Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
That day, Jiang Xuan had no classes in the afternoon. After finishing her research with the professor, she told He Yinhua and went home early.
I'm getting ready to grab some clean clothes.
Hu Tao went to pick up Dian Dian and Fan Xing from kindergarten.
After finding her clothes, Jiang Xuan saw that it was still early, so she helped pick and wash the vegetables.
At this moment, Lu Shengye returned.
He strode into the kitchen, looking to be in a good mood.
"Xuanxuan, you're back? Don't be busy yet, I have some good news to tell you!" Lu Shengye grabbed Jiang Xuan's hand.
"What good news? You look so happy."
"I've been promoted to battalion commander!"
Jiang Xuan's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"
Lu Shengye nodded emphatically, his eyes filled with determination and pride: "It's true. The commander personally announced it at the battalion-wide meeting today."
“Shengye, that’s great! You’ve worked so hard all these years, and you’ve finally got the reward you deserve. Let’s add two more dishes tonight and celebrate properly. After dinner, we’ll go tell Grandpa the good news.”
Lu Shengye gently stroked Jiang Xuan's hair and said softly, "Thank you, Jiang Xuan. All of this is inseparable from your support. In the future, I will work harder and live up to the expectations of the organization and you."
"Yes, I believe you."
Lu Shengye helped Jiang Xuan untie her apron, saying, "Go ahead and do what you need to do, I'll wash it."
"I don't have much to pack,"
Just as Jiang Xuan stepped out of the kitchen, Ma Xiaolan returned home from get off work.
"Oh, you're back so early today! What a wonderful thing!"
Ma Xiaolan put the bag on the bench in the yard and went to the sink to wash her hands. "You're going to make a fortune."
"Huh? Me?"
"Yes, Director Chen from the design department contacted me today and asked me to pass on a message to you, asking you to come to the design department tomorrow. It's probably to discuss a collaboration with you."
Ma Xiaolan walked over and lowered her voice, "Don't be soft-hearted then, just say something nice. Last time I showed him your design drafts and finished products, he acted all high and mighty. Humph, he's really blind."
"Then why did he suddenly think of contacting me again this time?"
"It's all because your design was adopted by the performing arts troupe. By the way, the sample garment from your design has already been made, and it really looks quite nice."
"Okay, then please tell them for me tomorrow that I'll be there around noon, arriving around 1 p.m."
"Okay, no problem. I'll go pick up Xiuxiu now."
Jiang Xuan returned to the kitchen and told Lu Shengye the good news.
Actually, Lu Shengye had already heard it.
He was happy for her too.
"After we reach an agreement tomorrow, I'll have the garment factory pay a portion of the advance payment, and then we'll repay part of the loan."
"No need, we can pay off the bank loan slowly, but we still need to set aside some money."
He Yinhua's health was deteriorating day by day, and ordinary painkillers were no longer effective. Lu Shengye planned to buy some painkillers through acquaintances.
Moreover, even the funeral arrangements will cost a lot of money.
Jiang Xuan nodded, "That's fine, I'll pay you back when I have more money later."
"Hmm, how's Mom doing these past few days?"
Jiang Xuan shook her head. "My condition is getting worse and worse. I feel tired even after walking a few steps, but she refuses to be idle and keeps helping me with my stall."
"What about your brother? Does he still not want to see Mom?"
"I don't know. I saw him at the library this morning, but he seemed to be deliberately avoiding me. He was planning to go to the library, but he ended up going to the playground instead."
"So what do you plan to do?"
“I explained this to him before, and he knows my mother’s situation. If he really doesn’t want to acknowledge her, there’s nothing I can do. It’s just that my mother is suffering. Sometimes I don’t even know if I told her this was the right thing to do.”
Jiang Xuan sighed.
If it weren't for the water on her hands, Lu Shengye would have liked to pat her head and say, "You did nothing wrong, don't blame yourself."
*
After dinner, it was just past seven o'clock. Hu Tao looked after the two children, and Lu Shengye and Jiang Xuan went to their grandfather's house.
Lu Rongde was tending to his potted plants in the yard when he saw his grandson and granddaughter-in-law arrive, and a long-lost smile appeared on his face.
"Xiao Ye, Xuan Xuan, what brings you here at this hour?" Lu Rongde put down his tools, dusted off his hands, picked up his cane leaning against the wall, and walked over.
"Grandpa, come inside quickly, we have good news to tell you."
Jiang Xuan went over and helped the old man.
Lu Rongde laughed heartily: "What good news?"
Back in the main room, Lu Rongde had just sat down when Lu Shengye straightened up and looked at him with a determined gaze: "Grandpa, I've been promoted to battalion commander today, an exception to the rules!"
"Good, good, truly a fine son of the Lu family!"
At this moment, Lu Pei'an entered.
He was dressed in military uniform, clearly having just returned from the military region.
Seeing his son and daughter-in-law, he rarely smiled, and patted his son on the shoulder: "Well done, Xiaoye. I'm proud of you. Keep up the good work and don't let the organization down."
He already knew about his son's promotion.
Lu Shengye remained expressionless, finding the words grating.
If it weren't for him, he would have been promoted long ago.
At this moment, Wang Yingqiu walked in carrying a plate of washed apples.
She had overheard their conversation, and a barely perceptible hint of displeasure flashed across her face.
Fleeting.
She smiled and said, "Xiao Ye is really promising. We are all happy for you. Have you eaten yet? Have some apples to tide you over. I'll go cook for you."
"No need, we've already eaten."
"Okay, you guys chat first, I'll go wash the dishes."
Jiang Xuan had to spend the evening with her mother, so she didn't stay long.
They had just come out of the main house when Lu Xiaomei returned.
Upon seeing Jiang Xuan, her eyes lit up. "Sister-in-law, I was just about to come looking for you."
Lu Shengye coughed. "You can't see your brother standing right here?"
Lu Xiaomei ignored him completely, put her schoolbag on the steps of the main room, and started flipping through her report card.
Wang Yingqiu came out and said, "Little sister, the food is warming up in the pot. Do you want to eat now?"
"In a bit," Lu Xiaomei said without turning her head. "You go about your business."
Wang Yingqiu secretly scoffed and went into the kitchen: "Ungrateful wretch."
"Our first month's exam results are out. Sister-in-law, guess where I ranked?"
"How many?"
Lu Xiaomei handed the report card to Jiang Xuan, raised an eyebrow, and said loudly, "Fifth in the class, 23rd in the whole grade. But don't worry, I've already set my goal: to be first in the class next time."
Jiang Xuan looked at the scores for each subject and said, "Not bad, especially in math, you've improved a lot. Bring all the test papers back this weekend and I'll help you analyze them and summarize some test-taking techniques."
Lu Rongde came out and said, "Well done, you should strive to be the best."
Lu Shengye thought he had misheard.
How did someone who ranked last in the final exams last semester suddenly jump to 5th place in the class?
Lu Pei'an, who had just returned to the side room, was also surprised.
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