"Hey kid! When did you get back? Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
"I just got back last night."
Su Mingchao answered with a smile.
"This wasn't meant to surprise Grandpa and Grandma."
The commotion in the courtyard had alerted everyone.
When Mr. Su came out and saw his grandson in military uniform, he was very excited.
"My eldest grandson is back!"
"Sir!"
Su Mingchao immediately stepped forward, knelt down in the snow with a "thud," and kowtowed three times.
"Your grandson wishes you a Happy New Year!"
"Alright, alright! Get up!"
Grandpa Su quickly helped his grandson up, stroking his military uniform with deep emotion.
He was a veteran who returned home, and he has a special feeling for the military.
Upon hearing the news, villagers rushed over and soon surrounded the Su family's courtyard.
In this era, soldiers are the most respected profession, especially since Su Mingchao was admitted to a military academy.
What is Mingchao's military rank now?
The village party secretary squeezed to the front and asked.
Su Mingchao straightened his back.
"Reporting to the Party Secretary, I am now a second lieutenant platoon leader."
"Wow! You've all become officials!"
A gasp of amazement immediately rose from the crowd.
Wang Guixiang stood to the side, a proud smile on her face, occasionally wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
Su Jianjun was busy handing out cigarettes to the villagers, saying "It's nothing, it's nothing," but the wrinkles around his eyes were crinkled together with a smile.
Grandpa Su was holding his grandson's hand.
"Come on, let's go inside! It's cold outside! Your grandma's busy in the kitchen; she'll be so happy to know you're back!"
Inside the main room, the crowd automatically parted to make way.
Su Mingchao was seated in the warmest spot on the kang (a heated brick bed), surrounded by elderly villagers who eagerly awaited to hear stories from the army.
"Are you used to the food in the army?"
The old Party Secretary asked with concern.
"I'm used to it! The food in our unit is great; we get meat every week."
Su Mingchao answered with a smile.
"The situation is better now, and the benefits have also improved."
"I heard there's still fighting in the south? Is it dangerous?"
An old woman asked worriedly.
Su Mingchao's expression became more serious.
"I'm in the north, I'm safe."
Su Jianguo noticed that his nephew spoke with a firm gaze and a steady tone.
He has completely shed his youthful naiveté, replaced by a resolute spirit characteristic of soldiers.
Around noon, the Su family set up three large round tables: one for the men, one for the women, and one for the children.
Grandpa Su sat in the main seat, with Su Jianguo on his left and Su Mingchao on his right, while Su Jianjun was busy pouring wine for everyone.
The old lady led Wang Guixiang and several sisters-in-law as they moved between the kitchen and the main room, constantly serving steaming hot dishes.
"Come, let's toast the old man first!"
The village party secretary raised his glass.
Wishing you good health and a house full of children and grandchildren!
Everyone raised their glasses, and Old Master Su smiled from ear to ear. He took a sip of the liquor, and his face immediately flushed.
After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation naturally turned to Su Mingchao.
"Mingchao, what did you learn in the army?"
"Grandpa Su asked with concern."
Su Mingchao put down his chopsticks and sat up straight.
"Grandpa, I studied logistics management at military academy, and now I'm mainly responsible for the allocation and transportation of supplies in the army."
"Logistics? Does that mean they handle food, water, and basic necessities?"
An uncle asked with a smile.
"Not entirely."
Su Mingchao explained earnestly.
"Logistics encompasses many aspects, including military supplies, equipment maintenance, and transportation. My main responsibilities include the allocation of supplies and the planning of transportation routes."
Su Jianguo keenly noticed this.
When my nephew spoke about his field of expertise, his eyes shone with confidence. He used precise words and his logic was clear, clearly indicating that he had received excellent training in the military.
Grandpa Su was overjoyed to see his grandson speaking so eloquently.
"Good! You've made something of yourself! Better than your father!"
Su Jianjun stood to the side, smiling憨厚ly.
"That's right, my son is definitely better than me."
"By the way, Uncle."
Su Mingchao suddenly turned to Su Jianguo.
"I heard from Dad that you started a vegetable greenhouse business and it's quite successful?"
Su Jianguo nodded and briefly introduced his "Su's Vegetable Shop" and his off-season vegetable business.
Unexpectedly, Su Mingchao showed great interest and pressed for more information.
"How large is the greenhouse? What insulation measures are used? What is the yield? How is it transported?"
This series of professional questions caught Su Jianguo's eye, and he explained in detail.
"There are ten greenhouses now, each covering one acre. Insulation mainly relies on double-layered plastic film and straw mats, and a coal stove is used at night to maintain the temperature. As for transportation, your dad's tractor delivers goods to the city every day."
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