Chapter 398: From Small to Large
Lin Anan looked at Song Jianmin's calloused hands and suddenly remembered the yellowed intelligence agent placement reports in the Intelligence Analysis Department's files.
Every military region has a secret intelligence department. Unlike Lin Anan, who is in the open, they often do the dirtiest and most tiring work. Their identities are hidden, and they won’t even reveal a single detail about their retirement.
They are all heroes who have contributed to the country, but they are also the most unknown group of people.
Although there aren't that many people working as intelligence agents, their mortality rate is one of the highest among all branches of the military...
Lin Anan took out a pen and paper from under the coffee table, "Brother Jianmin, I'll draw it for you so you can have a better idea."
Song Jianmin and Chu Mingzhou both looked over there.
Lin Anan swiped her fingers and began to draw a map. It was all what Hu Xiumei had told Hu Jiuxi. "This area is for free-range chickens, with fences and feeding tables built. This lowland is suitable for raising ducks, which need to be looked after and the ponds need to be cleaned regularly... These jobs are not heavy, but they require people to be stationed there for a long time."
She ran her fingertips over the area marked "seedling shed" on the map. "And here, cultivating fruit tree seedlings requires carefulness, and it may be more suitable for comrades with inconvenient legs and feet but dexterous hands..."
Song Jianmin came forward, his slightly cloudy eyes suddenly lit up: "Isn't this tailor-made for us? Some of our comrades raised poultry in their hometowns, and they are good at building sheds and delivering lambs!"
His voice trembled with excitement. "Mingzhou, An'an, if we can lead everyone to do this, we can earn work points and not be disliked by others. Even if we have to live in the mountains, they will be willing to do it!"
Chu Mingzhou poured Song Jianmin a cup of hot tea and looked at his lame right leg. "Brother Jianmin, I'm worried about accommodation and medical care. The mountain is very humid, and their old injuries..."
"Hey!" Song Jianmin waved his hand, "We soldiers, don't we have to endure this kind of hardship? Besides, if the population increases, we can apply for a medical station in the town. It won't be a problem!"
"Oh, right." He took out a notebook from the inner pocket of his cotton-padded jacket. It was filled with information about many disabled veterans. "Look, Lao Zhou can repair farm machinery, Lao Zhang knows electrician, Lao Li can cook fodder, and Xiao Chen knows animal delivery... Let's form a 'mutual aid team for disabled veterans'. What kind of work can't we do?"
Lin Anan looked at the faded pen words on the notebook and remembered what Hu Xiumei said last time: "In fact, what the mountains and forests lack most is not labor, but people who can take root."
She turned to look at Chu Mingzhou, her eyes showing determination: "Mingzhou, I think we can start small. Next time, give us some suggestions and see if we can do a pilot project first? Select 20 comrades to go to the mountains and forests for a three-month trial. Food and accommodation will be provided, and salaries will be paid. If it is feasible, we can gradually expand the scale."
Chu Mingzhou pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement, "That's a good idea. I'll go talk to you after the New Year. Brother Jianmin, you can select people in advance, giving priority to those with breeding experience or technical expertise."
"Yes!" Song Jianmin slapped his thigh fiercely, "I'll go back and inform every household right away! When everyone hears about this good news, they will definitely pack their bags overnight!"
After the conversation here was over, Chu Mingzhou also wanted to take Song Jianmin to the compound to see his old comrades.
Lin Anan got up and went back to the house. She got tired quickly in the late stages of pregnancy, and after just a short while, she began to feel sleepy again.
Lin Anan had just laid on the kang for a short while when Chu Minglan came in with some honey water. "Sister-in-law, you've started coughing again these past few days. I added some acacia honey to the water so that you can drink it to moisten your throat."
Chu Minglan took off her shoes and climbed onto the kang, carefully helping Lin Anan up with gentle movements.
"Thank you, Xiaolan."
Lin Anan drank several sips of honey water. The warm sweetness slid down her throat into her stomach, making her feel so comfortable that she wanted to sigh.
After Lin Anan finished drinking, Chu Minglan took the cup and went out again.
Lin Anan leaned on the kang, looking at the ice flowers on the windowsill, and suddenly heard Chu Mingyu's cheers coming from the yard.
She supported her lower back and sat up. Through the glass, she saw Chu Mingyu playing with a rabbit. The little ball jumped to reach the rabbit. The little guy held the rabbit high up, and the fur ball on the cotton hat bounced up and down. It was so cute.
"You can't reach it! Tuanzi, you can't reach it!" Chu Mingyu's laughter mixed with snowflakes falling to the ground, startling the little sparrow perched on the fence.
Lin Anan raised the corners of her mouth into a beautiful arc, and her hand unconsciously touched her belly. The fetal movement has become more and more obvious in the past few days, and sometimes she would be woken up by the little guy's kicks in the middle of the night.
Just as I was thinking about it, Du Juan came in with a copper foot warmer. The charcoal fire in the warmer was burning brightly. "Sister, Lan Jieer said that you always complain about cold legs. I heated up the foot warmer."
She bent down and stuffed the foot warmer into the quilt, then tucked in the corners of the quilt carefully.
"It's warm on the kang, no need."
"It would be better if it were warmer."
"Thanks for your hard work."
"It's not hard. There's nothing to be tired of."
After Du Juan went out, Lin Anan fell into a drowsy sleep.
I slept until noon and was still woken up by the pain of cramps.
Chu Mingzhou was just about to come into the room and call her to eat. Seeing that her expression was not right, he hurried over and asked, "Does your foot hurt again?"
"I have a cramp on the outside of my thigh. I guess it's because I'm sleeping in the wrong position."
Chu Mingzhou immediately sat down on the edge of the kang, placed his palm on the outside of Lin Anan's cramped thigh, and rubbed it slowly through her cotton pants. His fingertips accurately found the Chengshan acupoint, and the force gradually increased from light to heavy.
Lin Anan pursed her lips in pain, and when her eyes fell on his frowning brows, she smiled, "It's okay, stop frowning."
"Are you feeling better?" Chu Mingzhou continued to press with his thumb, pressing very carefully.
"Much better. It's just that your strength is so precise." Lin Anan reached out and pinched his wrist. It felt like holding a rough hemp rope wrapped in steel.
These hands had held guns, fired cannons, carried wounded soldiers, and carved plank roads on cliffs...but now they were rubbing her legs so gently.
That’s really thoughtful.
"The food is ready, take your time and we'll go eat."
"good."
Chu Mingzhou bent down and kissed her forehead, his stubble lightly rubbing against her skin, causing itchiness.
"An An, you have suffered."
"Nothing."
Lin Anan really didn't feel the pain at all, she cherished the baby in her belly very much.
To her, this is a bond that is connected to her blood...
It is proof of rebuilding happiness.
It is also the fruit of her love with Chu Mingzhou.
The snow began to fall heavier. Lin Anan put her arms around Chu Mingzhou's neck and kissed him on the lips. She said nothing, just feeling that everything was fine as long as he was around.
The years are peaceful and quiet, probably because someone turns the cold winter into spring snow for you, and someone accompanies you to turn thorns into flowery paths.
Perhaps this is the best answer to those silent stars - you see, the world you once illuminated is now illuminating in the warmest way.
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