Chapter 63 Can I touch your abdominal muscles?

Lin Xiang carefully considered the registration requirements for the National Food and Drinks Fair. Since only factories selling sugar and alcohol are allowed to participate, it is not impossible for their soda factory to temporarily sell alcohol.

Fruit wine is also wine!

It's just that it's January now and there aren't many fruits available for brewing. Otherwise, Lin Xiang would like to try the pineapple beer she had drunk before.

Coconut is still the best. It can be used at any time. It is really a treasure.

Kong Zhenzhen had never heard of coconuts being used to make wine, so she couldn't help but wonder, "Will it taste good?"

Lin Xiang smiled and said, "It should be possible. Let's give it a try. We can try it out. I remember that there was coconut wine in the Song Dynasty, but few people made it later."

Zhao Jianjun immediately decided: "Let's give it a try. If it works, we'll apply for a spot at the Food and Drinks Fair."

In the past six months, he has always felt that the second factory is really going very well and everything is going smoothly. He also has a hunch that he will definitely be able to go to the Food and Drinks Fair this time!

Because we were going to make wine, we discussed the differences between choosing coconuts and squeezing coconut juice. To make coconut wine, we used green-skinned coconuts, which did not need to be too mature. After opening the coconut, we poured out the dry coconut water for storage, cracked the shell, took out the meat and placed it in the fermentation equipment, then added white sugar water for fermentation.

The fermented coconut yeast is then mixed with clean fresh coconut water for brewing, and white sugar is continuously added in the process to modify the taste. The second factory has conducted multiple experiments and blended the coconut juice to increase its sweetness. It is refreshing and sweet at first, without the stimulating taste of beer, but has a stronger sense of layers than ordinary soda, with a light taste of alcohol and fruit. The first taste is the alcohol flavor, and the second taste is the mellow and rich aroma of the two. Finally, the aftertaste is a faint sweet scent of coconut.

People tasted it and it was obviously better than expected.

Ma Defa drank half a cup in one go, still not satisfied, and said, "It tastes quite special, very good."

Kong Zhenzhen doesn't like drinking much, but she thinks this fruit wine is interesting: "Why do I think it tastes better than beer? I just can't get used to that taste."

Zhao Jianjun thought Kong Zhenzhen didn't know what she was talking about: "Isn't beer good? Look at how long the queue is in front of the brewery. We soda sellers don't have that kind of attitude."

This is true. There are long queues at the gates of breweries in major cities. Beer is in short supply nowadays, and the production is not large. It is basically supplied to major guesthouses, state-owned hotels, and government agencies. It is very difficult for ordinary people to buy beer anytime and anywhere. Even if you go to a state-owned hotel to buy a bottle of beer, you have to order two dishes to buy a bottle, and you may not be able to get it.

For this reason, most major breweries can only sell loose beer at the back door of the factory one or two days a week. The quality and taste are naturally not as good as the beer supplied in cans, but it can't stop the enthusiasm of the people. People line up with basins and buckets. The happiest thing in summer is to get a bucket of yellow frosty beer to drink at home.

Zhao Jianjun is no exception, he just loves drinking!

Although coconut wine is not as strong and stimulating as beer, it is still quite good, which surprised him: "I think I'll try this."

At the end of February, the weather gradually warmed up, and Phnom Penh had lost its winter traces earlier than the northern provinces. Zhao Jianjun put the coconut juice into glass bottles and sealed them, preparing a box of twelve bottles in a row, and set off with Lin Xiang and Ma Defa.

This time we were only going to the Phnom Penh Grain and Oil Company, and it would only take a boat trip into the city to get there.

Madfa sold his strength and got off the boat with a box of coconut wine. He couldn't help but wonder: "Why don't we go to the provincial capital's grain and oil company to apply this time?"

After all, it is an application for a quota for the National Food and Drinks Fair, so I think the grain and oil companies in the provincial capital have more say.

Zhao Jianjun pointed at Lin Xiang and said, "Xiao Lin suggested that the provincial capital might not agree, so we should try to establish a relationship with Phnom Penh City and let the Phnom Penh Grain and Oil Company help us apply. Besides, we don't have any connections in the provincial capital, so we can't get any connections."

Lin Xiang thought again of the "favor" of a bowl of wild vegetable rice given to Director Zhao and the general manager of Phnom Penh Grain and Oil Company. When there was really no other way, she could only shamelessly ask Director Zhao to make connections.

The three of them rushed all the way to the Phnom Penh Grain and Oil Company. When the clerk saw Zhao Jianjun coming again, he immediately sat up straight.

She didn't know the people from the second factory of 119 Food Factory before, but now she is really impressed. People from this factory have come several times. The first time they wanted to sell coconut juice, which she had never heard of before, and it actually sold well. Later, they inexplicably wanted to participate in the National Food and Drinks Fair.

Are you kidding me, a soda factory, wanting to participate in the Food and Drinks Fair?

She wanted to see what tricks the people from Factory 119 No. 2 were up to this time!

"Comrade Hao, we from Group 119 would like to apply for a spot at the National Food and Drinks Fair." After all, everyone was familiar with each other, so Zhao Jianjun went straight to the point.

Hao looked at them blankly for a few seconds and said helplessly, "Director Zhao of Factory 119, I'm not trying to embarrass you. It's just that there is no precedent for a soda factory to participate in the Food and Drinks Fair. No one would believe it if we told them about it."

Ma Defa said calmly: "There is no precedent because it has not happened to us."

Officer Hao: “…”

"Mr. Hao, we understand that the Food and Drinks Fair only allows sugar and alcohol sellers to participate, so this time we also brought alcohol, and alcohol sellers can definitely apply to participate, right?"

When Hao heard this, he was shocked: "Don't bluff me, doesn't your factory sell soda? When did you start selling alcohol?"

Zhao Jianjun made the final decision: "It's available now!"

When a box of coconut wine was presented to Hao, she began to doubt her life. Not to mention that she had never heard of coconut wine, the key question was, was this thing wine?

"The Food and Drinks Fair is attended by beer and liquor manufacturers. What on earth is coconut wine?" Secretary Hao sternly refused.

Lin Xiang held the freshly brewed coconut wine in her hands, opened the lid and asked someone to taste it, and then said kindly: "Hao, please try this coconut wine first. The light smell of wine and coconut tastes good. This is our factory's new product, real wine. Think about it, isn't beer also brewed from wheat? What's the difference between it and the one we brew with coconuts?"

When Secretary Hao heard this, he frowned, feeling that things were not that simple, especially after he took the bottle of coconut wine that Lin Xiang enthusiastically handed over to him. With a suspicious and uneasy attitude, he tentatively raised his head and tasted a little, but the coconut wine was just enough to wet his lips.

Hey, I seemed to taste a faint smell of alcohol on my lips, which was very light, but it was definitely different from ordinary soda or juice. I took another big sip, and the refreshing coconut wine flowed into my mouth along the bottle. The fermented alcohol had a light taste, mixed with the sweetness of the coconut water itself, it was unexpectedly delicious.

Hao Ganshi took a few more sips in disbelief, and the more he drank, the more magical it seemed.

Lin Xiang pressed the issue: "Manager Hao, our factory never lies to anyone. Is this really a bar? The National Food and Drinks Fair clearly states that the requirements for participating are to sell sugar and wine. Fruit wine is of course also wine. Where is there a clear clause saying that only beer and liquor can participate?"

Hao's eyes rolled around and his look became dazed. Why did this seem to make sense?

......

It is true that cities can apply for places to participate in the National Food, Drinks and Food Fair, but Phnom Penh cannot get one. The entire city does not have any sugar factories or breweries that rank among the best in the country. Even in Hai Ninh Province, only one sugar factory and one brewery in the provincial capital can participate.

Ge Hua, general manager of Phnom Penh Grain and Oil Company, silently watched the three people from Factory 119 No. 2 who were brought into the office after being reported by Officer Hao.

As soon as they met, Zhao Jianjun rushed over to shake hands with Manager Ge, and shook his hand several times while moving it up and down, and said warmly: "Old Ge, it's been many years since we last met! I see you haven't changed at all! We were good brothers who went through life and death together on the battlefield. Do you still remember my bowl of wild vegetable rice?"

Ge Hua: "..."

Not that familiar.

Pulling his hand out of Zhao Jianjun's with great difficulty, Manager Ge asked a few people to sit down: "Director Zhao from the 119 Second Factory, right? I remember you told me a few years ago that we were all on the battlefield that year, and you were a cook and cooked wild vegetable rice. I think I ate a bowl of it."

Zhao Jianjun was as excited as if he had met an old friend: "Yes, yes, yes, Manager Ge is nostalgic. A bowl of wild vegetable rice was nothing back then, why have you been thinking about it for so long? Xiaolin, Xiaoma, look at what I am saying, Manager Ge is really grateful!"

Lin Xiang & Ma Defa: “…?”

Manager Ge: “…???”

Zhao Jianjun coughed twice to interrupt his spellcasting, and Manager Ge got back to the point: "I heard Xiao Hao explain the situation. Your factory wants to apply for a quota for the National Food and Drinks Fair? And what coconut wine did you bring out?"

Lin Xiang stood up and handed a bottle over, repeating what she had said to Hao, but this time the deception was not so obvious, and she had to be much more polite in front of the general manager.

"Manager Ge, since the Food and Drinks Fair only explicitly stipulates that factories that produce and sell sugar and alcohol can participate, then our factory has coconut wine, so it must meet the standards."

Manager Ge was not as easy to fool as Manager Hao, and he pointed out the key point directly: "You are trying to exploit loopholes in the regulations."

Lin Xiangsi was not at all embarrassed by having her secret thoughts exposed, and said openly: "Manager Ge, we just want to work hard for an opportunity."

Zhao Jianjun chuckled and agreed, "Old Ge, our factory didn't lie or falsify anything. It clearly complies with the regulations."

Manager Ge really couldn't refute it. The regulations only explicitly mentioned alcoholic beverages, but everyone had agreed that only factories that sold beer and liquor could participate in the Food and Drinks Fair. Who would have thought that these two factories could actually produce fruit wine.

He did not argue with the people from the second factory about the rules, and said, "Even if your coconut wine meets the requirements and is considered a wine, your factory is not large enough and you cannot go. The Sugar and Wine Fair is for big factories."

Zhao Jianjun was also prepared for this: "The scale of our 119 Food Factory is still acceptable."

Manager Ge looked at Zhao Jianjun with an expression as if to say, "What nonsense are you talking about?" After all, the Second Factory only had an area of ​​one and a half acres, two workshops, and a single-story office building. How could old Zhao have the nerve to say that the scale was acceptable?

"Oh, the first and second factories are inseparable. Although our factory is small, it is large with the first factory added! Moreover, it is directly under the 119th Army, and it is to generate benefits for the army to feed back military expenses. If someone says that we have few workers and cannot compare with those big factories, the tens of thousands of soldiers behind our factory will not agree!"

Manager Ge: “…”

I really admire him. When talking about the scale of a factory, he shamelessly included one factory and even brought in the military personnel. He is really awesome.

Lin Xiang and Ma Defa had a hard time holding back their laughter. They pursed their lips and finally calmed down. Then they stepped forward to throw out their last weapon, trying to persuade Phnom Penh Grain and Oil Company to help apply for quotas. Naturally, they had to impress them: "Manager Ge, in fact, our factory wants to participate in the National Food and Drinks Fair not only for ourselves. I heard that the first two Food and Drinks Fairs were very successful. Many factories have expanded their sales and sold sugar and wine to other provinces and cities. In addition, various technical and experience exchanges have made a lot of profit overall. However, there are no factories in Phnom Penh here. If this continues, won't we be left further and further behind? We also want to learn advanced technology and experience, and then expand some channels in other provinces and cities, which can be fed back to factories across the city."

Manager Ge listened to the conversation, looked at the young girl in front of him with a serious look, and fell into deep thought.

Lin Xiang's last few words did move Ge Hua. Phnom Penh has always been at a disadvantage in sugar and wine, the two most popular products in the country. If they really want to use sugar factories and wine factories to apply for places in the National Food and Drinks Fair, they will not be able to apply for them at all. However, they can try to use the method of Factory 119 to take a different approach.

It depends on whether it is worth a try.

Lin Xiang's words about wanting to learn advanced technology and experience for Phnom Penh and expand sales really touched Ge Hua's heart.

Weighing the pros and cons, Ge Hua is thinking deeply.

Seeing Manager Ge lost in thought, Zhao Jianjun waited for a moment and finally couldn't help but take action again. A long voice rang out: "Old Ge, that bowl of wild vegetable rice..."

Ge Hua's eyelids jumped when his thoughts were interrupted, and he sighed helplessly: "Alright, alright, I'll help you apply for it. If it is really approved, your factory must perform well!"

He was really scared. He would get nervous when he heard about wild vegetable rice.

"That's for sure!" Zhao Jianjun looked happy.

Leaving the city and taking a boat back to the island, Kong Zhenzhen, who stayed in the office, guessed what the three people had done when she saw their expressions: "Done?"

Zhao Jianjun walked in the front, his face flushed with joy as he said, "Of course, if we all work together, there's nothing we can't do."

Ma Defa followed behind and reminded quietly: "Director, Manager Ge only said that he would help us try to apply, but the quota has not been actually confirmed yet."

Zhao Jianjun was disappointed with Xiao Ma: "Trust Phnom Penh Grain and Oil Company, trust Manager Ge!"

Lin Xiang admired Director Zhao's method of spiritual victory very much, but she also believed that Phnom Penh City would also like to send a factory to the Food and Drinks Fair for the sake of the city's development, if for no other reason.

All they have to do next is wait. It is more likely that the municipal unit will apply to the provincial unit than for them to go it alone.

After hurriedly finishing the application for a spot at the Food and Drinks Fair, Lin Xiang said goodbye to her colleagues and left work half an hour early.

Today is the day to remove the stitches from He Hongyuan's wound. She wanted to accompany him to the military hospital after finishing her work.

Lin Xiang rode her bicycle all the way to the gate of the family compound and just happened to see He Hongyuan coming out of the house. The man, who had been recuperating from an injury for a while, could no longer sit still. After the Chinese New Year, he returned to the army to work with his arm in a sling. However, the regiment did not let him take on too many responsibilities, just some basic work.

Injuries are too much of a constraint for soldiers. He Hongyuan couldn't stand the inconvenience of using one hand and wanted to have the stitches removed as soon as possible. However, Lin Xiang held him back and insisted that he wait until he recovered.

"After the stitches are removed today, you will be free again, Comrade He Hongyuan. Are you excited?" Lin Xiang got off the bicycle, pushed the handlebars, and walked to the military hospital with the man.

He Hongyuan gave her face and replied expressionlessly: "Excited."

Lin Xiang: "..."

There's really no sign of excitement on your face.

The nurse checked Captain He's arm injury again and congratulated him, "Captain He, your injury has healed, but you have been injured after all, so you still need to be more careful."

"Thank you, Nurse Yang." Lin Xiang looked at the man's arm without the gauze wrapped around it. Well, it's pleasing to the eye, but it's best to be healthy.

He Hongyuan had completely regained his freedom. He couldn't help but move his right hand several times, tossing it back and forth. Seeing this, Lin Xiang laughed: "Do you want me to buy you another pig's trotter to supplement your energy?"

A crack finally appeared on He Hongyuan's expressionless face: "You dare to laugh at me again?"

Lin Xiang pursed her lips and smiled, unable to contain herself: "I am concerned about you~"

The two came out of the clinic on the first floor and ran into a short-haired doctor in a white coat. Upon closer inspection, it was Meng Jing.

Ever since Lin Xiang went to the Military Region Hospital to ask Meng Jing to deliver Jiang's wife's baby, the two of them became a little familiar with each other. If they occasionally ran into each other, they would nod and say hello.

However, due to the fact that Meng Jing had previously pursued He Hongyuan vigorously, their relationship was not very close.

Meng Jing was obviously stunned when he saw the two people. One was the man he liked and had been pursuing for several years, and the other was his lover who asked him to deliver her baby last time.

She glanced at the two of them, nodded lightly, and left.

Lin Xiang also smiled at everyone, and when Meng Jing walked away, she couldn't help but ask curiously: "Oh, by the way, how is Jiang Zhenghao's job transfer going?"

So many things happened recently that she had forgotten about it!

He Hongyuan couldn't bear to hear his wife always caring about Jiang Zhenghao, but under her gossiping urging, he could only answer truthfully: "The transfer application has been approved, and I will go to the Northeast Military Region after the spring."

The sound is muffled, and one can tell that the mood is low.

"Oh my God, Jiang Zhenghao is really leaving?" Lin Xiang's eyes widened. Are the original hero and heroine in the book really going to be separated?

What a tragic love story.

He Hongyuan's eyelids twitched, and he glanced at Lin Xiang who was still immersed in gossip, frowned and said unhappily: "It's good that you left, so as not to bother me."

Lin Xiang is too lazy to pay attention to this man who doesn't like gossip. It's so great that he can watch the love-hate entanglement between the hero and heroine in the book up close. He really doesn't know how to cherish it. But doesn't Meng Jing realize who she really loves now?

The two of them were tortured.

Meng Jing went back to her aunt's house after getting off work at the military hospital. She went back to her room and lay on the bed in a daze without even eating.

Tian Guiju knocked on the door and called her niece to eat, but she heard her niece say sullenly that she didn't want to eat tonight and wanted to sleep.

She recalled that this afternoon when she went to the military hospital to do some work, she saw her niece from afar run into Xiao He and Xiao Lin. She knew what was going on and her niece must be feeling very sad.

But what can we do? He Hongyuan is already married.

She advised through a wooden door: "Jingjing, think about it more positively. There are so many men in the world, how can you not find someone you like? Xiao He is good, but there are also men who are similar to him. They are already married and are happily married to Xiao Lin. Don't be so stubborn."

When Meng Jing heard her aunt's words outside the door, she knew that she had misunderstood. She met He Hongyuan and his lover this afternoon, but she didn't feel the slightest bit of emotion. She didn't know why, but was instead worried about other things.

"Aunt, I have nothing to do with Captain He, and I don't miss him anymore. Don't think too much." Meng Jing shouted while lying on the bed.

Tian Guiju sighed, "Oh, my niece is still being stubborn."

Turning around, Tian Guiju talked about this matter in front of her husband, and Yang Lu was also in a dilemma: "He Hongyuan has already married, and Jingjing can't keep thinking about it. Let her get over it herself."

"That's what I said. I saw it today. Xiao He came to the hospital to have his stitches removed after his injury healed. Xiao Lin accompanied him. The couple has a really good relationship."

Yang Lu couldn't help but sigh: "A few days ago, I heard Jiang Weijun and Zhang Huafeng ask him why he hadn't had his stitches removed yet. He said he wanted to wait for his wife to come with him. I couldn't stand it. He Hongyuan got married and it turned out like this!"

Oh, it sounds so boring.

Tian Guiju laughed at him: "Young couples are like this. Do you think they are like you? You are old and can't say anything nice."

Yang Lu blew his beard and glared, refusing to admit defeat: "How is it possible? Don't I know He Hongyuan's personality? Can he chase after a wife as well as I do?"

If Lin Xiang heard this, she would definitely want to tell Yang Lu that He Hongyuan could now say sweet words, which was really inconsistent with his serious appearance.

The two came out of the hospital. He Hongyuan rode his bicycle swiftly to take Lin Xiang home. When passing by Jiang's house, the wheels of the bicycle slowed down. Lin Xiang suggested going to see Jiang's wife and her family.

Instructor Sun's leg injury is more serious than He Hongyuan's, and he still needs to use crutches to move around. When he heard that there were guests coming, he hurried forward to greet them and prepare to serve tea and water.

"Brother Sun, don't worry about that. We'll just take a look and leave." He Hongyuan exchanged a few words with instructor Sun about his leg injury, while Lin Xiang went into the house to visit Jiang Wenfang, who was still lying in bed recovering from her confinement.

Jiang Wenfang had a bad health due to premature birth, so she had a difficult confinement period. Her parents-in-law came from their hometown to take care of her. They thought they were taking care of their daughter-in-law, but unexpectedly, their son was also injured. Now the family really cannot do without the two elders.

"Sister-in-law Jiang, are you feeling better? I see that you look much better than before." Lin Xiang looked at Jiang Wenfang's fourth daughter who was sleeping soundly beside the bed.

"I'm feeling better now. I'm taking supplements every day. I drink so much chicken soup that there's no other taste in my mouth." Jiang Wenfang's complexion had recovered a little, no longer as pale as it had been right after giving birth. Her eyes fell on the face of the young lady who was sleeping soundly.

"That's good. I think the little girl has grown a bit. She will definitely grow up if we take good care of her." As the two of them talked, Lin Xiang asked about the breastfeeding issue they mentioned last time. "By the way, did you get the milk powder?"

"My grandson asked Wang Lu to buy two cans of milk powder for us. Fortunately, Wang Lu knows a lot of people and has connections. He found someone to buy it for us from the milk powder factory in Shanghai. Now we can feed An An better. It's not easy to buy two cans, and it's not easy to ask someone to help every time. It's not a big deal."

Even if you have money, it is not easy to buy milk powder. It requires a lot of connections. If there is really no other way, Jiang Wenfang will just see if she can borrow some milk or make do with rice porridge.

Lin Xiang also understood: "It would be easy to do unless you know someone familiar at the milk powder factory."

After talking for a while, Lin Xiang didn't want to disturb others while they were resting. When she was about to leave, Jiang Wenfang stopped her and insisted on bringing them a plate of dumplings and a big bowl of chicken soup. Lin Xiang declined but had to accept it.

"When we were in the hospital, you brought us food and we shamelessly accepted it. Now, please don't be so polite to us."

Jiang Wenfang's three daughters went out to see them off on behalf of their parents who were not feeling well. They surrounded Aunt Lin Xiang affectionately and said, "Aunt Lin Xiang, Uncle He, goodbye!"

Lin Xiang held the steaming dumplings in her hands for He Hongyuan, and rummaged around in her bag and finally found some candies for the three children: "You should stay with your parents more. If you have any problems, be smart and eat the candies quickly."

Yingzi and Xiaofang looked at their elder sister at the same time. Lingling shook her head and said, "We can't accept it. My mother said we can't take food from other people's homes. It's not easy for everyone."

Lin Xiang turned around and looked at He Hongyuan. They were both amused by the serious children. She leaned over and stuffed the orange candies into the hands of the three little girls: "It's okay. Your mother and I are good friends. I'm not someone else. Eat it. Your mother won't say anything."

The temptation of the orange candy finally attracted the three girls who were not very determined to accept it: "Thank you, auntie."

Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan left with the dumplings and chicken soup and headed towards their home. However, just as they reached the door, they suddenly heard a noise coming from behind.

Yingzi yelled, "He Erbao stole my candy! You bad bastard!"

Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan turned around at the same time and saw the three sons of Political Commissar He, all dirty and mischievous. They had gone somewhere and snatched two orange candies from the second son of Sun's family, Yingzi, and the three of them hurriedly shared them.

There seemed to be dirt in the gaps between his black fingernails as he pinched the candy and stuffed it into his mouth.

Lin Xiang's face turned cold, and just as she was about to step forward, she was stopped by the man.

He Hongyuan raised his eyebrows, quickly brought the dumplings and chicken soup back home and placed them on the dining table, then went out: "I'll go and bring him back. It's really lawless to steal food from a little girl!"

Captain He, who was well-known in the army and the family compound, came out. The three He brothers, who had just snatched the candy and were showing off, stood up straight in an instant, their bodies tensed, and they looked at Uncle He striding towards them with guilty and fearful looks.

They were really too greedy. Ever since their mother and eldest brother were driven back to their hometown by their father, the three of them had been strictly disciplined. If they dared to be naughty, they would be spanked on the buttocks or the palms of their hands. Snacks were also regarded as punishment. For almost two months, the three brothers had not tasted sweets.

When the three brothers saw the candies in the hands of the three sisters of the Sun family just now, they were almost drooling, and one of them couldn't help but snatch the candy.

At this moment, Uncle He came over with such a powerful aura that it was simply too scary. The three of them seemed to be frozen in time. After a moment, He Erbao suddenly shouted, "Run!"

The three of them ran away.

He Hongyuan watched the three naughty kids flying upside down with their legs upside down, but he didn't chase after them. He just followed them with his eyes.

He Erbao looked back while running, and was relieved when he saw that Uncle He didn't catch up with him. But when he looked back again, he saw his father coming back.

"You three are running around in the family yard again? What are you running for? What if you bump into someone?" Political Commissar He is really having a headache!

"Uncle He, they stole my candy!" Yingzi rushed up to complain without hesitation.

Lin Xiang waited until her husband came back, and then she saw Political Commissar He carrying the three kids back home. Not long after, the He family came out to beat someone up. The three kids were beaten with a chicken feather bat and ran around the house crying.

"You dare to snatch Tang Yingzi's candy! If I don't punish you today, you will rebel against the religion!"

"Stop robbing, stop robbing. We were wrong."

“Ouch, that hurts!”

Yingzi was watching with great interest at the door, she deserved to be beaten!

Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan didn't need to intervene, they just sighed: "Political Commissar He is really scared. Now he will punish us at the slightest disagreement. He and his wife are two extremes."

One is used to spoiling the child endlessly, causing him to become lawless, while the other is too lazy to say anything and just uses the corporal punishment to educate the child.

Lin Xiang deeply felt that "raising children as a parent is not an easy task."

He Hongyuan lowered his head and thought after hearing this. Could he be a competent father in the future?

——

In early March, Phnom Penh was sunny every day, with the golden sun shining on the horizon and the sea surface covered with sparkling waves. Lin Xiang changed out of her sweater and put on a red long-sleeved shirt to go out.

Yan Min and Zhang Huafeng were scheduled to get married in early April. April is indeed a good month, so they had to prepare everything a month in advance. The house Zhang Huafeng applied for had also been allocated, which was not too far from Lin Xiang's home. However, he was unlucky as he happened to be a neighbor of Political Commissar He's family.

The new building is still under construction and they don't have much choice.

Zhang Huafeng also went to his teacher to order furniture. Lin Xiang and Song Qingya accompanied Yan Min into the city to buy some wedding supplies, and they were smiling when they came back.

"Comrade Yan Min, you and Political Commissar Zhang will have to listen to noises every now and then when you live there. Political Commissar He is very ruthless in educating the children now." Lin Xiang was annoyed by the naughty children, but she couldn't bear to hear several people screaming and crying after being beaten.

But these three kids are really hard to manage. After being well-behaved for a while, they will become naughty and mischievous. They really only care about food and not punishment, which makes Political Commissar He exhausted both physically and mentally.

Yan Min looked helpless: "Just don't make trouble in front of my door, or I will really scold you!"

The three men got off the boat, their hands were busy, all of them were carrying enamel basins, enamel cups, towels, and bedding for Yan Min, which looked all red and festive.

He Hongyuan and Zhang Huafeng came to pick them up from home. Lin Xiang asked them to move all their things back, and she and the two female comrades went to buy seafood: "Let's eat at our house today. We just saw a big fishing boat coming back from fishing on the sea. It was full of seafood. It was so fresh! Hongyuan, go back and light the fire. Let's have barbecue today."

There was no need to go to the seafood station to buy them. The three of them went straight to the pier and saw piles of fish, shrimp, clams and scallops next to the fishing boats that were already surrounded by many military wives...

Each one is plump and fresh, really tempting.

March is the time to eat oysters and scallops, which are five cents a pound. Lin Xiang was able to pick the big, plump and tempting ones. She also picked up a few yellow croakers, which were five cents each, but they were not something you could eat to your heart's content. Finally, she packed a bag of mussels and razor clams. Before leaving, Lin Xiang caught a glimpse of the fishermen handling the squids that were stuck to the boat, and they were about to throw them into the sea with disgust, so she hurriedly stopped them.

"Comrade, don't you want this anymore?"

"This thing is inedible. It's disgusting just to look at. Just throw it into the sea."

Lin Xiang looked excited: "I want it, how much is it?"

The fisherman looked at Lin Xiang in surprise and said, "This is for you. There is still some left. No need to pay."

Lin Xiang happily picked up seven or eight squids. Oh my god, grilled squid is simply a delicacy, how could anyone reject it!

It was a sunny spring day with a gentle breeze. Under the blue sky and the clear sea, seafood was being grilled over a fire in the yard of a small red building.

Lin Xiangke loves barbecue too. In the 1970s, people were indeed very poor in food. He used the wire rack made by He Hongyuan to grill a row of scallops and oysters. As the fire rose, the plump scallop and oyster meat in the hard shell was trembling slightly, and the surrounding area was greasy. Finely minced garlic and chili sauce wrapped with tender green onions were spread on top, and the surrounding area was filled with tempting aroma.

"The scallops and oysters are ready. Minmin, Qingya, bring the squid over when it's skewered. Oh, Hongyuan, go wash the bamboo clams and mussels, and bring the yellow croaker over when it's skewered."

Lin Xiang put the roasted garlic scallops and oysters on the plate and tasted one herself first.

The scallops are grilled over charcoal fire, bringing out their juicy and tender aroma. When you take a bite, your lips and tongue are filled with smoothness, and the spiciness of garlic and chili in your mouth stimulates your taste buds, adding a rich layer of sweetness to this dish. The thin vermicelli under the scallops absorbs the delicious gravy of the scallops, making it moist, full, chewy, and fragrant.

Seeing He Hongyuan carrying skewered squid and yellow croaker, Lin Xiang, who was almost salivating at the delicious food, picked up a grilled oyster and fed it to the man: "Try it."

It is very rare to eat seafood barbecue like this in He Hong. The oyster meat is so juicy that it bursts with one bite. It is fresh, fragrant, smooth and tender to the extreme.

"It's delicious." He Hongyuan praised it highly.

Lin Xiang smiled and called everyone to come and have barbecue, while Chef Lin sat down and continued to work.

The roasted yellow croaker is extremely tender, and the light salt, chili powder and chopped green onions sprinkled on it are the icing on the cake. It is no problem for one person to have two.

The bamboo clams are roasted until they are crispy and tender, with a strong chewiness, and the meat inside is delicious. It is very satisfying to eat one bite at a time. The mussels are smooth and elastic when you bite them. Finally, you can eat the roasted squid, which seems to be weird in this era. It is delicious, crispy and refreshing, and it is a real enjoyment when served with chopped green onions.

We ate seafood and drank coconut juice, and also shared the newly blended coconut wine from the factory with everyone to try.

Yan Min and Zhang Haifeng were so excited that they almost swallowed their tongues. They regretted not being neighbors with Lin Xiang: "We are really late. If someone next door wants to move out in the future, remember to notify us and we will move!"

The scattered warm sunlight cast a little light, making people feel warm. Lin Xiang smiled and said, "Okay, I'll let you know if I have it. By the way, next time we have time, we can grill it and eat it, or we can try seafood hot pot!"

Song Qingya said excitedly, "Great! It must be very fresh."

Jiang Weijun said: "Comrade Lin Xiang, when the time comes, we will follow your orders wherever you direct us to attack."

He was really impressed by his brother's wife's excellent cooking skills.

After eating for most of the afternoon, Jiang Weijun and Song Qingya, and Zhang Huafeng and Yan Min also took the initiative to clean up the leftover soup, cold meat and cooking utensils in the yard, letting Chef Lin take a rest. He Hongyuan found the woman who was secretly drinking coconut wine in the kitchen at home.

There was still half a bottle of coconut wine left, so Lin Xiang cleaned it up and drank it straight away. When she turned around, she saw He Hongyuan leaning against the kitchen door, looking at her with burning eyes.

"You dare to drink secretly? You must be drunk." He Hongyuan laughed at her.

Lin Xiangfei glared at him: "This is coconut wine, how can it make you drunk? I don't know how low the alcohol content is!"

That night, the bloated Lin Xiang actually felt a little dizzy, causing He Hongyuan to laugh at her: "You'd better not drink with your alcohol tolerance. This kind of wine can make you drunk."

Lin Xiang shook her head, firmly denying that she was drunk.

She was indeed the type who couldn't drink alcohol before she traveled through time, but this was fruit wine. Is fruit wine also considered alcohol? How could she get drunk!

Her head felt dizzy and her vision blurred. She stared at the man in front of her. His face was flushed with alcohol, which was very cute. His eyelashes fluttered like a small fan. She felt that this man was very handsome.

She has a good look, with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, strong facial features, and an even better figure, with broad shoulders, narrow waist and long legs. She is really perfect in every way according to my aesthetic taste.

He Hongyuan didn't notice anything strange about his wife. He took his clothes and went downstairs to take a shower. When he turned around to leave, he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his inner scenery, and was caught by Lin Xiang.

The woman with a faint blush on her face raised her hand and touched her abdomen, and said obediently: "Can I touch your abdominal muscles?"

He Hongyuan's Adam's apple rolled.

This is real drunkenness, and even after being drunk, his drinking behavior is not good enough.

++++

The next day at work, Lin Xiang sat at her workstation obediently and did not leave, especially when she heard her colleagues mention coconut wine, she did not respond.

Zhao Jianjun just received a call from the Phnom Penh Grain and Oil Company, informing them that they had won a valuable spot to attend the National Food and Drinks Fair. The organizers of the Food and Drinks Fair were quite interested in coconut wine and were willing to give it a try after much effort.

Director Zhao was so overjoyed that he started boasting when he returned to his office: "Oh my, our factory has made great progress! Not even one factory has ever been to such an amazing conference. No, there are only three spots in the entire province, including us!"

Kong Zhenzhen said excitedly: "Xiangxiang is right, who said fruit wine doesn't count as wine, hahahaha!"

Lin Xiang, who was careless and drank coconut wine last night and ruined her drinking habits: "..."

He is lifting a rock and dropping it on his own feet.

When she was drinking, she was just thinking, is coconut wine considered alcohol?!

Regardless of whether coconut wine is considered wine or not, it has been decided that Factory 119 No. 2 will participate in the National Food and Drinks Conference.

In mid-March, Zhao Jianjun, Lin Xiang, Kong Zhenzhen, and Ma Defa set off for the central Chinese city of Jianghan to attend the five-day National Food and Drinks Conference.