Chapter 238 Let’s Have a Child
As soon as Lu Chun'e came back, Wen Wan had a treat. At noon, she rolled noodles for her alone, and poured some fried臊子 (spicy sauce) with eggs and half-cooked tomatoes on top. It was very delicious.
Wen Wan praised him endlessly: "I find that Chun'e, your cooking skills are really getting better and better."
Lu Chun'e lay on the table holding the bowl and smiled: "I'm glad you like it. I learned it from the chef in the school cafeteria!"
She has a good personality, is smart and down-to-earth. She quickly became familiar with the canteen chefs and would go to the canteen to help out after school. This way, she could eat well and save a lot of money.
She also learned a lot and she still likes cooking.
Wen Wan felt a little overwhelmed, so she leaned back to relax before asking her, "A year has already passed in the blink of an eye, and we'll graduate in another year. Have you ever thought about what you will do after graduation?"
Lu Chun'e had really thought about this: "Many of our classmates want to go to the city and become workers."
After they graduate from high school, the more capable male students can go to the factory to work as technicians, while the female students can go to the office to do some easy work.
"There are also some people who are more ambitious and have connections at home and want to get into government departments."
After saying that, he reached out and scratched his head gently: "I originally wanted to go to the textile factory, but many people went there. I heard that there is an exam. If I can't get in, then I'll see if I can be a teacher like you. It's also very good."
The county town was small, with only one steel mill and one textile mill, both of which were already quite populated, and the number of people they could recruit was limited. Although the school guaranteed job placement, there weren't many positions available.
Wen Wan nodded: "You have to think it through, clarify your goals, and then find ways to strive for them and achieve them. If you have thought it through, you can talk to your brother. I think he should be able to give you some useful advice."
Lu Chun'e nodded in agreement, and after a moment's pause, she asked, "I heard from my mother that Dongcheng brother is in the hospital, and my uncle and aunt are both there."
"Well, I don't know the specific situation yet. I just went there yesterday. I hope everyone is okay."
After dinner, Lu Donglin ran to the river again. Lu Chun'e called him, "Where are you going in such a hot sun?" It was only July, and he was so tanned that he was unbearable to look at.
"Go catch fish in the river dam, small fish, and stew them into white soup. I heard that it is the most nourishing soup for women who are in confinement." He has been busy clearing the grass in the fields these days. Some odd jobs are usually done in the morning, and he doesn't have to go out after dinner. He either goes up the mountain to catch birds or goes to the river to catch fish, and the harvest is still quite good.
After saying that, he asked Lu Chun'e, "Are you going?"
Lu Chun'e waved her hand: "Go ahead and be careful. I'll wash Dandan's diapers and hang them up to dry in the sun."
Lu Donglin ran away in a flash.
Lu Chun'e packed up, put Dandan's diapers and the clothes she brought back into the basket and went to the bamboo forest.
Lu Mingjiang sat on the doorstep weaving straw sandals, his heart aching. He called out to his wife, "Dongping's mother, my eyelids have been twitching like crazy since early this morning. What about Dongcheng?"
"Pfft, pfft, pfft, don't talk nonsense. Young men in Dongcheng recover quickly from injuries. The doctors at the big hospitals in the city are very good. He will definitely be fine."
Lu Mingjiang sighed: "Yes, you are right." But he had no idea in his heart.
It was a week later that Lu Mingjiang and his wife came back. A large military jeep took them to the team, which was not too far from the wheat field where tractors were pulling grain back and forth. In addition to Lu Minghai and his wife, Lu Dongcheng and Shengxia, there were two young men in their twenties, all wearing military uniforms, with solemn expressions and straight postures.
He was Lu Dongcheng's good friend in the army, a young man with some background and they had a good relationship. In addition, Lu Dongcheng's health had not fully recovered yet, so he took leave to send him back.
As soon as the car reached the main road above Xihe, someone noticed it. Word spread quickly and every household in the production team knew that the eldest son of Lu Minghai's family had returned, and he was brought back in a big car. He looked very majestic, and everyone secretly wondered if he had been promoted.
The Lu family yard suddenly became lively.
Such a lively and gentle atmosphere could not be seen. I could faintly hear people talking through the doors and windows, and I felt that the atmosphere was a little different.
Lu Donglin ran in from outside, sweating profusely, and stood at the bedroom door to talk to her: "Sister-in-law, Brother Dongcheng is back!" His joy was beyond words.
Wen Wan didn't have a deep impression of Lu Dongcheng. She had only seen him a few times when Lu Dongcheng and Shengxia came back to get married at the end of 1971. Even so, she was still very happy to hear that he was back.
"How are the people?"
Lu Donglin said, "I couldn't tell what was going on. He was taken to the team by a bus and walked back on his own. I just said hello. There were other guests with him, so I didn't want to get too close to him, nor did I want to ask him questions as soon as we got home."
"That's not a rush. Since he can walk back, he should be much better. Let's wait until the guests leave."
Lu Donglin responded, "Sister-in-law, have a good rest." After that, he ran away in a hurry.
Lu Dongping didn't know that Lu Dongcheng had returned until the afternoon when he came back from the armed forces department and arrived at the team. He found out that he had returned. He didn't even go home, but went to the next door first.
The people who brought Lu Dongcheng back did not stay here for too long. They had a simple meal and left. After they left, the yard became quiet again.
Lu Dongcheng rested in the house while Shengxia was busy packing the luggage they had brought back. They had brought back quite a lot of things, all of which they had bought over the years they had been at the base. They had brought back everything they could, as Lu Dongcheng's current condition meant he wouldn't be able to return to the base even if he recovered.
Lu Dongping called out, "Sister-in-law!"
Shengxia stood up and nodded at Qianxiao: "I'm back." Then she glanced at Lu Dongcheng who was lying on the bed not far away: "You talk to Dongcheng, I'll go get you some water."
Lu Dongping waved his hand: "No, no, I have a word with my brother, sister-in-law, you take a rest."
Shengxia didn't bother to be polite with him. She walked out of the house, leaving the space to the two brothers.
Lu Dongcheng was also awake, half leaning against the head of the bed and looking at him.
This injury was a heavy blow to Lu Dongcheng, both physically and mentally, but his face remained as resolute as ever without any sign of decadence.
Lu Dongping pulled a bench over and sat down beside his bed, looking at him: "Where are you hurt?"
Lu Dongcheng pointed to his chest and said, "I'm lucky, but I won't be able to return to the army. Even if I recover well, I won't be able to participate in training in this position."
"Can't I switch to a civilian position?"
Lu Dongcheng said, "There's some hope for this. He should be transferred to a local job, but it will take some time to confirm. I can't stay in the hospital any longer, so I just came back."
"That's good. No matter what, it's a good thing to be back. As for where you'll be in the future, that's a matter for the future. The army is too far from home, and there's no freedom. It's common for me not to be able to come back for three to five years. I have to go on missions from time to time. My uncle and his family are old, and they have to worry about the family and you. Now that you're back, it would be nice if you could get a civilian position nearby."
Lu Dongcheng nodded: "You don't need to comfort me, I know all this, it's all good. I thought I was going to die, but I didn't die and came back to see my parents. I won!"
Lu Dongping chuckled: "Seeing you like this, I am really, very happy."
Lu Dongcheng raised his eyebrows: "Why? Do you think I'm the kind of person who, because I'm injured and can't return to the army, is desperate and feels that life is unbearable?"
Lu Dongping nodded: "I've been worried about this. You've been there for so many years, it's no different from your home."
Lu Dongcheng sighed, "Yes, it's been more than ten years. But during these days lying in bed, I thought a lot and thought things through clearly. Ten years is enough. Besides the army, I still have parents, a wife, and other responsibilities."
"It's good that you think so."
Lu Dongcheng chuckled: "Thank you, Secretary Lu, for coming to comfort me!"
Lu Dongping snorted twice: "Your thanks are not sincere at all. When I came back, I didn't even enter my own house before running to your place."
"Then when I get better, I'll treat you to a drink. My valuables are ranked before your wife and son, so I have to thank you very much."
Wen Wan gave birth to a son and was still in confinement. He knew all this. These past few days in the hospital, Gao Xiulan kept chattering to him, telling him all the big and small things at home.
Honestly, he really envied Lu Dongping! He had suggested that Lu Dongping join him in the army. He thought that since this kid was a lawless person, he would be disciplined in the army. Plus, he was very agile and had a few tricks, so he might have a good future. But Lu Dongping was very opinionated. He said that his younger siblings were still young and he was determined not to leave home, so the idea was dropped.
Now, I have a suitable job, a woman I love, and a big fat son. Nothing could be more perfect in life.
And myself——
After a day of hard work, night finally fell. After dinner, Shengxia fetched some water and brought it into the house.
Lu Dongcheng slowly stood up and sat on the edge of the bed. Shengxia squatted beside him and wrung out the towel. He took it and wiped his face, then rinsed his mouth and washed his feet.
For a long time, neither of them said a word, and the silence in the room was eerie.
After everything was cleaned up, Shengxia lay down on the edge of the bed and blew out the oil lamp.
Lu Dongcheng finally spoke: "This is my situation. It is impossible for me to go back to the army. You, I know that you love the work in the art troupe. If you follow me, you can't stay in the art troupe. No, let's get a divorce. With your conditions, you can find a good one." He had been thinking about this for several days, and it seemed difficult just thinking about it, but now that he spoke up, it didn't seem as difficult as he had imagined.
He and Shengxia had known each other for many years. She was a wonderful girl, and he really liked her. After they got married, Shengxia had a job, and he was always on missions, so they were rarely together. He didn't fulfill his responsibilities as a husband, and they didn't have children. Shengxia and him were not happy.
After the words fell, the room fell silent again. After a while, Shengxia hugged his arms and said in a hoarse voice: "Let's wait until you're better and have a child!"
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