. They also raise two chicks.
Children from poor families learn to manage the household early, and children without parental protection learn to manage the household even earlier.
"Haiyan, are you home?" Bonnie came over today to bring some food for the children.
"Sister Baoni, you're here." Haiyan was very happy to hear Baoni's voice. At first, she called her aunt, but later Han Weidong and the others called her sister Baoni, so she also asked to call her sister.
"Hmm, how have you been these past few days? Have you settled in? Has anyone been bullying you?" Bonnie knew that life wasn't easy for the three children, so she tried her best to help.
"No, it's fine. Brother Han Weidong and his family often come over for a stroll, and Aunt Yaru next door also comes over to check on things often. Nobody causes any trouble, which is much better than when we lived here."
After my father's death, people would knock on the door every night. My mother was afraid to sleep soundly, keeping a kitchen knife by her pillow. She wouldn't have written to the army for help unless absolutely necessary, fearing that I would be harmed after she was gone.
Bonnie gave the little girl a hug, patted her on the shoulder, and let her cry in her arms.
"Thank you, Sister Bonnie, I feel much better. I haven't cried like this in a long time. I was afraid Mom would worry, and I was afraid my brothers would be scared." Haiyan's red eyes shone brightly, full of enthusiasm for life.
"Okay, you feel better after crying it out. Here, the uncles and aunties from the army will help you, and we will protect you. Remember, no matter what happens, tell us, don't keep it to yourself. You shouldn't have the heart to harm others, but you can't be without the heart to guard against others." Bonnie looked at Haiyan, this brave little girl, who deserved a good life.
"Yes, I know. I'll come to you if I need anything. My dad taught me from a young age to be honest, not to harm others, and not to look down on anyone." Haiyan thought of her father. Although he didn't come home often, every time he did, he would tell her about things happening outside and teach her some principles.
Bonnie patted Haiyan's head and gave her the things she had brought. "Here's some cornmeal, wheat flour, and millet. Keep it safe and treat yourself to something nice to eat now and then."
"Sister Baoni, I still have some food. You can keep it for yourself." Haiyan was too embarrassed to take so much food from Sister Baoni, as food was so precious at this time!
“Take what I give you. If I can give it to you, it means I have enough. The aunties and grandmas in the family compound aren’t having an easy time either, but your sister Bao Ni is doing quite well. You don’t need to feel burdened. Take good care of yourself and don’t always think about leaving the best for your brother. If you neglect yourself, your father will feel sorry for you.”
"I know, Sister Bonnie, I won't. You brats need to suffer more." Haiyan's eyes were filled with tears, but she was all smiles.
After talking for a while, Bonnie went to her parents' home and asked her mother to help take care of some of the children.
"I know, you've been worrying me so much." Bao Ni's mother patted her daughter, then remembered Lin Bo's matter and said to Bao Ni, "Lin Bo may get married on May Day. He said he'll be participating in a group wedding, so we don't need to prepare anything at home."
Bonnie seemed to have heard about this; it seemed the military's May Day group wedding had been arranged, but she hadn't expected Lin Bo to attend.
“That works too, it saves trouble. He can also apply for housing; the company commander’s family quarters have two rooms, which should be enough for them.” Bonnie thought the group wedding was great; nowadays, weddings don’t have much of a ceremony, so a group wedding is much more lively.
“Your third aunt is going to be worried again. Lin Hui has been gone for several years and only comes back once a year. I wonder if he has a girlfriend or not?” Bao Ni’s mother sighed as she thought of her sister-in-law.
"If you find someone suitable, just go for it, what's the rush?" Bonnie thought they were just idle and destined to worry!
"Easy for you to say. What mother doesn't worry? You brat, did you come back to annoy me?" Bao Ni's mother said angrily, glaring at Bao Ni.
"Sanqi, let's go home, Grandma doesn't like us anymore." Bonnie thought her mother might be going through menopause recently, and she couldn't afford to offend her, so she quickly tried to avoid her.
"No, I don't like you." Sanqi ran out, not forgetting to reply, his grandmother loved him very much.
“Yes, they don’t like Lin Baoni, but they dote on our Sanqi!” Baoni’s mother kissed her eldest grandson.
"Hmph..."
Sanqi smugly hummed twice, and seeing that his mother ignored him and left on her own, he quickly chased after her.
That evening, Gu Ye returned with good news: the military was about to recruit divers, and the notice would be issued the next day; anyone from the island who met the requirements could apply.
"I thought we hadn't heard anything. Weren't they saying they'd be recruiting before the new year?"
Bonnie made those boys study, but who knows how much they still remember?
"There was some wrangling at the higher-ups before Commander Yang finally managed to get it done." Gu Ye didn't say much, just enough to let Bao Ni know the gist of it.
"I know. They've been preparing for so long, there's nothing they can do if they get eliminated. If you don't work hard, you can't blame anyone else." Bonnie gave them the opportunity, so if they didn't seize it, they shouldn't blame her.
The next day, Bao Ni sent Sanqi to her parents' home, and the whole team was in an uproar. Everyone knew that the army was recruiting divers, and those whose children met the requirements all signed up.
“This time, your third aunt also had Lin Shan sign up.”
"What? Lin Shan? Isn't he about to graduate from junior high school? He's not going to high school?" Bonnie knew that Lin Shan from her third uncle's family was a good student and would graduate from junior high school this July.
“Your third aunt said that even after graduating from high school, you still can’t find a job. If you can join the army this time, it’s more important than going to high school.” Bao Ni’s mother also thought that joining the army was a good idea. Finding a job is not so easy.
Bonnie thought about it and realized it made sense. It was only 1972, and there were still several years before the college entrance examination was reinstated. Families without connections couldn't find jobs after graduating from high school and would have to make a living on the island. It was better for them to join the army.
Bonnie won't participate anymore; whether she gets in or not depends on her own abilities.
The kelp farming team was thrilled. They never expected that the army would recruit divers, and they had a chance.
There were happy people and disappointed people. Some studied hard, while others didn't take it to heart and regretted it too late.
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