"We've had dumplings, and now we have chicken soup." Lu Chen washed the chopsticks and placed them on the side of the bowl.
Fortunately, when he was making chicken soup, he added an extra one and a half pork ribs.
When my family celebrated the Chinese New Year, we bought a lot of pork and ribs, which were purchased by the logistics department of the military canteen.
It's much cheaper than outside and doesn't require a ticket, which brings great convenience to the families in the residential compound.
Lu Chen was lucky to have added extra ingredients to the stew, otherwise there wouldn't have been enough to eat.
"Hey kid, you even made chicken soup?" Xu Qianli couldn't help but tease, "Why are you making chicken soup so late at night? Didn't you eat enough tonight?"
Who would make chicken soup for a late-night snack? That's really unexpected. Maybe they have kidney deficiency and need to nourish themselves properly!
Lu Chen rolled his eyes at him and said, "You're obviously stingy. Xinlan has been married to you for so long, and she's still so thin. You make her eat in the cafeteria every day. Who says you can't have chicken soup for supper?"
Shen Qiaoyue watched the two of them, who always argued whenever they were together.
"You two should stop now, the kids are still sleeping at home!" Shen Qiaoyue shook her head helplessly.
Liu Xinlan patted Xu Qianli on the shoulder.
Xu Qianli, feeling wronged, stopped talking.
Jiang Mingjing watched the lively scene with a smile. It turned out that Lu Chen could also argue with others. How nice it was to hear such a lively noise.
“This reminds me of when your old man and I lived in the army, and we would argue over the slightest disagreement!” Xu Qianli and Lu Chen were just like he and Shen Yuanyi back then.
After the argument escalated to a point of no return, Li Xiaoxiao and Lan Juan would step in to mediate, and if they couldn't persuade them, they would resort to violence.
Lu Chen fell silent again, unsure how to respond to Jiang Mingjing's words.
Although they have reunited as family, it is still difficult for them to get used to each other's relationship.
He silently ate his dumplings, head bowed.
Xu Qianli, however, enjoyed chatting.
"Uncle Jiang, did my husband used to argue with you?"
"Of course we did. We used to argue all the time, even over the smallest things. We had different ideas back then! We would often start arguing when we disagreed." Thinking back to those days, Jiang Mingjing couldn't help but laugh and tease, "You have no idea, back then, Shen Yuanyi and I would argue until our faces turned red. He always said I was the child of a capitalist."
That's how arguments can damage a relationship between two people.
"Back then, we would often start fighting at the slightest disagreement, competing in shooting, horseback riding, and who could train the best soldiers."
Jiang Mingjing could talk endlessly about the past.
"Also, Comrade Li Xiaoxiao, she graduated from Peking University and her family has a martial arts background. When she was with Yuan Yi, they often sparred. Li Xiaoxiao always won against Yuan Yi, and he was unconvinced that he could lose to a girl. His brothers laughed at him for a long time! Later, someone gave him an idea, saying that if he couldn't beat her, he should just marry her. Then she would be his wife, and she wouldn't be willing to beat him... So, he really pursued Comrade Li Xiaoxiao for several months and then agreed."
"It's truly remarkable that the old man has such a past!" This was the first time Xu Qianli had heard about Shen Yuanyi's past.
"You know, he was unwilling to admit defeat, and he couldn't beat her, even though he won her over! But Comrade Li Xiaoxiao said that we should get married after everything was settled. Later, Yuan Yi was transferred to the front line, and I was responsible for staying behind to protect the family, but because of the betrayal of a traitor..." This is why we were separated for many years.
The atmosphere became awkward for a moment.
Jiang Mingjing's guilt could not be erased; he had failed to protect his wife and her family members.
"Lu Chen, you are the only child among those family members who survived. I hope that if you have the chance, you can visit those uncles and elders who lost their loved ones. They know you are still alive and they all want to see you. Your father's old leader also wants to see you."
Lu Chen listened to Jiang Mingjing's words and fell silent.
Shen Qiaoyue glanced at him and, seeing that Lu Chen remained silent, quickly said, "Dad, when Lu Chen has time to take a vacation, we will definitely go. Let's give Lu Chen some time."
“Some of those uncles and elders are nearing the end of their lives. Their only wish might be to see Lu Chen.” Jiang Mingjing knew Lu Chen was in a dilemma. “Child, it’s just a visit. They won’t keep you in Beijing. After the New Year, aren’t you going to Beijing to participate in that military physical training competition? Take this opportunity to go and see them.”
Lu Chen fell into thought, and Shen Qiaoyue tugged at Lu Chen's sleeve.
"Okay, I understand." Lu Chen lowered his head and responded softly.
Jiang Mingjing was happy to receive a response from his son and continued eating his late-night snack.
"By the way, Lu Chen? I told Qiaoyue about the child's name during the day. What do you think about it? What do you think of the name I came up with?" Jiang Mingjing's question implied that he wanted to know the child's surname.
Lu Chen looked up at Jiang Mingjing, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "So what do you think?"
Faced with Lu Chen's question, Jiang Mingjing first glanced at Shen Qiaoyue.
He put down his chopsticks and explained to Lu Chen, "You are my child, and I've acknowledged you as my son. You'll take my surname, Jiang, from Da Nian to Xiao Nian."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xinlan and Xu Qianli both watched the scene with identical expressions, wondering what Lu Chen was thinking.
Lu Chen ate his dumplings and replied casually, "Hmm, I have no objection."
"And what about you?" Jiang Mingjing asked again.
This question piqued everyone's curiosity, and they all looked at Lu Chen.
Lu Chen lowered his eyes, thought for a moment, and put down his chopsticks.
“I’m fine with having the surname Jiang, but there’s a condition?” Lu Chen looked at Jiang Mingjing with a determined gaze.
"What are the conditions?"
Jiang Mingjing was curious about what Lu Chen wanted to say.
“You probably already know about Lu He’s background. It’s not appropriate for her to keep the surname Lu. I’m changing my surname. Could Lu He also take the surname with me?” Lu Chen didn’t want Lu He to be controlled by the Lu family anymore. Currently, her household registration is still with the Lu family, and she needs a letter of introduction to do anything.
Jiang Mingjing was taken aback for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Okay, since she is your sister, she is also my daughter. I will take care of the household registration."
"Thank you..." Lu Chen said. He actually wanted to call him "Dad," but in the end, he didn't.
Jiang Mingjing glanced at Lu Chen. The fact that they shared the same surname proved that Lu Chen did not reject him as their father.
Not long after we finished our late-night snack, the fireworks went off again, and the clock on the wall reminded us that it was past midnight.
Jiang Mingjing took out a red envelope from his pocket.
"Happy Chinese New Year! I've prepared red envelopes for everyone." Jiang Mingjing had never had such a lively scene during previous Chinese New Years.
Today is the happiest and most blissful day he has had in all these years.
"Qiaoyue, this is yours. Danian, Xiaonian, Yuanyi, and your aunt all prepared red envelopes for you. Your uncle and Yaoyao's mother also prepared red envelopes." Jiang Mingjing counted, five red envelopes for each person. In total, Shen Qiaoyue, Danian, and Xiaonian received fifteen red envelopes.
Liu Xinlan and Xu Qianli were both shocked.
Is this red envelope for real?
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