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◎Day 9 of the control group◎
As Jiang Wanzhou made her selections, whispers rang out at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, like needles pricking her.
She straightened her back, turned to the sales clerk and smiled, "Comrade, how much are these two skeins of red and green thread?"
"Twenty-two cents." The saleswoman glanced at the two women beside her and quietly slipped a piece of fruit candy into her hand. "You've come at the perfect time. This is the first time we've received red. It's a festive color, perfect for making clothes for your child."
Jiang Wanzhou walked out of the supply and marketing cooperative. Zhou Qingyu stood under the old banana tree, carrying a net bag in her hand. It looked like she had come from the dock market.
Zhou Qingyu noticed that something was wrong with her mood and her brows furrowed instantly: "Are you feeling unwell?"
"It's nothing, I just woke up a little early this morning and I'm tired."
"Look, the saleswoman even gave me a piece of candy."
Jiang Wanzhou held the candy in her palm, pretending nothing was wrong.
But as soon as he finished speaking, he heard two women behind him still whispering.
"Officer Zhou is truly a handsome man, but it's a pity my niece is so concerned about her reputation that she's helping the shameless."
Another nudged her: "Keep your voice down, Zhou is here."
"What can Secretary Zhou say? He's been dissatisfied for a long time."
Zhou Qingyu's face darkened, and she pulled Jiang Wanzhou back, stopping at the bus door.
He glanced at the two women and said in a low voice, “Aunties, you should speak with evidence. When Jiang Wanzhou and I were sent to the countryside as educated youth, she not only did I owe her a debt of gratitude, but she was also beautiful, talented, honest, sincere, witty, and humorous. I followed her from the Red Star Brigade to the island, partly to contribute to the country's development, and partly so that I wouldn't miss her. From beginning to end, I was the one who pursued her. We were together openly and legally.”
"Pregnancy is a joyous occasion, but it's also a difficult one. If my wife gets into trouble because of your careless remarks, I will definitely take you to the police station to take responsibility."
The aunt who had spoken the most forcefully chuckled dryly, not expecting him to step forward directly: "What are you, a man, doing interfering with us women?"
She also caused a sensation and made others laugh.
Another aunt's son worked under Zhou Qingyu, and she dared not laugh.
The other two also had their faces turn red and white in turns.
Zhou Qingyu said, word by word, "I can disregard my pride, but I cannot allow my wife to be wronged."
“Officer Zhou, your aunt couldn’t persuade her. You and Comrade Xiao Jiang, don’t be angry. We’re uneducated, we were just saying whatever came to mind…” The aunt tried to make amends for her son, and the more she spoke, the more uncomfortable Zhou Qingyu’s face looked.
Jiang Wanzhou pulled Zhou Qingyu aside and said, "Aunties, just don't say it anymore."
Zhou Qingyu held Jiang Wanzhou's hand, her tone softening: "Are you feeling better now?"
Seeing that no one was around, Jiang Wanzhou leaned on Zhou Qingyu's shoulder, feeling warm inside: "Actually, it's nothing. I felt a little wronged when I was talked about, but thinking about it, I don't even know that person, so it doesn't affect my life."
"But they're right, it's probably because they're too idle and have a low level of education."
"Perhaps it's the fault of the times."
Jiang Wanzhou thought of the literacy classes that were common in literature from that era: "Haven't we ever had a literacy class on our island yet?"
“The after-school care center and primary school will be completed by the morning. You and your sister-in-law…” Zhou Qingyu also thought of something else.
Jiang Wanzhou shook her head: "I'll just stay and work as a helper in the cafeteria. In another six months, my sister-in-law and I might be heading to Beijing."
Zhou Qingyu smiled and asked, "What should we do, big brother?"
“I’ll be stationed on the island for at least five years, right? My brother was only promoted to full colonel a year ago, he won’t leave so soon,” Jiang Wanzhou analyzed.
The educational resources here aren't as good as in Beijing, so we'll definitely have to take Xingxing there.
So Xingxing would have to take care of two children all by herself?
"But who knows, maybe a seaside university will be considered."
Jiang Wanzhou couldn't help but sigh, Xingxing seemed to be hard-hearted and ruthless to herself.
But she also has the softest heart.
Shen Mingyuan and Jiang Renzhou are much more reliable than that family in modern times; it's hard to say whether Xingxing will consider them.
The next day, Jiang Wanzhou woke up needing to urinate. When she woke up, she saw her older brother, Jiang Renzhou, returning home.
Zhou Qingyu was also in the courtyard.
Jiang Wanzhou asked in surprise, "Why did you come so early, brother?"
"The fishermen thanked the man for saving them when they fell into the water and gave him a few fish."
"My older brother bought it."
Jiang Wanzhou wasn't fully awake yet, so she washed her hands and went back to sleep.
These past few days, there have always been a few students forced to become "test kings" in the technology building and training grounds.
Hearing everyone's praise, they felt extremely bitter.
Early in the morning, Zhou Qingyu handed Old Zhang over to the office and threw him a stack of complicated circuit diagrams.
"This is the equipment optimization diagram. The accurate parameters must be calculated within 3 days."
Old Zhang was overwhelmed by the dense formulas on the blueprint. He only did simple repairs and had no idea how to do these things.
Those who truly understand physics are still in the cowshed.
But Zhou Qingyu was a key member of the technical team, so he dared not object and had no choice but to accept it reluctantly.
After pondering for a long time, Lao Zhang still didn't understand, so he had no choice but to ask Zhou Qingyu.
It would be truly ridiculous if he didn't understand it himself.
She approached the situation with the intention of making things difficult for him, but to her surprise, Zhou Qingyu actually managed to explain it to her.
Then came even harder work.
Old Zhang was eating at home, wondering to himself: He hadn't offended Zhou recently, so why was he being given so many difficult tasks?
On the same training ground.
Jiang Renzhou led a competition between the three-man and seven-man teams.
Jiang Renzhou stared at Xiao Wang from the 7th Company: "I heard you're good at fighting. Let's have a spar."
Xiao Wang was overjoyed, thinking it was an opportunity to show off, and quickly agreed.
I felt something was off as soon as we started fighting.
Jiang Renzhou's attacks were swift and ruthless, each move aimed directly at vital points, resulting in a one-sided crushing victory.
Before long, Xiao Wang was pinned to the ground and beaten black and blue, wincing in pain.
"Commander Jiang, I admit defeat," Xiao Wang said, panting heavily.
Jiang Renzhou released him and clapped his hands: "Your foundation is indeed good. Practice more and don't think about other things, or it will affect the team's atmosphere."
Xiao Wang stood there, stunned.
At first, he stayed at home and felt that Jiang Renzhou was helping him.
But then he realized something was wrong, and after asking around for a while, he found out that his mother had said something she shouldn't have, which led to him getting punished!
The same goes for the others.
The news quickly spread throughout the residential compound, and the women who had been gossiping were too frightened to speak out anymore.
Several people even brought fruit to Jiang Wanzhou's house to apologize.
Jiang Wanzhou sensed that something was very wrong.
That evening, Zhou Qingyu returned home, and Jiang Wanzhou asked him about the matter.
Jiang Wanzhou quickly advised, "How about I go to their house to apologize tomorrow?"
Zhou Qingyu glared at him: "Big brother won't allow it. If you really apologize, big brother will be angry."
"Then what is this? Is it abuse of power for personal gain?" Jiang Wanzhou's feelings were very complicated. "I don't want you to lose your jobs because of me."
Zhou Qingyu quickly hugged her, saying, "We know what we're doing. You just wait and see."
Jiang Wanzhou felt uneasy.
This unease persisted until the women's director arrived.
"Comrade Jiang Wanzhou, right? I'm the women's director of the family compound. My surname is Liu." A middle-aged woman wearing glasses, who looked like a cadre, walked in with a smile.
"Director Liu, is something wrong with my family?" Jiang Wanzhou asked, her heart pounding with fear.
"No, no, I've heard about you before. You're good at foreign languages, even better at cooking, and most importantly, as a farmer's daughter, you have an indomitable spirit."
Jiang Wanzhou quickly wiped her hands and shook hands politely: "Not at all. Were those people satisfied with the meal?"
Director Liu nodded, looking at Jiang Wanzhou's belly, and gestured for her to sit down and talk: "I saw the food introduction you wrote at Chef Wang's place, and I also saw the island specialties you wrote at Manager Mei's place. They are very interesting ideas."
"Here's the thing, I have an idea that I want the women in the family compound and nearby villages to be able to increase their income through their skills."
Director Liu paused, then lowered his voice: "We're going to hold a women's production innovation achievements exhibition in the county, mainly to showcase the wisdom and creativity of women from all over the country in production and life. I think your culinary idea, combined with the rice cooker Zhou Qingyu made for you, could become a model for a family. We should submit it as a whole project."
Jiang Wanzhou's eyes lit up, but she hesitated for a moment: "My sister-in-law also contributed to the rice cooker. I heard that this rice cooker won a provincial invention award. I wonder if my sister-in-law's name has been approved yet."
"Sister-in-law, is your brother Commander Jiang?" Director Liu thought of the laundry incident in the family compound, where her husband had been assigned to do laundry.
Having lived like this for over a decade, I know how to right a fallen soy sauce bottle, and I take things one step at a time.
But they are never as enlightened as these young people.
That's right, you, as a leader, have less awareness than your subordinates. How can you be so shameless?
Those family members had also told her that Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Xinglian didn't love their husbands.
The island is so poor. In a year, besides the training grounds, they've only built one school, and now they're building a staff housing complex.
Schools are chosen by vote; these days, everyone works themselves to the bone to provide a good environment for their children.
Some soldiers joined the army to ease the burden on their families, becoming skin and bones.
Without family quarters, wives couldn't accompany their husbands to the military, and girls who were arranged to marry them couldn't do so.
If they can't handle the major life and death issues of the soldiers, they won't be willing to come.
I don't care if I'm exhausted, but my wife and kids can't be neglected.
Some men only go home once or twice a year, while their wives come to visit with five, six, or seven children, and they still have to take care of the family.
Director Liu genuinely admired and felt sorry for them.
It's just that she comes from a good family, so no one believes what she says.
Jiang Wanzhou is ambitious, likable, and multi-talented, despite being born in a rural area.
They can take the lead.
After Director Liu finished speaking, Jiang Wanzhou quickly replied, "You flatter me. I just want to make my life a little better."
"Who doesn't want a good life? Husbands and wives are one, supporting each other – that's what a model family should be like in the new era," Director Liu said with a smile. "How about it? Interested in changing the look of our residential compound together?"
There will always be idealists in every era, as well as pragmatic individuals who genuinely want to see women achieve independence.
Director Liu's idea is certainly not new.
Jiang Wanzhou took a deep breath: "Director Liu, taking care of the family is not easy and it's very hard. We can't let them finish their work and then have to take care of their families. The soldiers are also working very hard."
Have you thought about this?
"Husband and wife are one; if the wife progresses, the husband and children should too."
Director Liu suddenly understood more clearly: "Wait a few days, I'll discuss this with my husband."
A day later, Jiang Wanzhou heard that Director Liu and the leader were getting a divorce and that Liu had moved to a guesthouse.
She felt a pang of panic.
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