"Ah, you're here? Hurry up and sit down and get ready to eat." Sun Shufen opened the steamer and slapped away the black hand that suddenly appeared: "You little bastard, go wash your hands."
Yu Xu, who was wearing open-crotch pants, squinted and almost cried, but in the end he obediently followed his sister outside to wash his hands.
The six adults and two children sat down around the square table. Sun Shufen served them rice and said, "Help yourself. We have used up all our food and meat coupons today."
"Why do you need to greet me? I'm almost starving. I won't be polite to you." Gu Qingliehun smelled of sweat. Gu Qingqing, who was sitting next to him, had a headache and looked at Chu Dai for help.
Chu Dai understood and stood up and changed seats with her.
There was a square table with four benches. Gu Qinglie and Chu Dai sat together, Xu Nian sat next to Zhao Ze, Sun Shufen and Yu Xu sat together to help pick up food for their younger son, and Gu Qingqing and Yu Tu sat down.
"Auntie, why don't you go call Uncle Yu back?" Gu Qingqing brought a big meat bun to Yu Tu and also took one for herself to eat. They were lucky today as they got pork belly, which was juicy with every bite.
I don’t know what Uncle Yu added to the filling, but it tasted delicious and not greasy. She didn’t even plan to have some rice, and was content with just two big meat buns.
"Don't worry about him, just let him eat in the cafeteria." Sun Shufen looked at the three soldiers in confusion, "Eating? Why don't you use your chopsticks? Excuse me?"
Gu Qinglie and Chu Dai looked at each other, and they were a little hesitant as they watched Gu Qingqing eating happily.
Chu Dai smiled slightly: "Old man, aren't you hungry? Come and have a taste."
"The patients eat first," Gu Qinglie began to give way to each other in a friendly manner: "You are so thin that you can even see your bones. I will get you the biggest bun."
"It doesn't matter if it's big or small. Your sister-in-law and I make the same buns. We do have some skills." Sun Shufen didn't know what was wrong with these two people. She enthusiastically took a bun and put it in Zhao Ze's bowl: "Doctor Zhao, eat it!"
The steaming meat buns just out of the pot blurred Zhao Ze's lenses like a mist.
He didn't care so much. He took off his glasses and wiped the lenses with the corner of his clothes: "Sister-in-law, these buns and vermicelli were made by you and my wife, right? Did Sister Qingqing interfere?"
"Hi." So it was because she was worried about this. Sun Shufen laughed so hard that she almost cried. "Don't worry, we are keeping a close eye on it. It was Qingqing who added the water when kneading the dough. She didn't do any other steps. She had been burning charcoal on the stove before you came in."
Xu Nian also pursed his lips and smiled.
Gu Qingqing understood what he said. She glanced at the three men with an unfriendly look and snorted, "Eat it if you want. If you don't want to eat it, forget it."
Gu Qinglie was really hungry. After making sure that it was not his sister's work, he grabbed the big meat bun in one hand and ate the vermicelli with chopsticks in the other. The big chunks of pork were stewed until they were soft and melted in his mouth.
"Sister-in-law, your cooking skills are really good."
"Of course not. Look at who my man is. I have learned all of my old cooking skills." Sun Shufen became more and more proud as she spoke. She felt very happy to see her children enjoying the meal.
Life is getting better and better nowadays. In the past, having a meal of meat was a treat only during the Chinese New Year. I was reluctant to eat it all at once and had to save some for visiting relatives and taking it back to my parents’ home to show my face.
Because the weather was hot and the steamer on the stove was still emitting heat, Gu Qinglie began to unbutton his military uniform and put his coat on the washstand next to him. "It's a blessing for Lao Yu to marry such a good wife like you. Unlike our Captain Chu, he will have to tie Zhao's military doctor pants around his waist before he dares to eat the food cooked by my sister."
Zhao Ze was also still worried, and looked at Chu Dai with sympathy: "When will your marriage application be approved? Do you want to hold the wedding banquet first or get the certificate first?"
Sun Shufen and Xu Nian also looked at him. Gu Qinglie, still biting a bun in his mouth, waited for Chu Dai's answer without blinking.
Chu Dai smiled and looked at Gu Qingqing. "The application will not be approved so quickly. We have to wait for our political review. There is no rush to get the marriage certificate. I want to take her home to meet the elders and marry her in a formal way."
After hearing this, Gu Qingqing's eyes curved into crescents, and she raised her chin slightly to show off to her brother, saying with her eyes: "Look, this is the man I picked."
Gu Qinglie grinned, this was the brother-in-law he had chosen himself.
He had found out everything about Chu Dai, from his family background to his character, otherwise he would not have dared to hand the girl over to him.
"That's great," Sun Shufen smiled, "Qingqing has only been in the Corps for a month, and she will be able to bring a son-in-law back by the end of the year."
"Old Gu, why don't you take a vacation at the end of the year?" Zhao Ze asked Gu Qinglie, "Are you going to the Southern Military Region with Qingqing and Captain Chu? I remember you said you have a brother who is a pilot in the Southern Military Region?"
"Oh my goodness, a pilot!" Sun Shufen was stunned. Although her husband Yu and Han Lianxin's family were from the same village, Yu Fugui had been a soldier for too long and didn't know much about Han Lianxin's in-laws' situation. She only knew from chatting with Gu Qinglie by chance that he was the nephew of Han Lianxin's husband and had a brother in the southern military region.
But Gu Qinglie never said that his brother was a pilot!
Nowadays, soldiers have a high status, and pilots are even more like treasures of the country!
The two nephews of Han Lianxin's family are more promising than each other.
"Let's go together. This year's vacation is long. I haven't been back for several years. My brother and his family are on a tight vacation schedule. My sister is getting married soon, so I can go and ask him if we can go together."
Since Gu Qingqing is getting married, the older brothers must go back, and if Gu Canyang doesn't have any leave, he must ask for one.
They must be present at all important events in a girl’s life.
"It's a pity that I don't have a holiday this year, otherwise I would definitely go and ask for a bowl of wine at the wedding." Zhao Ze shook his head.
"This is a simple matter!" Sun Shufen suddenly slapped her thigh. The sound was crisp, and it was obvious that she had used all her strength.
"Qingqing is also considered a member of our corps, right? You soldiers all treat her as your sister, so you should set up a party in the corps. When you go to the southern military region, you can set up a party at Captain Chu's place, and you can set up a party at Qingqing's house as well. Isn't that enough?"
She spoke in a roundabout way, but everyone present understood.
Gu Qinglie poked Chu Dai's arm and said incoherently while biting a meat bun: "What do you think? How about you wait until your marriage application is approved and then have a banquet to let the brothers share in the joy? You will be stationed in Baisha Island after the New Year. It is still unclear whether you can be transferred back in the future. You may stay in the navy as a commander in the future. Haha, it will be difficult to see the brothers in the corps again!"
When it comes to these things, Gu Qingqing becomes thin-skinned. She lowers her head and eats the rice in her eyes. Her eyes roll around and she glances at the man from time to time.
Chu Dai found it funny to see the tips of her ears turn red. This girl was usually very courageous, but she turned into a quail when it came to getting married.
Very cute.
"Old Chu?" Zhao Ze called him absent-minded, followed his line of sight and looked over, curling his lips: "We see it every day after getting married, why are you bored now? I'm asking you, are you going to hold a wedding?"
"Yes." Chu Dai glanced at him and said, "We need to invite these brothers-in-law from the Corps to the wedding."
Gu Qinglie laughed loudly and punched him on the shoulder: "If you dare to bully my sister in the future, you'd better think about it. I will bring my brothers-in-law in the army to kill you."
"I dare not."
The meal was a joyful one, with the men chatting and laughing. Sun Shufen and Xu Nian discussed what kind of clothes to make for the children, and Gu Qingqing talked about the style of clothes her mother had made for her when she was a child.
Sun Shufen sighed: "Qingqing, your mother is so skillful." It was the first time she heard of patching up torn clothes with small animals.
Gu Qingqing thought of her mother, and her heart softened. She said sweetly, "My mother is the best to me!"
Chu Dai quietly held the chopsticks and ate his meal with his eyes lowered, not knowing what he was thinking about.
Gu Qinglie appears to be carefree on the outside, but he is actually very meticulous. He has known the Chu family's situation for a long time and naturally knows that his brother lost his mother since he was born, and his father still resents him and thinks that his mother died because of him.
"Qingqing," Gu Qinglie deliberately changed the subject, "Brother is going to go for a field training tomorrow, why don't you come with me? I haven't taken you out for a walk in such a long time."
"Can I go?" Gu Qingqing was excited to go out and play, her eyes lit up: "Brother! Are there still groups of camels in the desert?"
"Of course, you can ride a camel!" Gu Qinglie patted the shoulder of the person next to him and said, "Old Chu, come with me tomorrow to give me some instructions. It's a good opportunity for Qingqing to follow you."
"Okay." Chu Dai met the girl's hopeful gaze and did not refuse.
After dinner, Gu Qingqing and Xu Nian helped to collect the dishes and clear the table. Gu Qinglie left first as he had to go on patrol. Zhao Ze also said hello and went back to the health center.
"Okay, Qingqing, you can go back. I'll wash these dishes. Xiao Xu, please help me heat up the remaining steamed buns in the pot and feed them to Lao Yu when he comes back." Although Sun Shufen said that she wanted the man to eat in the cafeteria, she was still thinking about him in her heart.
"Okay." Xu Nian responded in a gentle voice.
Gu Qingqing saw that there was really nothing she needed to do, so she wiped the table and walked out. As soon as she reached the front yard, she saw the thin shadow of the man stretched out in the moonlight.
Chu Dai stood there straight, looking up at the moon in the sky.
Gu Qingqing walked over, followed his shadow, and looked up as well.
After a long time, she whispered, "Brother."
The man turned sideways and looked back at her.
"My grandparents are both very good-tempered. They rarely quarrel with others and have harmonious relations with their neighbors. Although my father looks a little silly, he is very considerate and is especially good to my mother. My second uncle is a carpenter. He left me some good materials and said that he would make me a dowry before I get married. He would prepare everything for me, including a bed, a chest of drawers, a box, and a washstand. My third uncle is a chef in a state-owned hotel. He cooks really delicious meals. When you and I go back, let my younger uncle and brothers take us to the fields to catch snails. My third uncle's fried basil snails are the best!"
"And my brothers, they all have very good personalities and can get along with anyone."
"Brother, don't worry, our whole family will treat you well." Gu Qingqing's big black and white eyes were like colored glass. The girl tilted her neck and looked up at him, her eyes crystal clear and very pure.
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