Chapter 36
Chen Xiaohong pushed open the gate and asked, "Is anyone home?"
Wang Liying and Chen Xiuni followed behind, and the three of them walked in.
Jiang Suihan was eating breakfast. She ate differently from others, she ate slowly, chewed her food carefully, and liked to stop and daydream in the middle of her meal before continuing to eat. Her parents had told her before that she should change this bad habit, but before she could correct it, her mother passed away due to illness, and later her father also passed away.
Wang Liying glanced at the food on the table: "Oh, you're eating breakfast, didn't you just wake up?"
The tone sounded a bit sarcastic. Jiang Huihan stood up and looked at the three people with a puzzled look.
Chen Xiuni pulled Wang Liying's sleeve and said with a smile, "Xiao Jiang is eating. These are Chen Xiaohong and Wang Liying. They are older than you. Just call them sister-in-law."
She was pulled over by Chen Xiaohong and Wang Liying on the road. They said they wanted to go to Captain Xu's house to see the new daughter-in-law. They thought the new daughter-in-law would come to the family compound to meet everyone and build some relationships. However, Xiao Jiang had never left the house and been to the family compound except for going to Wu Guihua's house to borrow something in the past two days.
The Xu family has no elders, and it may be because no one taught them. Xu Zhao, a grown man, is not that careful. Xiao Jiang is young, so it is understandable that he did not think about this aspect for a while.
Chen Xiaohong is a big mouth, and Wang Liying is narrow-minded. They were worried that Xiao Jiang would suffer a loss and that bad things would be spread about her, so Chen Xiuni came along, thinking that with her around, she would be able to say a few words to avoid any unpleasantness between the two sides.
The guests who came to the house were all guests. Jiang Suihan didn't know the purpose of their visit. She smiled politely, poured water for the three of them, and took out some candies and melon seeds.
When Chen Xiaohong saw the food, her eyes lit up. She grabbed a candy, tore it open and threw it into her mouth. She smacked her lips and said, "I haven't had candy for a long time. It's so sweet."
Captain Xu's young wife is quite generous. She is willing to take out candies to entertain guests. She is not a stingy person. You can come more often in the future and have candies to eat.
Seeing that Chen Xiuni didn't eat, Jiang Huihan took a candy and put it in her hand: "Sister-in-law, why don't you eat it?"
Chen Xiuni wanted to ask Jiang Huihan to take the candy back. Just one candy per person would be enough. She was given candy last time and she felt a little embarrassed to give candy again this time.
Alas, Xiao Jiang is still too young. She doesn’t know anything when she first got married. She has to be thrifty in her life. With a woman like her, whose hands are so big, even if Captain Xu is rich, he can’t stop her from spending like this.
When she turns around and there is no one around, she will have a good talk with Xiao Jiang.
Wang Liying raised her eyes and pulled the corners of her mouth: "Since you call me sister-in-law, Comrade Xiao Jiang, I am arrogant. This girl is different from being a girl at home after getting married. A daughter-in-law has her own rules. The sun has already set in the sky. You just got up to eat breakfast now. It must be because your mother-in-law is not here, otherwise she would always say something to you. When you go to the family compound, you will find a daughter-in-law as lazy as you, like a young lady who never touches water."
"This morning I saw Captain Xu carrying a basin of dirty clothes to the river to wash. I have been in the army for so long, and I have never seen a soldier squatting by the river with a group of women washing clothes early in the morning. They are soldiers, how can they do such a thing? This is a waste of precious time. I think you seem to be educated, so your ideological awareness should not be lower than mine."
"We, as family members, come here to take care of those soldiers who have suffered and shed blood and sweat, so that they can have no worries on the battlefield and not hold them back. As an outsider, I still have to say today that you are going too far."
After a pause, Wang Liying glanced at Jiang Suihan, and seeing her lowering her eyes with a look of shame and embarrassment, she couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth and spoke to Jiang Suihan again.
"As women, we should take care of our own homes and take good care of men. If you don't know how to do housework, just learn to do it. It's not difficult. If you don't know how, you can ask us to teach you. Captain Xu is so tired from training every day, and he has to help fetch water and wash clothes when he comes back. I feel sorry for him when I see him working hard. I haven't received many years of education, and I speak without thinking. I am also thinking about the good of you and Captain Xu. Don't take it too seriously. If I said something wrong and made you angry, I will apologize to you first."
What the hell, where did this weird thing come from!
As soon as he arrived at her house, he lectured her for a long time, and under the pretext of doing it for her own good, he criticized her in a sarcastic tone, and finally pretended to apologize.
What a big white lotus.
She has broadened her horizons today. There is no shortage of people who pretend to be pure, kind, and noble in every era.
If the tiger doesn't show its power, you think I'm a sick cat, easy to bully, right?
Jiang Suihan sneered, raised her chin, and looked at me with contempt: "I say, Comrade Wang, who are you to me? Do you need to teach me here? You are neither my mother nor my mother-in-law. How can you have the nerve to gossip about my family? Is it because you are old, thick-skinned, and have many wrinkles?"
"When I get up, when I eat breakfast, whether I wash my clothes or not, those are all my family's business. You know you are an outsider and you don't live by the sea. You are so nosy! Even if I do nothing at home, Xu Zhao is happy to spoil me and pamper me."
She pretended to be in a daze and continued, "Oh, I see. You must be envious of me because I am spoiled and loved by someone. Unlike you, you have to get up early every day and can't sleep in. You are busy all the time at home, cooking, sweeping the floor, washing clothes, and taking care of the children. You have to do all these things. Look at you. You are so old, but your skin is dark and rough, your hair is dry and yellow, and your face is full of wrinkles. It feels rougher than tree bark. What did you get from getting married?"
"A happy life? A gentle husband and lovely children? Does your husband understand you? Will he comfort you when you are sad? Will he say thank you for your hard work when you are tired every day? Will your children say "Mom, I love you" to you? Will your mother-in-law think that you have contributed a lot to this family and treat you as well as her own daughter? Think about it with your ignorant brain. You have done so much for this family over the years, but has anyone ever said thank you for your hard work?"
Wang Liying was dumbfounded by the series of questions that hit her heart, and she stood there in a daze. She had never thought about this question before. When she was at her parents' home, her mother told her from a young age that a woman's final destination is marriage. She should regard her husband as her God, take good care of her man and children, and be filial to her parents-in-law. This is a woman's natural responsibility.
But now Jiang Suhan tells her that not all women are like her, there are also some who live freely and easily, do whatever they want, don't wash clothes if they don't want to, sleep in if they want to, just be happy and don't care what men think.
She felt like she had stumbled into a new world. She couldn't see clearly what was inside, but she knew that the things there were things she had never encountered before. She wanted to touch them, but was a little scared, so she shrank back and dared not go forward.
Chen Xiaohong stopped cracking melon seeds and couldn't help smacking her lips. Her eyes lit up, and it was as if a little man was doing somersaults excitedly inside her.
My goodness, the wife Captain Xu married was really unexpected. She has a bad temper and is a chatterbox. She is really good at talking.
She grabbed another handful of melon seeds and continued to eat them, her eyes fixed on the two of them.
Today’s trip was so worth it!
Chen Xiuni's eyes widened and her mouth opened. What was Xiao Jiang saying? Something about doting and loving? How could he say that in front of everyone?
Young people are so shameless!
And what about Wang Liying? She came to someone's house as a guest and started scolding the host as soon as she sat down. No wonder Xiao Jiang couldn't help but pout back. However, Xiao Jiang was a little beyond her expectations. She didn't expect that such a weak-looking person could have such explosive power and actually made Wang Liying speechless.
Cultured people are good at scolding people. They don't use a single dirty word throughout the whole process, but it sounds like they are just insults. She doesn't have that ability. It's better for her to study hard.
Worried that the two would quarrel and cause a conflict, Chen Xiuni quickly spoke up: "If you have anything to say, talk it over nicely. Don't hurt the relationship. Xiao Jiang, don't be angry with your sister-in-law Liying. She's in a bad mood today and she's a little aggressive. She's not like this usually."
Then he turned to Wang Liying and gave her a look that said enough is enough: "Hurry up and apologize to Xiao Jiang. You said something so nonsense that you made Xiao Jiang angry. We are neighbors and we see each other every day. Don't be angry. Sit down and have a cup of tea, take a rest, and talk it out."
By now Wang Liying had come to her senses and looked at Jiang Huihan with complicated eyes. She couldn't tolerate being scolded by a young new daughter-in-law in front of the other two.
"You're talking nonsense. I'm not jealous of you. What should I be jealous of? Our family is very happy. I'm not jealous of you. I just can't stand you bullying Captain Xu. We all live in the same compound. What's wrong with me saying a few words to you? You're a scholar, but you're so sarcastic. If you have the guts, you can say the same thing in front of Captain Xu. Only then will I respect you."
In the morning, she saw Xu Zhao washing clothes by the river, but there was no sign of Jiang Suihan. She guessed that he might not have gotten up yet. Xu Zhao was such a good man, handsome, from a good family, and could help with housework, but how could he be married to a little girl who came from nowhere?
When Wang Liying thought that Xu Zhao once had the chance to become her brother-in-law, her heart felt as if it was dropped into boiling water, tossing and turning in discomfort. On the way, she met Chen Xiaohong, and the two of them decided to go to Xu's house to take a look.
When I arrived at Xu's house, I saw Jiang Huihan's appearance. As expected, she had a face like a vixen. All men are lustful, and Xu Zhao is no exception.
Jiang Suihan rolled her eyes: "Sorry, you are not that important yet. I don't need your high regard. Is there anything else?"
The subtext is that if you have nothing else to do, please get out of here right away.
Wang Liying was so angry that her chest heaved and she almost broke her teeth.
Chen Xiaohong took the last few melon seeds and said with a smile, "Little Jiang, we'll leave first. We'll come and play with you next time."
Captain Xu’s young wife spoke in a very interesting way, and she made Wang Liying dare not even utter a single word.
It seems that life in the family compound will become more and more interesting in the future.
Jiang Suihan was speechless. She said she didn't really want to come.
Looking at the melon seed shells scattered on the ground, I felt a little annoyed, so I took a broom and cleaned it up. I looked at the time, it was just eleven o'clock, a bit early, so I was not in a hurry to prepare lunch.
The three of them stood outside the Xu family's yard. Chen Xiuni couldn't help but say, "Liying, how could you say that to Xiao Jiang just now? You all don't know each other well, and Xiao Jiang doesn't know you well. We know you mean well, but you just came to her house and said that someone did something wrong. It's understandable that Xiao Jiang is upset. I don't think she will embarrass others. Next time, you should apologize to her properly and this matter will be over."
Chen Xiuni arrived at the station early and she knew everyone in the family compound. Whenever a family encountered difficulties or had a conflict, she would enthusiastically help and run around. She was known as a good person in the family compound.
This time was no exception. She was worried that there would be a rift between Wang Liying and Jiang Suihan, which would affect the unity of the family compound. She wanted to persuade Wang Liying not to take it to heart and to apologize to Xiao Jiang.
Wang Liying rolled her eyes at Chen Xiuni, and said with a slightly mocking tone: "Sister Huang, come on, stop lecturing me here. If you want to say anything, go and say it where you want to. Others like to hear you say these things, but I don't like to hear them. It hurts my ears."
Look, here it comes again.
Wang Liying has disliked Chen Xiuni for a long time. She takes herself too seriously. Every time something happens at someone's home, she goes to that person's home, persuades this one, comforts that one, tells others to relax and be more patient. However, most of the problems cannot be solved in the end anyway. Sometimes the conflict is not big to begin with, but becomes even more strained due to her persuasion.
At first, no one knew Chen Xiuni's character and no one thought there was anything wrong with her. But as time went by, people gradually figured out some of her characteristics.
Last year, a sister-in-law in the family compound had an argument with her mother-in-law and accidentally pushed her mother-in-law. Chen Xiuni went to mediate again. Her words and deeds were all to persuade the sister-in-law to be filial to her mother-in-law as a daughter-in-law and that hitting her mother-in-law was an act of unfilial piety. The sister-in-law was almost furious. She caught her mother-in-law abusing her granddaughter. She argued with her mother-in-law and pushed her mother-in-law accidentally during the argument. Her mother-in-law fell down and wailed loudly that it was unjust for a daughter-in-law to hit her mother-in-law.
The sister-in-law knew very well that her mother-in-law was unreasonable. She didn't use much force when she pushed her. Her mother-in-law was clearly pretending to be sick to fool her. Chen Xiuni didn't understand the whole story beforehand. She stood on the side of her mother-in-law to accuse the sister-in-law. She didn't listen to her explanation at all and kept urging her to apologize to her mother-in-law. The sister-in-law was so angry that she almost scratched Chen Xiuni's face on the spot.
This incident caused a big stir in the family compound at the time and even spread to the army. Later, the leaders of the army saw that the family had gone too far. After finding out the truth of the matter, they asked the sister-in-law's husband to send his mother back to her hometown and asked Chen Xiuni to apologize to others. After that, Chen Xiuni hid at home for a while, and only came out and interacted with people slowly after things calmed down.
People just didn't bother with Chen Xiuni because she didn't have any bad intentions, and because of their neighbors and Captain Hong's face. If they met someone who was more serious, they would probably argue with her to the end, just like that sister-in-law. Since then, every time they saw Chen Xiuni, they didn't even bother to look at her and completely ignored her.
Chen Xiuni's face changed, and she said a little aggrievedly: "Liying, you misunderstood me. I didn't mean that. Besides, I don't have the ability to educate you. I'm just worried that you and Xiao Jiang will be unhappy and affect the relationship between the two families, so I want to help you. If you think I'm meddling in your business, then I won't say anything to avoid you hating me."
She really had no bad intentions and really wanted to ease the relationship between the two. Xiao Jiang had just arrived at the base and was young and ignorant. Wang Liying, as the sister-in-law, was as impulsive as Xiao Jiang. These two people were very worrying.
Wang Liying curled her lips, her disdain obvious: "No, I'd better not say anything. I'm afraid that if I listen to you, she and I will just say a few insults to each other, and then it will turn into a big quarrel, just like what happened to Sister Cao, and everyone will know about it. For the sake of everyone, you'd better stop talking."
I just said I was leaving and didn’t want to stay here for a moment. It was annoying.
Chen Xiuni is an example of someone who means well but ends up with bad results. The problem is that she means completely well, so everyone is too embarrassed to blame her and they just try to avoid her.
Chen Xiaohong said while eating melon seeds: "Okay, I know you mean well, but Liying doesn't want to accept your kindness. I think forget it. If she doesn't want it, we won't force it. It's good for you, for me, and for everyone else."
With Chen Xiaohong mediating, Chen Xiuni felt she had a way out and looked a little disappointed: "You're right, let them solve their own problems. I won't get involved, lest I get myself into trouble."
Chen Xiaohong wiped her hands on her clothes and said, "That's the right way to think. How can other people's affairs compare to your own happiness? Don't you think so?"
Chen Xiuni glanced at Chen Xiaohong's clothes and thought she was quite interesting. Looking at her figure and comparing it with her three daughters, it really proved what she said: being happy is the most important thing.
I wonder what Chen Xiaohong’s husband, Captain Li, thinks after marrying a wife who only cares about herself.
Is this a breakup?
Jiang Huihan raised her eyebrows. She didn't mean to eavesdrop. She just put the broom in the corner of the yard after sweeping the floor and happened to hear their conversation. She didn't realize that Wang Liying disliked Chen Xiuni. Instead, she was a little surprised by Chen Xiaohong. She seemed greedy and liked to take advantage of others, but she was actually a bit wise.
After just two days at the family compound, she already had a feeling that there would be a lot of trouble in the future.
No matter what era it is, places with many women mean more troubles. Jiang Suihan decided to treat the people in the staff compound as ordinary neighbors and live her own life behind closed doors.
I picked up the book that I hadn't finished reading yesterday and continued reading it. After reading for half an hour, I felt a little exhausted. I held my chin with one hand, thinking that this was not a good way to go on. It was a bit boring and I had to find something to do.
She tore off a piece of white paper and listed the possible jobs on it. The army planned to build a primary school, and with her education, she could become a primary school teacher, so she ticked this one first. The army had a hospital, but she had never studied medicine, so it was impossible for her to become a doctor. She might have a chance as a nurse, but she was not sure, so she ticked that one too. Then there was the canteen, but the probability of that was low, as she was not a good cook, and there were many unemployed family members in the family compound, so it would not be her turn, so she crossed that one out.
After analyzing it, I feel that the probability of being a primary school teacher is the highest. Now I am just waiting for the military primary school to be built.
"Sister, is there any food? I'm so hungry."
Jiang Leyun ran back from outside, touching his rumbling stomach. His face was relatively clean, but his hands were dirty, and the gaps between his nails were black.
Jiang Huihan patted her head, put down the book and said, "Oh no, I forgot to cook. Go make a cup of malted milk and get two biscuits to fill your stomach.
Xu Zhao left a note in the morning saying that he didn't need to make lunch, as he would eat in the army cafeteria. Jiang Suihan took out the beans that Wu Guihua had given her yesterday, washed them and cut them into small pieces, intending to make some scrambled eggs with beans.
This time I bought nearly fifty eggs, which will last for a while.
I chopped the sauerkraut again. I didn’t have time to soak the vermicelli, so it was faster to use hot water. I prepared a simple stir-fry of sauerkraut vermicelli.
There are only two people at home, so two dishes are enough.
Half an hour later, the meal was ready and the dishes were prepared.
Jiang Leyun glanced at the table, his face showing disappointment that he couldn't hide: "There's no meat."
Jiang Suihan said unhappily, "Where can you get the meat to eat every day? It's good enough if you can eat enough. If you don't want to eat, don't eat. I've spoiled you."
This child has been getting carried away these past few days. Before Xu Zhao came to the Jiang family, the siblings never had enough to eat every day, and they could only eat meat in their dreams.
Jiang Leyun knew that she had said something wrong and shrank her head: "No, sister, I was wrong. I just said it casually. You are a big shot, so don't bother with a child like me."
Jiang Suihan raised her eyelids and said, "You are a child now. You always claimed that you were the only man in our Jiang family. How come you have changed so much in a short while? Your mood is more changeable than that of a little girl."
He is a boy, not a delicate little girl.
What should I do? I can’t convince my sister.
Jiang Leyun felt deeply the pressure from blood ties. He scooped a spoonful of eggs and beans into his sister's bowl, smiled flatteringly and said, "Sister, please try it. I think your cooking skills are getting better and better. This aroma smells delicious."
Jiang Suihan held her forehead helplessly, feeling that the child seemed to have let himself go too much, and was no longer like the well-mannered young master of the Jiang family.
"Stop flattering me, eat quickly, and then go back to your room and sleep."
Jiang Leyun lowered his head and curled his lips, secretly complaining that women's minds are really hard to understand. This is not acceptable and that is not acceptable.
It’s better to be a man.
After lunch, the brother and sister had a quiet nap without being disturbed by anyone.
After waking up, Jiang Suihan carefully put things in order at home, took out the book she had not finished reading in the morning, looked up and saw that it was almost dark, so she prepared to make dinner.
Zhang Xiangqian opened the piece of ham he brought last night and smelled it. It smelled very fragrant, so he cut a little bit and planned to make a dish of ham and eggs, and save the rest for next time.
I glanced at the watch on my wrist. It was almost six o'clock. I thought Xu Zhao should be back soon. I looked up and saw him appear at the door.
Xu Zhao handed Jiang Huihan a lunch box: "The cafeteria has braised pork tonight, I ordered one."
Jiang Suihan opened it and took a look, and was a little surprised: "The food in your army cafeteria is so good. Lele even shouted that he wanted to eat meat at noon. If he knew about this, he would be so happy that he would fly away."
Xu Zhao walked to the water tank, scooped water into the basin, bent down, scooped up the water in the basin with both hands and splashed it on his face. The cold water instantly took away the heat from his face.
Seeing his rough way of washing his face, Jiang Huihan wanted to laugh: "You might as well use a towel to wash it. It's not going to be clean this way."
Xu Zhao raised his hand and wiped his face randomly, then stroked his hair: "No, it's more refreshing this way."
Jiang Suihan asked him, "Are you busy at work today?"
I remembered that he had been injured before. Although he went to the hospital for a check-up and was found to be nothing serious, I was still a little worried.
Xu Zhao poured out the dirty water in the basin: "Fortunately, I was in the office all day today and didn't go out for training."
The political commissar was worried that his injuries had not fully healed, so he asked him to rest for a few more days and not to arrange for him to participate in training for the time being.
Jiang Suihan was immediately relieved and looked towards the door: "It's time to eat, why hasn't Lele come back yet? I'll go find him."
After the child made new friends, he thought about going out and playing with them every day and would not go home until he was hungry.
Fortunately, school hadn't started yet, and the child wanted to go out and play, so Jiang Suihan didn't stop him and told him to have fun. When the time came for school, even if he wanted to play again, she would never agree if he hadn't finished his homework.
Xu Zhao: "I'll go."
Jiang Suihan said "oh" and turned back to the kitchen. The soup in the pot had not been served yet, so she didn't want the water to boil away.
Xu Zhao followed the sound and found the group of children. The youngest son of Captain Zhao was carrying a wooden gun, with one eye closed and the other open, and shouting "bang bang bang" with his mouth. Behind him were five or six little boys of similar age, looking sneaky.
"Report, enemy spotted."
Zhao Xiaojun: "Where are the enemies? I will lead you to fight them. Charge!"
Then Xu Zhao was surrounded by a group of little brats.
Jiang Leyun scratched the back of his head and grinned: "Brother-in-law, why are you here?"
Xu Zhao: "Your sister has prepared dinner, come home and eat."
Jiang Leyun turned to Zhao Xiaojun and said, "Brother Xiaojun, I'll go home for dinner first."
Zhao Xiaojun looked back and said, "Okay, let's play for a while."
As long as he doesn't hear his mother's loud voice calling him to go home for dinner, he can play for a few more minutes.
On the way, Jiang Leyun excitedly told Xu Zhao about what they had done today: "Brother Xiaojun has a gun, he is a general, we all listen to him, I was caught twice today, I couldn't run as fast as others, I was caught, next time I will run faster."
The wooden gun that Zhao Xiaojun had was made by his father. When he was young, Captain Zhao learned from a carpenter for a period of time and could do some simple carpentry work. One time, Zhao Xiaojun saw other children playing with wooden guns, so he went home and told his father that he wanted one too. Captain Zhao spent two days making a small wooden gun, which made Zhao Xiaojun very happy. He would play with his beloved small wooden gun in the staff quarters every day.
There is no boy who doesn't have a dream of becoming a soldier. Jiang Leyun naturally envied Zhao Xiaojun for having a small wooden gun, but he was embarrassed to tell Xu Zhao. Although his brother-in-law treated him very well and never despised him for being a burden, the child had experienced family changes after all and was sensitive. Subconsciously, he didn't want to trouble others.
He cherishes his current life very much. He has a sister and brother-in-law, and the whole family is happy.
Children are simple-minded. Xu Zhao saw through his brother-in-law's thoughts at a glance: "I'll give you a better one later."
Jiang Leyun's eyes widened and he looked up at Xu Zhao with sparkling eyes: "Really?"
What better gift than a little wooden gun?
Small car? Or an airplane?
Xu Zhao kept it a secret: "I can't tell you now. I'm not ready yet."
Jiang Leyun did not feel disappointed. He ran around Xu Zhao with a smile on his face.
Xu Zhao smiled and thought, children's happiness is quite simple.
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