Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Are you sleeping?
"Do you really understand? Say it again."
Lu Zewei looked unconvinced, "Just wait and eat."
I'm afraid you'll waste food.
Liang Xin wanted to say something, but she knew that as a person waiting to eat, she had to have the awareness of a person waiting to eat.
For those who are waiting to eat, when they open their mouths, besides eating, they should also provide full emotional value to the person who cooks the meal. This way, they can always be considered as someone who is waiting to eat.
Lu Zewei carried the vegetables into the kitchen, rolled up his sleeves and started making lunch.
Liang Xin also went into the kitchen, but just washed her hands with soap and left.
Lu Zewei, who thought Liang Xin was here to keep him company, said, "...Why don't you go to the bathroom to wash?"
"Oh...I forgot." Liang Xin picked up the enamel teacup and opened the tea can. "I'm used to living in the countryside. There's only a well with water at home, but no toilet."
"Stop drinking tea."
Lu Zewei opened a cabinet and took out a bottle of malted milk and a bottle of orange crystal. "Drink this?"
Liang Xin handed over the enamel pot, "Orange crystal."
"Liang Xin is back?"
Hearing Hu Fenglian's voice, Lu Zewei, who was pouring water from a thermos into Liang Xin's teacup, frowned and asked, "Is Liang Xin the only one at home now?"
Before Hu Fenglian showed up, laughter was heard.
Liang Xin walked out of the kitchen carrying the brewed orange crystals, "I'm back."
"Chairman Liu from the Parent Committee came to see you this morning."
Hu Fenglian took out the tin box from the drawer and handed it to Liang Xin.
The tin box contained lemon sandwich cookies mixed with evergreen sweet cookies.
Liang Xin picked up a piece of lemon sandwich cookie and took a bite. It was crispy and fragrant, and the filling was sweet and sticky.
"Family Committee?"
Before Liang Xin could speak, Lu Zewei sensed something was wrong and asked, "What are they doing here?"
"No." Hu Fenglian grabbed another handful of zongzi candy and put it on the coffee table. "I guess there is some competition in the compound recently and they want Liangxin to participate. Or maybe it's collective labor, March 8th Red Flag Bearers, March 8th Teams, etc. The whole country is busy learning from Dazhai, Daqing, Linxi, Iron Man, and Wu Xuzhi."
Lu Zewei looked at Liang Xin, frowned, and went back to kill the fish.
Liang Xin picked up the orange crystal and took a sip, "Mom, do I need to participate in the labor competition in the military compound?"
"Need not."
Hu Fenglian looked at her son who was busy scraping the fish scales. "As long as you can take care of Chongfeng like you have these days, he doesn't get sick, doesn't have headaches or heartaches, doesn't offend people everywhere, doesn't quarrel with his father, and most importantly, doesn't say those sick words, you don't have to do anything, let alone go out to work."
Liang Xin glanced towards the kitchen, "He's been normal these days?"
"It's normal, too normal." Hu Fenglian held Liang Xin's hand affectionately. "You don't know, before you got married, we couldn't control Chong Chong at all. Your father kept him in solitary confinement every now and then, actually because he was afraid that he would go out and talk nonsense. In the past, every time he had an attack, his face looked bleak. Now he is much better. Not only does he know that his mother has worked hard, but his mother can also eat the food he cooks. I never dared to think about it before."
Liang Xin stood up and brought her mother-in-law's teacup to her.
"Mom, you think differently from most people."
"Don't take anything the outsiders say to heart." Hu Fenglian knew Liang Xin's thoughts and advised her instead: "I won't believe their instigation. I can see clearly whether my son is changing for the better or being cheated. Liang Xin, Mom is grateful to you."
In the kitchen, the kitchen knife and chopping board, the spatula and the iron pot, made collision sounds from time to time, which, combined with the sound of the faucet and the sizzling of the oil pan, formed the wonderful sound of fireworks.
Liang Xin and her mother-in-law were sitting on the sofa in the living room, chatting privately.
Through the conversation, Liang Xin learned a lot about the internal situation of the compound.
"Sister Hu."
"President Liu is here again."
Liang Xin put down the enamel teacup and saw a female cadre with shoulder-length hair and wearing a dark gray coat walking in.
Hu Fenglian smiled and stood up to greet him: "President Liu is here."
As soon as President Liu entered the room, his eyes fell on Liang Xin. After looking at her for a few seconds, he looked away without leaving a trace and looked at Lu Zewei who was busy in the kitchen.
"Sister Hu, this must be the family member of Chong Feng."
"Yes, that's right, this is my second daughter-in-law, Liang Xin."
Liang Xin stood up and said, "Hello, President Liu."
"Hello, Comrade Liang Xin."
Chairman Liu sat on the sofa, his eyes fixed on the kitchen, "Is the cook at the chief's house not here?"
"Xiao Shi is on home leave and has returned to his hometown." Hu Fenglian personally poured a cup of tea for President Liu, "President Liu, is there any activity in the compound that requires Liang Xin to participate? If so, don't look for Liang Xin. She just got married and Chong Feng is a patient. She is so busy with Chong Feng that she can't go out to do anything else."
Liang Xin saw that President Liu's mouth twitched twice.
"Sister Hu, is it true that Comrade Liang Xin takes care of Chong Feng every day? If so, how come Chong Feng's quilt sewing was reported in the Liberation Daily?"
"The young couple just got married. We are too old to understand some of the fun they have as young people."
"........ Sister Hu, it's not just about sewing quilts. Someone just went to the Family Committee to report the situation. I heard that Chongfeng is not only responsible for sewing quilts at home, but also for all housekeeping, buying groceries and cooking."
Chairman Liu looked at the enamel teacup and tin biscuit box on the table and said, "Comrade Liang Xin, you are also from a poor and lower-middle peasant family, and you have a good family background. How come you have such a serious hedonistic mentality?"
Liang Xin picked up the kettle and added tea to her mother-in-law. "President Liu, what do you mean?"
"You still don't want to admit it?" President Liu sat up straight. "As military dependents, it is our job to do our best to take care of our household chores. In addition to doing our best to do our best to take care of our household chores, we should actively participate in collective labor, study culture and politics, actively increase family income, educate our children well, respect our elders, ensure thrift, ensure that the soldiers eat well and rest well, reduce the burden on their families, and contribute to the soldiers' full commitment to their duties of defending the country. But what about you?"
"What's wrong with me?"
"Didn't you hear what I just said? What did you do?" President Liu said bluntly, "Let's not talk about sewing the quilt. When I walked in, I saw Chong Feng busy in the kitchen, and you were sitting here drinking tea and eating biscuits. As a military dependent, Comrade Liang Xin, your negative state and hedonistic thinking are very dangerous!"
"President Liu should have met more families of active-duty soldiers. You don't meet many families of soldiers like me who take care of patients whose illnesses are not yet apparent. That's why you came up and blamed me instead of standing by me and asking me what help I can provide and giving me guidance on how to help me get through the difficulties in life. I don't blame you."
Liang Xin said, "In addition, I think what you said just now is particularly right. As military dependents, we must work hard to maintain the rear and let the soldiers devote themselves to defending the country. In this regard, mom is my role model. With mom around, I will definitely follow your example and do well."
Chairman Liu's forehead was throbbing slightly. He did not let the question get around it, and asked the key point: "Comrade Liang Xin, what you mean is that as a military dependent, you pushed your job to Chongfeng, isn't it easy for you?"
“Am I a military dependent?”
Liang Xin stopped Lu Zewei from rushing out of the kitchen and wanted to speak, "Didn't he get suspended?"
President Liu choked instantly.
Liang Xin continued, "President Liu, you said that doing housework is my job, does that mean you are going to resume Chong Feng's job next?"
President Liu paused, then quickly waved his hand, "I didn't mean that!"
"Since that's not the case, according to our commune, housework is not a woman's job. The job of our commune members is to work in the fields and earn work points. Housework is done by both men and women."
Liang Xin smiled and said, "If you insist on accusing me of not doing my job as a military dependent well, you can wait until Lu Chongfeng is reinstated as a soldier before accusing me. If I do something wrong by then, you can ask me to write a self-criticism or criticize me, and I will accept it. Do you think this is okay?"
Chairman Liu no longer had the heroic spirit he had when he entered the room. He was almost choked by the soft words as he sat on the sofa.
After a long while, he looked at Hu Fenglian and said, "Sister Hu, you have a really sharp vision."
Hu Fenglian couldn't help laughing, "Xiao Liu, special cases require special treatment. Although Liang Xin didn't do housework, she made a vital contribution to promoting family harmony and boosting the morale of family members. Your Family Committee should stop keeping an eye on Liang Xin in the future."
That sounds like a very advanced contribution.
Chairman Liu complained inwardly, "Sister Hu, I also came here to rectify the atmosphere in our compound in a timely manner. Comrade Liang Xin has such ideological awareness..."
"Liang Xin has a very good ideological consciousness. I don't think there is anything wrong with it."
Hu Fenglian looked at Liang Xin with satisfaction. "If you say that Liang Xin has created an unhealthy atmosphere in the military compound, Xiao Liu, then I have to criticize you. Recently, there are more peppers on every dining table, and the peppers in the vegetable market are sold out every day. Isn't this all because of Liang Xin's revolutionary consciousness? Eating peppers is such a positive trend. Can you find another family member in the military compound who has created a positive trend?"
President Liu: "........Liang Xin?"
Liang Xin was also slightly surprised, "You all eat chili peppers?"
"Yes." Hu Fenglian smiled and said, "Yesterday, President Liu also bought some red peppers to eat at home."
Chairman Liu, who only knew that eating chili peppers was revolutionary, had no idea that the source of this trend in the military compound came from Liangxin. His face turned red, and he felt that he had embarrassed himself today.
Liang Xin stood up and walked to the dining table, looking at the large enamel basin that Lu Zewei brought out.
The cooked grilled fish is covered with spicy dried chili peppers, millet peppers, and Hangzhou peppers, sprinkled with white sesame seeds and fried peanuts, and is emitting a steaming aroma.
"Since President Liu also likes to eat chili peppers, why don't you stay for dinner today? Try the new dishes made by Chong Feng."
"No."
Chairman Liu stood up and glanced at the Sanwu brand wall clock on the chest of drawers. "I have to hurry back to cook for Old Huang and the children."
"President Liu, take care. I'll see you off."
Liang Xin smiled and sent the man to the sentry box outside the Lu family's building. In the end, President Liu repeatedly and politely declined, saying that there was no need to send him off and that he should go back quickly because it was cold outside, so he persuaded the man to go back.
Many of the family members of senior officials in the West Courtyard saw this scene.
I also saw that when President Liu was about to leave the West Courtyard, he took up his sleeve and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
As soon as Liang Xin returned home, she saw Lu Zewei sitting on a chair next to the dining table with a cold face and not saying a word.
“Is the rice cooked?”
Before Lu Zewei could answer, the sound of a car was heard outside and Chief Lu walked into the house.
"You're back so early today?"
"dad."
Commander Lu nodded at Liang Xin, took off his military jacket and handed it to Hu Fenglian, rolled up his sleeves and went into the bathroom to wash his hands.
Liang Xin walked into the kitchen and was about to lift the lid of the big pot on the stove when Lu Zewei came in and did it before her.
"sorry."
Liang Xin looked up in surprise at the sudden apology, "I didn't suffer any loss."
Lu Zewei took out a stack of bowls from the cupboard and placed them on the stove. He turned around and looked at Liang Xin, "Before you asked me to sew the quilt and do housework, did you know that people outside would have this attitude?"
Liang Xin did not deny it and wanted to pick up the spatula to scoop up the rice.
"I'll do it." After Lu Zewei finished a bowl of rice, he looked at Liang Xin again, urging her to answer.
"It is normal that the feudal ideology that has been passed down for thousands of years is difficult to eliminate in a short period of time."
Liang Xin watched him serve the rice. "Besides, what President Liu said is not entirely wrong. It is the duty of soldiers to defend their country. As family members, there is nothing wrong with taking good care of the rear and reducing the burden on soldiers."
Lu Zewei didn't say anything else and went to the living room with the rice.
As soon as Chief Lu sat down and looked at the enamel basin of chili peppers, he suddenly felt his body getting hot. "What kind of dish is this?"
"Grilled fish." Liang Xin pulled out a chair and sat down. "It's grilled by Chong Feng."
Commander Lu glanced at the kitchen in surprise and suddenly found that his cook was gone.
"Xiao Shi is back home, Chong Feng cooked dinner." Hu Fenglian looked at the grilled fish on the table, "Oh, I didn't expect to be able to eat the food cooked by my son."
Chief Lu picked up the chopsticks, peeled the pepper, looked at the charred, tender and smooth fish meat, paused, and then found that there were celery, lettuce, thick tripe, and tofu under the fish meat. "You made a meal, and you wasted so many dishes?"
Liang Xin picked up a piece of fish, dipped it in the soup, blew on it a few times, and put it in her mouth. The spicy and hot taste was rolling, and the fish was tender and juicy, melting in her mouth. After swallowing it, her appetite suddenly increased, and she immediately reached for the chopsticks in the bowl again.
Everyone at the table was looking at Liang Xin's reaction.
Chief Lu didn't even notice that he pursed his lips.
Lu Zewei: "Delicious?"
Liang Xin chewed the fish meat and put a peanut into her mouth. The burnt aroma mixed with the fish juice, and she took a mouthful of rice. She squinted her eyes unconsciously and exhaled hot air. "It's delicious. You understand what I said perfectly."
The corners of Lu Zewei's mouth twitched, "I'm not a fool."
"You're a culinary genius."
Liang Xin ate with a big appetite. She picked up a piece of the tenderest meat from the fish head and ear and put it into Hu Fenglian's bowl. "Mom, it's really delicious."
Hu Fenglian had already been drooling. She picked up the tender meat and put it into her mouth. The chili removed the fishy smell and increased the freshness of the fish. She slurped it up as soon as she took a bite. Then she couldn't help but taste the fish meat quickly. "It's delicious. This is the first time I've eaten fish like this. I didn't expect grass carp to be so delicious!"
Lu Zewei also took a bite with his chopsticks. He didn't eat spicy food, but after taking the first bite of the spicy grilled fish, he opened the door to chili peppers and put one chopstick after another into his mouth.
It was unknown when Chief Lu started to use his chopsticks. When Liang Xin couldn't stand the spiciness anymore and went to get her enamel teacup, she found that Chief Lu's mouth had turned red and sweat was coming out of his forehead from eating so much.
“It’s really enjoyable.”
Lu Zewei took off his coat and looked at his father. "Do you want some water?"
"Give me a drink."
Chief Lu hasn't drunk alcohol for a long time. He hasn't touched alcohol since he was demoted. Today, he took the initiative to break his vow and said, "Give me my bottle of Erguotou."
“Erguotou?”
Hu Fenglian was surprised, "That bottle hasn't been opened yet."
"Give it to me, I want to drink it."
Liang Xin admired Chief Lu as he ate chili peppers and drank Erguotou at the same time. It was extremely spicy. She took a cup of freshly brewed malted milk to relieve the spiciness and then joined the group eating grilled fish again.
Commander Lu ate happily and looked at Lu Zewei, "The military academy has arranged a new teacher to go there."
Lu Zewei: “Who?”
"He's been on the battlefield, served as a commander, made contributions, has a high degree of education, and has a high level of experience. He used to be the old Zhu of the Second Artillery, Zhu Damu." Commander Lu took a sip of the wine from his glass, and his facial features wrinkled up due to the spicy taste. "How is it? Are you interested in going back to class?"
"Who chose him?"
"What happened to him? He's a war hero."
"He has an outdated three-pronged axe, and he shows off to the younger generation whenever he gets the chance. He is only after fame and loves to hear praises." Lu Zewei picked out the fish bone, "The people who chose him are probably people with the same personality."
"you!"
"What, what are you doing?"
Hu Fenglian interrupted Commander Lu and said, "Chong Feng has finally looked like a normal person these past two days. It's only been a few days since his last attack. Why are you looking for trouble again? Why are you provoking the child?"
"Look at how disrespectful he is!" Commander Lu put down his chopsticks with a snap. His face turned red, perhaps because he was angry or because he had drunk the liquor. "I'm warning you..."
"Dad, I know what you expect of me."
Lu Zewei interrupted Chief Lu again, "During the war years, you named me Chongfeng, so that I would go to the battlefield, charge in the front and retreat in the back. After my eldest brother died, in peacetime, you gave me a big name, Lu Zewei, representing the army, navy and air force. You wanted to tell everyone that not only would you not let the remaining sons be cowards, but you would also make me an outstanding talent in the three armed forces."
Chief Lu was stunned. He was surprised to see that his son did not confront him head-on but responded to him calmly.
Liang Xin also put down her chopsticks.
It turns out that this is what his two names mean.
"Before, you always said that I was immature, and I always felt dissatisfied every time I heard it. Today, I understand that you are right."
Chief Lu was even more stunned.
Hu Fenglian also looked at her son in surprise.
"The battlefield is changing rapidly, and we have to fight a quick battle. We can't be slow. If we are slow and fall behind, we will be hit by bullets. If we are hit by bullets, the people in the rear will be hit as well."
Lu Zewei not only did not get sick this time, but was unusually calm. "After leaving the battlefield, many times decisions cannot be made hastily. The faster the decision, the slower it should be. I have deeply understood this principle today."
The restaurant was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
I don't know how many minutes passed.
Chief Lu picked up the wine cup and drank the liquor in it. When he put the cup down, he breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Liang Xin.
Chief Lu then told a story.
Regarding the last battle of Wei Yuanyang’s father, it was because the front-line commander at that time misjudged the enemy’s firepower distribution and troop strength and weapons, which led to the death of all the people defending the position.
"This is the most painful lesson for the 12th Division. A single mistake in command will result in irreparable loss of life. After more than 20 years, command has become even more important because our comrades can no longer afford to make mistakes."
Liang Xin didn't dare to sleep deeply that night and kept observing Lu Zewei's movements.
Afraid that he would get sick.
"Are you still not asleep?"
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
“I’m writing.”
Liang Xin looked at the kerosene lamp on top of the bookshelf. "Would you like some more kerosene?"
"The light from the kerosene lamp disturbs your sleep?"
Lu Zewei looked up from the papers on the desk and said, "I'll go to the study."
Liang Xin yawned, "Didn't you say last night that we couldn't hurry up?"
"I'm not rushing. These ideas have always been in my mind. Today I just found a better way to write them down."
As Lu Zewei spoke, he picked up the pen and continued to write on the paper.
Liang Xin looked at his back and turned over slightly. She could see his focused profile under the kerosene lamp, his high nose bridge, his perfectly curved lips. The light made his chin more distinct. The knot under his Adam's apple was strict and straight, revealing a bit of self-control.
If you can keep your mouth shut and control yourself, you can add the word "desire" after it.
The desire to restrain oneself.
If you look more closely, you can actually see a hint of illness between his brows, which is the remnant of mental torture.
The sickness exudes a sense of confinement.
The winter was dry, and Liang Xin pursed her lips.
"Sleeping?"
"No."
Liang Xin turned over, wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, and yawned in boredom.
When I got up in the morning, I found the toothpaste squeezed and placed on the enamel tube, and the white towel folded and placed aside.
This is an automatic upgrade of the specific matters of couple reform.
Liang Xin picked up the cup and rinsed her mouth, then put the toothbrush in her mouth. She thought, could it be that, like yesterday, she felt that she had implicated her and felt sorry for it, so she did her housework so well and considerately early in the morning?
"You get up..."
Lu Chongfeng appeared at the door and looked at the toothpaste in Liang Xin's hand with surprise.
Soon, a thin layer of red appeared on his face.
He grabbed a handful of his hair, feeling very uncomfortable.
"It's actually unhygienic to do this for a long time."
Liang Xin: “?”
She looked at herself in the mirror.
Think for a few seconds.
Does it mean that it is unhygienic to leave toothpaste squeezed outside for a long time?
"It doesn't matter."
Lu Chongfeng grabbed a handful of hair again.
I don’t know where to put my hands and feet.
When we got the marriage certificate, I thought she was not so willing to marry him.
Although after helping him later, his thoughts changed slightly.
but.......
Am I just too slow or have I misunderstood?
So now she's using his toothbrush directly to make it clear to him?
This is too direct!
The slight blush on Lu Chongfeng's face reached behind his ears.
After brushing her teeth, Liang Xin picked up the enamel teacup to rinse her mouth.
Not only did he use his toothbrush, he even used his toothbrush holder to rinse his mouth!
Liang Xin is so proactive and direct as a lesbian. As a man, he should take more proactive actions and stop being so shy.
Lu Chongfeng took a few steps forward.
He took the white towel that Liang Xin had just wrung out.
Liang Xin looked at him holding a white towel and stretching it towards her face, and stopped his hand, "...what are you doing?"
Without waiting for Lu Zewei to answer, Liang Xin suddenly touched his forehead again, "You don't have a fever, why is your face so red?"
"My health isn't that bad."
Lu Zewei wiped the towel on Liang Xin's face as gently as possible. When the back of his fingertips touched the warm and delicate skin, his palm trembled slightly.
Liang Xin felt uncomfortable and reached out to take the towel from his hand.
"You don't have to upgrade so much all at once. I'll wash my face and brush my teeth myself from now on."
The brief close contact made Lu Chongfeng's heart beat several times faster.
I think this makes him look very incompetent.
He slowly leaned over and approached Liang Xin's long eyelashes.
Liang Xin suddenly dodged and pushed his face with a palm, "What do you want to do?"
Lu Zewei: “….”
He turned his neck, which was almost dislocated, and looked at Liang Xin.
Liang Xin took a few steps back with the towel in hand, "This is the bathroom."
So you feel like it's the wrong place?
Lu Chongfeng: "I didn't do anything, it's just..."
Liang Xin looked at the blushing Lu Chongfeng, narrowed her eyes slightly, and asked: "So your blushing is because of bad intentions?"
Lu Chongfeng paused, looked at the toothbrush and toothcup, and grabbed a handful of hair. "No, you used my toothbrush to brush your teeth and used my toothbrush to rinse your mouth. I just wanted to kiss your face and respond to you."
Liang Xin: “?”
He looked at the white towel in his hand.
No wonder I smelled a hint of soap just now.
She looked at the toothbrush and toothbrush holder again.
He picked up the toothbrush with white hand-painted flowers and held it in front of Lu Chongfeng, "Is this the toothbrush you use?"
Lu Zewei looked at her reaction, lowered his head to carefully identify it, and nodded, "Yes."
“You use this toothbrush?”
"right."
"Little Flower's toothbrush, is that what you use?"
"Where are the little flowers....are these little flowers?"
Liang Xin recalled that five minutes ago, she picked up his toothbrush to brush her teeth, picked up his cup to rinse her mouth, and picked up his towel to wash her face...
It's a big misunderstanding.
"........You, why did you squeeze the toothpaste and pour the water and leave it here without using it?"
"Yueji is back and asked me to open the door downstairs."
“.......”
Liang Xin pushed him aside, walked back to the room, took a brand new army green toothbrush, a clean peony flower towel, and the enamel teacup on the desk for drinking water, and walked into the bathroom: "You use..."
Lu Zewei had squeezed new toothpaste onto the toothbrush she had just used and put it in her mouth.
Liang Xin stood at the door, her face slightly red, and said in a steady voice: "Didn't you say that this is unhygienic?"
Lu Chongfeng picked up the mouthwash cup and said, "If you think it doesn't matter, I don't think it matters either."
When Liang Xin finally escaped downstairs, she didn't even have time to apply lotion.
"Sister-in-law, I was just about to call you, but there was a call from the sentry box at the gate, saying someone was waiting for you at the gate."
Liang Xin was slightly stunned, "Looking for me?"
Lu Yueji put down the phone and said, "Yes, they said it was a woman who came here."
Liang Xin subconsciously thought it was her second sister-in-law.
But then I remembered that there was another woman I knew who had also been here.
Before she reached the gate, someone called her from the cedar forest.
"Liang Xin, this way!"
Liang Xin walked into the cedar forest and looked at Wang Hongyan, whose head and face were wrapped in blue wool, without saying a word.
Wang Hongyan took the initiative to smile: "Liang Xin, Yuanyang is here too. He went to the service center to buy something. I came to talk to you about something first."
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