Chapter 167: Big Events Next Year Apply to Join the Army
The next day, Yu Zhile woke up at dawn.
When she pushed open the door, the first thing that caught her eye was the steamy kitchen. When she got closer, she heard low voices of conversation.
In the kitchen, Yu Wanqin nudged Yu Haiguang, who was clinging to her side, with her elbow and said with a smile, "You are in your forties, but you are still like you were when you were young."
"You haven't changed at all, but I look like an old tree bark now." Yu Haiguang touched his face and said sourly, "If we go out together, people will definitely say behind my back that I am an old cow eating young grass."
"Nonsense." Yu Wanqin said unhappily, and stuffed a piece of lotus root into his mouth. "How does it taste?"
Yu Haiguang chewed it up and swallowed it, and replied: "It's not salty or bland, very refreshing and appetizing."
Yu Wanqin nodded, poured the cold lotus root into the plate, asked him to check on the porridge on the stove, and prepared to pack the steamed buns.
Unexpectedly, there was a sudden bang and Yu Haiguang's exclamation from behind.
"What's wrong?" Yu Wanqin turned around quickly and saw him covering his hand with a painful expression. "Did you burn your hand? Let me see."
Yu Haiguang stretched out his hand and let her look around.
There was no sign of burns on the back of his hand. Yu Wanqin hurriedly pried open his fingers to look at the fingertips, but she didn't expect that what she saw first was the gold necklace and pearl earrings lying quietly in his palm.
"Do you like it?" Yu Haiguang asked as he put it on her.
Yu Wanqin was both amused and angry. She grabbed Yu Haiguang's ears, but he hugged her back.
"Thank you for your hard work in raising our children so well." Yu Haiguang said softly.
Yu Wanqin said nothing, but patted his back in response to the hug.
"Why don't we apply to join the army next year?" Yu Haiguang suddenly brought up a topic they hadn't talked about for a long time. "The new family compound is not a building. I'll write an application this time when I go back, and then ask the logistics department to divide my compound with Zhou Yuesheng's. In a few years, I won't have to worry about Lele marrying far away."
He thought very comprehensively and continued to talk about various plans.
"It doesn't matter if Lele doesn't want to go to Beijing now. The sideline group is developing very well. I think she has already discussed cooperation with Mr. Du. She will go to Beijing to develop in the spring of next year at the latest."
"Also, don't you like making clothes? There is a retired tailor in the family compound. She has great skills. You can go and learn from her when the time comes."
When talking about joining the army, Yu Wanqin looked hesitant.
In the past ten years or so, every time the two talked, something big happened in their family. First, Xiaobao was diagnosed with autism, then Yu Yue had an accident and was wheelchair-bound, and finally, Yu Haiguang almost lost his life while on a mission.
"Don't think too much, it's just a coincidence. Even if it's fate, it's Wu Lan and Wu Haiyao's fault." Yu Haiguang noticed her concerns and comforted her, "Look, after the separation, everything has improved for us. Xiaobao can speak, Xiaoyue has stood up, Lele has set up a sideline group and it's booming, and Peilan has found his third brother."
Yu Wanqin seemed to be thinking about it, but she never gave a definite answer. She said, "Let's talk about it after the spring."
Yu Haiguang hummed, and the two stopped talking and continued to hug each other.
The porridge on the small stove made gurgling sounds, and white steam burst out from the exhaust holes, lingering around them. The scene was very warm.
Yu Zhile half leaned against the door frame and watched the whole process, smiling with his eyes curved.
When she turned around, she found Zhou Yuesheng standing not far away looking at her.
After their eyes met, he waved and Yu Zhile gracefully threw herself into his arms.
They chatted for a while, and Yu Yue, Yu Chi and Lan Yuanyuan also got up. So they lined up by the well to wash, which made Yu Wanqin and her husband stunned for a few seconds, and then they couldn't help laughing.
"Come over for breakfast after you finish washing." Yu Wanqin said gently.
The five of them nodded in sync, and the only sound in the courtyard was the sound of water.
However, the courtyard was quiet for only a few minutes before the atmosphere was livened up by a long list of greetings from the energetic Chen Zhao.
After breakfast, Yu Zhile and the other two took a ox cart to the county town. They arrived at the station fifteen minutes before departure and boarded the train.
Soon, the wheels rolled over the tracks, making a clanging sound. After about two hours, the speed of the train began to slowly decrease, and the scene on the platform gradually became clear.
"We've arrived at the provincial capital. The train will only stop at this station for five minutes. If you want to get off, please do so quickly." The conductor shouted at the top of his voice.
On such an ordinary date, there were not many people traveling far, so it was not crowded when Yu Zhile got off the bus.
When the train started again, she kept waving in front of the platform until the train completely disappeared from her sight, then she turned and left.
At nine or ten in the morning, the old ladies and old men gathered in the cannery's family compound to gossip. When they saw Yu Zhile, they all greeted him.
"Hey, Lele is back in the provincial capital again? Your Haiyu Village has become famous recently."
"My daughter Xiaohui told me that the canned food produced by your sideline group is also selling well. She also said that she would bring back two cans next time she goes for exchange and study, so that I, an old man, can have a taste."
Yu Zhile responded to them with a smile, but was interrupted by a series of ping-pong sounds coming from the second floor.
She looked up in the direction of the sound and found that it was Liu Shuyi's house. Although the windows were closed, she could faintly hear the quarrel.
"Alas, the young couple in the Liu family did too many sins when they were young, and it is really retribution that they end up in this situation." The oldest old lady among them sighed.
The others were very secretive about her words and shook their heads and sighed.
Yu Zhile glanced at the Liu family again before saying goodbye to them. She walked into the narrow corridor and almost bumped into someone who was running down the stairs.
The man didn't even look at her and ran away.
Then, another figure chased out, passed by her, and yelled, "Liu Shuyi, stop right there! You dare to steal my money, I'll break your hands and feet!"
The roar extended from the corridor to the small square, and then became smaller and smaller as he ran out of the family compound.
When Zhile stepped onto the stairs to the third floor and saw Aunt Liu walking quickly down the stairs with her slightly bulging belly protected, he easily guessed what the Liu family was arguing about.
However, she never cared about other people's family affairs. When she returned home, she put them out of her mind and concentrated on organizing the evaluation notes she had written intermittently during this period.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was twelve o'clock noon, and the sound of keys shaking was heard at the door.
"Le Le, are you hungry?" He Youan said, holding an oil-paper bag. "Uncle went to the delicatessen and bought you your favorite braised food."
Yu Peilan's voice followed closely behind: "Stop showing off and go make some fish ball and vegetable soup."
Yu Zhile covered his mouth and laughed, hugged her, closed his notebook, and helped to prepare the dishes.
Yu Peilan cooked the rice in the cafeteria. The ready-made fish balls and vegetables only needed to be boiled in water for a few minutes before the meal could be made.
"Would you like to stay home in the afternoon or come with me to inspect the production line?" Yu Peilan asked while picking up some food for her.
Yu Zhile thought for a moment and responded, "Let's go to the factory. I'll go see Director Wang first, and then I'll go find you in the workshop."
After confirming the afternoon schedule, the aunt and niece stopped talking about business and started chatting about their family's recent situation while eating.
The shipyard has been quite busy recently, so He Youan went to work after lunch, while Yu Zhile and Yu Peilan took a nap for more than half an hour before going out.
Along the way, they met many people who worked in the workshop managed by Yu Peilan.
When they learned that the child they had watched grow up was the seasoning technical instructor whom Wang Sumei had repeatedly invited, they felt proud and gratified. They praised her in various ways, and she even felt a little embarrassed.
Yu Peilan watched Yu Zhile make several small movements every second, smiled to help her out, and took the initiative to change the topic.
The group chatted all the way, and the team became larger and larger, gradually reaching a size that made people unable to help but look sideways.
As they approached the cannery gate, more and more people greeted Yu Peilan, and she smiled and nodded in response.
"Aunt, I'm going to look for Director Wang first." Yu Zhile pointed the way to the director's office.
Yu Peilan said, "Okay, come to the surimi products workshop to find me later."
After the two separated, Yu Zhile followed the route he remembered to find the office, but unexpectedly he ran into a quarrel again.
To be precise, it was Deputy Director Wang who unilaterally pointed at Wang Sumei's nose and scolded her, accusing her of being arbitrary and short-sighted and wasting factory resources.
"Oh." Wang Sumei sneered, hitting him where it hurts. "Deputy Director Wang, everyone can see how well the fish nuggets sold after the second workshop adjusted the flavor. However, the sales of the spicy fried abalone produced by your fifth workshop are getting worse and worse, and the defective rate is getting higher and higher."
Deputy Director Wang's momentum suddenly diminished, his face flushed red but he was unable to refute. He shook his sleeves and slammed the door and walked out.
"I'm sorry to have made a fool of myself. I hope it won't affect your impression of the provincial capital's cannery." Wang Sumei noticed Yu Zhile outside the door.
Yu Zhile shook his head and said, "I came to you to report the work schedule for next month."
"From now on, you just need to sign in at the Finance Department when you go to and from work. There will be someone there to keep records," said Wang Sumei.
Yu Zhile agreed and went to find Yu Peilan, following her as she inspected the production line and listening to her talk about her management experience.
In the next three days, she spent the morning in the seasoning room of the second workshop communicating with the master to adjust the recipes of the other two canned foods managed by Yu Peilan. In the afternoon, she learned management from Yu Peilan. Her life was very fulfilling.
At noon on the fourth day, the second transport team returned to the provincial capital with the kelp seedlings from Haiyu Village. They picked up Yu Zhile at the gate of the staff quarters and continued to Haidong Town.
"I have carefully checked according to the booklet given by Mr. Chen, and my vitality and health levels meet the requirements." said Ge Tai.
Yu Zhile hummed, and the car fell into silence.
In the next few hours, Fang Zhuo in the driver's seat occasionally brought up topics, which made the return trip not so boring.
Because they had called ahead to notify the villagers, they were waiting at the entrance of the village very early. When the truck stopped, they immediately started to move the goods in an orderly manner.
As soon as Yu Zhile got off the car, Yu Chuyue handed her a telegram.
"Sheng Lanyue sent it to you, saying that she has something important to tell you and asked you to call back as soon as possible." she said.
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