Chapter 80: Anniversary Party
The festive atmosphere of the New Year permeates the air and the whole world is immersed in peace. Brother Jiang Ruoxi, who is busy in the Northeast Military Region, is looking forward to coming to Liaoning Province during the Spring Festival to see his three lovely nephews and nieces in person, pinch their little faces and give them a warm hug.
But the heavy workload in the army tied him down. In desperation, he could only make that phone call filled with longing on New Year's Eve.
The phone was connected and a familiar voice came. Brother Jiang was full of apologies: "Ruoxi, I really can't take a leave this year. I wanted to go and see the children, but I can only do it next time!" Jiang Ruoxi listened with slightly moist eyes and a warm current flowing slowly in her heart.
As soon as I hung up the phone, my second brother who was far away in the Shandong Military Region also called me. His hearty laughter was filled with deep concern: "My nephews and nieces must have grown taller. I have prepared the red envelopes a long time ago. I will love them well next time we meet!"
Just after he hung up the phone, Lu Tingxiao's eldest brother called from the Guangdong Military Region, his tone full of regret: "Tingxiao, I'm so sorry, I have a lot of tasks during the New Year and can't go to see my nephews and nieces. You must give the children red envelopes. When I return to Beijing, I will give them to them in person!"
Just after hanging up the phone with Brother Lu, Sister Lu called me, her gentle words full of doting: "Tingxiao, you can't come back for the New Year this year, I can't see my nephew and niece. Mom always tells me how cute and beautiful they are, which makes me so greedy. If I hadn't been tied up in the hospital, I would have gone to see my nephew and niece a long time ago. Their red envelopes are already prepared. When we meet, I will take them to buy their favorite toys!"
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Ruoxi and Lu Tingxiao looked at the children playing nearby and smiled at each other. Lu Tingxiao gently put his arm around Jiang Ruoxi's shoulders and said, "Although our relatives couldn't come, their thoughts are there. The children will definitely be able to feel this love that spans thousands of miles!" Jiang Ruoxi nodded, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
The excitement of the New Year has not yet completely dissipated, and in the blink of an eye, it is time for the one-year-old birthday parties of our three babies. Recalling the last hundred-day party for the babies, Jiang Ruoxi and Lu Tingxiao felt a little regretful because they were tied up in many affairs and kept everything simple. This time, they secretly made up their minds to hold a warm and unforgettable first birthday party for the babies.
Jiang Ruoxi started preparing long in advance. She read parenting books, referred to the first birthday parties of children in the neighborhood, and carefully considered every detail. Post some auspicious calligraphy and paintings that wish children healthy growth in conspicuous places in the room, such as the characters "longevity" and "blessing", or meaningful pictures of flowers and birds, etc., to create a festive atmosphere for the one-year-old party.
Use colorful paper strips and simple paper lace to decorate the walls, windows or ceiling of the room. The colors of the paper strips or lace should be mainly bright colors such as red and pink to add a lively atmosphere to the room. Lu Tingxiao was also busy helping Jiang Ruoxi arrange the first birthday party and inviting guests.
Finally, he called his relatives and friends one by one, sincerely inviting everyone to witness this important moment. He also specifically reminded everyone that this is an important node in the children's growth and they must come and join in the fun.
On the day of the first birthday party. On the dining table, longevity noodles are an indispensable feature. Noodles are placed in a large bowl and paired with eggs, which symbolizes the child's health and longevity.
There are also some traditional Chinese pastries, such as date cakes, peach cakes, etc. These pastries may be simple in shape, but they taste sweet, which also adds a sweet flavor to the first birthday party, and the atmosphere is filled with joy everywhere.
Relatives and friends came one after another to give their most sincere blessings and exquisite gifts. The three babies were wearing brand new clothes and were surrounded by people, looking around curiously.
The "Zhuazhou" ceremony pushed the atmosphere to a climax. The table was filled with all kinds of items, including books, seals, abacus, paintbrushes, and even toy guns, big unity... etc. Under the expectant gazes of everyone, the babies were gently placed in front of a table covered with a red cloth. The babies stared with their round eyes, looking around curiously, starting with Dabao. Dabao waved his little hands in the air a few times, and then grabbed a brush without hesitation, holding on tightly.
Seeing this, everyone applauded and smiled, wishing Dabao to make achievements in the field of literature in the future. Jiang Ruoxi and Lu Tingxiao looked at each other, their eyes full of expectations for their child's future.
When it was Erbao's turn, he opened his black eyes full of curiosity, looked around, and was full of desire to explore the dazzling array of objects in front of him. He first grabbed the brush, fiddled with it casually in his little hand, and threw it aside after a few strokes. Then he twisted his little body and tried hard to crawl towards the abacus.
Everyone around him stared at him intently, thinking that this little guy might be interested in arithmetic and financial management. Just when everyone thought he was going to grab the abacus, he suddenly turned around and crawled straight towards the toy gun with a clear goal.
As soon as the little hand was extended, Erbao grabbed the toy gun tightly in his hand, his little face flushed red with excitement. Seeing this, everyone smiled and congratulated Lu Tingxiao. It is said that a tiger father will have a dog son. It seems that this kid will join the army in the future and inherit his father's ambition. Lu Tingxiao's face was filled with a proud smile, and his eyes were full of expectations for Erbao.
When it was Sanbao's turn, her actions made people laugh even more. Sanbao used her hands and feet to quickly crawl to the red cloth. Without any hesitation, she used her hands to move all the things on the red cloth to the middle of the red cloth, and she kept shouting "I want them all!" Her anxious and serious look made people angry and funny.
When everyone saw Sanbao's actions, their jaws almost dropped. They couldn't help but sigh that this little girl looks weak, but her personality is so generous and direct. She wants everything, but she is not greedy at all and doesn't know how to be subtle at all.
Lu Tingxiao laughed out loud at his daughter's adorable behavior. He quickly reached out to catch the objects that were pushed over. He then held Sanbao in his arms and gently scratched her little nose, his eyes full of doting.
"Okay, I want them all. These are all our Jiaojiao's. From now on, our Jiaojiao just needs to study hard, be a good person, and live happily. Just leave the worries to your brothers!"
Jiang Ruoxi was grinning from ear to ear, and a warm atmosphere filled the room.
"Tingxiao, just spoil Jiaojiao. Be careful not to spoil her!"
"I'm happy to spoil our Jiaojiao. Besides, our Jiaojiao is a good child, don't you think? Jiaojiao!" Lu Tingxiao rubbed Jiaojiao's face with his chin. The newly grown stubble made Jiaojiao's face itchy, making Jiaojiao giggle non-stop.
Looking at the three lovely babies with eyes full of love, the family was immersed in this happy and joyful moment. This one-year-old ceremony also became the warmest fragment in their later memories.
People around them applauded and laughed, saying that the children's future was full of hope.
Amidst the laughter and joy, Jiang Ruoxi and Lu Tingxiao looked at the lively scene in front of them, their hearts filled with happiness. They know very well that a child's growth cannot be separated from the company of family and friends, and they secretly vowed that no matter what difficulties they encounter in the future, they must give their children a loving home so that they can thrive in warmth.
The excitement of the first birthday party gradually faded away, and Jiang Ruoxi and Lu Tingxiao quickly returned to their busy and hectic lives. Lu Tingxiao devoted himself to the army's missions and went on missions again and again. Although he did not encounter any major crises, he inevitably suffered some minor injuries. Every time he returned home, Jiang Ruoxi would scold him with both heartache and pride.
Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan at home were like the stabilizing force, keeping everything in order so that Jiang Ruoxi could concentrate on studying and reviewing.
Every morning, after Lu Tingxiao left for work, Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan would divide the work tacitly. Aunt Lan pushed a baby stroller and took her three babies for a leisurely walk in the family compound. The little ones looked around curiously along the way, and laughed sweetly from time to time, attracting the attention of passers-by.
At the same time, Aunt Chen went to the vegetable market, carefully selected the fresh ingredients needed for the day, and returned home with a full load. When they returned together, Jiang Ruoxi had just finished a round of study, and she couldn't wait to interact intimately with the babies, making the children giggle.
At this time, Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan walked into the kitchen, smoke rose, and soon a sumptuous lunch was placed on the table. Lu Tingxiao also returned home on time, and the family sat together, sharing a warm lunch time. After lunch, Lu Tingxiao returned to his post in high spirits. The days passed in an orderly and repetitive manner.
Before we knew it, it was October 1977.
On October 21, the front-page headline of China People's Daily boldly published the breaking news of the resumption of the college entrance examination, which was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples.
All major radio stations broadcast the news and newspapers were filled with related reports, which instantly caused a sensation across the country. As long as they meet the requirements, whether they are workers, farmers, educated youth who went to the countryside or returned to their hometowns (including those who stayed in the city according to policy but have not yet been assigned jobs), demobilized soldiers, cadres, or recent high school graduates, they all see the dawn of changing their destiny. The age requirement is around 20 years old and not more than 25 years old; for candidates with special expertise, the age limit can be relaxed to 30 years old. A clear understanding of political history, a love for socialism, a love for labor, discipline, and a determination to study for the revolution are the stepping stones to taking the exam. The resumed college entrance examination is scheduled for December 10th to 12th, with some provinces and cities scheduling it in mid-December. The registration time for the college entrance examination is scheduled in November, and the specific registration dates for each province and city will be arranged by each province and city.
The moment Jiang Ruoxi saw the news, her heart could not calm down for a long time. She and Lu Tingxiao looked at each other and saw the same excitement and determination in each other's eyes.
That night, the two sat under the lamp, carefully studying the application process and majors. Lu Tingxiao encouraged Jiang Ruoxi: "This is a rare opportunity. Let's work hard together. I fully support you!" Jiang Ruoxi nodded vigorously and secretly vowed in her heart that she must seize this opportunity to change her destiny and fight hard for the future of herself and her family.
In the following days, the learning atmosphere at home became stronger and stronger. In addition to taking care of the children and the family, Jiang Ruoxi devoted all her free time to preparing for the exam, and studying late into the night became the norm. After completing his high-intensity work, Lu Tingxiao would also help Jiang Ruoxi organize materials and answer her questions. The two encouraged and accompanied each other, and looked forward to this exam that would change their destiny. They firmly believed that through hard work, they would be able to start a new chapter in their lives.
On November 5th, just after dawn, when the morning light was dim, Lu Tingxiao got up early. He specially asked for leave and prepared to accompany Jiang Ruoxi to the admissions office to register for the college entrance examination. This day is of great significance to them, carrying Jiang Ruoxi's desire for knowledge and her vision for the future.
Along the way, the two walked side by side, with brisk and firm steps. Lu Tingxiao turned his head to look at Jiang Ruoxi from time to time, his eyes full of encouragement and support, and whispered, "Don't be nervous, everything will go well!" Jiang Ruoxi nodded slightly and responded with a confident smile, and the tension in her heart dissipated a little.
When we arrived at the admissions office, there was already a long line there, and the crowd was full of young people with dreams and passionate eyes. Lu Tingxiao followed Jiang Ruoxi closely, helping her carry various certificates and materials, fearing that there would be any mistakes.
During the long wait, Jiang Ruoxi's palms were slightly sweaty. She adjusted her hair from time to time and repeatedly checked whether her documents were complete. Lu Tingxiao noticed her nervousness and gently held her hand, conveying warmth and strength.
Finally, it was Jiang Ruoxi's turn to register. She took a deep breath, handed her ID to the staff in an orderly manner, and filled in all the information carefully. Jiang Ruoxi's first and second choices were the Department of Economics at Peking University, and her third choice was the Department of Electronic Engineering at Tsinghua University. Lu Tingxiao stood aside, watching intently, his eyes full of concern.
When the staff stamped the registration form and announced that the registration was successful, Jiang Ruoxi and Lu Tingxiao smiled at each other, with tears of excitement and joy in their eyes.
Walking out of the admissions office, the sun was shining all over the earth, and the two people's shadows were stretched very long. Without any slacking off, they went straight home and quickly plunged into intensive review. On this day full of hope, they work hard for their dreams, firmly believing that a better future is coming towards them step by step.
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