After New Year's Eve, the Spring Festival officially begins.

Ning Tang and Shen Lie seemed to have accomplished something big and started to become lazy, refusing to do any work themselves unless they asked their three children to do it.

On the third day of the New Year, the entire military academy became lively and people began to visit each other to wish each other a happy new year.

Most of the military dependents who come to Hailang Island to follow the army live far away from their hometowns. Those who live nearby are not granted holidays by their superiors, so almost every household celebrates the New Year in the military dependents’ quarters. Similarly, they visit each other to pay New Year’s greetings.

Mrs. Luo brought her daughter Zhao Qing and Political Commissar Zhao, and called Zeng Xinlan, Battalion Commander Qi and Da Hu, as well as Ding Ronghua, Commander Wang and their son Wang Zhuangzhuang to come to the Shen family to pay New Year's greetings.

They are all colleagues, and during the New Year's greeting period, everyone is treated equally by rank. The regiment commander greets the battalion commander, the battalion commander greets the company commander, and it is normal for Commander Wang to come to the Shen family.

After entering the house, Luo Saozi and others handed the New Year's goods they brought to Ning Tang, "Captain Shen, Xiao Ning, Happy New Year."

Ning Tang took it and said with a smile, "Happy New Year."

Shen Lie also smiled and said, "Happy New Year."

Ningtang had prepared a variety of snacks early on, including a five-color platter of peanuts, melon seeds, rice candy, rice cakes, and cat ears, as well as fresh pears, apples, and oranges, as well as longans, red dates, chestnuts, and walnuts, accompanied by a pot of hot ginger and date tea, filling the table.

It was Ding Ronghua's first time to visit the Shen family. She took a look at the clean house and the carefully prepared snacks, and her opinion of Ning Tang went up to a higher level.

Shen Lie was familiar with Political Commissar Zhao, Battalion Commander Qi, and Division Commander Wang. "Don't be polite. Just sit down like you're at home."

Men chat at one table, and women chat at another table.

Ning Tang even had the unique idea of ​​preparing a table for the eldest child and his group of children. Even the snacks on the table were almost the same as those on the main table, but the portions were smaller considering the children's appetites.

The eldest child had never thought that they could act like adults. His face flushed with excitement and he volunteered to entertain the little guests. "Dahu, you sit next to me. Zhuangzhuang, you sit on the right of Dahu. Sister Qingqing..."

Zhao Qingcai was impatient to sit with the little kids, so she pouted and said, "I'm going to my mom's place."

The older kid didn't care. He arranged seats for the little guests and imitated the adults, eating snacks and chatting, playing house.

When Big Tiger saw so many delicious foods for the first time, he couldn't help swallowing his saliva, "Big Baby, I really envy you. You have so many delicious foods at home."

Sweet rice candy, crispy cat ears, soft and sweet chestnuts...all the kids are very happy with them.

The eldest child puffed up his chest proudly and said in a pretentious manner, "Oh, it's OK. If you like it, eat more."

Zhao Qing arrived at the woman's table but did not sit down. He said something to Mrs. Luo, went to play with his classmates, and wanted to leave.

Older children don’t like to pay New Year’s greetings as they find it boring.

Mrs. Luo was anxious and wanted to say something to her, "Everyone is here so busy and lively, where are you going? It's New Year's Eve, which classmate will play with you?"

Zhao Qing frowned and said, "Liu Ling, she asked me to take a boat to Xinhua Bookstore in Jiang City to buy books."

"Is it safe for just two girls like you to go?" Mrs. Luo asked.

Ning Tang patted Mrs. Luo's hand and said, "If she wants to go, let her go. It's normal for her to feel bored sitting and chatting with a bunch of adults."

"I think your daughter is a person with her own ideas. If she had told you about this, she would have already thought of how to arrange it." He just informed you and then left.

Zhao Qing was quite surprised because Ning Tang actually spoke for her.

She patiently explained to Mrs. Luo, "Not only Liu Ling and I, but also Zhu Song, Wang Lili, Zhou Qi and other boys from our class are going with us. Our head teacher is also going. We made an appointment long ago."

Mrs. Luo was relieved at this, but she still wanted to give a few more instructions.

Ning Tang waved his hand to interrupt Mrs. Luo, saying that he was annoyed if she continued.

She gave Zhao Qing the red envelope that she had prepared long ago, and also gave her another ten yuan.

Zhao Qing was stunned. She understood the red envelope, but why was she given the ten yuan?

Ning Tang explained, "You said you were going to the Xinhua Bookstore in the city. I wanted you to buy me some books for my eldest, second, and third children. It doesn't matter what type, as long as they are storybooks. It would be even better if they are classics, like Journey to the West or Dream of the Red Chamber. It would be best if we can get them."

Last time, the eldest child said that he was inspired by the story of "the first effort is strong, the second is weak, and the third is exhausted" told by their class teacher Zhou.

Ning Tang thought that it would be helpful to have some storybooks at home so that children can read them before going to bed.

Even if you can't understand the meaning of the book, you can still recognize the words.

And even if Da Wa and the others don’t watch it, Ning Tang and Shen Lie can watch it.

There is no TV or radio at home, but reading storybooks is quite interesting.

Zhao Qing rolled her eyes. "You? Aren't you afraid that I'll buy the wrong thing?"

It is very possible that she still has some dissatisfaction with Ning Tang and deliberately asked Jiezi to buy some mediocre books for Ning Tang.

Ning Tang smiled and said firmly, "You won't buy the wrong book, because after you buy it and we finish reading it, you can come to our house to borrow it. Based on my relationship with your mother, I will definitely lend it to you. It means that you can read the book you want to read without spending your own money. This is a good deal, there is no reason for you not to do it."

Being seen through by Ning Tang, Zhao Qing curled her lips and put the money in her pocket, "I know, you just wait, it's just storybooks and classics, I will definitely buy them for you."

Zhao Qing left. After eating and drinking for a while, Luo's wife called a group of children to her side and said, "Come here, your sisters-in-law will give you New Year's money."

There were red envelopes to be received, and the children's eyes were sparkling.

The eldest child spoke first, "I wish all the uncles and aunts a happy new year and a prosperous new year!"

Mrs. Luo patted his head and said with a smile, "Hey, big boy, you are so good. Here is your New Year's gift."

After she gave it, Zeng Xinlan and Ding Ronghua gave it in turn.

After a group of children finished congratulating, each of them had several red envelopes in their hands. They were all smiling and said nice things as if they were free.

As soon as the children left, Ding Ronghua joked, "Xiaoning's family has many children, so they got a big advantage."

Ning Tang was amused. "Sister-in-law, if you are jealous, you can pick any of our three naughty monkeys. If you pick one, take him away. I will never say no."

Ding Ronghua's eyes lit up, "You guys say they are naughty monkeys, but our house is not a curtain cave, where can we put these three little naughty monkeys in? You should keep them for yourself."

The children asked for red envelopes from the women, then went to the men's table for a round, and came back with a bulge in their pockets.

Mrs. Luo looked at Dahu's figure and asked in surprise, "Xinlan, has your Dahu grown stronger?" She gestured with her hand again, "It seems to have grown a little taller."

Ding Ronghua nodded and agreed, "Yes, he has grown stronger and taller. I think he is much bigger than before."

In the past, Dahu was skinny and small, with sunken cheeks and dull eyes.

Now I see that he has grown taller, has more flesh on his face, and looks more energetic.

When Zeng Xinlan mentioned this, her face flushed and her eyes sparkled. "I also think Dahu has grown stronger. The day before yesterday, when I was knitting cotton gloves for him and measuring his hand shape, I found that his fingers had grown fleshier."

Mrs. Luo nodded and said, "Even her fingers have grown flesh, which means she has really grown stronger."

Ding Ronghua couldn't help but ask, "Xinlan, how do you raise a child? Teach me."

Wang Zhuangzhuang is not as good as his name suggests. He looks almost like the previous Da Hu, small and thin.

Zeng Xinlan smiled widely, "For this, I have to thank Xiaoning."

Ning Tang was busy peeling peanuts and raised his eyebrows, saying jokingly, "Thank me? Your kids don't eat the rice in my house."

Zeng Xinlan glared at her and looked at the man's table. She found that Captain Qi was talking to Shen Lie and the others. He was blushing when they were talking excitedly and didn't pay any attention to them. Then she lowered her voice and said, "I have to thank you for the idea you gave me last time."

"Idea?" Ding Ronghua was stunned.

She was not there at the time, so naturally she didn't know about it.

Mrs. Luo explained it to her once, and Ding Ronghua asked in a low voice, "And then what?" She was obviously very curious about what idea Ning Tang had given Zeng Xinlan.

Ning Tang told Ding Ronghua her idea in a few words. Ding Ronghua widened her eyes and asked Zeng Xinlan, "So, what happened after you and your Captain Qi fell out?"

"How is it?" Zeng Xinlan laughed. "After I had a few big fights with him, he no longer dares to order me around like before. Before he gives money or things from home to those people in my hometown, he will ask for my opinion first, because he knows that if I find that something is missing, I will definitely have a big fight with him again, and the neighbors will know about it, and he will lose face."

After several quarrels with Captain Qi, he became more restrained, and Zeng Xinlan also saved some money.

She used the money to improve the quality of the family's food, raised her big tiger, and had some spare money to buy New Year's goods and spend the New Year's money.

Otherwise, it would be like every year, when people would not dare to go out to pay New Year’s greetings, because they would not be able to return the money given as New Year’s gift.

Zeng Xinlan looked at Dahu and Dawa's flushed faces as they played excitedly, and she felt more and more that this was a good decision.

She let out a long sigh of relief, "Xiao Ning is right, money is a person's confidence. With money, I can stand up straight and speak with more confidence."

Ding Ronghua patted her hands distressedly, "After all the hardships come happiness, and the sun will come out after the rain. We can always get through this, and the good days are still to come."

Zeng Xinlan smiled at her and asked her, "Sister Ding, I want to find a job. Will the Women's Committee be recruiting after the New Year? How many people will be recruited? Can I go and try?"

Ding Ronghua said, "Yes, the Women's Committee started recruiting in early March. They are looking for two clerks. They will mainly be responsible for some clerical work and arrange some affairs of the Military Family Courtyard. Xinlan, of course you can come and give it a try."

She finished speaking, smiling and looking at Ning Tang, "Not only Xinlan, Xiao Ning, you can also try. We have two stages: a written test and an interview. If you pass both stages, you can officially join the company. The monthly salary is seven yuan, and there are also holiday benefits during the Chinese New Year."

Ning Tang was stunned. Wasn't Zeng Xinlan looking for a job? Why were they talking about her again?

She remembered what Xiaoling had done before when she distributed pineapple honey.

I heard from Mrs. Luo that during the period when the Women's Committee decided to distribute pineapples and longans, Xiaoling had to organize people to pick pineapples in advance, and then get up at four or five in the morning on the day of distribution, arrange for fellow villagers to deliver the longans to the military compound, and then go to the grain and oil station to borrow scales and set up a site... It was at least three layers of work to do all this.

If you are lucky, you can just distribute the money and that's it. If you are unlucky, you may run into a troublemaker like Wang Dilai, or someone may think that the distribution is unfair and protest, and you will be in a lot of trouble again.

If things are handled well, no one will praise you, but if they are handled poorly, you will be criticized and have to write a self-criticism.

Moreover, there are a lot of activities in the Military Family Courtyard. It's not just about distributing pineapples and longans. After all, that happens at most twice a year. They also have to organize various cultural and entertainment activities and competitions, and do mediation work among each household. All these responsibilities are shared by Ding Ronghua, the director of the Women's Committee, and various staff members.

Ning Tang sleeps until nine or ten every day. Her life is comfortable and pleasant, allowing her to mix in the tedious and trivial matters of the Women's Committee.

She refused decisively.

But she couldn't refuse directly in front of Ding Ronghua. She laughed and said, "Oh, let's talk about this later."

Ding Ronghua wanted to persuade her a few more times, but Ning Tang's eyes darted around, trying to find an excuse to shirk responsibility.

Fortunately, the eldest child came to the rescue in time.

The eldest child came running over and yelled, "Stepmother, our table of ginger and date tea is gone."

When children get excited, they like to scream and shout. Their throats become dry after screaming, so they drink a lot of water.

Ginger-jujube tea is sweet and warm, and children like it very much. It is normal for them to drink it quickly.

Ning Tang said, "There are tea bags in the kitchen that I have prepared a long time ago. Ask your father to boil a pot of water and let him make ginger and jujube tea for you."

The boiling water was very hot, and Ningtang didn't dare let the eldest child do it himself. It would not be fun if he got burned.

The eldest boy nodded, turned around and went to find Shen Lie to help him make ginger and jujube tea.

Ding Ronghua asked, "Xiaoning, what are the tea bags you mentioned? Is this ginger and jujube tea brewed with the tea bags you mentioned?"

The delicious taste of ginger-jujube tea not only captured the hearts of the children, but even Ding Ronghua couldn't help but ask a few more questions.

The Wang family's house was far away, and it took her to walk across half of the military compound. By the time she arrived at the Shen family's house, Ding Ronghua's hands and feet were frozen and she was shaking constantly.

I thought it would take a while to recover from the shock, but as soon as I drank the ginger-jujube tea that Ningtang brought to me, a wave of heat went up from my heels to my crown, and my whole body was warm. That's why Ding Ronghua couldn't help but ask Ningtang about the ginger-jujube tea.

"Yes, a tea bag is tea leaves wrapped in gauze. The tea bag for ginger-jujube tea is the same." Ning Tang opened the kettle and showed them the tea bag. "Dried red dates and sliced ​​fresh ginger, longan, orange peel, and wolfberry are wrapped in gauze and stored in a dry place. When you want to drink ginger-jujube tea, throw the tea bag into the teapot and add two pieces of brown sugar. It's very convenient. It's also very easy to clean. Just throw away the tea bag and rinse the kettle a few times with water."

Ding Ronghua was very excited after listening to this, "Then, how much of these longans and orange peels should be added?" She was afraid that if she added too much, it would not taste good.

Ning Tang thought for a moment and said, "I'll write you the recipe later."

Ding Ronghua was overjoyed, "Thank you, Xiaoning."

Ning Tang waved his hands, "You're welcome, sister-in-law."

Zeng Xinlan and Mrs. Luo also asked Ningtang to copy a recipe for ginger and jujube tea. This ginger and jujube tea tastes good and has the effect of warming the body. They also want it.

As for Da Wa, he took out a tea bag from the kitchen cabinet and ran to find Shen Lie.

Shen Lie and his friends at the table were having a great time chatting.

Men, when they get together with others, can't help but start bragging and talking big.

Talk about life, military affairs, international affairs, ancient and modern times, China and abroad, all over the world, everything.

Captain Qi complained bitterly, "I don't know what's wrong with my wife lately. She's always quarreling with me. I wanted to send some money back to my parents, but she refused to agree. She said that if I sent money back, she would divorce me and take Dahu with her."

Teacher Wang couldn't help but ask, "How much did you send to your parents? Why are you making such a fuss?"

Captain Qi hesitated and said, "Actually, it's not much, maybe about thirty yuan."

Political Commissar Zhao glanced at him and said, "You are really generous. I remember that your monthly salary was only about 40 yuan, and you have given away most of it now."

"Our family's situation is different..." Captain Qi remembered what Zeng Xinlan had told him. Zeng Xinlan asked him to ask other families who were like theirs, emptying their savings to give to others. So he asked, "Aren't you the same?"

Teacher Wang said, "Of course, I only give my parents five dollars a month, and they said it was too much."

Captain Qi, remember that Commander Wang's family situation was similar to his, his parents also lived in the countryside, he had several brothers and sisters, and Commander Wang's salary was much higher than his. Then why could Commander Wang only send five yuan, and his parents said it was too much, while I sent more than thirty yuan back, and my parents said it was not enough?

He asked whatever he thought.

Shen Lie said it all at once, "You give them a little bit of money but you don't give them a lot of money. You help them in times of need but not in times of poverty. It's you who have corrupted their habits. You give them 30 yuan every month, and occasionally only give them 20 yuan in one or two months, but they still think you don't give enough. On the contrary, if you give them 5 yuan a month, and occasionally 10 yuan in one or two months, they will just be grateful."

Captain Qi was stunned. Could it be true as Shen Lie said, that he had spoiled his family members?

Before he could ask, the eldest child came over and interrupted, calling Shen Lie, "Dad, help me boil a pot of water, we are out of ginger and jujube tea on the table."

Shen Lie stood up and said, "Besides, how can we spend so much money in a month in the countryside?"

Forget about it, without caring about Captain Qi's reaction, he went to the kitchen to make ginger and jujube tea for the eldest child.

Shen Lie's words were just unintentional, but they caused a huge wave of shock in Captain Qi's heart.

Yes, in the countryside, how many places can you spend money on?

He sent back thirty-thirty dollars every month, and he could have built a golden house for himself!

Captain Qi couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable and frowned.

Political Commissar Zhao saw that he was unhappy and changed the subject, "I really envy you, Lao Qi. You are the one who manages the money in your family. My wife only gives me three or five yuan a month for pocket money."

Captain Qi was very surprised and asked Commander Wang and Political Commissar Zhao, "Is your wife also in charge of the money in your family?"

Commander Wang and Political Commissar Zhao said in unison, "Of course. We hand over our monthly wages to our wives, and then we get pocket money from them. Women know how to manage money. As long as we hand over the money, they can take care of our lives properly without us having to worry about anything. What a wonderful thing."

Captain Qi was somewhat persuaded. Zeng Xinlan was also a woman who knew how to live well. If he gave her the money, she would definitely be able to arrange everything clearly.

But after a while, he still couldn't get over it, so he said, "Hey, why should I let a woman manage my money and take money from her? I can't do that. It's much better to manage my own money and buy whatever I want."

Shen Lie came back from boiling water and just happened to hear this. "You? You're thinking the wrong way. We are the masters, we don't have any bad habits, and we are in the army, food and accommodation are all included, how much money can we spend? My wife gives me three or four yuan, and I can save a little every month."

Political Commissar Zhao continued, "Give the money to your wife, and she will make all the arrangements for you. You will have hot meals after work, and she will prepare clothes for you all year round. If you want to drink a little wine or smoke a pack of cigarettes occasionally, just tell your wife, and you will see them when you get home from get off work the next day."

Teacher Wang said: "Otherwise, my wife would have to ask you for money every month to buy firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and tea. Even this little money would change hands several times, and it would damage the relationship between husband and wife. Why waste your time on it?"

"The wives we married are all good wives, otherwise they wouldn't have come all the way to accompany us to the army. We feel at ease when we let them take care of the money." Shen Lie said, "Lao Qi, think about it yourself. How many times can you see your parents in a year? Are your wife and son the ones who stay with you every day?"

Captain Qi? He pursed his lips and said nothing.

Shen Lie brewed three new pots of ginger-jujube tea. When the eldest child replaced the small table with new ginger-jujube tea, he did not forget to replace the table for Ning Tang as well. "Stepmother, this is the newly brewed ginger-jujube tea. Be careful not to burn it."

Ning Tang was busy writing a recipe for ginger-jujube tea for Ding Ronghua and the others. He waved his hands and said, "I know, you nagging little devil."

The eldest kid made a face at her and skipped back to his table to play with his friends.

Ning Tang wrote the prescription and made three copies, which he gave to Luo Saozi, Ding Ronghua and Zeng Xinlan.

Mrs. Luo put the prescription in her pocket. When she heard the eldest child calling Ning Tang stepmother, she couldn't help but ask Ning Tang in a low voice, "You have three children, and you still call you stepmother?"

The stepmother is taller than the stepmother, and the stepmother is shorter than the stepmother. It really doesn't sound good.

Ding Ronghua also responded, "Yes, Xiaoning, how did your eldest son call you? He called you stepmother."

Ning Tang explained to Ding Ronghua and Zeng Xinlan, "I told him to shout."

Mrs. Luo still advised her, "Why not let the child change his tone."

She was more traditional in her thinking and was also concerned about Ning Tang, so she couldn't help but advise him.

Ning Tang said, "Sister-in-law, it doesn't matter what you call me. A title is just a matter of words. If he really treats me as his mother, then what's wrong with calling me his stepmother? Similarly, if he calls me mother sweetly, but he never treats me as his mother in his heart, then what's the point of calling me that? He's just deceiving himself."

Ning Tang Ning doesn't want such a false 'mother'.

Ding Ronghua and Zeng Xinlan were stunned. They didn't expect Ning Tang to say such insightful words. They all felt that she had a high level of thinking.

For some reason, Mrs. Luo thought of the Su family's twins.

Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu are like this, following Ning Xue every day, one is taller than the other, like little tails.

When outsiders see this, they all think that the mother and son have a good relationship.

Even if they are not biological children, there is a natural bond between mother and child.

Mrs. Luo didn't know if she was overthinking it, but every time she heard the Su family twins call Ning Xue "Mom", she felt awkward.

Ning Xue has only been here for a short time, but the twins have already forgotten their biological mother. They sweetly call Ning Xue "Mom", as if she were their own daughter.

It's a bit chilling.