Jiang Yue didn't know that she had become the focus of discussion as soon as she arrived at the family compound. Of course, she wouldn't care even if she knew.
As long as she is alive, it is impossible not to be talked about by others. If she cares about what everyone says, she will be depressed every day.
Jiang Yue and Gu Ye were at Zhao's sister-in-law's house at this time, taking out the gifts they brought one by one, "This is for sister-in-law, this is cigarettes for Brother Zhao, this is for Zhao Cui..."
"Look at you two, you've come back from far away and brought so many things with you - Zhao Yuanqi, stop being so rude!" Sister Zhao slapped Zhao Yuanqi away, not letting him open the candy box.
"It's okay! I have some loose candies here, here you go!" Jiang Yue took out a handful of candies from his pocket and stuffed them into Zhao Yuanqi's hands.
"Thank you, auntie!" Zhao Yuanqi ran out happily.
"Call your dad back!" Mrs. Zhao shouted from behind.
Gu Ye sat down holding Gu Chu. Mrs. Zhao looked at the babies and wanted to hold them, but she was afraid that she would scare them. When she and Lian Rongrong went to Beijing on New Year's Day, she also tried to hold the triplets, but the triplets were grown up now and very smart, and would not let strangers hold them.
Jiang Yue took Gu Chu, held him in her arms, and asked Sister Zhao to touch Gu Chu's small tender hands, "Ah Chu, call me Mommy Zhao!"
Gu Chu grinned, his big eyes like black grapes curved, his mouth opened and closed, "Ahhh!"
"Our Xiaobao's voice sounds so beautiful!" Mrs. Zhao smiled so happily that her teeth were showing.
Gu Ye chatted with Sister Zhao: "Sister-in-law, how is your family doing recently?"
Sister Zhao smiled and said, "Good, very good!"
Jiang Yue and Gu Ye have always been in contact with the Zhao family and are familiar with the situation of the Zhao family.
After Zhao Jianguo failed the college entrance examination last year, he was determined not to repeat his senior year and wanted to join the army. Captain Zhao refused, and it was later that Gu Ye did some ideological work and finally convinced Captain Zhao.
When the conscription work began in October, Zhao Jianguo signed up, passed the physical examination and political review, and became a glorious recruit.
"Jianguo is doing well in the army. We wanted to transfer him closer to home, but he refused, saying that it's the same wherever you serve as a soldier!" Sister Zhao said this with both heartache and pride.
After Zhao Jianguo finished his recruit period, he was assigned to the plateau. The climatic conditions there were harsh. When he first arrived there, he suffered from severe altitude sickness and fell ill frequently.
Captain Zhao wanted to use his connections to transfer his son back, but Zhao Jianguo himself disagreed.
Gu Ye knew about this because Captain Zhao had already mentioned it to him at the time. Gu Huaijing was the commander of a large military region and it would only take a word to transfer someone.
"Don't worry, sister-in-law. He has a high level of awareness of national construction and will definitely have a bright future!" Jiang Yue said with a smile.
They chatted for a while and heard hurried footsteps outside the door. It was Captain Zhao who came back.
When Gu Ye and Captain Zhao met, they were naturally very warm.
When it was time for dinner, Sister Zhao went to cook. Jiang Yue handed Gu Chu to Gu Ye to hold and helped Sister Zhao.
"Jiang Yue, don't worry, I can do it alone!" Mrs. Zhao didn't want Jiang Yue to get her hands dirty. It was winter and the weather was still cold, so she asked Jiang Yue to sit behind the stove and warm herself by the fire.
"Have you thought about what I said last time, sister-in-law?" Jiang Yue went back to Qingshan County this time, firstly to visit old friends and relatives, and secondly to inspect the shops.
What she told Sister Zhao was that she wanted Sister Zhao to work in the company located in the county town.
"Jiang Yue, sister-in-law, tell me the truth. I can't read a few words. I don't know what I can do when I go to work in the company. I am not at ease with the salary!"
Seeing Jiang Yue about to open her mouth, Sister Zhao smiled and said to her, "Listen to what I have to say first!"
"Sister-in-law knows that you feel sorry for my hard work, and I appreciate your kindness! But sister-in-law enjoys it, do you understand?"
Jiang Yue looked up when she heard that. The year before last, Sister Zhao followed her advice and planned to open a grilled fish restaurant, but the license was never obtained, so Sister Zhao started selling roasted sweet potatoes. It was not until last year that the grilled fish restaurant was finally opened.
Mrs. Zhao was busy running the store by herself. She fell ill in the second half of the year and the store was closed.
Jiang Yue didn't know all this until she heard about it from Lian Rongrong when she and Sister Zhao came to Beijing together last time.
Jiang Yue felt extremely distressed at the time. She even took Sister Zhao to a large hospital in Beijing for a physical examination during those days.
"After I got sick last year, I didn't work so hard. I just prepared 20 grilled fish every day and closed the shop after selling them all. This way my body could handle it and I didn't feel so tired!" Mrs. Zhao said with a smile: "You know what, for women like us, finding something to do and having our own careers, the satisfaction we get is really incomparable to serving the whole family at home!"
Seeing that Sister Zhao was so positive and optimistic, Jiang Yue stopped trying to persuade her, "It's good that Sister Zhao thinks this way!"
Sister Zhao mentioned that Zhao Cui was admitted to the No. 1 Middle School in the county and that Zhao Jianjun would be taking the college entrance examination this year. The two chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere of the dinner was relaxed and warm.
"When I was sick last year, Old Zhao behaved very well and took great care of me. He was afraid that I would die and no one would take care of him!" Sister Zhao secretly praised Captain Zhao to Jiang Yue.
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Captain Zhao heard it and glared at Sister Zhao unhappily, "If you die, I will find a young and beautiful woman and marry her to be the stepmother of your child!"
"No way!" Sister Zhao rolled her eyes at Captain Zhao.
Jiang Yue could see that although this old couple seemed to be arguing, they actually had a good relationship!
After dinner, Zhao's wife asked Jiang Yue, "Do you want to visit your house?"
Jiang Yue was stunned. Their family?
Then, Jiang Yue realized that Sister Zhao was referring to the home she and Gu Ye used to live in the staff quarters, the small courtyard that carried all the beautiful memories of her, Gu Ye and Ning Ning.
Sister Zhao took Jiang Yue's arm and walked towards the courtyard, introducing as she walked, "After you moved out, the house was empty for a long time. Later, Staff Officer Liao from the division headquarters and his family moved in."
“Boom boom boom!”
Mrs. Zhao stood at the door and knocked.
Soon, footsteps were heard from inside, and a little girl of seven or eight years old opened the door. Seeing that it was Sister Zhao, she smiled happily and said, "Aunt Zhao!"
"Duoduo, are your parents home? Let me introduce you, this is Aunt Jiang, this is her home!"
"Hello, Aunt Jiang!" Duoduo greeted them politely and let them in, shouting, "Mom, Aunt Zhao and Aunt Jiang are here!"
It was already late at night. It always gets dark early in winter, and the courtyard was also dark. Only the light coming from the houses illuminated the space.
Jiang Yue could see that the courtyard had not changed much and was almost the same as before she left. The osmanthus tree was still lush, there was a fire in the oven in the corner, and the aroma of chestnuts wafted into the air.
A gentle and graceful woman walked out of the house. Seeing Jiang Yue, she smiled and greeted, "Miss Jiang!"
Jiang Yue also responded with a smile, "Hello!"
"I really liked this place when I first came in! Don't worry, I will help you take good care of this home!"
Hearing this, Jiang Yue's eyes couldn't help but become moist.
At this moment, she felt someone approaching. She turned around and met Gu Ye's gentle eyes.
Jiang Yue smiled at Gu Ye. God knows, when she first went to Beijing, she really missed this small courtyard in the staff housing estate. This was her and Gu Ye’s home!
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