Of all the women at the table, I was the youngest.
Lu Fangfang lifted the spout of the teapot and saw tea leaves inside. She then picked up the thermos on the table and filled it with hot water.
After a while, she took the teapot and poured tea for each of her sisters-in-law.
After finishing her work, she grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from the table and started chatting with her sisters-in-law while cracking them open.
"Xiao Lu, I heard you and Sister-in-law Shufen are digging for caterpillar fungus? How much can you make in a day?"
"Not much, just one or two yuan."
"Oh my, that's quite a lot. You and your sister-in-law don't have jobs, so at least you'll have some income."
...
"Sister-in-law Shufen, I see that the rapeseed in your field by the river is growing quite big. Can I go and pick some this afternoon? My husband at home wants to eat some green vegetables."
"Okay, I need to thin the seedlings anyway. When you pull them out, don't pull them out too close together."
Hearing this, Sister Yanhong was quite happy. She smiled and said, "I think Sister Shufen is very generous. And let me tell you, the vegetables you and Xiao Lu planted on the wasteland are growing really well. I'm envious just looking at them."
"Yes, yes, Sister-in-law Shufen, Xiao Lu, you've planted so much, you can't possibly eat it all, it's just a waste to leave it there..."
waste?
Hearing this, Lu Fangfang was not happy.
Before her sister-in-law could continue speaking, she interrupted her.
“It won’t go to waste. I’m planting so much not only for my own consumption, but also to send some to the regiment. The soldiers train hard, so they need to eat their fill and eat well.”
The woman opposite him opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything more, and could only close her mouth in frustration.
"Hey, look at Comrade Lu, what a glorious idea she has. You should all learn from her and reclaim some wasteland next year to help support the regiment."
"Cough cough..."
Lu Fangfang felt a little embarrassed when she heard her sister-in-law Manling praising her.
He glanced at Mrs. Zhuang beside him; the old woman had a gloomy face and hadn't said a word since she sat down.
Fearing that Mrs. Zhuang would become ill from boredom, Lu Fangfang took two candies and put them into the old lady's hand.
Given the situation today, there's no way we can have a banquet. We'll just have some tea, melon seeds, and candy. We still can't compare to the daughter of a capitalist.
When she got married, it was probably like this, right?
Lu Fangfang looked around and found that there were quite a few people here today. Zhu Haiming and Yang Yufeng were sitting at another table.
...
More and more people gathered in the auditorium, but Xiao Ting was nowhere to be seen; it was Xu Jinbu who was busy the whole time.
After a while, a jeep drove up outside the auditorium.
Xu Jinbu's eyes lit up. He took the big red flower and strode out.
Inside the jeep, Xiao Ting looked outside, still a little puzzled. "Why is it so lively? There are even 'double happiness' characters pasted up. Who in the troupe is getting married?"
"Tingting, it's you! Today is a joyous occasion for you and Jinbu."
In the back of the jeep sat a woman who wasn't much older than Xiao Ting.
She had long hair and was wearing a blue dress.
"Pah, Zhang Yanqiu, what nonsense are you talking about? I'm getting married? How come I didn't know?"
"Tingting, your Aunt Yanqiu is right, today is indeed the day you marry Jinbu."
Next to the woman in the back row sat a burly man in his forties.
After he finished speaking, he waved to Xu Jinbu, who was standing at the entrance of the auditorium.
Xu Jinbu, holding a big red flower, immediately ran over with a smile on his face. He quickly said, "Dad, Tingting, Aunt Yanqiu, everything is ready, and everyone from the troupe has arrived."
"You...you...you..."
Xiao Ting was stunned.
She glanced at Xu Jinbu, covered her mouth, and looked at her own father in disbelief.
No wonder, no wonder her family called her back home the day before yesterday.
No wonder Dad and that vixen personally drove me there in a jeep today; it turns out everything was planned in advance.
“Sigh, Tingting, your mother was a child bride back then. I was fighting the Japanese outside and didn’t have time to take care of the family. Over the years, I’ve always felt sorry for you and your mother.”
“Now that you’re all grown up, it’s time for you to settle down and start a family. Your mother has been gone for over ten years, and I… I should also find someone else. You need to make progress and treat her well.”
Commander Xiao talked on and on.
He did all this for his daughter's sake.
A few days ago, Xiao Ting got into a big mess, and her superiors wanted to send her to the countryside for reform, but he was the one who refused.
But he couldn't protect Xiao Ting all the time; his daughter was growing up.
"By the way, Tingting, your Aunt Yanqiu and I registered our marriage at the beginning of the year, but I haven't told you yet. Last month, your Aunt Yanqiu had a check-up and found out she's pregnant. Next year, you'll have a younger brother or sister. I'm telling you this good news today."
Xiao Ting: "..."
She stared blankly at her father, completely dumbfounded.
After a while, she burst into tears.
"Waaah, it must have been that little vixen Zhang Yanqiu who instigated you, Dad. Don't believe her. She just wants to marry me off so she can take over our family and you. She has no good intentions..."
"Waaah..."
"I won't marry him, I won't marry Xu Jinbu, I won't marry him."
Xiao Ting cried loudly, feeling so wronged that even her own father had lied to her.
Xu Jinbu looked somewhat embarrassed outside the jeep.
He leaned over and stuck his head into the car, patted Xiao Ting's back, and said quickly, "Tingting, I like you, I love you, Tingting, I will be good to you for the rest of my life, you..."
"Smack."
"Get out, get out."
Xiao Ting slapped Xu Jinbu across the face.
In the back seat of the car, Zhang Yanqiu couldn't stand it anymore. Her eldest stepdaughter was really spoiled. She quickly stopped Xiao Ting.
"Tingting, stop making a fuss. Your dad is only doing this for your own good. You have no idea how much pressure your dad has been under because of the trouble you've caused. If it weren't for his old leader speaking up, your dad would have been demoted. You should just live your life honestly."
Outside the car, Xu Jinbu covered her face and was stunned when she heard these words.
Demotion?
How come Dad didn't know about this?
"I don't care, it's all your fault, it's all your fault, you vixen! It's all your fault, it's all your fault! Give me back my dad..."
Xiao Ting has gone mad.
She bared her teeth and claws, scratching and pulling at Zhang Yanqiu's hair, refusing to let go.
"Hey, Lao Xiao, Lao Xiao, you need to take care of your daughter! My hair! Oh dear, I'm pregnant!"
"Smack!"
Enraged, Commander Xiao raised his arm and struck Xiao Ting.
He joined the army at sixteen, but he was a veteran with great strength. He didn't hold back in that slap, which completely stunned Xiao Ting.
She rolled her eyes, her head buzzing.
"Xiao Ting, let me tell you, you're not a child anymore. If you keep causing trouble, I... I'll disown you. Think about it carefully!"
Commander Xiao opened the car door and helped Zhang Yanqiu out of the car, leaving Xiao Ting alone in the car.
Beside him, Xu Jinbu looked rather grim, and it was unclear what she was thinking.
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