As the sun sets, firecrackers are lit at the gate of the compound, adding to the festive atmosphere on New Year's Eve. Every household in the compound orders meat dishes from the cafeteria, including crispy duck, four-happiness meatballs, and braised pork with preserved vegetables. Because the cafeteria does not require tickets for meat dishes on New Year's Eve, only money is required, many families place their orders three days in advance.
Su Jin was busy cooking in the kitchen. While Lu Shiyi and Lu Nan were talking, she used the modern kitchen utensils in the space to cook. She made Dongpo pork, braised pork trotters, stir-fried large intestines, cold pork liver, cold pork skin jelly, cold pig ears, braised chicken, stir-fried water spinach, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, stir-fried bean sprouts, and a seaweed egg drop soup. The staple food was multi-grain steamed buns and multi-grain rice.
As night fell, Lu Shiyi and Lu Nan discussed and decided to let Lu Nan go to logistics as a driver. Just like his work in the Southern Guangdong War Zone, he would drive a truck to transport things between various military regions.
By doing this job, Lu Nan can spend less time in the military area. The patrol members want to cause trouble, and they are also concerned about their family's livelihood.
Logistics transport soldiers can run around everywhere. If family members want something, they can tell the logistics team leader and finally ask for the driver.
The patrol members also have to make a living, so logistics has become the bottom line that no one dares to touch.
"Ayi, hurry up and bring the dishes over. Did you guys agree?" Su Jin had already prepared the New Year's Eve dinner, and Lu Shiyi only needed to bring it to the dining room. "I have a bottle of Moutai over there."
"We have to send Lu Nan to the logistics department today to report. We have to go there after the New Year's Eve dinner." Lu Shiyi whispered, "We have to start our duty work tomorrow, so we can't delay."
Su Jin nodded: "It's only 6:30 in the evening. Let's eat until 8 o'clock. I'll wait for you at home to keep watch together."
Lu Shiyi was carrying the dishes to the dining room. Lu Nan felt a little uneasy as it was his first time celebrating the New Year at someone else's house.
"Chief, it's not appropriate for me to stay here for the New Year. I will report in now and spend the New Year with the captain and the others." Lu Nan felt a little embarrassed as he looked at Lu Shiyi serving the dishes.
"Do I need this little bit of food from you? We had the New Year's Eve dinner together, and I'll take you there. If your sister-in-law wants to buy food in the future, just bring it back. Remember to bring prepared food, so that your sister-in-law's efforts will not be in vain." Lu Shiyi glared at Lu Nan, "Follow me to the kitchen to serve the dishes. This is the first Spring Festival for your sister-in-law and I, and you can be considered a family member now."
Lu Nan followed Lu Shiyi's orders and followed him obediently.
Su Jin saw that Lu Nan looked much better and smiled at him: "Lu Nan, Ayi said you have to go to report. Come over when you have free time and drink with Ayi."
While cooking, Su Jin took a look at the space. The platform was selling local Moutai, 8 yuan a bottle, the same price as the supply and marketing cooperative, but the supply and marketing cooperative required special supply tickets, which were not required in the space.
"Xiao Jin, I'll take the rice and steamed buns over too." Lu Shiyi walked into the house carrying a porcelain bowl of mixed grain rice. "Lu Nan, be quick."
Su Jin cleaned up the kitchen and cleared away all the pots and pans before washing her hands and going to the dining room.
"Ayi, this is our first New Year's Eve with Lu Nan, so we can be considered to have family members by our side. From now on, we can celebrate every New Year's Eve together as a threesome." Su Jin looked at Lu Nan and asked.
"Sister-in-law, it's not appropriate for me to come here to celebrate the New Year all the time. It might cause trouble for the leader." Because of his background, Lu Nan's parents were implicated, and Lu Nan was forced to change his career.
Now, Lu Shiyi and two political commissars arranged logistical work for him, which also allowed him to wear military uniform.
"Anan, this is just the darkest time. The future will get better and better." Lu Shiyi handed Lu Nan a multi-grain steamed bun. "If you can get through this, the future will be even brighter."
Lu Nan followed Lu Shiyi's hint. Before his parents were sent down to the countryside, his father also told him that no matter where he went, he must not give up studying and must wait for the day when he could take the college entrance examination.
Half of the luggage Lu Nan brought were junior high and high school textbooks, thinking that he could read more and review his lessons in addition to working time.
Under Lu Shiyi's arrangement, the three of them ate the New Year's Eve dinner in a happy atmosphere. After dinner, many children in the kindergarten called their friends to go out and play.
Some children took their New Year's money and ran to the supply and marketing cooperative in the yard to buy firecrackers and played with them in front of their friends.
Near 8 o'clock, the three of them finished their New Year's Eve dinner. Lu Shiyi asked Su Jin to wash up first. She was smelling of oil smoke from cooking the New Year's Eve dinner. She would take a shower after every meal that involved a lot of oil smoke.
Lu Shiyi and Lu Nan cleaned up the mess and washed the dirty dishes.
"Commander, if you don't have a guard, people will definitely laugh at you if they see you washing dishes." Lu Nan thought of the commanders in the Southern Guangdong Military Region who never washed dishes or cleaned the house.
"You've been in the Southern Guangdong Military Region for a long time. Most men there don't work at home. According to your sister-in-law, if you don't work, you won't find a good wife." Lu Shiyi joked, "Everyone is born by their parents. Marrying a wife is not meant to take care of you."
Su Jin also has a job, and their workload is similar. In order to accommodate him, Su Jin has given up her distant job.
Lin Teng also mentioned that Su Jin was interested in taking the exam to become a junior high school teacher. The county town had better teachers than the military district, and teachers' salaries were higher. In order to be able to return home early, she agreed to teach at the military district's junior high school.
Lu Nan looked at Lu Shiyi in surprise. He had served as a guard for three leaders, and Lu Shiyi was the first one who thought like a father. The other two leaders were hands-off bosses at home, and the leaders' wives at home were more like nannies taking care of the leaders and their children.
"Just remember it next time." Lu Shiyi put the cleaned dishes in the cupboard and took three lunch boxes from the side. "This is what your sister-in-law prepared for you. Be smart when you go to the driver's class, okay?"
Lu Nan's eyes were red. He came here with almost nothing. Lu Shiyi cleaned up the guest room for him so that he would have a place to stay during his vacation.
While Su Jin was cooking, he stuffed him with various military tickets and 100 yuan.
"Chief, I must return the tickets and money you gave me." Lu Nan looked at Lu Shiyi and said.
At this moment, Lu Shiyi only wanted Lu Nan to have hope for the future. He never thought about Lu Nan returning the ticket and money. He hoped that he would move forward in the darkness and never lose confidence.
In the past few years, Lu Shiyi has seen the passing of several old leaders. They were hurt by their families and even more so by their former comrades-in-arms. They were disappointed with reality and could not get over it for a while.
"Okay, we'll start work tomorrow. You have to work hard and come home when you're on vacation." Lu Shiyi cleaned up the kitchen and went to the bedroom.
After taking a shower, Su Jin was wiping her hair when she saw Lu Shiyi coming in from outside in the mirror on the dressing table.
"I'll take Lu Nan to the driver's class. Wait for me to come back..." Lu Shiyi walked behind her, leaned over and kissed her on the face.
"Okay!" Su Jin was a little nervous about tonight, as today was their wedding night.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com