Two days later, Zhang Honghua came again.
She didn't dare go into the courtyard, so she just shouted outside until Xiuxiu released the big yellow dog, at which point she ran away.
This man, taking advantage of his large belly, was extremely arrogant.
Lu Fangfang stopped indulging this person.
She had Zhuang Mingcheng deliver a message to Zhang Honghua's man in the city, and then sat and waited to watch the excitement unfold.
The next day, Zhang Honghua came again.
But before she could cause any trouble, a man arrived in a hurry on a bicycle.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Come home with me right now."
Liu Fulai's face was gloomy as he grabbed Zhang Honghua and pulled her outside.
"What are you doing? I'm introducing someone to your cousin, don't pull me."
Zhang Honghua looked like she'd seen a ghost, wondering where this man had come from.
"Pah! Who gave you the right to act on your own? Get back here right now! Don't cause me any trouble!"
Liu Fulai roared in a low voice.
He glanced back, forced a smile, then grabbed Zhang Honghua and quickened his pace.
"Let me go, I can walk."
Zhang Honghua was extremely embarrassed, especially since it was in front of outsiders.
At the entrance of the courtyard, Lu Fangfang and Xiuxiu were eating sunflower seeds and watching the commotion.
A large yellow dog was sitting next to the two of them.
Once the two figures were out of sight, Xiuxiu asked curiously, "Sister, is that Zhang Honghua's second husband? How did you know he would come?"
"I asked your brother-in-law to give him a message, telling him to keep a close eye on his wife at home."
Lu Fangfang gave a soft snort.
Holding a few sunflower seeds in her hand, she tossed them to the big yellow dog.
"Woof~"
The big yellow dog was clever; it cracked open the sunflower seed, spat out the shell, and only chewed the kernel.
Lu Fangfang bent down and rubbed its head, then turned around and called Xiuxiu back to the yard.
She had to remind her parents again that the things she brought back shouldn't be given to her second sister-in-law; they should keep them for themselves.
...
Village entrance.
Liu Fulai pushed his bicycle, still cursing Zhang Honghua.
"He's just a deputy regimental commander, why are you so afraid of him? You're a cadre in the factory, after all."
Zhang Honghua was quite unconvinced.
Her husband has an urban household registration and is a worker, so she doesn't think there's anything wrong with that.
"You don't know anything! He's a full regimental commander now, about to be promoted to officer, while I don't even have an officer position. How can I compare to him?!"
Liu Fulai was furious and cursed her a few more times.
Upon receiving the news, he rushed to the countryside without stopping and managed to stop them.
He glanced at Zhang Honghua and was filled with regret. He shouldn't have been so greedy for her youth and beauty, but it was too late to say anything now.
How did you know?
Zhang Honghua asked blankly.
He's already a regimental commander, and he still wants to be promoted to officer? How high a rank would that be?
She suddenly felt a pang of regret.
"Your sister told me this. You brainless idiot, you don't even know anything about them, yet you dare to provoke them."
"Let me tell you, I'm currently on probation. If you dare cause me any trouble, I'll divorce you and cut all ties with you!"
Liu Fulai spat and then stormed back.
He had to hurry up and buy some gifts before going to apologize; he absolutely couldn't let it affect his future.
Zhang Honghua's expression shifted between light and shadow as she followed closely behind her husband.
She glanced back, feeling utterly dejected.
She felt that the humiliation she had suffered was something she could never avenge in this lifetime.
...
The Lu family.
Without Zhang Honghua causing trouble, the family happily awaited the Lunar New Year.
As for Liu Fulai's affairs, Lu Fangfang didn't interfere and left it all to her husband.
Kill a chicken, buy meat, fry meatballs, steam white flour buns, and paste up Spring Festival couplets.
Soon, it was New Year's Eve.
The eldest and second eldest sons of the Lu family also brought their children over, and the whole family had a reunion dinner.
After the Spring Festival, Zhuang Mingcheng made another trip to a small coastal county.
The military region plans to purchase some kelp every year so that it can be used to make soup for the soldiers in winter, which also helps prevent night blindness.
The task of communicating with the county government fell to Zhuang Mingcheng.
Lu Fangfang didn't go with her husband. She and Xiuxiu stayed at home, packing their luggage, preparing to return to Qilian.
After the eighth day of the lunar new year, Zhuang Mingcheng returned from the small coastal county town, and they planned to return to Qilian the next day.
That evening, during dinner, Lu Zhaokun and Yang Cuilan were both somewhat silent.
The two looked at Xiuxiu and finally made up their minds reluctantly.
"Xiu, your mother and I have agreed to your relationship with that Xu Huayun, but you have to promise to come back at least once a year..."
"real?"
Xiuxiu's eyes lit up as she looked at her parents.
Lu Zhaokun sighed and nodded vigorously.
His daughter has grown up and is independent; there's nothing he can do even if he disagrees.
"Fangfang, Mingcheng, you two take care of Xiuxiu. We live far away, so...sigh."
Lu Zhaokun's eyes were red, and he couldn't continue speaking.
"Father, Mother, please don't worry."
Lu Fangfang got up and comforted the two elders.
Xiuxiu wiped away her tears and rushed into her mother's arms.
...
The next day, Lu Fangfang bid farewell to her parents and boarded the train to Qilian.
Xiuxiu was in a bad mood the whole way.
She only smiled when they were almost at Qilian.
Lu Fangfang held her daughter, glanced at Xiuxiu, and shook her head with a smile.
Upon arriving at the city's train station, Lu Fangfang didn't rush back. She led her family to visit Sister Shufen's house first before boarding the jeep to return home.
When they reached the crossroads of Team Six, Lu Fangfang could vaguely see her family's little wild donkey through the car window; it seemed to have gone to Team Six.
Feeling quite puzzled, she quickly said, "Comrade Liu, please stop at the fork in the road ahead."
"Mingcheng, you take Dandan and Qingqing home first. Xiuxiu and I are going to the Sixth Team."
The two children had been on the train for several days and were so tired that they fell asleep. Lu Fangfang couldn't bear to wake them up.
"Alright, you guys go ahead."
Zhuang Mingcheng knew what the two sisters were going to do, and nodded with a smile.
Xiuxiu was still a little embarrassed after getting out of the jeep.
She blushed and whispered, "Sister, why don't we go home first and go again in a few days?"
"Don't delay any longer. If you keep dragging it out, Old Xu will get too old. While he's still young and strong, you two should just get married already."
As Lu Fangfang spoke, she couldn't help but laugh at herself. She knew that men also had their prime.
The two walked along the path for more than ten minutes and soon arrived at the entrance of the sixth team's village.
Old Xu's dilapidated courtyard was right in front of the two of them.
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