Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Your family's Chongfeng got promoted
Liang Xin put away her clothes and turned around, just in time to see Lu Chongfeng withdraw his hand from his chin.
The place I accidentally rubbed this morning.
She pursed her lips immediately.
The room fell into an uncomfortable atmosphere.
Lu Chongfeng was originally leaning against the door. When he saw the little movement of Liang Xin's lips and remembered the soft touch on his face, he rubbed his face and looked away, but his eyes moved to the bedside cabinet. When he thought of the things inside, his leaning body suddenly straightened up and his ears began to turn red.
Seeing that he was more uncomfortable than herself, Liang Xin said calmly, "I'm wondering when I can eat the salted chicken."
She now tries to speak complete sentences.
I was afraid that he would understand it as something else unexpected.
"Since you like chickens so much, why don't you build a chicken coop in the backyard and buy some chicks to raise?"
Lu Zewei walked up to Liang Xin, lowered his head, and glanced at her lips casually.
Looks like cherry blossoms.
It looks delicious.
Liang Xin: "It's blocking the way."
"......oh."
Lu Zewei moved his body away and sat down on the sofa at the window corner, facing the bedside cabinet, with the entire room in sight.
Liang Xin felt hot on her back when she was stared at. She originally wanted to fold the dried clothes and put them in the closet, but when he looked at her like this, she opened the closet and put all the clothes in there.
"Chicks can only be raised in March and April when the weather warms up. The winter in Jiangjing is freezing cold and damp, so we can't raise them."
"So what do you want to raise?" Lu Chongfeng recalled the time when he went to a fellow villager's house to help with chores at the garrison. "Pigs? Do you like raising pigs? Or dogs? Do you like dogs or pigs?"
Liang Xin: “…”
"I don't like any of them?" Lu Zewei continued to think, "What about raising cattle? Cows are too big, and they can't be raised here. What do I like to raise for food? Cats? Sheep?..."
Liang Xin looked back at him, "Pig."
Lu Zewei felt that there was something wrong with the way she looked at him, but he couldn't tell what was wrong. "Pigs... In addition to the logistics canteen, the military compound raises three pigs. I haven't heard of anyone raising pigs. Do you know how to raise pigs? How many do you want to raise?"
Liang Xin continued to look at him: "One is enough."
"One, one has to build a pigsty first."
Lu Zewei thought seriously, "Tomorrow I will go to the logistics barracks to ask if we can build a pig pen in our backyard. They just happen to be thinking about how to dress up all day, and now you have provided an idea, so they don't have to worry too much."
Liang Xin: “….”
She felt like her brain was about to break.
"The military district chief has pigs at home, don't go there."
"If you like it, just keep it. What are you afraid of?"
Lu Zewei leaned on the sofa with his long legs propped up. Seeing Liang Xin's disapproving expression, he said, "...Forget it, that's right. This is my parents' home after all. Wait a little longer. When I become the head of the military region, I will ask the logistics staff to build the pig and chicken pens as soon as possible when I distribute housing. You can raise as many pigs as you want without worrying about anyone's opinion."
Liang Xin smiled speechlessly.
"Dad is already the deputy commander of a military region. I have never seen children of people who have reached this position. No one can surpass the previous generation."
Lu Zewei paused for a moment before saying, "As the daughter of the brigade secretary, you are many times more intelligent than the children of the military district leaders. What did you do in the brigade before?"
Liang Xin: "Farming and raising livestock."
"We all work in the fields, but why are people so different? The instructors in the military academy are not as smart as you."
Lu Zewei lazily placed his hands on the armrest of the sofa. "What you said just now is right. In this military compound, there is indeed no son who has surpassed his father's position. But I am different. My health is fine now. It is only a matter of time before I let you raise pigs in the backyard of the chief's house."
He sat on the armchair, looking lazy and confident with an arrogant look on his face.
By the time Liang Xin realized it, she had no idea how long she had been looking at him.
The atmosphere became uncomfortable again.
Liang Xin opened the drawer, picked up her clothes, and calmly walked out of the room to take a shower.
The important thing about General's Building that makes it more comfortable than the countryside is that you can take a bath at home.
Turn on the cross-shaped faucet and pour hot water on your body.
The expression on Lu Chongfeng's face as he sat on the sofa just now appeared in his mind again.
The military district chief raises pigs at home.
Liang Xin chuckled, picked up the sandalwood soap and rubbed it all over her body.
After washing off the smell of a day's pickled chicken and fish, Liang Xin felt light from head to toe and turned off the faucet.
After drying himself with a white towel, he walked over to the stool next to the sink and picked up his freshly washed cotton sweater.
Suddenly, the whole person stopped.
A long time passed.
Liang Xin used a towel to wipe the mist off the mirror. The person in the mirror was wearing a white cotton sweater covered with small flowers.
The folded collar of the cotton-padded jacket was sticking to the collarbone, and the wet black hair was dripping down along the collarbone.
Drops of water fell on the small flowers, leaving prints of two green cherries inside the flowers.
The mirror was slowly covered with a thin layer of mist again due to the heat from the bathroom steam.
The face in the mirror began to become vague, but one could still see that the calm expression was about to collapse.
Ten minutes passed.
Twenty minutes.
If you count the time from the time I came in to wash my hair and take a shower, about an hour has passed.
“Knock, knock.”
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
Liang Xin looked towards the door, "What's going on?"
"Did you finish washing?"
"......"
One minute of silence.
A voice that seemed to be trying to calm down came from the other side of the door again: "Open the door first... Just open it a crack, enough for you to put your hand out."
Without waiting for Liang Xin to answer, he added, "I closed my eyes."
Liang Xin thought of the two doctors' instructions in the morning, stood up and walked over. She paused at the door, then slowly raised her hand to open the bolt.
The light from the incandescent lamp outside leaked in through the crack in the door.
Lu Chongfeng looked at the rosy, damp and slightly hot wrist that stretched out from the crack of the door, grabbed the air twice blindly, stopped, palm facing up, and waited.
The scent of soap after bathing and the aroma of jasmine cream wafted towards him, and he saw again the scene of the hero peeping at the girl next door taking a bath, followed by the place on the next page where two-dimensional techniques were used to highlight and connect the two places... In fact, what was more impressive than that place was the strange and unbearable expressions on their faces.
What was handed to Liang Xin was a wrapped towel.
The moment he handed it over, he strode away.
As if he was more afraid of being seen than she was.
Liang Xin took the towel in through the crack in the door and opened it, and saw a white side-fastened cotton bra and white floral shorts inside.
Lu Zewei rushed into the room, picked up the white porcelain teacup from the tray on the desk, and gulped down a few sips of cold green tea.
Why do I always think of that picture!
He is not the hero!
He would never peek at the girl next door!
No interest at all!
The one he is interested in is someone who has officially obtained a marriage certificate!
Even if they have anything, they are nothing like the couple in the picture!
They are legal!
After Lu Chongfeng finished thinking, the fire in his heart not only did not die out, but seemed to be fanned even more vigorously.
"Charge, drink the medicine."
Hu Fenglian went upstairs carrying an enamel tray with two bowls of black medicine juice inside. "Drink the medicine quickly. The doctor said that your heart blood is not nourished, and your qi and blood are both deficient. You need to drink Guipi Decoction and Bazhen Decoction every day. After that, go eat some ginger duck. They are both good for replenishing blood and qi."
Still making up for it?
If he is supplemented any more, he will have a nosebleed.
The bathroom door suddenly opened.
Lu Zewei walked over, picked up the medicine from his mother's tray, and drank it all.
After drinking it, his delicate facial features, which looked like they were carved out, suddenly wrinkled together.
"There's another bowl." Hu Fenglian handed over another bowl. "This one isn't that bitter. Finish it in one gulp."
Liang Xin felt her mouth turn bitter just by looking at his face. Seeing that he seemed to want to refuse, she said, "There is candy in the desk drawer. Eat one after you finish drinking."
Lu Chongfeng picked up the bowl again, raised his head and drank it all, put the bowl down, and shook his head, "What's the big deal about this little bit of bitterness? Why would a grown man eat candy when he's taking medicine? No."
Liang Xin: “….”
He spoke as if he was not the one whose face was almost deformed by misery just now.
"It's wedding candy. I think you haven't eaten your own wedding candy yet."
"Then I'll eat one."
Lu Zewei turned around, opened the drawer, took out an orange candy, peeled off the candy wrapper, and put it into his mouth.
The bitterness was indeed much better.
"Liang Xin, the ginger duck is ready. You can have a bowl too."
"I just brushed my teeth. I don't want to eat anymore."
Liang Xin dried her hair with a towel and said, "Mom, you should eat more too."
"Okay, come down if you want to eat, and go to bed early if you don't want to eat." Hu Fenglian was about to go downstairs with the enamel tray, but suddenly turned back, "Chongfeng, remember to rest."
Lu Chongfeng: “….”
Liang Xin: “….”
The atmosphere before taking a bath once again enveloped the entire room.
Liang Xin wrapped her hair with a bath towel and opened the quilt folded at the head of the bed.
After making the bed, I got into bed, picked up the Liberation newspaper on the bedside table and started reading.
The only person who felt uncomfortable was Lu Chongfeng.
Because Liang Xin saw the medicine and remembered that she was safe.
The sick boy needs to take medicine and rest during this period. The doctor's advice to him is that he can only take walks and not do other strenuous exercise.
So there is no need to worry at night.
Lu Zewei chewed the candy and turned to look at Liang Xin, his eyes inevitably falling on the place above her quilt.
The innermost clothes, which had just been wrapped in a towel by his hands, were now pressed tightly against her...
Lu Chongfeng felt his nostrils getting hot and his heartbeat was like a drum vibrating his eardrums.
Liang Xin turned a page of the newspaper and asked, "Not sleeping?"
"Go to sleep." Lu Chongfeng turned and walked out, but halfway through, he came back, opened the drawer of his wardrobe, counted the clothes on his hands three times, and then went to the bathroom.
When Lu Zewei came back, Liang Xin was already asleep.
He hung up his military uniform, lifted the quilt and lay down in it.
As soon as I lay down, I smelled the familiar scent of jasmine.
Think of cherry blossoms again.
All the incandescent and kerosene lamps in the house were extinguished.
Lu Zewei turned his head and could only see Liang Xin's outline in the moonlight. He turned inside and moved slightly closer to see more clearly.
When he could really see clearly, Lu Zewei found that he was almost sticking to Liang Xin's face.
He quickly turned around and stepped back.
The noise was too loud, but it didn't wake Liang Xin up.
After lying flat for a few minutes, Lu Zewei suddenly felt something cold against the back of his hand. He subconsciously reached out to grab it and held the soft, boneless hand.
Liang Xin's hand.
Lu Chongfeng's Adam's apple rolled up and down.
He secretly held Liang Xin's hand in his palm, fearing that if he used too much force he would wake her up.
After Lu Zewei personally experienced the reform and was recognized by Commander Chen, he wrote an argument in just two or three days and submitted it to the Liberation Daily, the Military Daily, and the Soldier Daily.
Even if he wrote ten articles and all of them were rejected, he would not be discouraged.
Do exercises in the morning, go to the cafeteria or make breakfast by yourself, clean the room, write articles, serve Liang Xin, write articles, make dinner, and write articles again at night.
Persevere in submitting articles to several military newspapers.
On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, we worship the Kitchen God.
During the ten years, sacrificial activities were considered as the "Four Olds" and were expressly prohibited.
Burning incense and worshipping are no longer allowed, but the offering of food to the Kitchen God is still practiced without interruption.
Liang Xin came out of the Military Service Center with candies and fruit for offerings to the Kitchen God in her hands.
Zaotang is a pumpkin-shaped food made of maltose and yellow rice. It is sticky to your mouth and teeth.
Liang Xin took a bite of the sugar melon. It was crispy, sweet and fragrant. Her teeth stuck together after a few chews. But she couldn't stop eating it because it was so delicious.
She went out with Lu Chongfeng in the morning, preparing to go out to buy candied melons.
Unexpectedly, Commander Chen came to him again.
She went to the military district service center alone and happened to see some sugar-coated melons for sale, so she weighed half a pound.
I haven't tasted such authentic old flavor for many years.
Liang Xin had taken a bite of the candy melon halfway through, and her hands were also stuck to it.
Instead of walking home quickly, I strolled slowly in the courtyard, breathing in the fresh air.
As the recruitment season approaches, new banners are hung on the military compound’s bulletin boards, electric poles, and between two trees.
"The army is for peace."
"One person serving in the army brings honor to the whole family."
"Comrade Liang Xin!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from the Parents' Committee.
Liang Xin stopped and looked back.
Chairman Liu looked at Liang Xin holding it in her arms, holding it in her hands, and chewing it in her mouth, and the corners of his mouth twitched. "Comrade Liang Xin, you are a poor and lower-middle peasant with a good family background. How can you have the hedonistic and lazy style of the bourgeoisie at one moment and the free and undisciplined style of the petty bourgeoisie at another?"
Liang Xin was wearing that thin gray cotton-padded jacket today. She rolled up her sleeves, revealing the patches on the cuffs and the sweater sewn with loose threads inside.
"Three years new, three years old, three years of patching up. Lei Feng's spirit, the symbol of revolution. How can Chairman Liu be like a rebel and label people indiscriminately? Is this a new trend in the class struggle of the Family Committee?"
President Liu's expression changed instantly. "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Liang Xin said slowly: "If you are talking nonsense, then I am talking nonsense. If you are not talking nonsense, then I am not talking nonsense either."
President Liu was so frightened that his breathing became rapid.
The military district compound restored order this year, and the cadre team that was overthrown by the rebels returned to their posts. If this news got out, she didn't know what the consequences would be.
She never expected that Commander Lu’s daughter-in-law could embarrass her, a cadre who had worked in the military compound for decades, every time she opened her mouth.
"...Comrade Liang Xin, I made a wrong analogy just now. I'm talking nonsense."
Liang Xin bit the remaining candy melon and said nothing.
President Liu breathed a sigh of relief. After fighting with his opponent twice, he had figured out Liang Xin's temper.
If you don't provoke her, it's fine. But if you provoke her, it may be like being touched by a scorpion. The scorpion may not be harmful, but the person who touches her will definitely be stung.
It may seem dangerous, but if you give in in time, there is still a way out.
Chairman Liu smiled and said, "Comrade Liang Xin, I mean well when I say this. This is a military compound. As military families, we must have a simple and hardworking style and the quality of enduring hardships. Even if we cannot meet the standards, we must not become a corrupt practice in the compound."
"President Liu, thank you."
Liang Xin stuffed the last bite of the sugar melon into her mouth, "Today is the twenty-third day, don't you eat sugar melon and worship fruit?"
President Liu, who had bought it and sent it back early in the morning, said: "......."
She changed the subject: "Comrade Liang Xin, when you first came into the compound, I talked about you. You said you were not a military dependent and I couldn't do anything to you. But now it's different. You are. Not only are you a military dependent, you have also become the family member of a regimental cadre. You have to be careful about your words and actions..."
"Wait a moment."
Liang Xin was surprised and asked, "Family members of regimental cadres? Where did you hear this information?"
"Why, you don't know yet?"
Chairman Liu thought for a moment and said, "That's right. The Cadre Department hasn't announced any news about cadre appointments yet. Your brother Chong Feng has been promoted. Commander Chen personally transferred him to the Division Operations Department as a staff officer, a deputy regimental cadre. He will probably start his duties after the New Year."
Liang Xin licked the maltose on her lips and asked, "You, the Parent Committee, are so well-informed?"
"Me too......"
I heard it from my kid's father.
Chairman Liu swallowed the rest of his words, thinking that this was a rare opportunity to attract Liang Xin to join the Family Committee. "Of course, you have never lived in a military compound before, so you don't know what the Family Committee is. It is a gathering place for all the family members of the military compound. What news can be hidden from the family members? If a bird flies over the sky, the Family Committee will know what species it is, what color it is, and what its cry is in the next second. Comrade Liang Xin, you have to join quickly!"
Liang Xin is still trying to solve the problem of maltose sticking to her teeth.
"Although you have been eating and drinking at home and resting during this period, your family members' impression of you is that you are not an activist."
Chairman Liu wanted to straighten out this crooked seedling in the compound so much that he spoke very quickly: "But as long as you actively participate in the Red Flag Competition, help and be friendly with the family members, humbly accept the ideological education and guidance of the family committee cadres, ensure that the soldiers eat well, rest well, and stabilize the rear, and then actively participate in voluntary service activities, strive to get labor awards, strive to become a March 8th model soldier, and soon be able to endure hardships, be hardworking, and live a simple life..."
Liang Xin could no longer hear what was said afterwards.
It's more tiring than working in the production team.
Can't do anything.
"Hey! Comrade Liang Xin, why are you gone!" President Liu wanted to catch up, but after thinking about it, he decided not to. He needed some time to adapt. "Comrade Liang Xin, three days. I'll give you three days to adapt. After three days, I'll find you to fill out the registration form!"
"Liang Xin is back."
Hu Fenglian came out of the kitchen carrying an enamel basin. Seeing Liang Xin coming in, she smiled and asked, "Didn't Chongfeng come back with you?"
"without......"
"I'm back."
Lu Chongfeng, dressed in a green military uniform, looked heroic and followed Liang Xin into the room.
Liang Xin observed his expression.
It seems like there is really good news.
Lu Zewei looked at Liang Xin who was blocking the door, stopped, followed him to block the door, and looked at the sunlight outside, "Are you basking in the sun here?"
Liang Xin: “…”
Liang Xin walked into the reception room, and Lu Zewei followed her into the reception room.
Liang Xin walked to the dining table, and Lu Zewei followed her there.
"Mom, I bought the sugar-coated melons and the offering fruit."
Liang Xin pulled out a chair and sat down.
"You just bought it?" Lu Zewei walked into the kitchen, washed his hands with soap, and came out with glutinous rice flour. "I'll knead the dough."
On the 23rd day of the lunar calendar, in addition to eating sugar-coated melons and offerings to the kitchen god, people also eat glutinous rice balls.
Hu Fenglian brought out the stuffings she had bought, a bowl of black sesame seeds, a bowl of seasoned pork stuffing, and a bowl of five-nut stuffing mixed with red and green silk, osmanthus, white sugar, melon seeds, pine nuts, sesame seeds, and lard.
Liang Xin watched Lu Zewei roll up his sleeves of his military uniform and pour the glutinous rice flour into the enamel basin. He was about to add water, "Hot water."
Lu Zewei quickly put away the ladle and said, "Boss, couldn't you have said it earlier? Didn't you use cold water to knead the dough last time? Why did you use hot water this time?"
"Last time I mixed it with white flour."
"Is this the black mask?"
"...Last time I mixed wheat flour, this time I mixed glutinous rice flour. Glutinous rice needs hot water to stimulate its stickiness. It is impossible to mix glutinous rice into a sticky and elastic dough with cold water. Even if it is mixed, the texture is hard and not tasty."
After listening to the long string of words, Lu Chongfeng tilted his head and chuckled, "Don't tire yourself out."
Liang Xin watched him pour hot water and unwrap the paper package of the offering fruit. "Mom, come and eat."
“Here I come.”
Hu Fenglian took out the working board, grabbed a handful of flour and sprinkled it on it to prevent the glutinous rice balls from sticking. She sat aside, looking at the 12 colored fruits in the hemp paper bag: red balls, white balls, sesame balls, oil fruits, Cunjin candy, sesame foot bone candy, white cross-cut, black cross-cut, and bean crisp candy. She picked up a piece of oil fruit and started to eat it.
"Liang Xin, you should eat too. Don't wait for Chong Feng. He doesn't really like sweet things."
"I just ate some candy melon and it made me sick."
Liang Xin looked at Lu Chongfeng.
Lu Chongfeng, who was just about to pour hot water, noticed the sight, picked up the thermos and went to get Liang Xin's special enamel teacup, poured out the tea leaves in the cup, replaced them with new tea leaves, poured in hot water, and brought it to Liang Xin.
Hu Fenglian suddenly laughed out loud.
When Lu Chongfeng heard this, he immediately went to get his mother's teacup.
Hu Fenglian: "I don't drink green tea, I drink malted milk."
After Lu Chongfeng took care of his mother and family members, he continued to mix the glutinous rice noodles. "Leader, if you have any other instructions, please let me know in advance."
Liang Xin handed over a sesame ball.
Feed the dog again!
Lu Chongfeng lowered his head and bit off the sesame ball.
Why can't you just stand up and put it to his mouth?
He has to sit down, and just stretch his hand forward a little, so that he has to lower his head to reach it!
“Fragrant and delicious.”
"Another piece?"
Liang Xin took a piece of bean candy and raised it slightly before handing it over.
Lu Chongfeng lowered his head again and took a bite, with the corners of his lips raised, chewing slowly.
But no further comment.
Hu Fenglian smiled, "Liang Xin, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known that Chong Feng could be so honest."
Liang Xin bit the fruit and said nothing.
"Now that Chongfeng is well, is there anything you want to do?" Hu Fenglian took a sip of malted milk. "It's better not to bother the local authorities. I'll just arrange a job for you in the military compound. Of course, I'm afraid you'll be bored if you have nothing to do. If you like staying at home, you can stay at home and eat when you want and sleep when you want."
Lu Chongfeng suddenly asked, "She likes to raise pigs. Can we build a pigpen in the backyard?"
Liang Xin: ".......Don't talk nonsense."
"Raising pigs?" Hu Fenglian was surprised for a moment. "Raising pigs is not an option. The buildings in the west courtyard are all of the same standard and cannot be expanded. Not to mention the pig pen, even the chicken coop is not allowed. Besides, there is no grass nearby to cut and feed the pigs. Feeding pigs with feed is convenient, but the pig manure is too smelly. Other people in the courtyard will definitely have opinions, and it will be hard for you to clean it up."
"Mom, I don't want to raise her."
"This is the first time that Liang Xin has liked something." Hu Fenglian attached great importance to it. "Let me think about it. The production team in my hometown has built two large pig pens and raised a lot of pigs. It takes less than an hour to drive there, which is closer than your mother's home. How about I accompany you to live in your hometown every now and then?"
"No thanks, Mom."
Liang Xin looked sideways at Lu Zewei.
Lu Zewei was also observing her, and when he saw this look, he said, "Mom, she is actually very satisfied!"
"OK!"
Hu Fenglian happily left the table and said, "I'm going to call Lao Qi and ask about the pig farming situation of the production team."
Liang Xin squeezed out a sound from between her teeth: "........knead the dough."
Lu Chongfeng was kneading the dough with great effort, with a trace of worry between his brows.
I just chose to join the army and was worried about how to tell Liang Xin.
If I had known this, I wouldn’t have mentioned raising pigs.
As soon as her mother said that she wanted to live with her in the countryside, where they could have pigs, farm, and have her favorite chickens, and live in a military compound, Liang Xin would definitely not be willing to go with her.
Besides, when they went on a blind date, Liang Xin must have been attracted by the accommodation conditions at his home, which was why she married him, a patient who no one cared about.
If I followed him to Jiangkou to join the army, given his position, the house he was allocated would never be comparable to the general's building in the military compound.
Lu Chongfeng was immersed in his troubles and didn't notice Liang Xin's expression.
Not only did this person not understand her nonsense last night, but today he even gave her more work to do in the countryside, farming and feeding pigs.
Then think about those activities of the Parent-Teacher Association that require active participation.
Strive for the Labor Medal and strive to become a model of March 8th.
Liang Xin felt that the sweets she had just eaten turned bitter.
The thoughts of the three people are like the dumplings they make, which look the same on the surface but actually have different fillings.
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