Chapter 302 Mother Huo Returns to Beijing to Attend the Congress
"We're eating out today."
After a pause, Huo Tingzhou added, "Just the two of us. After we finish eating, we'll go see a show."
Today, Huo's mother returned to Beijing.
I arrived at the station a little after 8 p.m., just in time to finish watching the show.
"Watch a show?" Jiang Si asked in surprise. "What show?"
"Piano recital".
Knowing that his wife didn't like watching model operas or movies, Huo Tingzhou asked someone to buy two tickets when he learned that there was a large-scale concert at the Beijing Exhibition Theater in the next few days.
So that's how it is.
No wonder he's dressed so formally today.
Actually, this performance was already scheduled around the Lunar New Year, but tickets were not sold to the public.
Those who have the opportunity to see the performance are basically officials at the ministerial level or above, and their families.
Moreover, each person is only allowed two tickets per month.
With a large family and the Lunar New Year approaching, Jiang Si didn't mention the matter.
I didn't expect him to remember it all.
As they were talking, the car stopped at a long-established Western restaurant near the Beijing Exhibition Center Theater.
Jiang Si looked up and saw that it was the famous Old Mo.
Like most time-honored brands in Beijing, most of them abandoned their original names during that special period in order to ensure their business operations.
The old Mo restaurant is no longer called the old Mo restaurant; it has been renamed the Beijing Exhibition Center Restaurant.
Prices at Old Mo's Restaurant in 1970
The price is naturally higher than that of ordinary state-run restaurants, but for two people, a few yuan is enough to eat their fill.
After finishing their meal, the two walked to the Beijing Exhibition Theater.
Due to the impact of the major movement, the piano recital, originally scheduled for more than three hours, was eventually compressed to one hour and forty-five minutes.
The songs performed were mostly well-known revolutionary songs from that era.
But in this day and age, being able to sit in a theater and watch an entire concert is already a rare treat for Jiang Si.
The final piece, a piano rendition of "The Yellow River," particularly sparked a massive sing-along from the entire audience.
Even after the concert ended, the audience was still reluctant to leave.
The show ended at the perfect time.
The train was delayed today, arriving more than an hour later than scheduled.
It was late at night and there were many people, so the two bought platform tickets to go inside to pick him up.
The wind was strong at night.
Apart from a few scattered staff members, there was no one else on the platform.
Huo Tingzhou found a corner, pulled Jiang Si to one side, and used his body to shield her from some of the cold wind.
Are you cold?
As he asked this question, he looked down at the person in his arms.
Jiang Si shook her head.
After a pause, she asked again, "Are you taking the night train tomorrow too?"
"Um."
When Huo Tingzhou replied to this, he felt both bitter and aggrieved.
He's leaving tomorrow night, and for the next six months or so, he won't be able to be with her and the children.
"Wife?" Huo Tingzhou suddenly called out in a low voice.
"Hmm?" Jiang Si looked up. "What's wrong?"
Huo Tingzhou was silent for a moment, then said, "Tomorrow...you don't need to come to see me off tomorrow."
Jiang Si was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then realized what she meant, "What, are you afraid I won't be able to bear it?"
"No," Huo Tingzhou shook his head, "I..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the sound of a train whistle.
Soon, the train slowly pulled into the station.
As soon as the bus came to a stop, passengers carrying large and small bags poured out of the doors in a rush.
Kyoto Station is the final stop.
Huo's mother had a lot of luggage, so she wasn't in a hurry.
After most of the passengers had left the bus, he calmly picked up his luggage and walked out.
Fortunately, before Mrs. Huo set off, Mr. Huo made a special phone call to inform her of the specific carriage number.
The group quickly met up on the platform.
Unlike the day she left, Mrs. Huo was in a much better mood this time when she returned.
The sandstorms in Xinjiang province seem particularly harsh; in less than a month, Huo's mother's face has developed a high-altitude red hue.
However, judging from her mother-in-law's excited expression, Jiang Si knew without asking.
My mother-in-law probably knows that my eldest brother and sister-in-law want to be transferred back to Beijing.
Moreover, this matter seems to be progressing quite smoothly.
Sure enough, after the three got into the car...
As soon as the car left the train station, Huo's mother couldn't contain her excitement and told Jiang Si the good news.
She also mentioned quite a bit about what she saw and heard during her trip to Xinjiang.
Jiang Si listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a few words.
Just as Mrs. Huo finished speaking, the car drove into the old house.
It was almost 10 p.m., but the living room was still brightly lit.
Apart from the children who were all asleep, the rest of the family members were sitting in the living room.
They were all clearly waiting for Huo's mother to return.
The moment the knocking sounded, Mr. Huo, who had been absent-minded for almost a month, almost immediately jumped up from the sofa.
As a result of being too excited, he wasn't paying attention and his knee slammed into the coffee table leg with a thud.
The pain made him gasp in pain.
Huo's fourth brother immediately stood up, "Dad..."
Mr. Huo kept quiet and then limped over to open the door.
Mrs. Huo immediately noticed something was wrong, "What happened to your leg?"
Huo's second brother, who was following behind, blurted out, "Mom, you've been gone for over a month. Dad missed you so much. He was so excited to hear you were back..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was glared at by Mr. Huo.
Mrs. Huo was stunned.
He then glanced at Huo's father.
Seeing that his ears were a little red, I couldn't help but laugh.
We've been married for decades, is this really necessary?
He's like a young lad!
Of course, I was secretly delighted, but then I wondered, "Will you be able to go on stage like this tomorrow?"
She had just heard from her son on the way that the commendation ceremony would be held at the Great Hall of the People at nine o'clock tomorrow morning.
This is the first time my daughter-in-law has been nominated, and Mr. Huo is one of the presenters. It would be such a pity if she couldn't go on stage tomorrow.
Mr. Huo endured the pain and said, "It's nothing, I just bumped into something."
"Keep trying to be brave."
How could Huo's mother not know him?
She gave her father a reproachful look, then said, "When we go back inside, I'll get some medicinal wine and rub it on you."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Huo smiled and said, "Yes."
It was getting late, so Mrs. Huo picked out a few important things to talk about, and then distributed the gifts she had brought back to each of the households.
She hadn't originally planned to bring these things.
But Mr. and Mrs. Lu were just too enthusiastic, and Mrs. Huo couldn't possibly handle the two of them on her own.
In the end, having no other choice, they had to accept all these tokens of goodwill.
Looking at the things piled on the table, Mrs. Huo sighed.
Then, smiling, she added, "Fortunately, they're moving back to Beijing at the end of the year, otherwise..."
"What?" Grandpa Huo and Grandma Huo both looked over when they heard this.
The others also stopped what they were doing.
"Mom, are my eldest brother and sister-in-law going to settle down in Beijing?"
Mrs. Huo nodded, and then told them about their family of six's plan to settle in Beijing.
Although they had been mentally prepared, the old man and his wife still teared up when they learned that it was Mr. and Mrs. Lu who had brought it up.
The whole family was so excited about the news that they couldn't sleep.
Jiang Si is the same.
After taking a shower, I lay in bed and kept tossing and turning.
Finally, Huo Tingzhou reached out and pulled her closer to him.
"Can't you sleep?"
However, his response was Jiang Si suddenly turning over.
The next second, her arms wrapped around his neck.
Perhaps it's because he's leaving on a long journey tomorrow.
Or perhaps, I've accumulated too many emotions that need to be released lately.
In short, Jiang Si was exceptionally enthusiastic that night.
Huo Tingzhou was taken aback at first, but then he realized what was happening and immediately turned the tables.
...
The following day was the day the commendation ceremony was officially held.
For this occasion, formal attire is essential.
Jiang Si specially changed into a proper woolen suit, and her hair was neatly pulled back behind her ears, revealing only her full and smooth forehead.
Just after eight o'clock in the morning, the family arrived early outside the Great Hall of the People.
After going through several strict security checks, Jiang Si followed the flow of people to the Great Hall of the People.
The commendation ceremony was held in the main hall of the Great Hall of the People.
With the help of the staff, Jiang Si quickly found her seat.
After sitting down, she looked around.
There were many people attending the conference. On the left were soldiers in various uniforms, and on the right were military family representatives dressed in formal attire, just like her.
Although she had visited the Great Hall of the People before, she had only taken a cursory look at it as a tourist.
This is completely incomparable to sitting inside and receiving inspection and commendation from leaders.
At 9:00 a.m. sharp, the commendation ceremony officially began with the solemn playing of the national anthem.
When the entire audience stood up and sang the national anthem, Jiang Si's eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.
Next, the leaders took the stage to speak.
When I saw leaders I usually only saw on TV and in newspapers walk onto the stage.
Jiang Si was completely unable to control her emotions at this moment.
Through her teary eyes, she glanced at the others.
It seems like everyone is like that.
Jiang Si immediately felt relieved.
Finally, it was the leader's powerful and resounding speech that brought everyone back to their senses.
"Comrades, we are gathered here today in solemn celebration..."
"To commend the outstanding individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to national defense development over the past few years..."
After a brief speech, the commendation ceremony officially began.
The first award was given to the national "Model of Supporting the Government and Cherishing the People," which is mostly given to active-duty military personnel.
The award recipients will be granted honorary titles and awarded certificates and medals.
Those whose names were called went up on stage one by one to receive their awards.
There were dozens of award winners, and each person had to give an acceptance speech.
By the time all these procedures were completed, it was already past 11 a.m.
After a round of enthusiastic applause.
The leader took the stage again.
"Next, we will be awarding the title of 'National Model of Patriotism and Support for the Military' to representatives of those who received the award—"
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