Chapter 268: Prosperity 268: Go back and ask?
Chu Dai nodded, thought for a moment, and seeing his father teasing his grandson again, he took the rag to the kitchen to wash it.
Gu Qingqing and Xiao Xiao were sitting on the sofa chatting. There was a black-and-white cartoon on TV. There was a carpet under the coffee table. Xiao Xingxing was sitting on the floor with his back against the sofa playing with the Luban lock.
Jiaojiao stared at the TV, occasionally pulling a stick from her brother's hand, but Xiao Xingxing didn't say anything to her.
"Are you taking a day off tomorrow? How about accompanying me to the tailor shop to make two sets of clothes?" Gu Qingqing saw her wearing military uniform all day and wanted to help her change her style.
Xiao Xiao usually wears a green military uniform, and when she is on vacation she wears her regular military uniform. I have rarely seen her wear anything else.
"Did your second brother tell you? Yes, tomorrow is a day off." Xiao Xiao held the enamel bowl and ate grapes from it: "But let's make a deal first, you just do it, I look good in military uniform."
Gu Qingqing looked at her for a long while, somewhat speechless: "If you don't make clothes, then why should I ask you to accompany me? Listen to me, I will help you look at the material tomorrow."
Xiao Xiao wanted to refuse, but when he saw the man coming out of the kitchen, he changed his mind and said, "Okay, I happen to have a lot of cloth coupons, so I can make a few more."
It is late autumn in Nanyang now, so you can just wear long-sleeved clothes and it won’t be too cold.
The cold here doesn't last long, just the two months during the Chinese New Year.
Different from the warm Nanyang, the temperature in the capital has dropped rapidly in the past few days, with drizzle mixed with chilly weather. Shen Sui was wearing the double-layered cotton blue cloth jacket that his elder sister had brought him.
Nowadays, clothes are mostly gray, black, blue and green. Qin Zhou was wearing a gray Zhongshan suit, which made him look gentle and elegant.
He had been in the army for a long time and had served in the army. He was in good physical condition and could withstand cold weather.
On the contrary, Shen Sui, who was wrapped thickly, seemed to be more afraid of the cold. This was related to his physique, he was particularly afraid of cold.
"Teacher, do you mean that my sisters are coming over?" Shen Sui put down the brush in his hand.
"Yeah." Qin Zhou, who was standing behind him, had a gentle look on his face and was quite satisfied with his handwriting: "If nothing unexpected happens, I will come to the capital at the beginning of the year."
He had received the news a long time ago, and thought Chu Yuan would not be slower than him, so he did not send a telegram back to avoid being noticed by someone with ulterior motives.
When everything is still uncertain, there is no need to make a fuss.
Shen Sui couldn't hide his joy in his eyes: "After dinner, I'll go clean up the room, make the bedding and wait for Sister to come over."
He has thin features and doesn't look like a gentle person, but he has a gentle temperament like Qin Zhou.
Qin Zhou shook his head and smiled: "No hurry, just copy the calligraphy first."
"I'll listen to you." Shen Sui, who was about to get up, sat down again, picked up the brush again, looked through the window at the green eaves outside that were soaked by rain, and his originally restless heart gradually calmed down.
A sharp and restrained handwriting appeared on the paper. Qin Zhou looked at it for a moment with his hands behind his back, then nodded with a smile.
It still needs to be polished slowly.
There are few people in the streets of Nanyang these days. When Gu Qingqing and her friends came to the tailor shop, it was deserted. However, the entrances of Xinhua Bookstore and the library were crowded with people.
"Hello, comrade. What may I do for you?" When the clerk in the tailor shop heard footsteps approaching, he quickly put down the yellowed book in his hand and went to greet them.
Gu Qingqing glanced at it casually and saw that it should be a Chinese book for junior high school.
"Come and pick out some fabric to make some clothes." She replied with a smile.
"It's the original fabric. I'll take you to see it." The clerk was quite familiar with her. Gu Qingqing would come over every now and then to choose fabric for making clothes. The fabric coupons for several men in the family were in her hands, so she was very well off.
Xiao Xiao followed her curiously, looking around.
The walls of the tailor shop are surrounded by wooden racks for fabrics, and there is also a special display of ready-made clothes.
"There are so many tricks." Xiao Xiao was amazed.
She had also accompanied her mother to a department store, where there were a lot of clothes that were all quite fashionable. She hadn't expected that the clothes here were just as bad, with plenty of woolen, lace and other items.
"All our fabrics are sourced from Nanyang No. 2 Textile Factory, and we have a wide variety of styles," the clerk explained with a smile.
Xiao Xiao nodded casually. She had always thought that the materials produced by state-owned textile factories were limited to a few types, but she didn't expect them to be quite fashionable.
"This is printed fabric," the waiter took a piece of blue floral fabric down and put it on the counter, "Comrade, you can take a look at it and see if you like it."
Xiao Xiao raised an eyebrow, and with a nod from Gu Qingqing, she reached out and touched the printed fabric. After a while, she said, "The material is a bit hard."
"Although this blue fabric is hard, it is very durable, and the floral prints on it are also beautiful. It will not fade even after wearing it for four or five years."
When Xiao Xiao heard the story, he was moved. He turned around and asked the woman who was selecting cloth next to him, "Qingqing, does your brother like this?"
Gu Qingqing was looking at the bubble yarn in her hand, wanting to make a skirt for Jiaojiao. She looked at it carefully for a while and shook her head: "Probably not."
"So what does he like?"
"Something simple, solid color is fine." Gu Qingqing looked at the floral fabric again. She felt that Xiao Xiao was not suitable for wearing such flowery clothes.
A girl like her, who is neat, neat and heroic, is more suitable for a refreshing look.
"Okay, let's look at something else."
The guy was not in a hurry. He folded the cloth slowly and put it on top on tiptoe.
Gu Qingqing scanned the shelves, "Can you help me get that?"
"Okay." The clerk followed her gaze, bent down and took out the khaki cloth: "This kind of fabric is tighter, and the shape of the clothes made of it is also crisp, but it is not very wear-resistant."
So not many people buy it.
This is a piece of black khaki cloth. Gu Qingqing touched the twill fabric and felt it was quite thick. "Is this used to make a coat?"
"Yes, khaki is a good choice for spring and autumn coats, but it just doesn't last long." The clerk smiled and explained this shortcoming.
There is one good thing about this tailor shop, which is its honesty. They say what they think and if you don't like something, don't buy from them. They won't exaggerate just to make a deal.
Xiao Xiao also touched it and said, "It looks a bit like the material of military uniforms."
Gu Qingqing subconsciously touched her shirt.
"No," she was a little amused, but she didn't avoid it and let her twist it: "I mean the coat."
Gu Qingqing looked slightly embarrassed, and thinking of the touch of the man's coat, she said softly, "Yes, it does look similar."
"Are you going to make an autumn jacket for Brother Chu?" Xiao Xiao asked curiously.
Her eyes scanned the other fabrics on the wooden rack, and finally stopped on a piece of army green cotton cloth, unable to take her eyes off it.
The waiter was very smart. He took the material off quickly without her telling him to.
"Make a set for him and my brothers," Gu Qingqing looked over it again and again, and was very satisfied with the material: "They can also bear the black color, and it should look good on them."
The men had very few clothes made, and the clothes they often wore, apart from military uniforms, were the ones that she had asked Xiao Huanniang to make for them on the island. Later, after leaving the island, she also had two sets of pajamas made at a tailor shop, and had been wearing them for two years.
Now that she had plenty of cloth coupons, she thought about making clothes for the men. She had a feeling that she would not be able to stay in Nanyang for long before having to go to the capital.
After she leaves, Gousheng will definitely not make clothes for himself.
Xiao Xiao imagined Gu Canyang's appearance in his mind, then nodded in agreement: "With your brother's face, what can't he suppress?"
Gu Qingqing smiled as she held the cloth and handed it to the clerk: "Comrade, help me get two more pieces. I'll give you the size later."
"Qingqing," Xiao Xiao rolled his eyes and held her arm: "How tall is your brother?"
"My second brother?" Gu Qingqing lowered her voice and teased her deliberately: "187."
"No, it's your Gu Canyang." Xiao Xiao curled his lips: "He seems to be a little taller than your second brother."
"He's 18.9," Gu Qingqing laughed, "Their selection criteria seem to be quite strict. I don't understand them either."
She also never asked Gousheng whether there were fixed standards for height and weight when selecting pilots, but there should have been.
Xiao Xiao chuckled and scratched his neck shyly: "Now do you know why I like your brother so much?"
"Huh? Because he's tall?" Gu Qingqing looked at the army green cotton cloth in her hand and couldn't help sighing.
With the military spirit in my bones, I still want to change my style. But now it is quite popular to wear military green, which makes me look energetic.
"Because he was carefully selected by the army, silly." Happiness was revealed in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows.
The selection of pilots is very strict. There are no more than fifteen people in the entire Southern Military Region who are qualified to fly fighter planes. People like Gu Canyang who have more than 2,000 flying hours are already very outstanding pilots.
Because there are relatively few qualified pilots, Gu Canyang and his team need to perform patrol and test flight missions for a long time.
Thinking about this, she felt a little envious: "In addition to the basic salary, your brother's allowances should be quite high." Pilots have flight allowances and special subsidies, and there should be others.
Gu Qingqing was a little unconvinced, "How much subsidy can he get in a month?" Isn't Gousheng just a company commander in the Air Force?
She had never asked these questions, and Gu Canyang would never ask them on his own initiative.
But the eldest brother usually gave her a lot of money, and gave thick red envelopes to the little ones during festivals. He also liked to buy silver bracelets for the kids.
The basic salary for deputy regimental-level officers like Gu Qinglie and Chu Dai is nearly two hundred, plus allowances of around two hundred and twenty.
She had always thought that her eldest brother was worth no more than a hundred dollars, and that his food allowance was relatively high.
The daily food allowance for ordinary troops in the Navy, Army, and Air Force is about 40 cents per person, and dogs have three yuan left.
Xiao Xiao wanted to laugh but didn't dare to: "It should be no less than Brother Chu's. I suspect it will soon catch up with Uncle Chu's basic salary. Go back and ask?"
Chu Yuan’s basic salary is more than 300 yuan, but he receives many allowances and subsidies, more than ten items in total.
"Forget it." Gu Qingqing waved her hands repeatedly: "I don't dare."
Xiao Xiao laughed heartily and pulled her to look at other fabrics.
Finally, Gu Qingqing ordered a set of blue long-sleeved pure cotton autumn clothes for the four little ones, and black khaki jackets and trousers for the three men. She also ordered black thick woolen windbreakers for the two fathers.
Xiao Xiao finally asked for light-colored corduroy material. Gu Qingqing already knew the sizes of the people in her family by heart and had measured the little ones before coming.
The waitress updated her child's data in the notebook and said with a smile, "He's growing up so fast."
"Yes, now that I'm older, I don't have many clothes to make." He would shudder every once in a while, and new clothes would become too short after just a few days of wearing.
The sizes of other people are all in the notebook. Gu Qingqing wrote them down when she came here before. There is not much change for adults. The coats are also looser, so the requirements are not too high.
The shop assistant added the fabric styles behind the sizes and tore off a slip for her, saying, "Come back in a week to pick it up."
"good."
Xiao Xiao wanted to measure her size on the spot. Gu Qingqing sat on a chair beside him, drinking tea from an enamel cup and watching him. He found that her waist was particularly thin.
It is so light that it cannot be held in one hand.
I can't help but envy her figure.
"Okay." The clerk put away the tape measure and knew what was going on: "Come back in a week to pick it up."
"Can you handle so many clothes?" Xiao Xiao asked.
"Comrade, don't worry, we can compensate you if the time limit exceeds the limit." The guy vowed.
"I don't mean to question you. If I have offended you accidentally, I apologize to you, comrade." Xiao Xiao shook his head, his eyebrows and eyes bright: "Thank you very much."
She originally wanted to say that there was no rush and she could take her time, and that she was not in a hurry to put it on, but seeing the determined look in the waiter's eyes, she took back her words.
"No problem, no problem." After collecting the money, the waiter gave her the note and sent them to the door. Seeing that there were no new customers, he lay down on the counter and started reading a book.
"There are quite a few people who signed up for the college entrance examination this time." Xiao Xiao folded the note and put it back in his trouser pocket, then said to the woman next to him, "My uncle's son, seeing that he has no chance to get into the army through my father's connections, is now also working hard to study."
"This is a good thing. After entering university, you can be assigned a job directly after graduation." Gu Qingqing put the foot of the bicycle on the ground and turned the front of the bicycle: "Should we go home or go to the market to buy some vegetables?"
"All up to you." Xiao Xiao took a long step and sat in the back seat.
"Okay, sit tight." Gu Qingqing laughed loudly, pedaled hard, and the bicycle swayed and rolled forward.
January, 1978.
The People's Liberation Army Political Academy was re-established.
Brother and sister Gu Qingqing and Gu Qinglie packed their luggage and prepared to go to the capital.
On the twenty-third day of the winter month in the lunar calendar, Tuantuan celebrated his fourth birthday in the military compound as he did every year. The aunts and sisters-in-law who were good friends with Gu Qingqing all came over for dinner and gave the two little guys red envelopes.
After the Chinese New Year, I will be five years old.
Qin Zhou had arranged everything in the capital, so Tuantuan could take the entrance examination every year, skip the Yuhong class, and go directly to the military academy's children's primary school.
January 8, 1978.
The twenty-ninth day of the winter month in the lunar calendar.
Chu Yuan personally sent them to the train station, and Chu Dai and Gu Qinglie got on the train carrying large and small bags.
Gu Qingqing said goodbye to him at the platform with the children. "Adai said that the academic system of the Political Science College is two and a half years, so it is not convenient for him to come back. I will bring the children back to see you often."
"Okay." Chu Yuan held his grandson in his arms, his face against his forehead. "Will Tuan Tuan miss Grandpa when he arrives in the capital?"
"Yes." Tuantuan Paji kissed his sallow cheeks, looked at him with her big black and white eyes, and said seriously: "My brother and I will write to Grandpa from time to time. When we arrive in the capital, we will ask Dad to send you a telegram to let you know that we are safe. You don't have to worry about us, just take care of yourself."
Chu Yuan didn't say anything for a long time. After a while, he hugged Tuantuan, held Niannian, looked at Xiaoxingxing and Jiaojiao held by his daughter-in-law, and nodded heavily: "Grandpa will write to you too."
Chu Dai, who had just put away his luggage and walked out of the carriage to pick up his wife and children, did not expect to hear such words from him and was a little dazed.
After a while, he sneered: "With your handwriting, they may not be able to recognize what you wrote."
Gu Qingqing suddenly had a headache: "Chu Dai!"
It's clear that both the father and son have feelings for each other, but they just won't talk properly.
No one is willing to give in first.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com