After two days of train travel, Jiang Xi arrived at this coastal city and his first reaction was: It’s so warm!
A local passed by her, looked at her strangely, shrank his neck, and said, "How can it be warm here? It's freezing."
Jiang Xi laughed and held her two younger sisters, carrying a few lighter packages. Pei Hejun carried two large packages. The group struggled to squeeze out of the crowd and sweated profusely.
Fortunately, at this time, they saw the person who came to pick them up.
The mission Pei Hejun was tasked with must have been a big one, to receive such good treatment.
Jiang Xi was extremely lucky that she didn't have to carry her luggage to catch the bus.
The person who came to pick up the people happened to be Pei Hejun's subordinate. Shi Zhonghua, his partner, was still in the army training a group of people, so he did not come to pick up the people.
It takes an hour to drive from the train station to the family area.
Very far.
This is a direct route. If you want to take a bus, you have to transfer twice. After all, the military area is not in a busy city. It is very remote, even more remote than the countryside.
When they arrived at the house where they would live in the future, the guy who came to pick them up helped them unload their luggage and then drove away in a hurry to return the car.
Jiang Xi took the key and opened the door.
As soon as she opened the door, a layer of dust blew in her face and she quickly took two steps back.
Pei Hejun carried the luggage in calmly and said, "Wait outside for a while. I'll go to the janitor first."
Jiang Xi immediately and obediently pulled his two sisters back. Turning around, he saw several women standing at the door of the small courtyard, looking at the place curiously.
When their eyes met, Jiang Xi smiled subconsciously. The other party also smiled warmly and came over with a rag and a bucket in her hands: "Sister, we are the military wives who live next door to you. You just moved in and probably have nothing. We came to see if there is anything you can help with."
"Hello, sister-in-law." Jiang Xi hurriedly called out to them. Seeing the things they were holding, she didn't hesitate to say anything and smiled, "Thank you so much, sister-in-law. Let me borrow this for a while. I'll wash it and send it to you after I'm done. Is that okay?"
"No, no, we'll help wipe it directly. There's strength in numbers." Seeing that she agreed, the sister-in-law immediately waved her hand and went straight inside.
Several people followed behind her.
Some came to help wipe the floor, and some came to deliver things. Most of them were vegetables, but one person brought a piece of bacon, which made Jiang Xi take a second look.
This person is the youngest among the sisters-in-law. Her clothes are a little worn out, but she is pretty and friendly.
Jiang Xi didn't think much about it. He carefully noted their appearance and followed them.
They probably helped the newcomers like this often, and they were all very skillful, so Jiang Xi wouldn't have any room to intervene, and Pei Hejun only needed to sweep the floor and the house would be clean.
After doing all this, the few of them didn't stay long and went back directly. If Jiang Xi hadn't been smart and prepared snacks in advance and stuffed them with food when they left, they would have gone back empty-handed.
Jiang Xi looked at the brand new future home and sighed: "These sisters-in-law are so nice."
Pei Hejun smiled and said, "Well, that's good. I had only heard of this rule before, but this time I finally experienced it."
Jiang Yu and Jiang Mi also came back to their senses.
Jiang Yu whispered, "Yes, she's as good as my aunt."
Jiang Mi nodded in agreement.
Jiang Xi smiled and clapped his hands: "Okay, let's pack our things, ginger fish, ginger rice, these are your packages."
She looked around the house.
Perhaps the leader took into consideration that there were many people in their family, so he gave them a three-bedroom apartment, including a master bedroom and two secondary bedrooms, as well as a bathroom and a kitchen, which was spacious.
Pei Hejun had agreed to join the army years ago, so while he was recuperating, his bed and cabinets had been prepared years ago, leaving only some daily necessities for him to bring with him.
The beds in the second bedroom are bunk beds, which was Jiang Xi's request. The two younger sisters are not young anymore, so it would be better for them to sleep alone, and there is more space. She let them deal with their luggage themselves.
They already knew how to do chores like making the bed.
Pei Hejun was in charge of their room.
Jiang Xi was in charge of the living room display, which was the easiest part because there was only a hot water kettle, a few enamel cups, bowls and chopsticks, and other small items, and that was all. The rest still needed to be purchased.
After everything was sorted out, the three of them were very tired, so they ate something casually and went to bed.
The next day, the family borrowed two bicycles and went to the local market to buy daily necessities and some vegetables.
On the way back, there were so many things that they could hardly move. Jiang Xi was sweating profusely. After returning, she lay on the bed and did not move. "I don't want to ride a bike anymore, and I don't want to take Jiang Mi with me when I ride a bike. She looks thin, but she is so heavy!"
Especially that road, it's a dirt road with many potholes.
Pei Hejun laughed and let her hold it.
Jiang Xi asked what was going on while lying down obediently.
Then her calf was grabbed by the man's hand, which was large and powerful. With a single force, the sore muscles in her calf suddenly became particularly painful. She almost choked out of breath and passed out.
"It hurts, it hurts!!!" Jiang Xi screamed.
Pei Hejun was particularly cruel at this time: "This is for your own good, otherwise you will be in more pain tomorrow."
After massaging the calves, thighs, and arms, Pei Hejun clapped his hands and walked out, asking the two peeking girls, "Are your legs sore?"
The two shook their heads frantically: "Not sour!"
Jiang Xi said weakly, "They didn't even walk for long, why are they sore?"
Pei Hejun coughed lightly. The resentful words made him laugh. He said, "Then I'll cook lunch. What do you want to eat?"
"...How about dumplings? Make more. I want to send some to the sisters-in-law who helped." Jiang Xi lay on the head of the bed.
She doesn't know how to knead the dough to make dumplings, so Pei Hejun has to do it.
He will report it tomorrow, so use it as soon as possible.
After saying that, Jiang Xi added: "Jiang Yu, Jiang Mi, you two go and learn. I don't know how to cook. If you want to eat something good, you'll have to rely on yourselves in the future."
Before Jiang Yu could react, Jiang Mi's expression froze and he quickly rushed to his brother-in-law: "Brother-in-law, I'll help you."
The food my elder sister cooks is really not that good.
Jiang Yu even remembered to make a cup of chrysanthemum tea for Jiang Xi and put it on the bedside: "Sister, take a nap, and you can eat it when you wake up."
"Yeah." Jiang Xi nodded vaguely.
Jiang Yu covered her with a quilt before going out and helping Pei Hejun.
The door was closed, but the sound of chopping meat could still be heard through the crack. Pei Hejun was very strong, and his knife made a loud thudding sound. Jiang Xi was not sleepy, but just tired, so he did not fall asleep. He got up as soon as he smelled a fragrance.
Pei Hejun was wearing an apron and holding two bowls of dumplings: "Get up, wash your hands and eat first, and then send them to the sisters-in-law after you finish eating."
Jiang Xi shook her head: "No, send it first, otherwise I will have lunch."
She made a decision, and generally no one objected. Pei Hejun nodded: "Okay, is eight in a bowl enough?"
"Okay." Jiang Xi nodded quickly, holding two bowls, and asked Jiang Yu and Jiang Mi to also hold a bowl. The sisters-in-law who helped yesterday told Pei Hejun where they lived. Pei Hejun also knew most of them and helped to point the way. Jiang Xi then led everyone there.
One bowl for each family. When Jiang Xi reached the last family, he heard two little boys making noises in the house: "I remember buying some meat the day before yesterday, but I didn't finish it. I don't want to eat this. Go buy some more meat!"
The woman explained in a good-tempered manner: "We are out of meat coupons at home. When your father comes back, I will ask him to ask who has extra meat coupons."
"You're lying!" the other boy retorted, "I saw you take the meat out!"
Qin Yue took a deep breath and explained, "Because the uncle and aunt next door just came, I sent some meat over. They can eat something good after a long journey."
Of course the main reason was that she always felt guilty towards Jiang Xi. They would be living in the same military district and might see each other from time to time in the future. She wanted to send him more gifts to make herself feel less guilty.
That's why I sent over the remaining half pound of meat at home.
But this reason did not convince the two children. Instead, they rejected it: "Who sent the meat? Only your family has more meat. I don't even have any. And you said you would take good care of us!"
Qin Yue choked up, regretting that she had been too accommodating to them in eating before.
Jiang Xi at the other door was also choked up. She knew who this familiar-looking woman was. It was the heroine!
Fortunately, she didn't seem to be a difficult person to get along with, and even sent some meat over. However, this series of consequences made her feel a little embarrassed, and she hesitated for a while before she spoke: "Is my sister-in-law home?"
Qin Yue was very sensitive to the noise. She remembered Jiang Xi's voice and ran out immediately: "Yes, why are you here?"
Jiang Xi handed the bowl of dumplings over as if nothing had happened: "Thank you for the meat, sister-in-law. Today we also bought some meat and made dumplings with it. We sent it over for you to try."
"Thank you!" Qin Yue felt relieved. With dumplings, the two children should be quieter. She quickly brought the dumplings in, eight in total, four for each child. As expected, with the dumplings, the two children who didn't want to eat immediately shut up and drank the dumpling soup with gusto.
Qin Yue passed the bowl over, and then she realized that the person in front of her was no longer the wolf from yesterday.
When she got off the train yesterday, she saw Jiang Xi wearing simple, shabby clothes and messy hair. But today, her hair was neatly combed, her clothes were patchless, and she looked clean, fair and pretty. The two girls following behind her were the same, without jewelry or makeup, but their complexions were particularly bright.
Qin Yue was a little envious and couldn't help asking, "Who are these two children..."
Jiang Xi smiled and said, "She's my sister. There's no one to take care of her at my parents' home, so I brought her here."
After she finished speaking, Jiang Yu and Jiang Mi called out sensibly, "Hello, sister."
Qin Yue smiled and nodded, but she was slightly surprised in her heart. In her memory, Jiang Xi married Lu Jianguo without taking her two younger sisters with her. Later, her two younger sisters were married off early and did not live well. Fortunately, Jiang Xi lived well and had been helping them.
Unexpectedly, after she married Lu Jianguo this time, Jiang Xi's path would become like this.
Look at these two children, they are so well raised and their eyes are so bright.
Qin Yue nodded and murmured, "Very good."
Jiang Xi and Qin Yue didn't have much to say, so they exchanged a few pleasantries before leaving. She patted her two sisters on the head and said, "Go back and have dinner."
Jiang Mi became energetic and started running. Jiang Yu followed behind him and Jiang Xi also took a step forward to walk.
Qin Yue looked at him, and suddenly something moved her. She couldn't help but ask, "Jiang Xi, how did you teach your two sisters to be so obedient?"
She actually wanted to ask how this person in his previous life had taught his three stepchildren so well and how they were so close to her?
She felt that these two children were too difficult to please!
Jiang Xi glanced behind Qin Yue thoughtfully. The door to the main room was open, and two children were eating dumplings in the room. She thought for a moment and said, "My personal method is to reason with them first. If they don't understand, I'll beat them. If they're not afraid of being beaten, I won't give them food. After they've been hungry for two meals, they'll know they're wrong."
Beat the child.
Qin Yue smiled awkwardly and said weakly, "What if the child holds a grudge?"
Jiang Xi smiled and said, "What does it matter if they hold a grudge? I have hands and feet, I have a job, I can earn money, and I don't need them to support me in my old age."
Qin Yue was stunned. She always felt that she lacked the confidence to face these two naughty stepsons. She didn't dare to discipline them too harshly, let alone let Lu Jianguo beat them. This was because she was worried that these two children would bear a grudge and would not support her in her old age, leaving her in the same miserable situation as her previous life.
But why isn't Jiang Xi worried?
The relationship between the two was just average. After saying these words, Jiang Xi left, looking carefree and relaxed.
Qin Yue suddenly remembered what her sister-in-law who came to gossip with her a few days ago said. The leader arranged a job for Jiang Xi to work as a doctor in a health center. He would mainly treat the wives of soldiers and the surrounding villagers, and would be paid twelve yuan a month.
Qin Yue had a low level of education. She had not continued her studies after graduating from high school in her previous life. She later got married and became a housewife. She returned all her knowledge to her teachers and devoted herself to her husband and children. She didn't know much, but she remembered that even in the future, doctors were still a respected profession with a good income.
She...is certainly not afraid that her child will be resentful after being too strict with her discipline.
But did Jiang Xi have a career in his previous life?
Qin Yue thought about it and found that she didn't remember it. She only remembered the beautiful scene when she returned home.
Maybe she should find something to do?
What can be done?
Qin Yue suddenly had an idea, and finally remembered how future generations would evaluate this era. In the 1980s and 1990s, there was gold everywhere, so why did she have to suffer as a stepmother? !