Chapter 92
The next day, at a chosen time, Shen Mingzheng and Gu Xi went to the communications room together to make a call to Beijing.
Since arriving at the military base, they have mainly communicated with Beijing by letter, rarely by phone. After all, phone calls are expensive and there's only so much to say. If there's nothing important, it's more convenient to communicate by letter.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, why not give them a call to say hello and tell them about Gu Xi making money by writing articles?
They made a phone call from their home phone.
The call was quickly connected, and Shen Mingrong answered. He was currently on vacation at home and was the most idle person in the family.
Upon hearing Shen Mingzheng's voice on the phone, Shen Mingrong excitedly exclaimed, "It's Big Brother! Where's Sister Xi? Is Sister Xi with you? Quickly call Sister Xi over, I need to talk to her!"
Compared to his older brother, Shen Mingrong wanted to talk to Gu Xi more, and abandoned his older brother without hesitation.
Shen Mingzheng didn't mind and handed the phone to Gu Xi, saying, "Don't talk for too long."
Gu Xi found it somewhat amusing and asked, "Mingrong, it's me. What are you doing at home?"
Shen Mingrong's cheerful voice came from the other side, saying how bored she was at home during the holidays and that she wanted to come and visit her, but it was too cold and her parents wouldn't allow it, etc...
Hearing the boy's familiar chatter, Gu Xi felt as if she had returned to the Shen family, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her face.
However, before Shen Mingrong could finish rambling, Feng Min took the phone away.
Feng Min's voice came from the other end, slightly distorted, but it was a style Gu Xi was familiar with—crisp and cheerful, very friendly: "Is that Xi Xi? How have you been lately? Have you been eating well? Are you feeling better...?"
Hearing Feng Min's concerned inquiry, Gu Xi couldn't help but tear up.
She has two mothers: her biological mother Jiang Huijun and her adoptive mother He Guihua, but Gu Xi has never experienced maternal love from either of them.
Only Feng Min generously gave her the maternal love a child longed for.
"Mom..." she choked up a little, "I'm fine, doing quite well. I'm eating well, my health is much better, and I've even gained weight..."
Feng Min was delighted to hear this: "Really? You've really gained weight? You can't lie to me, I'll ask Mingzheng."
"I'm not lying to you!" Gu Xi said happily, holding back her tears, "Mom, I wrote an article for the publishing house, it's been accepted, and I even received the royalties..."
"Wow, really? Xixi is that amazing?"
Feng Min was indeed very happy, and her voice became louder.
Hearing this, Shen Mingrong, who had been listening intently to the phone call beside her, also became excited and hurriedly asked what article Gu Xi had written and where it was published, as he wanted to read it too...
This is an article written by Sister Xi! Is her family going to produce a writer?
Gu Xi briefly explained the situation and said that once the sample book arrived, she would send it to them in Beijing.
This made Feng Min and Shen Mingrong look forward to it.
The female soldiers in the communications room looked over in surprise upon hearing this.
Gu Xi and Feng Min spoke Mandarin when they were talking, which they could understand. They never expected that Commander Shen's wife could write articles and even have them published. This was big news!
I wonder if the people in the family compound will still gossip behind her back about how she's in poor health and can't even take jobs that are offered to her, saying it's a pity.
Gu Xi hadn't heard Feng Min's voice for a long time, so they inevitably chatted for quite a while.
When she handed the phone to Shen Mingzheng, she was reluctant to part with him. Her eyes and nose were red, and she looked like she was about to cry. The female soldiers in the communications room wondered if she was talking to her own mother and that she was reluctant to part with her.
That's normal; daughters who marry far away are reluctant to leave their families.
Feng Min was also quite reluctant to part with him. She had a lot to say to Gu Xi, but she didn't have much to talk about with her son who was already married. She simply told him, "Take good care of Xi Xi, okay?"
Shen Mingzheng agreed verbally.
After hanging up the phone, Shen Mingzheng turned his head and found that Gu Xi was indeed crying.
Afraid of being seen, she turned her face slightly to the side and wiped her eyes while looking down, thinking that this way no one would know she had been crying.
He sighed inwardly. Luckily, phone calls are expensive these days, so he doesn't call often. If she cried every time he called, it would be better not to call at all.
Shen Mingzheng led Gu Xi out of the communications room. While tying her scarf, he touched the corner of her eye with his fingertip and comforted her, "Don't cry. If Mom knew, she would worry. She probably wouldn't dare to call you again, afraid of making you cry again."
Gu Xi turned her face away, "I didn't cry."
Seeing that she was deceiving herself, Shen Mingzheng didn't say anything more. Only when no one was around did he take her hand and go home with her.
**
Shortly after Gu Xi finished making the phone call, the people in the family compound also learned that Gu Xi had published an article and received royalties.
There were quite a few people present when the call was made that day, and everyone could hear it clearly.
Gu Xi hadn't expected that her simple desire to tell Feng Min about it as soon as possible and share her joy would eventually lead to everyone knowing about it.
Shen Tuanzhang's house once again welcomed a group of curious guests, all of whom came to ask Gu Xi about making money by writing articles.
They held Gu Xi in awe; he could write articles and even publish them for royalties. In their eyes, he was a cultured person.
It seems that although Commander Shen's wife is in poor health and cannot go out to work, she can still earn money by writing articles at home. So it doesn't seem to matter whether she goes out to work or not.
However, some of the family members who were educated wondered if they could also make money by writing articles.
So they all wanted to come and learn from Gu Xi.
They first asked Gu Xi how to write articles.
Gu Xi was generous in teaching them, saying directly, "Writing articles is quite easy. You need to read more books and accumulate knowledge to know how to write."
What book are you reading?
"Hmm... You can read more of the red quotations of great leaders, and also read more educational storybooks, or articles in newspapers and magazines."
Then I told them about several newspapers and magazines, some of which had quite interesting and meaningful stories.
"I've read the great man's quotations, and I can recite them all."
"Gu Xi, you mentioned too many kinds of newspapers and magazines. They're not easy to find here."
"How many books do I need to read to be considered good enough?"
Gu Xi shared her experience: "Well, as for books, you should have at least a hundred. As for newspapers and magazines, you can find those old ones that the military doesn't want anymore. It's best to read all the recent years' issues. That's what I did; I read newspapers and magazines for over five years..."
Everyone: "..." Haven't we seen this far too many times?
Gu Xi continued, "By the way, if you really want to write, you can try writing a short story of a few thousand words first, and I can help you take a look. You can also go to Qiao Hui; she used to be an editor at a publishing house, specializing in editing books. I owe my writing ability to her; she taught me..."
"You mean Chief of Staff Gao's wife? She actually worked as an editor at a publishing house?"
Everyone was surprised; it was the first time they had ever heard that Chief of Staff Gao's wife was so capable.
Although Gu Xi is usually a homebody and doesn't like to communicate with people, Qiao Hui is even more of a homebody.
Qiao Hui had been with the military for almost a year, but she hadn't interacted much with the people in the family compound. They didn't know her at all, and privately they had all wondered why Chief of Staff Gao's wife seemed so strange. Besides, her appearance inevitably gave people a bad impression...
Now they know that this person is also a very accomplished intellectual, and he edits books for publishing houses.
A group of people who came to Gu Xi full of enthusiasm to ask her how to write articles all left with bitter faces.
It's really too much to ask them to read so many books and newspapers.
Who would want to watch so much stuff if they had nothing else to do?
However, some were still persistent and brought some homemade snacks and treats to Qiao Hui to inquire about writing articles.
Qiao Hui was a little confused by the sudden arrival of these guests, but she was quite surprised when she learned why they had come.
If they asked about other things, Qiao Hui might be nervous or even unwilling to talk to people much, but since they asked about her major, she got excited and asked Sister Zhu to make them hot jujube tea, bring them melon seeds and peanuts, and then started teaching them.
Everyone: "..."
After listening to Teacher Qiao's class, everyone left with unsteady steps and blank expressions.
Ah, what exactly did Teacher Qiao say? I can't understand a word! Are there really so many things to consider when writing an article? No wonder writers are so rare and so popular; writing really is a difficult task…
-
When Chief of Staff Gao returned home, he learned that a family member had come to Qiao Hui to learn how to write articles. Seeing Qiao Hui's still eager expression, clearly she was very fond of teaching, he couldn't help but chuckle.
He suddenly understood why Qiao Hui liked Commander Shen's wife so much.
This person is so good at handling things, not hiding Qiao Hui's contribution at all...
Chief of Staff Gao deliberately asked, "With so many people coming to see you, won't it be noisy?"
"How could that be?" Qiao Hui said in surprise. "They all came to me to learn how to write articles. They were all very serious and easy to get along with."
At this point, she felt a little embarrassed, thinking that she might have been too sensitive in the past, always thinking the worst of people, afraid that they would mind her appearance, and therefore did not want to go out and communicate with people.
As Sister Zhu was tidying up, she heard Qiao Hui's words and thought to herself that those people were actually stunned by the "cultured" aura emanating from Qiao Hui.
This was the teacher who could produce Gu Xi, this "writer," and everyone wanted to come to her to learn how to write articles and make money. In their hearts, Qiao Hui was like a teacher, and they didn't dare to be disrespectful in front of her, so they were all naturally easy to get along with.
Gao Wenbin laughed and said, "In that case, you should chat with them more when you go out in the future. Don't stay at home all the time; it's not good for your health."
He was always troubled about how to get his wife, who didn't like going out, to go out more and interact with the people in the family compound.
Although she already has Gu Xi as a friend she's willing to associate with, it would be better to have more people.
Qiao Hui glanced at him, realized what he meant, and her expression turned indifferent.
"Let's talk about it later."
She casually tossed out a comment, then turned and went back to her room to hug her daughter, who had already woken up.
**
As the end of the year approaches, Gu Xi decided to go to the town market again to buy more vegetables to stock up.
According to the women in the residential compound, the town market will be closed from the first day of the Lunar New Year until the Lantern Festival. It will be deserted, so people will have to buy more vegetables during this period to prepare for the future.
Gu Xi invited Qiao Hui to go to the market together this time.
Since it hadn't snowed much recently, Qiao Hui wanted to go to the town market to buy some things for the New Year, so she agreed.
In the morning, Gu Tuantuan was brought over by her mother again.
Upon learning that Gu Xi was going to the town market, Gu Tuantuan wanted to go with her aunt.
The experience of going to the market with Gu Xi and Xu Yuansheng last time made the little girl very happy and she will never forget it. She especially liked sitting in the child seat of the bicycle. Her aunt rode the bicycle very fast, as if she was flying. The cold wind blowing in her face was the most profound and beautiful memory of her childhood, and she will never forget it even when she grows up.
“Not today.” Gu Xi patted the little girl’s head. “I’m going with Aunt Qiao from next door. Aunt Yuansheng and Aunt Huaisheng won’t be going either, so they won’t be able to take care of you.”
Gu Tuantuan had no choice but to give up regretfully.
She's a well-behaved child, so since her aunt said so, she won't insist on going.
Seeing how well-behaved she was, Gu Xi softened and said, "You and your two aunts stay home, and I'll buy you peanut candy."
"Okay, thank you, Auntie! I love you the most, Auntie!"
The little girl immediately cheered up, rushed over and hugged Gu Xi's waist, rubbing against him like a little animal.
After saying goodbye to her two younger sisters, Gu Xi pushed her bicycle out the door and headed to the town market with Qiao Hui.
When they arrived at the market, after parking the car, they went shopping together.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, the market is busier than ever before, and the biting cold wind can't dampen people's enthusiasm for shopping for New Year's goods.
Gu Xi bought a lot of peanuts, melon seeds, candies, biscuits and other snacks, which she could use to entertain guests during the Chinese New Year, or to eat herself.
Qiao Hui also bought a lot of things according to her family's needs. When her basket was full, she couldn't carry it anymore and decided to find a place to rest.
Her physical strength wasn't much better than Gu Xi's, and her power was incomparable.
Gu Xi took her to a nearby stall selling local snacks, where they could buy honey cake and hot fruit wine and sit down to rest.
She asked, "Qiao Hui, do you want to buy meat?"
"What kind of meat?" Qiao Hui asked. "Go to the supply and marketing cooperative? Are they still selling meat at this time of year?"
Gu Xi didn't say where to buy it, but said, "I don't know what kind of meat they have. I have to go and see. If they have a lot, I'll buy some for you."
Qiao Hui looked at her suspiciously, but since Gu Xi didn't say anything, she didn't ask either, only saying, "Then we'll go after we finish eating."
The honey cake and hot fruit wine on the table have just been served and are still warm. It would be better to eat those first and then go over.
Gu Xi told her to eat there and watch the things while she did so, then left with her empty basket on her back.
She went to find Uncle Qiu alone.
I was lucky today. I didn't run into many people when I came here. The only ones I encountered were elderly women like her who were sneaking into the black market to buy meat. The two of them met at the entrance, greeted each other like relatives, and went in together.
Uncle Qiu was not surprised to see them come in together.
For him, both of them were regular customers, especially the very pretty young woman who spoke fluent Mandarin and looked like she came from a big city. He didn't know if she was a military wife from a nearby unit or an educated youth from a farm. She had a lot of meat coupons and was very generous when buying meat.
Uncle Qiu led them inside. There were several large bamboo baskets in the house, containing not only pork, but also beef and mutton. No one knew where he got them from.
The old lady was very excited, but she didn't have much money or tickets, so she could only reluctantly buy three catties of meat and leave.
When it was Gu Xi's turn, she said, "I need twenty catties of pork, ten catties of pork belly, five catties of fat, and five catties of pork shoulder; I need twenty catties of beef, preferably from the brisket, but other cuts are fine too; and twenty catties of mutton, either lamb chops or lamb legs, as much meat as possible."
Uncle Qiu's lips twitched, and he said speechlessly, "Buying so many... can you even carry them?"
"I have companions. There are many of us, so we can carry it. We'll share it together," Gu Xi said without changing her expression, vaguely conveying the information.
As Uncle Qiu cut the meat according to her request, he casually asked, "Are you an educated youth from the farm?"
Gu Xi casually hummed in agreement and said, "I have relatives in a village near the farm. I don't usually live on the farm; I stay at my relatives' house."
"That's great, having relatives around can help out."
"That's because I'm in poor health, and I'm very grateful to my relatives for taking care of me."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Qiu glanced at her a few more times. She wore a scarf around her neck, covering most of her face, leaving only her beautiful and delicate eyebrows and eyes visible. However, even just the upper half of her face that was exposed was so beautiful that it was hard to believe that people would stare at her for a few more seconds whenever they came over.
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