Chapter 62 How can a matter between husband and wife be called hooliganism?

Zhou Shenghuai, Feng Li and their daughter Zhou Yuezhu were leaving a few days later than He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang. The three of them bought a train to depart on the 27th day of the lunar year. Before they packed their luggage and left, they received a call from Zhou Shengqiang early in the morning on the 26th day of the lunar year.

Zhou Shengqiang came to visit his third brother's family a few months ago. The brothers reminisced about their youth. Now that the Chinese New Year is approaching, they are naturally a little worried. He wanted to ask his third brother how he plans to celebrate the New Year. If he has nothing to do, why not come to the Northwest Military Region and have some fun together.

Zhou Shenghuai had already bought the train ticket and had already made arrangements with He Hongyuan's family to go back for the New Year. He could only decline his second brother's offer and said he would try to visit next year.

Since they couldn't spend the New Year together, Zhou Shengqiang didn't force it. He casually asked where the three of them were going. Only then did he find out that they were going back to Xifeng City.

Zhou Shenghuai, his wife and daughter took a green train to Xifeng City, but at the train station they ran into their second brother Zhou Shengqiang who came alone. They immediately stared blankly.

"Second brother, why are you here?" Zhou Shengqiang wondered if he was dazzled.

Zhou Shengqiang was wearing a thick military coat, exuding a domineering aura. He could not help but feel mixed emotions when he stepped on the land of Xifeng City again: "You can come, but why can't I? Come back and visit my parents."

He couldn't describe how he felt when he heard his second brother casually mention on the phone that he was going back to Xifeng City to celebrate the New Year. He hadn't been back to his hometown for a long time. After all, his parents passed away early. He now lives in the northwest with his wife and children. He is busy with official duties on weekdays. Thinking about it this way, he actually missed the past.

The second brother and his family went back, and the stubborn boy Hongyuan also went back with his new wife. He also wanted to go back and take a look.

There were a few strands of gray hair among his black hair. Zhou Shengqiang looked at the words "Xifeng City Railway Station" and felt deeply moved.

Zhou Yuezhu called her second uncle obediently, then turned around and made eyes at her mother. Feng Li knew what the girl was thinking. Her second brother came over suddenly. Could it be that he wanted to spend the New Year at Guifang and Hongyuan's house?

How appropriate.

But they couldn't chase them away, after all, that was Zhou Shengqiang's hometown, and it was reasonable for him to go back home. On the bus from the city back to the brigade, Feng Li sat with her daughter, and her husband sat with his second brother, and their words were full of memories of the past.

"Mom, if Second Uncle really goes, won't my cousin quarrel with others?" Zhou Yuezhu understood He Hongyuan's temper too well. He would definitely get angry.

Feng Li was also worried. What should she do? The two of them whispered to each other, "See what your dad says. Don't say anything nonsense."

Zhou Yuezhu's excitement about returning to her hometown to celebrate the New Year was somewhat dampened, and she was vaguely worried: "I know."

After getting off the bus and taking a donkey cart back to the village that was once very familiar but now seems a little strange, Zhou Shengqiang took in the hillsides and fields with his narrow eyes, his expression dejected.

"Second brother, the house in our hometown must have decayed a long time ago. I think you should live in He Dazhu's house." Zhou Shenghuai chose the latter directly between hinting and saying it explicitly. He Dazhu is now the captain of the team. To be honest, he is his cousin, and they are all related by blood. It is a rare opportunity for his second brother to come back, so he must be received warmly.

Zhou Shengqiang couldn't understand what his third brother meant. He was just afraid that he would go to Hongyuan.

Thinking of Hongyuan, Zhou Shengqiang saw his son.

A tall man in a military coat walked towards him with a pretty woman. When they were about ten meters away from him, he suddenly stopped.

Even from such a distance, Zhou Shengqiang seemed to see the disgust in his son's eyes.

Lin Xiangming clearly felt the aura of the man next to him suddenly turn cold, that was the hostility that emanated from inside out when he saw his biological father.

It was not clear why Zhou Shengqiang came over, but Lin Xiang still wanted to have a good New Year, so she reached out from the sleeves of her thick cotton jacket and tugged at the man's military coat.

"Let's go back after we pick up Uncle Zhou and his family of three. The pork rib soup on the stove is waiting for us." Lin Xiang whispered softly, like a spring lark flying into the cold winter. The clear and pleasant voice gently penetrated into He Hongyuan's ears, dispersing the gathering storm.

He Hongyuan looked indifferent, and after a moment he said calmly, "Yeah."

"Cousin, cousin-in-law!" Zhou Yuezhu trotted ahead of her family and came to the side of He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang. Her two braided hair seemed to be dancing, and she raised her voice excitedly, "Happy New Year! Have you prepared some New Year's money for me?"

The lively Zhou Yuezhu's words instantly broke the suffocating atmosphere of confrontation. Lin Xiang said with a smile: "Yuezhu, you are so old, do you still want to ask for New Year's money? Ask your cousin and see if he will give it to you."

Zhou Yuezhu said confidently: "I'm not married, of course I have to give it to you~"

As the three young people were talking, Lin Xiang looked at the elders who were slowly walking towards her and called out, "Uncle Zhou, Aunt Feng, Happy New Year! Go home and rest."

He Hongyuan also called out to two people calmly, and tacitly ignored the other person with his wife.

"Hongyuan, what's wrong with your hand? Is it injured? Is it serious?" Zhou Shengqiang was worried when he saw his son's arm in a sling.

However, He Hongyuan simply ignored him and had no intention of saying a word to him.

Zhou Shengqiang looked at his son who was taller than himself, and the image of Hongyuan as a child seemed to appear in front of him. His ten-year-old son was only as tall as his waist, and he loved to let him ride a horse. He also vowed that he would grow taller than his father in the future.

Now that he was tall and strong, he had really done it, but he no longer recognized himself.

"Hongyuan, Xiaolin, pick up your Aunt Feng and Yuezhu and go there first. We'll go to Dazhu's house and visit our third cousin." Zhou Shenghuai had long felt that he had to act as a mediator. At this moment, if he didn't step up, who else would? He turned around and whispered to Zhou Shengqiang, "Second brother, go to Dazhu's house. The New Year is coming soon. Let's not make a scene."

Zhou Shengqiang was still sighing to himself, and he chuckled helplessly when he heard this: "Do you think I'm here to quarrel? Hey... Let's go and see our third cousin."

Lin Xiang was relieved when she saw Zhou Shengqiang and Uncle Zhou leave and did not insist on going to her mother-in-law's house to celebrate the New Year. If he really made such an unreasonable request, He Hongyuan would definitely get furious, and then the father and son would be at loggerheads in the village. It would probably spread throughout the commune in no time, and they would not be able to celebrate the New Year well.

It's a good thing that he has left now.

Zhou Shenghuai persuaded them to leave with a time bomb, and everyone else breathed a sigh of relief. He Hongyuan took over Feng Li and Zhou Yuezhu's luggage, and the group quickly returned home.

"Xiao Li, is Yue Zhu here?" He Guifang hurried out of the kitchen, eagerly waiting for someone to show up. As she welcomed the two into the house, she asked curiously, "Hey, where's Sheng Huai?"

Zhou Yuezhu rolled her eyes, not knowing how to start. Feng Li took her former sister-in-law's hand and went into the house to explain, "Sister Guifang, when we got off the train and arrived in Xifeng City, we ran into Sheng Huai's second brother who suddenly came over. Sheng Huai sent him to Da Zhu's house to see his third cousin, so he probably won't be here this afternoon. Please forgive me."

Feng Li thought about it and decided to tell the truth about the situation so that He Guifang could be mentally prepared. Otherwise, if she suddenly met her in the production team one day, she would be shocked.

He Guifang was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's okay, it's okay, you guys sit down and have a rest, then we'll just have lunch today."

At noon on the 29th day of the lunar year, in order to entertain Feng Li's family, the meal was still sumptuous. A large pot of lotus root and pork ribs soup was stewed. The lotus root was soft and glutinous, and the pork ribs were so soft that they could fall off the bones when bitten. The taste was excellent. In addition, a dish of stir-fried meat and shredded potatoes was also cooked.

"We have prepared a lot of dishes for tomorrow's New Year's Eve dinner, so today's food is a bit simple. Please don't mind." He Guifang said enthusiastically, sitting on Feng Li's left.

Feng Li drank half a bowl of soup and felt refreshed: "Sister Guifang, this is not simple at all, it's almost like a New Year's Eve dinner."

The dinner table was lively and Lin Xiang was also happy, but she would occasionally glance at the man next to her. He Hongyuan seemed to have returned to normal and was not too angry.

After dinner, the eldest and second sister-in-law rushed to wash the dishes. Lin Xiang helped to move the leftovers to the stove and put them away. Turning around, she saw the man smoking in the yard.

The tall figure revealed a sense of loneliness, with only a faint white mist being blown away by the cold wind.

He Hongyuan is not addicted to smoking and doesn't smoke very often. He only smokes when he is too depressed or in a bad mood and needs a boost.

Lin Xiang walked behind He Hongyuan. The usually alert man seemed not to notice this time until Lin Xiang stood on tiptoe and covered his eyes with her hands.

"Guess who I am?" Lin Xiang smiled. "If you guess right, I'll give you a New Year's gift."

He Hongyuan curled his lips unconsciously, threw the cigarette butt with a small stick on the ground, and stomped it out with his military boots: "I'm already 26 years old and still saving money?"

"What's wrong with the 26th? We adults also have the right to collect our New Year's money and be happy during the New Year." Lin Xiang was very confident and said with the attitude of a rich woman, "I'll give it to you!"

That evening, Zhou Shenghuai came here to eat dinner on time. He did not mention his second brother during the meal. When he stayed in the room that He Guifang had cleaned up at night, Feng Li hurriedly asked, "How is the second brother? He is not really coming to celebrate the New Year tomorrow, is he?"

"No, I asked him this afternoon, and he said he really just came back to visit his hometown and bury his parents." Zhou Shenghuai assured his wife, "Dazhu and my third cousin are very enthusiastic and insist on keeping my second brother at home for the New Year. We will spend the New Year here tomorrow, and their whole family will be very lively there."

Feng Li breathed a sigh of relief: "That's fine, otherwise it would be uncomfortable to meet him."

Feng Li told Lin Xiang about this, and Lin Xiang felt relieved. They thought that it would be best for everyone to just live their own lives and not interact with each other and have a good New Year.

——

On New Year's Eve, every household in the production team started preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner early in the morning. After a busy day, sumptuous dishes were served on the table. The young people set up their bowls and chopsticks. Lin Xiang poured coconut juice for the female comrades and white wine for the male comrades. The big round table could hardly accommodate so many people. It was crowded and very lively.

The braised carp that He Hong had caught from the river a few days ago was served on a plate in the center, symbolizing abundance every year. The fish meat was tender and delicious, and with each chopstick he could see the white flesh emerging from the brown-red skin.

Next to the braised carp is a pot of soft, glutinous and fragrant braised pork with potatoes, which is full of the fishy aroma. To the left of the braised pork is a bowl of spicy and fragrant cold chicken. The chicken from domesticated old hens is particularly firm, and the salty braised pork made from the best pork belly melts in the mouth. Just a sip of it, the meaty aroma dissolves, and it complements the bean sprouts underneath.

To the right of the braised pork is a pot of taro-braised chicken. The taro flour is sweet and glutinous, and the chicken is tender and delicious.

Finally, a pot of seafood soup was served, which was light and fragrant. It was made from dried seafood that Lin Xiang brought from Phnom Penh. A bowl of hot soup is the best way to keep warm in winter.

Lin Xiang hasn't had such a lively New Year's Eve for a long time. After graduating from college, she has been working hard to make money. She has no relatives and few friends. She usually spends New Year's Eve alone, eating a few New Year's Eve dishes in the cold and steel-clad city forest, turning on the TV to watch the Spring Festival Gala and listen to the lively music.

But now it is different. On New Year's Eve, a dozen people are filled with constant laughter and the delicious food is even more tempting. Everyone talks and reminisces about the past year and looks forward to a better next year.

He Guifang was particularly happy, drinking the coconut juice brought back by her daughter-in-law, her mouth full of sweetness: "The happiest thing for our family this year is that Hongyuan and Xiangxiang got married! I don't have to worry about anything in my life anymore, I can live in peace and contentment."

Feng Li smiled and joked: "Sister Guifang, you can only wait to hold your grandchildren in your arms in the future."

He Guifang couldn't stop laughing when she heard this.

The eldest brother Zhang Kun drank a cup with He Hongyuan and encouraged his son, "Hongyuan, hold on tight. Mom is waiting."

Lin Xiang looked at the man beside her with smiling and gossipy eyes from everyone. He Hongyuan, who happened to have drunk a few glasses of white wine, also turned sideways to look at her.

The young couple, who had been married for a few months, smiled at each other.

The New Year's Eve was lively until the early morning. After watching the firecrackers, Lin Xiang yawned and returned to the house. She fell asleep with her head resting on He Hongyuan's neck. She murmured to herself in a daze, "Look how happy mother is. You should be happy too. Don't pay attention to others."

He Hongyuan lowered his eyebrows and glanced at his wife who was sleeping soundly on him. His eyes and brows softened instantly. How could he be unhappy? Everything was fine now.

It was necessary to get up early on the first day of the new year. Even if Lin Xiang was still sleepy, she got up quickly and put on the chiffon shirt newly made by her mother-in-law, and then put on a red cotton jacket on the outside. With all the new clothes, she welcomed the new year with prosperity.

Lin Xiang, who kept her word, gave He Hongyuan a red envelope and took advantage of him in an elder manner: "Comrade He Hongyuan, if you accept my red envelope, you are mine. You must listen to me in the future."

He Hongyuan's narrow eyes were filled with smiles. He curled his thin lips slightly and took a look at the red envelope: "One cent?"

"What? One dime is not enough to buy you?" Lin Xiang raised her little face with a bright smile.

"That's enough." He Hongyuan took the precious red envelope and put it into the pocket of his military coat, saying solemnly.

On the morning of the first day of the new year, Lin Xiang followed He Hongyuan's family to visit relatives and friends around Zhou Wei. She had only been there for a short time and didn't know many of them. Anyway, she just followed He Hongyuan to call people, such as uncle or aunt, and received compliments from everyone. The enthusiastic relatives and friends also gave her some melon seeds, peanuts and orange candies.

After walking around and talking for a while, Zhou Shenghuai deliberately avoided He Dazhu's house, and was worried that he might bump into them by accident. He remembered that his second brother said yesterday that he wanted to go to the cemetery early in the morning, so he waited until lunch to go to the grave of his parents. He Guifang called her son, "Hongyuan, let's go and take a look too."

Perhaps she was worried about her son's emotional state, so she advised him earnestly: "Your grandpa and grandma have always been very good to us. You must go and pay them a visit when you come back."

He Hongyuan hummed softly and nodded: "Well, it's a good opportunity to take Xiangxiang to have a look."

Lin Xiang didn't expect that He Hongyuan still didn't reject his grandparents. It seemed that Zhou Shengqiang had hurt his heart in this family.

Now is still the period of the great movement, and the overt sacrificial activities are considered feudal superstition and are part of the campaign to destroy the four olds. Therefore, no one goes to the grave with great fanfare. However, a long time has passed, and not many people in the countryside care about it, so it's okay to go and take a look at this time.

People with the same surname in the brigade are basically related, and they chose the same place for burial. The graves of He's grandparents were buried next to each other, and there were several other graves of He's family around them. Now the graves are standing on the edge of the field, with a lot of weeds growing around them, so they are not too conspicuous.

Lin Xiang followed He Hongyuan and paid homage to the two graves. She felt even more emotional when she thought of how Grandpa He could be considered the matchmaker between her and her husband.

Zhou Shenghuai's family was even more solemn. Zhou Shenghuai knelt in front of his parents' grave and kowtowed three times, muttering something. He was helped up by his girlfriend Yue Zhujie with a melancholy look on his face.

Due to the pressure of destroying the four olds, people dare not light incense or set off firecrackers when visiting the graves. It is a rare opportunity to worship in this way.

After they finished their work, Lin Xiang helped her mother-in-law to leave. When she turned around, she saw the captain's family coming in, and Zhou Shengqiang was among the crowd.

"Third cousin, aunt, Aunt Guifang, have you all finished visiting the grave?" He Dazhu is the leader of the production team. He came to visit the grave with his whole family. It happened that second cousin suddenly returned to his hometown yesterday, so there was no reason for them not to come together.

Feng Li's face froze, and she glanced at her husband quickly, her heart beating fast.

Sister Guifang and my second brother probably haven't seen each other for more than ten years, but they couldn't avoid meeting each other today.

Zhou Shenghuai exchanged a few pleasantries with the relatives on the opposite side, and everyone said auspicious words to each other. However, He Hongyuan stepped in front of his mother and said sideways: "Mom, let's go back first."

How could He Guifang not understand what her son meant? There was a large family on the opposite side, and one of the figures in military uniform was not unfamiliar, but they were all old, and it seemed like they hadn't seen each other for many years.

Zhou Shengqiang took two steps forward and looked at his tall son, who was looking at him warily and hostilely. He glanced past him and saw a few strands of gray hair. Past memories suddenly flooded his mind and he called out in a trembling voice, "Guifang, I haven't seen you for many years."

More than ten years of time and space distance seem like a lifetime ago.

Now that I think about it, I feel so sorry for this mother and son.

"Zhou Shengqiang, give me..." He Hongyuan's eyes were stern and his words were as cold as ice. He was about to curse when his mother patted him on the shoulder and comforted him.

He Guifang walked out from behind her son and stood face to face with Zhou Shengqiang, smiling slightly, "Commander Zhou, are you back home to visit me?"

Lin Xiang was on the sidelines, feeling extremely nervous, not knowing what would go wrong during today's encounter. She never expected her mother-in-law to stand up and speak so calmly to that ungrateful man.

Zhou Shengqiang was also obviously stunned.

When he was young, he worked hard and pursued true love, and other people and things were not important. But now that he is older and successful, he feels a little guilty about his old lover when he wakes up in the middle of the night.

Even if he was treated hostilely by his son today and scolded by his ex-wife Guifang for being heartless and ungrateful, he was mentally prepared and could endure it. He was willing to compensate them again.

But Zhou Shengqiang never expected that He Guifang treated him politely, as if she was greeting an ordinary relative or friend, without any resentment at all.

Although she was old and her hair was gray, she looked energetic and had a peaceful face. She did not show any of the anger that she had imagined she would have.

"The old man and the old lady's graves are here. Since you are here, just kowtow to them three times." He Guifang pointed to the two graves and said calmly, "We will leave after we visit the graves. We will make room for you all."

Lin Xiang took two steps forward and helped her mother-in-law walk out. Before leaving, she patted He Hongyuan, who was standing there with a guarded attitude towards Zhou Shengqiang.

Seeing this, Zhou Shenghuai and Feng Li also asked everyone to leave. A large group of people left in a rush, and another large group of people walked forward. When the two groups crossed each other, Lin Xiang looked back and saw only the backs of He Dazhu's group who were walking forward to the cemetery. Only Zhou Shengqiang turned around and looked at her, with a look of doubt on his face and confusion in his eyes.

On the way back, He Guifang walked with her son and daughter-in-law. She saw her daughter-in-law hugging her and said with a smile, "Mom is not as weak as you think. Are you worried that I will faint from anger?"

Lin Xiang stuck out her tongue and smiled: "Mom, that's not the case. I just want to go with you."

He Guifang patted the back of Lin Xiang's hand and said lovingly, "Don't worry, it happened so many years ago, why are you still talking about it? We are living such a good life now, nothing can make me unhappy."

He Guifang, with a smile on her face, is immersed in her current life. She has enough food and clothing, there is no war, everything is peaceful, and everyone can live in peace and health. What else is there to complain about?

Especially since her son got married, she no longer had any worries and was very content.

He Guifang looked at the young couple: "Hongyuan is just too stubborn. He can't keep anything in his heart for a lifetime. This is not good or bad. Why does he make himself suffer like coptis chinensis? He looks different only after marrying Xiangxiang. Xiangxiang, you should pay more attention to him in the future. If he dares not to listen to you, teach him a lesson. I will support you."

Lin Xiang stared at her mother-in-law. He Guifang, who had spent most of her life in the countryside and was reluctant to move, was willing to work in the fields. She seemed like an ordinary working woman. But at this moment, she suddenly understood why a widow like that could raise several children alone in the difficult world and even have the energy to help relatives and friends.

She is too strong inside and Zhou Shengqiang is not worthy of her.

Meeting again after more than ten years, Zhou Shengqiang's heart was in turmoil, but He Guifang had long since let go of the past and was living her life peacefully.

"Mom, I will definitely take good care of him and make him listen to me." Lin Xiang smiled.

He Hongyuan listened to his mother's words. The thorn in his body when he saw his mother seeing that heartless guy again after more than ten years gradually subsided.

He had imagined such a scene and was afraid of it, but at this moment he was comforted by his mother's words.

"Mom, I'm not unhappy." He Hongyuan curled his lips silently, "There's no need to be unhappy for people who have nothing to do with you."

"Yes." He Guifang smiled, "On the first day of the new year, we have to be happy."

......

On the afternoon of New Year's Day, when Lin Xiang was cracking melon seeds and chatting with her family, she suddenly heard Yue Zhu say that Zhou Shengqiang had left directly.

"You're leaving so soon?" Lin Xiang was surprised. Judging from Zhou Shengqiang's attitude, he would have to stay for a few days at least.

"Right, my dad just came back from outside and said he didn't want to stay any longer since my second uncle had been buried. He insisted on leaving right away and wouldn't let anyone see him off." Zhou Yuezhu couldn't understand this man. He came all the way here, and it was too much trouble for him to leave from yesterday to today.

Lin Xiang was munching on melon seeds when she suddenly realized that this man might have let down his guard and thought he would be treated differently when he came back. Even if he saw his ex-wife scolding him or hating him, he would have a reason to express his belated and worthless guilt and indebtedness.

As a result, He Guifang did not have any resentment at all and treated him like a normal person. Zhou Shengqiang had no place to vent his guilt and indebtedness, so he could only swallow it down.

"Forget about him, let's eat melon seeds!"

The days around the Chinese New Year were the busiest. Lin Xiang ate, drank and slept every day. There was no more comfortable time. Zhou Yuezhu took her cousin out for a stroll, recalling her childhood memories in her hometown. She also told Lin Xiang many things about He Hongyuan's childhood.

"When my cousin was young, he had an even tougher temper. He was invincible in our village."

"Even I can walk around the village arrogantly, no one dares to mess with me, hahaha."

"My cousin has become much more restrained now. He was very fierce when he was young, but he protects his family. It's fine if outsiders don't provoke him. But if someone dares to provoke him, it's simply courting death."

When Lin Xiang heard Zhou Yuezhu talking about He Hongyuan's "outstanding performance" in his childhood, she couldn't help but tease him: "Comrade He Hongyuan, I heard that you were a little bully when you were young. Many girls in the village followed you around."

Zhou Yuezhu's original words were: At that time, children all liked to play house. Everyone liked to talk about who they would marry when they grew up. Because He Hongyuan was the most capable child in the village, many girls said they would marry him when they grew up. However, they were all scared away by He Hongyuan's glare.

He Hongyuan: "...Don't listen to Zhou Yuezhu if you have nothing to do. This girl is very careless with her words."

Happy times always fly by, and it's the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang are about to return with Yuezhu's family of three.

Two days in advance, He Guifang packed a sack of wild vegetables and dried radish, sausage, brine and salted duck eggs for several people.

"Mom, if you keep loading, the house will be emptied." Lin Xiang looked at the bulging bags and hurriedly tried to dissuade her.

"It's empty there." He Guifang put in a few more salted duck eggs, which she had bought specially in order to pickle a few more for her son to satisfy his craving. "Okay, that's all. It's not much. You can take it home and eat it slowly."

Parting is always hard to let go. Lin Xiang felt the warmth of family love from her mother-in-law. Before leaving, she hugged He Guifang and whispered, "Mom, come and live with us when you are free. Hongyuan and I can't bear to leave you."

He Guifang smiled, with wrinkles appearing at the corners of her eyes: "Okay, come over when you're free."

Turning around, she said to Feng Li, "Oh, this is what it feels like to have a daughter-in-law. She's much more caring than a son!"

Hongyuan is a filial child, but with his personality, how can he hug anyone and act coquettishly and sweetly? This boy is an ugly and hard stone.

Feng Li laughed and said, "That's right. Having a daughter-in-law means having a daughter-in-law. Sister Guifang, you are so lucky."

The five of them boarded the green train. Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan said goodbye to He Guifang at the window: "Mom, please go home slowly. We will come back next time when we take a family visit leave."

He Guifang's eyes sparkled as she looked lovingly at the people sitting in the seats. She waved her hand and nodded, saying, "I know. You guys should slow down a bit and come back next time."

The green train rumbled away with billowing white smoke. He Guifang watched the huge train gradually turn into a small dot, disappearing from her sight and not leaving for a long time.

——

After the Chinese New Year, it was already the eighth day of the Lunar New Year when we rushed back to the 119th Unit on Langhua Island.

After getting off the train and boarding the boat, they returned to their families' compound. On the way, they were met with military families who greeted them with a smile and asked about their return home for the New Year.

Feng Li distributed some dried sweet potatoes and wild vegetables to her neighbors from a bag filled with Xifeng City specialties. When she got home, she divided the food in half: "Xiangxiang, this is yours. Hongyuan loves salted duck eggs. We kept three of them. You can keep more."

"Okay, Uncle Zhou, Aunt Feng, Yuezhu, let's go home first. You've had a hard time on the way here, so you should have a good rest." Lin Xiang picked up the things and was taken away by He Hongyuan.

"Aren't you tired carrying so many things? Let me carry some more." Lin Xiang followed He Hongyuan's steps.

"That's just how much." He Hongyuan didn't care, as if he had no place to show off his strength.

"Go to the military hospital in a few days to see if the gauze can be removed. I see you've recovered well recently." Lin Xiang was looking forward to her man's speedy recovery.

"Okay, I'll listen to you."

It was tiring to go on a long trip, and when I got home I had to clean up everything. After all, the house hadn't been occupied for almost half a month. After all the chores, Lin Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, took a shower, and tossed and turned in bed to relax: "Hey, I'm finally comfortable."

She has to go back to work tomorrow, and tonight is her last party. She needs to have a good rest, read the picture books she bought at the department store in the city, and enjoy her leisure time.

He Hongyuan took some clean clothes and prepared to go downstairs to take a shower. He glanced at Lin Xiang who was tossing and turning on the bed. The woman lying on the bright red quilt had fair skin and a white and tender face. The exposed arm was slender, and the pair of straight calves under her pajamas were dazzlingly white.

Seeing the man staring at her, Lin Xiang half sat up and looked at him. As she moved, her pajamas were pulled up, revealing her snow-white waist and abdomen, but it only flashed by and was quickly blocked by the plaid pajamas that fell down.

"Why don't you take a shower yet? Why are you standing there in a daze?" Lin Xiang urged the man.

"Come here and help me take off my clothes." He Hongyuan glanced at his arm meaningfully, "Just now I felt a little uncomfortable in my hand, so I won't use too much force."

He Hongyuan has always been the type who relies on himself and always refuses help. When Lin Xiang heard this, she followed him downstairs: "I told you that you were being stubborn before, insisting on taking off and putting on clothes by yourself, humph."

As the bathroom door was closed, a bucket of hot water was emitting boiling hot steam, which gradually dyed the closed bathroom with white smoke. Amid the steam, Lin Xiang helped the man take off his shirt, reminded him to be careful not to get his right hand wet, and prepared to leave.

"Wait a minute, your pants haven't been taken off yet." He Hongyuan stopped her.

Lin Xiang glared at him: "Do you need me to take off my pants? Don't be a hooligan to me."

He Hongyuan chuckled: "Do you think I'm capable of being a gangster?"

Forget it, taking off pants with one hand might be inconvenient. Lin Xiang helped the man strip naked. The bathroom was full of steam, which concealed He Hongyuan's good figure. Lin Xiang admired him with blurred vision and felt that she ate really well.

"I'm leaving now. Take your time washing." This time, Lin Xiang turned around and left, but He Hongyuan grabbed her hand.

She asked doubtfully: "What's wrong?"

He Hongyuan was confident and composed: "He is a hooligan."

Lin Xiang:......

Finally, after staying in the bathroom for more than an hour, Lin Xiang deeply realized how shameless a hooligan man is. After all, considering that he was injured and inconvenient, and Lin Xiang's menstruation came a while ago, and then she took the train back to celebrate the New Year, the two of them had not been intimate for a month, and now they were not quiet.

Water vapor spread in the bathroom. Lin Xiang huddled against the cold tiles. The air gradually warmed up, and the coldness was soon replaced.

Lin Xiangyi didn't know where to put her hands. She was dazed and worried about touching his injured right hand, which made He Hongyuan chuckle: "You hold my neck."

Lin Xiang obediently hugged the man's neck and hugged him tightly. She sobbed and buried her face in his chest. Her hands clenched tightly, and the blue veins on the back of her white hands were particularly conspicuous.

Lin Xiang, who had lost her last beautiful night before work, was still complaining about the man's hooliganism as she moved from the bathroom to the bedroom. The children's book on the bedside table that she was going to read was left unattended, and only a few pages were opened in the night breeze, making a rustling sound.

He Hongyuan raised his lips as he looked at the woman with rosy cheeks under him, then leaned over and kissed her. Her slender waist was covered with strong muscles, and her body was bent and undulated like a bow. Her lines were smooth and beautiful, and full of power.

......

The next morning, Lin Xiang woke up early to go to work. She yawned continuously and glared at He Hongyuan three or four times. She ate a big bowl of noodles that he had specially cooked as an apology. When she heard that he was going to take her to work, she quickly refused, saying, "How can you ride a bicycle with one hand? I can't carry you."

He Hongyuan felt that he was looked down upon by his wife: "One hand is enough."

"Don't bother with me." Lin Xiang didn't want to pay attention to him. She picked up her bag, held the handlebars of her bicycle and left home. "Just stay at home. I'm going to work."

Lin Xiang rode her bicycle from her family compound to the 119 Food Factory and ran into familiar workers as soon as she arrived at the gate of the second factory.

Qiu Guifang was full of enthusiasm and said excitedly: "Xiangxiang, you're back!"

"Sister Guihua, I just arrived yesterday and I'm back to work today!"

"Oh, everyone misses you so much. Let me tell you, the coconut juice from our factory can be sold at the government guesthouse..."

Qiu Guifang excitedly told Lin Xiang about the situation in the factory over the past half month, her words full of pride.

Kong Zhenzhen worked with the provincial grain and oil company to determine the locations and quantities for supplying major guesthouses in the provincial capital. Last week, coconut juice officially appeared at the front desk of the provincial capital guesthouse and at some seats hosting meetings.

Lin Xiang walked into the office and said excitedly: "Our coconut juice is really promising!"

The three people in the office turned around when they heard the familiar voice. Kong Zhenzhen was the first to stand up and took Lin Xiang's hand back to her seat: "Oh, you're finally back. Your desk and chairs are clean and tidy. How about going home to celebrate the New Year with the head of the group?"

"It's great. Our whole family is having a great time during the New Year." Lin Xiang smiled and distributed some candy candies and peanut candies from her second brother Wei Guangde's sugar factory to everyone. "Have some candy. These are from our place. They taste really good."

Each of them had a cigarette in their mouths, and Zhao Jianjun couldn't wait to talk to Lin Xiang about the Food and Drinks Fair: "Xiao Lin, the idea you proposed last time about the National Food and Drinks Fair is good, but our factory can't go."

Zhao Jianjun went to the Grain and Oil Company in Phnom Penh in person, but was rejected. Not giving up, he took Ma Defa to the Grain and Oil Company in the provincial capital, but still failed.

Ma De said worriedly, "The provincial capital's grain and oil company still insists that we who sell juice and soda cannot participate. They only allow sugar factories, beer factories, and liquor factories to participate. They call it a sugar and wine fair, not a sugar, wine, and soda fair."

Kong Zhenzhen was indignant: "These people really don't know how to adapt. Why are they so stubborn? What's wrong with having one more soda seller? Does that mean the alcohol sellers are better than us?"

Nowadays, liquor and beer are indeed more valued than soda. Sugar and wine are at the forefront of China's era and lead the unique sugar and wine fair. No other commodity has this opportunity.

Lin Xiang had expected this. She heard that only sugar and wine manufacturers could participate in the Food and Drinks Fair, which had just been held for three sessions. Although it was said that it would gradually develop into a national commodity fair, it was definitely not the time.

Participating in the National Food and Drinks Fair is full of difficulties, but the 119 Second Factory has really become the first soft drink factory to participate. Doesn’t that mean there are unlimited opportunities? The more difficult it is, the more fruitful the results may be.

"Since they only want the participation of people who sell candy and alcohol, then we should sell alcohol. When we have a counter, we can also sell fruit soda."

Others in the office were surprised: "Where can we sell alcohol?"

Lin Xiang pointed at the plump coconuts that can be seen everywhere in the 119 Factory 2 and said, "Coconut wine, isn't it wine?"

Three people in the office: "..."

Who can say no?