They rushed all the way until they got on the boat, and then Liang Dong and Bai Xiaofen breathed a sigh of relief.
Bai Xiaofen's heart ached, "My coconut."
Blame it on that fisherman!
Liang Dong was also very upset. He didn't pick any coconuts or mangoes, and was driven onto the boat in such a dejected manner.
Bai Xiaofen consoled him, "Luckily we ran fast, otherwise if that fisherman had called for help, we wouldn't have been able to escape."
Rounding up, avoiding a jail term!
Liang Dong also comforted himself in this way. He had to comfort himself. He came to Hailang Island, took the train and boat tickets, but didn't get the money back. He also didn't pick any mangoes or coconuts. It was really a waste of both money and money.
He nodded and wanted to ask the boatman for some water to drink. As soon as he opened his mouth, he felt a sharp pain in his tailbone.
It’s broken, maybe it’s broken?
Liang Dong fell from the half-trunk of the coconut tree, and landed on his butt first.
I didn't feel any pain when I was running in a hurry, but now when I stop, not only my tailbone hurts, but my whole body hurts.
Liang Dong grimaced, his face turning pale with pain.
He was wrong. This time he not only lost the wife but also the army, but he lost everything.
The eldest child thought he would not be able to sleep at night, but unexpectedly he slept very soundly.
He goes to bed early and gets up early. He got up early in the morning and pestered Ning Weiguo to make breakfast for him.
Ning Weiguo smiled and said, "How about I make you some shredded radish pancakes?"
"Grandpa, what is shredded radish pancake?" Erniu also stood up, washed up, and spit out a mouthful of foam.
"Shredded radish pancakes are made by cutting white radish into shreds, adding flour and eggs, and spreading them into pancakes." Ning Weiguo said.
This is his specialty. People in the north store radishes and cabbages in winter. Ning Tang used to eat this shredded radish pancake often when he was at home.
Shredded radish pancakes sounded delicious, so Da Wa and Er Niu quickly urged Ning Weiguo to make them.
The shredded radish pancake is golden in appearance and is fragrant when you bite into it. It is crispy and crispy with the sweetness of shredded radish.
Da Wa and Er Niu liked them very much. They took two bites each and ate most of them.
Ning Weiguo tasted a piece and shook his head, "The taste is still a little off."
Compared with the radishes from Shangang Village, the radishes from Hailang Island taste spicier and have less water. Naturally, the radish pancakes made with them are not as delicious as those made with the radishes from Shangang Village.
When Sanwa, who slept late, got up, there was only one shredded radish pancake left on the plate.
The third child pouted and said, "Grandpa, are you partial?"
Big Baby made a face at him and said, "Who told you to stay in bed?"
Sanwa stamped his feet and said coquettishly, "Grandpa!"
Ning Weiguo smiled so hard that the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes popped out. "I'll make you another one."
After staying in Hailang Island for almost half a month, it was time to go back. During this time before leaving, Ning Weiguo and Sun Aiju wanted to use all their skills to cook all the food they knew for Da Wa and the others to taste.
Before leaving, Ning Weiguo sent everyone away and had a private talk with Ning Tang.
"Your second uncle wants to divide the family?"
Ning Weiguo sat under the eaves, puffing on his cigarettes, and soon the room was filled with smoke.
Ning Tang nodded, "It's time to break up."
Ning Weiguo looked at her expression and saw that she didn't look surprised at all. He knew that she must have learned the whole story from her husband.
Ning Weiguo paused, "Your second uncle wasn't like this before."
Ning Weidang was thin and small when he was a child, and he was very shy. He didn't dare to speak out when he was bullied at school. Later, Ning Weiguo asked his classmates about it, and then they beat up the bullies and avenged him.
Ning Tang said, "Dad, people change."
Ning Xue wasn't like this before.
"Even if you don't split the family now, you will have to split it in the future. As long as Second Uncle has that intention, you can't stop him." Ning Tang said.
Ning Weiguo nodded and said, "I know." But he just couldn't get over the hurdle in his heart.
After the family is divided, we are no longer a family.
Not relatives, but relatives.
Ning Tang thought to herself, wouldn't this satisfy her second uncle and second aunt?
She smiled and said, "Dad, you and Mom have been on the island for about half a month now. Has Ning Xue come to see you?"
Ning Weiguo's face froze. Of course not. Even Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu would avoid him if they saw him on the road.
Splitting up the family? Ning Xue must have known about this, otherwise she wouldn't be hiding from Ning Weiguo and Sun Aiju, nor would she stop the twins from interacting with Ning Weiguo and Sun Aiju.
More likely, she was the one who ordered it.
Ning Tang guessed Ning Xue's careful thoughts with his heels.
The reason he wanted to split up the family business was simply because he felt he had grown strong enough. Also, the twins, Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu, always scored 100 points in exams every year. They would surely be successful when they grew up and would become college students, which would definitely bring honor to the family.
As for the three siblings, the eldest brother has average grades, the third brother has terrible grades, and Erniu is a girl. Even if she is promising, she is useless in Ning Xue's eyes. She might become a supporter of her older brother or younger brother in the future.
The eldest kid just got into a fight, and it was a group fight at that. He is so naughty at such a young age. I guess he will end up in jail in the future.
Ning Xue was afraid. She was afraid that Ning Weiguo's lineage would be affected by the twins, and she was even more afraid that the eldest child would get into trouble when he grew up and implicate their family.
In short, she wants to take advantage of good things and avoid bad things.
If you think about it from her perspective, there is nothing wrong with this kind of mentality.
Ning Tang said, "I won't say much else. Dad, just think about how Second Aunt treated Mom when we were at home. Then you will know whether this family should be divided."
Ning Weiguo recalled that when he was at home, Zhou Yin always treated his sister-in-law Sun Aiju with indifference.
From Zhou Yin's attitude towards Sun Aiju, we can get a glimpse into Ning Weidang's inner thoughts and his true attitude towards his big brother Ning Weiguo.
If he truly respected Ning Weiguo, would he allow his wife to boss his sister-in-law around?
Will he let Ning Xue stay on the island and oppose Ning Tang everywhere?
Ning Weiguo's face darkened, "I understand."
"By the way, Dad," Ning Tang said, "Although the family has split up, you still have to pay attention to Dezi's marriage."
If Ning Weidang and Zhou Yin were really allowed to arrange Ning De's marriage, they might find him a mediocre wife.
Marrying the wrong wife will bring disaster to three generations?
Ning De is a good guy. Ning Tang doesn't want to see him in dire straits every day, nor does he want to have a relative who is always looking for trouble.
Ning Xue is already one such relative, and Liang Dong and Bai Xiaofen are also one. If there is a third one, she can't stand it.
Ning Weiguo smiled and said, "You're still teaching me how to do things."
Ning Tang saw that he was laughing happily, and the depression on his face had disappeared. He must have really come to terms with it. "How dare I, Dad? You are the pillar of our family."
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Ning Weiguo and Sun Aiju are about to set off to return to Shangang Village.
On the morning of August 27th, Chen Lie and Ning Tang took the three little ones to send Ning Weiguo and Sun Aiju to the port.
The eldest, second, and third daughters were very reluctant to leave. Second daughter pulled Sun Aiju and said, "Grandma, why don't you stay?"
Sun Aiju tapped her little nose and said, "Little girl, you are talking nonsense again."
Chen Lie handed Ning Weiguo a package filled with dried fruits and seafood, "Dad, Mom, come visit us often when you have time."
Ning Weiguo nodded and took the package. "I know."
Ning Tang reluctantly watched the ship disappear into a small black dot, "I wonder when Mom and Dad will come next time."
Chen Lie smiled and said, "Maybe it will come after the New Year. It will be soon."
Two major events happened during the Chinese New Year this year.
The first thing was the division of the Ning family. The family property was divided into 30% and 70% respectively, with Ning Weiguo getting 70% and Ning Weidang getting 30%. Everyone knew that Ning Weiguo was capable and earned a lot, so no one would complain about this division.
Of the five large tiled houses in the family home, only one belonged to Ning Weidang and Zhou Yin. They took Ning De and moved out, and had to start over again.
The second thing is that Ning Tang’s elder brother, Ning Jun, is going to retire.
Ning Jun is not as capable as Chen Lie. He joined the army two years earlier than Chen Lie and has been in the position of company commander for many years without moving.
Ning Jun will be 35 years old this year. According to military regulations, the maximum age for a company commander is 35. This means that he will be retired this year.
As a company-level cadre, he can be transferred to a local section-level cadre. After the Chinese New Year, he will be the director of a police station in a district of Shanghai.
Both things are happy events for Ning Tang.
Divide the family? Divide it well.
Ning Jun is also of a certain age. It is not appropriate for him to fight on the front line anymore. The Shanghai Stock Exchange will develop better and better in the future. His position as the director of the police station is just the beginning.
Compared with Ning Tang, Mrs. Luo's Spring Festival was extremely gloomy.
Even when he came to the Shen family to pay New Year's greetings on the third day of the Lunar New Year, he had a sad face.
Because during the Spring Festival, Zhao Qing brought her boyfriend, a young man named Sun Minghui, to visit.
Mrs. Luo was very surprised because a few days after she ran into Sun Minghui, Zhao Qing came to her and told her that he had broken up with her.
In addition, Zhao Qing went home more frequently, so Mrs. Luo believed it and stopped asking about Sun Minghui. Instead, she began to help Zhao Qing find a new partner.
Unexpectedly, during the New Year's Eve dinner this year, Zhao Qing suddenly dropped a bombshell, saying that she had been with Sun Minghui for a long time, and that she had lied to Mrs. Luo about breaking up with Sun Minghui. In fact, they had been secretly dating, and now that their relationship was stable and it happened to be the Spring Festival, she planned to visit him and talk about getting married.
Ning Tang remembered that on the second day of the Chinese New Year, Da Wa saw a strange face and followed Zhao Qing into the Zhao family. He came back and learned from Ning Tang and Shen Lie.
What were the original words? Oh, Da Wa said that he saw a fair-skinned brother following Sister Zhao Qing into the Zhao family. The man was very short and the woman was very tall. They looked like uneven bars, which was not a good match.
Shen Lie asked if Zhao Qing had brought her boyfriend over.
On the second day of the New Year, the prospective son-in-law comes to visit? To wish you a happy new year.
Ning Tang said it was impossible at the time because Mrs. Luo had told her that Zhao Qing had broken up with Sun Minghui. She also asked Ning Tang if she knew any good guys who could be introduced to Zhao Qing.
How come you suddenly have a partner?
Now listening to what Mrs. Luo said, it really is...
Mrs. Luo took a sip of water and continued talking.
When Political Commissar Zhao saw Sun Minghui, he was very surprised at first, but after calming down, he began to talk to him calmly.
Sun Minghui was no match for the old fox, Political Commissar Zhao. He told Political Commissar Zhao everything about his family background, which he had kept secret from Mrs. Luo. He did it like pouring out mung beans from a bamboo tube.
Sun Minghui is from Jiang City. The Sun family built two tiled houses in the old city of Jiang City. His parents don't have formal jobs and make a living by doing odd jobs. Besides him, there are four sisters in his family. The eldest and second sisters are married, but they live not far away in Jiang City. The third and fourth sisters are still at home. I heard that they are the ones doing all the housework at home.
Sun Minghui himself is quite ambitious. He is a worker in a machinery factory and earns only about ten yuan a month. He got together with Zhao Qing because the machinery factory organized them to go to the cinema to watch a revolutionary movie.
Sun Minghui said it well when he was greeting her during the New Year. "Uncle Zhao, Aunt Luo, don't worry. Leave Qingqing to me. I will definitely take good care of her in the future. As long as I am here, she will never suffer or do any work."
Zhao Qing looked at him, and the two shook hands tightly and smiled sweetly.
Deep love and sweet affection are so strong that nothing can stop them.
As soon as Sun Minghui left, Political Commissar Zhao announced that this man could not be married!
Zhao Qing became anxious at that time and asked why?
Not to mention the mismatch in appearance, Political Commissar Zhao said, "Their family conditions are too poor. His parents don't have formal jobs and can only do odd jobs. His father has leg problems. The whole family of five relies on his salary to survive, and he doesn't make much. His family is a bottomless pit. If you marry him, you will just fill the hole."
Sun Minghui has not yet been converted to a regular employee and is not a formal worker in the machinery factory. He does not seem to be an ambitious person. To put it nicely, the future of becoming a regular employee is promising, but to put it bluntly, it is a distant prospect.
And to be honest, Sun Minghui's salary is not enough to support his family given that the whole family is tightening their belts.
But Zhao Qing spent money lavishly. She spent all her salary on beautiful clothes and cosmetics. She could not save any money at all throughout the year and had to rely on Political Commissar Zhao and Mrs. Luo to subsidize her.
If the two of them really get married, how will they live their lives? Will they starve to death?
Besides, getting married is just the beginning. Having and raising children will cost money.
Zhao Qing married Sun Minghui. The Sun family certainly couldn't afford the money, so the Zhao family had to pay for it. Wouldn't that mean the Zhao family was "helping the poor" of the Sun family?
Thinking of this, Political Commissar Zhao's face turned pale.
Why should my daughter, whom I raised like a treasure, go to your Sun family and suffer?
Zhao Qing said, "Fill the hole, then fill it. I like him, that's all." After saying that, she glanced at her father and muttered, "His family? No money, our family? We have some, isn't that enough?"
These words almost made Political Commissar Zhao furious, and the father and daughter quarreled for the entire night.
Mrs. Luo stood up and said, "I'll go call Qingqing over. Please help me persuade her that she really can't marry that man."
Over there, Political Commissar Zhao was also pulling Shen Lie and the others to complain, "Tell me, I was wrong to stop her from getting married? What are the conditions of the Sun family? What are the conditions of our family? What makes Sun Minghui worthy of Qingqing?"
Chen Lie also felt that Zhao Qing was either under a spell cast by Sun Minghui or was blinded by lard.
Anyone with a discerning eye can see at a glance that what Sun Minghui is using is called a delaying tactic.
If Political Commissar Zhao and Mrs. Luo had disapproved of Zhao Qing's relationship with Sun Minghui when their feelings were not yet deep, Zhao Qing might have resisted a few times before agreeing, after all, there are so many good guys out there.
But if Sun Minghui taught Zhao Qing to go back and lie to Mrs. Luo, saying that she had broken up with him, Mrs. Luo would definitely let her guard down and wouldn't tell Political Commissar Zhao about it.
By creating a time difference, he had the opportunity, time and energy to trick Zhao Qing into his heart's content.
Now the two are in the passionate period of love, and they are in great love. Of course, Zhao Qing will do whatever Sun Minghui says.
Even if Sun Minghui asked her to go against Political Commissar Zhao and Mrs. Luo, she would do it without hesitation.
Lei Sufen sighed and concluded, "Every family has its own problems."
Zhou Caiwei heard that Zeng Xinlan worked in the pharmacy at the clinic and couldn't help but quietly ask her, "Do you...do you have any prescriptions or folk remedies at the clinic that can help me get pregnant, and preferably give birth to a son?"
Ning Tang was speechless: "You still believe this? Whether you have a boy or a girl is determined by heaven."
In fact, it is decided by men, but...to go into details would be going off topic.
Zhou Caiwei said, "My mother-in-law came to the island for the first time this year and she's been urging me to have a grandson."
It seems that one is desperate and will try any possible means to cure one's illness.
Zeng Xinlan shook her head. "There's no such thing. Pharmacies only sell ready-made and prescription drugs. I've never seen the prescriptions and folk remedies you mentioned."
Zhou Caiwei sighed and also found herself funny.
Ning Tang said, "If you are really anxious to have a baby, take Captain Wu with you to a large hospital in the province or city for a physical examination."
"Why haven't you checked it out?" Zhou Caiwei asked. "We've been to the city hospital several times, but they can't find anything wrong. They just say that children are fate, and tell us to relax, the baby will definitely come."
Ning Tang said, "If one hospital doesn't work, then try two. If Jiang City doesn't work, then go to Shanghai or Beijing. The medical standards in different places are different, so you can always find a good hospital."
As they were talking, Mrs. Luo came over with Zhao Qing.
Zhao Qing looked impatient, "Mom, why are you pulling me over here?"
"What? I'm brainwashing you." Mrs. Luo said casually.
Her face turned serious: "Do you really want to continue dating Sun Minghui?"
At the mention of 'Sun Minghui', Zhao Qing's face immediately lit up with a sweet smile. She nodded shyly and nodded towards Ning Tang, Zeng Xinlan, Lei Sufen and other military wives. "Then please invite everyone to our house for a drink and some fun."
Hey, this girl still says this.
Mrs. Luo was so angry that she rolled up her sleeves and wanted to beat someone up. Girls should be dignified and generous. Inviting others to your home for your wedding banquet is something that a girl who cares about face would not say out loud. It is usually the elders who say it.
No need to ask, it must have been Sun Minghui who taught him.
Let Zhao Qing tell her family, friends, and her father's colleagues about her upcoming marriage. By then, everyone would know that Zhao Qing was marrying Sun Minghui, and that the Zhao family was marrying the Sun family. Would Political Commissar Zhao and Mrs. Luo still be able to deny it? That would certainly be difficult.
Seeing that Sister Luo was about to quarrel with Zhao Qing, Ning Tang patted Sister Luo's hand soothingly and said with a smile, "Really? Congratulations then. Will the wedding banquet be held at the Sun family's? When the time comes, I will definitely go with Captain Shen and take the eldest, second, and third children to share in the joy."
You can't confront a spoiled and stubborn girl like Zhao Qing. You have to go along with her temper and smooth it over slowly, only then can you defeat her.
Finally, someone was on her side. Zhao Qing smiled brightly and said repeatedly, "Okay, I'll send you a wedding invitation when the time comes." After that, she winked at Sister Luo with her little eyes and said deliberately, "Aunt Ning, you're so kind. I wish my mother was as open-minded as you."
Ning Tang curled her lips. "Don't rush to praise me. You haven't answered my question yet. If we go to a wedding, should we go to the Sun family? I heard their house in Jiang City isn't very spacious. Can they hold a wedding banquet in the yard?" She glanced around. "With so many of us going, can the Sun family accommodate us?"
Zhao Qing was stunned by Ning Tang's series of questions and was speechless, because she had not considered any of what Ning Tang said. She only thought about being with her beloved and having a happy wedding. As for the rest, it didn't matter at all.
She opened her mouth and said, "At, at their house? Have a banquet."
Then I thought, the Sun family only has two rooms and not even a yard. Could they hold the wedding in the house? That would definitely not be possible because there are furniture and other things in the house. I can't clear all of them out during the wedding.
Zhao Qing frowned and said, "How about setting it up at our house?"
The military family compound is composed entirely of two-story buildings, and the yard is quite spacious, so it can definitely accommodate everything.
Ning Tang smiled, didn't respond, and just looked at Zhao Qing.
Zhao Qing also felt very embarrassed. How could they get married and have the wedding banquet at the woman's home? It wasn't like the two families were far apart, across provinces, and thousands of kilometers apart.
Jiang City is only a three-hour boat ride away from Hailang Island.
Seeing Zhao Qing remained silent, Ning Tang curled his lips and said, "Actually, it doesn't matter where you hold the wedding. What matters is that you two are happy."
Zhao Qing nodded repeatedly, "Yes, that's the truth."
"Then..." Ning Tang stretched out his words and blinked, "Sun family? How much do you plan to give me as a betrothal gift?"
Zeng Xinlan suppressed her laughter and said, "We don't care where the wedding is held, but the betrothal gift is a big deal. Qingqing, how much betrothal gift will the Sun family give you?"
She winked at Lei Sufen, who immediately understood, "When my second aunt's sister's mother-in-law's daughter got married, she gave them three turns and a ring."
Head Nurse Huang sighed. "What era is this? And they still only need three turns and one ring. At the very least, they'll need forty-eight more legs."
A smile flashed across Pan Tong's eyes. "I have a younger sister who married in Hong Kong. Her husband not only gave her three turns and a ring, and forty-eight legs, but also gave her three golds: a gold bracelet, a gold necklace, and gold earrings. Oh, they're all so bright yellow, so beautiful."
Zeng Xinlan deliberately asked, "So, Qingqing, how much do you think the Sun family will give you as a dowry? Is it three turns and one ring, forty-eight legs, or three golds, or even dozens or hundreds?"
Every time a group of military wives spoke, Zhao Qing lowered her head a little.
Because the Sun family never mentioned the issue of betrothal gift at all.
What about three turns and one sound, forty-eight legs, and three golds? None of them exist!
She raised her head, stiffened her neck, and said stubbornly, "What era is this? You still have the old custom of giving gifts? You are too realistic. Money, money, money. You can't live a good life without money?"
Ning Tang smiled and said, "Of course you can't live a good life without money."
Zhao Qing opened her mouth to retort, but Ning Tang tugged at her clothes. "Realistic? Haha, this blouse you're wearing, that denim jacket, those little leather shoes on your feet—none of these things cost money?"
Zhao Qing pursed her lips and stopped talking.
Mrs. Luo said anxiously, "Just listen to my advice. Their family didn't even give you a betrothal gift before the wedding. You married into a family of low status, so what good can you expect from them?"
"It's different." Zhao Qing shook her head, her eyes firm. "He treats me very well, very well. As long as he treats me well, that's enough. I don't need anything else."
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