Jiang Manyue also smiled at him and said, "It's almost time. Let's go quickly so we don't miss the bus."
Lu Lin nodded and looked at the tearful Li Guifen, "Mom, I'm leaving now. I'll send you a telegram to let you know I'm safe when I get to the army."
Li Guifen nodded and waved to him while crying, "Go, go, go, go back to the army and work hard, don't worry about your family."
Lu Lin responded, then picked up his luggage and turned to leave.
Li Guifen looked at her son's departing back, feeling sad, but reluctant to leave. She didn't walk back until Lu Lin's back completely disappeared.
Lu Qingyou and Lu Junan were also a little disappointed, only Jiang Manyue was very happy, as she could finally have a room to herself again!
Living with Lu Lin these days, she has to wrap herself tightly in clothes when sleeping, which makes her feel very depressed.
The family returned home, and Lu Lin hurried to the county train station and took the train back to the army.
The military district where Lu Lin is stationed is actually not too far from home. He can take the train there and will arrive there probably early the day after tomorrow.
After spending the whole afternoon on the train, it was dinner time when the conductor's voice of hawking could be heard on the train.
"Two vegetarian and one meat lunch boxes, two yuan each!"
"Steamed buns are five cents each!"
As the conductor shouted, everyone got busy. Some took out the dry food they brought with them, and some took out money to buy lunch boxes.
Lu Lin also took out the lunch box that Jiang Manyue had prepared for him, opened the lunch box containing the scallion pancake, took out half of it and placed it on the lid, then took an egg and placed it on top. He carefully picked it up, walked to the nearest hot water tank, and placed the lunch box and lid on it.
The weather was quite hot now, and Lu Lin was afraid that the scallion pancakes would be wasted if they were not kept until tomorrow, so he had to heat them all up and eat them together.
This train is a new one. There are hot water tanks at the connection of each carriage that can be used to fill water by yourself. Unlike before, you don’t have to wait for the conductor to bring a kettle to pour hot water when you need it.
Lu Lin stood by the water tank, waiting for the boiling water to heat up the scallion pancakes and eggs.
After standing for a while, Lu Lin estimated that it was about time, so he took out a handkerchief, wrapped the handle of the lunch box, and took it back.
The scallion pancakes smelled delicious after being heated. Among the passengers who were eating dry food and boxed lunches, Lu Lin stood out.
A man who slept on the upper bunk of Lu Lin bought two vegetarian and one meat lunch boxes. He originally thought that his meal was pretty good, but when he smelled the scent of scallion pancakes, he suddenly felt that his lunch box was not tasty anymore.
Lu Lin was on the lower bunk. He sat on his bunk and slowly peeled the eggs. He unscrewed the water cup and put it aside before eating dinner.
The man on the upper bunk was sitting at the small table across from his bunk. He couldn't resist the aroma of the scallion pancakes and leaned over to ask, "Excuse me, comrade in uniform, I'd like to ask, can I trade two pieces of meat for one of your pancakes?"
Lu Lin wanted to refuse, but seeing his elder brother's eager eyes, he nodded.
When the eldest brother saw that he agreed, he immediately became excited and sat over with his lunch box.
"You can pick it up yourself. I've used these chopsticks before, but I haven't touched the meat. You can eat it without worry."
The eldest brother enthusiastically handed his lunch box to Lu Lin. Lu Lin just nodded his approval, took a piece and left, then handed his lunch box to the eldest brother again.
The scallion pancake he had been longing for was right in front of him, so the eldest brother didn't hesitate and quickly took a piece of pancake.
Fortunately, Jiang Manyue doesn't like to make the pancakes too big, otherwise Lu Lin really wouldn't be willing to use a large pancake to exchange for the not-so-tasty meat dishes on the train.
Lu Lin had taken many trains before, and he used to bring a lunch box and buy his own meals on the train, so he already knew what that piece of meat tasted like.
The eldest brother couldn't wait to bite into the scallion pancake after picking it up. After chewing it twice, he gave Lu Lin a thumbs-up and said, "Comrade Soldier, this pancake of yours is really delicious. Did your mother make it for you or your wife?"
Lu Lin hesitated for a moment, but still answered, "My wife did it."
He and Jiang Manyue were nominally a couple, and facing the question from the strange brother, it wasn't an exaggeration for him to say that it was what a wife did, Lu Lin said to himself in his heart.
When the eldest brother heard him say that it was his wife who made it, he showed his envy again and said, "You are so lucky to have a wife with such good craftsmanship."
Lu Lin didn't know how to respond to him, so he just nodded and said nothing.
The eldest brother was a talkative person. After the two exchanged food, he started chatting with Lu Lin in a very familiar manner.
"Comrade soldier, I heard that you soldiers can also live in separate rooms, and your wives can move in with you. Your wife is such a good cook, why don't you let her join the army?"
Lu Lin paused for a moment, swallowed the cake in his mouth, and said perfunctorily, "I have elderly people at home, so I can't leave."
The eldest brother nodded in understanding, "No wonder, if it weren't for the fact that he couldn't leave home, who would be willing to leave such a good wife by his side, don't you think?"
Lu Lin didn't want to say more, just nodded casually as a reply, then buried his head in his food, not wanting to respond to his elder brother's words anymore.
Seeing that he was unwilling to say anything and couldn't stop eating, the eldest brother thought that he was missing his wife and didn't want to poke fun at his sad story. He happily continued to enjoy the scallion pancake he had exchanged for.
Finally, Lu Lin stopped hearing his elder brother's chattering and breathed a sigh of relief. He also slowed down the pace of eating the scallion pancake.
Lu Lin's thoughts gradually drifted away. With the aroma of scallion pancakes, he couldn't help but think of the meals Jiang Manyue made when he was at home a few days ago.
For Lu Lin, Jiang Manyue's cooking skills are the best he has ever tasted.
He grew up eating meals cooked by Li Guifen. Later, when his eldest brother got married, his eldest sister-in-law took over cooking from his mother-in-law. However, his sister-in-law's cooking skills could only be described as average, not very delicious.
Later he joined the army. The food in the army was not very good. Occasionally, when he went out on a mission, he would eat in a state-owned restaurant, which was considered a treat.
But the food cooked by Jiang Manyue tasted better than any state-owned restaurant he had ever been to.
Lu Lin sighed, not knowing when he would be able to go home for a good meal next time.
Jiang Manyue, the owner of the good cooking skills he was thinking about, had already finished his dinner and was lying happily on the bed.
After Lu Lin left, Jiang Manyue regained her freedom in the room. She no longer had to wrap herself in two layers of clothes or curl up in bed to sleep.
Jiang Manyue, wearing the pure cotton pajamas she had picked up from the supermarket and spread out in a big letter shape, sighed, "It feels so good that no one is sleeping on the floor next to my bed."
While lamenting her happy life, Jiang Manyue also hoped that Lu Lin would come home less often like before. It would be best if he would come back next year. It would be even better if he didn't come back next year.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
