The government provides a monthly subsidy of ten yuan, plus five jin of grain coupons and two jin of meat coupons.
It wasn't a large sum, but in those days, if you were frugal, it was enough for a family to have a decent meal for three or four days.
But some people were eyeing these tickets with envious eyes.
Want to adopt a child?
It may not be genuine.
What I'm after is that subsidy.
Moreover, the factory's inspection process is extremely rigorous.
Anyone who applies with the intention of taking advantage of others will be rejected on the spot nine times out of ten.
These women have come to inquire several times, but they haven't been approved even once.
Nobody really wants to be Zhenzhen's mother.
But Su Qingzhi is different.
She was clearly pregnant, yet at this crucial moment, she brought Zhenzhen home.
The news caused an uproar throughout the residential compound.
"She's already pregnant herself, why would she bring back a burden from someone with a different surname?"
"Are you crazy? Isn't this just making things harder for yourself? Once the baby is born, she'll have to take care of two children. Can she handle that?"
Gossip, like vines, quietly entwined itself throughout the courtyard.
But Su Qingzhi didn't care.
Every morning, she would get up early and gently push the freshly cooked hot porridge in front of Zhenzhen.
In the evening, no matter how tired she was, she would hold Zhenzhen's little hand, sit on a small stool in the yard, and look up at the night sky.
Some people called her stupid to her face, saying what was she trying to gain? They said she wasn't even her biological daughter, so why bother?
But Su Qingzhi ignored these rumors.
This girl truly treats Zhenzhen like her own son.
At this moment, Yang Wenlan and Su Qingzhi also noticed the undisguised resentment in their eyes.
Several family members who were always comparing themselves to each other stood aside, their eyes fixed on Su Zhao.
Their hearts were pounding, and the more they thought about it, the more uneasy they felt.
Why can't others do it, but she can?
Everyone wanted to help Zhenzhen, but in the end, she was the one chosen.
"Sister-in-law Wenlan".
One of them lowered its voice and opened its mouth.
"Didn't the factory say that adopting a child requires multiple layers of vetting? Political background checks, medical examinations, and good family conditions? How come all the procedures were waived here? Is this rule specifically designed to block us long-term residents?"
Several people nodded in agreement, their voices rising and falling in unison.
It wasn't that no one in the family compound had considered adopting Zhenzhen.
Some people took the initiative to inquire, while others used their connections to plead for them, but what was the result?
They were all rejected; I didn't even get to meet them.
"The adoption was approved by higher authorities after a comprehensive evaluation."
Upon hearing this, Su Qingzhi finally raised her head.
"If you have any objections, you can go to the section chief or the division headquarters to complain. Don't gossip around my door all day long, and don't bother my wife."
As soon as he finished speaking, a deep voice slowly came from behind him.
"Huh? Who's bothering my lover?"
Everyone shuddered and turned around in unison.
The women in these family compounds had never had any direct contact with Shen Zhiyu.
But who hasn't heard of him?
He was a notorious ruthless person in the factory.
The soldiers he led trained at twice the intensity of other battalions every day.
Liu Guifen's husband was serving in his unit.
Every time I finish training, I feel like I've lost my soul when I get home.
Liu Guifen shed tears several times in private when she talked about this.
So, just hearing his voice made several people's legs go weak.
Just then, Yang Wenbing helped him slowly walk over.
"Battalion Commander Chen..." someone finally mustered the courage to call out in a trembling voice.
Su Qingzhi frowned and quickly went to meet her.
"Why did you come out? Didn't the doctor say you needed to rest for three days? Can your body handle it?"
Shen Zhiyu didn't answer her, but walked straight to her side and stood there.
"If you have something to say, ask me."
After seeing this, who would dare to utter a sound?
Li Xiaomiao swallowed, her throat feeling dry and tight.
She stiffened her neck and mustered her courage to take half a step forward.
"Commander Shen, we...we also want to adopt Zhenzhen, but the factory won't approve it. We just want to ask, why not?"
She was afraid of him.
I'm really scared.
However, the pent-up grievances and resentment in her heart made it hard for her to breathe.
If we had brought Zhenzhen back then, we could have received an extra ten yuan in subsidies each month.
Her husband was a soldier in a factory, and his allowance was only thirty yuan.
Fifteen yuan was to be sent back to my hometown to help my mother-in-law with household expenses, and five yuan was to be secretly given to my parents' family.
With the remaining ten yuan, the family of three managed to survive for a month by living frugally.
She thought that as long as she got Zhenzhen, there would be some hope for the future.
How much food can a child eat?
It's just a matter of a few bowls of rice.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was a good deal, and she was secretly delighted.
So she immediately went to He Zaizhou and said she wanted to adopt Zhenzhen.
After listening, He Zaizhou lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then nodded and said he would review the materials.
But what was the result?
The materials had barely been submitted, and before they were even ready for two days, the factory sent a notification.
Not approved.
The reason was written coldly.
"Does not meet the adoption requirements."
With just one sentence, she extinguished her hopes.
That night, she lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Later, several women in the family compound also had similar thoughts, but none of them succeeded.
But who would have thought that Zhenzhen would be adopted, and that the person who adopted him would be a battalion commander.
Li Xiaomiao heard the news in the courtyard that very day.
She felt her legs go weak and she almost collapsed to the ground.
On what grounds?
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