Zhang Yulan's hands never stopped moving, and she said, "Sister-in-law, you told me all this. When my family was in trouble before, you helped me a lot."
When she was in debt during the years of famine, her relatives kept their distance from her for fear that they would get close to her and ask her for money.
Only Miao Xiuying didn't mind. She gave all the unwanted clothes to her children at home, and patched them up to make do with them.
Both of them have been through a lot, and their relationship is better than that of other sisters-in-law.
Miao Xiuying put her arm around her shoulders and said, "At your age, you should do less strenuous work. Your health is important. Your baby is older now, so you should relax and give yourself some free time.
Don't try to take on everything. There is no way to finish everything. If you fall ill, the money you earn won't be enough to pay for your medical treatment. Find some time to bring your uncle to the island and let us treat you well.
We can also ask Xiaoyan to take us to the sea. Last time we went, we came back with a full warehouse and made a lot of money. In their words, Xiaoyan is blessed by the Dragon Mother."
One place, one saying, people on the island believe in the Dragon Mother.
Zhang Yulan said helplessly: "Let alone my son, you have to take care of my grandson. If you really let go, who knows what will happen to the family. I told them to divide the family property, but they still refused.
How does the saying go? When a tree grows big, it branches out; when a person grows big, he splits into his own family. Other families are eager to manage themselves and let money rule the family. They are just waiting for my old bones to support them. "
Miao Xiuying counted for her: "The eldest and second sons are so filial, they are much less troublesome than my family, they get married when they should, go to work when they should, and do everything according to the routine.
I was exhausted raising my four children, especially the fourth one. When he went to the army, I couldn't sleep all night. There was nothing I could do! A mother worries about her children even when they are away from home.
That thing crawled out of my belly, so I really don't care? As parents, don't we all hope for the best for our children? But we have to put ourselves first, because good days are still to come!"
Zhang Yulan smiled and said, "If good days really come, I'll wait for them. Anyway, he's going to retire soon as the captain, so what do you think he wants?
I get up earlier than the chickens and sleep later than the dogs. I have to do justice to the weirdos in the brigade. If it were me, I would have quit long ago. Whoever wants to do it can do it. "
Miao Xiuying spread her hands: "You don't understand men. They just like to be officials. Even if the official is small, there will be people who flatter him."
Lu Jiandang coughed and said, "Sister-in-law, please don't embarrass me. I am serving the people. I must work hard to build the countryside and live up to the trust the organization has placed in me!"
When talking about this, Zhang Yulan was furious. "You're talking about building the countryside, why don't you build your home first? When we were short of food and drink, you didn't even give us any money from outside. We had to tighten our belts!"
Lu Jiandang poured her a glass of water and said in a low voice, "Yes, yes, thank you for your hard work. Without you, this family would really fall apart."
Zhang Yulan glanced at him and was too lazy to say anything. Anyway, he said one thing to one person and another thing to another person. He was a complete tough guy.
No matter what you say, he will pout back. He is so good at talking, why hasn't he gone to college?
Humph, I have some shady tricks, but I use them all on my own family.
Seeing the mist coming out of the kitchen and the fragrance constantly rushing into her nose, Jiang Yan took a breath and sighed, "Auntie is so kind to us. She was afraid that we would be hungry on the train."
Lu Xiao said in a deep voice: "Auntie talks about you all the time. She is most reluctant to let you go. We will bring the baby back when he is older."
He does not have sufficient annual leave every year, and whether he can bring his wife and children home to visit his parents during the New Year has to follow the arrangements of the army.
We can't ask Commander Yang to make exceptions for him once or twice. What will the other comrades think?
"Okay, when the baby is older, we'll come back together."
At the end of 1977, I had to come back no matter what. After all, reform and opening up were about to begin, and I had to help Lu Jiandang and his family.
Lu Lin, like the abandoned child, looked aggrieved, "Mom, you and Dad should come back more often when you have time. Gangwa and Tiewa miss you so much."
Miao Xiuying glanced at him and said, "Is it Gangwa and Tiewa who want it, or is it you? I'm living a prosperous life on the island, why should I be your nanny? You can support yourself.
The housekeeper advises you, how to live your life is up to you. Your father and I are old and can't take care of so many things. If we have to do everything ourselves, we will end up in the coffin!"
This made Lu Lin laugh and cry, "I'm just afraid that you'll forget about my eldest son. No matter how good life is outside, it's not as comfortable as home, right?"
Miao Xiuying disagreed with this and counted for him: "Do you know what kind of house we live in on the island? A single-family house with a spacious courtyard. We don't wear the same clothes twice. We have to keep a low profile when we come back, for fear of being reported."
But in the family compound, everyone knows that we spend money lavishly, so if we dress well, isn't that normal? If we don't dress well, people will say that I'm down and out.
You and He Miao are both emotionally stable and have something to look forward to. I'll leave my hometown to you. Don't worry, if you two are free, bring the kids here and treat it as a vacation for yourself."
Lu Lin nodded. He couldn’t go. It was just talk. He couldn’t let go.
It was lively when they came, but became deserted when they left. Early in the morning on the 18th, Jiang Yan and his group had to set off.
Jiang Yan had nothing in her hands, as the luggage was all carried by Lu Xiao. As for the three children, Lu Li carried one on his back and held one in each of his left and right arms. Jiang Yan didn't have to do anything by herself, and it was quite easy.
Hu Xueer was wearing a military coat, holding the meat bun given by Zhang Yulan in her arms, which was still warm.
As soon as I got on the ox cart, I saw Zhang Yulan coming out carrying a large snakeskin bag.
"Jingtian, Xue'er, Xiaoyan, I don't have anything good to give you. These are dried mushrooms picked up from the mountains. If you get tired of eating seafood, you can use them to make soup. They are very delicious.
There is also this air-dried duck. If you chop some chili and stir-fry it, it will go well with rice. These are the boiled eggs, which we will save for eating on the train."
She explained everything in detail, one by one, and everyone felt warm inside.
Hu Xueer was also a person with ample money. She took out ten feet of cloth coupons and stuffed them into Zhang Yulan's purse.
"Aunt, you are going to empty the house, right? Isn't this enough? This is a little gift from Xiaoyan and I. Go cut some cloth and make yourself some clothes."
Song Jingtian took out a ladies' Plum brand watch and put it on Zhang Yulan, as well as a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes.
Lu Jiandang was stunned. "Is this for me?"
My goodness, everyone in the countryside smokes cigarettes. If this were to be told to others, wouldn’t he become the most envied man in the entire brigade?
Song Jingtian understood his vanity too well, and seeing him grinning, she nodded, "Uncle, this is for you, we can eat and drink for free when we come back.
If I really don't give you anything, I won't feel at ease when I leave. This is just a little gift from Xiao Li and I, so just accept it!"
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